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Treaty 8
Treaty 8 was prompted due to the discovery of gold in Northern Canada. The government decided to create a treaty that categorizes different Indigenous groups into one huge group.
Provisions, like food, education, medical care, and land were promised to BCN.
It gave the government access to Indigenous lands. Treaty 8 was supposed to be a mutually beneficial treaty. -
Treaty 8
It was harmful to these First Nations groups due to the fact that they had nothing in common. They were spread across Alberta.
These groups participated in seasonal migration. This was necessary for them so that they can practice their traditional way of living.
This would not work for the stakeholders in Alberta. They needed access to the land in order to obtain its resources and they cannot do that if First Nations communities were spread all over. -
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Decline of the Fur Market
The decline of the fur market First Nation groups were forced to either sign the treaty and join the BCN or receive scrip.
During these times, the government’s failure to fulfill their responsibilities according to Treaty 8 took a toll to these First Nations groups. Food, housing, medical care, and education were not provided. The growing population of the BCN due to groups signing the treaty was not supported by the government. They were not given land as promised. -
Decline of the Fur Market
Due to the clearing of the land for settlements, fur-bearing animals lost their homes and their population declined.
The assurance in Treaty 8 that their traditional lives will remain unchanged was broken.
It also affected the groups that did sign treaties and receive scrip because they had to find new ways of earning a living and finding resources. -
Beginning of a Journey
After years of negotiation between the federal and provincial government and Bigstone Cree Nation, the parties have finally come to an agreement. Bigstone Cree Nation was given money and land compensation.
The Peerless Trout First Nation was officially formed. The land entitlement recognized Indigenous rights that were concealed for decades. -
Protect the Land
Members of the BCN are setting up checkpoints to monitor resource companies’ workers that are going in and out of their land. This is to protest against the exploitation of their land and natural resources.
Resource companies are given permission by the government to continue mining on Indigenous lands. Mining releases toxic and poisonous gases. First Nations communities are experiencing rare types of diseases and the cancer rate is increasing. -
Save the Moose, Save the Earth
Scientists and Indigenous hunters are teaming up to find out what is wrong with the moose population.
Damages of mining and the oil/gas industry can be first seen in nature, it starts with the land, bodies of water, and the forestry. This creates a huge impact on the First Nation communities that depend on the moose and the environment to survive.