Civics 2020: First Nations in Modern Canadian Society

Despite decades of difficult living conditions under the Indian Act, many, approximately 6,000 Indigenous soldiers from across Canada served in the First World War alone, and thousands more in WWII and the Korean War.
By the late 1940s, social and political changes began to mark a shift for First Nations in Canada.
Several First Nations leaders drew attention to the fact that thousands of their people had fought for their country in both World Wars.
First Nations across the country began to create provincial organizations to express their peoples' desire for equality along with the maintenance of their cultural heritage.

Change of Management

In 1946, a special parliamentary committee of the Senate and the House of Commons reviewed Canada's policies and management of Indian affairs.
For three years, the committee received briefs and held discussions with First Nations, missionaries, school teachers and federal government administrators, which realized the full impact of Canada's assimilation policies.

These hearings were one of the first opportunities First Nations leaders and Elders had to address parliamentarians directly instead of through the Department of Indian Affairs.

First Nations rejected the idea of assimilation into Canadian society and spoke out against the enforced enfranchisement provisions of the Indian Act.
Many groups asked that the "wide and discretionary" powers long held by the government be invested in First Nations chiefs and councillors on reserves.

This way, First Nations could determine their own criteria for band membership and manage their own funds and reserve lands.

The joint committee did not recommend a full dismantling of the Indian Act and its assimilationist policies

However, it did recommend that many of the mandatory, “British North American favouring” elements of the Act be scaled back and that a Claims Commission be established to hear problems arising from the fulfilment of treaties.

Amendments to the Indian Act in 1951 did not bring about sweeping changes to the government's Indian policy that were hoped for by First Nations in Canada. However, some aspects changed for the better.

Some elements of the Act, such as the mandatory enfranchisement policy, were repealed as were the laws that determined Indian status.
In addition, sections of the Act banning the potlatch and other traditional ceremonies, as well as fundraising to pursue land claims, were repealed.

Bands were also given more, but not complete, control over the administration of their communities and over the use of band funds and revenues.
National pension benefits and other health and welfare benefits were to be extended to First Nations.
In 1960, First Nations were at long last extended the right to vote in federal elections, another recommendation of the 1946 joint committee.
First Nations veterans played a big role in this important advance, pointing out that, despite having fought for Canada in two World Wars, they were still deprived the right to vote.
Other improvements for First Nations included the provision of better healthcare services in the mid-1950s.

In addition, many more First Nations children had access to schooling, including secondary and post-secondary education.
In general, however, the living conditions of First Nations still fell far short of the standards of other Canadians