At first glance, this description might apply to a great many of Canada’s Native communities but, in fact, the article in question was profiling an outport in Newfoundland. The quarter century moratorium on cod fishing has been the beginning of the end for hundreds of remote bays, inlets, and islands in Newfoundland and Labrador. In response, many moved away – in search of new economic opportunities – and the small populations remaining are simply not sustainable.
The provincial government has taken steps to cut the costs of trying to provide services to these marginal communities. It is doing so by offering payments for resettlement if a community gives its approval in a vote. In the case of the community being profiled in the article, individuals would receive $250,000 each, households of two $260,000, and households of three or more $270,000 – subject to eligibility. Even with these payments, the net result is greatly reduced provincial costs over time. For example, the recent resettlement of another small community will save the province $7.9 million over 20 years.
The approach being taken by Newfoundland authorities stands in marked contrast to the approach that has always been followed by the federal government when it comes to Native reserves. Existing policies, to my knowledge, have always supported continued residency on these reserves. They are even less economically viable than the many disappearing Newfoundland outports, and most are far more isolated. Yet public policy and public discussion focus on the provision of more funds and more infrastructure to make these communities livable.
Solutions for Small Municipalities Not Available to Small Native Communities
As I blogged last year, it is instructive to consider for a moment how we would address the situation if we thought of native reserves as local governments. They do have their own local governing bodies (the band councils) and they exist to provide services to local residents. According to Statistics Canada, there are more than 600 First Nations/Indian Bands in Canada and 70% have fewer than 500 inhabitants. There were once a great many very small municipalities in Canada too, but as time passed it became increasingly clear that most were no longer viable. Because of their small populations, schools and hospitals closed, as did bank branches and local stores. While unwelcome and distressing, these changes were largely seen as an inevitable response to local reality.
The challenges facing extremely small municipalities were addressed in two main ways – through amalgamations with neighbouring municipalities to create a sufficient large unit (often promoted or pushed by provincial governments) and through joint servicing agreements with neighbouring municipalities that pool scarce resources in a common cause. Neither of these solutions is available for most Native communities because of their extreme isolation. Nor is it practical, I would suggest, to allocate federal funds to every Native community, regardless of size, to provide such public services as a school, a hospital, and a recreation centre. Quite apart from the cost that would be involved, there is a critical mass that is needed to build, operate, and maintain such facilities. How would one staff a school or a rec centre for literally a handful of students (in the case of the very small communities)? There are valid reasons why we have never considered such an approach in the case of very small municipalities.
Should We Consider a Different Approach?
It is beyond debate that our Native population suffered great injustices over many decades, as our governments have repeatedly acknowledged – most recently our Prime Minister in an address to the United Nations. I readily accept that I may not have sufficient cultural sensitivity and I doubtless lack background to appreciate fully the importance attached to the notion of Natives remaining on their land and continuing their traditional way of life. I have to wonder, however, how much young Natives prefer this lifestyle, given the desperation and despair that too many exhibit. I raise this whole issue not to be disrespectful of Natives but to ask if there might be another way of addressing the problems facing Native communities and whether there might be any lessons we can learn from the way we are dealing with the isolated and small communities of Newfoundland.