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1763 Royal Proclamation
The Royal Proclamation stated that “any lands whatever, which, not having been ceded to or purchased by any of us are reserved to the Indians.” The treaty prevented further settlement in North America until treaties had been negotiated with aboriginals. -
1830 Reserve System
The Government saw aboriginals as a future obstacle in the settlement of British North America, they were placed on reserves. The reserve had terrible living conditions, and life expectancy was lower. While Negotiations were underway, Aboriginal leaders weren’t included and the main point was the assimilate the aboriginal culture and turn it mainstream. -
1876 Indian Act
The Indian Act was a way in which the government tried to persuade the Aboriginals to assimilate their culture. Although it exempted aboriginals from paying taxes (income and sales), they were unable to vote in provincial elections and they were denied the right to take up land. Aboriginal art and culture was prohibited and all artwork was shipped off to museums. -
1960 aboriginal right to universal suffrage
In 1960 Aboriginals gained the right to vote federally. Just Prior to this time the Bill of Rights was being drafted which had an emphasis on equal rights for all Canadians. Because of this, it was nearly impossible to deny the Aboriginals the right to vote. Many Aboriginals saw this as harmful to indian status and historical rights. This lead to barely any turnout at federal elections for many years. This Universal suffrage therefore had its ups and downs in the beginning years. -
1968 National Indian Brotherhood & Native Council of Canada Formed
The National Indian Brotherhood was centred on representation through organizations that are provincial. Many of these organizations were based on political traditions from years prior. They Succeeded the Native council and represented aboriginal interests. The Native Council of Canada, formed in 1970, was an organization which represented aboriginal peoples living off of reserves. -
1969 Residential School System Abolished but not all closed
The Department of Indian Affairs decided to take over Residential Schools in 1969, by ending involvement with the church. The government decided to abolish the schools, however the Catholic Church still believed in having segregated schools for Aboriginal children, as it was the best education system for them in their opinion. On the other hand, certain Indigenous communities wanted to see the schools remain open, arguing that schools should be transferred into their control. -
1969 White Paper
The 1969 White Paper was a Policy paper made by the Canadian government to abolish all past legal papers referring to aboriginals. Examples were the Indian Act and treaties, and to also assimilate all aboriginal people to under the state. In the 1960’s, many aboriginal peoples were driven into poverty because of documents such as the indian act, which is why the white paper had to be introduced. The main idea of this was to recognize First Nations Sovereignty andland claims. -
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1980s Movement towards self Government
Aboriginal Self-Government is the structure in which aboriginal communities can control the administration of their people,land,resources and policies. This could still only be done after making agreements with federal and provincial governments. Special Committees recommended that measures should be taken to recognize Aboriginal self government in the early 1980’s. A House of Commons Committee on Aboriginal Self-Governing was appointed in 1982. -
1982 Assembly of first nations
The assembly was formed in 1982 to represent Aboriginals in dealings with the Federal Gov. The assembly pressured politicians for legal recognition of aboriginals rights. Resulted in aboriginal rights represented in the charter of rights. The assembly signed a $4 billion settlement for residential schools. -
1985 Bill c-31
The bill gave aboriginal band councils the decision to decide who can live on the reserve. This led to the discussion of what other powers should be transferred from the federal government to band councils. This bill set the stage for discussions of aboriginal self-government. -
Meech Lake
The meech lake accord was an attempt to amend the constitution so Quebec would agree to be apart of it. The accord gave quebec special status. An aboriginal leader from Manitoba opposed the accord because it gave special status to quebec but not aboriginals. -
Oka Standoff 1990
The town council of quebec decided to expand a golf course into disputed sacred Kanesatake land. The Mohawks decided to stop construction by blockading the land this resulted in the police being called in. The Mohawks barricaded a bridge, aboriginal groups all over Canada showed their support by blockading highways through their reserves. Other bands persuaded the Mohawks to end the standoff. Negotiations were tense but it ended in the disputed land being given to the Kanesatake. -
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Nisgas Treaty 92-98
THe nisga’s of B.C signed a treaty that gave them powers of self government, pertaining to issues of culture, language and family life. The nisga’s were given a very small percentage of claimed land. Additionally the nisga’s were given a $190 million. The nisga’s agreed to become tax payers. Under the treaty no non-aboriginals were forced from the land, but they were unable to vote on councils that govern the region. -
Ipperwash Ontario
Similar to Gustafasen and the Oka standoff. The aboriginals of Ipperwash reocuppied land that was taken from them. The aboriginals occupied land on a former army base that was taken from them in the second world war but never returned. -
Gustafasen Lake BC
Gustafasen was a confrontation between the RCMP and the Ts'peten Defenders in the interior of British Columbia. The Ts'peten were reclaiming sacred ground. When the RCMP came in to deal with them. -
1998 delgamuluukw case
The case ruled that aboriginals groups could claim land if they could prove that they occupied the land before the government claimed sovereignty and they occupied it continuously and exclusively.
It was also concerning the the content and the extent Of Aboriginal Title. -
Statement of Reconciliation 98
The statement was the first step to amending the wrongs of the canadian government with residential schools. The honorable minister of Indian Affairs sent a statement of formal apology to former students of residential schools. -
Creation of Nunavut
The treaty was the largest treaty ever signed. It gave the Inuit people self-government over 2 million square-kilometres of land in the eastern arctic. This treaty gave self-government over natural resources, education, and justice systems.
