Week 5: Canadian Legal History & Indian Legislation

Question 1

Learning Objectives

Answer 1

• Know the importance of the Royal Proclamation
• Understand the different types of treaties in Canada, and be aware of the
  implications of each type of treaty on the First Nation ‘signatories’
• Understand the circumstances surrounding the signing of historic treaties
• Articulate how aspects of Canadian legal history and the Indian Act created hardships for First Nations peoples
• Understand how the Indian Act impacted the freedom of First Nations peoples
• Know the timeline of Canadian Indian laws

Question 2

Canadian Legal History and Indian Legislation

Answer 2

• Indigenous people did not surrender their land, they did not sell their land, and they were not conquered in war
• The agreement to share the land with settlers for provisions was articulated in treaties
• Treaties and the Indian Act have shaped the socio-economic and political reality of Canada’s Indigenous peoples
• The type of treaty a First Nation is governed under plays a significant role in community well being
• Correlates with factors related to education, housing, income, and labour force activity
• Substandard measures in these areas are also risk factors for crime
• Despite the many amendments made to the Indian Act over the years it continues to govern and constrain the lives of Canada’s First Nations peoples

Question 3

Timeline of Indian laws and A changing relationship: from Allies to wards

Answer 3

Look at slide #4 on the week 5 powerpoint