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Mikmaq

• Three Levels of Government

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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

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Local Council Chief contd

• The Local Chief was always male and came from a
  prominent family
• They were of good character and they were very
  good hunters

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District Council Chief

• Total of 7, 1 for each of the 7 MiKmaq 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

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District Council Chief

• The 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

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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

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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

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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.

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Modern Grand Council contd

• 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 Mikmaq prayers to the sick and dying,
  assisting a bereaved family with the funeral
  arrangements. Captains duties vary depending on
  the need of their reserve.

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Modern Grand Council contd

• 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 Mikmaq people
• Grand Council and the position of Grand Chief are
  non-political but they are still viewed with
  great respect in the Mikmaq community

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Todays Assignment

• Comparing Canadian government structure with
  traditional Mikmaq 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 Mikmaq levels of government

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Todays Assignment

• Useful search term Canadas Political
  Structure
• Helpful websites www.canadaonline.about.com
  www.canadascapital.gc.ca
• You only have one class period to complete this
  activity

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Answer key - Mikmaq
Local 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 Mikmaq districts
Leadership Characteristics 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
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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 elected elected elected