Carole Blackburn – Reconciliation & Treaty Relationships

Dr. Carole Blackburn’s talk will explore the legal, political and cultural consequences of treaty making in Canada. While the recent report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indian Residential Schools identifies the treaty relationship as key to meaningful reconciliation, First Nations treaty signatories have very different ideas about how and why a treaty can reconcile their relationship with Canada than do the federal and provincial governments. For most Indigenous people treaties are a sacred covenant and that should create relationships of mutual respect and obligations between treaty partners. This is only possible, however, when they are implemented beyond a limited, contractual understanding of rights obligations.