The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms indigenous peoples’ rights to lands, territories and resources which they traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired”: this implementation of the declaration is long overdue as First Nations have been long-held from the inherent and treaty rights that they never knowingly relinquished in the natural resource transfer agreements of the 1930s. As there is a high child poverty rate for First Nations, there is a call from First Nations leaders to create a partnership in resource development to address this issue. This article explains how there is a massive underfunding in community infrastructure, child welfare, and education, but instead of just asking for more funding from the government, First Nations leaders want to have proper rights to their land. As the article is told from the point of view of a First Nations chief, they believe that they have the ability to help the slowing economy, whilst helping their own community and gaining more respect. All of this can be done if only there implementation. This article is slightly biased as it is told by a First Nation’s chief perspective on how the issue should be addressed, and there is no quotations or perspective told from the government. This article may be slightly biased, but it does not use much of a tone to push readers to agree with a certain position.
REFLECTIVE QUESIONS:
- How can the government better address the child poverty crisis?
- Should the government create a new treaty with the First Nations? What do you believe this new treaty should include? Would it help the situation, worsen it, or just remain the same?