Aboriginal Peoples of CanadaCGC 1D/P1

Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

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

Inuit - indigenous

people of Canada’s Arctic regions

Métis – decedents of

the children of aboriginal and French Canadian/ English settlers

Aboriginal Communities in Canada

Average Age of the population reporting a North American Indian identity and non-Aboriginal population, Canada, provinces and

territories, 2006

Canada ! 39.2 26.5 24.9 29.5 21.5 39.7

Newfoundland and Labrador 41.5 32.3 33.4 31.5 30.8 41.9

Prince Edward Island 40.4 24.1 23.4 23.1 9.1 40.6

Nova Scotia ! 41.6 29.5 25.4 37.6 29.2 41.8

New Brunswick 41.2 31.5 27.1 39.8 23.8 41.4

Quebec ! 40.6 31.1 30.2 37.0 20.8 40.7

Ontario ! 38.7 29.7 27.9 32.8 21.2 38.9

Manitoba ! 37.8 23.9 21.2 28.1 21.5 40.4

Saskatchewan ! 38.2 21.7 19.6 25.5 26.9 41.4

Alberta ! 35.8 24.8 22.8 27.1 21.8 36.4

British Columbia ! 40.5 28.1 27.2 29.7 25.0 41.1

Yukon Territory ! 38.4 30.1 30.0 33.9 20.0 41.0

Northwest Territories 31.0 26.0 26.1 29.1 23.3 35.1

Nunavut ! 23.0 20.1 30.5 32.9 20.1 36.8

Province Total populatio

n

Non-aboriginal id

entity

population

InuitMétis

North A

merican In

dian

Aboriginal id

entity

population

1

1) Median age is the point at which exactly half of the population is older and half is younger

Percentage of population reporting an Inuit identity who know Inuktitut and who use it regularly at home, by age groups, Canada, 2001

Contributions of Aboriginal Peoples to Canada’s Early History

Lead defenders of Canada during the War of 1812- Painting of death of Tecumseh, in Chatham-Kent, Ontario

Chief Joseph Brant helped the British during the American War of Independence

Hurons showing Jacques Cartier the cedar cure for scurvy

In Canada’s early days, treaties signed between Aboriginal Peoples & the French/ English governments were done as equals.

Canada’s Disrespectful Treatment of Aboriginal Peoples : Reserves

Dislocation of Native Peoples onto reserve lands

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.

Canada’s Disrespectful Treatment of

Aboriginal Peoples: Forced Assimilation

Ban on Aboriginal Religious PracticesNative Residential Schools: children removed from families & community and put into schools where their native language and culture was banned.

Between the late 18th century to early 20th century, Canada’s Aboriginal peoples were forcibly pushed to assimilate into the European-Canadian society.

http://vimeo.com/15089321

Canada’s 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 it’s 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.

Success of Aboriginal Peoples

Influential Aboriginal People(ex. Honourable James K. Bartleman, lieutenant-governor of Ontario)

Settlement of Treaties

Aboriginal Education

Modern Conflicts with Canada’s Native Peoples: Land claims & Treaties

Treaty settlements problems in British Columbia in the 1970’s (much of BC’s lands were never settled through treaties)

Oka Standoff in 1990

Caledonia Standoff 2006 - Today

History of Native Treaties

CGC 1/P1

What is a Treaty?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.

TreatiesTreaties 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

Copy of a treaty document map and Copy of a treaty document map and signatures for Penetanguishene, ONsignatures for Penetanguishene, ON

Problems Caused by TreatiesProblems 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.

Problems Caused by TreatiesProblems 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

Peace and Friendship Treaties

Purpose First Nations Group Involved

European Groups Involved

First Nations were given

-Peace and Friendship-Surrender of land

Mi’kmaq 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

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

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

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

Modern TreatiesModern Treaties

• In the 1960s & 70’s, 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. (

Modern TreatiesModern 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.

Modern TreatiesModern TreatiesModern 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

Modern Treaty Territories

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)