Sioux Valley Dakota Nation People
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation People are the descendants of the Dakota people whose original territory covered the centre of North America in what is now Canada and The United States. Sioux Valley Dakota Nation citizens had always been a self-governing society in their traditional territory of what is now the Mid-Western United States and through Manitoba, Saskatchew
an, Alberta and Eastern Ontario. The people of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation (SVDN) never entered treaties the way other First Nations did in the surrounding areas of Canada prior to 1900. It has a 4,136 hectare (10,220 acre) reserve plus another 65 hectare (160 acre) reserve that it shares with two other Dakota Nations. Location of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
SVDN is located in southwest Manitoba approximately 50 kilometres west of Brandon. The
community is located on both sides of Highway 21 about 10 kilometres north of the Trans Canada
Highway. Population of Sioux Valley
According to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada the, registered population of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation as of March 2012 was a total of 2,399 with 1,356 members living on-reserve, 1043 living off-reserve or other reserves. History of Negotiations
1983-1987
Four Canadian First Ministers Conferences were held to address Constitution reform and they ended without agreement. With the failure of that reform initiative, the Itancan (Elders) of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation began to consider other pathways to self-determination for SVDN. Meetings with SVDN members were held and the Itancan develop and adopt a new approach.
1988
Initial negotiations began with Dakota Bands and the Government of Canada as represented by what is now Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Most of the Dakota Chiefs agreed that it was premature to undertake a common Dakota First Nations governance initiative. SVDN still leaders chose to pursue the right of Self-determination with the Government of Canada. The Itancan, Dakota Oyate Steering Committee, and a group of committee members provided ongoing assistance and began working to create a new relationship between Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and the Governments of Canada and Manitoba. Sioux Valley Dakota Oyate Government consulted members, and proceeded to develop a framework agreement for governance.
1991
SVDN Chief Robert Bone and Tom Siddon, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development signed a framework Agreement for Self-government on September 9. The Framework Agreement outlines what would be negotiated under the new government process.
1992
The Province of Manitoba becomes a party to the negotiations in November.
1995
Canada announces a process for the Implementation of the Inherent Right and the Negotiation of Aboriginal Self-government.
2001
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Ken Whitecloud and Robert Nault, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development signed a Comprehensive Agreement-in-Principle (CAIP) on March 2, 2001. Chief Whitecloud, Minister Nault and Eric Robinson, the Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister also signed a Tripartite Agreement in Principle provides for Manitoba’s acceptance of CAIP provisions. The CAIP outlined how a final agreement will be negotiated. It also addressed areas such as application of laws, dispute resolution, fiscal relationship and financial arrangements, general provisions, governance matters, implementation, intergovernmental relations, jurisdiction, lands, and non-resident citizens.
2005
A Plain Language Draft of the Governance Agreements is created and presented for negotiation.
2007
SVDN membership voted on and passed the Constitution of the People in December, laying the foundation for governance negotiations.
2011
On June 28 the negotiations ended and negotiators of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Canada, and Manitoba place their initials to reflect the;
• Proposed Bilateral Governance Agreement between the SVDN and the Government of Canada;
• Proposed Tripartite Governance Agreement with Canada and Manitoba;
• Proposed Financial Arrangements Agreement with Canada; and
• Proposed Implementation Support Plan with Canada and Manitoba. The initialling marks the conclusion of negotiations, and the beginning of the Ratification Process by the membership.
2012
On June 6 the Information Sharing Campaign began with a community event held in SVDN Veterans Memorial Hall. On October 4 SVDN membership will vote to accept or reject the following proposed agreements;
• Proposed Bilateral Governance Agreement between the SVDN and the Government of Canada;
• Proposed Tripartite Governance Agreement with Canada and Manitoba;
On October 4 the SVDN membership will also vote to reaffirm the Constitution of the People
Governance Agreements
The Proposed SVDN Bilateral Governance Agreement and its related Proposed Agreements will provide SVDN Government with jurisdiction over and responsibility for its own internal affairs. The Proposed Agreements will provide the authority to make decisions and laws about many matters affecting the community. The Proposed Bilateral Agreement addresses SVDN Government structure, accountability to members, intergovernmental relationships with Canada and Manitoba, SVDN law-making powers, implementation of SVDN law, and provision for SVDN member programs and services. The Proposed Tripartite Agreement provides for a government-to-government relationship between the SVDN, Canada, and Manitoba. Once approved by SVDN members, Manitoba will acknowledge the Proposed Agreement by presenting legislation to the Legislative Assembly that approves of and gives the force of law to the Proposed Agreements. Canada will then follow similarly in the House of Commons. Related Agreements
The Proposed SVDN Financial Arrangements Agreement outlines the transfer of funds for programs and services to the SVDN. It sets out the schedules for the passing of responsibilities to the SVDN and also for the transferring of funds. The Proposed Agreement is a plan that sets out the responsibilities of each party, the amounts of funds, and the distribution process. The Proposed SVDN Implementation Support Plan will facilitate the timely and efficient meeting of the obligations set out in the Proposed Governance, Tripartite, and Financial Arrangements Agreements. The intent is to provide for a smooth transition by SVDN into Governance. Benefits of Governance
The Proposed SVDN Bilateral Governance Agreement will ensure that the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation members have control over their community’s direction and government. With the Proposed Governance Agreements, SVDN Government will be able to proceed with programs and activities without authorization from the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. Governance will also enable SVDN to create economic development opportunities and become more self-reliant. The Proposed Governance Agreements will also provide SVDN Government to create its own laws which will be enforceable within the boundaries of the reserve. Areas in which SVDN will be able to pass laws include: citizenship; health; education; environment; justice; social development and lands management. The Proposed Governance Agreement provides SVDN jurisdiction in approximately 38 areas. This is not a treaty but instead one of the broadest agreements ever negotiated between Canada and one First Nation for Governance. Ratification
The Proposed SVDN Governance Agreements have been finalized and initialled by the negotiating teams; each party to the agreement will need to officially ratify the Proposed Agreements. For SVDN, ratification will take the form of a democratic and secret vote by eligible voting members. Voting members will be asked to authorize their elected SVDN Council to proceed with the Proposed Governance Agreements. All eligible voters of SVDN regardless of residency will have an opportunity to participate in the SVDN Ratification Vote. Before conducting the vote, an intensive information sharing campaign will take place to ensure that eligible voters are aware of and understand the Proposed Agreements. For further information, please contact: Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Office Communications and Consultations Department
Box 38, GRISWOLD MB R0M 0S0
Governance: (204) 855-2760
Toll Free: 1-866-794-3196
Governance Office Fax: (204) 855-2131
www.svdngovernance.com
