The article examines the effect of a planning pilot project implemented on eleven different reserves in Saskatchewan between 2006 and 2011. The planning project was administered by a consulting team contracted by and following the processes set forth by the Department Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada at the time. The examination consisted of qualitative analysis, in the form of interviews, with 36 participants. The general consensus of the interviews was that although some band members assisted in carrying out the planning process, the planning project was an exercise in colonial control and ideals. However, it resulted in the Indigenous communities having a greater appreciation for the value of visioning the future of the reserve and the need for institutional development. It created a base for the community so that they could move away from the colonial framework and examine what their Indigenous planning would look like. It is believed by the researchers and participants that planning could be used to help practice self determination. The study’s participants included both the local level planning groups and band administration and members of the planning consultant team and AANDC. This study was created because the researchers noticed a disconnect between the planning process being implemented by AANDC and the literature being produced advocating for a different approach to Indigenous planning. The researchers saw this as a possible problem and wanted to explore how people felt about the outcomes.

This study wanted to examine the successfulness of the pilot project through the people involved. It was important to examine “successful” through the participants rubric not the benchmarks and standards set out by AANDC. The thesis appears to be does “the work carried out during the pilot project coincides with advances in research on planning with Indigenous communities and the emergent paradigm of Indigenous planning.” It provided a fresh perspective by examining whether the government programs were making an impact by local standards, rather than being measured by government standards.  I think the study really demonstrates the importance of Indigenous peoples’ taking control of their own planning process and being involved at every level. Outside consultants can be a useful aid, but it has to be community driven.

I found the perspectives in this article to be very interesting. It surprises me that even still AANDC seem to think they know what is best for a community rather than taking the time to really understand the planning and development needs of that individual community.