Research paper released: Aboriginal Canada and the Future of the Natural Resource Economy

First papers in new series highlight the alternative futures facing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians in defining new relationships around natural resource development

OTTAWA, 1 May, 2013 – Canada’s leading independent, non-partisan think tank, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) announces today the launch of a signature project aimed at showing how natural resource wealth may be used to reset the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

Canadian prosperity and for a fair and appropriate pathway for the improvement of the situation of Indigenous peoples. The history of Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal relations in Canada has not been kind to Indigenous peoples. They have borne most of the negative effects of resource development and settlement, with the impacts still painfully evident in the 21st century. The legal empowerment of Aboriginal peoples in recent years has given the Indigenous governments much greater, if not absolute, ability to shape development projects to better suit community needs and aspirations. It is vital that the historic pattern be changed and that models of more positive engagement come to the fore. This paper shows that, far from being a vain and pious hope, such models are already emerging and provide guidance on where to go from here. 

Read more: http://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/aboriginal-canada-and-the-future-of-the-natural-resource-economy/