Page 37 - Six Nations Community Plan 2019

GOVERNANCE: WHAT WE HEARD AROUND THE TABLE…

Where we have come from:

The governance system of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy is the oldest participatory democracy in the world. Our Great Law
was given to us to show us a system based on family, kinship, inclusivity and participation; it is a unique and orderly system
designed to empower all people and ensure their concerns and solutions are reflected in decisions made by our leaders.
Through the Two Row Wampum - based on peace, power and righteousness - our inherent sovereignty was celebrated
in strong and mutually respectful treaty relationships with other nations. Unfortunately, these relationships came to be
disrespected through colonialism and assimilation.

Where we are today:

Our Great Law still exists today; it is held in the hearts of the people. But the way we function day to day as a community in
terms of how we relate to ourselves, each other and Mother Nature is not always reflective of our teachings. Our governance is
fractured, and different decisions exclude different parts of the community which leads to unrest. Many community members
feel cut off from meaningful participation in the governance of issues that affect them. Pressure from outside governance
systems imposing decisions on Six Nations has led to a paternalistic relationship, instead of the nation to nation relationship
agreed to through the Two Row Wampum. There has also been a loss of recognition of our sovereignty, treaties and territory
by other governments which has led to a diminished land base that keeps many of our community members from being able to
live in Six Nations. Despite these current realities, the deep passion we have for our community and culture is motivating us to
overcome this challenge of governance. We are having difficult but important conversations in a process of change towards a
system of governance that celebrates our incredible strength and reflects the entire community.

How we will move into the future:

As a community, we will adapt to the modern environment and challenges while resisting colonialization to uphold our
nationhood. We will unite through healing and justice to work together to function under cohesive governance that best
suits the community and addresses the needs of the people. As in our traditional way of governing, every person will have a
role in governance and know how to carry out their responsibilities. We will strengthen and celebrate our treaty relationships
so that we can reclaim and increase our land base to access the resources we need to support and have more of our people
living at home.

Our Vision for the future is that…

“Six Nations is a unified community with a system of
governance that is strong, participatory and accountable.”

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