Residents of ?AQ’AM (St. Mary’s Indian Band) have an important vote April 14-16.

The band will be conducting a Ratification Vote to adopt a Land Management Code, which if approved will lead the community to assume control of land matters from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs “so we can manage our own lands based on rules set by our community,” explains band Chief Operating Officer Scott Manjak in a Feb. 4 report.

“A Land Code will allow St. Mary’s to move at the pace of business,” Manjak reported.

All band members are able to vote on accepting the Land Code or to remain under management of Aboriginal Affairs.

If the Land Code is accepted, the band will be able to make timely business and land decisions “without having to go to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs for approval; pass and enforce our own laws for environmental management and protection and for the protection of cultural and heritage values; deal with the disposition of marital property in the manner decided up on by the community through the development of a Matrimonial Real Property Law; have more and clearer protection against federal expropriation; and increase accountability and capacity,” Manjak’s report outlnes.

If accepted, the Land Code would mean the band would be responsible for costs of administering it and have to make its “own decisions about land management, but it will also be responsible for errors and omissions,” Manjak pointed out.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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