Aboriginal Title Claims and Land Claims Overview

At JEDI's Building Better Together II Plenary on May 19th, 2021, Chief Patricia Bernard of Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, gave a keynote on Aboriginal Title Claims and Land Claims.

In this video (to the left) Chief Bernard explains the difference between land claims, both specific and comprehensive, and Aboriginal title claims. In addition to defining Aboriginal title claims, Chief Bernard shares her own experience in resolving the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation Aboriginal title claim.

Aboriginal Title Claims and Land Claims Q&A

Some questions that were asked:

• What does it mean for a community if/when a title claim is successful?

• What are some misconceptions about land claims?

• What do the peace and friendship treaties mean to you and your communities?

• Is it possible that the issue of tax revenue, and the media spin, is retaliatory to Indigenous title claims?

• What does tax revenue do for First Nations communities?

• If the current Wolastoqey Aboriginal title claim is won, how will the communities manage the land?