Theme 1 - Section 5
The Constitution Act - Assignment
1. Write a brief paragraph to discuss why you think the Constitution Act of 1982
could be considered a turning point in Indigenous peoples’ history in Canada.
The Constitution Act of 1982 is definitely a turning point in Indigenous peoples
history in Canada. The Constitution Act “recognizes and affirms the “existing” and
treaty rights in Canada” those “rights” protect traditions, activities, practice of the
First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples. The section also provides protection for
Indigenous people for their use of land. The act has definitely helped Indigenous
people recognize their inherent rights and gave them a step forward with their
self-government and being able to claim their lands back and also their culture.
2. Complete the following chart with regard to Indigenous peoples’ rights and
freedoms.
Royal Manitoba Act Indian Act 1867 Constitution Act
Proclamation 1870 1982
1763
Conditions of the Bans settlers from Rights to Assimilate The rights of
Act claiming land from entrusted schools, individuals into a Indigenous people
the aboriginal province status, non-indigenous are included in the
unless its being multilingual worldview and Canadian Charter
sold by the crown. education, and community. of Rights and
adequate Freedoms.
governance with
regard to
Indigenous lands.
Indigenous They It had given the treating It acknowledges
Perspective acknowledge it as Metis respect for Indigenous people that Aboriginal
an important into Indian territory, unfairly and people have rights
the recognition of bilingualism, treating them already in place
them and only the confessional uniformly in a and further
crown is able to schools, and a paternalistic way categorizes those
buy land from more responsible rights into several
them government. groupings.
European The British had It made it removed and Canada was
Perspective seen it as a threat acceptable for destroyed the granted complete
to their mercantile schools to teach in indigenous independence
economic system both French and people's culture, with no longer
English and gave homogenized and needing British
French Canadians converted them to approval.
Indigenous Studies 30
Updated: Dec 2023
the freedom to Christianity, and
fully express imposed
Roman eurocentrism on
Catholicism. them
How did this It had aided in It ensured that the The indigenous They benefited
impact the rights their recognition land that the people were from it since it
of Indigenous and declared that native people forced to express gave them a
peoples in all land was set farmed would be themselves feeling of equality,
Canada? aside for them and titled for them. through structure, and
could not be Providing their governance belonging.
acquired by kids with access because the
others. to 1.4 million government held
acres of complete authority
agriculture as well. over them and
their territory.
3. Watch First Amendment to Canada’s “New” Constitution Concerns First
Peoples.
https://youtu.be/Lvo4GRqh8a0
How were these Indigenous leaders attempting to reassess and reaffirm
Indigenous rights in the Canadian Constitution?
by a draft accord outlining forthcoming meetings pertaining to indigenous rights
Indigenous Studies 30
Updated: Dec 2023
