Chapter 4 Focus Question: To what extent has Canada affirmed collective rights?

What are collective rights? Rights held by Canadians who belong to one of several groups in society. They are recognized and protected by Canada’s constitution.

Why do only some people have collective rights? Collective rights recognize the founding peoples of Canada. Canada wouldn’t exist today without the contribution of these peoples.

So, who holds collective rights in Canada? Aboriginal peoples, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit people Francophones Anglophones

FIRST NATIONS COLLECTIVE RIGHTS THE NUMBERED TREATIES

These medals were struck to commemorate the Numbered Treaties. This medal dates from The images are meant to convey a specific message. What was it? What clues are there in the images?

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.

For example, Treaty 7 made provisions for one square mile of land for each Indian family, plus a limited supply of cattle, some farm equipment (one plow for each band) and a small amount of treaty and ammunition money.

The treaty also made limited commitments on the part of the Queen to provide education for children and in some cases, medical services.

This map shows the location of First Nation reserves in Alberta. RESERVES Land set aside for the exclusive use of First Nations

ASSIGNMENT On a blank map of Canada, sketch the Numbered Treaties. Use colour and a legend to identify the different Treaties and label the provinces and/or territories. Make sure you include a title!

Both the Canadian government and the First Nations had their own reasons for signing the Numbered Treaties. Use the following pictures to determine what the reasons could have been.

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.

BC had joined Confederation on the condition that Canada would build a railway within ten years to link the province with the rest of Canada. The railway also allowed a large number of immigrants to migrate to Canada’s West in hopes of a better life. They had been promised land by the government. Both of these issues required that Canada obtain land from the First Nations.

Small pox epidemics had taken a horrible toll on the First Nations both socially and economically.

Both First Nations and Canada’s government wanted to avoid wars over territory like those happening in the United States. The treaties provided a peaceful way of meeting the needs of both groups.

Do you feel that the needs of both parties - the Canadian government and the First Nations - were equal? Did one group need the Treaties more than the other? Did both groups benefit equally from the Treaties? Explain. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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

Treaty negotiations took place in several languages and relied on interpreters. Sometimes meaning or connotation was lost in the translation and the two parties came away with a different view of what had been agreed to.

First Nations recorded the Treaties in their own language as oral histories while Canada’s government recorded them in written English. What problems could arise from this? Sometimes the oral history and the written word don’t agree.

First Nations never believed that land could be “owned” - they did not understand the European practice of fencing land - and therefore, see the Treaties as an agreement to share the land with the Canadian government; however, the government believes the First Nations gave up their land under the Treaties.

Treaty Number Six has a provision for health care. One clause allows a medicine chest to be kept in the Indian agent’s home for the use and benefit of the First Nations. Some people felt that this provision extended to everyone who signed the Numbered Treaties. Others went so far as to later interpret this provision as an eternal promise by the government to provide free health care to all First Nations people in Canada.

Two Views of the Numbered Treaties For each of the following quotes record the date, the source and the main idea(s). You may use a chart or headings to organize your ideas.

LAW VERSUS POLICY According to the Numbered Treaties, the federal government was responsible for providing education to First Nations. This was a condition that had to be followed - a LAW. The POLICY of the federal government was to provide this education through residential schools.

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS While watching this video clip, think about how, or if, it is biased. Be ready to explain your position, using specific examples, in a written response.