E'Dbendaagzijig with SRC Marsha Smoke

Marsha Smoke, Anishinabek Nation Southeast Regional Chief, explains how the Anishinabek Nation is asserting the inherent right to decide who our citizens are. To move this forward, the Anishinabek Nation created a Draft Declaration on E'Dbendaagzijig in 2025, and our own citizenship law, the E-Dbendaagzijig Naaknigewin in 2009. "E'Dbendaagzijig" is an Anishinaabemowin word that means "Those who belong," or "Citizenship."

Since 1876, the Indian Act has been the primary federal law designed to exert power and control over First Nations in Canada. Despite many legal challenges and incremental changes to the Indian Act, the federal government still retains the power to determine who is registered as a "Status Indian," with access to certain rights and benefits, and how this status is passed down to future generations.  Under the Indian Act's "two-parent rule" or "second-generation cutoff", First Nations are at risk of having significantly fewer members in the years to come. 

An ongoing review of the Indian Act purports to seek solutions to make the Indian Act registration and band membership provisions more consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Canada adopted in 2016.

Southeast Regional Chief Marsha Smoke urges all Anishinabek citizens to learn more about the Declaration on E'Dbendaagzijig and E-Dbendaagzijig Naaknigewin, as they are important tools to help our Anishinabek First Nations develop their own citizenship laws and ensure that we "bring our members back into our family circle."

This podcast is produced by the Communications Department at the Anishinabek Nation.

Music: “Brothers” by Wolf Saga and Chippewa Travellers. “Rememberance” by Wolf Saga/Chippewa Travellers/David R. Maracle. “Sisters” by Wolf Saga/Chippewa Travellers/David R. Maracle. “Night Stars” by Wolf Saga/Chippewa Travellers/David R. Maracle. All tracks provided by Nagamo Publishing. 

Transcript:  https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5sb24fvc9cajdt36/S02E01_EDbendaagzijig_SRC_Smoke_Transcript_Final_2025-05-20.pdf

Links and Resources:

Anishinabek Nation E’Debendaagzijig (Those who belong)

https://anishinabek.ca/departments/governanceactivities/edbendaagzijig/

The Collaborative Process on the Second-Generation Cut-off and Section 10 Voting Thresholds https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1706281094364/1706281216732 Anishinabek Nation citizens invited to join dialogue on Anishinabek self-determination and unity https://anishinabeknews.ca/2025/03/14/anishinabek-nation-citizens-invited-to-join-dialogue-on-anishinabek-self-determination-and-unity/ The Indian Act: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/i-5/FullText.html