Canadas Aboriginal Population Aboriginal peoples descendants of Canadas
Canada’s Aboriginal Population • Aboriginal peoples – descendants of Canada’s original inhabitants • First Nation – Aboriginal group wishing to be treated as distinct based on common culture and history
• Federal government divides Aboriginals into three groups – Indian • Status Indians – entitled to rights through treaties • Non-status Indians –are not covered under treaties – Inuit • Aboriginal people living in the Arctic – Métis • Of Aboriginal and European descent
The Treaty-Making Process • French first signed treaty with Canadian Aboriginals in 1665. Made treaties as equals for common goals (military). (Aboriginals predominant) • When England dominated the New World in 1759 many Europeans immigrated to Canada – treaties tended to favour British • British want land; Aboriginals want rights protected (live undisturbed) = reserves • British Royal Proclamation or 1763 = landownership rights of First Nations were to be respected & they should have fair payment for land they gave up --- Unfortunately not always kept
• Indian Act, 1876 – treaties signed that made Aboriginal peoples give up their land claims permanently in return for cash, goods, and fishing and hunting rights to carry on traditional life • Canadian government believed reserves would disappear as Aboriginals entered mainstream culture » 1923 = final land in Ontario given through treaty. Treaty-making ended for 50 years (treaties never signed in BC or NWT into; 1970 s) Treaties now = compensation
Problems Caused by Treaties 1. Loss of Land Economic Base (way to support themselves) – Reserves make up <1% of Canada’s area for 1 mil. Aboriginals – Reserves on poor land – Reserves difficult to leave: stay = friends and family but often unemployment and poverty; leave = better economy, but loss of community
2. Lack of Self-Government – Federal government “in charge” – Caused many negative effects for the Aboriginal people – land issues, residential schools, attempts to assimilate • Aboriginal Peoples treated unfairly in the past; trying to right some of that now : Constitution Act, 1982 recognized Aboriginal issues; compensation • Still seeing negative responses today = protests – Ipperwash Beach 2014 (CTV, CBC) • Read Case Study pg. 206 -212 #1, 4, 7, 8
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