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You can also find answers to FAQs in the list below.
Questions
Why should I get involved?
This is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts, ideas and beliefs on how a Squamish Nation Constitution should be created. Be a part of history.
Who is leading this project?
The Constitution Working Group is leading this project and taking direction from Squamish People. The project is supported by the Constitution Secretariat staff, who help organize and plan all the events to keep the project moving forward and on track.
Why should I care about a Squamish Nation Constitution?
A constitution protects and recognizes Squamish Nation values and provides a foundation upon which the government is built, and policies and laws are made. This will establish the rules and principles and provide guidance to the Council on how to operate, the rights of Squamish People and define the division of power between Squamish People, administration, and Council. It expresses the broad consensus of the people now.
How will the Constitution interact with other Squamish laws, regulations and policies?
The Constitution will not replace laws, regulations, or policies that the Squamish Nation now has in place or may be adopted in the future. However, if Squamish People decide that the Constitution should be the highest law of the Nation, then our laws, regulations, and policies will be required to be consistent with the Constitution.
Why should the Squamish Nation create a constitution?
One of the main reasons for creating our own Constitution is to support our Nation-building and strengthen our system of governance.
Researchers in the US set out in the 1990s to find out what factors were most likely to ensure Indigenous Nations’ successful and sustainable development. They assumed at the outset that economic factors (such as access to natural resources, type of land and proximity to major centres or travel routes) would be the most important. Instead, their research showed that five principles (which they referred to as the “Nation Building” approach) are essential to Indigenous Nations’ successful and sustainable development:
1. Control over decision-making rests with the Nation itself,
2. Governing structures have authority and function well,
3. Governing structures have legitimacy in the community,
4. Decisions made with long-term priorities in mind, and
5. Community-spirited leadership.
A constitution is central to the Nation Building approach because it supports a Nation in asserting its sovereignty, defining its priorities and governance structures, and ensuring those governance structures function effectively and are focused on the community’s long-term priorities.
Is a constitution a colonial or Western idea?
A constitution is neither a colonial nor Western idea. In fact, some of the key concepts incorporated into American Constitution the United States were inspired by the Iroquois Confederacy and other Indigenous Nations’ governance structures. At its foundation, the creation of a constitution is an act of self-determination.
Our Constitution will be founded on the Squamish Nation’s own values – this will ensure that it reflects who we are, rather being based on colonial or Western concepts.
Will the Squamish Nation Constitution be written in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim?
The plan is to use our language, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim, as much as possible in our Constitution. Several approaches to using Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim in our Constitution are being considered.
Who will decide what goes into the Squamish Nation Constitution?
Squamish People who participate in the Squamish Nation Constitution Project (described above) will decide what approach will be taken to the Squamish Nation Constitution, and what goes into it. There will be multiple ways in which Squamish People can take part in the Project, but the main one will be to participate in the Constitution Information Gatherings happening in person and online.
Why are we talking about creating a Squamish Nation Constitution now?
Squamish People voted on a resolution to create a Squamish Nation Constitution at the People’s Assembly in November 2022. The resolution was brought forward by Paitsmuk Dave Jacobs.
This resolution gives Squamish People until the next Council election in September 2025 to create the constitution because that’s when it will be voted on in a referendum.
What’s a constitution?
The Squamish term that best describes a ‘constitution’ is S7ulh kwis Úxwumixw (Our Way of Being a Nation).
That term goes to the heart of what the Squamish Nation Constitution Project is seeking to create. The Squamish Nation has always had constitutions – we’ve just not always used that word. But constitutions are something we all know.
Constitutions set the foundation for the relationship between a Nation’s people and their government. Constitutions can take many forms – some are written, and others are not. Written constitutions don’t all follow the same structure. But constitutions can convey a Nation’s vision of itself (Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?), its values (What matters to us? What kind of relationships do we have with each other? With outsiders? And with the world around us?), its governance structures (How do we organize to get things done? How do we choose leaders? Who has authority over what? How do we hold decision-makers accountable?), and how do we move forward? (How do we make decisions? How do we deal with disagreements or disputes?).
It will be up to Squamish People to decide what to include – and not include – in the Squamish Nation Constitution. Together, we have to decide what is our way of being a Nation.
Get in touch
info@constitutionproject.net
604-982-8600