History of Canada to 1885

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the History of Canada up to 1885, focusing on treaties, Indigenous rights, and colonial policies.

Robinson Treaties

A series of treaties negotiated in 1850 that aimed to define land rights and mineral resources for Ojibwe peoples in Canada.

Indian Act

Legislation passed in 1876 that aimed to control and assimilate Indigenous populations in Canada by defining their legal status and managing Indian reserves.

Mica Bay Incident

A conflict between the Garden River Ojibwe community and the Canadian government regarding land use and mineral rights, leading to the signing of treaties.

Terra Nullius

A legal concept asserting that land not used or occupied could be claimed as empty and unowned, applied in British Columbia to deny Aboriginal land rights.

Metis

People of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, often involved in the fur trade, who faced discrimination and land dispossession in Canadian history.

Assimilation

The process of integrating Indigenous peoples into European Canadian society, shifting their cultural practices towards Eurocentric norms.

Annuity Payments

Payments promised to Indigenous peoples in exchange for land cessions, as stipulated in treaties.

Status Indian

A legal designation in Canada for individuals recognized as members of an Indigenous band under the Indian Act.

Paternalism

An attitude reflecting the belief that Indigenous peoples needed guidance and protection from the government, often justified as for their own good.

Bison Extinction

The near extinction of bison populations in North America due to overhunting and changing land use, impacting Indigenous subsistence patterns.