The Indian Department Archives - Yellowhead Institute

The Elbows are Up: Ontario’s “Special Economic Zones” and Indigenous Rights

Hayden King / June 5, 2025

This week, despite clear opposition from Indigenous leaders, Ontario passed Bill C-5, a sweeping piece of legislation that weakens environmental protections and undermines the Duty to Consult. By creating “Special Economic Zones” and exempting major projects like the Eagle’s Nest Mine from assessment, the province has taken a significant step toward sidelining Indigenous rights and public oversight.

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A Decade of Disappointment: Reconciliation & the System of a Crown

Eva Jewell / September 30, 2024

Last week the Federal Government released the 2024-2025 budget, with new funding allocations for Indigenous communities. While these allocations are significant and there are even new policy approaches to be found in the budget, chronic shortfalls and the historically paternalistic Crown-Indigenous financial relationship remain.

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Reforming First Nation Child and Family Services: A Critical Review of the Final Agreement

Hayden King / September 12, 2024

In mid-July, after years of Human Rights Tribunal Rulings, litigation and negotiation, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) announced an agreement with Canada aiming to end discrimination against First Nation children in the child welfare system. AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak hailed the agreement as a turning point and thanked the “Government for coming

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