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For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples governed their own land, resources and property rights within different national territories. The property rights were subject to the responsibilities placed on them by the Creator to protect the land.

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Self-governance continued as European and Indigenous relations were friendly and commercial. Many treaties were signed where Indigenous people retained their complete independence as sovereign nations and ownership of land and resources, referred to as “friendship treaties.”

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More European settlers in Canada and reserves were created by the Canadian government. During this period, Indigenous people were left to govern themselves internally, they continued to follow their traditional political system and laws

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Indigenous communities opposed the creation of the Indian Act and the permission it gave for the Canadian government to replace traditional Indigenous governments with new systems of elected chiefs and band councils. Many communities did not follow the act and continued their right to self-government even without recognition by the Canadian government.

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First Nations peoples in Canada are granted the right to vote without conditions.

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In 1968, elected president of the Indian Association of Alberta. Harold was a Cree chief and leader known as a prominent leader against the White Paper 1969, and was also a writer for indigenous issues (wrote Citizens Plus, also known as The Red Paper a counterpoint to White Paper).

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In 1969, the government introduced a policy called “White Paper”, which suggested removing the Indian Act with the purpose of assimilation Indigenous people into mainstream Canadian society. The removal of this act also removed special rights and cultural distinctions for Indigenous people. In response to this, many indigenous nations created Citizens Plus/Red Paper asserting their rights and rejecting assimilation. Due to the strong fight back the government received, White Paper was withdrawn and became a unifying moment for Indigenous peoples

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Nisga’s Nation was the first to take legal action against the government and assert their land rights in the case: Calder V. Attorney- General of British Columbia. For the first time the court recognized the “Aboriginal Title” which is the right Indigenous people have to their traditional lands, as a legal right.

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President of the Congress of Aboriginal People from 1976 - 1981. He became the leader of Supreme Court case: Daniels v Canada, ultimately recognizing that Métis and Non-status Indian people should be considered “Indian” under the Constitution Act 1876.

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With the partition of the constitution Indigenous leaders lobbied for constitutional recognition of Indigenous people and their land rights which led to the inclusion of section 35  in the Constitution Act 1982 where Indigenous people were defined as those who were First Nations, Métis and Inuit and also protecting Indigenous land rights specifically with the inherent right for self governance.

Quote: “The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.”

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Indigenous leader and politician, active in land claim process from the 70s - 80s (including final land settlement of the Inuvialuit land claim in 1984).

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First Indigenous judge in Manitoba, and second in Canada, and Commissioner of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.

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Any indigenous rights that existed before 1982 are recognized and protected unless they were extinguished, the government can only infringe these rights if it meets strict conditions of the Sparrow Test.

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Senator Len Marchaud, the first First Nations MP and cabinet member advocated for electoral reform to ensure Indigenous representation

- Chaired The Committee for Aboriginal Electoral Reform which called for guaranteed Indigenous electoral districts for more Indigenous representation in government

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Anishinaabe activist who challenged discrimination against Indigenous women in the Indian Act. Her activism led to the passing of Bill C-31, which attempted to remove all discrimination in the Indian Act

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Became the first Indigenous female to lead a provincial or territorial government by being the premier of the Northwest Territories in 1994.

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The Delgamuukw case took the British Columbia government to court to assert their Aboriginal title to traditional lands. This legal action helped restore Indigenous peoples' right to self-govern their land and also forced the courts to recognize oral history and Indigenous law as valid evidence in the case

Quote: “...by acknowledging the decision-making authority Aboriginal nations have over their communally-held Aboriginal title lands, the Court did recognize the inherent right of self-government by necessary implication.”

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The creation of Nunavut as a separate territory represented a major achievement in Indigenous self-government, giving Inuit people greater control over their traditional lands.

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2007: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission 

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2007: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission 

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Created from “The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement” and Collected testimonies from 6500 residential school survivors. The establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission marked a crucial step in addressing the legacy of residential schools and promoting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

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Idle No More was a protest against Bill C-45 introduced by Steven Harper’s Conservative government, formerly known as the Jobs and Growth Act, which affected over 60 acts, including The Indian Act. Indigenous communities and activists argued it would remove their rights as it would make it easier for government or businesses to push projects without a strict environmental assessment and diminish Indigenous authority. The movement gained lost support around Canada and grew more awareness of environmental concerns and Indigenous rights. The founders started the protest by posting online, but it quickly became larger, through rallies and even flash mobs. A trek to Ottawa began in the James Bay Cree community of Whapmagoostui, Quebec, towards Parliament Hill, where the Trek grew to 400 people and thousands of supporters at Parliament Hill met them. Bill C-45 remained in place, but was an achievement for Indigenous peoples as it sparked national and international concerns and a push for Indigenous rights

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2015: Truth and Reconciliation Commission 

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2015: Truth and Reconciliation Commission 

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Released a final report in 2015, including 94 calls to action for the government. The Government of Canada accepted the report and has committed to working with Indigenous leaders to work towards these calls to action.

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Canada passed the Indigenous Languages Act, UNDRIP Act (2021), and other reforms to advance Indigenous rights. The Indigenous Languages Act supports the protection, promotion, and revitalization of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis languages. It provides funding and creates a Commissioner to help Indigenous communities preserve their languages and culture. UNDRIP is an act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.