Tid Bits

These Tid Bits are fast facts about the leadership and ideas of Canada’s Aboriginal People.

• Many Aboriginal People argue that the right of Aboriginal sovereignty and self-determination should not be determined by the federal government, that it is a gift given to them from the Creator.
• Bill C-31 was passed so that sexual discrimination in the Indian Act would be amended.
• The National Indian Brotherhood, formed in 1968, ceased to exist by 1982 and was replaced by the Assembly of First Nations, which represents approximately 15 Aboriginal organizations.
• The Assembly of First Nations focuses on constitutional issues and self-government and seeks to represent the wishes of several Aboriginal groups.
• The Prairie Treaty Nations Alliance represents Aboriginal Peoples from Treaties 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10.
• The United Treaty First Nations Council is pri marily concerned with treaty issues.
• The Assembly of First Nations was developed by Chiefs to reflect the sovereignty of Aboriginal People.
• The Assembly of First Nations takes the political position that Aboriginal People have the right to self-government and that this right is inherent. The Assembly of First Nations believes that in order for First Nations people to have self-government, they must also have sovereignty and self-determination over political, economic and cultural institutions.
• Aborigina l women's political views were first brought to the forefront in the early 1970s after sex discrimination within the Indian Act was challenged in the Supreme Court.
• Edmonton , Alberta held the first national Aboriginal women's conference in 1971.
• The Native Women's Association of Canada held its first national assembly in 1974 and it represented women who base their identity on self-identifying criteria. The Native Women's Association of Canada membership includes women who are non-status, status, and Métis.
• The Native Women's Association of Canada has a political mandate that includes promoting Aboriginal women's interests, women's educational and occupational opportunities, child welfare, environmental issues, maintenance of Aboriginal women's cultures' arts and crafts, as well as issues surrounding drug and alcohol abuse.
• The Native Women's Association of Canada represents Aboriginal women's groups from all provinces and territories with the exception of Newfoundland as it has no provincial Aboriginal women's organization.
• The Assembly of First Nations bases its membership on legal distinctions versus membership based on self-identifying criteria.
• The Native Women's Association of Canada is primarily concerned with the constitutional protection of Aboriginal women's rights and Aboriginal self-government.
• Many Métis people speak Michif that is a unique language that combines Cree nouns and French verbs.
• Alberta was the only province to keep records of Métis inhabitants.
• There are approximately 60,000 Métis living in Alberta.
• There are eight Métis settlements or colonies in Alberta.
• The development of the Métis Nation began in colonial New France.
• Métis settlements were grouped in twelve communities: Buffalo Lake, Cold Lake, East Prairie, Elizabeth, Fishing Lake, Gift Lake, Kikino, Marlboro, Paddle Prairie, Peavine, Touchwood, and Wolf Lake.
• Paddle Prairie is the largest Métis Settlement in Alberta.
• Métis were recognized for the first time in Canadian history in the 1982 Constitution. They were defined as Aboriginal people. This changed the perspective of many Métis people themselves.