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Aboriginal Self-Determination

What is Aboriginal Self-Determination?


        It is the right of Aboriginal nations to freely determine their political status and freely pursue economic, social, and cultural development.

Aboriginal Self-Determination in Canada


Image result for Georges Erasmus,
Georges Erasmus, Aboriginal political leader
         In the past, a number of treaties have been signed between the Canadian government and Canada's Aboriginal peoples. These treated centralized on the idea that Aboriginal self-government is acknowledge in the Canadian context. However, the recognition has diminished over time. In addition, the Aboriginal are not asking to for their self-government and determination to be granted by the federal government. Instead, they want the acknowledgement that their self-governance and determination already exists. Self-governance is defined as a right that a nation has to control and mange their own affairs. This includes things that affect their people and their cultural identities. Multiple Aboriginal peoples believe that self-government was handed down to. them by the Creator. Because of this, self-governance is looked upon as a part of their spiritual connection to the land. As previously mentioned, a number of treaties were signed in the past. An example of one of them are land claim agreements. These land claim agreements ensures that the Aboriginal peoples have capital required to implement self-government. The Aboriginal political leader, Georges Erasmus, noted the importance of land claims when he said, "The economic base for many Aboriginal nations is found in the potential for wealth standing on, lying under, or flowing through their traditional territories.



Aboriginal Self-Determination: The Pro's 

  • Allows for the acknowledgement of the Aboriginal peoples right to self-determination
  • Aboriginal peoples can control and manage their own matters, in methods that best serve their people. Their cultural identities can be preserved. 


Aboriginal Self-Determination: The Con's


  • Can create divisions between people in Canada, for example Aboriginal vs. Non-Aboriginal
  • The system that they create could be flawed in some aspects
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