1. Jurisdictional Relationships
Indigenous Reclamation
September 11, 2018

2. AFN Resolution 39/2018
1. Confirm that only First Nations can determine the path to decolonization and reconciliation.
2. Establish a First Nations’ led process to draft a New Royal Proclamation binding on the Crown in right of Canada and all of the provinces and territories.
3. Call on Canada to set-aside its Principles Respecting the Government of Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples (Ten Principles) as the basis of the relationship moving forward.

3. AFN Resolution 39/2018
4. Halt the “Recognition and Implementation of Rights” process going forward and insist that Canada participates in a First Nation-led negotiations to mutually establish principles to observe and implement the UNDRIP, including a joint action plan for such implementation.
5. Call on Canada to confirm it is committed to an independent international arbitrator to resolve disputes between Treaty partners and within the Nation-to-Nation relationship.
6. Call on Canada to immediately convene a meeting with First Nations to discuss this issue.

4. AFN Resolution 39/2018
1. Confirm that only First Nations can determine the path to decolonization and reconciliation.
When Canada and the Crown began refusing to adhere to the principles and terms of the treaties faithfully negotiated with First Peoples and Nations, an oppressive and colonial regime emerged.
Canada and the Crown cannot determine the processes for repairing the damage done to First Peoples and Nations. Canada continues to operate within two-hundred year old structures and ideologies that see and treaty First Peoples and Nations as inferior.
First Peoples and Nations have the capacity and capability to lead the processes of decolonization.

5. AFN Resolution 39/2018
2. Establish a First Nations’ led process to draft a New Royal Proclamation binding on the Crown in right of Canada and all of the provinces and territories.
3. Call on Canada to set-aside its Principles Respecting the Government of Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples (Ten Principles) as the basis of the relationship moving forward.
New joint principles of understanding must be developed bilaterally with First Nations and Canada’s Ten Principles document must be set aside. Canada has a duty, based on the honour of the Crown, to negotiate with First Nations on mutually agreeable terms.

6. AFN Resolution 39/2018
4. Halt the “Recognition and Implementation of Rights” process going forward and insist that Canada participates in a First Nation-led negotiations to mutually establish principles to observe and implement the UNDRIP, including a joint action plan for such implementation.
The Framework process has been halted and cannot begin again without a vote at the AFN SCA

7. AFN Resolution 39/2018
5. Call on Canada to confirm it is committed to an independent international arbitrator to resolve disputes between Treaty partners and within the Nation-to-Nation relationship.
Conflicts between First Peoples and Nations and Canada, which are international in nature, are decided by domestic law. This process is fundamentally unjust as it forces First Peoples and Nations into the courts of their colonizer.
Any third-party led mechanism must be empowered with all the tools necessary to achieve a fair resolution. These tools include, but are not limited to: funding for research, the authority to compel parties to come to the table and, when agreed to by both parties, binding arbitration.

8. Resolution 39/2018
6. Call on Canada to immediately convene a meeting with First Nations to discuss this issue.
This meeting is not consultation.
This is the First Indigenous-Crown relations meeting of the Federal Framework process. This is the way these discussion should have began.

9. Destination

10. Current Jurisdictional Arrangements: Delegated Authority
Rooted in notion of Crown Sovereignty
Based on S. 91 (24) of the Canadian Constitution Act, which gives the federal government exclusive authority over Indians and lands reserved for Indians.
Canada’s version of inherent rights are legally enforceable under Crown authority using S. 35 of the Canadian Constitution Act, Rights are defined by Crown institutions and laws.
Crown holds jurisdictional authority and may delegate or give authority to First Nations to exercise power in certain areas. (ie. land co-management agreements)

11. Model #1: Third Order of Government
Crown Sovereignty
Indigenous Jurisdiction
Federal Jurisdiction
Provincial Jurisdiction

12. Model #1: Third Order of Government
This solution has been proposed since the Constitutional discussions of the early 1980s
Consideration was given only with First Nations occupying field with inherent jurisdiction
What is being proposed under this model is not a stand-alone government, rather, all jurisdiction is delegated

13. Model #2: “Sovereignty Association”
Indigenous Jurisdiction
Federal Jurisdiction
Provincial Jurisdiction
Indig-Fed
Indig-Prov
Fed-prov
Trilateral agreements

14. Model #2: “Sovereignty Association”
Another possible model to consider
In this model, it is clear that First Peoples and Nations have jurisdiction not delegated from the Federal Government

15. Model #3: Nation-to-Nation
Indigenous Nation Sovereignty
Crown Sovereignty
Indigenous Jurisdiction
Crown Jurisdiction
Treaty
Intergovernmental Agreements

16. Model #3: Nation-to-Nation
This is the original Treaty relationship model
It has never been extinguished, and may provide the basis for a renewed relationship with Canada

17. Treaties as International Instruments

18. Treaties as the Basis of a New Relationship
UN Treaty Study:
194. However, to legitimize beyond any doubt the ways and means used to take issues that originally belonged to the realm of international law away from it and to justify making them subject solely to domestic legislation unilaterally passed by the States and adjudicated by domestic non-indigenous courts, States should produce unassailable proof that the Indigenous peoples in question have expressly and of their own free will renounced their sovereign attributes.
There is not unassailable proof that we have consented to give up our jurisdiction, ceded our lands, or domesticate our treaties

19. Building a New Relationship
Engagement and consultation are one-sided power games where First Nations can never win – any new relationship must be based on consent
The relationship between First Nations and Canada must be governed by international law
Our right to self-determination already exists and is evidenced by the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that all peoples have the right to self-determination, and to which Canada is a signatory
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
UNDRIP reaffirms our right to self-determination
The floor, not the ceiling
UNDRIP can be used as a toolbox, but not a recipe

20. Conclusion
As Indigenous People, we are prepared to look at the standards that are available to us.
1. Treaty Standard
2. UNDRIP as the floor, not the ceiling
We have yet to hear what Canada’s standard is.