Message from the Chief

Shekoli Everyone,

We are now entering the month of Ohyotsheli (July – string beans), and we now have elected a new council for the term 2010-2012.  I am humbled once again to have been re-elected to the Chief position, and look forward to moving ahead on the multitudes of issues that are facing our community.  I was also elected to the councilor position with the second highest number of votes, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for me this past election for both positions.  However, I have submitted a letter to INAC declining that councilor position and have decided to keep the Chief position instead, although technically I could keep both.  I just can’t foresee a situation in which I would choose to be a councilor rather than a chief, and that is the reasoning behind my decision.  I would also like to congratulate all the new and returning council members on their successful bids for election, and hope that together we can make the best decisions possible for our people.

We have a lot of work to do, and we have two years to make the best of our time in office, and I am confident this council will do just that.  As Original Peoples, we are under constant attack through legislation designed to weaken our rights, and we also suffer from chronic underfunding as well.  Some of the newer bills we are seeing certainly have the potential to severely affect First Nations in a negative manner, such as Bill C-24, which has just recently received Royal Assent and is now law.  It is titled “First Nations Certaintly of Land Title Act”, and if a First Nation chooses to implement it would give that Chief and Council leeway to make certain parcels of reserve land the equivalent of fee simple status, which means they can sell it or use it as equity, which is very dangerous.  Another Bill which has now passed into third reading in the Senate is Bill S-4, regarding Matrimonial Real Property, which if passed as is, can give non-First Nations people real interest in title of property on a First Nation when marital relations break down.  The Native Women’s Association of Canada has denounced this bill, as well as the Assembly of First Nations, and the Iroquois Caucus and its’ members because of this and other inherent defects within the bill.  These two are just a sampling of the types of legislation Canada is attempting to impose with literally little or no consultation with the First Nations people.  I’m sure everyone knows about the chronic underfunding in virtually every category you can think of, and that Is why we have to be steadfast in our determination to be self-sustaining, and keep on the path to real sovereignty.

I could go on and on, but I won’t and I’ll just conclude this message to say that I welcome all comments, and invite all Oneida members/citizens to e-mail myself on any issue at joel.abram@oneida.on.ca
In Peace and Friendship
Chief Joel Abram