Indigenous Policies in Canada

How can a country that prides itself on reconciliation still reproduce colonial inequalities? In this powerful and accessible book, political scientist Thierry Rodon and Innu researcher Hélène Boivin trace more than five centuries of Indigenous–state relations to reveal how Canada’s policies toward First Nations, Inuit, and Métis have evolved—and where they continue to fail.

From the first alliances of New France to today’s struggles over land, self-government, and resource development, the authors uncover the contradictions at the heart of Canadian policy: recognition without true equality, consultation without consent, progress shadowed by persistent injustice. Yet this is also a story of resilience. Across every chapter, Indigenous Peoples emerge not as victims of history, but as political actors who have shaped—and continue to reshape—the country. With clear analysis, supported by data, and comparative perspectives from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, Indigenous Policies in Canada offers an indispensable guide to understanding how colonialism endures—and how it can be dismantled. Featuring a moving foreword by Senator Michèle Audette, this book invites readers to look beyond reconciliation as rhetoric and imagine a future grounded in respect, recognition, and shared responsibility.

This text is a vital read for students, policymakers, and anyone seeking to understand the real foundations—and the unfinished work—of reconciliation in Canada.

Features:

• Foreword written by Michèle Audette, Senator and Innu from Uashat mak Mani-Utenam
• Critical examinations of Indigenous–state relations, self-determination, and governance in Canada and beyond
• Includes pedagogical features such as learning objectives, end-of-chapter summaries and key points, and an end-of-text glossary