NUNAVUT “Our Land”
First Nations is a Native group in which the members share a common culture and history, and wish to be treated as a distinct group Three Groups of Natives: Indian Inuit Metis – recognized in 1982 as a third group.
Inuit Wedding
Metis
TREATIES First treaties date back to 1665 Initially, Natives provided food, shelter, and knowledge needed to survive in the harsh climates in exchange for peace, friendship, and military allies. As Natives became a minority, Europeans wanted to purchase land in exchange, they offered land called ‘reserves’ and sometimes goods.
Royal Proclamation of 1763 Established two things: land-ownership rights of the First Nations had to be respected if a First Nation did choose to give up land, it should receive fair payment Reality: minimal payment for land was received. Over time, payments were increased.
INDIAN ACT of 1876 Government signed treaties with First Nations that required the FN to give up their land claim to the lands they occupied forever and persuaded them to move to reserves.
Problems Government decided who were ‘status Indians’ Today’s payments don’t seem fair Government decided how land was to be used Since 1980’s bands gaining more control of their reserves No economic future on the reserves – land is poor quality No self-government Residential Schools – try to assimilate
TREATIES TODAY Comprehensive Treaties New treaties (because treaties were never signed.) Address land ownership, self government, hunting/fishing/trapping rights, financial compensation, and ownership and control of resources.
Specific Claim Where a comprehensive land claim previously existed and the First Nations feel that one or more terms were not fair or had not been fulfilled.
Nunavut
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NWT
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Tuktoyuktuk
Yellowknife