- In 1969, the government began to examine a new approach to its Indian policy based on the view that all Canadians held the same rights regardless of ethnicity, language or history.
- The government believed that the "special status" of First Nations and Inuit had disadvantaged them and prevented them from integrating into Canadian society. As a result, the government created a policy known as the White Paper.
- This paper called for:
- A full repeal of the Indian Act
- An end to federal responsibility for First Nations and termination of special status
- The movement of responsibility for Indian affairs to provincial governments, which would then administer services for First Nations
- An equitable way to bring an end to treaties
- First Nations overwhelmingly rejected the White Paper, because there was no consultation with the First Nations people who would be directly affected.
- While the Indian Act was seen as overbearing and controlling over the rights of Indigenous people, the Act still protected special Indigenous status and rights within Confederation
- Due to the negative reactions, the government withdrew the White Paper in 1971.
- The government's White Paper led to the creation of a new form of Indigenous nationalism.
- First Nations leaders from across the country united in new associations and organizations determined to protect and promote their peoples' rights and interests.
- These organizations proposed their own policy alternatives.
- The Indian Association of Alberta, for example, argued in a paper entitled Citizens Plus that Indigenous peoples held rights and benefits that other Canadians did not.
- First Nations leaders argued that their people were entitled to all the benefits of Canadian citizenship, in addition to special rights deriving from their unique and historical relationship with the Crown.
- The federal government slowly began to change in response.
- For example, they withdrew all government agents from reserves and began to fund Indigenous political organizations.
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
The White Paper
Labels:
Indigenous Affairs
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