History and Current Issues Native People

Olympics Four Aboriginal groups were official hosts of the Olympic Games

Olympic Medals Contemporary artwork by First Nations’ artist Corrine Hunt Hand-cropped sections of an orca whale and a raven

Asian Origins Bering Strait is a waterway that now separates Russia from North America Submerged landmass once connected Siberian mainland with North America People are believed to have moved across the land bridge 10,000 to 30,000 years ago They are now called Canada’s native people or Aboriginals.

Aboriginals Today 1.4 million as of 2011 Census 4.3% of the total Canadian population 50% increase since 1996, due to more people identifying themselves as Aboriginal, high birth rate and improved enumeration on reserves 86% of the population of Nunavut, 52% of Northwest Territories and 23% of Yukon 40% live on reserves Norval Morrisseau's painting Androgyny

Aboriginal Population Aboriginal peoples First Nations Registered Indians Status Indians Indian Register Non-status Indians Inuit Métis Indian Band Reserve

Aboriginals InuitMétis Status IndiansNon-Status Indians Wab Kinew of 8 th Fire First Nations Between 1971 and 2011, the Aboriginal Ancestry population grew by 487% while the Canadian population grew by 52%.

Aboriginal Population descendants of Canada’s first inhabitants constitutionally recognized Indian – term used by Christopher Columbus who thought he’d reached India Inuit Métis

First Nations Group of aboriginal people who share the same culture and heritage Status and non-status Indians National Chief Shawn Atleo

First Nations in Ontario Ontario has the largest Aboriginal population in Canada (301,430 in 2011) Aboriginal population in Ontario grew by 28.7 % from 2001 to First Nations communities Map of reserves s_in_ontario_map.pdf

Status Indians registered as an Indian under the Indian Act are exempt from paying income tax on any income they earn on a reserve are not required to pay Ontario Retail Sales Tax (RST) on most goods or services that will be consumed or used on a reserve. personal property of a status Indian cannot be seized if it is situated on a reserve Natives to receive cash payments yearly. Most convincing = promises of fishing and hunting anywhere (continue cultural practices).

Non-status Indians Not registered under the Act, but self-identify as native

Métis French word meaning “mixed blood” – people of mixed ancestry Children of French fur traders and Cree women in the prairies and of English and Scottish traders & Dene women in the North Recognized as Aboriginal since 1982 Controversial as to who belongs Métis flag oldest flag in Canada. Used before Has an infinity sign with two different backgrounds: Red was the colour of the Hudson’s Bay Company, Blue was the colour of the North-West Company.

Inuit Natives originating from the region between Labrador to Northwest Territories 50% live in Nunavut Inuit Register defines as Inuit all children born to an Inuk and a person of another race, regardless of the second person’s race 59,115 in 2012 Census Median age of 21

Inuit Live in the most crowded living conditions in Canada; 31% in homes with more than 1 person/room Nunavut has highest rate of homicide, suicide and substance abuse in Canada From: Bata Shoe Museum

Aboriginal Identity Percentage

Aboriginal Population Half are under age 25

Where do Aboriginals live?

2,600+ Indian Reserves

How many people live on reserves? Half of the small reserves are in B.C. Limited Google Street View.

Treaty Indians Belong to a First Nation that signed a treaty with the Crown

Indian Band Decision-making organization created under The Indian Act Sculpture graces the entrance to the Osoyoos Indian Band community in British Columbia

Native People A term preferred by some instead of Aboriginals or Indians

Aboriginal Issues Problems ignored or glossed over by history textbooks. Suicide rate Substance abuse Conditions of extreme poverty and isolation Land Claims

Residential Schools Abuse and cultural loss involving residential schools About 150,000 aboriginal, Inuit and Métis children were removed from their communities and forced to attend the schools. Church-run, government-funded boarding schools Churches: Anglican, United, Presbyterian and Catholic (75% ) Chief Phil Fontaine and Prime Minister Stephen Harper during official apology for residential schools’ abuses 2008

Residential School Problems Students lived in substandard conditions (physical and emotional abuse.) Sexual abuse. Rarely had opportunities to see examples of normal family life. In school 10 months, away from their parents. Everything children wrote was in English, which many parents couldn't read. Brothers and sisters rarely saw each other, activities were segregated by gender. Students returned to the reserve, found they didn't belong. They didn't have skills to help their parents. Students discouraged from speaking their language, practising native traditions. If caught = severe punishment. Became ashamed of their native heritage.

Residential School Compensation $1.9 billion compensation package for those who were forced to attend residential schools set aside in 2007 Common Experience Payment: Former residential school students were eligible for $10,000 for the first year or part of a year they attended school, plus $3,000 for each subsequent year. Deadline to submit Sept Any remaining money to support learning needs of aboriginals. As of Sept. 30, 2012, $1.55 billion paid, representing 75,800 cases. United Church of Canada formally apologized in 1986 Presbyterian Church statement of apology in 1994 Anglican Church of Canada apology in 1993 In April, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his "sorrow" to a delegation from Canada's Assembly of First Nations for the abuse and "deplorable" treatment that aboriginal students suffered.

Aboriginal Issues Years of being excluded from Canada's formal political process Could vote only if gave up treaty rights, until 1960 Proposed assimilation of all First Nation peoples into the mainstream of Canadian society in 1969 Proposed removal of First Nations from the Canadian Constitution Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Musqueam nations and environmentalists crossed Burrard Inlet in traditional canoes

In 2007, the United Nations passed a resolution called the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:  Self-determination and self-government;  Pursue economic, social, and cultural development  Own and manage lands and resources; and,  A nationality.