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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?