First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Peoples

I believe that Aboriginals were not treated fairly and were taken advantage of throughout history. I think that the Europeans saw people who were less advanced than they were and they decided it would be "helpful" to make them more like them.

3 events that back this up are:

- Numbered Treaties: Aboriginals were also treated unfairly during the numbered treaties. After singing the treaties many Aboriginals had lost much of their land. They also lost much of their cultural and self-government rights as they would have to follow the laws set by the Canadian government. Aboriginals were taken advantage of when the treaties were being signed. Aboriginals wanted the trades to be fair for both sides, however, the Europeans wanted to get as much as they could for as little as possible. Aboriginals believed that if you orally promised something it meant you would do it, but the Europeans believed only in promises that were written down and they used this to get away with not giving things they orally promised the Aboriginals.

- The Fur Trade: the fur trade was fair for the Aboriginals in the beginning, but became more and more unfair as it went on. As the Fur Trade went on, Aboriginals became dependent on European goods, which the Europeans took advantage of to charge the Aboriginals more than they normally would. Prices in the Fur Trade also went up to an unfair amount when the Hudson Bay Company and North West Company merged. Europeans also spread many diseases to Aboriginals through the Fur Trade, such as smallpox and influenza.

- the Indian Act: Aboriginals were also treated unfairly during the Indian Act. The Indian Act was created to assist the government in trying to make Aboriginals more European. Under the act many Aboriginals lost their rights and land. The act also decided who was and who wasn't First Nations. Aboriginals were forced to ask permission to leave their own reserve lands. The act added power to the governments ability to control Aboriginals.

Following the Oka crisis in 1990, the Canadian government realized that the way they were treating Aboriginal people was not the way the should have. The government has used public apologies, financial compensation, and new legislature as a means of reconciliation towards the Aboriginal people. The government is trying to regain trust with Aboriginal people and repair and build a better relationship with them for the future.

2 events that connect to this renewal:

- The Royal commission on Aboriginal Peoples: the commission was a large part of how the Aboriginal people received reconciliation from the government. the commission focused on issues such as self-governance, economic an social problems, justice, and education. A 7 member committee was established and toured 96 communities across the country. After visiting these communities, the commission submitted a report, recommending things for Aboriginals such as 35 billion dollars in spending over 20 years, creation of Aboriginal self-governance, elimination of the indian-act, recognition of metis rights, and a new commission to recognize past injustices and create a new relationship between the government and Aboriginal people.

- The Kelowna Accord: in 2005 there was an effort to address the issues raised in the Royal Commission called the Kelowna Accord. the Accord resulted in a 5 year 5 billion dollar to improve Aboriginal lives, targeting housing, economic development, health, and water.

Why are these events significant?

The Royal commission was important because it was one of the government's first and most important steps to apologize and reconcile with the Aboriginal people for the ways that they wronged them, also because the government was able to realize they needed to improve their relationship with the Aboriginals before significant movements could be made. The Kelowna Accord is significant because it was one of the larger settlements between the Aboriginals and the government and because this was a stepping stone towards a stronger relationship between Aboriginals and the government.

continuity

The government believed and still does believe that the European way of life is the best way of life and want to do all they can to make sure that people get to live that lifestyle in any way possible. Events that back this up are the residential schools, the numbered treaties and the fur trade.

Change

The Aboriginals during the times of the fur trade believed that they had no voice or power. As history has progressed they have found their voice and power and began to fight for their rights. This has lead to things such as the James Bay Agreement and hunting and fishing rights.

What is Idle No More?

Idle no more is an organization that fights for the indigenous rights and freedoms of Aboriginal peoples across Canada. Their goal is to hold the government accountable to the treaties they signed many years ago.

They use different methods of protest such as hunger strikes, highway blockades, drum chants, and flash mobs. Idle No More has quickly become one of the largest indigenous mass movements in Canadian history.

Factors that started Idle No More

Idle No More was started after the government introduced bill C-45, which would allow large companies to buy reserve lands for industrial use of their natural resources, however, the founding members saw an issue with this as they knew that reserve lands under a treaty could not be bought or sold, so they set out to defend their land rights. Another reason for this starting is to protect reserve lands from future legislation that will harm their indigenous rights.

First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Peoples

Summative Assessment

Idle No More

Reconciliation

Were Aboriginals Treated Fairly?

Aboriginal Interactions

with the Government (Continuity and Change)