Land claims

Land claim settlements in many provinces and territories, and Treaty Land Entitlement negotiations in Saskatchewan and Alberta, increased the overall size of many aboriginal reserves and territories. The numerous land claims (both specific and comprehensive) by aboriginal peoples against the federal government indicate the degree to which aboriginal lands were either unfairly taken or promised but never delivered. Indeed, many traditional aboriginal lands across the country are not protected by reserve status.

To many Registered Indians, whether living on or off reserves, reserves represent the last tangible evidence that they are the original people of Canada. Reserves nurture a sense of history and culture where indigenous languages, spiritual beliefs, and values are shared. Although conditions of extreme poverty, poor health, insufficient housing, and insufficient social and health services still exist on many reserves, the reserve and the traditional values and the kinship affiliation it nurtures contribute to the members’ sense of identity and sense of self. For many, the reserve is a spiritual—as well as physical—home, despite its privations.

Law and legal title

The Indian Act stipulates that only registered band members may reside permanently on a reserve unless the band has adopted a residency bylaw that regulates the right to live on the reserve. Reserve bylaws only apply within the boundaries of the reserve, although most provincial laws apply to the residents of the reserve. Generally, provincial or territorial laws govern all residents of that province or territory, on and off a reserve, though certain powers—like the ability to regulate rent, marriage, tobacco, and gaming—have been and continue to be challenged. In 2010, according to the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, 230 bands controlled their own membership lists, while a further 31 controlled membership under self-government legislation.

Many bands have leased or otherwise disposed of portions of their reserve lands to non-aboriginal people for various purposes, including natural resource development, rights of way for transportation or transmission, farming, ranching and recreational land use. Within the reserve, the band may lease the land and use it to develop economic opportunities for band members.

Although some Registered Indians may believe that reserves are legally their property, the Indian Act states that the title to reserves is vested with the crown. This legal relationship with the federal government is a matter of concern as there are some who believe that the status of reserve lands is in jeopardy as long as legal title remains outside their control. The Indian Act forbids the “surrender” and sale of reserve land by anyone who holds a certificate of possession or a band to anyone other than the crown.

Holders of certificates of possession may transfer their certificates to other members of the same band. Land in a reserve that is not assigned to individuals is held as community property for the benefit of the entire band.

Social conditions on many reserves reflect the historical and political neglect that Canada has shown toward people of aboriginal ancestry. The isolated and remote locations of most reserves have contributed to the high rate of unemployment among aboriginal people.

Increasingly, federal and provincial social policies in the areas of health, economic development, and education resulted in new and expansive services on many reserves. Increased services led to new employment and economic opportunities, which stimulated interest by reserve residents in training and postsecondary education options. For example, the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement enabled the James Bay Cree in northern Quebec to develop a social and civil infrastructure for their nine communities and the Cree regional government. The development and evolution of similar infrastructure for reserves will enable many reserve residents to achieve economic and social standards that were previously considered unattainable. Other reserves throughout Canada are also undertaking economic development of their lands or surrounding territory. Notable examples include the Osoyoos and West Bank First Nations in British Columbia, the Wendake First Nation in Quebec, the Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia, and the Siksika and Enoch First Nations in Alberta.

Physical and spiritual home

Reserves have often been labeled rural ghettos or retreats by critics who view them as enclaves where their members can escape the demands of modern society. Those who perceive reserves in that way may believe that without reserves First Nations would be forced to assimilate into Canadian society, eliminating many of the problems that affect reserve populations. That view ignores the political and legal status that reserves have in Canada and overlooks the fact that First Nations may not want to be assimilated. It also ignores the situation in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and northern Quebec, where Registered Indians who do not live on reserves still maintain their unique identity, language, and culture.

An earlier version of this entry was published by The Canadian Encyclopedia .