Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-45l2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T05:34:29.569Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Claiming the City: Co-operation and Making the Deal in Urban Comprehensive Land Claims Negotiations in Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2009

Christopher Alcantara  and
Jen Nelles
Christopher Alcantara*
Affiliation:
Wilfrid Laurier University
Jen Nelles*
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
*
Christopher Alcantara, Department of Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, calcantara@wlu.ca.
Jen Nelles, Innovation System Research Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, jen.nelles@utoronto.ca.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Abstract. Since their introduction in 1973, comprehensive land claims (CLC) agreements have become important mechanisms for Aboriginal peoples to achieve their political, social, cultural, and economic goals. Although the literature on CLC negotiations is a rich and varied one, it has tended to ignore the role that municipal governments have on influencing negotiation outcomes. This lacuna is surprising since a number of treaty negotiations in the Yukon Territory and BC involve lands located in major municipalities. This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding the influence that municipal governments can have on treaty negotiation outcomes. Using a case study of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation treaty negotiations in the Yukon Territory, we find that institutional and milieu factors are important. However, leadership was the most important and decisive factor.

Résumé. Depuis leur apparition en 1973, les ententes portant sur les revendications territoriales globales sont devenues des mécanismes importants pour les peuples autochtones dans l'atteinte de leurs objectifs politiques, sociaux, culturels et économiques. Bien que la documentation sur ces ententes soit volumineuse et variée, elle tend à ignorer le rôle influent que jouent les administrations municipales lors de telles négociations. Cette lacune est surprenante, dans la mesure où plusieurs de ces traitésconcernaient des territoires situés dans des zones urbaines d'importance de la Colombie-Britannique et du Yukon. Cet article vise à développer un cadre théorique pour mieux comprendre l'influence des administrations municipales dans le dénouement de négociations territoriales. En utilisant l'étude de cas des négociations de la Première nation de Kwanlin Dün au Yukon, nous constatons l'importance de la structure institutionnelle et communautaire. Cependant, le leadership demeure le facteur le plus crucial lors d'un tel processus.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 42 , Issue 3 , September 2009 , pp. 705 - 727
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abele, Frances and Prince, Michael. 2003. “Aboriginal Governance and Canadian Federalism: A To-Do List for Canada.” In New Trends in Canadian Federalism, ed. Rocher, François and Smith, Miriam. Peterborough: Broadview Press.Google Scholar
Alcantara, Christopher. 2007. “Explaining Aboriginal Treaty Negotiation Outcomes in Canada: The Cases of the Inuit and the Innu in Labrador.” Canadian Journal of Political Science 40 (1): 185–207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alcantara, Christopher. 2008. “To Treaty or Not to Treaty: Aboriginal Peoples and Comprehensive Land Claims Negotiations in Canada.” Publius: Journal of Federalism 38 (2): 343–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Armour, Karyn (assistant deputy minister for YT Land Claims Secretariat). 2006. Interview. Whitehorse YT, October 24.Google Scholar
Beaudoin, Tom (land claims director, Kwanlin Dun First Nation). 2006. Interview. Whitehorse YT. October 26.Google Scholar
Bourassa, Ernie (former mayor of the City of Whitehorse, 2000–2006). 2006. Interview. Whitehorse YT, October 23.Google Scholar
Brass, Daniel and Krackhardt, David. 1999. “Social Capital for Twenty-first Century Leaders.” In Out-of-the-Box Leadership Challenges for the 21st Century Army, ed. Hunt, J.G. and Phillips, R.L.. Burlington: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Brown, Keith (former legal counsel for Kwanlin Dün and Kaska First Nations). 2006. Interview. Vancouver BC, October 20.Google Scholar
De Costa, Ravi. 2003. “Treaties in British Columbia: The Search for a New Relationship.” International Journal of Canadian Studies 27: 173–96.Google Scholar
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) 2002. A Strong Future for All: Settling Yukon Land Claims. Ottawa: Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada.Google Scholar
Diamond, Billy. 1985. “Aboriginal Rights: The James Bay Experience.” In The Quest for Justice: Aboriginal Peoples and Aboriginal Rights, ed. Boldt, M., Long, J.A. and Bear, L.L.. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.Google Scholar
Dust, Theresa. 1997. “The Impact of Aboriginal Land Claims and Self-Government on Canadian Municipalities.” Canadian Public Administration 40 (3): 481–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feiock, Richard C. 2004. “Introduction: Regionalism and Institutional Collective Action.” In Metropolitan Governance: Conflict, Competition and Co-operation, ed. Feiock, Richard C.. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar
Feiock, Richard C. 2007. “Rational Choice and Regional Governance.” Journal of Urban Affairs 29 (1): 47–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feit, Harvey A. 1980. “Negotiating Recognition of Aboriginal Rights: History, Strategies and Reactions to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.” Canadian Journal of Anthropology 1 (2): 159–72.Google Scholar
Flynn, Dermot (chief YT negotiator for the Kaska and Kwanlin Dün files, from 1983–present). 2006. Interview. Whitehorse YT, October 24.Google Scholar
