Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

1
Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

• CGC 1D/P1

2
Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

• First Nations -groups of Canadian aboriginal
  people who have distinct cultures, history and
  heritages.

Inuit - indigenous people of Canadas Arctic
regions
Métis decedents of the children of aboriginal
and French Canadian/ English settlers


3
Aboriginal Communities in Canada
4
Average Age of the population reporting a North
American Indian identity and non-Aboriginal
population, Canada, provinces and territories,
2006
Non-aboriginal identity population
North American Indian
Aboriginal identity population1
Total population
Province
Métis
Inuit
1) Median age is the point at which exactly half
of the population is older and half is younger
5
(No Transcript)
6
Percentage of population reporting an Inuit identity who know Inuktitut and who use it regularly at home, by age groups, Canada, 2001
7
Contributions of Aboriginal Peoples to Canadas
Early History
Chief Joseph Brant helped the British during the
American War of Independence
Lead defenders of Canada during the War of 1812-
Painting of death of Tecumseh, in Chatham-Kent,
Ontario
Hurons showing Jacques Cartier the cedar cure for
scurvy
In Canadas early days, treaties signed between
Aboriginal Peoples the French/ English
governments were done as equals.
8
Canadas Disrespectful Treatment of Aboriginal
Peoples Reserves
When larger numbers of European immigrants
arrived in Canada, the British government
obtained land for these settlers by signing
treaties with the First Nations. In exchange,
First Nations were offered small tracks of land
called reserves, as well as money or European
goods.
Dislocation of Native Peoples onto reserve lands
9
Canadas Disrespectful Treatment of Aboriginal
Peoples Forced Assimilation
Native Residential Schools children removed from
families community and put into schools where
their native language and culture was banned.
Ban on Aboriginal Religious Practices
http//vimeo.com/15089321
Between the late 18th century to early 20th
century, Canadas Aboriginal peoples were
forcibly pushed to assimilate into the
European-Canadian society.
10
Canadas Disrespectful Treatment of Aboriginal
Peoples Forced Assimilation
This forced assimilation has lead to generations
of people dealing with social problems such as
alcoholism, suicide and abuse.
In 2008, the Canadian government apologized for
its role in the residential school system. This
lead to the creation of the Indian Residential
Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
which is still ongoing today.
11
Success of Aboriginal Peoples
Settlement of Treaties
Influential Aboriginal People (ex. Honourable
James K. Bartleman, lieutenant-governor of
Ontario)
Aboriginal Education
12
Modern Conflicts with Canadas Native Peoples
Land claims Treaties
Oka Standoff in 1990
Treaty settlements problems in British Columbia
in the 1970s (much of BCs lands were never
settled through treaties)
Caledonia Standoff 2006 - Today
13
History of Native Treaties

• CGC 1/P1

14
What is a Treaty?

• Treaty An agreement or arrangement made by
  negotiation. For example, a contract in writing
  between two or more political authorities or
  parties, formally signed by their representatives
  and duly recognized as binding.

15
Treaties
Chiefs from the Six Nations Reserve reading
Wampum belts in which treaty information is
written down in graphics made out of beads.
Numbered Treaty One with the First Nations of
Manitoba
Crowd assembled for treaty payment, Fort Rae,
Northwest Territories
16
Copy of a treaty document map and signatures for
Penetanguishene, ON
17
Problems Caused by Treaties

• Aboriginal peoples lost enormous amounts of land.
• Aboriginal peoples lost their right to govern
  themselves.
• Reserves often not large enough to maintain
  traditional ways of life, or too remote for
  economic trade employment outside of the
  reserve.

18
Problems Caused by Treaties

• Problems around rights to use natural resources
  for personal use or income (ex. Fish, timber,
  minerals and hydro).
• Little say about the use/extraction of natural
  resources that would affect their lands

Native road block protest over rights of natural
resource use
19
Peace and Friendship Treaties
Purpose First Nations Group Involved European Groups Involved First Nations were given
-Peace and Friendship -Surrender of land Mikmaq and other Maritime native peoples, Huron and Iroquois French or English -Liberty to hunt on own lands -Liberty to trade with Europeans -Some European items
20
Upper Canada Treaties
Purpose First Nations Group Involved European Groups Involved First Nations were given
Give land to government of Upper Canada to settle Loyalist escaping American Revolution Mississauga, Ottawa and Huron People British Government - European items like 300 suits of clothing -Some money -Small area of land for hunting and fishing
21
Robinson-Huron Treaties
Purpose First Nations Group Involved European Groups Involved First Nations were given
-Give land to Government for settlement and forestry Ojibwa, Chippewa Early government of Canada -Reserves for their people -Annual payment of 4.00 per person
22
Numbered Treaties
Purpose First Nations Group Involved European Groups Involved First Nations were given
-Give land to Government for settlement and forestry - Keep the Americans off of territory - Deal with native uprisings Cree, Blackfoot, Blood, Beaver, Dogrib, Hare, Chipewyan, and others Government of Canada - Reserves for their people - Money (administered by Dept of Indian Affairs) -Ammunition -Alcohol -Hunting equipment -Farming equipment
23
Modern Treaties

• In the 1960s 70s, when there was increasing
  interest in developing natural resources in
  northern Canada where treaties had not been
  signed,

the Canadian government announce a change in
policy for how treaties with Aboriginal groups
would be made.
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, right, and Indian
Affairs Minister Jean Chretien, second from
right, meet with Nisga'a First Nation leader
Frank Calder, centre, on Feb. 7, 1973. The
Trudeau government introduced a new land claim
policy after a Supreme Court decision ruled the
Nisga'a had pre-existing title to their lands
based on occupancy and use. (
24
Modern Treaties

• The new policy defined two types of claims
• Comprehensive claims, concerning aboriginal
  peoples who had never signed a treaty, and
• Specific claims, aimed at redressing historical
  wrongs related to treaties or instances where the
  government had breached its lawful obligation to
  a native group.

25
Modern Treaties

• Modern treaties address such matters as
• Ownership and use of lands, waters and natural
  resources, including the subsurface
• Management of land, waters, and natural
  resources, including fish and wildlife
• Environmental protection and assessment
• Economic development
• Employment
• Parks and conservation areas
• Self-government

The creation of Nunavut is an example of this
modern day comprehensive treaty agreement
26
Modern Treaty Territories
27
James Bay Treaties
Purpose First Nations Group Involved European Groups Involved First Nations were given
- Government wanted to build Hydro-electric project on land (surrender of 1 061 900 km2 of land) James Bay Cree and Inuit Government of Canada - Exclusive native hunting, fishing and trapping rights over traditional territory - Establishment of local native government, education, justice and health - Financial compensation (Money to pay for damages)