For more than 100 years the Indian Act and Indian reserves have segregated native Canadians from the Canadian economy and society. Study after study, illustrates the failure of the system; yet, the federal government has decided to expand the segregation.

On August 5, 2005 the federal government announced the creation of 10 new reserves in Manitoba. The new reserve lands were set apart under the Manitoba Treaty land Entitlement Framework Agreement and affected 4 native bands - Buffalo Point, God's Lake, Rolling River and Wuskwi Sipihk.

Why new reserves in 2005

Between 1871 and 1923, Canada concluded 11 Victorian Treaties, more commonly referred to as the "numbered" treaties, which cover the Prairie Provinces, most of Ontario, Northwest Territories and northeastern British Columbia. The purpose of these treaties was to open up the land for settlement, trade and agriculture. In addition, they sought to ensure peace and goodwill between native Canadians, settlers and the Crown.

As these treaties were signed, the government began to establish reserves. The sizes of the reserves were based on population figures. Unfortunately, some individuals were missed. Treaty Land Entitlements (TLE) were created to negotiate shortfalls with native Canadians.

The 10 newly created reserves is a partial fulfillment of the Manitoba Treaty Land Entitlements. It is a "partial fulfillment" because most packages consist of land and money; last week's announcement only included land.

Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott stated, "The newly established reserve lands provide the First Nations with additional economic resources on which to explore community development opportunities and to improve the quality of life for First Nations members."

Laudable goals but will the new reserves really provide these opportunities Only time will tell.

The populations of Indian reserves are small. Of 629 Indian bands, 75 per cent consist of less than 1,000 registered Indians and the average band population on-reserve less than 650.

Moreover, as a result of the federal government's decision to restrict most of Indian Affair's programs to on-reserve natives, many natives live in virtual isolation in reserve communities which have no real economic base and, in a number of instances, a disintegrating social fabric. No matter how uneconomic the community, the federal government has seen it as a duty to sustain them.

Furthermore, Indian reserve land is treated differently than other private property. This treatment of native Canadians under the Indian Act is unfair and is the reason why many people in native communities live in poverty.

The land which comprises an Indian reserve - and the same holds true for the new reserves - is held in trust by the Crown and is controlled collectively by the native band council.

It is both patronizing and demeaning to native Canadians for the federal government to continue to hold title in its name to the Indian reserves in Canada. It is the community members that should have ownership and control of the reserve lands thus allowing the individual community members to ultimately decide whether their long-term interests are to be achieved through the collectivist ownership of land, or private ownership of land, or by the sale of reserve lands.

It is very important native Canadians enter the mainstream of Canada's economy. Expanding existing reserves and creating new reserves will only hinder the ability of native communities to truly integrate with the larger economy.