The argument by Coates (2022) is correct because the efforts that the government has been making to develop North is so much that it should have already developed if the right strategies were laid out. The delay in the achievement of the projects by the government is due to the challenges affecting the northern part of Canada to achieve sustainability is important to explain the efforts of the government to spend money in those areas—also the lack of inclusion for the indigenous people in the development projects. The government’s objective is to develop the area and ensure that the indigenous people are included in the development of modern society in Canada.
I agree that the government needs to consider the best strategy in an effort to develop the North. Despite spending a lot of money in the region to make substantial changes in the communities, there needs to be more growth experienced in the region. The federal government has little knowledge of what works to improve the lives of the indigenous people, which makes it have consistent failures to manage their affairs. The best method to understand succeed in their development efforts is to cooperate with people from the same region who are directly affected by the poor nature of society. The government needs to involve the local people both in decision-making and on the ground to ensure that the people they work with come from the same regions and understand the issues of that society. Also, it should invest in monitoring and evaluation of the projects in the areas and investigate whether the projects they invested in have any positive influence. Investigations can help identify which projects they will put their focus on and investment for positive results. Working in the same direction as the local people will have more positive results than working separately. Only the people living in the area that the federal government tries to change know what is best for them and can make real changes if they want.
The federal government can involve individuals from the indigenous tribes to help in tapping the economic potential of the northern region but it is characterized by the negative perception it has of indigenous people. The government has been unable to deal with discrimination, racism, and colonialism. Negative treatment of the indigenous people over the years has cemented their negative perception of the first nation and government in mistreating them. Therefore, their effort to instill positive change in their community is mistaken and it receives resistance from initiation. However, it is possible for the development of the northern region of Canada if all parties agree and their needs and preferences are heard and taken care of by the government.
The government should determine the priorities that would fuel the development of Northern Canada and move upward step by step without investing in areas that have little to zero returns (Jeffrey et al., 2015). Government should first investigate the major hindrances of development in the region, which include the resistance from the local communities, lack of education to the youths in the region, lack of involvement of the local people in development decisions, and education on how it will improve their lives. The region faces a deficiency in infrastructure such as good roads, ports, communications, and housing. Having a good infrastructure helps the government to reach many people, communicate their best interests to the people and foster the economic growth of the region. Another area that the government should take care of is providing good governance to the people of Northern Canada (Jeffrey et al., 2015). Most of the communities are traditional and they prefer having a local government which the federal government should consider allowing. For example, the Nunavut people asked for the government and the federal government allowed them to exercise it. These local governments can be used to fuel development where the government can work with the locals to educate them on the need for education and development in the region.
The Indian Act (1868) was created in an attempt to include the whole Canadian population into one non-indigenous society making both native and indigenous people as one. It eliminated the freedom of first nation people and communities to express themselves through culture and governance (Young, 2019). It aimed at assimilating people to be one united country. Although it was criticized for its assimilation and the paternalistic way of first nation individuals, the Act recognizes the Indigenous as sovereign in Canada. In its effort to bring people together, the Indian Act has been changed various times, with its changes coming recently where the Act recognizes the inherent rights of the indigenous people to have their own government and self-determination. The recognition of indigenous sovereignty and autonomy will have a significant contribution to Northern sustainability. Giving them power will ensure that they want to improve their regions to become more developed economically and socially (Young, 2019). The need for development will also ensure that the federal government funds are the proper use and have returned. As the First Nation communities continue to seek greater autonomy equal to or within the Canadian state, it will increase allowing them to have their own control over the social, economic, and ecological future which will spur growth and development.
Northern Canada is known mostly for negative quality but it has not limited its advantages in ensuring development for the indigenous people. It has the best qualities for economic growth, opportunities, and job creation. The developments in the northern parts of Canada have led to an increase in the population where Yukon Whitehorse had a population of 28, 201 a significant increase. The white horse continues to enjoy the additional government offices, and the prices of houses are increasing which recently reportedly shot by 6.8%. The city is experiencing more job opportunities and a sense of community as there are plenty of land people can live on as a family. It is the leading Northern city leading in communications, food systems, and energy have a positive impact on the communities living around it. However, the city has traditional activities such as mining and the use of traditional methods of energy that are dragging Northern Canada behind its potential to become a developed center. Some activities such as the mining of oils and gas have a negative effect on the environment that could have severe impacts on society and community’s lives. The government can however harmonize the war between economic growth and environmental protection. Government involving the common people from the local areas can help in the sustainability and development of Northern Canada.
