CHAPTER 9 Flashcards
Political Organizing in Canada
What were the two general organizational systems employed by Indigenous peoples?
Inter-tribal and locally focused: Communities address internal concerns.
Intra-tribal (two or more nations): Meetings to consider regional political and economic issues.
What were the most effective meeting models used in Indigenous organizing?
Councils were the most effective meeting model. They were regularly held and adaptable.
What were Confederacies in Indigenous organizing?
Confederacies allowed two or more nations to merge politically to achieve mutual goals.
Strength and political unity were based on superior numbers.
Some confederacies date back centuries, while others were fleeting.
When was the Grand General Indian Council of Ontario and Quebec (GIC) formed?
The GIC was formed in 1870 with the goal of preventing the loss of political influence due to federal Indian legislation and policies.
Why was the Grand General Indian Council of Ontario and Quebec (GIC) ineffective?
It was ineffective due to internal divisions, despite operating until 1936.
What event in 1879 led to the creation of the Confederation of Tribes of the Mainland?
More than 1,200 Coast and Interior Salish met at Lytton, B.C., to form the Confederation, although internal dissension caused it to collapse.
What challenges did Indigenous organizing face in the early stages?
Canada’s officials questioned the ability of organizations to represent members.
Competition for funding among community leaders.
Band councils were being challenged.
What three trends defined the first wave of Indigenous organizing (1870–1918)?
B.C. land question (Aboriginal title and self-government).
Indigenous role in the organized labour movement.
The development of pan-Indian consciousness.
Who was a major influence in the formation of the League of Indians of Canada in 1918?
FO Loft (Mohawk) played a major role in rallying support and forming the League.
What was FO Loft’s main goal in organizing Indigenous peoples?
Loft’s main goal was unity, although he struggled to find a unifying issue that would galvanize Indigenous peoples nationally.
What were some of the resolutions forwarded to the SJC by the NAIB in 1946?
Investigation of Indian treaty rights violations.
Indians should elect their own MPs.
Indian education should be controlled by regional boards of Indians.
What was the impact of the formation of Indigenous core organizations between 1931–1946?
The formation of organizations like the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia (1931) and others led to increased Indigenous mobilization, prompting the federal government to establish a Special Joint Parliamentary Committee (SJC) to investigate the Indian Act.
What significant milestone occurred for Indigenous people in 1960?
Indigenous people were granted citizenship and the right to vote in federal elections without compromising their status.
What was the National Indian Council (NIC) and its main challenge?
Established in 1961, the NIC represented treaty and non-status Indians, as well as Métis. Its main challenge was reconciling the diverse needs of Indigenous peoples across Canada.
What was the significance of the 1969 White Paper proposal by Pierre Trudeau?
The proposal sought to eliminate Indian legal status, which became a unifying issue for Indigenous peoples to rally against, sparking the development of the National Indian Brotherhood (NIB).
What changes happened to Indigenous political participation after 1978?
Indigenous organizations like the NIB, the Aboriginal Council of Canada (ACC), and the Inuit Committee on National Issues (ICNI) were invited to constitutional discussions, leading to ideas such as Aboriginal self-government.
What was the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and when was it formed?
Formed in 1982, the AFN represents Chiefs from Status Indian bands in Canada and is not a regional delegate organization.
When was the Metis National Council (MNC) formed, and what is its purpose?
The MNC was formed in 1983 to serve as the national and international voice of the Métis Nation.
What is the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), and when was it formed?
Formed in 1971, ITK represents and advocates for the rights and interests of Inuit peoples across Canada.
What is the role of the Inuit Circumpolar Council – Canada (ICC-C)?
Established in 1977, the ICC-C represents Inuit people internationally and holds Consultative Status II at the UN to address environmental and social issues.
What is the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), and when was it formed?
Formed in 1993, CAP promotes the rights and interests of off-reserve non-status Indians and Métis.
What is the purpose of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC)?
Founded in 1974, NWAC represents the political voice of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in Canada, advocating for their rights and interests.
