{"id":2329,"date":"2026-03-12T13:04:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/?page_id=2329"},"modified":"2026-08-11T13:13:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T17:13:01","slug":"inherent-rights-informed-voices-podcast","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/inherent-rights-informed-voices-podcast\/","title":{"rendered":"Inherent Rights Informed Voices Podcast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n\n
\n
\n
\n

\n Inherent Rights, Informed Voices Podcast Series\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n
\"inherent<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n \n\n

\u201cInherent Rights, Informed Voices\u201d is for First Nations leaders, administrators and citizens who want to learn about their inherent rights; the power that citizens have to transform the way their nation is governed; and how the Indian Act obstructs their ability to develop effective self-governance and take their rightful place as citizens within their own nations and within Canada. The podcast is also an important educational tool for all Canadians to better understand our shared history and the importance of creating a shared future together. Effective self-governance is critical to the survival, health and well-being of First Nation peoples. It is a central pillar in reconciliation and in the creation of a new nation-to-nation relationship with the Crown; and is vital to building Canada\u2019s global strength.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

The podcast is produced by the Rebuilding First Nations Governance (RFNG) research project in collaboration with its lead partner, the Centre for First Nations Governance (CFNG). It features experts across the country who are partners, collaborators and practitioners helping First Nations to find pathways out of Indian Act administration back to governing themselves and their territories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first five episodes of the podcast were released in 2025, with another five in production for release in the 2026. It will be available on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and SoundCloud. Episode dates and details below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Episodes 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

EP9: The Duty to Consult and Accommodate: Prioritizing First Nations\u2019 Self-Governance in Decision-Making<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

May 25, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n

Consultation and accommodation with First Nations communities is a legal duty under section 35 of the Canadian constitution. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples also emphasized the importance of Free, Prior and Informed Consent in decision making. In Episode 9 we\u2019re exploring what it means to consult and accommodate from a First Nation perspective and prioritize First Nations\u2019 self-governance in the decision-making process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: Serena Smith<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests: Giuseppe Amatulli<\/a>, Val\u00e9rie Courtois, Shona Nelson<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

EP8: Community Change Champions: A Conversation with our Community Partners<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

May 18, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n
\"Community<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n \n\n

Dzawada\u2019enuxw First Nation, Lake Babine Nation, Lil\u2019wat Nation, Listuguj Mi\u2019gmaq Government, Peg\u2019pig\u2019lha Council, and the Upper Nicola Syilx Nation. These are the First Nation community partners across Canada who are all collaborating with RFNG to further study and implement our inherent right to self-government. Last episode we discussed the importance of citizen engagement. In episode 8 we have the opportunity to learn about the personal experiences of those citizens, particularly, those who act as community change champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: Mason Ducharme<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests: Colette Sunday, Ernest Armann, Dwayne Nashkawa<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

EP7: Citizen Engagement: A path from the Indian Act to the Inherent-Right to Self-Government<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

May 11, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n

The heart of the CFNG and RFNG is community. Our project is built on the importance of engagement to create Nation to Nation to Nation relationships. Through community-led analysis on the impact of Indian Act governance, new forms of governance structures based on a communities unique needs can be developed. In Episode 7, we\u2019re exploring how we can engage our communities effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: Chris Robertson<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests: Sonia Leo, Pawa Haiyupis<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\"Citizen<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Episode 6: Traditional Language and Nation Rebuilding: The Missing Link<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

May 4, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n
\"Traditional<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n \n\n

Languages inspire. They connect. They create our sense of self and our sense of place. They make us who we are. Which is why we must fight to keep our traditional languages alive. In episode 6 our host and guests share deeply personal reflections on how important language is for personal identity, nation-rebuilding, and how youth and Elders play a vital role from a community practitioner perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: <\/strong>Mason Ducharme<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests:<\/strong> Sonia Leo, Lexlixatkwa7 Nelson<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Episodes: 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Episode 1: Rebuilding What Was Always Ours: The Inherent Right to Self-Government<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

November 17, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n

\u201cWhere it all began\u2026\u201d Exploring the history of the Indian Act and the inherent right to self-government. Episode 1 covers how First Nation communities governed themselves successfully before the arrival of European settlers and how the introduction of colonial government and the Indian Act changed ways of life that had been practiced for millennia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: Catherine MacQuarrie<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests: Frances Abele<\/a>, Terry Poucette<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\"Rebuilding<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Episode 2: Inherent Rights Explained<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

November 24, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n
\"Inherent<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n \n\n

Indigenous governance can be a tricky concept to wrap your head around. Terms like self-determination, self-governance, inherent right to self-government, reconciliation, Section 35, are thrown around. But what do they actually mean? Episode 2 explores the key concepts of the inherent right to self-government. What does it mean for First Nations to be self-determining? And how does that shape reconciliation in Canada?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: Mason Ducharme<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests: Satsan (Herb George)<\/a>, Chris Robertson<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Episode 3: From Section 35 to UNDRIP: Honouring Indigenous Rights<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

December 1, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n

Have you ever wondered why and how Canada recognizes Indigenous rights? In episode 3, prepare to learn all about Section 35 \u2013 a short but important piece of Canada\u2019s constitution that recognizes the rights of Indigenous peoples across the country. Canada\u2019s constitutional obligation to protect these rights, paired with the country\u2019s adoption of the United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides a strong foundation for protecting Aboriginal and Treaty rights in numerous ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: Julie Williams<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guest: Naiomi Metallic<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\"From<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Episode 4: From the Courts to the Community: Asserting Self-Governance<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

December 8, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n
\"From<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n \n\n

Indigenous peoples across Canada have a long history of successfully challenging the courts, governments and the public to recognize their rights. In episode 4, we learn about successful government policy change regarding Aboriginal rights, and how nations can begin implementing their own policies as a step to reclaiming self-governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: Dwayne Nashkawa<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests: Catherine MacQuarrie<\/a>, Frances Abele<\/a>, Kent McNeil<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Episode 5: Self-Government in Action with Bill C-92: Indigenous Laws for Our Children<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

December 15, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n \n\n

The Canadian government has twice legislated the inherent right to self-government to recognize specific jurisdictions. One of those times was in 2019 with the passing of Bill C-92. For decades Indigenous voices had pushed for the right to control their own child and family services, and this Bill finally provides supports for that right. Episode 5 delves into Bill C-92 while exploring how some First Nations\u2019 have been structuring their own child and family laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: Nathan Oakes<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guest: Albert Peeling, Mason Ducharme<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\"Self-Government<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Producer: Emma Fazakas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Executive Producer: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music Courtesy of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constitution Song by The Spiritual Warriors<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morning Coffe by Ogi Feel the Beat on Pixabay<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The podcast is produced by the Rebuilding First Nations Governance (RFNG) research project in collaboration with its lead partner, the Centre for First Nations Governance (CFNG). It features experts across the country who are partners, collaborators and practitioners helping First Nations to find pathways out of Indian Act administration back to governing themselves and their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[],"class_list":["post-2329","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2329"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2329\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2627,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2329\/revisions\/2627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/rfng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=2329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}