Think Tank Releases Prairie Aboriginal Rankings

We have learned over the years that First Nations residents expect good governance now. While it is almost universally acknowledged that the Indian Act is an obstacle to indigenous advancement and essential change, there is no excuse for band government inaction on improving conditions now. Reform may come to the Indian Act eventually, but band leadership can act in spite of it.

Thomas Mulcair at odds with reality

How to Pay for Roads

ICBC is onto Something

Autoworkers Off Base

Car Sharing Tax Policies

Natural Resources the New Future for First Nations

The Harper government's controversial move to streamline the approval process for large resource projects should make life better for Canada's aboriginal communities. Before Ottawa tabled a budget at the end of March, many were asking how much federal money would go to Aboriginal education. (~2 min)

Join us weekly across the prairies for our hard hitting policy commentary broadcast across the Goldenwest Radio Network - Click here for a list of 14 stations and broadcast times.

~2 min	May 4, 2012 — Natural Resources the New Future for First Nations
~2 min	April 20, 2012 — Promoting Transparency in First Nations Governance
~15 min	January 27, 2012 — What Should Happen to Canada’s Indian Act (CHQR)
~2 min	January 26, 2012 — Chiefs Need to Know About Land Management Law
~2 min	December 30, 2011 — New Native Election Law Good for Everyone
~1 min	December 15, 2011 — Blood Tribe Governance Vote (CBC)
~9 min	December 6, 2011 — Auditing Attawapiskat
~23 min	December 6, 2011 — Aboriginal Housing Crises
~1 min	November 4, 2011 — Putting First Nations First (SK)
~23 min	September 20, 2011 — First Nations Institutions and Their Leadership (CBC-SK)
~8 min	July 14, 2011 — New Developments Between Canada and First Nations (CJOB)
~16 min	June 29, 2011 — Nisga'a Treaty: Self Government and Good Governance (Rutherford)

Latest Publications

Think Tank Releases Prairie Aboriginal Rankings

— May 7, 2012

Despite an emphasis on Aboriginal difference, the Frontier Centre’s fifth annual Aboriginal Governance Index confirms that grassroots First Nations want universal things like transparent, accountable governments that treat everyone on the reserve equally.

Frontier Highlights High Performing Manitoba Bands

— April 16, 2012

The Frontier Centre has released its fifth Aboriginal Governance Index and some Manitoba bands are solid performers again.

Media Release - Frontier Centre releases 5th Aboriginal Governance Index

— April 12, 2012

The Frontier Centre for Public Policy releases rankings for its fifth annual Aboriginal Governance Index (AGI), which highlights how band members in 32 communities across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta perceive the quality of their governance and services.

The Fifth Annual Aboriginal Governance Index

— April 12, 2012

The newly-released fifth annual Aboriginal Governance Index involved 32 participating First Nations communities across three Prairie provinces, and highlighted the clear governance expectations of average band members.

Analyst Touts Charter Schools As Possible Option For First Nations

— March 19, 2012

A unique type of public school, found only in Alberta, is being held up as a model for other First Nations to follow. Joseph Quesnel, an analyst with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, says Saskatchewan's western neighbor is the only province in the country to currently allow charter schools.

Enlarge Education Choice for Indigenous Families

— March 9, 2012

Coming systemic changes to Aboriginal education should not just focus on increasing funding and empowering bureaucracies, but should place choice for indigenous parents front and centre by allowing maximum options.

Watch

February 21, 2012: Cut Off the Oxy (SunTV) ~12min - OxyContin addiction is a new stage in Canada's genocide against native people, Charles argues. Where's the drug enforcement? Joseph Quesnel, policy analyst from The Frontier Centre for Public Policy, joins the discussion. (~ 13 min.)

December 5, 2011: Auditing Attawapiskat (SunTV) ~8min - Joseph Quesnel explores the roots of the problem at the Attawapiskat Reserve.

January 20, 2011: Calvin Helin on Economic Dependency ~40min - Author Calvin Helin on his new book 'The Economic Dependency Trap.'

May 26, 2010: Aboriginal Policy Fellow Don Sandberg on Residential Schools ~4min - Don Sandberg, the Director of Aborigial Projects for The Frontier Centre for Public Policy, discusses residential schools.

