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 Tansi,
It is my honour as Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin to welcome you to our website. Manitoba Keewatinook
Ininew Okimowin or the nothern Manitoba First Nation's Government House describes our function.
One goal is to lay the foundations for a self-governing legislative
body to better serve the interests of our MKIO member First Nation's
and citizens. As MKIO has always been a proactive leader of
change we rise to the challenge of the Northern Chiefs to be more
responsive to its individual members. It is an exciting direction
and I am pleased to say that all involved in this process have risen
to the challenge.
We
look forward to sharing our experiences with you and encourage people
to get involved and stay informed.
Ekosi,
Dr. Sydney Garrioch
Grand Chief
Serving Northern First Nations
Manitoba
Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin (MKIO) is a political office established
in 1981 by First Nations in Northern Manitoba. We are some fifty-three
thousand citizens of thirty sovereign First Nations following in
the great traditions of the Cree, Dene and Oji-Cree. MKIO leadership
has organized to provide a united voice on shared issues of rights
--- inherent, Treaty, Constitutional and human rights. The legacy
of colonialism has been the denial of our rights. We work to exercise
them. On fundamental issues of rights, we stand united with First
Nations throughout our homelands in Canada and beyond.
MKIO has a specific
mandate to represent northern First Nation interests. Colonialism
has expressed itself differently in the north. An extractive resource
economy has left few local benefits but many environmental, rights
and social impacts. Southern mainstream governments and institutions
have not been sensitive to northern issues and realities. Our unique
history, territory, settlement patterns and remoteness present issues
of transportation, cost of living, housing, infrastructure and services
that have demanded strong representation of northern First Nation
rights and interests.
MKIO receives
its mandate by resolution of the MKO Chiefs in General Assembly.
The Grand Chief, elected for a three year term, serves as principal
spokesperson. A regionally representative Executive Council of Chiefs
provides ongoing direction between General Assemblies. Executive
Council members also assume responsibility for directing work in
specific portfolio areas of related issues. MKIO has the support
of a staff of secretariat working in the wide range of political,
policy, social, economic, environmental and cultural issues that
must be addressed to restore our nations and exercise our rights.
MKIO has recently
adopted a new Constitution and is restructuring as a Legislative
Governance House to provide a regional process for passing laws
consistent with the inherent rights of self-government and the sovereignty
of First Nations in Northern Manitoba. Implementation of the regional
government structure is ongoing.
The rights of
First Nations encompass the right to enjoy Creator-given gifts of
language, culture, traditions, teachings and territory. We are people
of the forest, lands and waters of the north. We are peoples and
nations. We have the inherent right to govern ourselves. We have
the right to gain livelihood in our homelands. We have been here
for as long as the sun has shone, the grass has grown and the rivers
have flowed. This understanding of First Nation rights has not yet
brought fundamental change in our relations with Canada. MKIO pursues
this change in many different ways.
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