Even as Canada’s longest running aboriginal standoff closes in on its one-year anniversary, the Six Nations occupation of a former housing development site in Caledonia, Ontario is not going too end anytime soon and is destined to get even dirtier.
Negotiators on both sides can't find a way to resolve the 200-year-old land claim and end the year-long occupation are still working on basic parts of the land claim, and are no where near bringing an end to a dispute that has torn apart this picturesque town.
While Canada continues to deal with treaty issues in a painfully slow manner, I found this article that proves that sometimes the hare wins the race. New Zealand continues to push forward a billion-dollar settlement plan with its indigenous Maori people, ensuring everything from land rights to language preservation.
According to the article, Canada has been aware of New Zealands judicial efficiency for some time. Canada has signed hundreds of treaties with First Nations groups. Some, such as the Douglas Treaties on Vancouver Island in the 1850s, even used wording from New Zealand treaties. But Canada has largely let the courts interpret First Nations land, New Zealand, meanwhile, created a standing commission called the Waitangi Tribunal to work with the courts and government.
The New Zealand tribunal travels to aboriginal communities on fact-finding missions. It compares each claim with the Waitangi Treaty of 1840, which gave the British sovereignty over New Zealand in exchange for ensuring Maori land rights.
The tribunal accepts evidence a court would not, such as traditional songs, stories and hearsay of the Maori people, said Williams, chief judge of the tribunal and Maori Land Court. It also handles complaints about modern-day government policies infringing on aboriginal rights.
This is a unique solution to a tough problem and certainly worthy of consideration for the Caledonia problem. New Zealand will likely settle the majority of its treaty claims by 2020, for a mere $3 billion, while Canada will probably plod along wasting a lot more tax dollars than that.
The article can be found at CH Hamilton by clicking on the title link.
Later,
Kenaz
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