The Power of Unity, The Dignity of Difference
Unity Declaration
On July 13, 2011, in Webequie First Nation, the Matawa Chiefs Council came together in ceremony to pass Mamow-Wecheekapawetahteewin (the Unity Declaration), establishing the foundation for how the nine Matawa Nations work together on matters related to land, water, and resource stewardship.
Mamow-Wecheekapawetahteewin is in keeping with traditional protocols and agreements among the Nations that were developed prior to the Treaties being made in Canada. Although written and preserved in today’s context, Mamow-Wecheekapawetahteewin is an extension of the Matawa First Nations’ pre-existing jurisdiction. It defines the responsibilities to future generations, ancestral homelands, and natural resources, which are closely guarded by our First Nations today.
