Onnohou Nation

Onnohou Nation Gevnadena Ono'ho
Sovereign Indigenous Nation
Flag
Motto(s):  "Sagu Gevnadena, Sagu Uwagudidisu" One nation, one future
Map of Rizealand with the Onnohou Nation in red
Country	Rizealand
Before admission	Onnohou Territory
Capital (and largest city)	Fort Liberty
Joined Federation	February 6, 1976
Government
• Principal Chief	Thomas Wesa
• Legislature	Onnohou National Assembly
• Federal representation	Councilors Appointed David Johnson (NPC-ND) Elected Frank Delannoy (NPC-ND) Colin Mitchell (NPC-G) Representatives 1 NPC-G
Area
• Total	16,137.62 km2 (6,230.77 sq mi)
Population  (2021)
• Total	111,567
• Density	6.91/km2 (17.9/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Western)
Abbreviation	ON
ISO 3166 code	RZ-ON
Website	www.onnohou.gov.rzl

The Onnohou Nation (Onnohish: Gevnadena Ono'ho), commonly known as the Onnohou, is a sovereign indigenous nation in northwestern Rizealand that resides in an enclave within New Estmere. The Onnohou Nation's territory has a total area of 16,137.62 square kilometers, making it the second largest sovereign indigenous nation and fourth smallest political division of Rizealand. The Onnohou Nation also has a population of 111,567, making it the second most populous indigenous nation and third least populous political division of Rizealand. The Onnohou Nation's capital and largest settlement is Fort Liberty.

Etymology

The Onnohou Nation and the preceding Onnohou Territory are named after the Onnohou indigenous people, who inhabited and formed both. The name "Onnohou" is derived from the Onnohish name "Ono'ho" which means "spirit children" or "children of the spirit."

Government and politics

Main article: Government of the Onnohou Nation

The Executive Building, workplace of the Principal Chief

The Assembly Hall, meeting place of the Onnohou National Assembly

The Onnohou Nation Judicial Center, meeting place of the High Court

The government of the Onnohou Nation is established and organized according to the Onnohou Nation Constitution. As a sovereign indigenous nation, it is treated as an autonomous self-governing entity and its relationship with the federal government of Rizealand is governed by the Wampintompac Accords and the Rizealand Articles of Federation. Of Rizealand's political divisions, sovereign indigenous nations exercise the greatest level of autonomy and sovereignty. They have the ability to form their own government as long as it is democratic, to enter into international agreements with foreign nations as long as such agreements do not violate their treaties with Rizealand, to adopt their own forms of currency or legal tender, and to place limits on trade or commerce, as long as they comply with their treaties. Sovereign indigenous nations are not allowed to operate their own military or defense force, although they may operate militias or paramilitary forces for the purposes of internal security or peacekeeping. While the Central Assembly may pass laws that are binding on sovereign indigenous nations, their representatives in the Federation Council may veto such legislation if it abridges their rights or interests, and their veto can only overridden by a super law. Like the federal government of Rizealand, the government of the Onnohou Nation is divided into three branches of government.

The legislative branch consists of the unicameral Onnohou National Assembly. The National Assembly's 30 seats are filled through closed party list proportional representation elections held every five years. As the legislature, the National Assembly is responsible for enacting legislation and can do so with a simple majority. It is also responsible for forming a government following legislative elections by appointing the Principal Chief and appointing its representative to the Federation Council.

The executive branch is headed by the Principal Chief who is the head of state and government. The Principal Chief is appointed by the National Assembly following legislative elections and usually is the leader of the party or political coalition with the most seats in the National Assembly. While the Principal Chief may be dismissed by the National Assembly, his dismissal will trigger new elections and the National Assembly can only remove him without triggering new elections if they have a two-thirds majority. The Principal Chief himself may also dissolve the National Assembly and call for new elections. The Principal Chief is responsible for enforcing the laws of the nation, creating a government by appointing chiefs to his cabinet, directing government agencies, and appointing judges.

The judicial branch consists of the High Court, District Court, and peace courts. The High Court is the court of last resort with appellate jurisdiction over decisions of the District Court. The District Court has general jurisdiction to hear intergovernmental suits against the nation, criminal cases, civil cases, and cases involving juveniles, family law matters, and probate issues. Peace courts, staffed by peace chiefs, have limited jurisdiction to provide mediation and conflict resolution services to parties in family, probate, or small civil disputes. Justices with the High Court and judges with the District Court are nominated by the Onnohou Nation Judicial Recommendation Commission and appointed for life terms by the Principal Chief. The peace chiefs of the peace courts are nominated by the Onnohou Nation Judicial Recommendation Commission and appointed by the chief justice of the High Court for life terms.

There are also independent agencies and commissions established by the Onnohou Nation Constitution that do not neatly fit into any branch of government, as they often enforce national laws (executive), issue rules and regulations (legislative), and adjudicate cases or claims (judicial). While their agency heads or commission members are usually nominated or appointed by the Principal Chief, they can only be removed from office through impeachment and removal by the National Assembly.

The Onnohou Nation has a common law legal system that has Estmerish influences and also relies on indigenous customs and traditions. In addition to the protections of the Articles of Federation, the Onnohou Nation Constitution also establishes additional protections and gives citizens the right to call new elections, refer legislation to a referendum vote, enact legislation via an initiative vote, and approve amendments to the constitution.