Without the vote, First Nations people could easily be dismissed as politically irrelevant. National political parties, also a key conduit of interest group demands, were hardly hospitable. Moreover, Aboriginal people had only the beginnings of viable national political organizations. In addition, as we have seen, the very structure of some of those organizations was flawed because of Indian Act provisions. Moreover, if pluralism has brought a somewhat greater measure of benefit for Aboriginal people, pluralism alone cannot deliver what is being sought.
Aboriginal peoples seek a recognition of their rights as peoples.
This brief overview suggests only an intimation of what Commissioners see as crucial lessons to be drawn from a sad policy history told in four parts. Some important recommendations are made in each area, either in this or subsequent volumes, but in general, these chapters are concerned with overall lessons that Canadians not just their governments need to make their own. The Final Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples represents the most concise and comprehensive distallation of North American Indigenous issues ever published . The Institute of Indigenous Government makes this material freely available as a primary learner resource. The Institute acknowledges the financial assistance of the Department of Indian Affairs in the development of this project.