ORGANIZING FOR ABORIGINAL RIGHTS 1912-1951

1. ORGANIZING FOR ABORIGINAL RIGHTS 1912-1951 Chapter 8

2. WORLD WAR ONE • many First Nations volunteered to fight for Canada • no accurate records on total numbers but estimated 4,000 Status Indians and as many non-Status and Metis • First Nations women also contributed • Red Cross societies and other charitable organizations • collected clothes, money, food

3. McKENNA-McBRIDE COMMISSION • to resolve the “Indian Problem” • to visit each First Nations community in BC, consult on amount of land required, and assign additional reserves • result – did make new reserves, but also removed valuable lands from certain reserves • cut-off lands – most in urban areas where property had great economic potential November 2008, the remaining cut-off claims were settled

4. 1913 Duncan Campbell Scott to control DIA • intention to complete full assimilation of “Indians” into mainstream Canada • 1914 drafted an Order-in-Council that if decisions in McKenna-McBride Commission were accepted by the courts, the First Nations of the province would surrender and extinguish all title in return for whatever compensation the governments deemed adequate • vehement protest against the Order-in-Council • Nisga'a and interior tribes met with federal cabinet, but didn't represent all BC so no action taken

5. THE ALLIED INDIAN TRIBES • new province-wide organization in response to McKenna-McBride Commission • 2 main leaders – Andrew Paull (Squamish) and Peter Kelly (Haida) • took on new battle -> enfranchisement – choosing to renounce Indian status for Canadian citizenship • 1918 amendment to Indian Act made it easier to become enfranchised • previously the band had to agree, now a man only had to go to the Superintendent-General and say he did not follow “the Indian mode of life” • not enough for Scott • wanted DIA to enfranchise individuals or bands without consultation or consent

6. 1920, Bill 14 to legalize enfranchisement of adult Indians and to force First Nations children between ages 7-15 to go to school • key sign of enfranchisement was education • great outcry from First Nations and Allied Indian Tribes – why couldn't be full citizens and vote and still hold lands and status • parliamentary committee investigated – law not repealed but never put into practice • Commission completed 1916 and act passed 1920 to implement recommendations • Allied Indian Tribes resisted and 1923, petitioned government • August 1923 federal officials to BC to meet with Allied Indian Tribes • Kelly presented case and it was promised to be taken to cabinet • still needed another petition

7. 1926 Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons • investigated issue of land claims and Aboriginal title • committee recommended yearly payment $100,000 for technical education, hospital and medical, promotion agriculture, and irrigation projects • government already had obligation to provide • Kelly noted actually admitted land claims in BC • Parliament decided First Nations organization too powerful • new amendment to Indian Act 1929 • criminal act for First Nations to try achieve recognition of Aboriginal title or pursue Aboriginal rights • illegal to raise money to pursue land claims • illegal to hire lawyer to pursue land claims • illegal to meet to talk about land claims

8. PROSECUTING THE POTLATCH • criminalization of potlatch one of most significant in attempts to assimilate • but not enforced until Duncan Campbell Scott as Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs • changed crime to “summary offence” • didn’t have to be before judge, but justice of peace • established RCMP posts in “trouble spots” • Alert Bay as turning point for prosecuting chiefs and Elders • 1921 potlatch in Kwakwaka’wakw became test case for legislation • many arrested, 20 to prison • Scott declared potlatch dead, but only went underground

9. NATIVE BROTHERHOOD OF BC • Allied Indian Tribes folded, but still work to do • 1930s Native Brotherhood of BC • organize northern communities for better social, physical and economic conditions • first meeting signed petition to federal government • requested revisions for hunting and trapping, fish for food without permits • many more communities joined and it became powerful lobby for Aboriginal rights • also became union in fishing industry

10. met its goals to improve lives • helped First Nations become eligible for Old Age Pension and Family Allowance • worked to improve medical and education on reserves • lobbied to allow First Nations children to attend public schools

11. WORLD WAR II • more than 3,000 Status Indians and as many metis and non-Status volunteered to serve • many enlisted men and women lost Indian status by volunteering • told must enfranchise before enlist • encourage to drop status to receive veterans’ benefits SGT. Thomas George Prince – one of Canada’s First Nations’ decorated soldiers

12. primary benefit – Veterans’ Land Act gave low-interest loans of $6,000 to buy agricultural land or invest in fishing • portion was forgivable $2,320 • Act revised 1942 to deal with Status Indians returning to reserves • land reserve could not be sold – not eligible for loan • could receive grant ($2,320), but controlled by Indian Agent • some did not receive money • held in trust – required paperwork and delays to process • long waits for applications, some not accepted • some leave to get jobs in US, other enfranchise – loss of rights unclear • told could apply for loan off reserves, but were afraid of losing status • Metis and Non-Status also had difficulty getting veterans’ benefits • didn’t know full benefits or only received partial

13. World War II gave new outlook on world and possible role in it • often considered equal by non-Aboriginal • broadened understanding of different countries and cultures • returned to become leaders in communities • until 1994 could not participate in Remembrance Day ceremonies as group – only as individuals • now could lay wreath for Aboriginal veterans and could march as a group

14. POST WAR DEVELOPMENTS • provincial and federal governments slowly changed relationship with Aboriginal people • in BC able to vote 1949 (Chinese 1947, Japanese 1949) • federal able to vote 1960 • 1949, Frank Calder first Aboriginal elected to BC provincial legislature • seat in Atlin 1949-1956, and 1960-1979 • first Aboriginal cabinet minister • founding president Nisga’a Tribal Council • 1951 major changes in Indian Act • most discriminatory laws dropped – anti-potlatch law and ban on land claims • women right to vote in band council elections