Request for Proposals: Grand Council Treaty #3 Feasibility Study on Expanding Anishinaabe Law Enforcement through Legislative and Jurisdictional Pathways
Title: Grand Council Treaty #3 Feasibility Study on Expanding Anishinaabe Law Enforcement through Legislative and Jurisdictional Pathways
Due: October 2, 2026
1.0 BACKGROUND
Treaty #3 Mandate
At the direction of the leadership, for the benefit/protection of the Citizens, the administrative office of Grand Council Treaty #3 protects, preserves, and enhances Treaty and Aboriginal rights.
This is achieved by advancing the exercise of:
• Inherent jurisdiction
• Sovereignty
• Nation-building and;
• Traditional Governance
• With the aim to preserve and build the Anishinaabe Nation’s goal of self-determination.
We accomplish these goals with Treaty/territory-wide approaches in cooperation with communities, Tribal Councils, and organizations that are delivering programs to Anishinaabe citizens.
Within the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3 our technical staff:
• Employ strategic approaches to designing governing models, service delivery, and Resource management options.
• Develop capacity-building plans to match self-government priorities.
• Link political direction and service delivery through policy development and law-making for a national system.
• Propose implementation options for the realization of a National Vision.
• Promote new ways of doing business.
• Provide policy and administrative support to the network of programs and services that operate in the Anishinaabe Nation.
• Promote efficient, effective, transparent, and accountable Anishinaabe services.
• Identify gaps and overlap in existing service delivery and create plans to reduce gaps and overlap.
• Act as a Secretariat to the National Assembly and Grand Council.
• Provide administrative support to Chief’s committees.
Guardians Program
Acting on mandates set by Treaty #3 Chiefs in Assembly and guided by engagement with Treaty #3 communities, Grand Council Treaty #3 (GCT3) is planning to expand and grow it’s emerging Treaty #3 Guardians Program. The program is intended to support Nation building and expression of Inherent Jurisdictional Rights for the 28 Treaty #3 First Nations.
The focus of work for Guardians is intended to be on long term environmental monitoring and cultural revitalization. In support of this, the Compliance section of the Territorial Planning Unit has been developing a regulatory process and protocols to assert enforcement and compliance of Treaty #3’s Manito Aki Inaakonigewin (the “Great Earth Law”, or MAI): https://gct3.ca/environmental/manito-aki-inakonigaawin/) and environmental jurisdiction. The regulatory process is intended to include processes for consenting to and monitoring projects related to the harvesting or extraction of natural resources, or which otherwise have the potential for impact on environmentally or culturally sensitive lands.
2.0 OUTLINE OF SERVICES
Feasibility Study on Expanding Anishinaabe Law Enforcement through Legislative and Jurisdictional Pathways
The Grand Council Treaty #3 (GCT3) Guardians Program aims to strengthen the capacity of all 28 Treaty #3 Nations to monitor, protect, and enforce environmental guardianship and Anishinaabe laws. GCT3 is seeking an analysis by a legal professional (or professionals) of options for expanding the role of Guardians to include enforcement of Anishinaabe laws, with a focus on identifying legal avenues to enhance their authority to monitor and enforce environmental protection. Of primary interest are opportunities to exercise powers related to upholding Manito Aki Inaakonigewin.
Building on insights from a Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) report commissioned by the Territorial Planning Unit (TPU) at GCT3 (attached), the successful proponent will identify gaps in existing frameworks (e.g., federal Indigenous Guardians Program’s limited scope of observation and reporting) and corresponding mechanisms to legally carrying out monitoring and enforcement on Treaty #3 Territory. These mechanisms might include negotiated agreements, legislative amendments, and regulatory pathways that ensure Provincial and Federal Ministries fulfill their obligations, support reconciliation efforts, and respect the inherent sovereignty of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3. Through following up on identified legal and structural approaches identified in the study, the TPU aims to operationalize Anishinaabe governance and promote sustainable environmental stewardship across Treaty #3 territory.
In developing a Guardians program for Treaty #3, the TPU has identified challenges to the enforcement of Anishinaabe laws. Specifically, there is insufficient recognition of Anishinaabe sovereignty over Treaty lands, there are legal and jurisdictional barriers to Guardians exercising enforcement powers, and we must navigate complex political processes and administrative systems to establish formal agreements that uphold Treaty #3’s governance frameworks.
