Activity 3 page 2

Explore

The Aboriginal peoples of Canada have lived here for more than 10 000 years, long before Europeans and other immigrants arrived.


Further your investigation of First Nations collective rights by examining the Indian Act.

Read "What is the Indian Act?" on page 137 of your textbook, Issues for Canadians.

How does the Canadian government attempt to affirm collective rights in the Indian Act?

You may use the Sentence Starts in the chart below to record your findings on the Indian Act or you may record the notes in a format of your choice.

Sentence Starters (Word)
Sentence Starters (pdf)
Sentence Starters (Google Doc)

Save your notes or chart to your Activities folder.

Read the news article about the Indian Act and Bill C-61 (First Nations Governance Act) under "Changing the Indian Act" on page 138 of your textbook, Issues for Canadians.

As you read, make point-form notes to identify the implications of changing the Indian Act. Then, consider how changing the Indian Act will have an impact on the citizenship and the collective identity of First Nations people.

Save your notes to your Activities folder.

Going Beyond

Residential schools were for Aboriginal children who were separated forcibly from their families and educated.

To explore further and understand residential schools, read the book, My Name Is Seepeetza. The book is a compilation of journal entries written by Shirley Sterling. She recalls her Grade 6 year at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Workbook Summary

In this workbook, you investigated the following questions.

Why are collective rights important to all Canadians?
How do laws recognize the status of Aboriginal peoples of Canada?
How does the Indian Act recognize the Aboriginal peoples of Canada?

Individual rights are granted to all Canadians in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Collective rights belong to Canadians who are part of a certain group. These rights are given to groups based on historical legislation, and they are recognized and protected by Canada's constitution. Collective rights ensure equality and non-discrimination; they recognize values and the diversity of the distinct identities, cultures, and social organizations of Aboriginals, Francophones, and Anglophones.

The collective rights of Aboriginal peoples are outlined in the Numbered Treaties and in the Indian Act. These collective rights include self-government; regulations pertaining to hunting, fishing, and gathering; collective land rights; and the right to preservation of traditional languages, cultures, and traditions.

Historically, government decisions had an impact on the collective identity of the Aboriginal peoples. Today, the collective rights of the Aboriginals are guaranteed by the Canadian constitution. Aboriginal peoples are recognized in Canada for the value and diversity of their distinct identities, cultures, and social organizations.

In 1876, the Indian Act was passed by the Canadian government. It has been changed many times since it was introduced to the House of Commons. The Indian Act has affected both the collective identity and the collective rights of the First Nations. Although this act was meant to serve as a temporary law, it affects the lives of Aboriginal peoples still today.

In the next workbook, you will investigate the collective rights of Francophones in minority settings and of Francophones in Québec.