Author Description

In recent years, many Canadian Aboriginal leaders have taken their community along the path of self-government of social services. Understanding the complexity and analysing these initiatives has been a problem for both Aboriginal leaders, social services providers, social work educators and social policy analysts. This article discusses the issues of self-government and provides and analytical tool, A circle of Self-government, for understanding the various levels of self-government. The article further identifies five types of agreements with the three stakeholders: the band/Tribal Council, the provincial government and federal government.