Nation-building in 21st century Canada: the role of legitimacy in the transformation of Crown-First Nations relations ...

• Main Author: Nickason, Millicent Frances
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2021
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0395581; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0395581

Canada is on the cusp of an important phase of its nation-building project: the transformation of Crown-Indigenous relationships to give effect to Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination, and to include First Nations in the Canadian federation as equal partners and a third order of government. However, after nearly three decades and billions of dollars committed to negotiations, few First Nations exercise genuine self-government, and few arrangements reflect First Nations’ aspirations for self-determination. Meta-analysis and gap analysis demonstrate gaps in our understandings and expectations of self-determination and self-government, and between the promises and performance of Canadian governments. Canada’s legal framework is insufficient for the relationship we seek, which requires re-negotiated norms of recognition to acknowledge the continuity of distinct Indigenous nations as equal partners, and a third order of government with their own legal orders. First Nations seek terms of association ...