The Importance of Self-Government for Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Self-government for indigenous peoples in Canada is the placement of power in the hands of indigenous leadership to, according to a government of Canada website, “deliver programs and services to their communities” and “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.” It can also include control over healthcare, police services, property rights, and child welfare. This approach of indigenous control and decision making reflects the situation that existed before European colonization of Canada. According to one indigenous view, “Some Indigenous people balk at the concept of Canadian governments granting them self-government because they believe the Creator gave them the responsibilities of self-government and that right has never been surrendered – it was simply taken by government legislation”. In a 1995 Government of Canada Policy Guide entitled: Federal Policy Guide: Aboriginal Self-Government – The Government of Canada’s Approach to Implementation of the Inherent Right and the Negotiation of Aboriginal Self-Government” the government states the following:
“the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada have the right to govern themselves in relation to matters that are internal to their communities, integral to their unique cultures, identities, traditions, languages and institutions, and with respect to their special relationship to their land and their resource”
Self-government agreements need to be signed between indigenous peoples and the federal and provincial governments. These agreements operate within the domain of the Canadian federation and are not separate from Canada.
Where are we now
Some self-government agreements have been signed between the government and indigenous peoples. These agreements, commonly referred to as “modern treaties” or “comprehensive land claim agreements” provide for a path to self-government for Indigenous peoples.
The over 20 self-government agreements that have been signed include the following aspects, responsibility, and ownership for indigenous communities (according to an Otipemisiwak Métis Government website):
– 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
Next Step
According to a recent statistic, over 92% of over 600 Indigenous communities in Canada don’t have a self-government agreement in place. The federal government needs to be more proactive in signing these agreements. Indigenous communities have traditionally relied on courts to recognize their right to self-government. This needs to change.
