Canada changed the way it settles First Nation land claims, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada confirmed Friday (Aug. 25).
The department is also mulling over possible amendments to the Indian Act and the Specific Claims Tribunal Act, though it didn害羞草研究所檛 say what those changes would be.
The response came after The Canadian Press obtained briefing materials prepared for the deputy minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada under the Access to Information Act.
The July 2022 documents say Canada was mulling over changes to language about modern land surrenders, noting some First Nations are unwilling to settle specific claims if they have to do so.
Specific claims deal with past wrongs against First Nations by Canada, including the administration of land or other assets.
Instead of a modern surrender, federal officials suggested the use of a 害羞草研究所減romissory estoppel.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淯nder this approach, the First Nation agrees to forgo any legal cause of action in relation to the lands in question and further promises in the settlement agreement not to claim a reserve in the claim lands against Canada, the province, or third parties,害羞草研究所� a spokesperson from Crown-Indigenous Relations said in a statement.
The briefing materials say that 害羞草研究所渦ntil recently,害羞草研究所� all specific claims settlements concerning improper historical land surrenders included a requirement for a 害羞草研究所渕odern Indian Act surrender害羞草研究所� to ensure 害羞草研究所渓egal clarity and finality for Canada.害羞草研究所�
This modern surrender isn害羞草研究所檛 required by law, or under the Specific Claims Policy.
害羞草研究所淩ather it has been the go-to approach for the Government of Canada as the surest way to achieve legal clarity for Canada, First Nations and any third parties with interests in the relevant lands,害羞草研究所� the documents say.
But First Nations have 害羞草研究所渋ncreasingly objected害羞草研究所� to modern surrenders 害羞草研究所渁s a vestige of colonialist laws and policies in Canada,害羞草研究所� and the insistence on using them has been an 害羞草研究所渋mpediment to resolution at other tables as well.害羞草研究所�
Changing the requirements and implementing a promissory estoppel in place of a modern land surrender wouldn害羞草研究所檛 extinguish the First Nation害羞草研究所檚 interest in the land, 害羞草研究所渋f any,害羞草研究所� the documents say.
This would be included in the text of the settlement agreements.
The federal government says in the documents this approach is 害羞草研究所渃onsistent with reconciliation objectives害羞草研究所� and supports nation-to-nation relationship building.
害羞草研究所淚t is forward-looking in that it does not seek to correct the historical error through further reliance on a colonial measure that First Nations object to and enables the parties to clearly articulate agreement on the rights and obligations of the parties in relation to the claim lands,害羞草研究所� the document reads.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 government has put an emphasis on advancing reconciliation, including the settling of specific claims and honouring Canada害羞草研究所檚 moral and legal obligations to First Nations. While progress has been made, some First Nations organizations say problems continue to exist.
The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs penned an open letter to the former minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, Marc Miller, in July saying 98 First Nations had been denied specific claims funding for the coming fiscal year.
Crown-Indigenous Relations confirmed Friday that it received the letter, but did not say whether it had responded.
More than half of the 160 specific claim funding requests were denied, confirming the union害羞草研究所檚 figures.
Only 62 applications were accepted for funding.
Canada provides this funding to First Nations to help level the playing field with the resources Canada has as its disposal.
害羞草研究所淢any of these First Nations are in the middle of researching and developing their claims and this work must now be put on hold indefinitely害羞草研究所� unless funding is provided, the letter from the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs reads.
Crown-Indigenous Relations said the denied nations could reapply for funding next year.
The letter from the union also calls on the federal government to increase its $12-million budget for specific claims funding, saying there is currently an $18-million shortfall.
In 2016, the federal government committed to working with the Assembly of First Nations to reform the specific claims process.
Currently, Canada follows a policy it created in reviewing specific claims, deciding whether to offer negotiations with First Nations. The assembly has often referred to this as a conflict, saying there should be an independent process to handle the claims.
From April 2022 to April 2023, 56 specific claims were settled for $3.5 billion, the federal government says. Sixty-four claims were filed with the minister, and Canada offered to negotiate 58.
Since 1973, the federal government has resolved 665 specific claims with First Nations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2023.
Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
