By: Alexander Wightman
Our research project contributes to achieving many of the call to actions that were put forward by the TRC Report. One such call to action that our research will contribute to achieving is Call to Action 50, which states:
50. In keeping with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal organizations, to fund the establishment of Indigenous law institutes for the development, use, and understanding of Indigenous laws and access to justice in accordance with the unique cultures of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
Although our project does not directly contribute to, or promote the, “funding of indigenous law institutes”, this call to action has many underlying themes and goals that parallel our research project. Most notably, our project relates to this call to action through the acknowledgment and promotion of indigenous laws in Canada. Furthermore, the treaties, which form the subject of our research, can be seen as “indigenous law institutions” in which we are aiming at fostering a wider understanding of through a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) lens. This call to action is centered around promoting and protecting indigenous law which is one of the central goals of our research. By analyzing treaties, through an SDG lens, we are highlighting and seeking to draw attention to the legally binding rights of indigenous communities and Nations. Thus, contributing to the greater recognition of indigenous law and institutions in Canada.
The Second area in which our research will contribute to achieving Call to Action 50 is by bringing greater attention of the Federal Government’s commitment to both the treaties and the SDGs. Call to Action 50 is directed at “calling upon the federal government” to support and promote indigenous law. The federal government, in addition to provincial and territorial governments, are also subjects of both the treaties as well as the SDGs. This research therefore not only has the ability to attract greater public awareness of both the federal government’s and provincial governments’ commitments to indigenous people, but it can be used by policy and decision makers to motivate governments to increase collaboration with indigenous communities.
Finally, Call to Action 50 identifies the importance of promoting law that take into consideration the unique culture of indigenous communities across Canada. Our research promotes this aspect of the call to action as our methodology has involved identifying unique provisions included in the modern treaties that are specific to individual First Nations.
It can therefore be concluded, that by gaining on understanding of how Canada’s commitments to both First Nation treaties and the Sustainable Development Goals can be used to promote and advance one another, this project can contribute to the calls to action set forth by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report. Our research project will contribute to emphasizing the importance of the Canadian Government to actively support indigenous laws in for its role in pursing reconciliation as well as sustainable development.
