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Royal Proclamation
The Royal Proclamations was a document that stopped any further settlement beyond North America until treaties had been arranged with First Nations. It also also accepted that aboriginals had organized nations on their own lands. This document was the fundament for further modern aboriginal land claims because in certain provinces, including British Columbia, there where no signed treaties. -
Reserve System
In 1830, First Nations were accused of blocking the settlement of the British North America in the future. This caused them to be forced onto reservations which are lands dedicated for aboriginal people to live in, run by agents of the government. Living on reserves restraints their ability to entirely engage in the Canadian economy. -
Indian Act
In 1876 the Indian Act was produced. The Canadian government created this act as an official way of encouraging First Nations to cease their culture and traditions. This would assimilate them into Canadian society. A positive result from the Indian Act was that schools, medical care, hunting and fishing rights, and annual treaty payments were implemented to First Nations across Canada. This act also had disadvantages like being denied certain rights. -
Aboriginal Right to Universal Suffrage
In 1960, First Nations people were finally allowed the right to vote in federal elections. -
National Indian Brotherhood & Native Council of Canada Formed
Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chretien both wanted to create positive changes and form a better reserve system for status indians, thus creating the NIB. The Native Council of Canada however was formed to represent Non-Status Indians and Metis. -
White Paper
This was a document that was meant for the government to put out discussions. If it was accepted, it may have been passed as law. This was introduced by Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chretien. -
Residential School System Abolished but not all closed
Residential Schools were almost completely gone, but a few remained. -
Movement toward Self Government
In the early 1980's First Nations believes that they had the fundamental right to have their own government. This would mean that aboriginals would would make decisions in their community including their culture, traditions, and languages. In 1982 the Constitution guaranteed that the current rights would be accepted and confirmed. -
Assembly of the First Nations
In 1982, The Assembly of the First Nations was created from an outcome of movements to bring back chiefs as a voice for First Nations in a nation wide assembly. Before this the aboriginals were represented by the National Indian Brotherhood which was portrayed though provincial organizations. -
Passing of Bill C-31
In 1985, there where significant changes to the Indian Act. This included the dissolution of the concept of enfranchisement. Enfranchisement means that First Nations would be legally part of Canadian mainstream culture. Abolishing this means that all aboriginal people who were "Indian status" had the rights that went with the status. Another change was the bands increased self-govenment which meant that they had more power over than their own affairs than before. -
Meech Lake Accord
In 1987 Prime Minister Mulroney created the Meech Lake Accord as an attempt to amend the constitution so that Quebec would agree to be apart of it. Many minority groups like feminist and First Nation activists. They opposed the Accord because they thought the government was giving one group special treatment while their status stayed unacknowledged. In 1990,Elijah Harper a leader for First Nations from Manitoba believed that aboriginal peoples deserved special status equal with Quebec. -
Oka Stand Off
In 1990 in Oka, Quebec, officials determined to extend a golf course onto the Mohawks claimed land. To counter, the Mohawks blocked major roads with blockades for more than six months. The police attacked the barricades and one officer was killed. This lead the Canadian army to be apart of a tense standoff against the Mohawk Warriors. An agreement was found, the government bought the land and negotiated its transfer to the Kanesatake First Nations. -
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Nisga’a Treaty 1992-1998
Nisga'a people signed a treaty with Provincial and Federal government. They were given the power to self govern over issues of culture/traditions. Due to the treaty, no non-aboriginal settler had the right to govern the region. -
Ipperwash Ontario
Aboriginal people used their claim to nearby land on Ipperwash Provincial Park because it was taken away from them during WWII. -
Gustafson Lake BC
Aboriginal people chose to defend Gustafson Lake because it was sacred land that they needed to perform ceremonies (Sundance). -
Statement of Reconciliation issued
The Canadian Government apologized for all the policies that meant to assimilate Aboriginal people. -
Delgamuluukw Case
Aboriginal nations wanted to protect their lands from logging and wanted to people to recognize the title of traditional lands. -
Creation of Nunavut
Nunavut was created where Aboriginal people were given the right to self govern over natural resources. There were also no political parties and if someone would want to run as a candidate, they would have to run individually.
