The Assembly of First Nations says a discussion of real reform needs to take place in regards to land claims policy reform.
The federal government recently appointed Douglas Eyford as a special representative to focus on renewal and reform of the Comprehensive Land Claim Policy.
University of Saskatchewan policy professor Ken Coates says the original land claims policy, released in the 1980’s, only seemed to focus on land deals — but now, reconciliation is a primary objective.
“We have to really do an awful lot more to maintain the honour of the Crown on an ongoing basis to entrench a much different approach to duty to consult and accommodation than in the past. That wasn’t even a language of conversation in the 1980’s.”
The AFN says Eyford needs to establish an approach that takes into account the full rights and title that First Nations have.