The ECMI Working Paper #97 is now online. The paper focuses on non-territorial indigenous self-governance in Canada and the United States.

The Ecmi Working Paper #97 is authored by Raphaëlle Mathieu-Bédard. “Researching non-territorial (or offreserve/reservation) Indigenous self-government in Canada and the United States entails several difficulties, however, the most obvious being its anecdotal nature,” Ms. Mathieu-Bédard explores different forms of off-reserve self-government in Canada, and instances of non-territorial self-government
in the United States by indigenous populations or Natives.

Raphaëlle Mathieu-Bédard (M.A. in Political Science, McGill University, Canada) is a former intern at the ECMI.

Abstract

Indigenous peoples and minorities throughout the world have endeavoured for centuries to rid themselves from colonialism and oppression, while governments struggle to recognize indigenous and minority rights and minorities’ rightful standing in society. Varied approaches have been adopted, with varying degrees of success – but much can be learned from past and current victories and mistakes. Both in Canada and in the United States, the federal governments have historically held exclusive and virtually unlimited authority over their indigenous populations. Yet, based on divergent interpretations of the ‘doctrine of discovery’, the two countries have long developed differing policies regarding the selfgovernment of their indigenous nations, inevitably influencing their respective indigenous self-determination movements and the emergence of indigenous, non-territorial institutions.

Download the ECMI Working Paper #97

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Source: ECMI InfoChannel @ European Centre for Minority Issues.