by Crystal Dorey, Communications Officer, KMKNO
On February 24 & 25, a group of individuals from the Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia, came together to discuss the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia Custom Citizenship Code. This draft document, currently being developed by Jamie Battiste, Citizenship Coordinator at Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office (KMKNO), will become a major component in the process of asking, who can benefit from and practice Mi’kmaq Rights in Nova Scotia.
Over the past several years, KMKNO has engaged community members on what is important about being Mi’kmaq, and what should be preserved for future generations. These discussions on Mi’kmaw values and responsibilities have helped to shape the Citizenship Code. As Kji-Keptin Andrew Denny of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council stated in his 2014 Treaty Day address, “We are taught that as Mi’kmaq we have Rights, but with those Rights come clear responsibilities; these are not individual Rights, but the Rights of a Nation”.
Our Treaties state that the Rights are for Mi’kmaq “heirs, and their heirs forever”. Prior to colonial laws, we have always determined, within ourselves, who was and was not a Mi’kmaw; with the establishment of the Indian Act – that changed. Yet, case law in Canada suggests that if an individual – who is not recognized as a Status Indian – can demonstrate their Aboriginal Identity and/or Ancestry to the Courts, they may be entitled to practice Inherent Aboriginal and Treaty ...
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