Indigeneity and resource development in Canadas north

Indigeneity and resource development in Canadas northIntroductionTerminologyBrief history of Aboriginal economiesAboriginal rights and titleComprehensive land claims and resource developmentVoiseys Bay Nickel Mine: an example

Red versus GreenWhat was missing?

LabourCapital / corporationsEnvironmentalistsWhere can we situate indigenous peoples in our discussion of labour and the environmentWhy is it important to consider indigenous peoples ?

OutlineIntroductionTerminologyBrief history of Aboriginal economiesAboriginal rights and titleComprehensive land claims and resource developmentVoiseys Bay Nickel Mine: an example

First Nations: people who identify as being of North American Indian ancestry who may or may not have Status.

Mtis: people who identify as having a distinct lineage to early settlements of people of both First Nations and European ancestry.

Inuit: people who identify as having Inuit ancestry. Inuit peoples have a history and culture distinct from First Nations.

Aboriginalpeoples

Status First Nation

Non-Status First Nation

First NationAlso often used to replace the word band or reserve.

American termsAmerican IndianNative AmericanReservationInternational termsIndigeneous

Indigeneity and resource development in Canadas northIntroductionTerminologyBrief history of Aboriginal economiesAboriginal rights and titleComprehensive land claims and resource developmentVoiseys Bay Nickel Mine: an example

Circuit of accumulationCP. CLP

MPM + ProfitMNature - inputsGeneration of surplus valueNature - sink How did the process of commodifying nature in Canada affect indigenous peoples?

- What is indigenous peoples present relationship to resource development?

History of Aboriginal economiesPre-contactFur tradeSettlementLand-based treaties

Pre-contactPre-contactFur tradeSettlementLand based treaties

Pre-contact Subsistence economies Redistribution of surplus Kin, networks Division of labour by sex and age

Fur tradeArrival of fur trade in 17th centuryFeudalistic relationship between First Nations and HBC & NWCInitiated by introduction of guns, steel, axe, knifeReplaced use of indigenous tools

Fur trade1500-1800sTrade on individual basisSocial division of labourProduction increased beyond subsistence surplus appropriated by merchantsPermanent settlements near posts of Mtis peoplesAboriginal labour central to fur production

Fur trade to settlementIncreasing colonial interest in landDeclining interest in Aboriginal labour for fursPlacement of First Nations on reserves Subsistence economy in disarrayEmphasis on agricultureSigning of land-based treaties

To claim British territory after seven years warAcknowledged Aboriginal peoples title to the land they occupied.Established procedure for settlement.Required treaties for land-cession.Lands could only be surrendered to Crown

Royal Proclamation of 1763

No treaties were signed in many areas of Canada

Signing of treaties followed settlementCreation of reserves and treaties required that Indians be legally definedCreation of regulations governing Status IndiansColonial policies limited participation in resource developmentNo access to licensesPass laws

Dispossession

1930s-presentDisrupted Subsistence EconomiesForced settlements and relocationsRacism in the waged workFailed education system and colonial social welfare system

Economic barriers after settlement

Resource development regime(began to change in 1970s)Privatization of lands for agricultureCentralized management of Crown landsIndustrial forestryLimited use of resources on reserve landsLimitations on commercial uses by Aboriginal peoples.

Indigeneity and resource development in Canadas northIntroductionTerminologyBrief history of Aboriginal economiesAboriginal rights and titleComprehensive land claims and resource developmentVoiseys Bay Nickel Mine: an example

Aboriginal rights and titleAboriginal title and rights not recognized by state1951 removed ban on raising money to pursue land claimsRise of Aboriginal political organizationsIncreasing definition and recognition of Aboriginal rights and title in the courts

Aboriginal rights and titleAboriginal rights:Rights to self-determinationRights to resources

Aboriginal title to land:Result of long and continuous use and occupancySpecific type of property right

Aboriginal titleLegal interpretation:- Treaties involve the formal extinguishment of Aboriginal title in exchange for limited, defined set of benefits.

