The 1960s… Important times

1. The 1960s… Important times • Suffrage: • In 1960, aboriginal peoples were finally given the right to vote • The White Paper, 1969 • Until 1960, Aboriginal peoples living on reserves were did not have the right to vote, own land individually, or consume alcohol. • Enfranchisement was encouraged, this meant that in order for an aboriginal to vote and have rights as a Canadian citizen, they would have to lose their “Indian status and the right to live on the reserve” • In 1968, PM Trudeau and Indian Affairs Minister Jean Chretien wanted to make changes to the reserve system… subsequently, a policy paper was introduced by the CAN gov’t called the White Paper

2. The White Paper II • The White Paper proposed the abolition of reserves and the end of special status treaty for aboriginals • The premise was that equality (or non-discrimination) was needed in order for a solution for the problems aboriginals, there was a notion that by giving “special status” major difficulties had occurred • Solution: Assimilate native peoples into the mainstream culture – to be “citizens like no other” • This was rejected by the aboriginal community, they viewed it as potential “cultural genocide” • Harold Cardinal (President of Indian Association of Alberta, 1968-77) stated that this idea of conformity would be an easy out for the government (my words not his) • He was a strong proponent of the protection of aboriginal culture in Canada.

3. The White Paper III • In response to the White Paper, two organizations were formed: • The National Indian Brotherhood (NIB): this organization was formed to represent the Status Indians • Native Council of Canada: created to represent non-Status Indians and Metis • Due to the reaction of these, and other aboriginal organizations caused Trudeau’s government to withdraw the white paper in 1971…

4. The 1970s… Land Claims • During the ‘70s the federal government funded programs to support local government initiatives among aboriginal peoples • The Office of Native Claims(1974), was created to deal with the issue of land rights • Despite these measures, the federal government did not contribute as much to the development of aboriginal peoples in the 1970s as it did for the general Canadian population • In response, the NIB – now referred to as the Assembly of First Nations – stepped up its efforts to work towards and demand better conditions for aboriginal peoples in Canada (1980)

5. Assembly of First Nations II • The new office of Native Land Claims dealt with both specific land claims and comprehensive land claims • Specific Land Claims: Based on existing treaties • Comprehensive Land Claims: based on traditional use and occupancy • Comprehensive land claims usually occur in areas where no land treaties have been signed • As a result of all the work the Assembly of First Nations put into raising awareness among aboriginal peoples, aboriginal rights became more recognized, and hundreds of land claim submissions have occurred • Declaration of First Nations, 1975: • Adopted to include the rights of nationhood and self-government within the Assembly of First Nations.