Challenges and Opportunities

As discussed in other LCAC courses, there are a number of challenges to the full implementation of modern treaties. These barriers directly affect the ability of modern treaty organizations to thrive and to participate in regional economic development. Many of these are related to the Government of Canada’s ongoing lack of effort to build awareness within their systems about what modern treaties require in terms of behaviour, funding, intergovernmental relationships and information sharing.

Other barriers to modern treaty implementation include:

• In remote locations:
  • Food insecurity and high cost of living
  • Difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified staff
  • High cost of infrastructure and housing
• Climate change:
  • An ongoing crisis negatively affecting livelihoods and wellbeing, and changing how business is done.
• Healing from the trauma of colonization
• Funding and jurisdictional disputes