Assessing the Net Effects of Specific Claims Settlements in First Nations Communities in the Context of Community Well-being

The historical relationship between the Crown and First Nations people in Canada is one of the most fundamental in Canada society; indeed, it has framed the context in which First Nations have developed across a broad spectrum of dimensions, including cultural, social, economic, and political. In certain instances, the legal obligations of Canada to First Nations people, rooted in historic treaties, the Indian Act, and other formal agreements, have failed to be met, with adverse consequences that are sometimes difficult to fully grasp and quantify. The specific claims process is one mechanism that has been designed to address outstanding grievances of First Nations people. Each specific claim addresses the unique historical relationship between the Crown and a specific First Nation (Butt and Hurley, 2006; Indian Affairs Canada, 2006). The scope of the claim can vary from improper management of First Nations funds, to failing to provide sufficient reserve land, to surrendering reserve lands in the absence of consent from a First Nation. Specific claims serve a few key purposes: improving the socio-economic well-being of communities and addressing historic injustices to build trust and foster cohesion between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.