A HISTORY OF CANADA

Colonialism

Control by one power over another area/people, involving subjugation and exploitation.

Fur Trade

Economic partnership between Europeans and Indigenous peoples focused on trading fur while respecting Indigenous community practices.

7 Years War

Conflict between French and British in North America from 1756 to 1763 over land and resources.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

A resistance led by Odawa war chief Pontiac against British expansion and influence over Indigenous lands.

Royal Proclamation of 1763

British decree stating that lands west of the Appalachian Mountains belonged to Indigenous peoples.

Treaty No. 6

Agreement between the Canadian government and Indigenous nations concerning land and rights, often misinterpreted.

Indian Act 1876

Legislation that shifted power to the Canadian government, treating Indigenous peoples as wards rather than treaty partners.

Enfranchisement

The act of giving up Indigenous status to gain voting rights, often leading to loss of land.

Residential Schools

Institutions aimed at assimilating Indigenous children by forbidding their culture and language, often leading to abuse.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)

A body established to address the history and impact of Indian Residential Schools in Canada.

The Sixties Scoop

The practice of taking Indigenous children from their families for placement with non-Indigenous families.

White Paper 1969

Canadian government policy aimed at abolishing treaties and the Indian Act, viewed as an attempt to assimilate Indigenous peoples.

Cultural Erasure

The systematic removal of Indigenous cultural identities, practices, and languages, particularly through legislation like the Indian Act.

Potlatch

A ceremonial event among Indigenous peoples, serving political and social purposes, banned by the Canadian government.

Child Welfare Calls to Action

Recommendations from the TRC aimed at improving the welfare of Indigenous children and reducing their representation in care.

Language Rights

Rights ensuring preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages and acknowledgment of Indigenous peoples' linguistic heritage.

Justice Reform

Efforts focused on addressing disproportionate incarceration rates of Indigenous peoples and ensuring fair treatment within the legal system.