03/30/2022
By Jason Carter

The Peace and Conflict Studies Program invites you to a Masters Thesis defense by Bridget Diaz on Wednesday, April 13 at 3 p.m. in Dugan Hall, room 204.

Title: A Comparison of Outcomes in Six First Nations Reserves in Canada

Thesis Committee:

  • Professor Ardeth Thawnghmung (Committee Chair)
  • Professor Deina Abdelkader
  • Professor Aaron Smith Walter

Abstract:
This study examines the social, political, and economic wellbeing of First Nations living on reserve in Canada. I used Well-being Index scores and other measures to compare six First Nations communities in different Provinces of Canada.
I find that the First Nations who experience higher levels of political and economic control and the ability to utilize funding from Native entrepreneurial activity for the community have enjoyed better socio, economic, and political wellbeing. They had a combination of leadership and economic strategy that promotes independence from the Canadian federal government, including its funding, and that diminishes the negative consequences of the Indian Act. The more remote communities in this study had less autonomy, poorer outcomes, and an inability to increase revenue. They also contented with and were impacted by faulty or subpar municipal infrastructure.