How Establishing Canada affected the First Nations people
The 19th century was characterized by an increasing urgency to expand exploration into the
interior of Canada.
The federal government, in the name of the Queen, subsequently made treaties with the Indian
people. In the treaties, the government promised to set aside reserves of land for the Indians
and to acknowledge existing rights.
In exchange the Indians were required to "cede, release, surrender, and yield" the specific
territory and resources involved, to pledge allegiance to the Crown, and to keep the peace.
Among Indian leadership it was intended that the original peoples would retain selfgovernment and other pre-existing structures.
In making treaties, the main goals of the federal government were:
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to acquire legal title to western and northern lands for farming, railways, mining and
other types of development;
to populate the west peacefully with immigrant farmers;
to keep the costs of westward expansion at a minimum, and to avoid wars with the
original inhabitants;
to stop American expansion into Canada's western and northern territories, and to
protect these territories; and
to respond to Indian requests for treaties and treaty benefits.
The territories acquired by the British under the Treaty of Paris (1763) were set down in The
Royal Proclamation, 1763. The proclamation set guidelines for dealing with Indian treaty
negotiations and formed the basis of the British government's legal requirements for Indian
treaties. The Royal Proclamation guaranteed:
1. Indian hunting grounds would be preserved (until treaties were signed);
2. Indian peoples would be protected against fraud by private individuals;
3. the British Monarch held exclusive right to enter into negotiations with Indian peoples;
4. treaty negotiations between the British Monarch and Indian peoples would be conducted at
public assemblies; and
5. Indian treaties would be the result of the British Monarch negotiating and purchasing Indian
hunting grounds from the Indian peoples. (Price, p.7).
Before a treaty was formally made and signed, commissioners appointed by the government
travelled to the territory in question to meet with the Indian people. At these meetings all
groups were given the opportunity to express their concerns and to make their requests.
The main goals of the Indian negotiators were:
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
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to ensure the physical survival of Indian nations;
to keep peaceful relations with the Canadian government through ongoing
relationships of equality and respect.
to affirm the ongoing cultural and spiritual survival as distinct Indian tribes and nations,
by preserving distinctive traditions and institutions.
Points to Remember:
Aboriginal peoples have Aboriginal rights which derive from their presence in Canada and use
of the land long before the European colonization of Canada. However, the Canadian courts
have been willing to recognize only some of these Aboriginal rights, and to a limited extent
only.
between First Nations and the Crown. The exact nature of these rights is often in dispute
because of differences between the written text and text transmitted through oral tradition.
these constitutionally protected rights are subject to some government regulation.
Aboriginal peoples have struggled throughout Canada's history for recognition of their
Aboriginal and treaty rights. In many cases, federal and provincial governments and Canadian
courts have been unreceptive to Aboriginal claims. For example, in the 1960s the Supreme
Court of Canada held that the federal government did not have to respect promises made in
treaties by the Crown. Therefore, at that time, hunting rights guaranteed in treaties could be
ignored if the federal government passed a law prohibiting hunting
How Establishing Canada affected the First Nations people
The 19th century was characterized by an increasing urgency to ______________________ into
the interior of Canada.
The federal government, in the name of the Queen, subsequently made treaties with the Indian
people. In the treaties, the government promised to set aside _____________________for the
Indians and to acknowledge___________________.
In exchange the Indians were required to "__________, _______________,
_________________, and y_____________" the specific territory and resources involved, to
pledge allegiance to the Crown, and to keep the peace.
Among Indian leadership it was intended that the original peoples would retain
___________________ and other pre-existing structures.
In making treaties, the main goals of the federal government were:





to acquire ____________ title to western and northern lands for___________,
________________, ___________________ and other types of development;
to populate the west peacefully with __________________farmers;
to keep the costs of westward expansion at a_________________, and to avoid wars
with the original inhabitants;
to stop ____________________expansion into Canada's western and northern
territories, and to protect these territories; and
to respond to Indian requests for treaties and treaty______________.
The territories acquired by the British under the Treaty of Paris (1763) were set down in
_______________________________, 1763. The proclamation set guidelines for dealing with
Indian treaty negotiations and formed the basis of the British government's legal requirements
for Indian treaties.
The Royal Proclamation guaranteed:
1. Indian __________________would be preserved (until treaties were signed);
2. Indian peoples would be protected against _____________________by private individuals;
3. the ______________________held exclusive right to enter into negotiations with Indian
peoples;
4. treaty negotiations between the British Monarch and Indian peoples would be conducted
at____________________________; and
5. Indian treaties would be the result of the British Monarch negotiating and
________________________Indian hunting grounds from the Indian peoples.
Before a treaty was formally made and signed, commissioners appointed by the government
travelled to the territory in question to meet with the Indian people. At these meetings all
groups were given the opportunity to express their ___________________and to make
their______________________.
The main goals of the Indian negotiators were:



to ensure the ___________________of Indian nations;
to keep peaceful relations with the Canadian government through ongoing
relationships of ________________and______________.
to affirm the ongoing ______________and ________________survival as distinct Indian
tribes and nations, by preserving distinctive traditions and institutions.
Points to Remember:

Aboriginal peoples have Aboriginal rights which derive ________________________
______________and use of the land ________________the European colonization of
Canada. However, the Canadian courts have been willing to recognize only some of
these Aboriginal rights, and to a limited extent only.

Indian peoples also have_____________________, which are rights provided for in the
treaties made between First Nations and the Crown. The exact nature of these rights is
often in dispute because of differences between the written text and text transmitted
through oral tradition.

Existing Aboriginal and treaty rights are protected under____________________;
however, these constitutionally protected rights are subject to some government
regulation.
Aboriginal peoples have struggled throughout Canada's history for recognition of their
Aboriginal and treaty rights. In many cases, federal and provincial governments and Canadian
courts have been unreceptive to Aboriginal claims. For example, in the 1960s the Supreme
Court of Canada held that the federal government did not have to respect promises made in
treaties by the Crown. Therefore, at that time, hunting rights guaranteed in treaties could be
ignored if the federal government passed a law prohibiting hunting