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Tribal Traditions and European-Western Political Ideologies: The Dilemma of Canada's Native Indians

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2009

Menno Boldt  and
J. Anthony Long
Menno Boldt
Affiliation:
University of Lethbridge
J. Anthony Long
Affiliation:
University of Lethbridge
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Abstract

Native Indian leaders in Canada have embraced the European-Western doctrine of sovereignty as the political-legal instrumentality for achieving their version of “the good society.” This article analyzes the appropriateness and feasibility of sovereign statehood for Canada's Indians. Indian aspirations to sovereign statehood run aground on at least two counts: key ideas contained in the European-Western doctrine of sovereignty are incompatible with core values comprising traditional Indian culture: also, the Canadian government is implacably opposed to relinquishing its sovereignty over Indians. This study explores alternative models of self-determination for Canada's Indians and concludes that stateless nationhood offers the best basis on which Indians may be able to negotiate internal self-determination.

Résumé

Les dirigeants amérindiens du Canada ont épousé la doctrine europo-occidentale de souveraineté comme moyen politique légitime pour réaliser leur modèle de « la bonne société ». Cette analyse examine l'à-propos et la possibilité pour les Amérindiens du Canada de réaliser un état souverain. Les aspirations des Amérindiens à l'état de souveraineté butent contre deux obstacles majeurs: les idées maîtresses contenues dans la doctrine europo-occidentale de souveraineté sont incompatibles avec les valeurs essentielles de la culture amérindienne traditionnelle: d'autre part, le gouvernement canadien est implacablement opposé à se dessaisir du droit de souveraineté dont il dispose à l'égard des Amérindiens. Après avoir examiné différents modèles d'auto-détermination pour les Amérindiens du Canada, cette étude conclue que le concept de nation et non pas d'état-nation souverain offre aux Amérindiens la meilleure base de négotiations pour obtenir leur auto-détermination.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , September 1984 , pp. 537 - 553
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 1984

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References

1 The claim to tribal sovereignty is regularly asserted by Indian leaders in Canada and is virtually always explicit in the written representations that provincial and national Indian organizations have made to the Canadian government. For example, see Assembly of First Nations, “Memorandum Concerning the Rights of First Nations and the Canadian Constitution,” June 16, 1982: Federation of Saskatchewan Indians. “Indian Nationhood and Indian Government,” 1977; Proceedings of the Indian Government Development Conference (Ottawa: National Indian Brotherhood, 1979): Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, “Indian Nations: Determination or Termination,” October 1980; and Assembly of First Nations, “Opening Remarks for Presentation by David Ahenakew, National Chief, Assembly of First Nations to the First Ministers' Conference on Aboriginal Rights,” March 15, 1983. The consensus among Indian leaders at the band level regarding inherent sovereignty was also strongly evidenced in the testimony of 567 witnesses, representing Indian bands from every province, before the Special Committee on Indian Self-Government of the House of Commons. The Committee has stated that witnesses unanimously rejected the federal government's proposed band-government bill principally because that proposal involved a delegation of power rather than a recognition of the sovereignty of Indian First Nations' governments. See Indian Self-Government in Canada, report of the Special Committee on Indian Self-Government. House of Commons. October 20. 1983, 24.Google Scholar

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32 We are not here advocating the reconstructionist anthropologists' position that Indians should change into what they once were. But, neither should they be forced to adopt alien political ideas that distort what they value most in their cultural heritage. They should be free to adopt a model of government that will preserve what they value in their cultural traditions.

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1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic cooperation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.

3. The States Parties to the present Covenant… shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

As a party to this covenant, Canada is obliged to report on the “measures… adopted which give effect to the rights recognized” (Article 40[l]) to a body set up under the treaty called the Human Rights Committee.

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