Breaking with our colonial past

St. Vital

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/03/2024 (791 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“This land is your land, this land is my land … this land was made for you and me.”

This campfire song by Woody Guthrie takes on new meaning when viewed through the lens of reconciliation. It reminds us that the intent of the treaties between the Crown and First Nations was that their citizens would both benefit from the land and its resources. This was easier said than done.

Indigenous peoples occupied and used the lands and waters of Manitoba – including the City of Winnipeg – for thousands of years. These same lands were subsequently claimed by the Europeans when they arrived. The land was surveyed, divided into lots, and distributed among incoming settlers. European laws were adopted to govern the ownership, use, and transfer of land. This system of land tenure benefitted Europeans at the expense of Indigenous peoples. Many Métis saw it as a direct threat to their rights, their land, and their unique way of life but their rebellions against the government failed.

In 2016, Canada adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It states that Indigenous peoples have the right to lands which they traditionally owned, occupied, or used. In 2021, Canada passed Bill C-15 which promised to make the laws of Canada consistent with UNDRIP.

But how do we move forward with UNDRIP when the colonial system that dispossessed Indigenous peoples of their land is still in use?

Land tenure was at the core of colonialism and as such, it must be at the heart of reconciliation. We must redefine our relationship with the land. This will require a paradigm shift that goes well beyond a simple land acknowledgement at the start of meetings. It will require change at every level of government and throughout society.

As treaty people, we must all embrace UNDRIP. We must examine how land use decisions are made and who makes them (Article 27). We must develop ways for Indigenous peoples to be meaningfully involved in decision-making (Article 32) for all land use city-wide – not just a few projects that we choose. We must adopt city bylaws and best practices that reflect Indigenous world view, and values to better protect the land, water, and biodiversity (Article 29).

As the song and UNDRIP both say in their own ways, this land belongs to you and me. If we accept that and act accordingly, land use decisions will truly benefit everyone.