Rights and traditions will define Indigenous governance of the future – IRPP

Self-government will need rights defined by Indigenous Peoples and must reflect voices of women and elders, kinship, languages and sacred teachings.

October 25, 2022

Decolonizing systems means going back to what was valued before colonial contact. Colonial ideals are evident in Canada’s laws, institutions and social interactions. For Indigenous Peoples – First Nations, Métis and Inuit – colonizers have diminished their self-governance, created barriers to nation-building, and caused foreign practices to be adopted over time. Despite the negative colonial legacies endured by Indigenous Peoples, they can successfully build their nations through self-governance and Indigenous views of leadership.

Recommendations for Indigenous nation-building may include Indigenous Peoples defining their own rights, incorporating Indigenous traditions in governing systems and partnering with institutions to educate people on types of Indigenous governance.

“The foundation of this country is built on a bunch of fantasy stories that come from a monarchy across the ocean,” assistant professor Kurtis Boyer says.

Read More: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/october-2022/indigenous-governance-canada/