Not extinguished in areas without treaties

Indigeneity and resource development in Canadas northIntroductionTerminologyBrief history of Aboriginal economiesAboriginal rights and titleComprehensive land claims and resource developmentVoiseys Bay Nickel Mine: an example

Comprehensive claimsModern-day treatiesOften these areas were not of interest for development until 60s and 70sResolution of claims closely tied to development interestsExchange undefined rights to land forFinancial compensationParticipation in Wildlife mngt. Defined rights to harvesting and fishingShare of benefits from development of lands

Comprehensive Land ClaimsJames Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement signed very quickly in 1975.

Early 1970sPolitical impetus to dam rivers draining into James BayNo consultation, filed injunctionhttp://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/society/native-issues/james-bay-project-and-the-cree/angry-crees-stop-hydro-hearing.html

James Bay and Northern Quebec AgreementPrior to Hydro development subsistence lifestyle.Self-regulated fisheryPrioritized subsistence in negotiations

James Bay and Northern Quebec AgreementLands for exclusive harvestFish species exclusive Cree & Inuit useGuaranteed levels of harvestCo-management institutionRecognition of self-regulatory institutionsPreferential treatment in resource dev. opportunities* Income security programme

Northern Aboriginal economies

Mixed economies

Cash income needed:- rising costs of subsistence economy- community infrastructure- individual needs cant be accommodated through subsistence

OverallHistory of land claims closely tied to resource developmentDiverse approaches to development

Indigeneity and resource development in Canadas northIntroductionTerminologyBrief history of Aboriginal economiesAboriginal rights and titleComprehensive land claims and resource developmentVoiseys Bay Nickel Mine: an example

DISCOVERY OF NICKEL LEAD TO THE RESOLUTION OF COMPREHENSIVE LAND CLAIM Relationship between large resource-development (extractive) projects and Aboriginal control over their lands and resources

Inuit approaches to Voiseys Bay development:Development would not proceed without CLC Desire for economic development and jobsDesire to protect subsistence harvest (important to their economies)Concern about social impacts of development

Chronology of Voiseys Bay development1977 - Labrador Inuit Association (LIA) files land claim Newfoundland and Labrador do not recognize Aboriginal title1993 Nickel deposit discoveredEnvironmental Assessment and Impact Benefit Agreement negotiations begin1995 protest by Innu and Inuit1997 LIA files injunction1999 EA finished2002 IBA negotiated, development agreement signed2004 Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement ratified LIA becomes Nunatsiavut government

Motivation behind opposition to resource development is often political: recognition of Aboriginal rights and title

Available from: www.laa.gov.nl.ca/laa/labrador_living/map.JPGNewfoundland and Labrador

Total population: 510,610Aboriginal identity: 23455Inuit: 4715NAI: 7765Mtis: 6470

2006 Census, Statistics Canada

Impact Benefit Agreements with corporations (VBNC)

-Royalties- Employment and training- Environmental mitigation - Business opportunities (join-ventures)

Aboriginal peoples and resource development

Struggles for rights to land and economic need for development Have resulted in organizational structures with close ties to international capital

Challenges for union-Aboriginal environmental alliancesResolution of land claims linked to resource developmentNunatsiavut governments economic interests contingent on companys well beingImpact Benefit Agreements exclude unionsView of IBAs as documents that protect Inuit while collective agreements protect outsiders

In summary:Capitalist development/ transformation of nature in Canada required removing Aboriginal peoples from lands that they formerly owned

Irony: Aboriginal peoples have benefited less from resource and land development than settlers in terms of revenues and employment.

Questions: Usher: 1. What is the problem presented by Usher?2. How do Aboriginal rights and title relate to resource development?3. Describe the remedies presented by Usher.RCAP:4. In light of previous discussions of staples industries, do you agree with the RCAPs recommendations?5. Do you think resource development can improve Aboriginal livelihoods?

Questions for next weeks readings:White -1995 Are you an environmentalist and Obach 2004 Interests and allinaces..

What does each author see as the basis for the historical conflict between environmentalists and the labour movement? How does this tie into previous course themes?How does Obachs argument differ from Whites?