Aboriginal self-determination and resource development activity - Environmental and Human Security in the Arctic - page 188

the Canadian system of federalism), because they function as governments
they must be engaged with on a government level by other government
bodies, which further strengthens our overall sovereignty in the region. Self-
government therefore reinforces the security and sovereign position of the
Canadian state by solidifying its political and physical presence in the region.
To begin, this chapter considers the importance of land claims and self-gov-
ernment and locates both in the human security literature. Although neither
Aboriginal people nor the Canadian government use the language of human
security in negotiating or promoting land claims or self-government, they
share common characteristics. Land claims in Canada, like human security,
aim to improve the material quality of Aboriginal life as they focus on issues
of economics, energy, land, resources and traditional pursuits. Self-government
contains further elements of human security including health care, housing,
education, justice, food and environment, along with personal, community and
political elements of life. In effect, when combined, land claims and self-gov-
ernment are about increasing Aboriginal human security. Hence this chapter
argues that both are necessary to achieve Aboriginal self-determination, and
their absence undermines the security of indigenous peoples.
Drawing on research conducted in two different Arctic communities,
I demonstrate ways in which self-government, especially in areas where
there is increased oil and gas activity, dramatically improves the ability of
communities to address their own human security issues. That is, where self-
government exists, Aboriginal communities are more secure. Finally, this
chapter concludes that self-government, like human security, is a work in
progress. That is, it is not an end goal but a process through which Aboriginal
peoples must work to increase their overall quality of life and raise their
standard of living, and to that end self-government represents an important
and critical step forward.
Self-government and human security: making
a connection
In Canada, land claims are intended to help remedy the imbalance in the
state-Aboriginal relationship. They are mechanisms through which the state
can attempt to resolve contentious issues concerning land and its ownership.
Hence, land claims are primarily designed to resolve the question of title out-
standing between Aboriginal peoples and the state. While the Crown owns
all the land, it negotiates land claims as a way to settle claims to title over
these lands made by Aboriginal groups. That is, where no treaties were previ-
ously signed or exist, the state embarks on a process of new or modern treaty
negotiations (referred to as comprehensive claims), and where treaties existed
previously (also known as historic treaties) they seek to remedy any terms that
remain unfulfilled (referred to as specific claims). The overarching objective
on the part of government is to ensure that any lingering dispute over title