According to the Brundtland Report released in 1987 by the UN World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainable development or sustainability was defined as the ability to meet the present needs of the society without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs. It is the organizing principle that is used to meet the needs of the human society while at the same time preserving the ability of the environment and natural systems on which the society depends. Sustainable development is a development goal for aboriginal communities in Canada. The Canadian constitution recognizes Indians, Inuit and Metis as aboriginal groups. The discussion on sustainability and the much needed environmental action in the country has often left out the concerns and issues of the aboriginal communities in Canada. Sustainability is the best measure to be used in dealing with climatic change and it should be tailored to factor in aboriginal communities.
The environment is an important aspect and is pivotal in the discussion about sustainability. Processes such as greenhouse emissions, acidic pollution, gas emissions and the mining of minerals have had a great negative impact on the environment. It should be noted that Aboriginal communities are affected differently by these impacts since their livelihood and daily activities revolve around the environment. This is because most of these communities reside in the rural areas (Bone & Anderson, 2017). In rural areas: agriculture, fishing, gathering and hunting form part of the economic and subsistence levels. Food and other resources are largely obtained from the environment; therefore, any problems that affect the environment affect the aboriginal communities directly. Issues such as landslides because of underground mining, wildlife disruptions, land and water pollution, therefore, have a significant impact on the lives of these communities. The nature and quality of their lifestyles are affected by the changes in the environment. Therefore, it is not surprising that people from Aboriginal communities have taken up the mandate to be ambassadors of environment conservation and sustainable development.
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Sustainability for Aboriginal people shall involve taking into account the ecological stockpile that is available, reviving growth, meeting the essential needs of the population, conserving and enhancing the resource base which is the environment while at the same time reorienting technology to manage risks. Canada's Indigenous people have a unique understanding of what the environment entails and how it serves them. Therefore, the longevity of the eco-systems to allow for processes such as fishing and farming and also improvement of climatic conditions depends on the insight of these communities. They should be an integral part of the development and environmental conservation efforts because they are the most affected and also they are the most aware of the conditions that affect them. The achievement of sustainable development can be if the government repairs its relationship with the Indigenous people and includes them in the decision-making processes that concern their welfare. Sustainable development is expected to take a positive turn after the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau upholds his promise as concerns the implementation of the United Nation Declaration on the Right of Indigenous People and allows for these people to take back their roles as leaders of their lands and people.
The current situation of Indigenous persons in Canada is dominant because of the relentless colonization that they have faced. Aboriginal people have been among the founding nations or the first nations of Canada. Their independence, land and leadership systems were compromised by European settlers (Uribe, 2006). The treaties that were signed between the Indigenous people and the settlers recognized the rights of the people; however, the law structures that were in place did not protect these rights. The Aboriginal people of Canada cannot be viewed as one unit since there are many differences among them. What stands out among these communities is the inseparable connection to their culture and to their environment through which they acquire sustenance. The relationship between the Canadian state and its minority groups has been marred by the conflicts and divisions that arise from the differential treatment of the minorities.
For a long time, economic insecurity, environmental instability and social injustices have been used to characterize the experiences of the Canadian Indigenous people. Sustainable development attempts have been paralyzed because of the unhealthy relationships with the government and the current status of these communities that put them at a disadvantage. Indigenous people continue to live in endemic poverty while some of the hereditary elites in the country continue to enjoy extraordinary wealth. Canada is the second largest nation in the world by land mass and has an abundance of natural resources. These resources have however been taken from the indigenous people and used to fuel the wealth of the elite. Lands have been taken from aboriginal communities for the purposes of drilling for oil and other natural resources, whereas the original occupants of these lands have been left to wallow in poverty. Indigenous communities have been left to grapple with the economic complacency of investors. This happens when the natural resources of the aboriginal people are easily accessed and used to create wealth that does not trickle down to the indigenous people then the companies play little to no role in innovation processes. The Canadian private sector spends less in the development of technologies and research that shall enable sustainable practices.
