Canada and First Nations Move to Self Government: Reparations
Recognition of the first nations independent nation status and reconciliation is under way in Canada with proactive processes and funding to help re-establish the First Nations that want to self govern.
There are 2 HUGE legal concepts in play. One is the overt, open admission that Canada does not have lawful claim/sovereignty to the land and the actions of the Canadian governments and Her Majesty amounted to illegal cultural genocide.
Reconciliation is pretty much like legally binding reparations paid to another country after having lost the war they started. Oh wait….it is reparations.
Interesting how the Canadian Government and media, in an act of propaganda, reframing/softening the story as “reconciliation” not “reparations”, for what has been acknowledged as ‘cultural genocide’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparations_(transitional_justice)
The legal concept of reparation has two components: the right of the victim of an injury to receive reparation, and the duty of the party responsible for the injury to provide redress.[7] Reparations can be sought by individuals through judicial systems, or they can be policies introduced by the state to address the concerns or needs of a wider populace. While the first strategy is instrumental in creating legal precedent, the second is a more efficient way to recognize the concerns of more people.
Examples of reparations programs (Wikipedia)
[many countries listed here’s Canada’s history of reparations]
Canada – For more than 100 years, Canada retained a practice of removing indigenous Canadian children from their families and placing them in church-run Indian residential schools (IRS). This process was part of an effort to homogenize Canadian society, and included the prohibition of native language and cultural practices. In 1991, the Canadian government established the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP), charged with exploring the relationship between aboriginal peoples, the government, and society.
As a result of the commission’s recommendations, the government symbolically issued an apology in a “Statement of Reconciliation”, admitting that the schools were designed on racist models of assimilation. Pope Benedict XVI also issued an apology on behalf of church members who were involved in the practice. In addition, the government provided a $350 million fund to help those affected by the schools. In 2006, the federal government signed the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, agreeing to provide reparations to the survivors of this program. The Settlement totals approximately $2 billion, and includes financial compensation, a truth commission, and support services.
CANADA AGREES TO REPARATIONS FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL STUDENTS –
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/canada-agrees-reparations-all-residential-school-students
Born from the vision of Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Gwawaenuk Elder, Reconciliation Canada is leading the way in engaging Canadians in dialogue and transformative experiences that revitalize the relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. Our model for reconciliation engages people in open and honest conversation to understand our diverse histories and experiences. We actively engage multi-faith and multi-cultural communities to explore the meaning of reconciliation. Together, we are charting a New Way Forward.
https://reconciliationcanada.ca/
Gov’t of Canada Website:
Reconciliation: What does it mean?
Reparations
The act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury
– Merriam-Webster
Here is a history of reparations made and paid to many groups over the years by the USA:
https://guides.library.umass.edu/reparations
Maybe you want to start your own action for reparations?
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/RemedyAndReparation.aspx
Canada and First Nations Reconciliation (Reparations) Process
Unless they have negotiated self-government, most First Nations are currently governed by the Indian Act. They elect chiefs and councils to make decisions on their behalf and pass by-laws in a limited number of areas.
First Nations have been living under the Indian Act for over 140 years. The Indian Act establishes a limited form of local administration that does not take into account the specific circumstances of individual communities.
In contrast, self-governing First Nations can make their own laws and policies and have decision-making power in a broad range of matters. This includes matters internal to their communities and integral to their cultures and traditions. Under self-government, First Nations move out from under the Indian Act and chart their own course toward a brighter future.
Source: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100032275/1529354547314
What is Indigenous self-government?
Canada recognizes that Indigenous peoples have an inherent right of self-government guaranteed in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Canada’s Inherent Right Policy was first launched in 1995 to guide self-government negotiations with Indigenous communities.
Negotiated agreements put decision-making power into the hands of Indigenous governments who make their own choices about how to deliver programs and services to their communities. This can include making decisions about how to better protect their culture and language, educate their students, manage their own lands and develop new business partnerships that create jobs and other benefits for their citizens.
Because communities have different goals, negotiations will not result in a single model of self-government. Arrangements take many forms based on the different historical, cultural, political and economic circumstances of the Indigenous governments, regions and communities involved. For example: Inuit land claim agreements have been signed in all four Inuit regions. These Inuit communities are pursuing their vision of self-determination under these agreements and in some cases through ongoing self-government negotiations. The Métis are also actively pursuing their own vision of self-determination through ongoing engagement with their citizens and through dialogue at Recognition of Rights and Self-Determination discussion tables with Canada.
Self-government is part of the foundation for a renewed relationship and is a pathway to development and economic growth that generates benefits for Indigenous peoples.
The Indian Act
Unless they have negotiated self-government, most First Nations are currently governed by the Indian Act. They elect chiefs and councils to make decisions on their behalf and pass by-laws in a limited number of areas.
