Membership Meeting Notes – November 9, 2023

Tansi,

If you remember from our October 13^th meeting, we were to have 1 more meeting to finalize the Membership Code and then to schedule a vote on it.  Roles and structure for the Membership Committee were also to be finalized.

Membership Code to be voted on

On November 9^th we did finalize the Membership Code.
The proposed wording of the Membership Code was slightly changed.  We listened to 2 different Declared as Chacachas Members comment on the difficulty of getting Ochapowace to admit their children as members and we revised the wording slightly.  The final proposed wording is:

A person shall be eligible to be a registered Chacachas Member if:

• 1. her or his name appears on the Declaration List or is a descendant of such a person; or

1.  he or she is presently on the Ochapowace Band List; and

• • 1. he or she is a descendant of the Chacachas Band; or
    2. he or she is deemed by Council, as recommended by the Membership Committee, to be eligible; or
    3. he or she is deemed by the General Assembly to be eligible by a majority vote.

Vote on Membership Code

In the meeting we discussed how the vote should take place.  It was decided that:

It was decided that:

•  declared Members should vote on the proposed Membership Code.
• the vote will be structured by providing 1 proposed Membership Code; and
• Members will either vote Yes or No to accept the code.

Structure and Role of Membership Committee

In the October 13^th meeting we had an outline of the structure and roles of the proposed Membership Committee.  These were discussed and solidified.

Structure will be:

• 5 persons
• chosen by Council
• no specific term was discussed for persons on the Committee

Power of the Membership Committee will be:

• reporting to Council as advisors
  • Council can make decisions, but General Assembly has final say?  This was not clarified.

Roles will include:

• Verify those who have signed Declarations as eligible descendants to verify membership base. Goal is 90 days.  This verification shall not impede choosing of leaders.
• Further establish membership criteria, with particular attention paid to work done previously to build the Chacachas Band List and Membership Criteria; and
• Preparing structured document incorporating criteria
• Assess membership applications
• Prepare “Phase 2” Membership Code for wider Membership (ex. Treaty 4 or Saskatchewan or wider)

Verification of Declared Persons (Originals)

It was decided that:

• persons who have signed the Declaration List should be verified
  • the goal is for this to happen quickly, however it is understood that it may take some time and may also require clarification of membership criteria.
• verification is not necessary for Members in order to vote or otherwise choose leaders
  • we discussed and had an official vote on this in the meeting
• verification is necessary for Members who want to be a Headperson or Chief.

This will take a concerted effort on everyone’s part to work with Dr. Clapperton and the Membership Committee to trace their family lines.

Roadmap moving forward

1. Vote on Membership Code
2. Establish Membership Committee
3. Verify Declarants
4. Work on lineage with Dr. Clapperton – initiate with Clapperton presenting to Members
5. Work on criteria (this will happen naturally as Declarants are verified and will also need to be done more formally as questions arise that need Member input)
6. Get info out to potential Members
7. Preparing structured document incorporating criteria
8. Prepare “Phase 2” Membership Code for wider Membership (ex. Treaty 4 or Saskatchewan or wider)

 

Kind Regards,

David Huck

Ishkonigan (On behalf of Chacachas)