Final answer:
Yes, The dispute over 'Native Land' has partially divided First Nations people from the rest of Canada, due to the importance of land for cultural identity, sustenance, and self-governance, with historical treaties often disregarded, leading to loss of territory and autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dispute over "Native Land" has indeed partially divided First Nations people from the rest of Canada. Land is crucial because it represents not only a source of physical sustenance but also a foundation for cultural identity, spiritual beliefs, and self-governance. The history of First Nations in Canada is marked by cooperation and conflict over territories. While traditional indigenous views did not necessarily align with the Western concept of legal land ownership, as European settlement expanded, treaties that granted land rights to First Nations were frequently broken or disregarded.
These breaches of agreement, such as the Indian Act of 1876 and land speculators taking advantage of indigenous peoples, led to the loss of territory and autonomy. Nowadays, the Inherent Right to Self-Government Policy seeks to provide legal avenues for First Nations to negotiate claims and preserve their culture.
Moreover, the transition from communal to individual land ownership represented a significant shift for the indigenous communities, affecting their social structures and connection to the land. Children inheriting land were often disconnected from their communities due to being sent to boarding schools, further complicating tribal autonomy on reservations.