Indigenous Rights, Legislation, and Resistance in Canada

What term was used by the Supreme Court in 1939 to classify Inuit people?

They were considered 'Indians' so they could receive federal financial support.

What significant recognition did the 1982 Constitution of Canada provide?

It recognized the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada.

What was the purpose of the special census conducted by the federal government in 1941 for Inuit people?

To identify Inuit people, who were made to wear a small disc around their necks.

What organization works to ensure Inuit consultation regarding their rights?

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

What does the term 'Metis' historically refer to?

Descendants of unions between French-Canadian fur traders and Indian women, later extended to include descendants of English fur traders.

What is the MNOC definition of Metis established in 2002?

A person who self-identifies as Metis, has historic Metis Nation ancestry, is distinct from other Aboriginal Peoples, and is accepted by the Metis Nation.

What legal status do Metis people hold according to recent court decisions?

They are recognized as a 'rights-bearing group' similar to status Indians.

What term is now commonly used to describe people previously known as status or registered Indians?

First Nations.

When did the term 'First Nations' come into common use?

In the early 1980s with the transformation of the National Indian Brotherhood into the Assembly of First Nations.

What does 'enfranchisement' refer to in the context of Indigenous status?

Legally giving up Indian status, often to appear more educated or through intermarriage.

Who are Non-Status Indians?

Individuals who lost their legal status as Indians through enfranchisement provisions.

What did the Supreme Court of Canada rule in 2016 regarding non-status Indians and Metis people?

They are considered 'Indians' under the constitution.

What did Bill C-31, amended in 1985, accomplish?

It eliminated enfranchisement provisions and reinstated certain individuals who lost their Indian status.

What social implications has Bill C-31 not resolved?

It has led to a complex 'caste system' under the Indian Act.

What forms of resistance have Indigenous peoples maintained against settler colonialism?

Cultural and religious practices, rights to hunt and fish, and appeals for land rights.

What political bodies emerged post-1960s to advocate for Indigenous rights?

Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

What was the focus of the Politics of Recognition for Indigenous peoples?

Self-determination, cultural distinctiveness, and recognition of inherent rights.

What contemporary movement protested against federal attacks on Indigenous sovereignty?

Idle No More (2012-2013).

What was the goal of the Wet'suwet'en protests in 2020?

To oppose the Coastal GasLink pipeline through traditional territory.

What cultural expressions have been used by Indigenous artists to convey resistance?

Music, storytelling, and performance by artists like A Tribe Called Red and Tanya Tagaq.

What is the purpose of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC)?

To create a historical record of the residential school system in Canada.

What are the 94 Calls to Action?

Recommendations made by the TRC to address the legacy of residential schools and promote reconciliation.

Define cultural genocide in the context of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

A systematic, government-sponsored attempt to destroy Aboriginal cultures and languages and assimilate Aboriginal peoples.

What is one way the Indian Act maintained systemic inequality for Indigenous populations?

It denied women status, which affected their rights and recognition.

What was the impact of residential schools on Indigenous children?

Children were removed from their families and often experienced abuse, leading to intergenerational trauma.

How did the Indian Act restrict First Nations' freedoms?

It restricted First Nations from leaving reserves without permission from an Indian Agent.

What does the term 'decolonization' mean?

The repatriation of Indigenous land and life, not merely a metaphor for social improvements.

What is a significant health disparity faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada?

Tuberculosis rates among First Nations peoples living on reserves are over 50 times higher than non-Indigenous Canadians.

What role does an intersectional approach play in understanding Indigenous issues?

It considers the overlapping effects of gender, social class, and other identities on Indigenous experiences.

What is the significance of the quote by Justice Murray Sinclair regarding reconciliation?

It emphasizes that reconciliation is a long-term process, not a one-time event.

What does the TRC say about the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples?

It states that a mutually respectful relationship has not yet been established.

What systemic barriers did the Indian Act impose on Indigenous political organization?

It forbade First Nations from forming political organizations.

How did the Indian Act affect Indigenous cultural practices?

It forbade First Nations from speaking their native languages and practicing their traditional religions.

What does the term 'reconciliation' entail according to the TRC?

Establishing and maintaining a respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.

What does the Indian Act say about the sale of alcohol and ammunition to First Nations?

It prohibited the sale of alcohol and ammunition to First Nations.

What is the impact of systemic inequalities on Indigenous women?

Indigenous women are four times more likely to be victims of violence compared to non-Indigenous women.

What does the Indian Act allow regarding the expropriation of reserve lands?

It allows the government to expropriate portions of reserves for public works.

What is the significance of the 'band council' system imposed by the Indian Act?

It imposed a governance structure that undermined traditional Indigenous leadership.

What does Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang argue about decolonization?

They argue that decolonization is not a metaphor and must focus on Indigenous sovereignty.

What historical context does the TRC address regarding Indigenous children?

The removal of Indigenous children from their families to attend residential schools.

How does the Indian Act control First Nations' economic activities?

It created a permit system to control their ability to sell products from farms.

What does the TRC highlight as necessary for true reconciliation?

Awareness of the past, acknowledgment of harm, atonement, and action to change behavior.