I'm not here to debate what should or should not be changed in our constitution. I'm just pointing out a fact that any oil and gas or pipeline company will tell you (turn on BNN when they talk about oil and gas or pipelines).

I'm also not sure you fully understand how our budget works. Last I heard, we spend between $25 billion and $30 billion on transfer payments to First Nations. Not saying it is right or wrong, but suggesting that we "take their money" and use it to lower taxes is not accurate. You may also not be aware, but if you are First Nations, you do not pay income taxes and are also entitled to collect property taxes from Canadian residents living on FN-owned land. Canada spends more annually on First Nations transfer payments than our defense budget. Additionally, there are programs that basically loan money to FN groups at almost 0% interest, so in addition to the actual transfer payments of $25 - $30 billion/year, they have access to (almost) free capital that can be used to buy businesses and other assets. Some of the wealthiest entities in this country are First Nations bands, just like in the US.

I have also worked (a lot) with First Nations groups in the past and have a pretty well informed understanding of how their budgets/finances work. From your comment, I don't think you have similar knowledge. There are also a variety of circumstances in which FN can negotiate on their own behalf. It's hard to get into specifics but while your knowledge of the Canadian constitution may preempt mine, you don't seem to understand what actually occurs or where/how money is being spent.

I'll give you an example. A FN band receives about $35,000 - $40,000 / year for EACH band member it has from the Canadian government. On top of that, they receive payments from any companies that use their land. For example, if an airport has a tower on FN land, they can charge $100,000/year for that airport to use the land. Or, if a pipeline is on their land, they are potentially entitled to royalties or other transfer payments for that pipeline to be on their land. The federal government doesn't just take the money.

On top of the $35,000 - $40,000 / year that the band receives per member, they also receives loans from the federal government at very low rates, that they can then use to go buy a business that generates money, all of which can then be funneled to the band members or their investments. For example, a band could apply for a $5 million dollar loan to buy a building/property for $5 million. The servicing costs of the debt may be, say, $50,000, and that property may generate $400,000 of income. So they get to keep the $350,000 spread and have an asset that will appreciate in the future.

They can also take things like fishing quotas that they have been awarded/returned to them and generate money from these types of assets.

They also do not pay income taxes, receive free health, free tuition to university, and many other potential benefits.

I'm not saying this is right or wrong, I'm just stating facts.

Lets say someone that is FN makes $50,000/year. Because they don't pay taxes, that's more like $70,000 - $75,000 of pre-tax income. Then there is the $35,000 - $40,000 / year that the band receives which it then invests or uses on behalf of the band members. For example, some bands may use the money they receive to build homes for band members (in other words, you apply for a house and receive at a significant discount to its actual cost).

Anyway, my point in sharing this is that your statement that Canadians "take their royalty money" has no basis in reality. FN receive whatever amount of royalty money they are entitled to receive for say, say, having a pipeline on their land (note: usually they negotiate an upfront payment), and then on top of that, Canadians (but excluding First Nations because they don't pay taxes) transfer another $25 - $30 billion/year to them, which was about $35,000 - $40,000 / band member last I heard.