The history of infringement of human rights upon First Nations people in Canada was in existence prior to the formal implementation of the Indian Act of 1876. A document has been designed to promote understanding and discussion around the legislated history of First Nations people, and how it relates to the celebration of human rights in 1998.
This document can be used at a variety of grade levels to support the provincially prescribed and shared learning outcomes. For example, provincially prescribed learning outcomes for social studies grades 4 to 7 are that students will demonstrate an awareness of the history of Aboriginal people's rights and demonstrate an appreciation of individual rights and social responsibilities in various cultures. Shared learning outcomes are that the Indian Act has had, and continues to have, a profound effect on Canada's Aboriginal Peoples.
THE STATEMENTS BELOW REPRESENT ONE OF THE CONTRAVENTIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH THE INDIAN ACT DURING THE 50 YEARS
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UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ARTICLE 2 |
INDIAN ACT CONTRAVENTION |
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Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms, set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opionion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional, or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self governing or under other limitation or sovereignty. |
First Nations children placed in residential schools were not permitted to speak their own language. If they did speak their language they were punished. Parliament outlawed the potlatch. The potlatch was the major social, economic and political forum used by First Nations people. From 1884 to 1951, it was a criminal offence for Natives to practice their traditional culture in the form of feasts, potlatches and sundances. From 1884 to1906 Parliament passed the Indian Advancement Act promoting the dismantling of traditional forms of governance. |
The document by Nella Nelson, Coordinator of First Nations Educations for School District #61 and Diane Silvey, First Nations Skills Deveiopment Teacher at Blanshard School, has been developed as a response to the celebration of 50 years of human rights in Canada, and to provide the public with an opportunity to review the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in relation to the First Nations people of Canada.