CHIPPEWAS OF THE THAMES COMMUNITY STORY - Cottfn

community council where consensus was reached on how to proceed. Chiefs and
their sub-chiefs (like counselors) didn‘t just decide things their own. They sought
consensus from the people, and then they acted to implement the decisions required.
Implementation of decisions meant mobilizing community members to do things (or
stop doing them) and leadership roles were to coordinate these actions. Spiritual
leaders provided continuous guidance to the process reminding everyone of the
teachings, as well as the duties and responsibilities the sacred teachings required of
everyone.
b. This system was gradually undermined after contact with Europeans, especially after
the formation of Canada and the passing of the Indian Act, which imposed a
municipal manager and council model on Indigenous Reserve communities. Also, the
Indian agent system carried on into the 1950s, ensuring that a non-native manager
controlled most real decision-making, especially related to finances.
c. The current pattern, which really amounts to Indigenous communities serving as local
managers of federal programs being run in their territories, emerged during the 1960s
and 70s. That system doesn‘t understand or even respect our cultural way of doing
things.
d. The historical changes in our governance and community systems made us more and
more dependant in our thinking. We began to see this system itself as our ―treaty
right‖, instead of focusing on our community development process and creating our
own governance system.
3. What will things be like politically in a positive future?
In a positive future, COTT will have its own election code and legislation that are in
line with its traditions. We will be self-governed and sovereign, without having every
aspect of life controlled by external rules and conditions. This will mean that we will
have sufficient own-source income to allow us to implement the programs and initiatives
that are most important to us without interference from outside governments. The elders
will give advice to the leaders, and leaders will take that advice seriously.
Leaders will think of themselves as servants of the people. They will set an example
and make sure that people who need support are looked after, but at the same time they
will not use their positions to keep people dependent. They will work toward self-reliance
for all. Leadership will have their own job descriptions, and will be accountable (just as
staff is now) before the community.
Chippewas of the Thames Community Story
October 2011
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