First Nations have been living under the Indian Act for over 140 years. The Indian Act establishes a limited form of local administration that does not take into account the specific circumstances of individual communities.
In contrast, self-governing First Nations can make their own laws and policies and have decision-making power in a broad range of matters. This includes matters internal to their communities and integral to their cultures and traditions. Under self-government, First Nations move out from under the Indian Act and chart their own course toward a brighter future.
How does self-government work?
- No self-government agreement is possible without the approval of the Indigenous people through a community vote.
- Self-government is negotiated within the Canadian constitutional framework and federal legislation is passed before the negotiated agreement takes effect. [I assume because they are “leaving” a legal structure]
- Under self-government, Indigenous laws operate in harmony with federal and provincial laws. Indigenous laws protecting culture and language generally take priority if there is a conflict among laws. [generally??]
- However, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act and other general laws such as the Criminal Code continue to apply. [to what? who? why? If they choose full self government model, is this still true? For the ones who choose government model under a province sure.]
- Community members and non-member residents on Indigenous lands will have input into decisions that directly affect them.
Self-government agreements
There are 25 self-government agreements across Canada involving 43 Indigenous communities. There are also two education agreements involving 35 Indigenous communities.
Consult this map (PDF version: 739 kb, 1 page) to learn about the self-government agreements signed to date across Canada and search the Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Information System to find out more about each agreement, including the full text of the agreement and summary information. Use the name of the Indigenous group, agreement name, or other term as a “keyword” search word and then click on the heading Treaties and Agreements above the search box to find the related records.
Different forms of governance or self-government have been negotiated in Canada. One example is the Nunavut Agreement, a modern treaty (comprehensive land claim agreement) where the self-government aspirations of Inuit are expressed through public government. This self-government agreement is unique due to the fact that the Nunavut government represents all the people residing in its territory.
Another form of self-government is where law-making power is negotiated with an Indigenous group in only one or two key areas such as the Education Agreement in Nova Scotia and the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement in Ontario.
Ongoing self-government negotiations
Currently there are about 50 self-government negotiation tables across the country. These tables are at various stages of the negotiation process and in many cases are being negotiated in conjunction with modern treaties.
Self-government agreements address (among other things) the following key aspects:
- the structure of the new government and its relationship with other governments
- new funding arrangements
- the relationship of laws between jurisdictions (such as how different laws will work together)
- how programs and services will be delivered to community members
- ways to promote improved community well-being (often with a focus on Indigenous languages, heritage and culture and socio-economic initiatives)
- preparations for when the agreement takes effect (such as implementation planning).
Consult Agreements under negotiations to learn about ongoing self-government negotiations.
Other paths to greater self-determination
Indigenous groups are also pursuing greater self-determination, recognition of their rights and renewed relationships with other governments outside of self-government negotiations. This includes:
- exploring new ways of working together at Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination discussion tables
- negotiating a number of collaborative agreements with the private sector to secure benefits from resource development for their communities as well as administrative agreements with provincial governments
- developing protocols with the federal and provincial or territorial governments to facilitate consultation and accommodation on development on their territories
- pursuing self-government arrangements that deal only with one subject area, such as greater control over the management of reserve lands
- creating a Comprehensive Community Plan that is initiated, designed and implemented by an Indigenous group for their community
Funding for self-government
As part of self-government negotiations, joint work is done to lay the groundwork for moving forward together after a final agreement has been signed (implementation of the agreement). For example, the funding that will support the operation of the Indigenous government in the future, so it can effectively deliver programs and services to its members on an ongoing basis, is set out in an agreement called a Financial Transfer Agreement or Fiscal Financing Agreement.
This important agreement creates a new ongoing funding relationship between the Indigenous government, Canada and the provincial or territorial government. These funding arrangements generally have a 5 year term.
The Government of Canada is committed to renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples based on respect, co-operation and partnership. Canada is working in full partnership with self-governing Indigenous governments to develop funding methodologies as described in Canada’s collaborative self-government fiscal policy. This will ensure they have the tools and resources they need to support the well-being of their communities.
Related links
Source: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100032275/1529354547314
Treaties, agreements and negotiations
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100028568/1529354090684
Nation Rebuilding Program
They are giving money to First Nations to assist them to decide on and establish their new nation structure. It looks like they will be giving money for 4 more years.
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1530815582699/1530815652516
The RCAP report recommended that these nations begin to reconstitute themselves as nations and create institutions with the breadth and capacity to take on the exercise of rights, including self-government.
Consult highlights from the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
This new program will support the rebuilding efforts of Indigenous nations through the provision of contribution funding aimed at developing capacity.
Consult the terms and conditions of the Indigenous Nation Rebuilding Program for more details.
These program guidelines are evergreen and will be amended as required as the program evolves over time.
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