Frances Abele

Professor

Email Frances Abele

Frances Abele is Distinguished Research Professor and Chancellor’s Professor Emerita of Public Policy and Administration, Senior Research Fellow of the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation, Faculty Associate of the Centre for European Studies, and Research Fellow at the Broadbent Institute. Dr. Abele is a founder of the Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Policy and Administration and former director of the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton. During 1992-96, she was seconded to the research directorate at the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, where she was responsible for research and policy on the North and some of the Commission’s work on governance. A political scientist born in Alberta, Dr. Abele attended the University of Calgary, University of Toronto and York University. She has worked with Indigenous peoples all over Canada and in some parts of the circumpolar Arctic for most of her career. Her research has focused on northern economic and political development, Indigenous-Canada relations, self-government, policy and programs important to Aboriginal people living in cities, policy and program evaluation, qualitative research and citizen engagement. Besides her academic publications, Abele has published research reports with the National Centre for First Nations Governance, Canadian Policy Research Networks, the Institute for Research on Public Policy, the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada. She is currently a member of the editorial boards of two academic journals: aboriginal policy studies, and Canadian Public Administration.

Honours

Appointment to Order of Canada (2022)
School of Public Policy and Administration Student Society Most Valued Professor Award (2021)
Research and Academic Impact Award, Carleton University (2014)
Pierre De Celles Institute of Public Administration of Canada Award for Excellence in Teaching Public Administration (2014)
Carleton University Research Achievement Award (2010)
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for leadership in education and research (2002)

Recent Publications

Books & Edited Collections

Southcott, C., Abele, F., Natcher, D. C., & Parlee, B. (2019). Resources and sustainable development in the Arctic. Routledge.
Abele, F. (2016). Care, Cooperation and Activism in Canada’s Northern Social Economy. University of Alberta Press.
Abele, F. (2009). Northern Exposure. Art of the State.
Graham, K. A., Abele, F., & Commission, R. (1993). Public Policy and Aboriginal Peoples, 1965-1992. Canadian Government Publishing.
Abele, F. (1992). How Ottawa Spends, 1992-1993. McGill-Queen’s Press – MQUP.
Abele, F. (1991). How Ottawa Spends 1991-92. McGill-Queen’s Press – MQUP.
Abele, F. (1989). Gathering strength. The Artic Institute Of North America.
Frances Abele and Chris Southcott. (eds). 2016. Care, Cooperation, and Activism: Cases from the Northern Social Economy. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press.
Frances Abele, Tom Courchene, France St. Hilaire, and Leslie Seidle (eds). 2009 Northern Exposure: Powers, Peoples and Projects. Montreal: Institute for Research on Public Policy.

Journal Articles

Chris Southcott, Frances Abele, David Natcher, and Brenda Parlee “Beyond the Berger Inquiry: Can extractive resource development help the sustainability of Canada’s Arctic Communities?” Arctic. 71(4): 402-415 (December 2018)
Frances Abele, George Comninel, and Peter Meiksins “Socialism and democracy: the political engagements of Ellen Meiksins Wood.” Studies in Political Economy. 97(3): 320-336 (November 2016)
Frances Abele, and Sheena Kennedy Dalseg “Language, distance, democracy: Development decision making and northern communications.” Northern Review. 41: 207-240 (October 2015)
Frances Abele, and Katherine Graham. “What now? Future federal responsibilities towards Aboriginal people living in cities.” aboriginal policy studies. 1(1) (April 2011)
Frances Abele. “The state and the northern social economy: Research prospects.” Northern Review (30): 37-56. (July 2009)
Frances Abele, and Thierry Rodon. “Inuit diplomacy in the global era: The strengths of multilateral internationalism.” Canadian Foreign Policy Journal. 13(3): 45-63. (Mar 2007)
Frances Abele, and Michael J. Prince. “Four pathways to Aboriginal self-government in Canada.” American Review of Canadian Studies. 36(4): 568-595 (December 2006)
Frances Abele, and Judith Madill. “From public education to social marketing: The evolution of the Canadian heritage anti-racism social marketing program.” Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing 17(1-2): 27-53 (2007)
Frances Abele. “Kanadskii opyt uluchsheniia polozeniia korennykh narodov na rynke truda. (Canadian experience in improving the position of native peoples in the labour market.)” Region: Ekonomika i sotsiologiia (The Region: Economics and Sociology) no.4: 200-211 (2004)
Frances Abele. “And Now for a Northern Solution? Devolution of Forest Fire Control and Forest Management to the Northwest Territories and Yukon.” Northern Review (5): 82-102 (1990).
Frances Abele. “Canadian contradictions: Forty years of northern political development.” Arctic 41(4): 310-320 (Winter 1987); reprinted in Kenneth Coates and William R. Morrison, editors, Interpreting Canada’s North: Selected Readings. Toronto: Copp Clark Pitman, 1989.
Frances Abele, and Mark O. Dickerson. “The 1982 plebiscite on division of the Northwest Territories: regional government and federal policy.” Canadian Public Policy/Analyse De Politiques 11(1): 1-15. (March 1985)
Frances Abele, and E. J. Dosman. “Interdepartmental coordination and northern development.” Canadian Public Administration 24(3): 428-451. (1981)
Frances Abele, and Edgar J. Dosman “Offshore Diplomacy in the Canadian Arctic: The Beaufort Sea and Lancaster Sound.” Journal of Canadian Studies 16(2): 3-15 (1981)