The federal government needs to give Nunavut people from Northern Canada, their power so that they feel appreciated and they can contribute to the development of sustainable North Canada. One of the ways of creating local government was allowing the Nunavut which is a new territory of Canada that people were allowed to have their own government. It is easier to have a government that is closer to people and culturally based so that it can be used in the efforts to sensitize growth. Giving Nunavut their own government allowed political stability in the region which made it easier for economic growth. Government can easily develop a peaceful area than places where there are high levels of violence. Also having harmony with the leaders of Nunavut makes it easier for government to promote their development projects and in return the development of northern Canada. Allowing the Nunavut government to increase the standard of living for individuals and increased their native identity and self-confidence. Also, Nunavut people rely on the environment for food and as a source of income. Government can partner with the locals in efforts to protect the environment and promote their economic activity. The federal government allowing the Nunavut people to have indigenous self-government and political–economy autonomy has allowed viable Northern sustainability. Having control over one area in the northern region can open doors to government projects and development efforts by ensuring that they create attractive development in the accepted regions and reduce the negatives which can increase acceptance of development and sustainability efforts.
The development of northern Canada must consider the Aboriginal communities as a priority for sustainable development. The federal government must provide support to the Aboriginal youths to help them achieve self-determination and self-government that will lead to effective and sustainable ways of tackling the social and economic challenges. The focus should be on Aboriginal youths who are about 600, 000 by 2026 of more than 15 years old. A high number of youths is in Manitoba, British Colombia, and Alberta (Jeffrey et al., 2015). The high population of youths indicates a high working population who can be involved in the development strategies and be agents of change in northern Canada.
Although there is a high number of youths, they lack the education and training to meet the skills required in positions available in the mining industry. The government should notice the gap in education and skills for the Aboriginal youths and put in necessary measures to close the gap by providing post-secondary education that will help improve their communities. Closing the gap will also be important to the development of northern Canada and Canada as a whole ((Jeffrey et al., 2015). The government should continue to sensitize the importance of education to Aboriginal children and create the best approaches to introduce more early childhood education programs, build nurseries and reduce or eliminate school fees to make it manageable for parents to send their kids to school. The government should involve the parents and leaders of these communities in teaching them the importance of development and how it will elevate their family wellness.
The federal government should also involve educating Aboriginal people with degrees to educate the youths to create a clear perspective about education. They can help youths with their first language which will increase performance, and improve their literacy skills and problems solving so that they can be important people in society. Education given to the Aboriginal people should also balance their cultural needs and realities to avoid culture shock that would lead to retaliation of parents from sending their children to schools.
However, for effective changes for the Aboriginal people, the government must ensure protective measures for the easy adoption of diversity. Protective measures will build resilience and proper interventions for the vulnerable Northern Aboriginal people ((Jeffrey et al., 2015). Government must ensure that education involves cultural continuity strategies, they continue teaching community healing and there is proper civic engagement, and mentorship and they involve the youths in leadership programs. The federal government should develop a better school system apart from residential schools to bring a different perception of schools and education to parents that went through stigmatization in residential schools.
In conclusion, the Canadian government is on the right path to the development part of Northern Canada. However, they are using the wrong approach of forcing development in a region that is still resistant. There is the potential for growth and development but the federal government must investigate the best approach to use for developing the region. If the right approach is used, the government will use less capital for the development of the region which is likely to offer more returns. Some of the methods that are likely to work are involving the people from the region in the development strategies and education of the traditional Indians on the benefits of a developed region. Youths and children should be taken to schools to learn and develop the necessary skills to ensure there is no employment gap in the available industries. The government should upgrade the northern infrastructure to allow people to see the need for development and why they should accept more developments in the region. Also, the federal government allowing the local people of the North to have their local government can help in managing people and resistance by using the local leaders to educate the people on the need for development in infrastructure. Therefore, it is possible the develop the northern region through the involvement of the local people and proper research on where they should invest for better returns.
References
Coates K. (2022). Canada’s paternalistic mindset toward supporting Indigenous communities just doesn’t work. Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canadas-paternalistic-mindset-toward-supporting-indigenous-communities/
Jeffrey, A., Fiser, A., Brender, N., & Dowdall, B. (2015). Building a Resilient and Prosperous North: Centre for the North Five-Year Compendium Report. Conference Board of Canada= Le conference board du Canada.
Young, F. (2019). A Trojan Horse: Can Indian Self-Government Be Promoted through the Indian Act. Can. B. Rev., 97, 697.
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