FNMI Treaties vs. Indian Act

FIRST NATIONS COLLECTIVE RIGHTS THE NUMBERED TREATIES

Eleven "Numbered Treaties" were signed between 1871 and 1921 as the Canadian government began to pursue settlement, farming and resource development in the west and north of the country. The terms of the treaties differed, but in most cases First Nations agreed to share their land and resources in exchange for education, hunting and fishing rights, reserves, farming assistance and annuities.

Both the Canadian government and the First Nations had their own reasons for signing the Numbered Treaties.

The eradication of the buffalo meant social and economic upheaval for some First Nations peoples. They saw the Treaties as a way to secure their future.

Big reason why both signed Both saw what happened in the United States, and in previous areas in Canada… and wanted to avoid going to war! The Aboriginals feared guns The Europeans feared the aboriginals because they saw them as warriors and ‘savages’. Big reason why both signed

The perspective of each group played a role in how they negotiated and interpreted the Treaties:

1876 “What we speak of will last as long as the sun shines and the river runs. We are looking to the future of our children’s children.” - FNMI perspective 1879 “Residential schools allow “aggressive civilization” by separating the children from the parents....Residential schools make a certain degree of civilization within the reach of Indians despite the deficiencies of their race....The Indians realize they will disappear.” – Gov’t perspective

Analyze the Impact of the Indian Act had/has on Canada’s aboriginals. Learning Goal

Canada realized that in 1867 our BNA-Act they gave to many civil rights to all people in Canada, and needed a way to legally treat First Nations differently. Need for the Act

Canada Takes Control (1871) The Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) was created to “look after” First Nations Canada Takes Control (1871)

This act gave legal power to the Canadian government to control the lives of First Nations The Indian Act refers to First Nations people as “Indians” to this day.. The Indian Act

Indian Act: Status Indians The Indian Act determined who qualified as a Status Indian Status Indians are considered “wards” of the Canadian government The term “ward” is often used to describe children that need adult care. Indian Act: Status Indians

Indian Act: Loss of Status The following actions resulted in a loss of status.. marrying a man who was not a Status Indian enfranchisement (until 1960, an Indian could vote in federal elections only by renouncing Indian status) having a mother and paternal grandmother who did not have status before marriage (these people lost status at 21) being born out of wedlock of a mother with status and a father without. Indian Act: Loss of Status

If you are not a status Indian then you loose all treaty rights. Why status matters

Once the I.A. was passed, Status Indians were not permitted to own land They were “wards” of the State (Canada) Indian Act: Reserves

Indian Act: Residential Schools The Indian Act of 1876 gave further responsibility to the federal government for Native education. The result was the residential school system, a cooperation between Church and State to assimilate First Nations children. Indian Act: Residential Schools