Book Chapters

“Completing Confederation: The Necessary Foundations” with Erin Alexiuk, Satsan Herb George, Catherine MacQuarrie in Katherine Graham and David Newhouse, eds. Sharing the Land, Sharing the Future. University of Manitoba Press, 2021.
“Environmental Assessment, Independent Review Panels, and Due Process: Turning Principle into Practice” (with Peter Usher) in Katherine Graham and Allan Maslove, eds. How Ottawa Spends 2018-19. School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University, 2018.
“How can extractive industry help rather than hurt Arctic communities?” with Chris Southcott, David Natcher, Brenda Parlee. In Southcott et al, Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic. Routledge, 2018. 300-306.
“The North in New Times: Revising Federal Priorities.” In J. Higginbotham & J. Spence (Eds.), North of 60: Toward A Renewed Canadian Arctic Agenda (pp. 5–11). Waterloo: Centre for International Governance Innovation, 2016.
“State Institutions and the Social Economy in Northern Canada” in Chris Southcott, ed. Northern Communities Working Together: The Social Economy of Canada’s North. University of Toronto Press, 2015.
“The Immediate and Lasting Impact of the Inquiry into the Construction of a Mackenzie Valley Pipeline” in Greg Inwood and Carolyn Johns, eds. Commissions of Inquiry and Policy Change: A Comparative Analysis. University of Toronto Press, 2014.
“Intergovernmentalism and the Well-Being of First Nations” in Ghislain Otis and Martin Papillon, eds. Fédéralisme et Gouvernance Autochtone/Federalism and Aboriginal Governance. Presses de l’Université Laval, 2013.
“Promises to Keep: Federal Spending on Transportation and Communication Infrastructure in the Territorial North” (with Sheena Kennedy Dalseg and Joshua Gladstone) in G. Bruce Doern and Chris Stoney, eds. How Ottawa Spends 2013-14: Mid-Term Blues and Long Term Plans. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2013.
“Four Ways to See It: Aboriginal People and Public Policy in Selected Ontario Cities” (with Russell LaPointe, David Leech, Michael McCrossan) in Evelyn Peters, ed. Fields of Governance #5: Urban Aboriginal Policy Making in Canadian Municipalities. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2012.
“Federal Urban Aboriginal Policy: The Challenge of Viewing the Stars in the Urban Night Sky” (with Katherine Graham) in Evelyn Peters, ed. Fields of Governance #5: Urban Aboriginal Policy Making in Canadian Municipalities. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2012.
“Use it or Lose it? The Conservatives’ Northern Strategy” in Bruce Doern and Chris Stoney, eds. 2011. How Ottawa Spends 2011-12: Cutting Fat or Slicing Pork? Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2011.
“Aboriginal Workers and the Recession” (with Senada Delic) in G. Bruce Doern and Chris Stoney, eds. How Ottawa Spends 2009-2010. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2010, pp. 163-192.
“Northern Development: Past, Present and Future” in Frances Abele, Tom Courchene, France St. Hilaire, Leslie Seidle, eds. Northern Exposure: Powers, Peoples and Projects. Montreal: Institute for Research on Public Policy, 2009, pp 19-65.
“Introduction and Overview” (with Tom Courchene, France St-Hilaire, Leslie Seidle) in Frances Abele, Tom Courchene, France St-Hilaire, Leslie Seidle, eds. Northern Exposure: Powers, Peoples and Projects. Montreal: Institute for Research on Public Policy, 2009 pp 3-18.
“The New Northern Policy Universe” (with Tom Courchene, France St-Hilaire, Leslie Seidle) in Frances Abele, Tom Courchene, France St-Hilaire, Leslie Seidle, eds. Northern Exposure: Powers, Peoples and Projects. Montreal: Institute for Research on Public Policy, 2009 pp 561-594.
“Coming in from the Cold: Inuit Diplomacy and Global Citizenship” with Thierry Rodon, in J. Marshall Beier, ed. Indigenous Diplomacy Palgrave, 2009.
“A Little Imagination Required: How Canada Funds Territorial and Northern Aboriginal Governments” with Michael J. Prince, in Allan Maslove, ed. How Ottawa Spends 2008-09: A More Orderly Federalism? Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2008.
“The Future of Fiscal Federalism: Funding Regimes for Aboriginal Self-Government”” with Michael J. Prince, in Yale Belanger, Aboriginal Self-Government in Canada. Saskatoon: Purich Publishers, 2008.
“The Evolution of the March 21 Anti-Racism Social Marketing Program: A Case”, (with Judith Madill) in Hastings, G., ed. Social Marketing, London:Elsevier, 2007.
“Beyond the Blue Horizon: Northern Development Policy in the Mulroney Years” in Raymond Blake, ed. Examining the Legacy: The Era of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2007.
“Indigenous People in the Cities of Northern Canada: The Importance of the Rural Economic Base” in Peter Solomon, ed New Actors in Northern Federations: Cities, Mergers, and Aboriginal Governance in Russia and Canada. Centre for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, University of Toronto, 2006.
“Between Respect and Control: Traditional Indigenous Knowledge in Canadian Public Policy” in Michael Orsini and Miriam Smith, eds. Critical Policy Studies: Contemporary Canadian Approaches. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2006.
