Another important part of understanding the laws of Canada related to its early beginnings is to understand the unique relationship government has with our third cultural component – the First Nations people that lived on the land that became part of Canada.

Because King George III initially promised to deal with the Aboriginal groups in the newly developing land as a sovereign nation, still today any decision made within Canada must consider whether it impacts First Nations rights and then has a responsibility to consult. It arises in the news often, including some recent events you may have heard of, like:

https://www.facebook.com/wetsuwetenstrong/videos/472608843268486/

You have several questions to research and find responses to. To help some (who’ve missed some classes) to catch up, here are links you could reference.

1. Summarize the Indian Act and its main points.
   • Indian Act Background
   • Development of the Indian Act
2. What was the purpose/intent of the Indian Act? Who contributed to developing it?
   • Timeline of result of Indian Act imposed
   • Dismantling the Indian Act – Macleans
3. What is the fiduciary responsibility of Canada to the Aboriginal peoples who lived in the territories Canada assumed control of? What does it mean in terms of decisions made regarding First Nations in Canada?
   • The Crown’s fiduciary duty with Aboriginal peoples
4. Explain the meaning of the government’s responsibility to “consult and inform” First Nations people. What types of issues did the Federal government have a “duty to consult” them on?
   • Aboriginal Rights and Duty to Consult
   • Government of Canada and duty to consult
5. Identify and summarize two specific events of Canadian history where conflict arose regarding whether consultation and informing between the government and First Nations people happened properly.
   • Conflict on Wet’suwet’en land regarding pipeline development – conflict among people
6. How did the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement (1930) have an impact on First Nations people of Canada?
   • Alberta Natural Resources Act (the three prairie provinces signed a resources act each)
   • Alberta band settles land claims suit 
7. What was unique about the First Nations people of Newfoundland and Labrador once those provinces joined Confederation? How was this resolved, ultimately?
   • Newfoundland Labrador Aboriginal Heritage
   • The Indian Act and people of Newfoundland Labrador
8. Identify the purpose or complaint in the R. v. Geurin (1984) Supreme Court Case and the resulting judgement. How has it continued to impact First Nations of Canada?
   • Summary and background of issue
   • Guerin case
9. Identify the purpose or complaint in Sparrow v. The Queen (1990) court case and the resulting judgement. How has it continued to impact First Nations of Canada?
   • Summary and background of issue
   • Sparrow case
10. What year and under what circumstances could First Nations people first vote in a Canadian election?
    • First Nations Right to Vote Granted
    • Elections Canada History of First Nations Voting
11. There have been many criticisms of the Indian Act over the decades since its development. Identify and explain three of them.
    • Twenty-one things you may not know about the Indian Act
    • Indian Status – why are we still hanging on? (Hayden King article)
    • Is it time to scrap the Indian Act? (Globe&Mail article)
    • The Indian Act – interactive timeline
12. Select and summarize any two recent events involving First Nations groups or communities that connect back to the relationship established with them as a sovereign nation in Canada at Confederation. Include a personal conclusion of how each event has had an additional impact on Canadian development as a whole.
    • Forced Sterilization First Nations Women (Canada)
    • Boil-water advisories on reserve
    • Idle No More – flash mobs protesting lack of consultation w FN people
    • Gerald Stanley trial for Colton Boushie killing – concern over lack of Aboriginal peoples on jury
    • Residential Schools Closed – apologies made on behalf of Canada
    • Sixties Scoop – Aboriginal children adopted out to mostly-white families, some out of country
    • Overrepresentation of First Nations youth in child services care – 52% of youth under 15 in foster care are FN
    • FN children on reserve receive 30% less in education funding than non-FN off reserve
    • Indian Act discriminates against Indigenous women, United Nations finds
    • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women – more than 4000 missing women
    • Indig people overrepresented in Canada’s judicial system, especially women, more likely to be victims of crime

Some positive things are changing with the Canadian government’s relationship with Aboriginal groups in Canada. They’re involved in great economic partnerships and contributing billions of dollars into Canada’s economy. Some of the boil-water advisories in FN communities have been resolved and the rest are expected to be completed by 2021. There is a long way to go, though.