Q.
Who are the Aboriginal peoples in Canada?
A. They are the descendants of the original
inhabitants of North America. The Canadian Constitution recognizes
three groups of Aboriginal people: Indians (now known as First Nations
people), Métis and Inuit.
These are three distinct peoples with unique heritages, languages,
cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs.
Q. What is Aboriginal self-government?
A. In August 1995, the Government of Canada adopted an approach to
negotiating practical and workable arrangements with Inuit and First
Nation people to implement their inherent right to self-government.
These arrangements recognize the rights of Inuit and First Nation
people to make decisions about matters internal to their communities,
integral to their unique cultures, traditions and languages, and
connected with their relationship to the land and resources.
Under the federal policy, Inuit and First Nation groups may negotiate
self-government arrangements for different things such as government
structure, land management, health care, child welfare, education,
housing, and economic development. Negotiations are held between Inuit
and First Nation groups, the federal government and, in areas affecting
its jurisdiction and interests, the relevant provincial or territorial
government. Self-government arrangements may take many forms, based
on the diverse historical, cultural, political and economic circumstances
of Inuit and First Nation groups, regions and communities involved.
Q. Who are Indians?
A. The term “Indian” collectively
describes all the Indigenous people in Canada who are not Inuit or
Métis. Indian people are
one of three peoples recognized as Aboriginal in the Constitution Act,
1982: Indian, Inuit, and Métis. In addition, three categories
apply to Indians in Canada: Status Indians, Non-Status Indians, and
Treaty Indians. Some people may fit into more than one of those categories.
Some people find the term “Indian” outdated and offensive
and prefer to identify themselves as First Nations people. Although
the term “First Nation” is now widely used, there is no
legal definition for it.
Q. Who are Treaty Indians?
A. Treaty Indians are Indians who are
registered or affiliated with a treaty band and are descendants of
Indians who signed treaties with the Crown.
Q. What are treaty rights?
A. First Nations signed treaties with
various British and Canadian governments before and after Confederation
in 1867. No two treaties are identical, but they usually provide
for certain rights, including reserve lands, annuities (a small sum
of money paid each year), and hunting and fishing rights. Several
treaties also have certain allowances for Chiefs and Councillors
such as salary instead of annual payments, as well as a clothing
allowance of a suit of clothing every three years. Treaty rights
are collective rights that provide for payments to individual Treaty
Indians. The payments depend on the precise terms and conditions
of the treaty signed by her or his First Nation.
Q. What is an Indian band?
A. A band is a group of First Nation
people for whom lands have been set apart and for whom money is held
in trust by the Crown. A band can also be a group or band of Indians
that the Governor in Council has declared to be a band under the Indian
Act. Each band has its own governing band council, usually consisting
of one or more Chiefs and several Councillors who are either elected
or chosen through traditional custom. The members of a band generally
share common values, traditions and practices rooted in their ancestral
heritage. Today, some bands prefer to be known as First Nations.
Q. Who are members of a First Nation?
A. Most Status Indians are members of
a First Nation. However, it is important to note that not all Status
Indians are members of a First Nation. If a Status Indian is a descendant
of members of one of the 253 First Nations that control their membership,
that person has to apply directly to her or his First Nation for membership.
