Government Structures of First Nations Societies

1
Government Structures of First Nations Societies

• How were the governing structures and practices
  of pre-contact and post-contact First Nations
  reflective of their societies?

Canadian History 11
2
Aboriginal Perspectives on Government

• Well before Europeans arrived in the Americas
  Aboriginal peoples already had well established
  and complex systems of government
• Government structures varied between each
  Aboriginal society, but were all grounded in the
  same world view based on spirituality that
  involved living in harmony with the environment

3
Structures of Government

• The Mikmaq Nation (pre-contact)
• Mikmaq occupied what is now the Maritime
  provinces
• Prior to European contact the basic structure
  followed the extended family and was led by a
  Sagamore
• Followed 2 basic principles respect for the
  rights of people, respect for and preservation
  of the environment
• Leaders were democratically appointed
• Men and women had equal opportunity
• Disputes were settled through mediation

4

• Mikmaq Government Post Contact
• Trade contact with Europeans in the late 18th
  century led to
• an expanded political system
• Mikmaq territory was divided into seven
  districts each with a District Chief
• The District Chiefs presided over a Council of
  Chiefs comprised of Elders
• The District Councils had many of the powers we
  associate with central government systems like
  our own
• The Mikmaq Nation also had a Grand Council
  consisting of the seven district Chiefs
• A Chief remained in office as long as he retained
  the peoples confidence

5
Mikmaq Government Structure(Post European
Contact)
Grand Council - Seven District Chiefs
Seven Districts -Each District led by a District
Chief -Comprised of Chiefs and Elders within the
District
6
Government Structures of First Nations Societies
(contd)

• The Iroquois Confederacy
• Traced back to 1142 CE
• Consisted of five First Nations living south of
  Lake Ontario Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga,
  and the Seneca
• Later they were joined by the Tuscaroras and the
  Confederacy became known as the Six Nations
• The Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy is currently
  led by Roberta Jamieson

7
(No Transcript)
8

• The Six Nations developed a complex system of
  government based on democratic principles
• They are the oldest known democracy in the
  Americas
• Women had an elevated status as sole property
  owners, educators, and caregivers
• The Iroquois were matrilineal ancestral lines
  were traced through the mothers side
• Although men became chiefs they were selected
  by the Clan Mother who also had the authority to
  remove any chief

9

• All the clan chiefs made up a Village Council
• From here one chief was selected to be on the
  Nations Council
• From here one chief is elected to the Confederacy
  Council
• This was a form of representative democracy where
  all votes were given to delegates from all
  Nations to use in annual meetings
• Decisions of the council required a consensus
• Very similar to the Canadian system of government

10
Six Nations Government Structure

• Confederacy Council
• -held annual meetings to discuss and resolve
  issues
• relating to the Six Nations
• exercised a representative voting process
• - all decisions had to be based on a full
  consensus

• Nations Council
• made up of Village Chiefs
• Dealt with issues affecting their own Nation

Village Council -made up of Clan Chiefs - Clan
Chiefs appointed by Clan Mother
11
The Concept of Property Ownership

• Aboriginal peoples did not consider the land to
  be something they owned as individuals, or as a
  society
• They considered the land a sacred trust that was
  available for their use and to preserve
• They would defend the land with force if
  necessary
• Europeans concept of property ownership is
  embedded in law
• Land is owned by individuals to with as they
  please
• Europeans began laying claim to the new lands
• Aboriginals began to claim title to the lands
  they traditionally occupied
• Violence sometimes broke out between the
  Aboriginals and European settlers

12
Aboriginal Treaties

• Aboriginal governments were negotiating and
  honouring treaties with one another long before
  Europeans arrived
• They negotiated who used the land, and how it
  would be used
• They expected their treaties with Europeans to be
  honoured as well
• The two cultures had fundamental differences in
  perception about their treaties

13
Aboriginal Treaties

• To the (European based) government the treaties
  were a bill of sale the land belonged to Canada
• To the First nations the treaties were only
  agreements about the ways the land will be used
• These differences are at the root of the many
  issues between the First Nations and the Federal
  government today

14
The Right to Self-Government

• The Indian Act, 1876 stated that the Federal
  government had the power to make decisions
  affecting Aboriginal peoples in Canada
• The 1980s Aboriginals fought for the right to
  govern themselves power over matters affecting
  their culture, languages, traditions, and
  institutions
• At this point the federal government maintains
  matters affecting National interest, while
  Aboriginals gain control over matters pertaining
  to individual communities

15
Case Study

• Please read chapter 12 and record important
  vocabulary .
• In a table, show the similarities and differences
  between the Iroquois Confederacy and Mikmaq
  government systems.
• Discuss the Aboriginal versus European ideology
  of land ownership? How did this affect treaty
  disputes?
• How did the government systems of the Mikmaq and
  the Iroquois Confederacy reflect their societies
  before and after European contact?
• 5. In what ways is the Aboriginal world view
  reflected in their governments?