History of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Aboriginal Peoples Archaeological evidence indicates that...
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Transcript of History of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Aboriginal Peoples Archaeological evidence indicates that...
History of Aboriginal Peoples
in Canada
Aboriginal Peoples
• Archaeological evidence indicates that Aboriginal peoples have lived in Canada for at least 11,000 years
European Settlers
• Viewed aboriginal way of life as inferior to the Euro-Canadian model
• Discrimination practiced
Royal Proclamation, 1763
• Issued by King George III after Britain defeated France (Seven Years’ War)
• Attempt to stabilize relations with aboriginal people
Royal Proclamation, 1763• Recognized
Aboriginal rights:– 1) people
lived as nations on their land
– 2) treaties to be negotiated with crown
• Basis of many modern land claims
1867• No aboriginal
leaders invited to Confederation
• Goal = assimilation
• Force Aboriginal peoples to abandon their traditions & adopt European way of life
• Methods:– 1) reserves– 2) enforced
farming– 3) residential
schools
Indian Act, 1876
• Addressed status, reserves
• Status Indian: an Aboriginal person registered under the Indian Act
• Status = certain rights/benefits
Indian Act - Reserves
• Non-status Indian: An Aboriginal person who is not registered
• Reserve: land set apart for a band’s use
• Main purpose: to free up land for European settlers
Enforced farming
• Farming encouraged, rather than hunting
• Soil unsuitable• Poor
equipment / livestock provided
• Many experienced hunger, difficulty selling crops
Residential Schools
• Education of children responsibility of federal gov’t
• Indian Act = creation of “residential schools”
Residential school, 1894
Residential Schools
• Aboriginal children forced to learn English & adopt Canadian customs
• Encouraged to abandon their identity & traditions
Residential Schools
• “boarding school” concept - removal from families
• Mandatory attendance
• Approx. 150,000 children enrolled
Residential Schools - Issues
• Rampant spread of diseases such as smallpox, tuberculosis
• Poor maintenance
• Conflict between federal gov’t and families
Residential school, Nova Scotia, 1930
Residential Schools - Issues
• Poorly equipped to clothe students, particularly during winter
• Frequent fires, few safety measures
• Inadequate, poor quality food
• Physical labour demanded from students
Residential Schools - Issues
• Teachers poorly trained – could not teach students much beyond completely alien ideologies
Residential Schools - Issues
• Child abuse - sexual abuse, physical punishment, neglect
• Few opportunities to see their families
• Separation from siblings
Residential Schools
• 1951: Aboriginal children allowed to attend public schools
• 1990’s: United Church, several Catholic orders accepted responsibility for harmful practices
• June 11, 2008: official apology
Residential Schools• Many believe
residential schools were responsible for creating social & behavioral problems - Schools under intense scrutiny as allegations of abuse became public
• The last school closed in 1996
Gordon School, Saskatchewan