Land Decolonized Podcast

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SHOW NOTES
Andrew Beynon, Director of Land Governance, gives us a sneak preview of the first national conference to be held on solving the crisis of ineffective law enforcement in our land code communities.
The National Conference on Enforcement of First Nations Laws will be held June 6-8, 2023 in Ottawa-Gatineau. More than 500 participants are expected.
00:50 - Why it is critical to bring together this national conference on enforcement of First Nations laws.
2:20 - There is more recognition of self-government, but what good is it without the ability to enforce laws enacted under new land codes? We must fix this legacy of failure, a real gap.
4:20 - Theme for day one: federal/provincial action plans. Is anything really happening on the ground? Andrew mentions progress being made in some jurisdictions such as Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
6:07 - Theme for day two: success stories. What has to happen next? How are pilot projects proceeding?
7:25 - Theme for day three: First Nations policing. Many communities rely on the RCMP or provincial policing, and they are overstretched already. Some laws however do not require a police element. How should they be dealt with?
11:45 - Possibility of a national coalition? This will be discussed at the conference due to the degree of interest in solving enforcement issues. It is up to First Nations leadership to consider this as a positive next step. There are common issues across the country. Andrew mentions specific communities doing interesting things.
15:03 - Andrew hopes that participants leave the conference with enthusiasm and optimism. Solutions in policing, prosecution and the courts can be found.
LINKS

• Andrew Beynon's email: [email protected]
• First Nations Land Management Resource Centre website
• Conference event website
• Conference agenda (tentative)
• Collaborative Approaches to Enforcement of Laws in Indigenous Communities: Report of House Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs

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Lawrence Lamouche and Elvis Thomas share the unique and inspirational story of how both contribute to land management at Woodland Cree First Nation in Treaty 8 territory in northern Alberta. It is the first Alberta nation to enact its own land code.
Lawrence manages the traditional land portfolio while Elvis is the go-to contact for land code on the reserve proper.
Woodland Cree is a 'young' band, having been created in 1989, and it just voted to enact its own land code in November 2022.
It is refreshing to hear how both men, with leadership from Chief and Council, helped get the nation out of more than 30 land-related provisions of the Indian Act so their community could start to grow at the 'speed of business'.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Woodland Cree First Nation Website: https://www.woodlandcree.net/
Woodland Cree Facebook videos: https://www.facebook.com/wcfn474/videos
Woodland Cree 'A vision for the future' video: https://youtu.be/2IVQgNi5cOE
Lawrence Lamouche (traditional lands) email: [email protected]
Elvis Thomas (Reserve Land Code) email: [email protected]
First Nations Land Management Resource Centre website: https://www.labrc.com

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Jasmine Pouce Coupe has some advice for First Nations considering adopting their own land codes to take control of their lands and resources. Communicate well, and often! Repeat important messages to your community members.
Jasmine is helping guide Doig River First Nation, near Fort St. John, BC, as it develops a community-based land code. Has the effort been worth it? Absolutely, she says, and even more important now that Doig River has signed a Land Entitlement Agreement after 23-years of negotiation, a deal that will see a new urban reserve and new business development.
As she told host Richard Perry, she is incredibly proud of the community's accomplishments.
Episode runs 20:36.
Land Decolonized was ranked #1 in Apple Canada's non-profit directory in May 2021. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
LINKS
To reach Jasmine by email: [email protected]
Doig River First Nation website
Land Management Resource Centre website

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Kim Guerin learned from an early age that a small First Nation could take on the Canadian government and win.
Her father spearheaded a legal battle over lease rights that went to the Supreme Court. R v Guerin affirmed that Ottawa has a fiduciary duty to a First Nation, that it is in a position of trust to act on the First Nation's best interests.
Musqueam is also part of the growing Land Code movement in Canada. It managed its own lands and resources in one of the most populated urban centres in Canada...the heart of Vancouver.
Ms. Guerin spoke with host Richard Perry about pride in community and why she sees land and sovereignty as critical pieces of Musqueam's future.
LINKS:
Musqueam Indian Band
First Nations Land Management Resource Centre
R. v Guerin Supreme Court decision

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Jackie Lombardi graduated from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law on the Dean's Honour List with a Distinction in Aboriginal Law and Indigenous Legal Traditions.
She brought her valuable perspective to the 2023 National Conference on the Enforcement of First Nation Laws, hosted by the First Nations Lands Advisory Board and First Nations Land Management Resource Centre.
She joined host Richard Perry for a conversation about her role with the Chiefs of Ontario and why solutions are required to overcome gaps in law enforcement in First Nations.
Links:

• Conference website for future follow-up materials and updates –https://www.2023firstnationenforcementconference.com/
• Jackie Lombardi on LinkedIn
• Chiefs of Ontario website