History of Canada to 1885: Key Concepts and Vocabulary

This set of flashcards focuses on key terms and concepts related to Canadian history, specifically around the establishment of treaties and the impact on Indigenous communities.

Robinson Treaties

Treaties signed in 1850 that established land boundaries and compensation for the Ojibwe communities.

Indian Act

A Canadian law enacted in 1876 that defined the legal status of Indigenous peoples and governed many aspects of their lives.

Mica Bay Incident

A conflict involving the Garden River Ojibwe community that highlighted issues of land rights and mineral rights.

Terra nullius

A legal concept meaning land that is unowned or unoccupied, used in the context of colonization.

Status Indian

A term used in the Indian Act to define individuals recognized as members of recognized Indigenous groups in Canada.

Métis

People of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, particularly within Canada, who have unique cultural identities.

Annuities

Regular payments made to Indigenous peoples as part of treaty agreements in exchange for land.

Colonization

The act of settling and establishing control over Indigenous lands, often involving the displacement of Indigenous peoples.

Assimilation

A policy aimed at integrating Indigenous peoples into Euro-Canadian culture and society, often at the cost of Indigenous identities.

Mixed heritage

An individual of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous ancestry who faces challenges regarding identity and legal recognition.