Grand Council Flag hoisted, a first in Jazz Airline History

  

The Grand council flag of Mi’kmaq Nation was hoisted with the Jazz Flag on October 7, 2019. This is the very first time Jazz Aviation has hoisted any Indigenous Nation Flag alongside its company Flag in the history of its operation. The flag was hoisted by our very own, Patrick Leblanc, who is a member from Jazz Aviation and our new Unifor Local 2002 Aboriginal Workers of Colour Committee Representative in Nova Scotia.

Mi’kmaq are First Nations Indigenous People to Canada’s Atlantic Provinces and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, as well as the North Eastern region of Maine. They call their national territory Miꞌkmaꞌki (or Miꞌgmaꞌgi). The nation has a population of approximately 170,000 people.

The Santé Mawiómi, or Grand Council, was the traditional senior level of government for the Miꞌkmaq people until Canada passed the Indian Act (1876) to require First Nations to establish representative elected governments. After implementation of the Indian Act, the Grand Council took on a more spiritual function. The Grand Council was made up of chiefs of the seven district councils of Miꞌkmaꞌki.

The Nova Scotia government and the Miꞌkmaq community have made the Miꞌkmaq Kinaꞌ matnewey, which is the most successful First Nation Education Program in Canada. In 1982, the first Miꞌkmaq operated school opened in Nova Scotia. By 1997, all Miꞌkmaq on reserves were given the responsibility for their own education. There are now 11 band-run schools in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia now has the highest rate of retention of aboriginal students in schools in the country. More than half of the teachers are Miꞌkmaq. From 2011 to 2012 there was a 25% increase in Miꞌkmaq students going to university. Atlantic Canada has the highest rate of aboriginal students attending university in the country.

On August 31, 2010, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia signed a historic agreement with the Miꞌkmaq Nation, establishing a process whereby the federal government must consult with the Miꞌkmaq Grand Council before engaging in any activities or projects that affect the Miꞌkmaq within Nova Scotia. This covers most, if not all, actions these governments may take within that jurisdiction. This is the first such collaborative agreement in Canadian history including all the First Nations within an entire province.

In the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, October is celebrated as Miꞌkmaq History Month. The entire Miꞌkmaq Nation celebrates Treaty Day annually on October 1. This was date when the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1752 was signed by Jean-Baptiste Cope of Shubenacadie and the King's representative. It was stated that the natives would be given gifts annually, "as long as they continued in Peace."

  

  

19-10-31 AWOC Update en