Summary: | ABSTRACT The objective of this Grounded theory thesis was to apply the Harvard Project on Indian Economic Development’s Nation-Building model as a theoretical framework to examine Muskoday First Nation’s efforts to regain control over their lands and resources within the Treaty framework. Additionally, this model has generated discussion, but has not been tested to any great extent in the Canadian context. Muskoday First Nation was selected as case study because the community was one of the original signatories of the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management and had implemented its own Land Code. Additionally, Muskoday is the first community in Saskatchewan to successfully negotiate and implement a Treaty Land Entitlement Claim. The purpose of my thesis research was to determine what internal mechanisms contributed to Muskoday First Nation’s efforts to restore authority of their reserve lands and resources. The findings of the research indicated that Muskoday First Nation has a strong cultural drive for authority over the lands and resources and maintains collective ownership over lands as agreed upon in Treaty.
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