February 21, 2012: Cut Off the Oxy (SunTV) ~12min

Recent Updates

		Policy Notes - A One Page Policy Discussion 2012-03-09 – Enlarge Education Choice for Indigenous Families 2011-07-04 – Think Tank Conducts Ground-Breaking Study of Nisga’a Treaty Experiment 2010-10-19 – Salary Abuses Do Not End With Disclosure Rules » View More Policy Notes			Frontier Backgrounders - Short Analyses 2011-04-06 – Ngâi Tahu 2010-04-22 – Aboriginal Policy in Australia and Canada 2006-09-01 – Aboriginal Education in Manitoba » View More Frontier Backgrounders
		Perspectives - Thoughts from the Advisory Board... 2008-06-02 – Residential Schools: Another View 2008-02-08 – Rethinking the Reserve - Jean Allard's Big Bear Solution 2004-02-10 – Race-based Politics = Collapse of a Government? » View More Perspectives			Policy Series - Longer Reports & Studies 2012-04-12 – The Fifth Annual Aboriginal Governance Index 2012-03-06 – Reinterpreting Indian Control of Indian Education 2011-06-27 – The Nisga’a: 10 Years Later » View More Policy Series
		Conversations - with Policy Innovators 2011-01-21 – Calvin Helin, Author 'The Economic Dependency Trap' 2010-07-07 – Robert Nault, Former Minister of Indian Affairs 2010-04-15 – Dr. Tom Flanagan, Professor of Political Science, University of Calgary and Co-Author of Beyond the Indian Act: Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights » View More Conversations			Special Reports and Publications 2009-06-26 – NO Second Class Citizens 2008-11-27 – For Aboriginals, Life is Better in the City 2006-08-15 – Free to Choose » View More Special Reports and Publications
		PowerPoint Slides from Events 2011-08-30 – The Nisga'a Treaty: Over 10 Years Later 2011-02-11 – Illegal Tobacco and The Indian Act (Joseph Quesnel) 2010-03-08 – Where Are Aboriginal Affairs in Canada Headed? » View More PowerPoint Slides from Events			Aboriginal Voices from Ground Zero 2012-05-07 – Think Tank Releases Prairie Aboriginal Rankings 2012-04-16 – Frontier Highlights High Performing Manitoba Bands 2012-01-10 – What to do with Lake St. Martin First Nation » View More Aboriginal Voices from Ground Zero
		Worth a Look - In our Virtual Library... 2012-02-13 – Turning Natives Into Homeowners 2011-11-16 – The Free Market Secret of the Arab Revolutions 2010-11-08 – Taking Ownership Of Their Land » View More Worth a Look			Charticles - A Graphical Look at Issues 2010-05-07 – Secretiveness Still a Defining Feature of Many Band Governments 2010-04-30 – Majority of Band Residents Report Political Meddling in Businesses 2010-04-23 – Sizable Minority of Reserve Residents Do Not Feel Safe From Arbitrary Government » View More Charticles
		Frontier Centre in the Media 2012-03-19 – Analyst Touts Charter Schools As Possible Option For First Nations 2012-02-13 – Canada Mining Boom Leaves Natives in the Cold 2012-01-23 – To Resolve Our Biggest Moral Issue » View More Frontier Centre in the Media			Frontier Media Appearances 2012-01-27 – What Should Happen to Canada’s Indian Act (CHQR) 2011-12-15 – Blood Tribe Governance Vote (CBC) 2011-12-06 – Auditing Attawapiskat » View More Frontier Media Appearances
		Frontier Radio Commentary 2012-05-04 – Natural Resources the New Future for First Nations 2012-04-20 – Promoting Transparency in First Nations Governance 2012-01-26 – Chiefs Need to Know About Land Management Law » View More Frontier Radio Commentary			Frontier Audio (Speeches/Events) 2011-01-21 – Calvin Helin - The Economic Dependency Trap 2010-04-15 – Beyond the Indian Act: Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights 2010-04-15 – Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights (Seminar with Manny Jules) » View More Frontier Audio (Speeches/Events)
		Frontier Recommended Audio 2010-05-26 – Nisga'a Real Estate (CBC The Current) 2009-01-06 – Russell Means on Property Rights and Government Dependency 2008-08-30 – Aboriginal Governance and Accountability (CJGX) » View More Frontier Recommended Audio			Frontier Channel - Video 2012-02-21 – Cut Off the Oxy (SunTV) 2011-12-05 – Auditing Attawapiskat (SunTV) 2011-01-20 – Calvin Helin on Economic Dependency » View More Frontier Channel - Video
		Frontier Recommended Video 2012-03-09 – Calvin Helin on Resetting the Aboriginal Relationship 2012-01-24 – Indian Act improvement? (SunTV) 2011-08-29 – Stossel Indians » View More Frontier Recommended Video