by Reserve residences are a type of housing offered by the government to First Nations people and Indian tribes. These communities can be very isolated and do not have the same amenities as off-reserve residents, such as electricity and running water.
Despite their hardships, however, many reserve communities are resilient and thrive in their unique ways. They are also places where Indigenous languages are spoken and taught in schools and cultural practices continue to flourish.
A Reserve is an area of land set aside for the permanent habitation of Indigenous Peoples by the Crown in Canada. It may be a single parcel of land or an entire community, such as a township or a village cri in Quebec, surrounded by terres réservees aux Cris (TC).
This area can also be divided into smaller areas known as census subdivisions (CSD), which are determined by criteria set by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
While most reserves do not have a permanent population, many have been influenced by urbanization over the years. Cities such as Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary are surrounded by reserves, which have tended to grow closer together.
Some people believe that the best way to resolve the problems of reserve lands is to convert them into fee simple, or privately owned, lands. This proposal reflects Western conceptions of private property and is often made by non-Aboriginal Canadians.
Another problem is that reserves are often located in areas where economic opportunities are limited. This means that their residents face a lot of barriers to getting loans for construction, renovation or financing, including the ability to obtain lines of credit and mortgages.
In addition to economic challenges, reserves can be a major source of social hardship. A 2006 study by Statistics Canada found that Aboriginals living on-reserve had higher rates of unemployment and lower levels of education than their off-reserve counterparts.
For this reason, many leaders in the Indigenous communities are working to improve the conditions on their reserves and maintain their culture as they move forward with modern life. For instance, in Ontario, Indigenous Services Canada offers a range of programs that help people living on Indian reserves to access affordable housing and improve their quality of life.
