Aboriginal Postsecondary Education in Canada and the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development: A Critical Policy Analysis

This critical policy analysis of the texts of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development’s inquiry into the state of Aboriginal postsecondary education in Canada in 2006 examines the positions taken by witnesses with respect to the context of the policy discussion and the definition of the policy problem. The analysis also examines the policy positions taken by the Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development in its summative report, No Higher Priority, and in the Harper government’s response to the Committee’s report. The results of the analysis indicate that the minority Harper government applied its own definition of the policy problem to all stages of the policy cycle, and thus establishing itself as the legitimate authority responsible for reviewing the policy, and effectively silencing the voice of the witnesses and the Committee itself in the policy discussion

Under the Accountability Microscope: Canadian Indigenous Accountability Policies, 2006-2016

Political commentary, including discussion of Indigenous accountability, regarding nation to nation relationship building with Canada’s Indigenous nations has increased significantly since the federal election in October 2015. However, little academic research exists that assesses how prepared Canada’s public administrators are to implement such a vision. This thesis seeks to address this gap by exploring the role of accountability in the government’s relationship with First Nation communities. In particular, it investigates how the Conservative Government’s Indigenous accountability policies changed during their tenure from 2006-2016 and how these changes affected the Crown’s relationship with First Nation communities. The evidence collected through this project supports the argument that New Public Management, Canada’s current model of Public Administration, is fundamentally incapable of fostering an authentic nation to nation relationship as envisioned by many First Nation communities and Indigenous organizations. Communities remain subservient to the Crown through top-down Ministerial accountability, which remains firmly in place ten years later. Moreover, attempts to reduce program reporting requirements on First Nation communities has not resulted in any significant reduction in their reporting burden. This thesis argues that meaningful engagement with First Nation communities is a crucial interim step toward a new administrative framework that enables greater Indigenous self-determination

Enabling prosperity: success factors in Indigenous economic development

Public discussion about ‘closing the gap’ between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians tends to focus on measures such as life expectancy, child mortality, early childhood education, literacy and numeracy, and employment.  These are, rightly, essential markers of health and well-being for all people, and for decades they have provided evidence that Australia’s health and social systems have not met the needs of Indigenous Australians. However, there is another story, one that focuses on the measures of success, as evident in the many thriving Indigenous businesses and corporations around the country.  Across Australia, there is a growing story of economic security and success, in which Indigenous Australians are creating enterprises combining sound business principles with strong cultural and social foundations for the benefit of individuals, families and communities. Urbis was commissioned by Westpac to undertake research into Indigenous business development, to provide an evidence base to support the work of the Empowered Communities group. The report, Enabling Prosperity: Success Factors in Indigenous Economic Development, suggests that these factors are much the same as for any other businesses: human capital, access to capital and markets, infrastructure, location and an authorising environment created through government policy and regulation. In practice, businesses succeed because of more than one factor, and multiple factors can strengthen the capacity of a business to grow and develop.  For instance, access to capital often relies on the development of successful partnerships, while ownership of land and resources requires human capital to realise its potential. Indigenous culture can be both a support and a resource. Individual attitude and vision are also essential ingredients in business success, while government plays an important role in ensuring the regulatory environment enables rather than hinders business efforts. Much can be learned by examining successful Indigenous businesses both in Australia and internationally. Businesses are the key driver for wealth creation, helping to provide job opportunities and improve social and economic conditions. Fostering business success, therefore, has the potential to increase employment, improve living standards, and contribute to stable and nurturing communities. Current government policy frameworks, such as the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy, are largely focused on increasing education and training and generating opportunities for private sector employment and enterprise.  This is important. Just as important is the contribution that successful community or non-profit enterprises can make in providing employment, generating business investment for growth, building partnerships and demonstrating positive role models. The Empowered Communities group is such a national initiative. Formed in 2013, the group brings together Indigenous leaders from eight communities across Australia and seeks to strengthen Indigenous individuals and communities through a range of activities (see https://empoweredcomms.wordpress.com for more information). Strategies that strengthen both individual and community business initiatives will help to ensure that more Indigenous Australians have the opportunity to live successful and productive lives.  Everyone has a contribution to make in this regard. Governments can create an enabling regulatory environment. Banks can enable access to capital. Local chambers of commerce can foster business development through support and networks for new entrepreneurs. Communities and individuals can purchase goods and services from Indigenous businesses. Building a strong and vibrant Indigenous business and social enterprise sector can then contribute to improving many of the health and social indicators, such as improving nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices, and increasing employment and education.  Efforts to improve Indigenous outcomes really are everyone’s business

Reconciliation: All Our Relations

The author shares the national, community (local) and individual discourses taking place as they pertain to the reconciliation process that is happening with Indigenous and Settler peoples in Canada. Importantly, the author sheds light on a multitude of local efforts of reconciliation happening that have not yet made it to academic discourses and publications, but which could be instrumental in contributing to reconciliation. A key component emphasized in these reconciliation efforts and which could be the catalyst for change, is the importance of relationships. Stemming from an Indigenous epistemological perspective, the creation of positive relationships with others and ‘all our relations’ begins with oneself

