Here are some events that occurred during the history of Aboriginal People in Canada:
- Before the Europeans arrived in Canada, oral treaties were present and the aboriginals had their own way of government.
- In the early 1600’s a series of treaties were negotiated with thirteen colonies and the Iroquois Confederacy.
- By 1701, the relationship between the aboriginals and the Europeans had stabilized.
- In 1725, the first peace and Friendship treaty was created and lasted until 1779. It was created to stop and prevent wars with the Aboriginal peoples.
- In 1763, the Royal Proclamation was created to integrate New France into the British Empire in North America. Thus, Quebec was created in the process. The Aboriginals living in that area were reducing the amount of people who settled in Quebec. Therefore, the government moved these Aboriginals to different lands, claiming that the British interests prior to 1763, were responsible for great fraud and abuses and that they had caused the aboriginals dissatisfaction. Britain wanted to gain alliance with the Aboriginals to prevent further bloody and costly frontier wars. The proclamation also gave Britain the right to purchase aboriginal hunting and fishing grounds.
- In 1764, a new treaty called the ‘Niagara Treaty’ was formed. It created a new covenant chain between Britain and the Aboriginal nations of the western Great Lakes, Iroquois Confederacy, Algonquin and the Huron nations.
- From 1764-1790, Several treaties were created after the Royal Proclamation that were used to make Aboriginals surrender their land in the province of Quebec, in exchange for gifts, a lot of money and a creation of smaller reserve lands. At other times, blank treaties were used (in which the chief of a tribe would sign their tribe’s land away).
- From 1794, efforts were made to ensure the treaty process was done with more fairness to the Aboriginal people living in that region.
- Many Aboriginals sided the British during the War Of 1812 because of obligation through the Niagara Treaty and because they thought that the British would allow them to preserve land for their way of life.
- Aboriginals played a vital role in British victories during the war of 1812.
- In 1813, the aboriginal leader Tecumseh was killed in the battle of Thames and weakened the Aboriginal unity and confidence.
- Thomas Selkirk purchased land located in lower Manitoba. The Métis who lived in the region were angered, as they were not consulted prior to the purchase and creation of the ‘Red River Settlement’ in 1812.
- In 1836, the government decided to cut back on the presents given to Aboriginal people.
- Minerals were found on the shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, so therefore two treaties were signed between the government and Aboriginals to give up their land on these premises and take their place on a new set of land on which they could hunt and fish.
- During the 1850’s Aboriginals gave up more than 570 square kilometres of land in exchange for cash, clothing and blankets. However, they could hunt and fish on the lands they surrendered.
- Under section 91 of the British North American Act, 1867, the federal government had constitutional responsibility and authority over aboriginals and any land that was to be reserved for them. Treaty making was done by the Prime Minister although other departments did have their say in it.
- The government removed Aboriginals from their lands in large blocks and placed them in smaller reserves in order to enfranchise them.
- The land covered by the Selkirk treaty was sold to the federal government. This caused deep distrust among many prairie aboriginals, and they felt that any treaties they signed in the future would be meaningless. Other Aboriginals were so upset that they blocked settlers and railway surveyors from crossing into their territorial land.
- From 1871 to 1875, numbered treaties were formed to allow the government to take away land from the Aboriginals for European settlement and agricultural and industrial development. The Aboriginals were to give up their land forever. The government later increased the amount of money paid to the Aboriginals.
- In 1876, the Indian Act was created. This act spelled out conditions for being an ‘Indian’ under the law. (ex. Any woman that married an aboriginal man was to be considered an Indian, however any Aboriginal woman who married a white, European male was considered to be a bona fide member of the Canadian society and lost her Indian status and every right that came with it.) Also any ‘half breed’ Indians such as the Métis, would not receive the Indian status.
- In the early 1870’s, residential schools were created in Canada. Aboriginal children were taken from their homes and communities and were placed in these schools. The children aged from five to sixteen. These schools damaged the children’s self esteem as well as their culture, language and traditions. People who came out of these schools grew up to become drug or alcohol addicts and displayed criminal behaviours.
- In 1884, in order to assimilate the Aboriginal people the government banned the traditional potlatch ceremony, which was of particular political significance to those living in the North West coast. This ceremony remained illegal until 1951.
- In 1925, more ceremonies such as the pow-wows, sweat lodges and Indian Sun Dances were banned through the Indian Act legislation. People continued to perform these ceremonies in secret until the ban was lifted in 1951.
- During the 1910s, aboriginal people started to protest the breaking of the Numbered Treaty promises. This movement gained momentum in the 1920s and 1930s.
- In 1951, The Indian act was changed so that key customs (such as the potlatches ceremonies) were legal again. Aboriginals could now possess and drink Alcohol in their own reserves.
- In 1960, Prime Minister James Gladstone gave non-enfranchised Aboriginals the right to vote.
- In 1982, The modern charter of rights and freedoms guaranteed the rights and freedom of all aboriginals, such as Métis and Inuits.
- In 1984, a new act, approved by the parliament protected the Inuit culture and gave control of the natural resources in the western arctic to the Inuit people.
- Bill C-31 was introduced in 1985, which provided Indian status to the Metis, all enfranchised Aboriginals lining off reserve land and all aboriginal women who had lost their status by marrying a non-aboriginal man.
- A new territory called ‘Nunavut’ was created in 1999 and some of this land was given to the Inuit, specifically for living, hunting and controlling sub-surface resources.
