First Nations Canada-GamblingIn recent media engagements, a specialist from Brock reviewed a research that assessed how provinces might better engage with Indigenous peoples, examined the consistent causes of labor disputes in Canada, and the impacts on the growing online gambling scene. The discussion also highlighted the life and milestones of a significant founding member of the University.
A new research, co-authored by a Brock University professor, has illuminated the links between provinces and First Nations in the context of sovereignty and diplomatic engagement.
The comprehensive study titled 'Understanding First Nations-Provincial Relationships', co-authored by Liam Midzain-Gobin, a professor from Brock University’s political science department, and a former top aide to the New Brunswick commissioner addressing systematic racism, delves into the complexities of reconciliation and the interactions between Indigenous peoples and regional governments.
In the words of Midzain-Gobin, the research acknowledges that the historical lack of engagement from some parties has led to enduring complications. Conversations about reconciliation and ties between Indigenous communities and settlers tend to frame new settlers as a federal matter and mistake Indigenous peoples as a single monolithic entity. This common simplification misses significant ongoing dynamics and does not represent the full spectrum of possibilities or needs required for true reconciliation.
Midzain-Gobin asserts that the research strives to shift the discourse towards recognizing the intricacies and distinct experiences of each group. British Columbia stands out as one of the forerunners to embrace and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), thus setting an example for a potential reconciliation roadmap. Conversely, New Brunswick, along with many other regions, has outright rejected this declaration, opting instead to disregard the necessity of forming enduring connections crucial for reconciliation with First Nations.
According to Midzain-Gobin, British Columbia illustrates a more integrative strategy compared to New Brunswick, suggesting that regional administrations should place greater focus on cooperation with specific Indigenous communities.
The key takeaway indicates that our inability to see how provinces address matters with First Nations communities in extreme scenarios points to the importance of fostering genuine relationships that extend beyond issue-specific engagements.
Brock University’s Professor Larry Savage, an expert in labor studies, highlights that labor unions have revived workers' capacities to strike, aiming to reclaim perceived losses in purchasing power particularly after the pandemic's impact. He notes that implementing back-to-work legislation to halt the BC ports strike would be a contentious move for the Trudeau regime, which would rely on Conservative support. Moreover, there's existing tension within the BC port workers' union regarding the benefits of the mediated agreement. While current labor movements don't match the fervor of the 1970s, Savage emphasizes that effective unions, seen as benefiting workers, could spark renewed interest in union membership.
Last Updated: August 28, 2023
