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1620 | EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF CANADA – THE RECOLLETS
Generations LostThe Récollets – a religious order from France – establish the first residential school, near Quebec City. -
1632 | EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF CANADA – THE JESUITS
The Jesuits, led by Father Paul Le Jeune, are the dominant Christian missionaries in New France. They characterize the First Nations as “savages,” in reports distributed throughout France. -
1755 | GOVERNMENT – FIRST INDIAN DEPARTMENT IS CREATED
The first Indian Department is created in Canada as a division of the British military. -
1755 | GOVERNMENT – FIRST INDIAN DEPARTMENT IS CREATED
The first Indian Department is created in Canada as a division of the British military. -
1763 | GOVERNMENT – THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
The Royal Proclamation of 1763, issued by the British Crown, acknowledges that Aboriginal land rights “…not having been ceded to or purchased by Us, are reserved to them.” -
1763 | EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF CANADA – TREATY OF PARIS
The Treaty of Paris cedes all of France’s North American colonies to England. -
1831 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – MOHAWK INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL
The Mohawk Indian Residential School opens in Brantford, Ontario. -
1844 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – BAGOT COMMISSION
The Bagot Commission releases its report and recommends the establishment of manual labour schools for Aboriginal children. -
1850 – 1870 | GOVERNMENT – ASSIMILATION
Assimilation becomes official government policy. -
1857 | GOVERNMENT – THE ACT TO ENCOURAGE THE GRADUAL CIVILIZATION OF THE INDIAN TRIBES IN THE PROVINCE
The Act to encourage the gradual Civilization of the Indian Tribes in the province, requires that all Indian males over the age of 21 who can speak, read, and write English or French will be “enfranchised,” meaning that they must renounce their Indian status and become a British subject. -
1867 | EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF CANADA – CONSTITUTION ACT
The Constitution Act (also known as the British North America Act) creates the Dominion of Canada which includes Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. -
1869 | EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF CANADA – LOUIS RIEL
Métis leader Louis Riel forms a provisional government in the Red River settlement (Manitoba), and resists Canada’s plans to expand into the settlement without consultation with the inhabitants. -
1872 | GOVERNMENT – ACT RESPECTING THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE DOMINION
The Act respecting the Public Lands of the Dominion encourages European settlement in the prairie provinces by giving 160 acres of land away to any white man who will build a homestead on the land and cultivate at least 40 acres. -
1876 | THE INDIAN ACT – ENACTED
The Indian Act is enacted and gives government exclusive right to create legislation regarding Indians and Indian lands. This Act identifies who is an Indian and establishes related legal rights. -
1879 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – DAVIN REPORT
The Davin Report recommends the creation of a system of industrial schools where children are intentionally separated from their parents to reduce the influence of the “wigwam.” -
1881 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1881)
Amendment – Indian Agents are given the authority to act as justices of the peace on the reserves for which they are responsible. -
1885 | EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF CANADA – RECOGNITION OF LAND AND TREATY RIGHTS IN SASKATCHEWAN
First Nations and Métis, including Louis Riel, Gabriel Dumont, Poundmaker, and Big Bear, fight for the recognition of land and treaty rights in Saskatchewan. Riel and other leaders are hanged for treason. Poundmaker, Big Bear and others are imprisoned. -
1889 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – ALLEGATIONS EMERGE
Allegations emerge of physical and sexual abuse at Rupert’s Land School in Selkirk, Manitoba. -
1890 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – REGINA INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
The Regina Industrial School opens. -
1892 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – FORMAL AGREEMENT TO OPERATE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
The federal government and certain Christian churches enter into a formal agreement to operate residential schools. -
1894 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1894)
Amendment – allows the Governor in Council to establish industrial or boarding schools for Aboriginal children. -
1896 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – SCHOOLS OPERATING IN CANADA
Forty-five residential/industrial schools are operating in Canada. -
1905 | EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF CANADA – DOMINION OF CANADA
Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, and Saskatchewan had joined the Dominion of Canada. Newfoundland and Labrador join in 1949. -
1906 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1906)
Amendment – Aboriginal peoples can be removed from reserves near towns with more than 8,000 inhabitants. -
1907 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – HEALTH CONDITIONS
Medical Inspector for Indian Affairs, Dr. P. H. Bryce, reports that conditions in the residential schools are “dangerous to health.” -
1911 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1911)
Amendment – portions of reserve lands can be expropriated for roads, railways, and other public works, or an entire reserve can be moved away from a municipality. -
1914 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1914)
Amendment – western Aboriginals must seek official permission before appearing in Aboriginal “costume” in any public dance, show, exhibition, stampede, or pageant. -
1918 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1918)
Amendment – uncultivated reserve land can be leased to non-Aboriginals for agricultural uses. -
1920 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1920)
Amendment – hereditary leadership of bands is prohibited. -
1922 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL MODEL IS ABANDONED
The industrial school model is abandoned in favour of residential schools. -
1927 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1927)
Amendment – soliciting funds for Aboriginal legal claims without permission is made illegal. -
1936 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1936)
