Indigenous Peoples FPIC Protocols

Anyone may call for a pause or silence in the course of a meeting, when resolution of a matter is proving difficult, when there is a need to reflect on what has been said. Even should there be those who cannot unite with the decision arrived at, they may be willing to stand aside trusting the wisdom of the meeting. Time is also essential for important decisions. Sometimes decisions must be deferred for reflection. The Chair or another member can suggest that a matter be held over for consideration at a later time. It may be helpful for the Chair to ask a small committee to revise the proposal in the light of the concerns and objections, and report to the next Meeting. The Chair is responsible for stating the sense of the Meeting and presenting a decision when unity has been reached. Participants in the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug – Ontario meetings may sometimes assist the Chair in this. If a member believes that the Chair has incorrectly stated the sense of the Meeting it is appropriate to speak up. It is unusual for a sense of the Meeting to be reached achieved over one or more objections. Similarly, someone may propose that unity actually has been reached and suggest that a Decision should be recorded. When the wording appears satisfactory, the Chair asks the meeting participants if they approve the Decision. If the participants approve the Decision without objection, it is recorded as an action of the Meeting. Decisions of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug – Ontario meetings must be delivered by the Chair to the proper persons (Chief and Council, Ontario Lead). It must always be remembered that the final decision as to whether the Decision represents the sense of the meeting is the responsibility of the meeting staff, not of the Chair.