Indigenous Engagement E-Course Landing Page

1. Unresolved Aboriginal rights and title - Aboriginal rights and title, protected under the Constitution Act, 1982, remain Canada’s unresolved “land question.” Evolving case law has shaped how governments must address infringement, consultation, and accommodation, with the Supreme Court always urging negotiation as the preferred path to resolution.

2. Deeply flawed colonization and assimilation policies - Canada’s colonization and assimilation Indian policies (e.g., Indian Act, Indian Reserve, Indian Reserve Pass Systems, 162 years of Indian residential schools) caused a cultural genocide by eroding Indigenous land, languages, identities. Rooted in Euro-assumptions of cultural inferiority, these policies created intergenerational trauma and continue to fuel the social, economic, and political marginalization of Indigenous peoples.

Module 1: Introduction and Basics About Indigenous Peoples

Module 2: Canada's Colonization History

• 2A: Canada's Indian Act
• 2B: Canada's IndianReserve System
• 2C: Canada's Indian Residential School System
• 2D: Band Office or Colonial Instrument?

Module 3: Canada's 'Land Question'

Module 4: Truth and Reality First, Only Then Reconciliation

• 4A: Obstacles to Reconciliation
• 4B: Evolution of Thought Examples

On a personal level, I find it odd that other cultures in Canada are expected to learn about Indigenous cultures, while Indigenous peoples are never forced to learn about other cultures.

Bestowed the ancestral name KWAST-en-ayu by the Tla’amin Elders on May 10, 2003, L. Maynard Harry brings more than 31 years of profound, practical, lived experience rooted directly in Canada’s colonization history. KWAST-en-ayu's delivery of content s grounded, unapologetically authentic, rooted in lived experience that comes from making governance decisions under Canada’s Indian Act (as Indian Act–elected Hegus (Chief Councillor) and councillor; by a lifetime spent living on an Indian reserve; and by family experiences directly impacted by Canada’s Indian Residential School System. This course is from the perspective of a First Nation status Indian lens.

Maynard actively participated in his Nations struggles with protecting Aboriginal rights and title and address its land question through the BC Treaty Process as well as being principal signatory to the historic 2003 Tla'amin Nation-City of Powell River Community Accord and an honorary signatory to the reaffirmed 2018 Accord.

Maynard’s understanding of Canada’s colonization and assimilation history does not come from university courses or textbooks but from his work with Elders and community leaders.

When discussing Indigenous engagement in Canada, it is important to recognize the striking similarities between the 630+ recognized First Nation communities across the country, regardless of individual Indigenous culture, region, province, or territory. These similarities are due to forced imposition of colonial federal legislation (e.g., Indian Act), federal systems (e.g., Indian Reserve System, Indian Residential School System), and Canada’s involvement of powerful institutions such as the RCMP, Christian churches and provincial governments.

Colonizer Rehab Seminar Series

Registering for this course is more than a transaction. Learners automatically join the Colonizer Rehab Seminar Series for as long as they choose. This monthly series meets on the last Friday from 9:00 am to 11:30 am (PT), bringing together 15–20 participants to extend learning beyond the course into real-world application.

Indigenous Insight is a 100% Aboriginal-owned company based on the traditional lands of the ɬaʔamɩn (Tla'amin) Nation and provides Indigenous engagement, cultural awareness training, and Aboriginal Rights and Title advisory services to businesses, organizations,  associations, corporations, and all levels of government.