Expanding the Debate: First Nations Reserves and Security Concerns in Canada

Stephanie Soiffer | BIG Research Reports | #96

A theme that appears repeatedly in the media and in academic articles – and can be seen
in some government policies as well – is that First Nations reserves undermine Canada’s national security. According to these sources, reserves threaten Canada’s physical and economic wellbeing. While the source of these threats is sometimes attributed to the action of individuals from a reserve, the reserves themselves are often blamed. This focus on the reserve is evident in the oft-repeated argument that discrepancies between the legal regime of the reserve and of the federal and provincial governments create pockets wherein criminality flourish. The focus on the reserve is also evident in government policy that specifically address security issues on reserves.

Stephanie Soiffer