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Royal Proclamation
-Royal Proclamation is a set of guidelines for European Settlement of settlement of Aboriginal Territories(North America).
-The proclamation forbade all settlement past a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains.
-The purpose was to end conflicts between American Indians and colonial settlers after the French and Indian War. -
Reserve System
-Aboriginal peoples were seen as obstacles to settlement of British North America. As a result, they were pushed on to reservations.
-The sizes of the reserves were greatly smaller than previous occupied territories
-Living conditions on reserves are lower than the rest of Canada: life expectancy is lower, suicide rates are higher.
-The Confederation negotiations didn't consider the voice of the Aboriginals, the goal became to assimilate aboriginals into the mainstream(European) culture. -
Indian Act
-The Indian act exempted aboriginal peoples from paying income and sales tax and gave “special status”. This was actually the government’s way of encouraging aboriginal peoples to assmilate in to the European culture.
-It provided schools, medical care, hunting and fishing rights and annual treaty payments to aboriginals. But aboriginals were also denied the right to take up land and to vote.
-Aboriginal traditions were banned and considered as illegal. -
Aboriginal Right to Universal Suffrage
-In 1960 aboriginal peoples were given the right to vote in federal elections.
-They are the last group of people to receive suffrage. -
National Indian Brotherhood or Native Council of Canada Formed
- Represents the indigenous people of Canada, the treaty/status Indians, non-status Indians, the Métis people, but not the Inuit. -Collapsed in 1967, when the 3 groups failed to unite as one.
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White Paper
-Introduced by the government to address the issues facing aboriginal peoples in Canada
-Proposed the abolition of reserves and an end to "special status" of the natives.
-However, Aboriginal community rejected this proposal and called it ‘cultural genocide’ as it was seen as an attempt to assimilate them into the dominant society. -
Residential School System Abolished but not all closed
-The last federally operated residential school was finally closed in 1996. -
1980s Movement toward Self Government
1982 Patriation of the Canadian Constitution, which includes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that recognizes Aboriginal and treaty rights.
As the early 1980s continue:
-Aboriginals granted ownership to certain lands.
-Specific land claims were based on existing treaties but comprehensive land claims were based on traditional use and occupancy of land
-As aboriginal rights became more clearly recognized, aboriginal peoples began to submit hundreds of land claims
(queen signing the -
First Assembly of the First Nations
The first "Assembly of First Nations" was held (AFN) in Penticton, British Columbia. -
Passing of Bill C-31
Bill C-31 is a bill that made Important amendments to Canada's Indian Act on June 28, 1985.
The purposes of the bill is to:
-remove discrimination against women,
-to be consistent with section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
-prevent anyone from gaining or losing status through marriage
The bill moved the First Nations further toward self-governance. -
The Meech Lake Accord
-This accord did not recognized the unique status of aboriginals in the same spirit as it recognized Quebec.
-Opposed by Elijah Harper because he believed aboriginal peoples deserved the same special status as Quebec. -
Oka Standoff
-Quebec, officials wanted to extend a golf course built in 1959 onto land the Mohawks claimed as theirs
-Roads were blocked and the Canadian army was called in after a police officer was killed in the standoff.
-Six months after the incident, an agreement was reached in which the federal government bought the disputed land and negotiated its transfer from the Mohawk nation.
-Ended on Septemter, 26th 1990. -
Ipperwash Crisis
-Indigenous land dispute that took place in Ipperwash Provincial Park, Ontario.
-Several members of the Stoney Point Ojibway band occupied the park in order to assert their claim to nearby land which had been taken away from them during WWII. During a violent confrontation, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) killed protester Dudley George. Dudley George was unarmed; he was shot when the police officer mistaken George's flashlight for a handgun. -
Gustafsen Lake standoff
-Confrontation between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Ts'peten Defenders in of British Columbia at Gustafsen Lake.
-People from Secwepemc,and other supporters joined at Gustafsen Lake for Sun Dance(a ceremony of the aboriginals).
-The ceremony Occupied parts of a Cattle company's space. So the company impaled a notice on a sacred spear of the Sun Dance ceremony. The occupiers was offended and fight brokeout. The RCMP had to come to occupy the area.
-Ended on 09/17/1995. -
Delgamuukw case
-The Delgamuukw case is concerned with the Aboriginal Titles (a right to territory and its exclusive use).
-The case clarified on the criteria for the Aboriginals to claim their lands.
-(i) they must have occupied the territory before the declaration of sovereignty.
(ii) There be a continuity of possession between the present occupation and before the declaration of sovereignty.
(iii) at the time of declaration of sovereignty, this occupation must have been exclusive. -
Nisga’a Treaty
-negotiated agreement between the Nisga'a Nation, the Government of British Columbia and the Federal Government.
-The agreement was signed on 27 May 1998.
-The treaty gives the Nisga’as control over their territory, including the control over the resources within. -
Statement of Reconciliation
-Government's apology for past unfair treatments to the Aboriginals.
-The Statement of Reconciliation admitted the harms caused by Residential schools and assimilation of the natives.
-To begin reconciliation,the Aboriginal Healing Foundation was
created with a 350million dollar fund to support the Aboriginals. It was given one year to organize, four years to spend or commit the funds and five years to monitor projects and produce a report. -
Creation of Nunavut
-On April 1, 1999, Nunavut was separated from the Northwest Territories to become the newest Canadian territory. The creation of Nunavut became the largest aboriginal land claims agreement between the Canadian government and the native Inuit people.
-It meant the Inuit gained self-rule and control over their own institutions, and restore a sense of identity.
-This milestone in history marked the aboriginals success toward independence.
