Mapping a Modern Treaty
Those who were involved in the negotiation of the land claims settlements and various self-government arrangements have a rich awareness of the power of these treaties and their potential to contribute to healthy, vibrant and empowered Northern communities and citizens. However, this first-hand understanding has often not filtered down to all members of the community at large. Also, while the Agreements provide a framework for self-government, they are not a "how-to guide". There is no such map - each First Nation must create its own. The alternative is to rely on the old ways of governing - modelling the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs or other alienating models.
The Foundation has partnered with the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation to support the creation of a Lands and Resources Atlas that maps out related elements of their Final Agreement in an engaging, colourful and highly readable way. All Little Salmon/Carmacks citizens will have a copy of the Atlas, which is hoped to contribute to a shared sense of ownership and community pride. This is an important stepping stone toward realizing the fruits of the land claim and of self-government.
Located in south-central Yukon along the Yukon River, the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation (LSCFN) is among the first Yukon First Nations to have ratified both a Self-government and Final (i.e. land claim) Agreement (1997). One of three Northern Tutchone nations, LSCFN has approximately 500 members, half of whom live outside the community. They now own approximately 1,200 sq. kilometres of land outright, and use and occupy traditional territory covering approximately 10,000 sq. kilometres of Southwest Yukon.
LSCFN has returned to a more traditional form of government and now holds elections for the office of Chief only -- members of the Council are selected by the respective Crow and Wolf moieties. Included on the council are an elder and a youth member selected by their respective councils. The Council is responsible for the development and governance of the First Nation and reports to the General Assembly, a group made up of all the membership, on an annual basis.
The LSCFN Final Agreement provides for the creation a number of tools to manage their traditional territory and settlement lands in ways that maintain traditional values and lifestyles, traditional law (Doo’li) and healthy lands and wildlife. Chief among these tools will be the legal structure and policy framework within which the new First Nation government can operate. In the case of the LSCFN Lands and Resources Department, this includes an eventual Lands Act and other resource management policies. However, the first step on this path toward implementation is in achieving broadly shared community understanding of the Final Agreement.
The Foundation has partnered with LSCFN to produce the first volume of a 3-volume Atlas series. The Atlases are intended to provide a clear, engaging graphical depiction of the content of the LSCFN Agreements, covering its identity, history and future potential.
The first volume is entitled Our Land, Our Culture, Our Language, Our History, Our Resources. It is intended to be a stand-alone Atlas in case more detailed volumes do not get published. The Atlas will explain the old ways and new ways of governance, imbedding this comparison in the history of contact with Europeans. It will emphasize responsibilities, rights and relationships between citizens and between adjacent First Nations. It will explain co-management and will describe settlement lands in graphic and colourful detail.
The Yukon Conservation Society is also a partner in this project, providing technical assistance and fundraising support.
While the negotiators of the Final and Self-Government Agreements made earnest attempts at writing in plain language, the documents in their current form are still quite daunting tomes of legalese.
The Atlas is a unique example of “linking people with policies”. It is a creative attempt to involve LSCFN citizens in more fully understanding the details of their Final (land claims) and Self Government Agreements, and in claiming ownership and contributing to policies consistent with these agreements.
The Atlas is due for publication in late 2004. For more information contact:
Viola Mullett
Lands and Resources Coordinator
Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation
Phone: (867)863-5576
E-mail: viola.mullett(at)lscfn.ca
Visit: www.lscfn.ca to read the Little Salmon/Carmacks Final and Self-Government Agreements