Three Things We’ve Learned
To honour National Indigenous History Month, we’d like to share a few things we learned with you during our work on our first Indigenous projects. The top three surprising facts we discovered centre on land settlements, the reserve status process, and funding for Indigenous communities.
Land Settlements Don’t Directly Return Land
- After 230 years of fighting for their land, communities like Caldwell do not see their original land restored to them in favour of not displacing current land users.
- The Canadian government provides money to purchase land at market value.
- Purchased land isn’t automatically Reserve land; there is a lengthy application process.
Funding for Indigenous Services Uses First Nations’ Money
Many believe the funding from Indigenous services comes from our tax dollars, when in fact, it comes from a trust holding First Nations’ own money.
- Royalties from resource extraction and the sale of surrendered lands are held in trust by the Crown.
- First Nations must apply to access their own funds.
- Dispersal of these funds is subject to Crown approval.
The Lasting Impact of the Indian Act
The Indian Act was designed to ‘civilize’ Indigenous people. The efficacy of this Act is seen in communities like Caldwell as they attempt to rebuild communities based on traditional values.
- Communities were made to scatter across Southern Ontario, and children were forced into Residential Schools.
- Unable to live as a community, traditional ways of living and governance were destroyed, and traditional language was lost.
- Western concepts like elections and individual property were imposed.