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So why not get rid of it? Because the inmates and their keepers have each been deeply institutionalized over many generations. It has produced a lack of trust and confidence within First Nations towards their own officials and other governments.

Self-governance must start one community at a time, engaging First Nations citizens and creating a dialogue about the Indian Act and their inherent right to govern themselves. First Nations people must develop a vision for change from their collective memory. This will give them hope, and hope is powerful medicine.

Across Canada, First Nations leaders are doing what they can to make a good life for their people within the straight-jacket of the Indian Act. They are striving to put the “beast” of the Indian Act in its place, to carve out enough time and energy to work on restoring trust, language and culture in their communities, building economies, designing new structures of government and creating capacity for the next challenge. Their aim is to step out from under the Indian Act and into the realm of their inherent right to self-government. They are restoring their nations on the trust, hope and vision of their people.

We call this transitional governance. It is not the only path to self-government, but it is a practical and necessary one for many communities determined to exercise their rights. The challenge of governing is at least as challenging as securing the right and they need the support of other governments and the people of Canada to keep moving forward.