Lands & Resources October 2017 Issue 1 Ahniin, Boozhoo In this newsletter you will find lots of great and interesting information about the Lands and Resources staff and what we are up to. Land Code Vote Coming! We have been working toward taking back the governance of our lands and resources for many years. You Beausoleil First Nation Lands & Resources Staff may remember that in Front: Amber King-Robitaille, Kristin Monague May 2015 we took to Back: Crystal Roote, Marcella Sunday, Dana Monague, Jane Copegog, Mike Smith, Susan Copegog the polls on whether to accept our First Nation’s proposed Land Code and opt out of certain sections of the Indian Act that pertain to Lands Management. You may remember that we missed our opportunity by only 26 yes votes. 26 Votes!!!! We had an overwhelming response from over 400 members! We have since received great news from the Lands Advisory Board with our Land Code Vote. They had approved our First Nation’s request to go forward with a second vote! That’s right a second chance to get it right, a second chance to address the concerns of members who voted no, or who didn’t quite understand what opting out of the Indian Act sections that relate to our Lands and Resources meant. Our goal is to address misconceptions and relay the exact details about what this means to us, our First Nation. We will discuss what First Nations Land Management under the Framework Agreement is and what it is not. Let’s regain momentum and get excited about our new opportunity. We will be voting again on December 9, 2017, keep an eye out for the vote package! What is the First Nation Land Beausoleil First Nation both on and off reserve who are 18 years of age or over. Management Initiative? The development stage is starting and we are seeking members’ feedback as it relates to daily land The First Nation Land Management (FNLM) Initiative management. The land management would remain at was created collectively by First Nations people and the community level and we will be able to make the Government of Canada. Beausoleil First Nation informed decisions and would allow our First Nation became a signatory to the Framework Agreement on the authority to make timely decisions and we would April 13th 2012. not need to seek Minister approval. The purpose of becoming a signatory to the Framework Agreement is to give the option to What Land is Protected Under Beausoleil First Nation to assume control over our reserve lands and resources through the creation of a the Beausoleil First Nation Land Code document. Land Code? The Beausoleil First Nation Land Code will be presented to our community through a ratification The Beausoleil First Nation Land Code would protect vote in May 2014. Christian Island, Hope Island, Beckwith Island, Christian Island 30 A (Cedar Point). Any future additions to reserve would also fall under the Land What is the Beausoleil First Code. Nation Land Code? What’s next for FNLM and you? Definition of a Land Code: Means a code, approved by a First Nation in accordance with the Framework Agreement that sets out the basic provisions Participate in community forums, request a home regarding the exercise of the First Nation’s rights and visit, and ask questions, share ideas. The Beausoleil powers over its First Nation land. First Nation Lands and Resources Department along with the Land Advisory Board Resource Centre are The Land Code would allow us to create Land Laws excited to present the draft Land Code. We are here and Bylaws providing further protection of our land to assist you in gaining the knowledge and resources and our resources. The Beausoleil First Nation Land needed to make an informed decision on FNLM. Code is created by all registered members of It is very important to get your registration form if you would like to vote electronically (e-voting). A link, as well as instructions will be provided in your mail-out package. If you are voting by mail-in ballot, please ensure that you allow ample time to return the complete ballot package. A Message from What is the Land Kristin Monague Code? Acting Lands Manager The basic Land Hi Everyone, I want to take a few minutes to introduce myself, for those of you who don’t know Law of Beausoleil me, my name is Kristin Monague. When people First Nation want to know who you are they often ask, “Who are your parents?” So, my parents are Hiram and Valerie. I was raised here in our beautiful PART 1 community until it was time to leave for a higher Definitions, purpose, education. I am a mother of two young children, authority to govern, land and I want the best possible future for them, as members and the future of our community. description I am currently the Acting Lands Manager for the PART 2 Beausoleil First Nation Lands and Resources Law making and enforcement department. I studied Native Studies and Indigenous Environmental Studies at Trent University. Once I completed my program I returned home and was fortunate enough to get a job in my home. PART 3 Community meetings and I’ve been with the Lands department for 10 years. I started as the Lands Administrative Assistant and was given the opportunity by my previous Manager, Jennifer Copegog, to approvals further advance my skills. I attended the University of Saskatchewan for the Indigenous Peoples Resources Management Program, a program specifically geared to Lands PART 4 Management on the First Nation level. Upon successful completion of this program I went Protection of land, on to the second level of Certification with the National Aboriginal Lands Managers acquisition, voluntary land Association, Reserve Land and Environment Management Program. I am now a Certified exchanges Lands Manager. Yay! As the Acting Lands Manager, I am responsible for the supervision of staff in the Lands & PART 5 Resources Department and the development of the annual departmental budget, work Accountability to members, plan, policies and procedures, and reporting. I have the authority for the First Nation to approve documents relating to Lands including Land Transfers, Assignments and New conflict of interest rules, Leases. financial management We work as a team in the Lands Department. We are all knowledgeable in the duties that PART 6 each of us perform. The Lands Department has grown throughout the years, we now have 8 staff; a manager, a finance clerk, an administrative assistant, a compliance supervisor, 2 Administration, staff, Lands compliance officers, a community consultation liaison and a community liaison on climate Committee change. We are always planning and thinking of ways to improve on the services that we deliver. And more importantly how to keep our members in the loop. PART 7 Our most recent undertaking is the development of a Land Code under the Framework Interests and Licences, CPs, Agreement on First Nations Land Management and the First Nation Land Management transfers, mortgages Act. This initiative is a form of sectoral self-government and will enable us to opt out of the sections of the Indian Act that relate to Lands Management. This will allow us to manage PART 8 our reserve Lands, Environment and Resources the way we, as a community, see fit. Dispute resolution If our community chooses to approve the Land Code, through a ratification vote, we, as a community, will have the power to make land laws specific to development, conservation, PART 9 protection, management, use and possession of First Nation Land. Liability, offences Under the land code, our Lands will never diminish they will only grow. And as such, they will be protected for our Future Generations. Council can make Land Laws for the development, conservation, protection, management, use and possession of Beausoleil First Nation land Community Meeting of Approval Members needed for: needed for: Any master Declaring Land Use Plan land or New grant or interest to be disposal of an subject to interest or licence Land Code longer than 35 years Community/ Subdivision Renewal of grant Plan Land Law or disposition of interest or Any development licence longer than 35 affecting heritage years or environmentally Grant or disposition of non- sensitive property renewable natural resource longer than 5 Environmental assessment and protection years land Law Any deletion of a heritage site Land Law for transferring/ assigning rights Any voluntary land exchange or interests in BFN land Any other matter or Land Law Council adds Matrimonial Real Property Land Law Ratification Vote needed for: Land Law for rate and criteria for fees or rent of BFN land Amendment to the Land Code Community Acquisition Land Law Any other matter or Land Law Council adds In other Lands News..... August 25, 2017: Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN), whose lands consist of 23, 708 hectares over 18 reserves, has become the 76th Framework Agreement signatory nation to ratify their community Land Code. The Manitoba community of 5214 members, took to the polls and voted 89% in favor of regaining governance control over their lands and resources. NCN can now move forward with beneficial projects for their membership, while protecting their vast land base, free from the encumbrances of the Indian Act. Congratulations NCN! Beausoleil Land Authority Flows from Creator > People > Chief and Council The traditional teachings of Beausoleil First Nation speak of the obligation of the people to care for and respect the land and magnificent wonders of nature created on the land. By Meeting of Members enacting the Land Code, Beausoleil First Nation is reclaiming this special responsibility. Authority flows from the Creator to the people, and from the people to Chief and Council.