The past session of Parliament was marked with the rise of the Idle No More movement, the latest chapter in an often difficult relationship, but government relationships with First Nations don't have to be adversarial, according to a University of Victoria professor.
John Borrows, who holds the Canada Research Chair in indigenous law, said the United States boast a 40-year history where there hasn't been legislation that was fought or opposed on a wide scale.
"It actually started with (President Richard) Nixon who was on the right, a very conservative type of person who found that within conservative philosophy there was value in trying to empower local control of local affairs and then on the Democratic, or the liberal, side the equation, Democratic parties felt quite comfortable with working with Indian communities because it matches with their philosophy which is kind of help those who are maybe discriminated against or fare less well in society,"he said.
Instead, he said, it's a matter of political will.
"There's been a courting and cultivation of alliances between different political groups that are First Nations in the United States and the different wings of the parties that are dealing with indigenous issues. And we just haven't cultivated those same kinds of alliances (in Canada)," Borrows said.
After being in government for the past nine years, people generally have a sense of what they're going to get with another Conservative term when it comes to issues of importance to First Nations people.
"Right now the dividing line is between the government in power and those that aren't," said Borrows, "But between those that aren't, I don't think that there's quite a clear sense of how they're going to distinguish themselves from one another."
What's going to be key is closely examining each party's platform, said Carrier Sekani Tribal Council chief Terry Teegee.
There have been some platform pitches that resonated, such as the NDP commitment to launching an inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women within their first 100 days of taking office and the Liberal Party's promises around First Nations education.
"The issue of resources will also be quite prominent, particularly here in British Columbia given the Tsilhqot'in case that came down last year (where the First Nation was granted aboriginal title to lands outside of a reserve) and the B.C. treaty process not necessarily working," said Borrows.
"I think within aboriginal communities and within business and resource sectors with the pipeline and LNG, there's going to be a focus on what the parties are going to do in that regard."
Federal hopefuls should be reconsidering the environmental assessment process, added Teegee.
"I mean all the policies have been just, in our determination, watered down and it doesn't address a lot of our issues including title and rights as well as cumulative impacts," Teegee said.
"I think it would be something for all these parties to look at to get some responsible development."
On Sept. 2, Assembly of First Nations national chief Perry Bellegarde presented a package of federal election priorities aimed at closing the gap between the quality of life for First Nations and non-Indigenous Canadians.
"The gap between First Nations and Canada is well documented. In recent years, Canada has ranked between sixth and eighth on the UN Human Development Index while First Nations fall between 63rd and 78th," said the priorities' report.
"The federal government's Community Well-Being Index shows that the gap has not changed at all since 1981."
The AFN's list includes measures the new federal government should be looking to undertake both within the first 100 days and first two years in office to address education, health and funding shortfalls as well as to reinvigorate treaty relationships and preserve indigenous languages.