Amendment – Indian Agents are given the authority to direct band council meetings and can cast the deciding vote should there be a tied vote in an election. -
1940 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – PROVINCIAL CURRICULUM STANDARDS
The federal government begins to apply provincial curriculum standards to residential schools, and to integrate Aboriginal students into regular schools. -
1951 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1951)
Major revisions are made to the Indian Act – women are allowed to participate in band democracy, prohibitions on traditional Aboriginal practices and ceremonies are removed. -
1955 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS AND HOSTELS FOR INUIT STUDENTS
The federal government begins operating residential schools and hostels for Inuit students in the North. -
1958 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – INDIAN AFFAIRS REGIONAL INSPECTORS
Indian Affairs regional inspectors recommend abolishing the Residential School System. -
1960 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – 60 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Approximately 10,000 students are attending 60 schools across the country. -
1961 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (1961)
Amendment – Aboriginals can vote without having to give up their Indian status. -
1969 | GOVERNMENT – PIERRE TRUDEAU
The government, under Pierre Trudeau, issues the Statement of the Government of Canadian Indian policy, or “White Paper”, which calls for the abolition of the Indian Act and the assimilation of Aboriginals into mainstream Canadian culture. -
1970 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – BLUE QUILLS RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL
Blue Quills Residential School in St. Paul, Alberta, is the first school to come under First Nations control. -
1979 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – 12 RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS ACROSS CANADA
Roughly 1,200 children are enrolled in 12 residential schools across Canada. -
1980 – 2000 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – ELEVEN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS ARE STILL OPERATING
Eleven residential schools are still operating – 10 are federally controlled, one is band controlled. -
1982 | EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF CANADA – CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
The government enacts the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a part of the Constitution Act, which protects Canadians from discrimination on eleven grounds. -
1986 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – UNITED CHURCH ISSUES A FORMAL APOLOGY
The United Church issues a formal apology for their participation in the Residential School System. -
1990 | BREAKING THE SILENCE – THE OKA CRISIS
The Oka Crisis, between the Mohawk Nation and the town of Oka, Quebec began on March 11, 1990, and lasted until September 26, 1990. It would be the first of a number of well-publicized violent conflicts in the late 20th century between Indigenous people and the Canadian government. -
1991 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – CATHOLIC MISSIONARY OBLATES OF MARY IMMACULATE ISSUE A FORMAL APOLOGY
The Catholic Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate issue a formal apology for their participation in the Residential School System. -
1993 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – ANGLICAN CHURCH ISSUES A FORMAL APOLOGY
The Anglican Church issues a formal apology for their participation in the Residential School System. -
1994 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ISSUES A FORMAL APOLOGY
The Presbyterian Church issues a formal apology for their participation in the Residential School System. -
1995 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS
A former supervisor at the Alberni Indian residential school pleads guilty to 16 counts of indecent assault against students and is sentenced to 11 years in prison. Across Canada, arrests and convictions of former residential school staff and officials continue into the 2010s. -
1996 | GOVERNMENT – FINAL REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
The Final Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, a 4,000 page document, is released. It calls for the public inquiry into the effects of the residential schools on generations of First Peoples. -
1998 | GOVERNMENT – GATHERING STRENGTH: CANADA’S ABORIGINAL ACTION PLAN
The federal government issues Gathering Strength: Canada’s Aboriginal Action Plan which is “designed to renew the relationship with Aboriginal people of Canada.” -
1999 | EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF CANADA – NUNAVUT
Formerly part of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, meaning “our land” in Inuktitut, becomes Canada’s third and largest territory. -
2000 | GOVERNMENT – LEGACY OF HOPE FOUNDATION
The Aboriginal Healing Foundation establishes the Legacy of Hope Foundation. -
2004 | GOVERNMENT – STANDING COMMITTEE ON ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT
A motion from the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development calls for a comprehensive response to the residential schools resolution. -
2005 | GOVERNMENT – KELOWNA ACCORD
The Kelowna Accord, a series of agreements affecting education, employment, and living conditions is negotiated between the federal government, provinces, territories and five national Aboriginal organizations. This agreement was never enacted. -
2006 | GOVERNMENT – INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
The federal government, legal representatives of former students, the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit representatives, and the churches sign the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. -
2008 | GOVERNMENT – FEDERAL APOLOGY
Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologizes to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis for the residential school system. -
2009 | RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM – POPE BENEDICT XVI EXPRESSES “SORROW”
Pope Benedict XVI expresses “sorrow” about the abuse of residential school students during a private meeting with Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. -
2010 | GOVERNMENT – FIRST NATIONAL EVENT
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission hosts its first national event, in Winnipeg. -
2011 | THE INDIAN ACT – AMENDMENT (2011)
Bill C-3 the Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act came into force. Eligible grandchildren of women who lost status as a result of marrying non-Indian men become entitled to Indian status.
Timelinelhfadmin2020-02-20T15:04:42-05:00