Rebuilding Our Nations: Tips and Tools for Getting Started
How do we create effective self-governance?
LEARN ABOUT THE INHERENT RIGHT TO SELF GOVERNANCE. First Nations citizens and all Canadians should learn about our shared history. There is an important booklet on our website called A Brief History of our Right to Self Governance. It demonstrates how we possess the inherent right to rebuild our own systems of governance, to make our own laws and to extend those laws to our traditional territories.
Download this Booklet: A Brief History of our Right to Self Governance
Watch this Video: How Does a First Nation Implement their Right to Self-Governance?
UNDERSTAND THE ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE Governance has to be effective. It must be developed on strong principles of governance. We developed a great little booklet with a full list of principles, called “The Five Pillars to Effective First Nation Governance”.
Download this booklet: Five Pillars to Effective First Nation Governance
CONSIDER THESE SEVEN STEPS TO NATION REBUILDING. The first step is for citizens and leadership to create a movement for change and the last step is delivering the goods.
Download this handout:Seven Steps to Nation Rebuilding
START A MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. Citizens, leaders, elders, youth, women and men in each nation can come together and hold productive conversations on changing the conditions in their community. They can start a process to create a powerful vision of what they want their nation to be. And they can create a citizen supported plan to realize their vision.
Learn how the Tseil Waututh Nation developed their vision and plan.
Watch the Story of Ktunaxa Nation
How do we protect our land and water?
LEARN HOW OTHER FIRST NATIONS PROTECT THEIR LANDS Aboriginal and treaty rights and title are held by each First Nation and can be exercised through the collective will of their citizens. First Nations can expand their jurisdiction and develop processes to steward their traditional territories. They do not have to ask for permission and this activity can encourage provincial and federal governments to negotiate a shared land management regime that respects your nation’s cultural and environmental interests.
Watch the story of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government.
Watch the story of the Gitanyow Nation
How do we develop sustainable economies?
LEARN HOW OTHER FIRST NATIONS DEVELOP SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIES First Nations opportunities are diverse and different. Some nations are located adjacent to large cities. Others are remote fly-in communities. First Nations have some common success factors for sustained economic success. They are: self governance, culturally relevant institutions, administrative ability and strong leadership.
First Nations economies do not have to be restricted to reserves. They have the opportunity to build an economy that includes their traditional territories. They can build processes to monitor developments on their territories and engage companies that are prepared to do business. This activity can create revenue for the nation and transparent, results based institutions can be established to ensure that the income helps the nation move towards their long term vision.
Watch the Story of WestBank First Nation
Read about the efforts of Hupacasath First Nation
Read the story of the Osoyoos Indian Band