1. Infested Blanket By: Anton V ENVR 4650

2. What is an infested Blanket? A tool historically used by Europeans to infect natives with Smallpox Was not always done on purpose Blankets were popular trading item Devastating effect Often acts of Genocide

3. Smallpox Often deadly disease Highly contagious Europeans have resistance Domesticated animals No resistance by indigenous people Germ warfare by British, Americans Oral evidence

4. Liverating Johnson 1880 Disagreement with Blackfoot Indians in Southern Alberta Sent a cart full of infested blankets to Blackfoot Nation Traditional tribal gathering with Blood and Peigan nations The chiefs took the disease to their own tribes Devastating effect

5. Infested blanket today 1982 Constitution Act Section 35…recognizes and affirms existing aboriginal rights… Indian sovereign nationhood, 3 rd Gov. level Aboriginals were not consulted Sec. 35 was first pulled off by B.C. and Alberta Later returned with a word “existing” in a backroom meeting

6. 1982 Constitution Act Con’d Limited aboriginal rights to pre 1982 era Is not specific about rights Sec. 35 is subject to interpretation Sec. 37 Canadian government equal party, AFN represents a minority Not Nation to Nation (treaties) Some nations pulled out from the Assembly of First Nations that represented all treaty and status Indians in 1983 Canada’s Constitutional Conference (1/4)

7. Coalition 70,000 New Brunswick Indians Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (Quebec) Brotherhood of Indian Nations (MB) Treaty Six Alliance (Alberta) Lil’Wat Nation (West Coast) $2,520,000 in financial support to AFN Outside Canada discussion

8. 1982 Constitution Act Con’d Unintentional effects Constitutionally protects Aboriginal Rights Doesn’t include self government 1983 Report by the Special Committee of the House of Commons Later analysis concluded that the self government rights are included Subject to interpretation of Sec. 35

9. References Eric Robinson. (1985). The infested blanket, Canada’s Constitution-Genocide of Indian Nations. Queenston House Publishers The Native Investment & Trade Association. (1998). Aboriginal Law in Canada, 1998: comprehensive overview of all recent major legal developments including landmark Delgamuukw Decision. Background picture: http://www.wisdomoftheelders.org/prog207/ima ges/ew_painted_tipis_assiniboin_curtis_a2zcds.j pg http://www.wisdomoftheelders.org/prog207/ima ges/ew_painted_tipis_assiniboin_curtis_a2zcds.j pg

10. Questions ??? http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/amherst/dr awing.jpeg