What is a constitution?
A constitution is a supreme law of a First Nation. It describes the basic rules and structures of the First Nation and its government and the kinds of laws it believes it has the inherent power to pass.
Why is a constitution important?
A constitution is important for First Nations because it sets out things like the rules for how decisions are made by their government and how laws are passed. In addition, if a First Nation is going to make laws that affect its citizens, it needs the legal authority to do so and that authority comes from the citizens who approved the constitution.