Indigenous Policies, Rights and Resistance: GOVERNMENT / SOVEREIGNTY

 Based on Indigenous Policies, Rights and Resistance: GOVERNMENT / SOVEREIGNTY

Historical context:

Historically, Indigenous Governments were different in different tribes. Each tribe used to follow their traditions. This traditional knowledge was based on their spiritual ways, culture, language, and social expertise. It contained a legal system, political structures, and inherited relationships with lands, water, and everything.  The Indigenous government never surrender their land to the European settlers. They didn’t accept European or settler laws. Indigenous leaders signed the treaty where European settlers and Indigenous people agreed to run their sovereign on the same ground.

In 1963, the Canadian parliament recognized the Indigenous government, and the parliament gave them their fixed territory to run their sovereign. However, this wasn’t an exemplary scenario. Indigenous sovereignty was often questioned for the failure of understanding, lack of knowledge and other criticism.

The Canadian government was Eurocentric, and on the other hand, the Indigenous community was based on spirituality and personal autonomy. And Indigenous communities were distinct from each other too. These differences help to ignore the Indigenous right and claims.

Connection to policy/policies:

The French and English settlers made policies that they could occupy the land of the Indigenous people. The treaty policies were to distract the Indigenous leader, and then the settlers made policies to destroy the Indigenous economy. For example, making the Indian reserve areas, introducing the residential schools, legislating the Indian Act etc.

The Indigenous people were adapting and making new policies for their governance by following the European style. In this way, their social, political, and economic institutions were impacted.

In 1982, the Canadian Constitution Act gave treaty rights to Indigenous people, which was a significant achievement for the Indigenous people.

How Indigenous groups have engaged in resistance, reconciliation and /or redress.:

Reconciliation was the fundamental purpose of the Canadian Constitution Act 1982. In this Act, Canada has accepted Indigenous people's different types of government systems. There will be mutual recognition between the Canadian government and the Indigenous government. Both governments agree to make a mutual friendship and collaboration for economic partnership and resource development.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process. The Canadian Constitutional Act 1982 has section 35, where information is given in detail about Indigenous rights. The Canadian government agreed to continue decolonization activity until a fair partnership was built between the Canadian government and the Indigenous community.