This is part 5 of a series of Issues, Experts & Ideas leading up to National Aboriginal Day, which is today, June 21. Links to the rest of the series follow this latest addition.

Privatizing reserve land

Anke Kessler, a Simon Fraser University economist, takes issue with the findings in a new study co-written by Tom Flanagan, a former advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Published by the Fraser Institute, the study is called Individual Property Rights Key to Social, Economic Well-Being for First Nations. It suggests private property may be the key to bringing levels of income, employment and education in First Nations’ communities up to Canadian standards. Kessler begs to differ saying, “Bands that have a larger share of land under lawful possession have a lower, rather than higher, medium income, on average.”

Anke Kessler, 778.782.3443, akessler@sfu.ca

Links to Parts 1-4, National Aboriginal Day series:

• Part 1: http://i.sfu.ca/YGCiiu
• Part 2: http://i.sfu.ca/JJrihe
• Part 3: http://i.sfu.ca/sRgJTs
• Part 4: http://i.sfu.ca/PLnsHm