1. Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
CGC 1D/P1

2. Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
First Nations -groups of Canadian aboriginal people who have distinct cultures, history and heritages.
Inuit
- indigenous people of Canada’s Arctic regions
Métis
– decedents of the children of aboriginal and French Canadian/ English settlers

3. Aboriginal Communities in Canada

4. Average Age of the population reporting a North American Indian identity and non-Aboriginal population, Canada, provinces and territories, 2006
Non-aboriginal identity
population
Aboriginal identity
population1
North American Indian
Total population
Province
Métis
Inuit
Canada !
39.2
26.5
24.9
29.5
21.5
39.7
Newfoundland and Labrador
41.5
32.3
33.4
31.5
30.8
41.9
Prince Edward Island
40.4
24.1
23.4
23.1
9.1
40.6
Nova Scotia !
41.6
25.4
37.6
29.2
41.8
New Brunswick
41.2
27.1
39.8
23.8
41.4
Quebec !
31.1
30.2
37.0
20.8
40.7
Ontario !
38.7
29.7
27.9
32.8
21.2
38.9
Manitoba !
37.8
23.9
28.1
Saskatchewan !
38.2
21.7
19.6
25.5
26.9
Alberta !
35.8
24.8
22.8
21.8
36.4
British Columbia !
40.5
27.2
25.0
41.1
Yukon Territory !
38.4
30.1
30.0
33.9
20.0
41.0
Northwest Territories
31.0
26.0
26.1
29.1
23.3
35.1
Nunavut !
23.0
20.1
30.5
32.9
36.8
1) Median age is the point at which exactly half of the population is older and half is younger

6. Percentage of population reporting an Inuit identity who know Inuktitut and who use it regularly at home, by age groups, Canada, 2001

7. Contributions of Aboriginal Peoples to Canada’s Early History
Chief Joseph Brant helped the British during the American War of Independence
Lead defenders of Canada during the War of Painting of death of Tecumseh, in Chatham-Kent, Ontario
Hurons showing Jacques Cartier the cedar cure for scurvy
In Canada’s early days, treaties signed between Aboriginal Peoples & the French/ English governments were done as equals.

8. Canada’s Disrespectful Treatment of Aboriginal Peoples : Reserves
When larger numbers of European immigrants arrived in Canada, the British government obtained land for these settlers by signing treaties with the First Nations. In exchange, First Nations were offered small tracks of land called reserves, as well as money or European goods.
Dislocation of Native Peoples onto reserve lands

9. Canada’s Disrespectful Treatment of Aboriginal Peoples: Forced Assimilation
Native Residential Schools: children removed from families & community and put into schools where their native language and culture was banned.
Ban on Aboriginal Religious Practices
Between the late 18th century to early 20th century, Canada’s Aboriginal peoples were forcibly pushed to assimilate into the European-Canadian society.

10. Canada’s Disrespectful Treatment of Aboriginal Peoples: Forced Assimilation
This forced assimilation has lead to generations of people dealing with social problems such as alcoholism, suicide and abuse.
In 2008, the Canadian government apologized for it’s role in the residential school system. This lead to the creation of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which is still ongoing today.

11. Success of Aboriginal Peoples
Settlement of Treaties
Influential Aboriginal People
(ex. Honourable James K. Bartleman, lieutenant-governor of Ontario)
Aboriginal Education

12. Modern Conflicts with Canada’s Native Peoples: Land claims & Treaties
Oka Standoff in 1990
Treaty settlements problems in British Columbia in the 1970’s (much of BC’s lands were never settled through treaties)
Caledonia Standoff Today

13. History of Native Treaties
CGC 1/P1

14. What is a Treaty?
Treaty: An agreement or arrangement made by negotiation. For example, a contract in writing between two or more political authorities or parties, formally signed by their representatives and duly recognized as binding.

15. Treaties
Chiefs from the Six Nations Reserve reading Wampum belts in which treaty information is written down in graphics made out of beads.
Numbered Treaty One with the First Nations of Manitoba
Crowd assembled for treaty payment, Fort Rae, Northwest Territories

16. Copy of a treaty document map and signatures for Penetanguishene, ON

17. Problems Caused by Treaties
Aboriginal peoples lost enormous amounts of land.
Aboriginal peoples lost their right to govern themselves.
Reserves often not large enough to maintain traditional ways of life, or too remote for economic trade & employment outside of the reserve.

18. Problems Caused by Treaties
Problems around rights to use natural resources for personal use or income (ex. Fish, timber, minerals and hydro).
Little say about the use/extraction of natural resources that would affect their lands
Native road block protest over rights of natural resource use

19. Peace and Friendship Treaties
Purpose
First Nations Group Involved
European Groups Involved
First Nations were given
-Peace and Friendship
-Surrender of land
Mi’kmaq and other Maritime native peoples, Huron and Iroquois
French or English
-Liberty to hunt on own lands
-Liberty to trade with Europeans
-Some European items

20. Upper Canada Treaties Purpose First Nations Group Involved
European Groups Involved
First Nations were given
Give land to government of Upper Canada to settle Loyalist escaping American Revolution
Mississauga, Ottawa and Huron People
British Government
- European items like 300 suits of clothing
-Some money
-Small area of land for hunting and fishing

21. Robinson-Huron Treaties
Purpose
First Nations Group Involved
European Groups Involved
First Nations were given
-Give land to Government for settlement and forestry
Ojibwa, Chippewa
Early government of Canada
-Reserves for their people
-Annual payment of $4.00 per person

22. Numbered Treaties Purpose First Nations Group Involved
European Groups Involved
First Nations were given
-Give land to Government for settlement and forestry
- Keep the Americans off of territory
- Deal with native uprisings
Cree, Blackfoot, Blood, Beaver, Dogrib, Hare, Chipewyan, and others
Government of Canada
- Reserves for their people
- Money (administered by Dept of Indian Affairs)
-Ammunition
-Alcohol
-Hunting equipment
-Farming equipment

23. Modern Treaties
In the 1960s & 70’s, when there was increasing interest in developing natural resources in northern Canada where treaties had not been signed,
the Canadian government announce a change in policy for how treaties with Aboriginal groups would be made.
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, right, and Indian Affairs Minister Jean Chretien, second from right, meet with Nisga'a First Nation leader Frank Calder, centre, on Feb. 7, The Trudeau government introduced a new land claim policy after a Supreme Court decision ruled the Nisga'a had pre-existing title to their lands based on occupancy and use. (

24. Modern Treaties The new policy defined two types of claims:
Comprehensive claims, concerning aboriginal peoples who had never signed a treaty, and
Specific claims, aimed at redressing historical wrongs related to treaties or instances where the government had breached its lawful obligation to a native group.

25. Modern Treaties
Modern treaties address such matters as:
Ownership and use of lands, waters and natural resources, including the subsurface;
Management of land, waters, and natural resources, including fish and wildlife;
Environmental protection and assessment;
Economic development;
Employment;
Parks and conservation areas;
Self-government
The creation of Nunavut is an example of this modern day comprehensive treaty agreement

26. Modern Treaty Territories

27. James Bay Treaties Purpose First Nations Group Involved
European Groups Involved
First Nations were given
- Government wanted to build Hydro-electric project on land (surrender of km2 of land)
James Bay Cree and Inuit
Government of Canada
- Exclusive native hunting, fishing and trapping rights over traditional territory
- Establishment of local native government, education, justice and health
- Financial compensation (Money to pay for damages)