Native Leaders of the Early Twentieth Century

The Fun Never Stops, 1920-1950

“[P]rior to the 1950’s, Indigenous people’s actions were often presented as the random acts of a naïve and uninformed populace seeking what many considered to be undue political recognition and acceptance of their claims.” 1

1 Yale D. Belanger, “The Six Nations of Grand River Territory’s Attempts at Renewing International Political Relationships, 1921- Yale D. Belanger, “The Six Nations of Grand River Territory’s Attempts at Renewing International Political Relationships, 1921-1924,”1924,”Canadian Foreign PolicyCanadian Foreign Policy 13.3 (2007) p.29-46. 13.3 (2007) p.29-46.

“The essential empirical feature of internal colonialism is the continued subjugation of an indigenous people in a post-colonial independent nation state. Subjugation will in every case involve restriction of use of land and resources as well as varying degrees of administrative supervision, social discrimination, suppression of culture and denial of political and other rights and freedoms.” 2

2 Paul Tennant “Native Indian Political Organization in British Columbia, 1900-1969: a Response to Internal Colonialism,” Paul Tennant “Native Indian Political Organization in British Columbia, 1900-1969: a Response to Internal Colonialism,” BC StudiesBC Studies 55 (1982) p.3-49. 55 (1982) p.3-49.

“Deposing our Chiefs he has no power to do it. Neither anybody else not before our own consent. If we were created among you Europeans we might have to carry your act but we are not this part of the earth. Belong to us people when the Great Spirit create us we are in our happy home.”3

3 Maniwaki Band of Indians Special Meeting, to Deputy Superintendant General of Indian Affairs Department, Ottawa, 10 January 1927, KZ archives.

The Rights Revolution

• Conditions at mid-century (Hawthorn Report)• Red Power in the United States and Canada• The White Paper, 1969• The Red Paper• Aboriginal political organization

Red Power Movement

• Protest activity to 1968• AIM: American Indian Movement (1968)• Alcatraz (1969)• Trail of Broken Treaties (1972)• Native American Embassy (BIA, 1972) and

Native Peoples’ Embassy (Ottawa, 1974)• Wounded Knee II (1973)

In Canada

• 1969: Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy (White Paper)

• Ideological context: Trudeau liberalism• Reaction among Aboriginal people

- NIB’s statement

- the Red Paper

National Aboriginal Organizations

Assembly of First Nations National Indian Brotherhood (1968)

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples

Native Council of Canada (1971)

Inuit Tapirisat Kanatami Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (1973)

Metis National Council Canadian Metis Society (1969)

Native Women’s Association of Canada

National Native Women’s Steering Committee (1971)

The 1970s

• Indian Control of Indian Education• Devolution• Calder Decision (1973)• Federal Claims Policy• Modern Treaties

Claims

• Specific Claim

arises from a breach or non-fulfillment of an historic agreement (such as a treaty or statutory obligation)

• Comprehensive Claim

arises from outstanding unceded Aboriginal right