Timeline: Indigenous Political & Historical Achievements in Canada (1800s-Present) by Marlee Nefsky https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc Explore the significant milestones and achievements of Indigenous peoples in Canada, highlighting their resilience, leadership, and ongoing fight for rights and recognition. When talking about Indigenous people, individuals often think of the tragedies and discrimination they have faced in Canada. While this is true, their community has also contributed lots of political and historical achievements. We must support and educate individuals about these achievements, as often, Indigenous history is only looked at from a negative standpoint. For too long, Indigenous voices have been pushed aside in Canadian history, but acknowledging their achievements, like the affirmation of treaty rights, victories in the courts, and growing political representation, restores dignity and pride within communities. It empowers Indigenous youth by showing them that their culture, governments, and leaders have always been strong and continue to shape the future. Celebrating these successes also challenges stereotypes, educates non-Indigenous Canadians, and supports reconciliation by highlighting that Indigenous peoples are not just part of the past, but key to Canada’s progress today. To honour Indigenous political and historical achievements, action is needed at all levels. Locally, schools and communities must include specific lessons that talk about Indigenous achievements, which can be achieved throughout the following timeline. Politcally, governments must uphold treaty rights, support self-governance, and follow through on reconciliation commitments. Globally, Canada should promote Indigenous rights, leadership and achievements. These actions help build respect, pride, and a more just future. en-us 2025-06-03 16:00:08 UTC 2025-06-11 02:03:06 UTC hello@padlet.com Pre - European Contact 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597269 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.

]]> 2025-06-03 16:00:09 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597269 1700 - 1793: Friendship Treaties 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597270 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.”

]]> 2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597270 1763–1867 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597272

  •  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 

    • ]]>     2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597272     1876: The Indian Act 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597273 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.

    ]]>     2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597273     1968 - 1969: Harold Cardinal 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597274 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).  

    ]]>     2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597274     1969: The White Paper 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597277 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 

    ]]>     2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597277     1973: Calder v. British Colombia 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597281  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.

    ]]>     2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597281     1999: Creation of Nunavut 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597282 2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597282 2012: Idle No More 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597283 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

    ]]>     2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597283     Late 1970's - 1982 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597285 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.”

    ]]>     2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597285     1984: Nellie J. Cournoyea 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597286 Indigenous leader and politician, active in land claim process from the 70s - 80s (including final land settlement of the Inuvialuit land claim in 1984).


    ]]>     2025-06-03 16:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3477597286     1976 - 1981: Harry Daniels 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481551863 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.

    ]]>     2025-06-06 15:40:20 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481551863     Late 1980's : Murray Sinclair 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481561218 First Indigenous judge in Manitoba, and second in Canada, and Commissioner of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.

    ]]>     2025-06-06 15:54:41 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481561218     1990: Musqueam Nation V. Canada, 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481563662 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.

    ]]>     2025-06-06 15:58:39 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481563662     1990: Senator Len Marchaud 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481567110 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

    ]]>     2025-06-06 16:02:44 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481567110     Early 1990's: Jeannette Corbiere Lavel 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481569398 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


    ]]>     2025-06-06 16:05:18 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481569398     1994: Nellie Cournoyea 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481576127 Became the first Indigenous female to lead a provincial or territorial government by being the premier of the Northwest Territories in 1994.

    ]]>     2025-06-06 16:15:06 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481576127     1997: Delgamuukw v. British Colombia 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481577462 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.”


    ]]>     2025-06-06 16:16:53 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481577462     2007: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481720128 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.

    ]]>     2025-06-06 21:40:15 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481720128     2015: Truth and Reconciliation Commission 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481721447 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.


    ]]>     2025-06-06 21:45:00 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481721447     2021: Government Action 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481723355 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.


    ]]>     2025-06-06 21:52:07 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3481723355     1960: The Right to Vote 348587767 https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3483884286 First Nations peoples in Canada are granted the right to vote without conditions.

    ]]>     2025-06-09 21:54:30 UTC https://padlet.com/348587767/vhmpjoeczqizjeyc/wish/3483884286