ORGANIZING FOR ABORIGINAL RIGHTS

1912-1951Chapter 8

WORLD WAR ONE• many First Nations

volunteered to fight for Canada

• no accurate records on total numbers but estimated 4,000 Status Indians and as many non-Status and Metis

• First Nations women also contributedo Red Cross societies and

other charitable organizations

o collected clothes, money, food

McKENNA-McBRIDE COMMISSION• to resolve the “Indian

Problem”o to visit each First Nations

community in BC, consult on amount of land required, and assign additional reserves

o result – did make new reserves, but also removed valuable lands from certain reserves cut-off lands – most in

urban areas where property had great economic potential

November 2008, the remaining cut-off claims were settled

• 1913 Duncan Campbell Scott to control DIAo intention to complete full assimilation of “Indians” into

mainstream Canadao 1914 drafted an Order-in-Council that if decisions in McKenna-

McBride Commission were accepted by the courts, the First Nations of the province would surrender and extinguish all title in return for whatever compensation the governments deemed adequate

vehement protest against the Order-in-Council Nisga'a and interior tribes met with federal cabinet, but

didn't represent all BC so no action taken

THE ALLIED INDIAN TRIBES• new province-wide organization in

response to McKenna-McBride Commission

• 2 main leaders – Andrew Paull (Squamish) and Peter Kelly (Haida)

• took on new battle -> enfranchisement – choosing to renounce Indian status for Canadian citizenshipo 1918 amendment to Indian Act

made it easier to become enfranchised

o previously the band had to agree, now a man only had to go to the Superintendent-General and say he did not follow “the Indian mode of life”

o not enough for Scotto wanted DIA to enfranchise

individuals or bands without consultation or consent

o 1920, Bill 14 to legalize enfranchisement of adult Indians and to force First Nations children between ages 7-15 to go to school

o key sign of enfranchisement was educationo great outcry from First Nations and Allied Indian Tribes – why

couldn't be full citizens and vote and still hold lands and statuso parliamentary committee investigated – law not repealed but

never put into practice• Commission completed 1916 and act passed 1920 to implement recommendationso Allied Indian Tribes resisted and 1923, petitioned government o August 1923 federal officials to BC to meet with Allied Indian

Tribeso Kelly presented case and it was promised to be taken to cabineto still needed another petition

• 1926 Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commonso investigated issue of land claims and Aboriginal titleo committee recommended yearly payment $100,000 for technical education, hospital and medical, promotion agriculture, and irrigation projects

government already had obligation to provideo Kelly noted actually admitted land claims in BC

• Parliament decided First Nations organization too powerfulo new amendment to Indian Act 1929

criminal act for First Nations to try achieve recognition of Aboriginal title or pursue Aboriginal rights illegal to raise money to pursue land claims illegal to hire lawyer to pursue land claims illegal to meet to talk about land claims

PROSECUTING THE POTLATCH• criminalization of potlatch one of most

significant in attempts to assimilateo but not enforced until Duncan

Campbell Scott as Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs

changed crime to “summary offence”

didn’t have to be before judge, but justice of peace

• established RCMP posts in “trouble spots”

• Alert Bay as turning point for prosecuting chiefs and Elderso 1921 potlatch in Kwakwaka’wakw

became test case for legislationo many arrested, 20 to prisono Scott declared potlatch dead, but

only went underground

NATIVE BROTHERHOOD OF BC• Allied Indian Tribes folded, but

still work to do• 1930s Native Brotherhood of BC

o organize northern communities for better social, physical and economic conditions

o first meeting signed petition to federal government

requested revisions for hunting and trapping, fish for food without permits

• many more communities joined and it became powerful lobby for Aboriginal rightso also became union in fishing

industry

• met its goals to improve liveso helped First Nations become eligible for Old Age Pension and Family Allowanceo worked to improve medical and education on reserveso lobbied to allow First Nations children to attend public schools

WORLD WAR II• more than 3,000 Status

Indians and as many metis and non-Status volunteered to serve

• many enlisted men and women lost Indian status by volunteeringo told must enfranchise

before enlisto encourage to drop status

to receive veterans’ benefits

SGT. Thomas George Prince – one of Canada’s First Nations’ decorated soldiers

• primary benefit – Veterans’ Land Act gave low-interest loans of $6,000 to buy agricultural land or invest in fishing

o portion was forgivable $2,320o Act revised 1942 to deal with Status Indians returning to reserves

land reserve could not be sold – not eligible for loan could receive grant ($2,320), but controlled by Indian Agent

some did not receive money held in trust – required paperwork and delays to process long waits for applications, some not accepted some leave to get jobs in US, other enfranchise – loss of rights unclear

told could apply for loan off reserves, but were afraid of losing statuso Metis and Non-Status also had difficulty getting veterans’ benefits

didn’t know full benefits or only received partial

• World War II gave new outlook on world and possible role in ito often considered equal by non-Aboriginalo broadened understanding of different countries and cultureso returned to become leaders in communities

• until 1994 could not participate in Remembrance Day ceremonies as group – only as individuals

o now could lay wreath for Aboriginal veterans and could march as a group

POST WAR DEVELOPMENTS• provincial and federal governments

slowly changed relationship with Aboriginal peopleo in BC able to vote 1949 (Chinese

1947, Japanese 1949)o federal able to vote 1960o 1949, Frank Calder first Aboriginal

elected to BC provincial legislature seat in Atlin 1949-1956, and

1960-1979 first Aboriginal cabinet minister founding president Nisga’a

Tribal Council• 1951 major changes in Indian Act

o most discriminatory laws dropped – anti-potlatch law and ban on land claims

o women right to vote in band council elections