Indigenous Governance & Sovereignty
Indigenous Nations govern through their own laws, councils, and hereditary systems — often in tension with imposed band council and colonial legal structures.
Wet'suwet'en conflict illustrates dual governance: hereditary chiefs vs. band councils. Many land defence movements follow hereditary or traditional leadership.
Self-determination includes control over education, fisheries, land use, and resource revenue — not administration of federal programs alone.
Respecting Indigenous governance means following Nation-identified leaders and official channels, not assuming Canadian electoral structures represent community will.