Overview

Abstract (English)

As set out in the 1982 Constitution and supported by several subsequent Supreme Court of Canada decisions, Aboriginal communities hold far-reaching rights over their ancestral lands. However, in many cases, the scope and extent of these Aboriginal rights are not well defined. So-called “modern” treaties, or Comprehensive Land Claim Agreements, which began in the 1970s, clarify who owns the land and its resources and also define the scope of rights to harvest wildlife and land use for traditional purposes. In this paper, I examine the economic impact of modern treaties on First Nation communities. The analysis compares communities that implemented a treaty against other similar communities without treaties. Modern treaties have increased real income in First Nation communities by some 17 percent. The increase is largely driven by employment income and has benefited workers in several industries, not only resource extraction ones. Treaties have also had positive effects on neighbouring non-reserve communities. By clarifying property rights over land and natural resources, modern treaties can foster development of extractive industries and benefit local economies. These are important findings in assessing the benefits of First Nations treaties.

Abstract (French)

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