Federal report affirms Native self-government

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Canada's Native people have an inherent right to self-government, concludes a federal report.

Natives "are entitled to exercise jurisdiction over certain core subject matters that are of vital concern to their communities," states a Royal Commission on Aboriginal People's interim report released Aug. 18.

The report stated Aboriginal peoples may begin the process of self-government immediately without negotiating with other levels of government. The right is included in Canada's Charter of Rights.

Commission Co-chair, George Erasmus believes it would be preferable for communities to negotiate with other governments before taking jurisdictional control of areas such as education, social policy and certain areas of justice.

"We firmly believe the way to move is with co-operation. We live in a federation. We live with a number of levels of government," Erasmus said.

The 65-page report, entitled Partners in Confederation, details extensively legal precedents which support Aboriginal's inherent right to self-government. But before jumping into independence, the report recommenced Aboriginals should have a constitution outlining government structure and powers, and citizenship criteria established.

Details in Partners give an example of how a group with a land base may gain

self-government but cautions "the use of Aboriginal groups without any form of land base is different and poses a range of complex problems that cannot be dealt with here."

Ron George, president of the Native Council of Canada, was pleased the report did not include a land base as a prerequisite for self-government. He told Windspeaker his group will be putting forward an intervenors report on urban self-government this fall.

"Once that report is out we will have a clearer view of how urban government will work," he said.