Agendas, Minutes, Schedules
Bylaws and Terms of Reference
A Nation bylaw is a law made by Ohkinniinaa & Ninaaks in accordance with the powers conferred under the Indian Act and is intended to primarily address areas of law and order.
While there are many paths and methods to create a bylaw, Siksika Nation Ohkinniinaa & Ninaaks have predominantly enacted bylaws in accordance with the Indian Act and their inherent treaty rights.
Nation bylaws differ from provincial and federal bylaws in that they address areas of importance determined by the Nation rather than those of an outside government. Nation bylaws are crafted in-order to address the needs of the community and fill gaps that provincial and federal law do not address.
Bylaws typically are enforceable via a Prosecutor– a lawyer hired by a government (Siksika Nation) to defend and uphold our laws in Court. Siksika Nation’s efforts to create Siksika’s First Nation By-Law Prosecutor’s Office continues, following the swearing-in ceremony in October 2022. The primary role of a Prosecutor is to prosecute and help enforce the Nation’s bylaws. Typically, Prosecutors have represented the Crown in criminal cases; however, in an exercise of its inherent and sovereign authority, Siksika Nation has established a prosecutor’s office that will litigate and enforce Siksika’s by-laws in Provincial Courts, thereby making anyone who chooses to enter our lands subject to the Nation’s authority and laws as passed by our legislative body – Ohkinniinaa & Ninaaks. The establishment of a By-law Prosecutor’s office keeps Siksika culture and values at the forefront, not simply adopting provincial or federal laws in place of our own.
To-date, Siksika Nation has enacted the following bylaws:
- Siksika Prosecution Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Curfew Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Trespass Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Traffic Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Peace Officer Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Victim Surcharge Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Police Services Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Offences Procedures Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Reserve Dog Control Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Dog Care and Control Bylaw
- Siksika Emergency Measures and Curfew Bylaw
- Blackfoot Indian Band Cattle Trespass Bylaw
- Blackfoot Band #146 Noxious Weeds Bylaw
- Blackfoot Band of Indians Game Preservation Bylaw
The Nation is also currently pursuing the following bylaws:
- Siksika Nation Elders Abuse and Vulnerable Persons Protection Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Residency Bylaw
- Siksika Nation Community Safety (Banishment) Bylaw
Code of Legislation Policies
- Siksika Police Service Code of Conduct
Police Act
