Land Rights and Claims
The Land Rights & Claims heading encompasses several distinct areas, most notably Comprehensive Claims, Specific Claims, and Additions to Reserves (ATR). The AFN has held strategy sessions on Land Rights & Claims as a regular part of its agenda at most of its recent Assemblies. During these sessions, a variety of issues and new resolutions were reviewed, including:
- Resolution 71/2011 – Comprehensive Claims Policy Reform Initiative – focusing on the Crown-First Nation Gathering held in January 2012, and emphasizing the need to advance CCP reform as a part of this event.
- Resolution 17/2011 – Specific Claims Tribunal Act Timelines – concerning Canada’s inappropriate use of timelines to limit negotiations.
- Resolution 14/2011 – Additions to Reserve and Economic Development and 70/2011 Improving the Additions to Reserve Policy and Process – both confirming the need to reform the ATR policy and process.
There are two distinct bodies that oversee the issues that fall under the Land Rights & Claims heading:
- the Chiefs Committee on Claims (CCoC) has existed for more than two decades and meets several times a year to discuss issues relating to Specific Claims and ATR;
- a Comprehensive Claims Policy (CCP) Working Group has been in place since before AGA 2010, and has met regularly to discuss CCP reform issues and strategy.
A number of additional topics are also associated with Land Rights & Claims, including Claims Over $150M, Landless Bands, and Modern-Day Treaty Implementation. These are reflected in various other resolutions and activities.