“Constructing Political Spaces for Aboriginal Communities in Canada” (with Michael J. Prince) in Ian Peach, ed. Constructing Tomorrow’s Federalism: New Routes to Effective Governance. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 2006.
“Symbolism, Surfacing, Succession and Substance: Martin’s Aboriginal Policy Style” with Russell LaPointe and Michael J. Prince, in Bruce Doern, ed. How Ottawa Spends 2005-06 Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2005, pp.99-120.
“The Smartest Steward? Indigenous People and Petroleum-Based Economic Development in Canada’s North” in G. Bruce Doern, ed. Canadian Energy Policy and the Struggle for Sustainable Development. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2005, pp.223-245.
“Paying for Self-Determination: Aboriginal Peoples, Self-Government and Fiscal Relations in Canada.” With Michael J. Prince. In Michael Murphy, ed. Reconfiguring Aboriginal-State Relations, Canada: The State of the Federation 2003. Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University, 2005, 237-263. (second author)
“Belonging in the New World: Imperialism, Property and Citizenship” Gerald Kernerman and Philip Resnick, eds. Insiders and Outsiders: Essays In Honour of Alan C. Cairns. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2005, pp. 213-226.
“Aboriginal Governance and Canadian Federalism: A To-Do List for Canada” with Michael J. Prince in Francois Rocher and Miriam Smith, eds. New Trends in Canadian Federalism. 2nd ed. Peterborough: Broadview Press, 2003, pp 135-166.
“Alternative Futures: Aboriginal Peoples and Canadian Federalism” with Michael J. Prince in Herman Bakvis and Grace Skogstad, eds. Canadian Federalism in the Millennium: Performance, Effectiveness and Legitimacy Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp. 220-237.
“Lessons from the Policy Discourse on Aboriginal Education,” with Carolyn Dittburner and Katherine Graham, in Marlene Brant Castellano, Lynne Davis and Louise Lahache (eds.) Aboriginal Education: Fulfilling the Promise. UBC Press, 2000. Pp. 3-24.
“Funding Aboriginal Government in Canada: Recent Developments” with Michael J. Prince, in Harvey Lazar, ed. Canada: The State of the Federation 1999-2000: Toward a New Mission Statement for Canadian Fiscal Federalism. McGill-Queen`s University Press, 2000. Pp.337-370.
“The Importance of Consent: Indigenous Peoples’ Politics in Canada” in James Bickerton and Alain Gagnon, Canadian Politics, 3rd. ed. Peterborough: Broadview Press, 1999. Pp. 443-462.
“Negotiating Canada: Thirty Years of Change in Aboriginal Policy” with Katherine Graham and Allan Maslove in Leslie Pal, ed. How Ottawa Spends 1999-2000. Ottawa, Oxford University Press, 1999. Pp. 251-292.
“Understanding What Happened Here: The Political Economy of Indigenous Peoples” in Wallace Clement, ed. Understanding Canada: Building on the New Political Economy. Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1996, pp. 118-140.
“Various Matters of Nationhood: Aboriginal Peoples and Canada Outside Quebec” in Kenneth McRoberts, ed. Beyond Quebec: Taking Stock of Canada. Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1995. Pp. 297-312.
“Wrestling with History: Prospects for Peace in Aboriginal-Canada Relations” in Jerry Haar and Edgar J. Dosman, eds. A Dynamic Partnership: Canada’s Changing Role in the Hemisphere. University of Miami North-South Centre: Miami, 1993. Pp. 131-146.
“The Politics of Competitiveness” in Frances Abele, ed. How Ottawa Spends 1991-92: The Politics of Competitiveness. Carleton University Press: Ottawa, 1992. Pp. 1-22.
“The Politics of Fragmentation” in Frances Abele, ed. How Ottawa Spends 1990-91: The Politics of Fragmentation. Carleton University Press, Ottawa, May 1991. Pp. 1-31.
“Who Benefits? The Transfer of Responsibility for Fire Control and Forest Management from the Federal to the Territorial Governments” in Gurston Dacks, ed. Devolution and Constitutional Development in the Canadian North. Carleton University Press: Ottawa, 1990. Pp. 43-70.
“The Democratic Potential in Administrative Expansion” in Gurston Dacks, ed. Devolution and Constitutional Development in the Canadian North. Carleton University Press: Ottawa, 1990. Pp. 295-316.
“High Politics is Not Enough: Services for Aboriginal Peoples in Alberta and Ontario” (with Katherine Graham) in David Hawkes, ed. Defining the Responsibilities: Federal and Provincial Governments and Aboriginal Peoples. Carleton University Press: Ottawa, 1989. Pp. 32.
“Canada as a ‘White Settler Colony’: What About Natives and Immigrants?” with D. Stasiulis in W. Clement and G. Williams, eds. The New Political Economy, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1989, pp. 240-277.
“Confronting ‘Harsh and Inescapable Facts”: Indigenous Peoples and the Militarization of the Circumpolar Region”, in E.J. Dosman, ed. Sovereignty and Security in the Arctic. Routledge: New York, 1989, pp. 176-193
“Plus Que Ça Change: The North and Native Peoples”, with K. Graham, How Ottawa Spends 1988-89, Carleton University Press, 1988, pp. 113-138.
“Conservative Northern Development Policy: A New Broom in an Old Bottleneck”, in Michael J. Prince, ed. Tracking the Tories: How Ottawa Spends 1986-1987, Methuen 1986, pp. 149-178.
“Dene-Government Relations: The Development of a New Political Minority” in Neil Nevitte and Allan J. Kornberg, eds. Minorities and the Canadian State, Mosaic Press, 1985, pp. 136-172.

