As the Algonquins of Ontario lead a for profit housing development in Ottawa, concerns about their membership issues and land claim are re-emerging. Could this organization be a threat to the Algonquin Nation?
If federal lawyers are successful in challenging the latest Candian Human Rights Tribunal Ruling on Jordan’s Principle, there are implications for Indigenous jurisdiction over citizenship. If a community recognizes a non-status child as a band member, shouldn’t they be eligible for Jordan’s Principle support? According to Canada, the answer is no. According to Damien Lee, this is ultimately an act of political violence.
In the 35 years since Section 10 band membership codes began allowing First Nations to control their membership lists, an increasing number of people have challenged the ways their communities determine belonging. Authors of this brief show that two-spirit families are ushering in a new era of challenges that bring Section 10 heteropatriachy to the fore.
There is no question that the Indian Act must go. Its assimilation provisions, restrictions on mobility, violating nearly every treaty, aggressive patriarchy, and the dismantling of authentic First Nation governance models is all well documented. So the question becomes which path do we take from here?
Based in the Faculty of Arts at Toronto Metropolitan University.