December 2015Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Revenue Sharing

What is Mi’gmawei Mawiomi (MM)?The Mi’gmaq of Gesgapegiag, Gespe’g and Listuguj have always lived on the land and in our territory, which we call Gespe’gewa’gi. Our three communities came together and formed an alliance in 2000 to deal with matters of common concern including the allocation of lands and resources, economic and social development, revenue generation and improved services and capacity for our citizens.

Our Vision Statement: An Independent (self-sustaining, self-determining) Mi’gmaq Government

based on a Constitution that promotes & protects the rights, freedoms and well-being of the L’nu

(the people).

Our Mission Statement: The Mi’gmaq Nation having inhabited Gespe'gewa'gi since time

immemorial have inalienable title to the land, surrounding waters and unextinguished Aboriginal

rights title and treaty rights throughout our territory. Therefore, our mission is to uphold, reaffirm and respect the treaty and Aboriginal rights and aspirations of our people by rebuilding the Mi'gmaq Nation through the repatriation of lands, resources and surrounding waters. This is

achieved by forging alliances to support the pursuit of Mi’gmaq self-determination, by engaging in strategic partnerships with national and international bodies in areas of economic and social

development; by strengthening our traditional and cultural norms and practices and other capacity and nation building endeavours.

Since 2000, MM has made historic steps towards self-determination including an agreement that outlines expectations and positions regarding consultation and accommodation measures (Gespe’gewa’gi Saqamawuti); a Statement of claim over Gespe’gewa’gi (Nm’tginen); and the appointment of a Speaker (Nutewistoq).

How does this partnership affect our Aboriginal and Treaty rights?Mi’gmawei Mawiomi works on behalf of all of the citizens of Gespe’gewa’gi. We are stronger when we work together. We are advocating for our collective Aboriginal and treaty rights in our territory. Mi’gmawei Mawiomi uses Mi’gmaq laws and traditions to resolve jurisdictional conflicts between Canada and/or Quebec and the Mi’gmaq.

What is the Mi’gmaq Mawiomi’s governance structure?The Mi’gmawei Mawiomi is made up of the Chiefs and Councilors of the three Mi’gmaq communities of Gesgapegiag, Gespe’g and Listuguj. Every attempt is made to make decisions by consensus.

What does the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat (MMS) do?It’s the administrative arm of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi. MMS carries out its work based on the four key strategic initiatives of the MM:

MMS is also responsible for recruiting, selecting and retaining staff, preferably citizens of the three communities and building capacity of all citizens, in order to meet the current and future needs arising from increased self-government and revenue generation.

Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat - Frequently Asked Questions on Revenue Sharing / Part 1 - December 2015

FAQ

’s #1

December  17,  2015

Hello  to  all  Gespe’gewa’gi  ci:zens.

On   behalf   of   the  Mi’gmawei  Mawiomi,   we  are   sending   you   this  short   leEer   and   informa:on   package  regarding  Revenue  Sharing.

As  you  may   be  aware,   Mi’gmawei  Mawiomi  has  spent  many   years  working   on  behalf   of   Gespe’gewa’gi  ci:zens  to  assert  our  Aboriginal  rights  and  :tle  to  our  territory.    We  have  also  started  work  on  one  of  our  cri:cal  and  strategic  ini:a:ves:  Growing  Our  Economy.

We  are  commiEed  to  relying   less  on  ‘insufficient  Crown  funding’  and  relying  more  and  more  on  what  we  call  our  ‘own-­‐source  revenues.’    We  will  take  control  of  our  territory  and  our  resources  and  any  revenues  we  generate  will  benefit  all  Gespe’gewa’gi  ci:zens.

AEached  to  this  leEer  you  will  find  some  ‘Frequently  Asked  Ques:ons’  regarding  Revenue  Genera:on  and  Revenue  Sharing.    We  will  provide  more  FAQ’s  in  the  upcoming  months  on  this  subject.  

Our  goal  is  to  share  informa:on  as  it  becomes  available  between  now  and  the  end  of  the  process  towards    a  historic  Revenue  Sharing  Agreement  signing  ceremony,  hosted  by  the  Mi’gmawei  Mawiomi  in  2016.    

In  order   to  be  transparent  with  you,   a  Gespe’gewa’gi  ci:zen,  we  will  be  providing  informa:on  in  various  ways   on   what   is   happening   regarding   revenue   sharing.   This   includes   video   interviews,   radio  announcements,   documents  on  our  web  site  and  a  three-­‐volume  Handbook,   to  be  distributed  monthly  during  process  star:ng  in  January  2016,  related  specifically  to  revenue  sharing  and  revenue  genera:on.

If  you  have  any   further  ques:ons  about  revenue  sharing  or  revenue  genera:on,  please  contact  any  of  the  three  Chiefs  or  Troy  Jerome,  Execu:ve  Director/Nutewistoq  at  the  MMS  office.

The  Mi’gmawei  Mawiomi  would  also  like  to  take  this  opportunity   to  wish  you  and  your  family  a  very  Merry  Christmas  and  a  Happy  New  Year.    Ulnuelewin  aq  Pusu’leg  Puna’ne.  

Cordially,

Troy  Jerome                                                  MMS  Execu:ve  Director  /  Nutewistoq

Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat - Frequently Asked Questions on Revenue Sharing / Part 1 - December 2015

We invite you to read our upcoming Community Handbooks that will provide you with more information on the past, present and future initiatives and opportunities in Revenue Generation and Revenue Sharing. Coming in 2016.

Upcoming Issues/Dates

January 2016 Vol. 1February 2016 Vol. 2March 2016 Vol. 3

Mi’gmawei  Mawiomi  Secretariat2  Riverside  WestListuguj,  QC  

418.788.1760  /  800.370.1760

Gespeg  Band  Office783  Blvd.  Pte.-­‐Navarre

Fontenelle,  QC  418.368.6005

Gesgapegiag  Band100  Perron  Blvd.Gesgapegiag,  QC418.759.3441

Listuguj  Band  Office17  Riverside  West

Listuguj,  QC  418.788.2136