2. Using the Snapshots in Time cards:
Identify any events in Canadian history related to/that impacted the INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS of Canadians.
List the events in your notes – was the event positive or negative for individual rights?
Identify any events in Canadian history related to/that impacted the COLLECTIVE RIGHTS of Canadians.
List the events in your notes – was the event positive or negative for collective rights?
- What is a collective? What are collective rights?
- What groups in Canada have collective rights?

3. Collective Rights Brainstorm a definition of each of the following:
Collective Identity:
The shared identity of a group of people, especially because of a common language and culture
Collective Rights:
Rights guaranteed to specific groups in Canadian society for historical and constitutional reasons.

4. Definitions of Groups:
First Nations:
Umbrella name of the diverse Aboriginal Peoples
Metis:
One of mixed European & Aboriginal Ancestry
Inuit:
“The People” – native inhabitants of the arctic north (Eskimo means “Eaters of Raw Flesh”)
Anglophone:
An English speaking Canadian (1st language)
Francophone:
A French speaking Canadian (1st language)

5. Read Page 122. Make sure to read the “Did You Know” Panel and all the
Read Page 122 Make sure to read the “Did You Know” Panel and all the information in “FAQ: Collective Rights Answer the following questions in your notes: Why do some peoples in Canada have collective rights and not others? What specific legislation relates to each identified group?

7. Collective Rights & Legislation
First Nations:
Indian Act & Treaties (Historic & Modern)
Constitution (Charter of Rights & Freedoms)
Metis:
Manitoba Act & Modern Treaties
Inuit:
Modern Treaties
Anglophone & Francophone:

9. Social Studies 9 Chapter 4
Collective Rights of First Nations Legislation: Constitution, Numbered Treaties and the Indian Act
Social Studies 9
Chapter 4

10. What do you think the collective rights of First Nations are?
Brainstorm
What do you think the collective rights of First Nations are?

11. Section 35 of the Charter
Recognizes First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples as Aboriginal peoples, and recognizes their existing Treaty and Aboriginal rights.
This means the Numbered Treaties are entrenched in our Constitution

12. Entrenched: To be fixed firmly within Treaty rights are fixed firmly within the Charter of Rights.

13. What are Numbered Treaties?
Historic agreements that affect the rights and identity of some First Nations’ in Canada
Background:
Numbered Treaties date back from 1763 and the Royal Proclamation (made by Britain)
Britain made the proclamation at the end of the Seven Years’ War as it attempted to gain control over North America (formerly New France)
The Royal Proclamation 1763: recognized First Nations’ rights to land and established the principle of treaty making through peaceful negotiations

15. The Numbered Treaties
The Numbered Treaties were technically between the British monarchs and First Nations.
Under the treaties, First Nations agreed to share land and resources in peace.
Canada’s government later agreed to terms covering First Nations’ education, reserves, annuities, hunting and fishing rights, etc..
The terms differ among the eleven treaties.

16. Define the following Reservation Annuity Affirmation
Land for the exclusive use of First Nations
Annual Payment – Today under the Numbered Treaties most annuities are mostly symbolic. Under some Treaties the annuity is only $5.00/year for band members
To validate and express commitment to something

17. Read page 126 and summarize the reasons for negotiating treaties
First Nations’ in the west and Canada negotiated treaties for many reasons
Read page 126 and summarize the reasons for negotiating treaties
Avoid War
Secure their future
England had defeated France in the Seven Years War
Canada wanted a Railway to the west

18. Terms of Treaties
Look at the Terms of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 chart on page 125 and complete the sentences below. Explain your answers:
The Treaty Terms I believe are still relevant today are…
The Treaty Terms I believe should no longer be granted are…

19. Understanding perspectives on the Treaties.
European Perspective
First Nation’s Perspective
Wanted to settle the West
Needed to remove obstacles in doing so
Agreed to terms covering First Nations education, reserves, annuities and other matters depending on which Treaty
Established a process for peaceful negotiations
GAVE UP the land
Written record
- Sacred agreement between Canadian government and First Nations
Agreement to live in harmony
SHARE the Land
Recorded the treaties orally
Land is not something that can be given up or “owned”

20. The Indian Act The Indian Act was created in 1876
It allowed the government to make laws for First Nations without consulting them.
Demonstrates the belief that European ways were superior (ethnocentrism)
Government appointed “Indian Agents” who were to speak on behalf of the First Nations.
The original aim was to assimilate First Nations into a European culture
Residential schools and laws banning aboriginal traditions were used to do this

21. Ethnocentrism: The belief that your culture/ethnicity (or one culture/ethnicity) is superior to all others Assimilation: The process of becoming part of a different cultural group that is not your own

22. What policies in the act were in place to achieve assimilation?
Defined how First Nations could conduct their affairs like band elections (this was different from their tradition methods)
At different times the Indian Act restricted FN ability to travel freely, take political action, wear traditional clothing, and take part in traditional ceremonies
In 1960, the act forced FN to give up their legal identity (as status Indians) and Treaty rights for the right to vote
This was also resulted in the introduction of residential schools
Think of our individual rights as Canadian citizens… are there any issues with these policies?

23. The White Paper on Indian Policy - 1969
Pierre Trudeau and Minister of Indian Affairs, Jean Chretien, wanted to remove the Indian Act.
Wanted to remove collective rights and grant aboriginals the same rights as all other Canadians.
However there was intense protest against removing the Indian Act … Why?

24. Modernizing the Indian Act
The act has been revised a number of times to update/modernize it.
Read pages 138.
What issues are revealed in regards to updating the Indian Act?