Informality within Indigenous land management: A land-use study at Curve Lake First Nation, Canada

Curve Lake First Nation (CLFN) in Ontario has a mainland Reserve area of 649 ha and a Reserve population of 1368; 768 of whom are CLFN members and 600 of whom are seasonal or permanent non-members. Land management is an amalgam - there is much formal land tenure through Certificates of Possession (CPs) and leases but little formal land use planning. A desire by CLFN (Chief and Council, Lands Committee, Lands Manager) for more formal land use planning drove this research. In 2019, 160 CLFN members participated in a land-use study. The results were aggregated into four categories: those that hold land (CP holders), those that do not hold land (non-CP holders), members living on-Reserve, and members living off-Reserve. CP holders and non-CP holders agreed that all parcels should be managed/used according to community values. There was similar agreement between on-Reserve members and off-Reserve members. However, there was little understanding of existing land tenure and land management regimes, and much uncertainty about the distinction between formal and informal land-use. Further analysis revealed, on the one hand, that there was a significant difference in knowledge about how Reserve land may be used between CP holders and non-CP holders, and between on-Reserve and off-Reserve members. We refer to this difference as a disconnect and found a correlation between informality and disconnect. On the other hand, there was no disconnect about the need for formal land-use policies and bylaws, which finding supports the CLFN community as it debates a land-use plan.

Automated summary

Curve Lake First Nation (CLFN) in Ontario desires more formal land use planning in order to better utilize their land. The research found a lack of understanding of existing land tenure and management regimes, resulting in uncertainty about the distinction between formal and informal land use. However, there was no disconnect regarding the need for formal land use policies and bylaws.