Without a doubt, Indigenous entrepreneurs and business leaders in all the four Anglosphere countries looked at in this study all face challenges and obstacles. To begin with, they come from the most marginalized and disadvantaged populations in their respective...
In the age of transparency, fairness, and equity this infographic demonstrates how spectacularly different the Ontario Chiefs’ total compensation per registered member across 15 reserves in Ontario. The highest paid per capita Chief of Mississauga’s of Scugog Island...
Like all Indigenous peoples studied in this series, Indigenous Australians have historically been excluded from the wider economy. But also, like all these communities in all four countries studied, they have entered business in a very significant way over the past...
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“Have we reached the ultimate stage of absurdity, where some people are held liable for things that happened before they were born, while others are not held responsible for things they are themselves doing today?” - Thomas Sowell Canadians reacted with horror to the...
How much poison would you willingly put on your skin or ingest? If the answer is zero, you might have to make some changes. We may assume our foods, drinks and cosmetics are safe because regulators allowed them. Unfortunately, that may not always be the case....
Please check out this National Post piece about First Nation band level accountability.
The issue of which level of government should handle accountability problems at the band level continues to divide observers and pundits. The matter tends to fall on either the federal government (which has constitutional jurisdiction over “Indians and lands reserved for the Indians”) or First Nation governments governed by the Indian Act. The provinces lack jurisdictional authority, so they are left out of the debate.
In this National Post piece, the reporter recognizes that grassroots citizens on reserves are increasingly taking the matter into their own hands. The recent revelations over exorbitant and disproportionate band chief and councillor salaries have energized average band members, many of whom were shocked to discover the salaries being paid. Given the secretiveness of many band council dealings, it is not completely a surprise that members are in the dark about these salaries. At the Frontier Centre, our annual Aboriginal Governance Index reveals that a majority of respondents on Prairie bands report a high degree of secretiveness over basic financial documents and business plans.
A revolutionary new work by Native author Calvin Helin looks at various forms of economic dependency, arguing that dependency fails because it ignores human nature.
A potential offer from a First Nation group to purchase a potash corporation could signify a new trend among First Nations of entering the economy.
“When it comes to aboriginal affairs, it’s too bad that many of the ideas meant to improve the lives of ordinary natives never see the light of day. The best suggestion I’ve seen all year is the proposal by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy that non-viable reserves be relocated closer to urban centres — and jobs.”
“The legislation is intended to help First Nations participate in the national economy on terms which most Canadians take for granted. However, participation will be optional. No one will be forced to do anything with their lands. Those of us who choose to participate will be able to escape the oversight of the Indian Act and actually take legal title to our own lands.”
“A Southern Alberta native chief has cancelled a band election set for next month, extending his term by two years and provoking a protest blockade of the road into a reserve west of Calgary.”
The Assembly of First Nations is dead wrong in opposing a bill disclosing chief and council salaries as it would advance transparency on First Nation communities.
“The First Nation Property Ownership Initiative is drawing fire, with some calling it a proposal to transform reserve lands into fee simple holdings. This is incorrect. The legislation is intended to help first nations participate in the national economy on terms that most Canadians take for granted.”
A poll conducted by Frontier Centre reveals there is a hunger out in Indian Country for more democracy, starting with an elected grand chief in each province.