Frideres, James S. 1986. “Chapter 11: Native Claims and Settlement in Yukon.” In Arduous Journey: Canadian Indians and Decolonization, ed. Ponting, Rick. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.Google Scholar
Joe, Dave (former legal counsel for Council of Yukon Indians, negotiator on the umbrella final agreement). 2006. Interview. Vancouver BC, October 16.Google Scholar
King, Anne (legal counsel for the federal government, Kwanlin Dün final agreement negotiations, 1991–2004). 2006. Interview. Whitehorse YT. October 26.Google Scholar
Koepke, Tim (federal chief negotiator for the UFA, and the Kaska and Kwanlin Dün files). 2006. Interview. Vancouver BC, October 18.Google Scholar
Kwanlin Dün First Nation Final Agreement. 2004. Ottawa: Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.Google Scholar
Lowndes, Vivien and Wilson, David. 2001. “Social Capital and Local Governance: Exploring the Institutional Design Variable.” Political Studies 49: 629–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McAllister, Mary Louise. 2004. Governing Ourselves? The Politics of Canadian Communities. Vancouver: UBC Press.Google Scholar
McArthur, Doug (former deputy minister YT Land Claims Secretariat 1989–1992). 2006. Interview. Vancouver BC, October 20.Google Scholar
McClellan, Catherine. 1987. Part of the Land, Part of the Water: A History of the Yukon Indians. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre.Google Scholar
McCullough, Lesley (director of research for YT Land Claims Secretariat). 2006. Interview. Whitehorse, YT, October 24.Google Scholar
McNeely, Sean. 1998. “Meeting Was Extremely Productive.” Whitehorse Daily Star [October 6 and page of original article]. http://www.whitehorsestar.com (January 18, 2007).Google Scholar
Mitander, Victor (former council of Yukon Indians negotiator on the umbrella final agreement). 2006. Interview. Whitehorse YT, October 23.Google Scholar
Nelles, Jen. 2009. “Civic Capital and the Dynamics of Intermunicipal Co-operation for Regional Economic Development.” Doctoral dissertation. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.Google Scholar
Nelles, Jen and Wolfe, David. 2008. “Civic Capital in the Waterloo Region: Enabling Regional Economic Governance.” Working Paper. Ontario Network on the Regional Innovation System. Toronto: Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto.Google Scholar
Northern Native Broadcasting Yukon. 1996. NEDAA Video. Season 10, Show #9.Google Scholar
Northern Native Broadcasting Yukon. 1998. “Kwanlin Dün History” NEDAA Video. Season 12, Show #16.Google Scholar
Oakerson, R. J. 2004. “The Study of Metropolitan Governance.” In Feiock, R. (Ed.), Metropolitan Governance: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation (pp. 17–45). Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar
Ostrom, Elinor. 2005. Understanding Institutional Diversity. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Parker, Bridgette. 1999. “Business as Usual.” Whitehorse Daily Star [January 27 and page of original article]. http://www.whitehorsestar.com (January 18, 2007).Google Scholar
Penikett, Tony. 2006. Reconciliation: First Nations Treaty Making in British Columbia. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre.Google Scholar
Post, S. 2004. “Metropolitan Governance and Institutional Collective Action”. In Feiock, R. (Ed.), Metropolitan Governance: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation (pp. 67–94). Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar
Rynard, Paul. 2001. “Ally or Colonizer? The Federal State, the Cree Nation, and the James Bay Agreement.” Journal of Canadian Studies 36 (2): 8–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Samson, Colin. 1999. “The Dispossession of the Innu and the Colonial Magic of Canadian Liberalism.” Citizenship Studies 3 (1): 5–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scholtz, Christa. 2006. Negotiating Claims: The Emergence of Indigenous Land Claim Negotiation Policies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Steinacker, A. 2004. “Game-Theoretic Models of Metropolitan Cooperation”. In Feicok, R. (Ed.), Metropolitan Governance: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation (pp. 46–66). Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar
Stockdale, Dave (Whitehorse city councillor 1983-present). 2006. Interview. Whitehorse YT, October 23.Google Scholar
Tennant, Paul. 2000. “Delgamuukuw and Diplomacy: First Nations and Municipalities in British Columbia.” In Beyond the Nass Valley: National Implications of the Supreme Court's Delgamuukw Decision, ed. Lippert, O.. Toronto: The Fraser Institute.Google Scholar
Tobin, Chuck. 2000. “Land claims program extended.” Whitehorse Daily Star [January 14 and page of original article]. http://www.whitehorsestar.com (January 18, 2007).Google Scholar
Tobin, Chuck. 2002a. “Eleventh-hour claim deals signed.” Whitehorse Daily Star [April 1 and page of original article]. http://www.whitehorsestar.com (January 18, 2007).Google Scholar
Tobin, Chuck. 2002b. “Document summarizes terms of Kwanlin Dün land claim.” Whitehorse Daily Star [December 11 and page of original article]. http://www.whitehorsestar.com (January 18, 2007).Google Scholar
Tobin, Chuck. 2005. “It is the beginning of a new future.” Whitehorse Daily Star [February 21 and page of original article]. http://www.whitehorsestar.com (January 18, 2007).Google Scholar
Tully, James. 2001. “Reconsidering the BC Treaty Process.” In Speaking Truth to Power: A Treaty Forum. Ottawa: Law Commission of Canada.Google Scholar
Waddell, Stephanie. 2003. “City is closer to selling waterfront area to YTG.” Whitehorse Daily Star [June 18 and page of original article]. http://www.whitehorsestar.com (January 18, 2007).Google Scholar
Woolford, Andrew. 2005. Between Justice and Certainty: Treaty-Making in Modern-Day British Columbia. Vancouver: UBC Press.Google Scholar