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The Indian Act
The Indian Act played a role in implementing reserves & residential schools. The Parliament of Canada passed The Indian Act under Section 91(24) of the Constitution Act of 1867.
Photo Credit: “Indian Act.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/indian-act. Accessed 14 May 2021. -
Residential Schools Emerge
Residential schools were created & funded by Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, United churches, & even the Government of Canada. These actions were because of the amendments made to the Indian Act of 1867. Photo Credit: Vincent, Donovan. “First Nations Group Wants Wider Search for Files Related to Residential School Abuse.” Thestar.Com, 20 May 2015, www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/05/19/first-nations-group-wants-wider-search-for-files-related-to-residential-school-abuse.html. -
Indigenous Potlatches Banned
Amendments to the Indian Act also banned Indigenous Potlaches. These ceremonies were seen as anti-Christian, wasteful, & reckless in the eyes of the government & its supporters. This ban would stay in place until 1951. Photo Credit: “Access Denied | Www.Aptnnews.ca Used Cloudflare to Restrict Access.” APTN News, www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/as-christmas-approaches-na%CC%B1m%C7%A5is-chief-recalls-mass-arrests-at-fathers-1921-winter-potlatch-ceremony. Accessed 14 May 2021. -
Chinese Head Tax Implemented
After the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed & Canada didn't need Chinese labor, the government implemented the Chinese Head Tax to stop immigrants from coming to Canada. Chinese immigrants had to pay $50 to immigrate & that amount was later increased to $100 then $500. 82,000 people paid 2 years' worth of wages from 1885 - 1923. Photo Credit: “Chinese Head Tax in Canada.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chinese-head-tax-in-canada. Accessed 14 May 2021. -
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South Asian Canadians Denied Right to Vote
During this period, Japanese Canadians, Chinese Canadians, & Indigenous People were denied the right to vote until 1947. -
Komagata Maru
On April 4th, the Japanese steamship left Hong Kong & sailed across the Pacific ocean until it arrived in Burrard Inlet in Vancouver on May 22nd. There were 376 passengers aboard & they were rejected because of legislation the government passed. Immigrants had to arrive via a continuous journey, however, the ship couldn't make a journey like that.
Photo Credit: “---.” CMHR, humanrights.ca/story/the-story-of-the-komagata-maru. Accessed 14 May 2021. -
The Thornton Act Removes Bilingual Education
With this act, teaching in the education system that was not in English was prohibited in Manitoba schools. All new teachers in Manitoba were only trained in English too. Photo Credit: “Manitoba Schools Question.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba-schools-question. Accessed 14 May 2021. -
Wartime Elections Act
Under this act, then-Prime Minister Robert Borden limited the voting rights of citizens born in "enemy" nations. Sisters, mothers, & wives of soldiers serving in the war, & any women serving in the war were granted the right to vote. Photo Credit: Druga, Melina. “Canada’s Wartime Elections Act of 1917.” Melina Druga, 17 Dec. 2020, www.melinadruga.com/wartime-elections-act. -
Women Granted Right to Vote
Although under the Wartime Elections Act some women were granted the right to vote, it wasn't until 1918 that women were granted the right to vote in a federal election. Photo Credit: Miller, Zoë. “When Women Got the Right to Vote in 25 Places around the World.” Insider, 8 Mar. 2020, www.insider.com/when-women-around-the-world-got-the-right-to-vote-2019-2. -
Chinese Immigration Act
This act was passed on July 1st aka Dominion Day (now Canada Day). Chinese people in Canada labeled this date "Humiliation Day" & they didn't participate in celebrations on this day. Photo Credit: “Chinese Immigration Act.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chinese-immigration-act. Accessed 15 May 2021. -
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Canada Admits Lowest # of Jewish Refugees
Between 1933 & 1945, Canada admitted the lowest number of Jewish refugees amongst other developed nations. During this period Canada only allowed 5000 Jewish refugees into the country. -
MS St. Louis
907 German Jews fleeing from the Nazis boarded the oceanliner MS St. Louis. They were labeled traitors by their own government & were denied entry into the U.S. & Cuba, so they headed to Canada. On June 7th, 1939, refugees on the ship were refused entry & turned away from Canada. In the holocaust, 254 of these passengers perished. Photo Credit: “---.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ms-st-louis. Accessed 15 May 2021. -
The Start of Japanese Internment Camps
22,000 Japanese Canadians were given a mere 24 hours to pack their belongings before they were sent to internment camps, most of which were in the BC Interior. Photo Credit: “Student Samples: Elementary.” Japanese Canadian History, 8 Feb. 2018, japanesecanadianhistory.net/teachers-area/student-samples-elementary. -
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Sixties Scoop
This period marks the time where many Indigenous children were removed from their homes by middle-class, non-Indigenous families in both Canada & the U.S. Those who were adopted lost ties to their culture. Through this period it is believed 11,342 Indigenous children were removed from their homes. -
Immigration Point System Introduced
This system eliminated discrimination against non-American & non-European immigrants. The system ranks an immigrant's potential eligibility based on factors, not race. These factors include work skills, language ability, education, & family connections. Photo Credit: “Immigration in Canada - Oakwood Geography 2015–2016.” Oakwood Geography, sites.google.com/site/oakwoodgeography20152016/homework/immigration-issues. Accessed 15 May 2021. -
Canada Introduces Bilingualism
Bilingualism means being able to speak two languages fluently, specifically in Canada, English & French. Since 1974, Quebec's official language is French, but there are still services in English. Photo Credit: Unknown. “Canadian Bilingualism a Blessing Not a Curse.” The Globe and Mail, 23 Jan. 2012, www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/canadian-bilingualism-a-blessing-not-a-curse/article1359399. -
Exodus International
In 1976, Exodus International was formed and they played a role in conversion therapy against gay & lesbian people. Later, Exodus Global Alliance, New Directions Ministries, & Living Waters Canada formed. These organizations pushed the belief of conversion therapy in Canada. Until 1967, homosexuality was part of Canada's Criminal Code when Pierre Trudeau decriminalized it in 1969. Photo Credit: ---. “Exodus International.” Wikipedia, 16 Jan. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exodus_International. -
"Marry Out, Get Out" Rule
This membership rule of the Mohawk community Kahnawake says if a citizen marries a non-Indigenous person they can't live on the reserve & are stripped of their membership rights. Since 2010, Waneek Horn-Miller fought the rule in a Quebec Court & the judge said it violated the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms. Photo Credit: “---.” CBC, www.cbc.ca/radio/outintheopen/pushed-out-1.3965254/the-struggle-to-belong-under-kahnawake-community-s-marry-out-get-out-rule-1.3654368. Accessed 15 May 2021. -
Brian Mulroney Apologizes to Japanese Canadians
Brian Mulroney formally apologized to Japanese Canadians on behalf of the government. Mulroney also announced a $300 million compensation package to help right the wrong. $21,000 would go to the surviving 13,000 Japanese Canadians, $24 million to create a Canadian race relations foundation to stop discrimination, & $12 million to a Japanese community fund.
