Standing Selection Process Among Vital Issues at Annual General Assembly
LONDON, ON – The Annual General Assembly is a major gathering of A.I.A.I. member nations and their chiefs to discuss essential issues that are prevalent in First Nations communities. Among the areas that will be covered at the Annual General Assembly, hosted by the Caldwell Nation on May 29th to the 31st, will be the election of a new A.I.A.I. Grand Chief and Deputy Grand Chief through the use of what is called a Standing Selection Process. Other policy areas to be examined will be the taxation of tobacco and gasoline, community safety, and the health social advisory board among others.
The Standing Selection Process is based on indigenous tradition, and is a step away from the secret ballot method, and is our attempt to incorporate traditional methods into the election of an A.I.A.I. Grand Chief and Deputy Chief. By not doing a secret ballot it is the hope this will make it a more transparent process and promotes accountability among the voters as well as a the candidates.
We would like to invite members of the media to attend this event for the afternoon of day one on May 29th and the majority of day two. The first day the media will be able to see the beginning of the standing selection process with an explanation by the Selection Coordinator. There will be a candidate’s forum and speeches by the candidates for the Grand Chief and the Deputy Grand Chief positions. Day two the media is invited to attend the standing selection process in the morning and are welcome to stay for most of the afternoon. In addition to the Standing Selection Process there will be policy and presentations on both days in regards to political issues that affect all of the member nations such as health, education, and the environment to name a few.
The AGA will be held at the Caldwell First Nation Administrative Building, 14 Orange St., Leamington, Ont, media info packs and lunch will be available for media attending to cover the event. To register for the event media is to contact Ira Timothy, Communications Coordinator, to reserve a spot at the event.
MORE INFO
AIAI is mandated as a Political Territorial Organizations (PTO) to defend and enhance the Indigenous and Treaty rights of our seven member First Nations. Our member nations include: Batchewana First Nation, Caldwell First Nation, Delaware Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and the Wahta Mohawks.
RELATED LINKS
- www.aiai.on.ca
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