Vol. 148, No. 13 — June 18, 2014

Registration

SI/2014-51 June 18, 2014

SIOUX VALLEY DAKOTA NATION GOVERNANCE ACT

Order Fixing July 1, 2014 as the Day on which the Act Comes into Force

P.C. 2014-646 June 5, 2014

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, pursuant to section 21 of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Act, chapter 1 of the Statutes of Canada, 2014, fixes July 1, 2014 as the day on which that Act comes into force, other than section 20, which came into force on assent.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

This Order in Council fixes July 1, 2014, as the day on which the provisions of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Act, S.C. 2014, c. 1 (the Act), other than section 20, come into force.

Objective

The provisions of the Act that are brought into force by this Order give effect to the Governance Agreement between Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and Her Majesty in right of Canada, and also make consequential amendments to other acts.

Background

The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Act received Royal Assent on March 4, 2014. It gives effect to the Governance Agreement between the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and Canada and makes consequential amendments to other acts. The Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, other than section 20 of the Act, which came into force on the day of Royal Assent. There will also be Manitoba legislation which gives effect to the Governance Agreement, and when both the Act and the Manitoba legislation come into force, the Governance Agreement itself will come into effect.

Manitoba is not a party to the Governance Agreement, but it is a party to the Tripartite Governance Agreement among the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Canada and Manitoba. In the Tripartite Governance Agreement, Manitoba agrees to the law-making authority for the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation that is set out in the Governance Agreement.

The Government of Manitoba introduced its draft legislation in the provincial legislature on March 20, 2014. The provincial legislation, like the Act, will come into force on a day to be fixed after Royal Assent. Canada and Manitoba are therefore able to coordinate between themselves, and with the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, the effective date of the Governance Agreement.

The self-government agreements were signed on August 30, 2013, by the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Canada and Manitoba. This is the first Aboriginal self-government arrangement in the Prairies.

Implications

When both the Act and Manitoba’s legislation come into force, the Governance Agreement itself will come into effect. Under the Governance Agreement, the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation will become a self-governing First Nation within the framework of the Canadian Constitution.

Consultation

The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and Manitoba have been consulted with respect to fixing July 1, 2014, as the day the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Act comes into force, and they have agreed to that date.

Departmental contact

For more information, please contact

Stephen Peltz
Senior Negotiator
Treaties and Aboriginal Government
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Gatineau, Quebec
Telephone: 819-994-7443
Email: stephen.peltz@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca