Introduction to Indigenous Studies

This document provides an overview of various acts and treaties related to Indigenous rights in Canada. It discusses the Royal Proclamation of 1763, Act for the Better Protection of the Lands and Property of Indians in Lower Canada, British North America Act, and more. The document explores the historical context, impact, and relationship between the Indigenous people and the British Crown.

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO INDIGENOUS STUDIES
Introduction to Indigenous Studies
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1INTRODUCTION TO INDIGENOUS STUDIES
A) Royal Proclamation, 1763
i) The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was intended to make the proper guidelines for the
settlement of the European people in the several aboriginal territories in Canada. This
proclamation was initially issued by George III.
ii) Most of the critics have found that the Royal Proclamation of 1763 could be considered
as an elemental document for recognizing the rights of the aboriginal people in Canada. The
rights of the self-determination have also been declared in the Royal Proclamation as well.
iii) The relationship between the Indian people and the British Crown has been an interesting
one indeed. This proclamation has always been in favor of protecting the rights of the aboriginal
people.
iv) These terms of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 could be taken as a token for the
protection of the common aboriginals of the country. The settlers will only be allowed to occupy
the lands after they have taken the proper permission from the British Crown.
B) Act for the Better Protection of the Lands and Property of Indians in Lower Canada,
1850
i) The implementation of this act had not been very useful for the Indian aboriginals in the
Lower Canada. This act had very rightly denied the rights of the aboriginal people regarding the
issue of the rights of the lands held by the indigenous people in the country.
ii) The act had been made in order to control the rights of the Indian aboriginal people in
Canada about the use of the lands and resources. This act was all about the people who could
claim the status of the Indian aboriginal people in Canada. The nature of the self-government of

2INTRODUCTION TO INDIGENOUS STUDIES
Canada has been declared in this act as well. Some legislative foundations regarding the
condition of the aboriginal Indians in Canada has also been declared in this act.
iii) In this act, the federal government of Canada has been able to measure the status of the
Indian aboriginal people. The connection between the Indian people and the Crown is not that
much good in the sense that being recognized as an Indian was dependent on their blood.
iv) This act has been seen as a legislative framework for controlling the rights of the
aboriginal Indians in the Canada. The rights of the Indian aboriginal people on the lands and
resources have been discussed and regulated in this act.
C) British North America Act, 1867 and Sec 91 (24)
i) In this act the relationship between the British Crown and Metis people has been
discussed. This act had intended to make some legislative reforms regarding the Indians and the
lands owned by the Indians.
ii) The jurisdiction of the Metis people and the legislative framework have often been
mistaken for a number of reasons indeed. It has been seen that there have been several
difficulties regarding the management of the aboriginal people of Canada and the British Royal
Crown.
iii) The relationship between the Metis people and the federal government has been clarified
in this section 91 (24). The scope of using the term ‘Indian’ could not be identified on the basis
of the term being used in the Act of 1867. The provincial governments in some of the states of
the country have not been enough interested in making some solutions for the economic
difficulties of the Metis people.

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iv) It can be concluded that this act had not been that much helpful for the well being of the
indigenous Metis people of Canada.
D) Act for the at Gradual Enfranchisement of Indians and Better Management of Indian
Affairs, 1869
i) This act was being implemented for strengthening the Gradual Civilization Act made
earlier in 1857. This act had been taken into consideration to assimilate the native people with
the Indian aboriginal people of Canada.
ii) It had been said according to the act that the persons belonging to one quarter of the
Indian blood could be taken into the status of ‘Indians’.
iii) The British Royal Crown had made some important decisions regarding the traditional
tribal forms of the indigenous and aboriginal Indians in the best ways. The individual band
members could make the choices of becoming land holders with the help of the location tickets.
iv) It can be concluded that the Gradual Enfranchisement Act had worked to help the
aboriginal Indians get their rights by the assimilation process with the native people of Canada.
E) Rupertsland and North-Western Territory Order, 1870 and Term 14
i) This act came into practice in 1870 and this act intended to capture the North-Western
territories of Canada. The Hudson Bay Company had transferred the North-Western territories
and the Rupert’s Land to the Canadian Government. Thus it had become the North West
territories.

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ii) It has been assumed that the North Western territories of Canada almost occupied 34% of
the land. The borders of Ontario had to be extended to set up these territories. In this context, the
Manitoba province had been created. Apart from Ontario, the borders of Manitoba were alaos
extended as well.
iii) More than 90% of the people living in the North Western territories were the aboriginal
people. They were mostly the Metos, Inuit, Cree, Yellow Knife and others. The relationship
between the Royal Crown and these aboriginal people had been quite good since these territories
provided the habitation for them.
iv) It can be concluded that these things could be much helpful for giving the facilities to the
several aboriginal people of the country.
F) Manitoba Act, 1870 and Sec 31
i) Through this act, Manitoba had been included in the Canadian jurisdiction as the fifth
province of the country. The struggle between the indigenous people of the Red River Colony
and the federal government of Canada for the self-determination has been discussed in this act.
ii) In this act the proper protection for the people of the region of Metis has been discussed
properly. However, the proper protection for these people could not be realized at all since the
many people of the region had to leave the place and began to live in the North Western
territories.
iii) As the protection of the Metis people was the main purpose of this act it can be said that
the Metis people, consisting of the European fur traders were given the option by the federal
government to make the proper facilities.

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iv) Thus it can be said that this was a good initiative to protect the rights of the indigenous
Metis people by the federal government from the harms.
G) Numbered Treaties
i) The Numbered Treaties are the series of the consecutive 11 treaties that had made
between the Royal Crown and the indigenous people of Canada between the timeframe of 1871
and 1921.
ii) These treaties were much helpful for providing the Crown with the land for the settlement
of white people and development of the industries. The Federal Government had made many
promises to the indigenous people in exchange of their traditional territories.
iii) The promises were being made by the negotiators from the government by both oral and
written texts in the treaties. The promises were like distribution of the fishing and hunting tools,
payments in cash, farming tools and such things. These things were quite alluring for the
indigenous people. These treaties do indeed have long lasting impact on the indigenous
communities-both positive and negative.
iv) The topic can be concluded by saying that these treaties did have some socioeconomic
impacts on the indigenous communities and this could be treated as one of the landmark
achievements regarding the relationship between the indigenous communities and the federal
government.

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