It is not possible to fully understand the issues facing the rural and northern EC without looking at the communities in which they live and work. First Nations reserves are not the only communities in northern Manitoba, but make up the majority by far. The political structure and governance on reserves is an age old questions and something currently under review. Minister of Government Services (Canadian Human Rights Commission, 2005) presented a special report of the Canadian Human Rights Commission on the repeal of Section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act. This paper claimed that “As a result of section 67, some First Nations people living on reserve are denied full access to the human rights complaint resolution system available to other people in Canada”
(p. 1). The report further explained that “As a result of section 67, some actions carried out by the Government of Canada or a First Nation government (or by a related agency, such as a school board) can be exempt from human rights scrutiny”
(p. 2). The history of development and governance on First Nations reserves is far too broad a topic for this literature review. However, because I followed an integral approach to the research, I quickly discovered some of the major resources and services missing in these small rural and northern First Nations communities. Manitobans not having equal human rights protection struck a chord with me.
More specifically, Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs (n.d.) added to the picture of the rural and northern communities: “The Aboriginal and northern communities [in Manitoba] include some of the most disadvantaged in the province”
(¶ 1). Hirsch (2005) inserted another view of the rural and northern Manitoba community, by telling us that “Most of the growth in the province will be focused in Winnipeg”
(p. 1), leading us to wonder what kind of labour market will be available outside the city.