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First Nations of Canada. DEFINITIONS. Aboriginal – the descendants of the original inhabitants of Turtle Island (North America). Umbrella term used to categorize all people of Indian, Metis and Inuit ancestry into a single entity. Terminology. Crown: refers to the government
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DEFINITIONS • Aboriginal – the descendants of the original inhabitants of Turtle Island (North America). • Umbrella term used to categorize all people of Indian, Metis and Inuit ancestry into a single entity.
Terminology • Crown: refers to the government • Aboriginal: refers to all peoples that are considered to be the first people to inhabit the land. • First Nations: the native people of Canada to replace the word ‘Indian’. • Inuit: the native people of northern Canada • Metis: people who are half First Nations and half European (mostly French) • Band: a body of First Nations who share land.
Terminology …con’t • Reserve: land given to the a group of First Nations in which they can live and govern. • Off-reserve: a term used to describe people, services or objects that are not part of a reserve but relate to First Nations people. • Indian Act: a Canadian legislation first passed in 1876 but amended (changed) several times since. It sets out guidelines, laws, responsibilities, etc... Of both the government and the First Nation’s people. • Status Indian: a person who is registered as an First Nation person under the Indian Act.
Terminology … con’t • Non-status Indian: a First Nation person who is not registered as a First Nation person under the Indian Act. • Treaty Indian: a Status Aboriginal who belongs to a First Nations group that signed a treaty with the crown. • Treaty: an agreement signed between a specific tribe and the crown. • Tribe: a group of First Nations people who lived and worked together. • Urban Reserve: a reserve of land occupied by First Nations in a Treaty that resides in a city.
First Nations • First Nations – new term, referring to the ancestors of the original inhabitants who are classified by the term “Indian”
Health Care • Upon arrival to North America, Europeans brought with them many foreign diseases • First Nations were frequently denied access to health care because they were seen as “Inferior” • First Nation medicine was seen as outdated and often totally banned.
Poverty • The roots of poverty can be traced back to: • Forced Relocation • Destruction of traditional ways of living • Many First Nations people died due to lack of • Shelter • Food • Health Care • Money • On average, 50% of First Nations people living in Canada were living in poverty in 2013.
Employment Barriers • While the white settler tended to view First Nations people as inferior and savage, the First Nations people increasingly viewed the White people with distrust, anger, resentment and fear. • This led to most First Nations people being unable to attain jobs in white society. Increased poverty and deepened the rifts of distrust. • Today, it is estimated that the unemployment rate for First Nations people is double that of the national average and in some areas of the province in Canada the unemployment rate is five to six times higher than non-First Nation people.
The economic disadvantage goes hand in hand with the social problems associated in the daily lives of First Nations.-Annual reported average income for First Nations: $14, 000 - 19,000-Average Canadian income: $27,000
Aboriginal Peoples in the Cities: • Paradox: Isolation of reserves are unattractive for investment and economic growth however, fosters context for aboriginality to flourish. • Push/pull factors. • Seeking power and resource control.
