3.4.5 Land Claims
Completion requirements
3.4.5 Land Claims
How should contemporary society respond to the legacies of historical globalization?
In January 2013, a 13-year-old Saskatchewan student was told repeatedly by her school that she could not wear a hoody saying "Got land? Thank an Indian." Some community members found the message racist while others were concerned it was stirring up tension in the community. After meetings with the student, the school, and the nearby Starblanket First Nation, the situation was resolved.
The message on the hoodie refers to the link between historic treaties and the land of what is now Canada. These formal legal agreements between the government and First Nations have led to considerable controversy in Canada.
Land Ownership: In the first unit of this course, you looked at how relationship to the land influences identity. In the second unit, you looked at how different perspectives on land ownership led to conflict between Aboriginal people and European settlers.
What are treaties?
Some recent land claim disputes include:
The message on the hoodie refers to the link between historic treaties and the land of what is now Canada. These formal legal agreements between the government and First Nations have led to considerable controversy in Canada.
Land Ownership: In the first unit of this course, you looked at how relationship to the land influences identity. In the second unit, you looked at how different perspectives on land ownership led to conflict between Aboriginal people and European settlers.
What are treaties?
-
Treaties are legal agreements among nations.
-
First Nation treaties set the terms for the transfer of ownership of traditional Aboriginal land to the government in exchange for reserve land, annual payments to band members, as well as exemption from income tax, education, health care, and more.
-
In some areas, treaties were never signed. In these areas, negotiations between the government and First Nations are still being conducted.
-
In other areas, disputes involve sacred lands that the native people want left alone for ceremonial purposes or out of respect for their ancestors.
-
Other disputes about traditional hunting and fishing rights continue.
Some recent land claim disputes include:
Reflect
The Canadian government is working slowly through this legacy of imperialism.
-
What should be done about the generations of Aboriginal people who lost their traditional lands and were never compensated?
-
Should they be paid or given their land back?
-
What about non-Aboriginal people whose families have owned land for generations? Should they lose their land because of land claims issues?