Indian Act - 1876 “The happiest future for the Indian race is absorption into the general population, and this is the object of the policy of our government. The great forces of intermarriage and education will finally overcome the lingering traces of native customs and traditions.” Duncan Campbell Scott Department of Indian Affairs

Indian Act 1876 Indians were not residents of Canada but wards of the state Designed to eliminate Aboriginal culture and assimilate Aboriginals into English-Canadian society Act defined who was an Indian and regulated Indian status An Indian women who married a white man lost her status Indians could not be doctors, lawyers, ministers or attend university if they wanted to maintain their Indian status Potlatch and other ceremonial and spiritual practices were banned (1884)

The Indian Act (1876) Benefits of the Indian Act – provided schools, medical care, hunting and fishing rights, and annual treaty payments to Aboriginal peoples across Canada; exempted Aboriginal peoples from paying income and sales taxes; gave “Special Status” to Aboriginal peoples Disadvantages of the Indian Act – Aboriginal peoples were denied the right to take up land or vote in provincial elections. They lost their status (and benefits) if they lived off reserves, joined the military, obtained higher education, or married a non-Indian.

Some Definitions Status Indians: those who have legal rights under the Indian Act Non-status Indians: those who have given up their legal status as Indians, while still retaining their cultural identity The Indian Act (1876) – the Canadian government’s official way of encouraging Aboriginal peoples to assimilate

Residential Schools Under the Indian Act, the federal government assumed responsibility for the education of Aboriginal children in Canada. Children were taken from their homes, forced to abandon their own language and culture, and sometimes even faced abuse. Cultural Genocide?

Residential Schools Boarding schools for Aboriginal children Funded by the federal government and operated by churches First schools opened in 1840s in Ontario Children were removed from their families and placed in schools where they were constantly supervised and regulated Goal of the schools was to assimilate and civilize the children Abandoned in 1969 – last school to close in BC 1982 Canadian government apologized in 1998 and offered a $350 million healing fund

Residential Schools

Aboriginal Soldiers Had to ask permission to participate in war from Department of Indian Affairs 3000 Aboriginal forces fought for Canada in WWII Returning vets did not receive veteran’s pension and were not allowed to vote “When I served overseas I was a Canadian. When I came home I was just an Indian.” Clarence Silver Post WWII - many in society started to notice the second class status of the Aboriginals in Canada and worked to change their position (Potlatch ban revoked in 1951)

Vote - 1960 Right to vote in federal elections extended to Aboriginals in 1960 Question – What 1960 event led to this change in policy?

National Indian Brotherhood Formed in 1968 Purpose – to lobby on behalf of the Aboriginal people living on reserves Canadian government responded with the White Paper

White Paper - 1969 Proposed that Aboriginals should be like all other Canadians – equality and no special status (assimilation?) Proposed to abolish Department of Indian Affairs, eliminate reserve system, Aboriginal would fall under provincial instead of federal jurisdiction and Indian status would be terminated Aboriginals were not consulted Aboriginal community responded with the Red Paper – did not want to be assimilated and felt betrayed by the Canadian government As a result, Aboriginals organizations become more political and more dedicated to their cause – wanted self government

Environmental Concerns Aboriginal groups feared that dam and gas projects were endangering their traditional hunting, fishing and trapping activities Berger Commission – listened to the concerns of Aboriginals of the North and recommended in 1977 that the Mackenzie pipeline be suspended for 10 years (2000 – Aboriginals wanted pipeline to be built but with some control and ownership) Cree – stopped construction of James Bay Project

Assembly of First Nations Formed in 1980 Purpose: represent First Nations in dealings with the Canadian government Negotiations revolved around: Specific claims – found in areas where treaties between Aboriginals and government had been signed but terms had not been kept Comprehensive claims – found in areas where treaties had not been made and ownership of land that had not be surrendered is questioned

Into the 1990’s The Oka Standoff (1990) – in the Municipality of Oka, Quebec, officials decided to extend a nine-hole golf course on land that the Mohawks claimed had belonged to them. In response, the Mohawks set up blockades of major roads that lasted for more than six months. Army takes down barricades

OKA Specific claim 1990 Quebec Issue – golf course construction on Mohawk land, Mohawks blockaded the road Land given back to the Aboriginals Message – Aboriginals were willing to fight for their rights Archives

BC Land Claims Comprehensive Nisga’a – residents of the Nass Valley First group to make a land claim in 1912 1996 – Settlement offered 8% of originally claimed land, ownership of the forests, partial profits from fisheries and hydro, development of own municipal government and policing, $190 million over 15 years, Nisga’s agreed to become taxpayers 1999 – Royal Assent

Self-Government 1983: Self–government was endorsed by the federal government 1986 – Sechelt First Nation in BC became the first to achieve a form of self-government April 1, 1999 – Nunavut created

The Statement of Reconciliation (1998) The Canadian government recognized that policies which sought to assimilate Aboriginal peoples were not conducive to building a strong country

National Day of Healing and Reconciliation May 26, 2008 has been called a National Day of Healing and Reconciliation, marked by community events across Canada, including healing circles, feasts, walks, and church services. The day is based on Australia's national 'Sorry Day,' a day set aside to acknowledge the injustices done to that country's aboriginal people. But for many of Canada's First Nation's people, before the healing can begin, they must first reconcile a dark history.