The First Nations of the Northwest

Question 1

What was the affect of American whisky traders on some aboriginal people?

Answer 1

A small number of American companies traded cheap liquor known as ‘firewater’ to First Nationsl trappers in exchange for fur. The whisky trade devastated First Nations communities leading to widespread alcoholism, malnutrition, disease and death.

Question 2

What agency did the Canadian government create to fight back against the American whisky traders?

Answer 2

The North West Mounted Police (NWMP).

It acted as a police force and paramilitary organization, enforcing the law and establishing a Canadian presence in the region.

Question 3

What were some of the key aspects of the Treaty Process in Canada?

Answer 3

• As part of the treaties, First Nations people gave up their land inexchange for specific rights, such as access to resources, health care and education.
• First Nations people wanted to keep most of their land but the Canadian government wanted to take most of it away. Some First Nations thought they wouldn’t get a better deal.
• The Canadian government wanted to gain control of land in the Prairies as quickly and cheaply as possible.
• Many of the benefits that First Nations people were promised, like farm equipment, turned out to be of poor quality.

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Question 4

What was the impact of the Indian Act of 1876?

Answer 4

The Indian Act formalized the assimilation of First Nations people, providing government administration of reserves.

The Canadian government made decisions on behalf of Aboriginal people,s believing they were not capable of making decisions on their own.

A lot of the Canadian government’s decisions were influenced by prejudice or misunderstanding of First Nations people.

Many First Nations people felt that the government had failed them.

Question 5

What were some of the specific rules the Indian Act established?

Answer 5

• First Nations people were wards of the government, living only on reserves.
• First Nations were required to register with the government; if they didn’t they were considered “non status” and lost their rights.
• Special passes were required to come and go from reserves.
• First Nations children had to attend residential schools. The aim of those schools was to assimilate First Nations children.
• Traditional ways of self-governance, such as choosing leaders, were denied as were important ceremonies like the sun dance.