“You Are on Indian Land”. In 1960, when “Status Indians” finally got the right to vote, most...
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ABORIGINAL NATIONS IN CANADA “You Are on Indian Land”
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Transcript of “You Are on Indian Land”. In 1960, when “Status Indians” finally got the right to vote, most...
In 1960, when “Status Indians” finally got the right to vote, most Aboriginal people were suffering through terrible living conditions:
PovertyPoor healthLack of educationPoor housingDiscrimination
Consequences:
The life expectancy of Aboriginal Canadians was approximately half that of white Canadians!
Even today, the average Aboriginal Canadian is expected to live 6-8 years less than other Canadians.
How did Aboriginal Canadians respond?
In 1968, Aboriginal people living on reserves formed the National Indian Brotherhood.
Purpose: To lobby the government on their behalf.
What is lobbying? Pressuring the government to do something you want.
Result:
Pierre Trudeau’s government made proposals to deal with Aboriginal issues in the 1969 White Paper:
Government will stop being overly protective of natives.
Natives will be treated like everyone else.
Special rights of those living on reserves will be abolished.
Goal of White Paper:
Get natives to move to cities
There they will become part of mainstream society
Eventually they will be ASSIMILATED and their problems will disappear along with their culture!
How did Aboriginal Nations respond?
Aboriginal people were furious, and saw the White Paper as an attack on their right to maintain their unique identity.
The National Indian Brotherhood led the attack on the White Paper, and instead of assimilation, they demanded self-government.
The N.I.B. Presented Jean Chretien with their own paper, called the “Red Paper”.
A surprised Chretien announced he was shelving the White Paper.
Aboriginal Concerns
Gradually, First Nations began to take some control in areas that concerned them most:
EducationBand schoolsBoarding home programResidential schools system abandoned
Federal government apologizes and announces a $350 million healing fund.
The EnvironmentConcerned that hydroelectric & natural
gas projects endangering hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Mackenzie Pipeline suspended James Bay Hydro Project two new
phases halted
The Path to Self-Government
Aboriginal nations fought for legal recognition of Aboriginal rights.
Aboriginal rights entrenched in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Bill C-31 – ability to decide who lives on reserves.
The stage was set for discussions about self-government.
Aboriginal Land Claims:Specific Claims – treaties signed
Comprehensive Claims – questioning the ownership of land.
The Oka Confrontation
By the end of the 80’s, many specific claims were slowly making their way through the courts.
Few Canadians paid much attention, however, until the summer of 1990, when events in the Quebec town of Oka make headlines nationwide.
The Oka town council decided to expand a golf course into sacred Mohawk land.
The Mohawks tried to stop the construction of the golf course by blockading the land.
Police were called in to remove the blockade.
Oka Crisis full documentary
On July 11, police advanced on the Mohawk lines, gunfire broke out, and an officer was killed.
Tensions escalated in the stand-off and Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa called in the Canadian Forces.
In September, members of other bands persuaded the Mohawks to end the stand-off.
The Significance of the Oka Confrontation ...
Oka was a wake-up call to the government and people of Canada.
Canada’s First Nations had demonstrated that they were prepared to fight for their rights!
