The Importance of Government Subsidy and Business Contribution to Aboriginal Communities Development

A stakeholder is any entity with a conceivable interest or stake in a policy concern which can affect many individual related to the particular subject.

A Stakeholder can be an individual, organization, unorganized groups or Government whose decision can affect the concerned people which in our case is the indigenous community. For every different issue there are different stakeholders but the most common stakeholder who take different responsibility for issues are international actors (e.g. donors), national or political actors (e.g. legislators, governors), public sector agencies (e.g. MDAs), interest groups (e.g. unions, medical associations), commercial/private for-profit, non-profit organizations (NGOs, foundations), civil society members, and users/consumers and many more. Many of these stakeholders are also responsible for our subject matter of indigenous issues in Canada.

The key stakeholders for most Aboriginal problems had been a lot of governmental as we as non-governmental NGOs. They have been working for the development of the life of indigenous society. Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national organization that advocates to advance First Nations priorities and objectives and engage in relationship building with the Government of Canada. AFN represents more than 900,000 natives in 634 First Nations people group, and people in urban areas and towns in Canada. Congress Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), is also an association speaking to the interests of the Métis gathering and southern Inuit Indigenous Peoples. It fills in as the national voice for provincial and territorial CAP organizations. Government likewise assumes an imperative part being a partner in such a basic part of indigenous human living. The Canadian government has been endeavouring to investigate the missing or to be particular killed reports of the indigenous ladies and young ladies. As per CBC, more than 300 uncertain instances of murder is pending and as of now 15 more was included for the current year. In this way, the principal challenge looked by the administration as a partner ought to be to determine such issues. In 2016, some fundamental measures were taken however not so much a tasteful outcome was refined. Consequently there are the couple of fundamental parts which we trust the partner should play in the issues of indigenous case. Some of the famous stakeholders for indigenous community are Métis Nation of Ontario, Quebec Native Women Inc., Manitoba Moon Voices Inc., Saskatchewan Aboriginal Women’s Circle Operation, B.C Native Women’s Association. Many debates had been taken into consideration as it has impacted the indigenous community of Canada from the core.

For many years indigenous community did not received their rights as Canadian citizens. In the long term debate, we can say that due to colonization and imperialism over today’s North America has impacted in a bad way to the original culture of Indigenous population. Due to westernization of society and changes in the lifestyle of people, culture of indigenous community has faded in a disastrous way. There is also long history of discrimination with indigenous people, torture, abuse and murder of Aboriginal people by Canadian government and white people in Canada.

The real verbal confrontation supporting the issues of indigenous network would be regarding human rights. Do they merit such life despite the fact that once being the proprietor of their own territory? They have been treated as cruel as possible by white people, their children have been taken to residential schools at a very young age and were faced by the ill- treatment of teacher there who were forcing them to follow Christianity religion and to forget their own culture. It is difficult to undo all of this but it can be resolve by different corporate power in the form of CSR. Not only corporate power can be helpful to indigenous community but also many different NGO’s and government organization can help in this. On the other hand, stakeholders and other shareholders could try to revive the aboriginal culture which is getting fade. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has admitted Canada has failed its Indigenous People. Justin Trudeau told the United Nations in a conference that his government would do better to improve the lives of aboriginal Canadians and achieve reconciliation. We can also say that if involvement of government subsidy and business contribution to aboriginal people increases than we can see a gradual increase in proper lifestyle of aboriginal people.

Since 1950 more than 1.3 million indigenous people have been live in Canada. This people mostly live in reserves and depends on government subsidy and public taxes. These taxes are basically paid by businesses and corporation. Hence there is no difficulty observe by government in providing assistance. Though there is lot of facility provided by government there is a big gap of income disparity between average Canadian and Aboriginal Canadian. As per 2010 National Post “Large disparities in income levels remained. In 2010, average income was $18,586 among aboriginals on reserves and $30,266 off reserves. For non-aboriginals, the average was $41,052”. Because of this gap in income many business has provided special employment quota for aboriginal people.

In Canada, numerous association, for example, Giant tiger and Real Canadian Superstore, etc, has given subsistence to the aboriginals. Many businesses provide different training to Aboriginal individual which can help them to get employee in particular business because skill for a proper job is essential. Many businesses also provide different resources like books, stationery, computers, electronic gadget, free wifi, etc, for free to Indigenous community. Many times the youngsters of this community who are interested in entrepreneurship and want to establish their venture one day are given free tuition on this topic. Businesses also donate big amounts for the upliftment of Indigenous community as part of their CSR. Not only business but other stakeholders also contribute for better life of Indigenous people.

Government and NGOs has its own part to play. If we talk about the role of government we could easily link it up with Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The Commission was officially established on June 2, 2008, and was completed in December 2015.

The TRC is a component of the Indian Residential Settlement Schools Agreement. The TRC's mandate activities focus on both truth and reconciliation. Truth will be addressed through statement gathering, research and public education. Reconciliation is an overall objective of the TRC. The Commission views reconciliation as an on-going individual and collective process that will require participation from all those affected by the IRS experience. The TRC funds and host seven national events in different regions across Canada, taking into consideration the history and demographics of the Indigenous Community. The national events engage the Canadian public and provide education about the First Nation Society, the experience of former students and their families and the ongoing legacies of the institutions within communities. There are also opportunities to celebrate regional diversity and honour those touched by residential schools. The TRC also support community events designed by communities to meet their unique needs. On the other hand, NGOs such as KAIROS, Assembly of First Nations, Congress Aboriginals Peoples etc. KAIROS is committed building new relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the globe, a relationship based on mutual respect, equity and the full realization of Indigenous peoples’ rights. The role of the AFN is to advocate on behalf of First Nations as directed by Chiefs-in-Assembly. This includes facilitation and coordination of national and regional discussions and dialogue, advocacy efforts and campaigns, legal and policy analysis, communicating with governments, including facilitating relationship building between First Nations and the Crown as well as public and private sectors and general public. Hence this are few major roles provided by the Governments and NGOs on the issues related to Indigenous community.