Indigenous and Minority Groups-Ch7 Flashcards
why was the royal proclamation an important document?
- prevented any further settlement across north america until treaties had been negotiated with indigenous peoples
- recognized that indigenous peoples had organized nations on their own lands
why did the can gov gather first nations peoples onto reserves?
-federal government passes legislation which granted government control and management of lands of property of first nations peoples in canada
negative impacts of living on a reserve?
- limits FN ability to fully participate in canadian economy
- canadian gov used individual property as leverage for loans and wealth creation
- chief and council given enough power and control over community expenditures
- poverty prevalent;high suicide rates
what was the purpose of the indian act 1876?
- canadian government’s official way of encouraging indigenous peoples to give up their own culture and traditions
- assimilating them into mainstream canadian culture
what were advantages of the indian act?
- provided schools, med care, hunting/fishing rights, annual treaty payments
- exempted indigenous peoples with “indian status” from paying certain taxes
- gave “special status” to indigenous peoples (IP wanted to keep this legislation for it provided them with recognition)
what were disadvantages of the indian act?
- denied right to claim land and right to vote in provincial elections
- perceived to be incompatible with being canadian citizen
- IP with “indian status” could not vote unless status was traded for voting rights
- lost “indian status if moved off reserves, joined military, obtained higher education or married someone with no “indian status”
- traditional activities (potlatch) outlawed
- memorabilia shipped to museums in NA
what was negative regarding residental schools?
- compulsory for all indigenous children from 1884-1951
- 150,000 children removed from famillies and communities
- taught children how to be apart of white society and forget their indigenous heritage (assimilate)
- children had to abandon their culture/language;were physically, sexually, emotionally abused
when were indigenous peoples given the right to vote in federal elections in canada?
-1960
what did indigenous people had to sacrifice in order to gain rights of a canadian citizen?
-enfranchisement:loss of “indian status” and right to live on a reserve
what is the sixties scoop?
- period in 1960s
- effort to remove indigenous children “scoop them up” from their families and adopt them out to white canadians
- goal to remove indigenous culture from canada
why was the white paper introduce by canada?
- to adress the issues facing indigenous peoples who lived on reserves such as unemployment, ill health, poverty
- introduced by PM pierre trudeau and indian affairs minister jean chretien in 1968
what did the white paper do in 1969?
- proposed abolition of reserves and an end to indigenous special status
- equality was necessary for solutions;believed special status was the magor reasoning behind all the difficualties
why did indigenous community reject the proposed changes to the reserve system?
-amounted to “cultural genocide” ; extermination of their culture
what were the amendments to the indian act?
abolishment of concept of enfranchisement:
-IP could be enfranchised by choice or marriage
bands increased self government
-gave bands more power than previous
why was the white paper withdrew?
- national indian brotherhood formed to represent “status indians”
- native council of canada formed to represent “non-status indians” and metis
- reaction of organizations caused PM pierre trudeau to withdraw the paper in 1971
- it increased political activism amongst IP since paper publication
difference between specific and comprehensive land claims?
- specific: based on existing treaties
- comprehensive: based on traditional use and occupancy;occurred in areas where no treaties had been signed
what was the oka standoff 1990?
- quebec officials decided to extend 9-hole golf course (built in 1959) onto land that the mohawks claimed had belonged to them
- mohawks set up blockades of major roads that lasted 6+ months
- police stormed baricades;1 killed
- canadian army called-standoff between army and mohawk warriors
- agreement and fed gov bought disputed land and negotiated its transfer to kanesatake first nation
why did the indigenous people oppose the meech lake accord?
- felt that quebec should not have any special consideration if no special consideration was being given to them
- felt they also had a distince society
why did indigenous people want the right to self government? and what were they responsible for?
- to recognize their rights and allow them to make decisions about matters internal to their communities essential to their unique cultures, traditions, languages
- connected with their relationship to land and resources
-responsible for their own property, healthcare and education
what were th provisions of the nisgaa treaty 1998?
- wide powers of self government related to issues of culture, language and family life
- given ownership of 1922 km2 of land (resources, fishing and hunting rights) also given $190 millions
why was the nisgaa treaty significant?
- no non indigenous settlers were forced from the territory that the nisgaa control
- -non indigenous settlers did not have right to vote for councils that govern the region
what was the political system of nunavut?
-no political parties;people run for elections as individuals and then the elected members vote for the member who they want to lead the government
what was the purpose of the statement of reconciliation issued in 1998?
- to have both parties (wrongdoers and people who were treated wrongly) to work tgt and plan forward how to redress wrongs committed towards indigenous peoples
- made rather than have a legal system determine all elements or truth, evidence, and punishment
what were some inequalities facing indigenous people living in canada?
- harm of residential schools to indigenous communities
- indian act restrictions
- forced to live on reserves;led to poverety and suicide
what were the “calls to action”?
- formed by TRC
- list of recommended steps that should be taken in order to attempt to recompense for the mistakes of the past and to ensure these mistakes are not forgotten but improved
what did the key calls to action include?
- call for increased funding for indigenous health centres
- call to eliminate education and employment gaps between Indigenous and non indigenous canadians
- call to protect indigenous languages
- call to offer post secondary education in indigenous languages
- call to increase the number of indigenous professionals in healthcare field
