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The
Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Allies (AAFNA) is a confederation of Algonquin
families who have lived in the Ottawa' River watershed since time immemorial and
who are currently situated in the area described by the Mississippi, Madawaska,
Rideau, and Tay watersheds. These families express a desire to preserve
Algonquin language, culture and territorial jurisdiction by working together and
maintaining an enduring sense of Algonquin community.
The Algonquin people are a living, dynamic people who have occupied the Ottawa River valley and surrounding territory for at least the last 3000 years. Their roots are in the archaic traditions of Turtle Island (North America). Over time the Algonquin people have adapted to a wide range of conditions and have been influenced by many events. Today they remain a strong and distinct people. The Ardoch Algonquin First Nation 'and Allies strives to maintain the Algonquin people and tradition by addressing the following objectives.
1. AAFNA
will maintain a strong focus on preserving family and kinship through social,
ceremonial, traditional and personal expression by supporting community
gatherings and events.
2. AAFNA will assert its political presence in the Ottawa Valley and surrounding
area to preserve Algonquin jurisdiction in land, economy, resource management,
social relationships and in asserting Aboriginal rights and title.
3.
AAFNA will engage in the protection of the environment both locally and globally
in keeping with the sacred responsibility to the earth.
4.AAFNA
will promote among all of its members the value of learning. In particular,
AAFNA will facilitate the retention. of the Algonquin language, manners, customs
and worldview.
5. AAFNA will offer to each member the protection of the collective community
and each member will offer protection to any other member and to the collective
community.
6. AAFNA will promote the healthy well being of the community and of its
members. AAFNA will engage in activities where the well being of all people can
be addressed.
7.
Ardoch will be recognized as the Centre of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and
shall always remain the Head Office.
1. The
Ardoch Algonquin First Nation is governed by the General Assembly of its
members. A General Assembly can be held at any time of the year and questions in
the form of referendum may be brought to the Assembly for ratification. The
rules of "consensus" and "mutual respect and benefit" must
be observed. Any member may speak: and be heard on any question at a General
Assembly The General Assembly gives guidance to the Family Heads Council.
2. The regular business of AAFNA is conducted by the Family Heads Council, which
is formed by representatives of Core AAFNA Families. Each Core Family shall
appoint a spokesperson to represent them at the Family Heads Council.
3. AAFNA Family Heads Council may appoint or dismiss a Chief, spokespersons,
negotiators, representatives, financial managers, resource managers, or
messengers to conduct its business. All individuals representing AFFNA under
these designations shall act as spokespersons only for Family Heads Council and
shall represent all AAFNA members at all times.
4. The authority to make agreements or treaties, recognise, borrow or lend,
payor collect accounts, distribute assets, accept members, rests with the full
consent (consensus) of the Family Heads Council.
5. Family Heads Council may consent for AAFNA to be represented in a collective
of other Algonquin communities or communities of other Aboriginal people for the
purposes of mutual respect and benefit in as much as such a coalition does not
compromise or surrender Algonquin jurisdiction, rights, title or the fundamental
principles upon which AAFNA is founded.
Membership
A
person will be recognized as a member of AAFNA and be entitled to the
protection, rights and responsibilities of AAFNA when:
1.
The person is of Algonquin decent and a member of a recognized family and has by
consensus been accepted by Family Heads Council.
2.
The person is a recognized spouse of an AAFNA member with consent of Family
Heads Council.
3.
The person is a recognized adopted child of an AAFNA member with consent of
Family Heads Council.
4.
A person who by consent of Family Heads Council and is recognized through a
community adoption ceremony before the General Assembly of AAFNA.
Membership
may be terminated by mutual consent (consensus) of Family Heads Council when:
1.
An individual requests their membership to be terminated.
2.
An individual refuses by word or action to comply with policies, guiding
principles and the spirit of mutual respect and benefit which, have been agreed
upon by mutual
consent
( consensus) of Core Family Spokespersons at Family Heads Council.
Relationships
AAFNA
may enter into relationships with other communities, governments or nations for
the purpose of mutual respect and benefit. Relationships include but are not
exclusive to agreements, treaties and political coalitions. Relationships must
be established by consensus of Family Heads Council. The following principles
will guide AAFNA relationships.
1.
Relations with Canada and its provinces should be understood to be adversarial.
While historically Algonquins have offered the Crown an alliance of peace and
friendship this offer has been consistently abused and undermined by the Crown's
laws, policies and actions. It must be understood that Canada and it's provinces
are living on the bounty of Aboriginal land and resources with no real intention
of making full restitution or return of our lands and resources.
2. Relations with other Algonquin Communities should recognize that Algonquins
are a People first, and not a Nation State, and therefore relationships among
themselves should be guided by the fundamental principles of Algonquin relations
not by western notions of governance.
3. Relations with people, organizations, or groups other than the Crown or
Algonquin communities should be entered into for the purposes of meeting AAFNA
objectives. These relations shall not constitute membership or political
affiliation in any form.
4. AAFNA membership, governance and guiding principles shall never be compromised to achieve or accommodate relationships with other Algonquin or non-Algonquin communities or governments.
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Ardoch Algonquin First Nation Banner created by Kevin Wright.