There are typically five stages to creating a Mi’kmaw Tplutaqn. Explained here is that step-by-step process:
Stage 1: Working on the Tplutaqn and Public Notification
At this stage, although the tplutaqn may still need some fine tuning in language and content, generally it is ready for Mi’kmaw citizens, organizations, other levels of government, and the public to review. This stage will often coincide with community engagement sessions and an opportunity for Mi’kmaw citizens to provide comments and feedback. There is no time frame for this process – we work at the pace determined by the Mi’kmaq.
Stage 2: Incorporating Community Feedback
During this stage, the feedback received during community sessions and from the comment section on the Gazette is incorporated into the draft tplutaqn, where applicable and appropriate. Revised and updated versions of the draft tplutaqn will be posted on the Gazette.
Stage 3: Leadership Review
Once the team is comfortable with having captured everyone’s thoughts and opinions, this is when the most up-to-date draft tplutaqn is presented to the Maw-lukutijik Saqmaq for their review. The team will share information from the community engagement process and demonstrate how the relevant feedback from Mi’kmaw citizens has been addressed and incorporated into the draft tplutaqn. After the leadership review is complete, the Maw-lukutijik Saqmaq will pass a resolution directing the team to engage the communities again, this time on the ratification and future implementation of the tplutaqn.
Stage 4: Ratification
This process could look different for every tplutaqn. The ratification process for each draft tplutaqn will be explained to community members during the engagement process. Engagement can happen through webinars or community meetings, just as examples. Approval of the draft tplutaqn can come from Band Council Resolutions, letters of community authority from the Chief and Council, having the Mi’kmaw Nation vote on a tplutaqn, or other. The ratification process will all depend on what the subject matter of the tplutaqn is and how communities want to proceed. Once the tplutaqn is ratified, it will be posted on the Gazette page and declared law.
Stage 5: Implementation
Once the tplutaqn comes into force and is agreed to by all parties, through ratification or declaration, the implementation stage is when other levels of government are notified about the tplutaqn, if necessary and appropriate, and plans to enact are put into effect. The tplutaqn could be administered by the Maw-lukutijik Saqmaq, by the communities, by Mi’kmaw organizations or by the Mi’kmaw of Nova Scotia as a collective. How each tplutaqn is enacted can vary slightly. For example, some tplutaqn may be quick and easy to implement (ie: one focused on how a particular location is protected), others may not come into effect until a full process for implementation happens (ie: a tplutaqn focused on governing for an important Mi’kmaw matter), which could take time.