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Nathaniel Edwards, Yamaguchi National University, JapanAbstract
The political theoretical framework of federalism is employed to compare and contrast emerging indigenous self-government structures and to identify similar patterns and differences in the continuing evolution of the self-governments of three culturally distinct indigenous peoples in three major regions of Canada. The federal government has granted various forms of self-government to dozens of indigenous groups across the country, and self-government negotiations are continuing with more than fifty other indigenous groups. In this research-based study, links are made to important policy making at the local, provincial, and federal levels of Canadian government in significantly different regions. Levels of decentralization and regional cooperation, intergovernmental relations, power sharing arrangements, and the institutional characteristics of different self-governments are examined, compared, and contrasted to identify patterns. Predictions are also made concerning the future of self-government in indigenous communities in Canada based on current data and emerging patterns and trends. This study contributes to the understanding of self-determination negotiations by framing and explaining them clearly in the context of federalism, and such an enhanced understanding can increase the prospects of successful, peaceful outcomes for indigenous communities and for local, provincial, and federal governments.
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Conference: ACSS2026Stream: Ethnicity
This paper is part of the ACSS2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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