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Royal Proclamation
This document was considered very remarkable for its time. The Royal Proclamation put a pause to any future settlement across North America until treaties had been negotiated with Indigenous Peoples. This was one of the first documents that recognized that these people had organized nations on their own lands. Many modern Indigenous land claims were built off of this Proclamation, because in several provinces, including BC, treaties were never signed. -
Reserve System
In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was signed by President Jackson which forced all indigenous peoples onto reserves that were much smaller than there original land. This was seen as a solution to the Indigenous people blocking the future settlements of BNA. The Federal Government had total control and management of the lands. These bands and reserves limited the ability of First Nations people to fully participate in the Canadian economy (generation wealth). -
Indian Act
The Indian act was a way for the government to encourage Indigenous People to give up their own culture and tradition, resulting in them being assimilated into Canadian culture. -
Aboriginal Right to Universal Suffrage
Aboriginals were finally allowed to vote in the federal election. Aboriginals were given the right to vote but to gain the right to vote aboriginals would have to lose their “Indian Status” and their rights to live on reserves. Many aboriginals were afraid to vote because of loss of historical rights and “Indian Status”. -
National Indian Brotherhood & Native Council of Canada Formed
The Canada-wide representation of Indigenous peoples in Canada occurred through the National Indian Brotherhood, which centered on representation through provincial organizations. The Native Council of Canada is a national Canadian aboriginal organization, that represents Aboriginal peoples who live off reserves across Canada. Both of these groups were formed to lobby on behalf of aboriginal people living on reserves. -
White Paper
In 1969, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his Minister of Indian Affairs, Jean Chrétien, unveiled a policy paper that proposed ending the special legal relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the Canadian state and dismantling the Indian Act. It abolished reserves and put an end to an indinous special status, which seemed to be the major cause of difficulties. White Paper also stated that Federal responsibilities were to be passed on to the provinces. -
Residential School System Abolished (but not all closed)
In 1969, the DIA took sole control from the churches after years of unfair rule over the residential school system. The last residential school operated by the Canadian government, Gordon Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, was closed in 1996. This met with resistance from the Catholic Church, which felt that segregated education was the best approach for Indigenous children. -
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Movement toward Self Government
Many Indigenous people believed that they have an inherent right to self-government. This would allow them to make decisions about matters internal to their communities, integral to their unique cultures, traditions, and languages and connected with their relationships to the land and resources. They saw self-government as a way to preserve their culture and attain greater control over their land, resources, and administration of laws and practices that affect their lives. -
Assembly of the First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations is a political organization representing approximately 900,000 First Nations citizens in Canada. It speaks about issues such as treaties, Indigenous rights, and land and resources. It was originally created as a result of movements to restore chiefs as the voice of First Nations in a Canada-wide deliberative assembly. Prior to that time, the Canada-wide representation of Indigenous peoples in Canada occurred through the National Indian Brotherhood -
Passing of Bill C-31
Bill C-31, or a Bill to Amend the Indian Act, passed into law in April 1985 to bring the Indian Act into line with gender equality under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It proposed modifications to various sections of the Indian Act, including significant changes to Indian status and band membership. -
Meech Lake
Amendments were proposed to the constitution of Canada. This was called the Meech Lake Accord. It was negotiated by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney along with 10 other Canadian provincial premiers in 1987. It was designed to address Quebec's concerns by constitutionally recognizing it as a “distinct society. The proposed amendments were initially popular by nearly all political leaders. Concerns about the lack of citizen involvement and its future effects were raised by former Prime Minister. -
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Oka Stand Off
When the Municipality of Oka decided to extend a nine-hole golf course onto land that belonged to the Mohawks they set up blockades of major roads. This lasted for months. During this time frame, police would storm the barricades and at one point the Canadain Army was called in. Eventually, an agreement was reached, and the government bought the disputed land and negotiated its transfer to the First Nations. -
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Nisga’a Treaty
The Nisga'a Treaty was a treaty that was settled between the Nisg̱a'a, the government of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada. This treaty provided an open, democratic and accountable Nisga'a Government. It addressed decision-making authority for Nisga'a Government within a model that the Nisga'a have been accustomed to and have accepted for many years. The Treaty includes important rules, which set out what will happen to address any conflicts or inconsistencies between laws. -
Gustafasen Lake BC
The first nations people in this area wanted to perform the sun dance at a specific location because the elders had seen it in a vision, but this land was owned by someone. They made an agreement with the owner that once a year for 4 years they could use the location. When the first nations started living on the land problems arose. A standoff between the First Nations and the RCMP lasted 31 days until the last shots were fired. They ended up going to court to resolve the problem. -
Ipperwash Ontario
The Ipperwash Crisis was a disagreement over Native land. Members of the Stoney Point Ojibway band had taken residence here to protect and try and get back the land that was taken away from them in WWII. -
Delgamuukw Case
The Delgamuukw Case concerned the definition, the content and the extent of Aboriginal title. In other words ownership of traditional lands. The court found that the provincial government had no right to extinguish the Indigenous peoples’ rights to their ancestral territories. It defined Aboriginal title as Indigenous peoples’ exclusive right to the land, and affirmed that Aboriginal title is recognized as an “existing aboriginal right”. -
Statement of Reconciliation
In 1996, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples suggested that the government make a formal statement of apology for past wrongdoing and injustice against Aboriginal peoples. In 1998, Canada made a Statement of Reconciliation to residential school survivors and created the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. This was done through a speech by the Minister of Indian Affairs Jane Stewart. It addressed things such as a formal recognition of the ancient historical presence of the First Nations. -
Creation of Nunavut
The creation of Nunavut was the outcome of the largest aboriginal land claims agreement between the Canadian government and the native Inuit people. Nunavut separated from the Northwest Territories to become the newest Canadian territory on April 1st, 1999.
