[CliffFletcher]

There are two options:

Assimilation. That means young people move to cities and learn to work in the modern economy. Old people get relocated to public housing. Natives mix in with the wider culture and everyone succeeds or fails by how well they adapt.

Pros: Cost of supporting unfeasible lifestyles isn't carried by public purse. Toxic environments for raising children are hopefully replaced with something better. Lots of needed young workers for Canada's economy.

Cons: Politically untenable. It's what we tried to do for most of the 20th century and was regarded as a failure (and immoral) by many. Would remove the power base of native leadership and their allies in government. We can already see attempts at assimilation among urban natives and it's not pretty.

Self-Government: Let natives carve out their own distinct economies and cultures in their traditional territories. Natives deal with the Canadian government through their own leadership.

Pros: Politically attractive. Idealistic. Gives native leaders lots of power. Keeps families and communities together.

Cons: Economically unfeasible. Land and mineral rights don't provide enough of an economic base for growing populations. Fosters an unhealthy renters culture, where ownership and self-direction are neglected. Results in ghettos and limited opportunity. Expensive for the Canadian government and taxpayer.


Sadly, the Cons of Assimilation trump the other considerations. For the time being, it's just not politically feasible to suggest the most rational course of action.