Human Rights in Canada CLN 4CR Lesson 17
Human Rights in Canada Learning Goal: Analyze how Canada protects and defends the rights of all people. In the News… Women’s rights and Indigenous Rights: note and discussion
In the News…
Human Rights in Canada Protect us from unfair treatment by individuals and gov’t Not always upheld by our justice system
Women’s Rights What steps did Canada have to take to bring about gender equality?
Women’s Rights 150 years ago... Limited rights Universities, professional schools, political office were closed to women Women began fighting for the right to vote Suffrage Nellie McClung, Famous Five, Emily Stowe ‘nice women’ don’t want to vote
WWI had a strong impact Persons Case After WWII, 75% of men and 64% of women felt that returning soldiers should be hired over women This legislation was abolished in 1955 Women’s rights enshrined in the constitution
Women’s Issues Today LEAF (Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund) Fights for pay equity Often long legal battles Dealing with sexual harassment Women first allowed to do combat jobs in the army in 1987 Allowed on submarines in 2000
Indigenous Rights Key Terms: Collective rights: those of a group rather than an individual First Nations: first used by native people to recognize that they have sovereign rights as Canada’s first inhabitants Assimilation: the process of absorbing a minority into the prevailing culture Land claim: the right to certain lands
Development of Indigenous Rights Royal Proclamation of 1763 Ended French rule in Canada Outlined treaty process Called the “Magna Carta” of native rights Recognizes Indigenous peoples as nations Canada’s constitution recognizes “any rights and freedoms that have been recognized by the Royal Proclamation...”
1763-1867 Lots of treaties drawn up 1871-1921 Last of these treaties concluded Forced peaceful removal of native people from traditional lands to reserves To allow for European settlement To ‘protect’ and ‘civilize’ and then ‘assimilate’
Indian Act, 1868 Defined who was Indian and who wasn’t Banned some traditional cultural practices Replaced self-government traditions with elected band councils Rejected Aboriginal forms of justice
Residential Schools Operated until the 1960s (last one closed in 1980s) Money given to churches to run schools Children punished for speaking their own language PM Harper officially apologized in 2008
Sixties Scoop 1960s-1980s About 20 000 indigenous children taken from their homes and put into foster care or adopted into non-indigenous families Suffered abuse, racism, loss of culture, mental health issues Remedies are in the works
Aboriginal Leaders Have been strong since 1950s Trying to reverse the assimilation policies Set back by the 1969 White Paper (a policy document) Trudeau emphasized individual rights over collective rights Wanted to withdraw the Indian Act
Proposed to “enable the Indian people to be free—free to develop Indian culture in an environment of legal, social, and economic equality with other Canadians.” Indigenous people were not impressed as they feared it was just another tool of assimilation Vowed to fight harder for their rights
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Replaced National Indian Brotherhood in 1982 Includes all aboriginal people (Indian, Inuit, Metis) Represents 630 First Nations communities in Canada
Decisions Nisga’a land claims (1973) Ownership had never been surrendered Lost case on a technicality but 6 judges did agree on the concept of “Aboriginal Title” Caused Trudeau to rethink the “White Paper” 1997 case described a test to prove Aboriginal title If Aboriginal group can show it exclusively occupied the land before Britain declared sovereignty, they have title
Constitutional Debate Native people have fought to be part of the discussions AFN participates in constitutional talks, with founding nation status Elijah Harper caused the Manitoba legislature to vote down the Meech Lake Accord
Indigenous People Today (2011 census) 1.4 million (4% of the population) 46% are under age 25 (30% for the rest of Canada) 30% live in crowded homes (more than 1 person per room) 43% of on-reserve housing in need of major repair 27% (Indian aged 12+) admit to smoking daily (15% in rest of Canada) (49% of Inuit people)
Issues Today Poverty is widespread Lack of safe drinking water on many reserves Health and social problems Alcohol and drug abuse, youth suicide, low employment, poor housing Solutions to problems are much debated Indigenous people believe the solution is self-government and settlement of land claims Want control over their education
Tasks: Read pages 84-92 Answer questions on page 88, page 90, and page 92 Rights of immigrants, homosexuals, people with disabilities Page 69: questions 8, 10, 11, and 12 or 13