Q. Who are the Aboriginal peoples in Canada?
A. They are the descendants of the original inhabitants of North America. The Canadian Constitution recognizes three groups of Aboriginal people: Indians (now known as First Nations people), Métis and Inuit. These are three distinct peoples with unique heritages, languages, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs.
Q. What is Aboriginal self-government?
A. In August 1995, the Government of Canada adopted an approach to negotiating practical and workable arrangements with Inuit and First Nation people to implement their inherent right to self-government. These arrangements recognize the rights of Inuit and First Nation people to make decisions about matters internal to their communities, integral to their unique cultures, traditions and languages, and connected with their relationship to the land and resources.
Under the federal policy, Inuit and First Nation groups may negotiate self-government arrangements for different things such as government structure, land management, health care, child welfare, education, housing, and economic development. Negotiations are held between Inuit and First Nation groups, the federal government and, in areas affecting its jurisdiction and interests, the relevant provincial or territorial government. Self-government arrangements may take many forms, based on the diverse historical, cultural, political and economic circumstances of Inuit and First Nation groups, regions and communities involved.Q. Who are Indians?
A. The term “Indian” collectively describes all the Indigenous people in Canada who are not Inuit or Métis. Indian people are one of three peoples recognized as Aboriginal in the Constitution Act, 1982: Indian, Inuit, and Métis. In addition, three categories apply to Indians in Canada: Status Indians, Non-Status Indians, and Treaty Indians. Some people may fit into more than one of those categories.
Some people find the term “Indian” outdated and offensive and prefer to identify themselves as First Nations people. Although the term “First Nation” is now widely used, there is no legal definition for it.Q. Who are Treaty Indians?
A. Treaty Indians are Indians who are registered or affiliated with a treaty band and are descendants of Indians who signed treaties with the Crown.
Q. What are treaty rights?
A. First Nations signed treaties with various British and Canadian governments before and after Confederation in 1867. No two treaties are identical, but they usually provide for certain rights, including reserve lands, annuities (a small sum of money paid each year), and hunting and fishing rights. Several treaties also have certain allowances for Chiefs and Councillors such as salary instead of annual payments, as well as a clothing allowance of a suit of clothing every three years. Treaty rights are collective rights that provide for payments to individual Treaty Indians. The payments depend on the precise terms and conditions of the treaty signed by her or his First Nation.
Q. What is an Indian band?
A. A band is a group of First Nation people for whom lands have been set apart and for whom money is held in trust by the Crown. A band can also be a group or band of Indians that the Governor in Council has declared to be a band under the Indian Act. Each band has its own governing band council, usually consisting of one or more Chiefs and several Councillors who are either elected or chosen through traditional custom. The members of a band generally share common values, traditions and practices rooted in their ancestral heritage. Today, some bands prefer to be known as First Nations.
Q. Who are members of a First Nation?
A. Most Status Indians are members of a First Nation. However, it is important to note that not all Status Indians are members of a First Nation. If a Status Indian is a descendant of members of one of the 253 First Nations that control their membership, that person has to apply directly to her or his First Nation for membership.
Q. What is First Nations governance?
A. Governance means different things to different people. However, most people agree that it means the way communities organize and make decisions to best meet the needs of their citizens.First Nations have been living under the Indian Act for 125 years. The Indian Act established a limited form of local administration that does not take into account the traditional authority or specific circumstances of individual First Nation communities. In contrast with Indian Act governance, First Nation governance enables greater authority, self-reliance and control over community matters and their future.
Governments designed, established and administered by First Nations peoples through a process of negotiation with Canada and, where applicable, the provincial government.
Government is about having authority to make decisions about the future of a community and its citizens. It is also about ensuring that other governments and citizens know and understand the structures and mechanisms in place to guide and provide for sound decision making. The structures and mechanisms that form the basis of MLFN s government are being negotiated on the basis of principles of sound government practices.
Q. What is the Meadow Lake First Nations(MLFN) Governance Agreement?
A. The Meadow Lake First Nations Governance Agreement is between the MLFNs and Canada that recognizes the ability of MLFNs to pass laws and make decisions on matters important to their communities and integral to their unique cultures, traditions and languages. This includes the recognition of First Nation’s authority to make laws in the areas including citizenship; elections; child and family care; cultural matters; education; health; lands and resources on MLFNs lands; local transportation matters; marriage; public safety and order; social development and support services; recreation and sport; and works and infrastructure.
The MLFNGA will restore the ability of MLFNs to govern themselves on-reserve. Under the GA , Canada and Saskatchewan would recognize that the Meadow Lake First Nations have jurisdiction over almost all areas of government and can therefore pass their own laws. Each MLFN will have their own Constitution outlining how their governments will work.
Q(i) What are MLFN Constitutions?
A. (i) Constitutions set out the structure composition, authorities and
lawmaking procedures of MLFN governments.Q. Who is involved in the negotiations?
A. The MLFNs are : Birch Narrows Dene Nation, Canoe Lake Cree First Nation, Clearwater River Dene Nation, English River First Nation, Flying Dust First Nation, Island Lake First Nation, Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, and Waterhen Lake First Nation.
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