Aboriginal Governance Terms

Band A First Nations community. The band controls the reserves in the area. Controlled by the chief and a band council. The band is ultimately controlled by the Indian Act.

A newer term for band is First Nation

Reserve Land set aside by the Canadian government for the use and benefit of a band. The band doesn’t own the land. An Indian Agent used to have complete control over the reserve and the band. 2267 Reserves in Canada = 0.2% Total Land

K’ómoks First Nation Reserves There are four reserves, which make up the K'ómoks First Nation: Comox Indian reserve number 1 is located next to the town of Comox (Big House) Puntledge reserve number 2 runs along the Puntledge River next to the city of Courtenay (Camp Ground) Reserve number 3 is located on Goose Spit by Comox Harbour (HMCS Quadra) Reserve number 4 is located at the mouth of the Salmon River near Sayward.

Indian Act 1876 – Created by the Canadian government. Gave the Canadian government authority to determine the rights of Aboriginal people. It has been amended many times and is slowly getting better. In the beginning it completely controlled Aboriginal people’s lives.

Status Aboriginal people who are registered under the Indian Act. Rights of programs and services depend on which Nation you are from. Status Indians are wards of the Federal Gov. Examples: Rights to hunting and fishing Housing funding for post-secondary education Financial assistance

Non-Status Aboriginal people who are NOT registered under the Indian Act. In the past, this is how people lost status: An Aboriginal woman married a non-status man. Children also lost status. People or whole bands were coerced into voluntarily giving up status (giving up identity and culture) to merge with Euro-Canadians. This also gave them an early right to vote. If a man gave up his status, his wife and children lost it, too. If you joined the military or got a University Degree you lost status

Hereditary Chief The position is inherited and held for life. Traditional system Generally passed on to the oldest child or relative of the chief’s choosing Responsibilities: Hosts potlatches. Carries on cultural traditions. Decisions are made based on group decision-making. The chief’s voice is not stronger or more important than others’.

Hereditary Chiefs of the K’ómoks First Nation Today the head chiefs of the K’ómoks First Nation are Kerry Frank (Sathloot/Puntledge), Ernie Hardy (Sasitla), Allan Mitchell (Sasitla/Cha Chae), and George Cook (Ieeksun). The totems in front of the new administration building represent the 4 families of the K’ómoks First Nation.

Elected Chief & Council = This system was created from the Indian Act. Voters must be adult band members. Male or Female Elected for 2 year terms. Nicole Rempel Elected Chief K’omoks First Nation Elected Chief & Council = Band’s Government

In a city, what could the chief equivalent to?

Band Council Works with the elected chief to make decisions. Elected for 2 year terms. Community members are not included in Sharlene Frank direct decision making. Band councils are Melissa Quocksister limited by the Indian Act. Josh Frank

In a city, what could the band council be equivalent to?

Assembly of First Nations An organization to advocate for the over 630 First Nation communities in Canada. Chiefs across Canada gather once a year. The national chief is elected every 3 years. Perry Bellegarde National Chief of Canada

Self-Government Some First Nations are self- governed, some are not. Self-government is what most First Nation communities strive for. It gives them more responsibility and control over decision making.

Treaties An agreement between 2 or more groups. Treaties Timeline: Peace and friendship. A way for the British to get Aboriginal land. Today, individual bands are negotiating new and old treaties.

A Different Way   When Europeans came to Canada, they did not understand the Aboriginal way of government. Aboriginal societies did not have any written laws. It was hard to see how they chose their leaders. Europeans thought the Aboriginal peoples had no government because the system was so different from their own. Europeans thought their way of doing things was best. They ignored the wishes of the Aboriginal peoples and established their own form of government in Canada. Aboriginal peoples were not allowed to take part in this new government. They did not have a vote, and they were not allowed to hold any government positions.