A comparative analysis of the articles on the final report of the advisory council for future ainu policy

Nakamura, Naohiro (2014) A comparative analysis of the articles on the final report of the advisory council for future ainu policy. Hokkaido Minzokugaku (Hokkaido Journal of Ethnology), 10 . pp. 67-76. ISSN 1881-0047

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Abstract

This article reviews and compares three recently-published essays on the 2009 report by the Advisory Council for Future Ainu Policy, established under the cabinet of Japan. These essays are: Tsunemoto, T. 2011. Ainu minzoku to kyoiku seisaku: Atarashii: Ainu seisaku no nagare no nakade [The Ainu and education policies: In the trend of new Ainu policies]; Yoshida, K. 2012. Ainu Minzoku no Senju Hosho Mondai: Minpogaku no Kenchi kara [The issues of compensations for Indigenous Ainu: a perspective from the civil law]; and Maruyama, H. 2012. Senju Minzoku no Jiketsuken to Biratori Dam Keikaku [Indigenous self-autonomy rights and the plan for Biratori Dam construction]. Tsunemoto was a member of the Advisory Council for Future Ainu Policy and his essay discusses the philosophy of Ainu policies and what policies can be realized under the Japan’s constitution. Both Yoshida and Maruyama criticizes the 2009 report for the lack of government’s movement to realize legally recognized Indigenous rights, including land rights, the establishment of Indigenous funds, and compensation for the past colonial policies. Yoshida and Maruyama also criticises the government for its reluctance to enact a new Ainu law to guarantee indigenous rights, even after Japan’s ratification of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The author, however, supports Tsunemoto’s argument, which suggests feasibility of searching for the foundation of new Ainu policies in the existing legal frameworks and trying to guarantee some elements of indigenous rights. Japan’s case suggests the possibility of realising indigenous rights without the enactment of a specific law, in particular under democracy, where Indigenous peoples as minority groups have to rely on the majority of non-Indigenous people for making political decision.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DS Asia G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration J Political Science > JX International law K Law > KZ Law of Nations
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment
Depositing User:	Naohiro Nakamura
Date Deposited:	19 Mar 2015 23:10
Last Modified:	11 May 2016 23:27
URI:	http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/8126

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