The course of sustainability among Indigenous persons in Canada can only be seen to fruition if the leadership of indigenous persons is recognized (Lertzman & Vredenburg, 2005). This is so because these persons have firsthand experience with the problems, issues and concerns affecting indigenous folk. Another contributing factor is the fact that Aboriginal communities depend largely on mixed and subsistence-based economies for their sustenance yet most of these come from the environment. To top it off, Aboriginal people see their future linked inextricably to their relationship with the land and an economy based on resources. Sustainability for indigenous communities shall therefore recognize that these communities have legally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights which should be respected, indigenous communities have a unique relationship with the natural systems and the ecological base of the country and it is their desire to retain their culture and traditions and also these people are most qualified to lead efforts of sustainable development.
The first step of sustainable development shall, therefore, be keeping track of the environmental changes and the ecological stockpile that is available to meet the needs of indigenous people. As aforementioned, sustainability revolves around meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs. To be able to get to sustainability level means that environmental conservation is a key factor. The first steps to conservation entail taking into account the changes that are taking place in the environment and the ecological stock that is affected by these changes so as to calculate all angles of vulnerability. Taking into account the ecological stock that foots development and other processes such as well mining shall allow for the planners to know the amount of conservation that needs to be done and in which areas more than others. The involvement of Aboriginal communities in such matters is pivotal for the achievement of success since the environment bears the culture and the identity of Aboriginal people. A unified approach to come up with a solution towards sustainability can enable positive collaborative impact.
Sustainability can also be achieved by providing solutions to food insecurity and endemic poverty (Thompson, n. d.). These solutions should be derived from the people themselves and supported by government policies that are favorable to the need and issues of Aboriginal people. Notably, poverty affects the way in which resources are used in that poverty makes people use resources in ways that are not sustainable. At the same time, lack of or improper use of resources leads to poverty. Therefore, sustainability solves two problems at the same time: that is poverty itself and the deterioration of resources. When resources are preserved especially resources such as land from which subsistence is derived, food security can be achieved. Preservation of resources and natural systems also reduces the negative climate footprint, thus minimizing negative climate change and helping to secure the livelihoods of indigenous people. Sustainability can, therefore, be achieved through meeting the essential needs of the Aboriginal people such as helping them to reclaim and acquire land and have control over natural resources. This is why Aboriginal people should be allowed to take a front seat in efforts aimed at sustainability.
In conclusion, the current predicament of Aboriginal people arises from a long history of colonization, social injustices and environmental instability. Because of the strong ties that these communities have to natural resources and systems, they should be directly involved in talks about sustainability. Sustainability is the only sure way to address the concerns and needs of the Aboriginal people. Sustainability can only be achieved through meeting the essential needs of indigenous people, keeping track of the environmental changes as well as the uses of the environment for development and the streamlining of the relationship between the Canadian state and the indigenous people.
References
Bone, R., & Anderson, R. (Eds.). (2017). Indigenous Peoples and Resource Development in Canada . Ontario, Canada: Captain Press.
Lertzman, D.A., & Vrednburg, H. (2005). Indigenous Peoples, Resource Extraction and Sustainable Development: An Ethical Approach. Journal of Business Ethics , 56 : 239. Retrieved from; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-004-3528-8
Thompson, S. (n. d.). Sustainability and Vulnerability: Aboriginal Arctic Food Security In A Toxic World. University of Manitoba . Retrieved from: https://umanitoba.ca/institutes/natural_resources/canadaresearchchair/Thompson%20Chap%203.pdf
Uribe, J. (2006). A Study on the Relationship between Canadian Aboriginal Peoples and the Canadian State. Focal . Retrieved from: http://www.focal.ca/pdf/Aboriginals_Uribe_Relationship%20Canadian%20Aboriginal%20Peoples%20and%20Canadian%20State_March%202006.pdf
