The Spaces In Between: Indigenous Sovereignty within the Canadian State

The Spaces In Between explores prospects for Indigenous political sovereignty within the Canadian state, arguing that restored practices of sovereignty are essential for better relationships and enhanced community autonomy. Indigenous nations have compelled the Canadian state to roll back its jurisdiction through strategic concessions, political negotiations, and declarations of intent, occupying jurisdictional "spaces in between" and contributing to reconciliation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 436 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2024
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

The Spaces In Between delves into the potential for enhanced Indigenous political sovereignty within the Canadian state. Recognizing that Indigenous rights encompass the right to self-determination, the book argues that revitalizing practices of Indigenous sovereignty hold significant importance in fostering improved relations between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian government. While the Canadian state maintains its dominant position in exercising state sovereignty, author Tim Schouls unveils how Indigenous nations are actively carving out and reclaiming areas of substantial political power for themselves. Through strategic legal concessions, arduous political negotiations, and sometimes mere declarations of intent, Indigenous nations have successfully compelled the Canadian state to relinquish its jurisdiction over them. This has resulted in a heightened prospects for political sovereignty within Canada, as Indigenous nations now increasingly occupy what Schouls metaphorically refers to as "the spaces in between."

The book asserts that the occupation of these jurisdictional "spaces in between" not only fulfills the requirements of Indigenous rights but also contributes to the autonomy and well-being of Indigenous communities, thereby enhancing prospects for reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian state. By reclaiming and asserting their political authority, Indigenous nations are taking steps toward a more inclusive and equitable relationship with the Canadian government, paving the way for a brighter future for both communities.

Weight: 920g
Dimension: 241 x 197 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487587413