Media Coverage

CU Research Helps Convince Ottawa to Support Black Communities in Federal Budget (Apr 2021)
Rebuilding First Nations Governance (Mar 2021)
Carleton partners in Major National Project to Rebuild First Nations Governance (Mar 2021)
Building Community In Difficult Circumstances (Mar 2021)
Celebrating Carleton Leaders on International Women’s Day (Mar 2021)
Celebrating Carleton Leaders on International Women’s Day (Mar 2021)
Battle brewing over UNDRIP: A primer on government Bill C-15 (APTN News, Dec 2020)
Carleton Research Funds Show Rapid Growth As Researchers Shine Internationally (Dec 2020)
$2.5 Million in New SSHRC Funding to Help Support Indigenous Drive to Self-governance. (Oct 2020)
New SSHRC award provides $2.5 million to support Indigenous drive to self-governance. (Aug 2020)
Frances Abele Receives SSHRC Funding to Investigate Transforming the Indian Act (Aug 2020)
Prof. Frances Abele’s Research Featured In Fass Stories Laying the Foundation (Nov 2019)
Building a roadmap for Canada’s North (Apr 2019)
Partnerships Receive SSHRC Award Support (Jul 2018)
Panels compromised under environmental assessment bill (IRPP / Policy options, Mar 2018)
Strengthening Environmental review of major projects (IRPP / Policy options, Nov 2017)
Carleton Contributes to Major Report on Using Vast Low Carbon Energy Resources for Major New Economic Engine (Nov 2017)
Film “My Father’s Land” Draws Large Crowd to Visions For Canada Conference (Mar 2017)
Indigenous Communities – New approaches for promoting youth resilience and prosperity. (Oct 2016)
Sustainable Governance – Carleton Celebrates 20 Years of the Arctic Council. (Sep 2016)
A Centre for Indigenous Scholarship (Nov 2014)
What Does the future hold for Canada’s First Nations (The Globe and Mail, Dec 2010)