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The Indian Act is created.
The Indian Act is the principal statute where the government controls First Nations’ - not Metis or Inuit - status and the land reserves, first introduced in 1876. It was aimed to get rid of the First Nations culture and assimilate them into Canada’s culture. Although it was created before the war, it was the start of many violations on human rights, and has been a cause of trauma for the First Nations. It also made it illegal for them to perform certain rituals or traditions (Henderson). -
The Sixties Scoop
The ‘Sixties Scoop’ was the removal of Indigenous children from their families into welfare, and they were later adopted by white, Canadian families. Although it began in 1951, it was mostly during the 1960s. Some refer to it as the cultural genocide of the Indigenous. It took a huge toll on Indigenous traditions and weakened the relationship between Canada and its Indigenous population (Dainard and Niigaanwewidam Sinclair). -
The Indian Act is changed.
After WWII, the Canadian government met with First Nations representatives to discuss the Indian Act for the first time since 1876. The whole act was overhauled, and many First Nations issues were fixed. Now however, women were discriminated and the Canadian government could take children into welfare if they felt like there was a need, which ultimately led to the Sixties Scoop (Henderson). -
Golf Course Built on Mohawk Land
The Oka municipality rented out part of the Pines belonging to the Mohawk of the Kanesatake reserve to the Club de Golf Oka. A 9-hole golf course was built on the land without permission of the Mohawk of Kanesatake (Marshall). -
The White Paper comes to be.
The White Paper was a bill to take away the status of Aboriginals and assimilate them in all ways into European style society. Status consisted of special rights and programs, which would be taken away. The Aboriginal community formed groups and protested against the Paper, writing several rebuttals of their own (“1969 White Paper on Indian Policy.”). -
The White Paper is repealed.
After intense backlash, the White Paper was repealed. The government gave in to the Aboriginal demands (“1969 White Paper on Indian Policy.”). -
Announcement of the James Bay Project
The James Bay Project is announced by the Government of Quebec. The project includes the construction of a series of hydroelectric power stations located between James Bay and Labrador. This angered many of the northern Quebec natives because the James Bay Project would be constructed on the land that they were living on and the government completely ignored their rights (Muma). -
Injunction by the Natives
An association of natives from northern Quebec won an injunction to block the construction of the James Bay Project. This forced the province to negotiate with the natives until an agreement was made (Makivik Corporation). -
Agreement-in-principle is signed
An “agreement-in-principle” was signed by the governments of Canada and Quebec, Hydro-Quebec, the Grand Council of the Crees, and the Northern Quebec inuit Association. This meant that all participating parties agreed to a future contract being signed. (Muma). -
James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
The final accord, which is now known as the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, was signed by the governments of Canada and Quebec, Hydro-Québec, the Grand Council of the Crees, and the Northern Quebec Inuit Association. The natives received $225 million in compensation along with better healthcare, new school boards, and more land. This also made it possible for the James Bay project to continue without any problems (Makivik Corporation). -
More Construction plans on the Pines were approved, Starting a Protest
Plans were announced to expand the golf course built on the Kanesatake reserve from a 9-hole golf course to an 18-hole golf course, as well as to build 60 luxury condominiums, taking more of the Pines, as well as going through the burial grounds. Despite many contradictory arguments from several provincial and federal government representatives, the Mayor approved the construction plans. Soon, a barricade on the road leading to the disputed lands was built by the protesters ("Oka Timeline"). -
The Oka Crisis Ended
After two months of protesting, the crisis finally came to an end. The federal government purchased the disputed land for the Mohawk of Kanesatake, cancelling the construction plans. The crisis was one factor leading to the creation of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, and inspired many indigenous people to stand up against other issues (Bonspiel). -
Nisga’a Treaty
Agreement to give Nisga’a some self-government on agreed upon terms. They can make their own laws in some areas and has full authority of some issues, like administration of government. The treaty also outlines what to do if inconsistencies between the Nisga’a and provincial or federal government occur. The policy is a “meet or beat,” meaning that the Nisga’a law is evaluated to be better, it is kept. If not, the normal provincial/ federal law is kept (“Understanding the Treaty.”). -
First Nation Rights
The Canadian Government wanted all federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the starting point of reconciliation. They did this because they felt it was the strongest and biggest reason why the First Nations people felt mistreated, because they didn’t have as much rights as Canadians (“Truth and Reconciliation Canada: Calls to Action.”) -
The IRRSA (Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement)
The IRSSA reorganized a new plan for reconciliation. This plan included the Niagara treaty, main principles and some new laws to make First Nation peoples more equal.(“Truth and Reconciliation Canada: Calls to Action.”). -
First Nation's Education
The Canadian Federal Government would come together with the Aboriginal Peoples to close the gap in aboriginal education and Canadian education to make them both equal. The Canadian Government's plan to assist Aboriginal schools included; Providing sufficient funding to close identified educational achievement gaps within one generation; Improving education attainment levels and success rates, and protecting the right to Aboriginal language (“Truth and Reconciliation Canada: Calls to Action.”).