The major deliverable from this project will be a feasibility report outlining legal and regulatory pathways for expanding the enforcement roles of Treaty #3 Guardians, analyzing potential legal and regulatory mechanisms to operationalize Anishinaabe laws in harmony with external systems. The successful consultant will be asked to provide information in support of developing a strategic framework for enforcement and provide recommendations for operationalizing the findings. The report will be provided first in draft form, then revised to address any questions or comments by TPU staff before being provided as a final report.
We thank you for your consideration of this proposal. We would be happy to provide any additional information that may be of interest to you in considering this Letter of Intent, and look forward to the opportunity to provide a more detailed proposal if selected to complete a full application,
Deliverables:
• Kickoff meeting (In person or virtual).
• Virtual presentation of a draft feasibility study to the TPU, outlining options for expanding the role of Guardians.
• Virtual presentation of a final feasibility study to the TPU.
• One (1) electronic copy of the final feasibility report on a USB memory stick or via alternative electronic delivery as agreed on by GCT3.
The successful applicant will work with the TPU Compliance team to obtain any relevant background information to assist in the project and to coordinate project meetings.
The final report must be delivered on or before March 26, 2027. The products from this project are the sole intellectual property of Grand Council Treaty #3 and will be held in confidence unless written consent from Grand Council Treaty #3 is given.
3.0 FEES FOR SERVICE
Proponents shall propose hourly, daily, block, and/or fixed fees as they deem appropriate. The maximum budget available for this project is $22,500.
Applicant budget will include all related costs including but not limited to travel, salary, accommodations, benefits, taxes, etc.
Proponents shall propose hourly, daily, block and/or fixed fees as they deem appropriate.
4.0 CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Firms/consultants submitting bid packages should be sensitive to the potential for conflicts of interest that may prevent their retention by Grand Council Treaty #3. All potential conflicts must be disclosed in any bid package. Whether a conflict of interest is sufficient to prevent the retention of a proponent is at the sole discretion of Grand Council Treaty #3. Grand Council reserves the right to terminate this agreement at any time.
5.0 REQUIRED CONTENTS OF THE BID PACKAGE
A full bid package is required with the contents set out below.
• The name, address, and contact person for the firm, along with a brief description of the firm’s/consultant’s main areas of business and experience.
• The name(s) of the person(s) within the firm/consultant who propose to actually do the work, along with their curriculum vitae and a description of relevant experience.
• Outline of deliverables will be met. Inclusive of the draft work plan, timeline, budget and objectives.
• The names and contact information of two clients who can provide references.
• Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest.
• Identification of any experience working with First Nations and/or First Nation organizations. Experience in Treaty 3 is preferred but not required.
6.0 SELECTION CRITERIA
The evaluation criteria may include, but not be limited to, the following (not in any order of importance):
• Assessment of responses to the RFP.
• Assessment of the completeness of the RFP package.
• Number, qualification/expertise, and past experiences of the individuals who would be conducting the work for the contractor.
• Knowledge/familiarity with working on behalf of a First Nation client and/or Treaty #3 client.
• Cost-effectiveness of proposal.
• Finalist interviews (if any) at the discretion of Grand Council Treaty #3.
• Information obtained through references.
• Lack of conflicts of interest.
All packages submitted with the requirements will be reviewed and evaluated. Grand Council Treaty #3 reserves the right to select a bid based on written material only.
Firms responding to this RFP may be requested to provide additional information or address specific requirements not fully explored in their initial submissions.
Grand Council Treaty #3 reserves the right to accept or reject any RFP submitted before the deadline.
7.0 SUBMISSION INFORMATION
REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION
Firms desiring clarification of points in this Request for Proposal (RFP) should contact the person named below. If information additional to that disclosed in the RFP is supplied, this information will be provided to all firms receiving the RFP. Questions must be communicated to kevan.sumner@treaty3.ca by 4:30pm on September 25th, 2026.
Please follow up with a subsequent email confirming receipt of the bid package.
CLOSING DATE AND TIME
Firms/Consultants wishing to submit a bid package should, at a minimum, prepare a package containing the required materials. The bid package must be received by GCT3 on or before October 2nd, 2026 emailed to Kevan Sumner, TPU Regulatory Manager at kevan.sumner@treaty3.ca
Proposals will not be accepted by facsimile. Late proposals will not be accepted.
Kevan Sumner
TPU Regulatory Manager
Grand Council Treaty #3 kevan.sumner@treaty3.ca
Supporting Documents
CELA Summary Advice Letter on GCT #3 Stewardship Program