Canada's Strategy of Dispossession: Aboriginal Land and Rights Cessions in Comprehensive Land Claims

This paper offers a sociological interpretation of the Canadian Comprehensive Land Claims (CLC) process, arguing that CLC is a strategy used by the state to dispossess Aboriginal peoples. CLC does this through leveraging the cession of Aboriginal rights and the relinquishing of indigenous lands. Drawing upon the ongoing Innu Nation Tshash Petapen (?New Dawn?) agreement, I examine four related aspects of the process and the agreement which operate to dispossess the Innu: (1) the undemocratic social and political contexts in which agreement is elicited, (2) the depletion of Aboriginal rights of the indigenous party, (3) the depletion of indigenous lands, and (4) the creation of wealth and debt. Finally, I will interpret these processes as building on social changes inflicted on the Innu. These are characterized by imposed law and the state of exception

Relations between Canada and First Nations in the West (1867-1900): The Numbered Treaties, Indian Act, and Loss of Aboriginal Autonomy

This paper examines the relationship between the Government of Canada and First Nations during and after the first seven numbered treaty negotations (1867-1900). During this time, the government viewed First Nations as impediments to economic, political, and social development in western Canada. In order to secure land for newcomers and gain control of the West, the government negotiated treaties and passed legislation to control and assimilate the Aboriginal population (1876 Indian Act). As this paper explains, unjust government actions and broken government promises only made the relationship between First Nations and Canada more contentious during the late 19th century

Discussion Paper: Challenges and Successes of Select Federal Initiatives in First Nation Reserve Communities, including the Canada Labour Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and the National Building Code

This paper is to inform on-going discussions over proposed new federal accessibility legislation, and in particular discussions about whether such legislation should be extended to First Nation reserve communities. This paper is not a part of the consultation process that is being undertaken with various First Nations organizations. It surveys statutory law, reports, literature and jurisprudence. It discusses the legal landscape that must inform any dialogue about extending the federal regime to First Nation communities and assesses successes and challenges associated with three existing federal regimes that apply on First Nation Reserves

Hollow Water, Manitoba: An Explanatory Case Study of the Area, its Community, and the Holistic Circle Healing Program

The focus of this Honours thesis revolves around the over-representation of Canada’s Aboriginal population in the criminal justice system compared with the rest of the population. This Honours thesis will examine some attempts to deal with this over-representation undertaken by Corrections Services Canada, in particular, the Community Holistic Circle Healing (CHCH) program at Hollow Water, Manitoba. In addition to addressing some of the causes of violent and non-violent criminal behaviour among the population of Hollow Water, this Honours thesis will include an explanatory case study of the program implemented at Hollow Water from 1984 to the present in an effort to address crime. The case study will attempt to arrive at some conclusions that can be used in the future to address crime, its causes, and the many consequences of Aboriginal over-representation within the Canadian criminal justice system. Furthermore, this Honours thesis will reflect on the successful approach undertaken at Hollow Water and make recommendations for future correctional practices. Exploring this community and program is important in order to address issues of equality and social justice, namely over-representation, among those in contact with Canada’s criminal justice system. It provides us with insight into the restorative justice approach used to holistically address the various crimes and corresponding causes and consequences that affected every person in this community. This Honours thesis also addresses the importance of incorporating multi-cultural views on justice and healing into the existing and adversarial criminal justice system in an effort to reduce over-representation and improve equality with regard to Canada’s Aboriginal population. There is not an abundance of research and review of the CHCH program or similar programs and their impact on the over-representation of Aboriginals within the Canadian justice system, nor is there much written about the effects of such programs on recidivism rates of offenders who have participated in them. This thesis is significant as it contributes to the existing literature of Aboriginal justice and healing initiatives. The CHCH program at Hollow Water also represents a successful co-operation between the court system, Correctional Services Canada and the members of the Aboriginal healing community. It also represents a correctional approach whereby a reduction in the rates of incarcerated Aboriginals is possible. Recidivism rates of the offenders involved in the CHCH program are also offered in order to illustrate the success of the program

Norval Morrisseau. Life & Work

Norval Morrisseau: Life & Work describes how the artist worked outside the established traditions of European visual culture. He defied categorization and challenged conventional understandings of Indigenous art. Although during his lifetime the media judged him harshly for his alcoholism and his traditional beliefs, Morrisseau succeeded in raising awareness of Indigenous aesthetics and cultural narratives as he developed an artistic vocabulary that inspired a new Canadian art movement. Carmen Robertson reveals that, at a time when most Canadian artists were experimenting with the techniques of modern abstraction, Norval Morrisseau rejected those contemporary artistic trends in favour of a visual aesthetic that drew most directly from Anishinaabe cultural sources. This book considers the plight of an artist who, in the face of intense discrimination, created a style that was all his own