annuity - an annual payment under the numbered treaties, annuities are most symbolic now

assimilate - become part of a different cultural group

entrenching - fixing firmly within

ethnocentrism - the belief that one's culture is superior to all other cultures

Indian Act - federal legislation related to the rights and status of First Nations peoples ("status Indians"), first passed in 1876 and amended several times

Numbered Treaties - Eleven agreements signed between the Canadian Monarch and the First Nations people with the purpose of providing Canada with the freedom to move west and north

patriate -  To assume control of (a governmental power) from a former mother country.

reserve - land for the exclusive use of First Nations

sovereignty - independence as a people,  with a right to self-government

The Indian Act - 1876

Numbered treaties that outline the protection and collective rights of the First Nations people

Created the job of "Indian Agents" who decided how to interpret and enforce the treaty rights

Laws were created without consultation with the First Nations people even though they were impacted by these laws.  This confirmed the European belief in ethnocentrism

Defined who may be registered as a "status Indian".  In other words, Europeans got to decide who was and was not status

As an assimilation process the act outlined:

• • How First Nations would conduct their own band affairs, even if it was not what was traditionally done

  • Restricted their right in politics, travel freely, participate in cultural ceremonies and wear traditional clothing

  • For those who wanted to vote, they had to give up their treaty rights

Both the government and the Indigenous people agree that amendments need to be made to the current act, but no real consesus has been agreed upon as to what needs to be done.

In Google Classroom, open the assignment Treaty 6, 7, 8. Using the links provided respond to the questions in the document Treaty Research Organizer. While you find information, share some of these details on the posters that have the questions:

• Date

• Geographical Location

• What was promised?

Ignorance  is lack of knowledge or information. 

Think about things you have a lack of knowledge of. Share it with your desk partner. 

Here are a few quotes to reflect on:

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”

― Daniel J. Boorstin

“A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one's own ignorance.”

― Niccolò Machiavelli 

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

“There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.”

― Socrates

On a sticky note respond to the following questions

1. Thinking about the Indian Act and what you have learned about treaties?

2. Do you feel you are ignorant about the topic? Explain.

3. What do you think you need to learn more about, related to the Indian Act or treaties? 

4. What other questions do you have about the Indian Act or treaties? What are you confused about?

Now that you have had a bit of time to reflect on the treaties, the people they impacted, what the people were promised, and what has happened in history to indigenious peoples, what other questions do you have or would like more clarication on?