Mi’kmaq

Three Levels of Government

  Local Council Chief

District Council Chief

Grand Council Chief

Powers      

Duties      

Geographic Constituency

     

Leadership Characteristics (how chosen)

     

 

Local Council Chief Presides over the Council of Elders Council of Elders was usually made up of the

heads of families or representatives Responsibilities consisted of:

Making decisions within local areas Take care of supplies, dogs, canoes, hunting,

emergencies (providing for villages) Were teachers and role models for the young Training hunters

Local Council Chief cont’d

The Local Chief was always male and came from a prominent family

They were of good character and they were very good hunters

District Council Chief Total of 7, 1 for each of the 7 Mi’Kmaq

districts Presides over council of local chiefs Responsible for several

villages/communities within his district Met during spring, summer or fall to

settle problems such as peace and war Act as arbitrator - would listen to both

parties and settle dispute

District Council ChiefThe responsibilities

of the Chief included:

Attending Local Council meetings

Take care of problems among districts, villages, nations

District Chief was eldest male of large powerful family

Good hunters

Grand Council Chief Grand Chief is most

important When he speaks,

everyone listens. Presides over Grand

Council Responibilities

included: Defending territory Taking care of any

orphaned children Help with providing food

and supplies

Grand Council Chief The Grand chief had to have

an exceptional character Was an excellent hunter 2 ways to become a Grand

Chief: Hereditary (unless the father

did not feel they were worthy of the position)

Survive in woods for several days without food or water. Must make a camp for 2 people and wait to see if another person arrives. If this occurs, he is capable of being Grand Chief

The Modern Grand Council (Please copy the following notes)

The Indian Act and the introduction of the elected chief and council, the role of the Grand Council has changed.

Grand council now focuses on spiritual needs of community.

Meets 2-3 times a year, usually around religious holidays.

The grand council consists of the grand chief, the putus (grand chief assistant) and the grand captain together with the captains.

Captains

The captains who serve under the grand chief are selected for life.

New captain occurs when a captain dies or there is a need for additional captains.

The selection process involves the grand chief, the local priest and other concerned individuals.

The responsibilities of the captains include: offering Mi’kmaq prayers to the sick and dying, assisting a bereaved family with the funeral arrangements. Captains duties vary depending on the need of their reserve.

Modern Grand Council cont’d

The Grand Council also works with such groups as Micmac Association for Cultural Studies (MACS) and the Union of Nova Scotia Indians to address cultural issues in the community

The Grand Chief often presides as honorary chairperson at meetings and may travel outside of the province as a spiritual or cultural representative for the Mi’kmaq people

Grand Council and the position of Grand Chief are non-political but they are still viewed with great respect in the Mi’kmaq community

Today’s Assignment Comparing Canadian government structure

with traditional Mi’kmaq government structure

Use the Internet to find information about the roles of the municipal, provincial and federal government

Use the information you find to fill in a duplicate chart of the one have you completed on the Mi’kmaq levels of government

  MunicipalGovernment

Provincial Government

Federal Government

Powers      

Duties      

Geographic Constituency

     

Leadership Characteristics (how chosen)

     

 

Today’s Assignment

Useful search term “Canada’s Political Structure”

Helpful websites www.canadaonline.about.com www.canadascapital.gc.ca

You only have one class period to complete this activity

Answer key - Mi’kmaqLocal Council Chief District Council Chief Grand Council Chief

Powers Presides over Council of Elders

Presides over local chiefs Presides over Grand Council and local and district councils

Duties Made decisions for local areas, took care of supplies – dogs, canoes, hunting.Took care of emergencies, acted as teachers and role models, trained hunters

Acted as arbitrator, attend local council meetings, took care of problems among districts, villages

Defend territory, took care of orphaned children, help with providing food and supplies for community.

Geographic Constituency Local area, village or community

There is one for each of the 7 districts each made up of several villages, communities

Responsible for all 7 Mi’kmaq districts

Leadership Characteristics (how chosen)

Male from a prominent family, good character, good hunters

Eldest male from a large powerful family, good hunters

Exceptional character, excellent hunters, hereditary, survive in woods and create a new camp

Answer Key - Canadian Government

Municipal Provincial Federal

Powers Mayor, Presides over city council

Premier, presides over legislative

assembly

Prime Minister, presides over

parliament

Duties Water, sewage, public

transportation, waste removal, animal control,

local police, land use planning

Health, education, transportation

Money, banking, defence,

immigration, foreign affairs, native affairs, criminal code, trade, duties &

tariffs, air & rail transportation, broadcasting

Geographic constituency

Town, city, counties

Province Nation

Leadership characteristics (how

chosen)

elected elected elected