Welcome to Inherent Rights Informed Voices, a podcast brought to you by the Centre for First Nations Governance and the Rebuilding First Nations Governance project. On this journey, our podcast delves into what we’re learning with our partner First Nations about leaving behind the Indian Act to exercise their inherent right to self-government. We have some of Canada's best practitioners and experts in self-government sharing their insights into this important work to take back responsibility for ourselves and our territories.
Producer: Emma Fazakas
Executive Producers: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme
Music courtesy of:Constitution Song by The Spiritual WarriorsInquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
Answering All your Questions on the Inherent Right to Self-Government
Host Catherine MacQuarrie interviews Douglas Sanderson, Dwayne Nashkawa, David Newhouse, Frances Abele, Mason Ducharme, and Chris Robertson to answer community questions about the inherent right to self-government.
25 May 2026
The Duty to Consult and Accommodate: Prioritizing First Nations’ Self-Governance in Decision-Making
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’re exploring what it means to consult and accommodate from a First Nation perspective and prioritize First Nations’ self-governance in the decision-making process.
Host: Serena Smith
Guests: Giuseppe Amatulli, Valérie Courtois, Shona Nelson
Producer: Emma Fazakas
Executive Producer: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme
Music Courtesy of:
Constitution Song by The Spiritual Warriors
Inquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
Morning Coffe by Ogi Feel the Beat on Pixabay
18 May 2026
Community Change Champions: A Conversation with our Community Partners
Dzawada’enuxw First Nation, Lake Babine Nation, Lil’wat Nation, Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government, Peg’pig’lha 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.
Host: Mason Ducharme
Guests: Colette Sunday, Ernest Armann, Dwayne Nashkawa
Executive Producer: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme
Producer: Emma Fazakas
Music Courtesy of:
Constitution Song by The Spiritual Warriors
Inquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
11 May 2026
Citizen Engagement: A path from the Indian Act to the Inherent-Right to Self-Government
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’re exploring how we can engage our communities effectively.
Host: Chris Robertson
Guests: Sonia Leo, Pawa Haiyupis
Producer: Emma Fazakas
Executive Producer: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme
Music Courtesy of:
Constitution Song by The Spiritual Warriors
Inquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
Morning Coffe by Ogi feel the Beat on Pixabay
4 May 2026
Traditional Language and Nation Rebuilding: The Missing Link
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.
Host: Mason Ducharme
Guests: Sonia Leo
Lexlixatkwa7 Nelson
Producer: Emma Fazakas
Executive Producer: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme
Music Courtesy of:
Constitution Song by The Spiritual Warriors
Inquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
15 Dec 2025
Self-Government in Action with Bill C-92: Indigenous Laws for Our Children
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’ have been structuring their own child and family laws.
Host: Nathan Oakes
Guest: Mason Ducharme
Producer: Emma Fazakas
Executive Producers: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme
Music courtesy of:Constitution Song by The Spiritual WarriorsInquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
8 Dec 2025
From the Courts to the Community: Asserting Self-Governance
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.Host: Dwayne NashkawaGuests: Catherine MacQuarrie, Frances Abele, Kent McNeilProducer: Emma FazakasExecutive Producers: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason DucharmeMusic Courtesy of:Constitution Song by The Spiritual WarriorsInquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
1 Dec 2025
From Section 35 to UNDRIP: Honouring Indigenous Rights
Have you ever wondered why and how Canada recognizes Indigenous rights? In episode 3, prepare to learn all about Section 35 – a short but important piece of Canada’s constitution that recognizes the rights of Indigenous peoples across the country. Canada's constitutional obligation to protect these rights, paired with the country’s 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.
Host: Julie Williams
Guest: Naomi Metallic
Producer: Emma Fazakas
Executive Producers: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme
Music Courtesy of:
Constitution Song by The Spiritual Warriors
Inquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
Morning Coffe by Ogi feel the Beat on Pixabay
24 Nov 2025
Inherent Rights Explained
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?
Host: Mason Ducharme
Guest: Satsan (Herb George), Chris Robertson
Producer: Emma Fazakas
Executive Producers: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme
Music Courtesy of:
Constitution Song by The Spiritual Warriors
Inquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
Morning Coffe by Ogi feel the Beat on Pixabay
17 Nov 2025
Rebuilding What Was Always Ours: The Inherent Right to Self-Government
“Where it all began…” 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.
Host: Catherine MacQuarrie
Guests: Frances Abele, Terry Poucette
Producer: Emma Fazakas
Executive Producers: Catherine MacQuarrie, Mason Ducharme
Music:
Constitution Song by The Spiritual Warriors
Inquisitive Orchestra by Musictown on Pixabay
6 Nov 2025
Inherent Rights Informed Voices | Podcast Trailer
Get ready because... Our teaser episode has arrived! Hear the voices, insights, and stories of Nations reclaiming self-government all over the country.Are you interested in the Inherent Right to self-government, section 35, Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous rights? This podcast is for you.Covering all these topics and more, join us on the journey as we learn from multi-generations of informed voices. Full podcast launches Nov 17 — follow us so you don’t miss it! Available on Spotify, Facebook, YouTube, and SoundCloud.Don't forget to follow our Instagram and LinkedIn as well.IG: @iriv.podcastLinkedIn: Rebuilding First Nations GovernanceYouTube: Inherent Rights Informed VoicesFB: @Inherent Rights Informed Voices#InherentRights #PodcastTeaser #IndigenousVoices #SelfGovernment #FirstNationsStories
Inside a recent episode
Answering All your Questions on the Inherent Right to Self-Government
Published 8 Jun 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And it doesn't necessarily exclude other areas of law. A great deal of Canadian constitutional law is devoted to Figuring out in areas where the federal and provincial governments have overlapping jurisdiction, which one of them prevails with respect to any particular issue. And so when we talk about indigenous jurisdiction, we're talking about thinking of a First Nations or an Inuit or a Métis government. as having exclusive legal authority that may bump up and come into conflict with federal and provincial law, but we have a variety of constitutional tools for thinking about which of those orders of government should have jurisdiction over this particular event. […]
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