Photo Credit: “---.” CBC, www.cbc.ca/archives/government-apologizes-to-japanese-canadians-in-1988-1.4680546. Accessed 15 May 2021. -
WHO Declassifies Homosexuality as a Mental Disorder
The World Health Organization officially declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder. Photo Credit: “Home.” WHO, 7 May 2021, www.who.int. -
Last Gov Funded Residential School Closes
The Gordon Residential School was the last government-funded residential school in Canada. Closing in 1996, the school was located in Punnichy, Saskatchewan. Some students ran away from the school & froze to death, some drowned, and there are reports of sexual assault. Photo Credit: Anglican Church of Canada. “Gordon’s School — Punnichy, SK.” The Anglican Church of Canada, 29 May 2018, www.anglican.ca/tr/histories/gordons-school-punnichy. -
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, & Biphobia Begins
This day was founded by Louis-Georges Tin & it's celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal. Louis-Georges Tin resigned as Committee Chairperson in September 2013, & Tamara Adrián took his place.
Photo Credit: “International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia Shareable.” Unifor National, 13 May 2020, www.unifor.org/en/international-day-against-homophobia-transphobia-and-biphobia-shareable?appview=true. -
Canada Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
Same-sex marriage was legalized throughout Canada due to the federal Civil Marriage Act. Behind the Netherlands, Spain, & Belgium, Canada was the 4th country to legalize same-sex marriage. In this act, the definitions for husband and wife were changed to spouse. Photo Credit: ---. “Civil Marriage Act.” Wikipedia, 11 Apr. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Marriage_Act#/media/File:BillC-38Votingintentionandfinalvote.png. -
Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement
This agreement recognizes the terror's Indigenous People faced, & it's the largest class action settlement in Canada's history. The agreement has 5 major components: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Independent Assessment Process, the Common Experience Payment, Health and Healing Services, & Commemoration. Photo Credit: “400 Bad Request.” Government of Canada, www.nrsss.ca/IRSS%20Agreement%. Accessed 15 May 2021. -
PM Harper Apologizes to Residential School Survivors
PM Stephen Harper apologized to survivors of residential schools saying: "Indeed, some sought, as it was infamously said, "to kill the Indian in the child." At the time of the apology, about 80,000 former students still lived.
Photo Credit: “---.” CBC, www.cbc.ca/archives/government-apologizes-for-residential-schools-in-2008-1.4666041. Accessed 15 May 2021. -
Africville Apology
Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly apologized for the bulldozing of Africville, a Black Canadian community. With the apology, $5 million was donated to the Black community & land was given to rebuild the Seaview United Baptist Church. Photo Credit: Flinn, Sue Carter. “Photos: An Apology for Africville.” The Coast Halifax, 26 Feb. 2021, www.thecoast.ca/halifax/photos-an-apology-for-africville/Content?oid=1536257. -
Vancouver Mayor Apologizes to Chinese Canadians
As Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson apologized to Chinese Canadians for the discrimination they faced, 500 people watched at the Chinese Cultural Centre. Chinese Canadians couldn't choose the neighborhood they wanted to live in within Vancouver, couldn't vote, own property, & had to pay the Head Tax. Photo Credit: “---.” CBC, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/city-of-vancouver-formal-apology-historical-discrimination-1.4630905. Accessed 15 May 2021. -
Trudeau Apologizes for MS St. Louis
PM Justin Trudeau apologized for turning away the ship in 1939, saying: "We apologize to the 907 German Jews aboard the St. Louis, as well as their families, We are sorry for the callousness of Canada’s response. We are sorry for not apologizing sooner.” Photo Credit: Scherer, Steve. “Trudeau Apologizes for Canada’s 1939 Refusal of Jewish Refugee Ship.” U.S., 8 Nov. 2018, www.reuters.com/article/canada-us-canada-politics-trudeau-jewish-idCAKCN1NC2Y0-OCADN.
