Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples® Blog

First Nation Right to Vote

The right to vote is widely recognized as a fundamental human right in a democratic society and in Canada every Canadian citizen has that right as guaranteed in Section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. [1] Ensuring the ability of citizens to exercise their right to vote is the responsibility of the government.

What are Aboriginal Rights

“The doctrine of Aboriginal rights exists… because of one simple fact: when Europeans arrived in North America, Aboriginal peoples were already here, living in communities on the land, and participating in distinctive cultures, as they had done for centuries. It is this fact, and this fact above all others, which separates Aboriginal peoples from all other minority groups in Canadian society and which mandates their special legal status.” [1]

The Enduring Nature of First Nation Stereotypes

Canada is a country whose citizens prides themselves on our diversity and promotion of pluralism yet turn a blind eye to the continued stereotypical views and depictions of First Nations people present in the media, sports, advertisements, the fashion industry and in conversations.

What is the root cause of Aboriginal education issues

Fifty-eight per cent of young adults living on-reserve in Canada have not completed high school, according to the 2011 National Household Survey census results. And that’s an increase from the 2006 census results. How did this come about?

Aboriginal Peoples survey (2011) - a snapshot

When reading statistics about the Aboriginal population in Canada, keep in mind that just as there is cultural diversity, there is also a great diversity in the social conditions of Aboriginal people. Geographic location, income level, cultural practices influence the ability of Aboriginal people to work, get an education and afford healthy homes.

1969 White Paper - Rejected by Liberal Party of Canada

At the Liberal Party of Canada biennial convention in Montreal in February 2014, party members voted on a number of policy resolutions. Of particular interest to me was the resolution to reject the 1969 White Paper on Indian Policy, whose authors included Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.