1. Road to Self-Government
Aboriginal Nations
Road to Self-Government

2. The idea of sovereignty was also significant to First Nations communities in Canada
The National Indian Brotherhood pressured the government to improve the standard of living on reserves
Trudeau’s response was the White Paper of 1969
Policy that would end special treatment and an “overly protective attitude” towards First Nations

3. Heavily protested and seen as a another way to assimilate First Nations into the majority culture
The National Indian Brotherhood leads protests and the white paper and demand self-government (Red Paper)
White Paper is eventually shelved in 1970 with no further solution

4. The Path to Self Government
1. Assembly of First Nations demand that Aboriginal rights be included in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
2. Bill C-31
- allows for band councils to have the power over who lives on reserves rather than the Department of Indian Affairs
3. Raised question: What other powers should be transferred from the Federal Government to band councils?

5. Health care/social issues
Resource control
Education and schools
Justice systems
Health care/social issues
Members of The Indian National Brotherhood at Negotiations

6. Land Claims
Another issue was how Aboriginal Nations could lay claim to land considered theirs.
Specific Claims: claims where land treaties have been signed and broken
Comprehensive Claims: arise in areas of Canada where there has not been a treaty or legal process regarding land

7. Oka Confrontation
Who? Oka Town Council, Mohawk First Nation, Police, Quebec government
Where? City of Oka, Kanesatake Reserve
When? 1990

8. Why?
Oka town council wants to expand a golf course in to the sacred lands of the Mohawk Nation.
Demonstrated First Nations are prepared to fight for their rights and land claims.

9. What?
Ownership of the land had long been disputed
Members of Mohawk nation blockade the land
Quebec Mayor calls for police to break the blockade

10. A police officer is killed and tensions escalate
Police blockade roads and Mohawk blockade part of the access to Montreal
Premier calls in troops and surrounding nations call for Mohawk to end their blockade
Land is given to Kanesatake

11. Land Claims in BC Most land claims in BC are comprehensive
1996 Nisga’a wins a historic victory winning 8% of their original land, ownership of forests and partial profit from fisheries
Government offers 190 million for compensation over lost land

12. Background to NisGa’a Began their struggle for land claims in 1887
In 1912, they were the first to make a claim against the Canadian government
At this time, it was illegal for them to raise money for land claims

13. 1998 Supreme Court ruling
“Aboriginal groups could claim ownership of land if they can prove that they occupied the land before Canadian government claimed sovereignty, and that they occupied it continuously and exclusively”
Problems? ^^

14. Significance?
First time the Supreme Court acknowledges that Aboriginal Title and the right to land exists
Impact future land claims in the rest of Canada including the creation of Nunavut in 1999
Gives Inuit control over 1.6 million km of the Arctic