Factors that Shape Nationalism First Nations and Metis Nationalism

1. Factors that Shape NationalismFirst Nations and Metis Nationalism • In 1968, Pierre Trudeau wanted to create a fair and equal Canada, so he proposed “The White Paper” policy to help create a “Just Society” • The White Paper Proposal would essentially mark the end of all treaty rights, reserves, and resource rights from Aboriginal people. • Aboriginal people would have the same rights and status as the rest of Canadians. • The Aboriginal community was outraged at the proposal, many First Nations leaders viewed the White Paper Proposal as a method for the government to get out of treaty obligations and to force assimilation on the Aboriginal people

2. Factors that Shape NationalismFirst Nations and Metis Nationalism • The book “The Unjust Society” by Harold Cardinal became a bestseller and inspired heated debates and the “Red Paper Proposal” • Cardinal argues that taking away First Nations rights would be taking away from their National Identity • It reflected on the growing political strengths and desires for self-determination and self-governance of all Aboriginal people • The Book inspired a new determination to promote FNMI national identities

3. Factors that Shape NationalismInuit Perspectives on Nationalism • The political experience of the Inuit people of Canada is different from the rest of the First Nations people. • The Inuit never signed Federal Treaties and were free to follow their traditional ways of life well into the 20th century • However, by the 1930’s the animal populations in the North were diminishing and the Federal Government was forced to relocate many Inuit people to central communities • This created many social problems for the Inuit as they attempted to adapt their traditional ways of life to a modern situation • The desire for self-government was one way the Inuit thought they could fix many of their social problems. • 1999, The Nunavut Land Claim was settled and the new Canadian territory of Nunavut was established for the Inuit as a form of self-governance.

4. Factors that Shape NationalismQuebecois Nationalism • 1759 – The French lose the Battle of the Plains of Abraham • 1763 – Britain assumes control over France’s North American colonies • Since then, the Francophone community has struggled to maintain its’ language and culture with the increasing arrival of English settlers. • The French, even today, struggle with their national identity in an English dominant society.