History of Indigenous organizations in Canada facts for kids

Indigenous peoples in Canada have always formed their own groups to represent themselves and work together. These groups are often called political organizations. They help speak up for their rights, traditions, and interests. This process has been happening for many centuries.

Early Ways of Organizing

Even before European settlers arrived, Indigenous nations had strong ways of working together.

Ancient Confederacies

The Iroquois Confederacy and the Blackfoot Confederacy are two famous examples. These were powerful alliances of different nations. They worked together on important decisions and to protect their people. Other groups also formed to make agreements, known as treaties, with the new governments that came to Canada.

First Pan-Indigenous Groups

After European settlement, Indigenous peoples continued to form new organizations. These groups often brought together different nations from a wider area.

Groups Across Provinces

• The Grand Indian Council of Ontario and Quebec was created in 1870. It was mainly made up of Ojibway and Iroquois people.
• In 1915, the Allied Tribes of British Columbia was formed by Peter Kelly and Andy Paull. Their main goals were to get fair treaties and suitable land for reserves.
• After World War I, a group called the League of Indians in Canada was started by Fred Ogilvie Loft. He was a Mohawk veteran. This group helped lead to the creation of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Indian Association of Alberta.
• In 1926, the Indian Defense League of America was formed by Chief Clinton Rickard of the Tuscarora people. This group helped Indigenous people with problems crossing the border between the US and Canada. Rickard also organized yearly events to celebrate Indigenous culture and rights.
• The Native Brotherhood of British Columbia was founded in 1931. It worked to protect the rights of First Nations across that province.
• The League of Indians split in 1938. In 1939, the Indian Association of Alberta was formed. After World War II, another group called "The Protective Association for Indians and Their Treaties" was created. They worked to get recognition for Indigenous land rights and control over their traditional territories.

After World War II

New organizations continued to form and grow after the Second World War.

New Groups Emerge

• In 1946, the Union of Saskatchewan Indians was formed. It came from the Protective Association and a new group called the "Association of Saskatchewan Indians."
• In 1945, Andy Paull founded the North American Indian Brotherhood. This group worked to get voting rights for Indigenous people without losing their special Indigenous rights. They also wanted Indigenous people to have the same pensions and welfare as other Canadians.
• In 1956, the Union of Saskatchewan Indians changed its name to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. In 1965, leaders like Walter Deiter and Henry Langan officially registered the federation. Its goals were to protect treaties and treaty rights, help Indigenous people in Saskatchewan grow economically, improve education, and support their social lives.
• In 1969, the Canadian government suggested a new policy called the 1969 White Paper. Many Indigenous leaders, including George Manuel, strongly opposed it. This led to the formation of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. The first meeting in 1969 was organized by Rose Charlie, Philip Paul, and Don Moses.

National Organizations

As time went on, Indigenous leaders saw the need for groups that could represent all Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Forming National Voices

• The National Indian Council was created in 1961. It aimed to represent all Indigenous peoples in Canada, including those with official "status" as Indians, those without status, and the Métis people. However, this organization broke apart in 1967.
• After the split, the non-status and Métis groups formed the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. The groups with official "status" formed the National Indian Brotherhood (NIB).
• The NIB was a national group made up of leaders from provincial and territorial organizations, like the Indian Association of Alberta. It worked to change federal and provincial policies.
• In 1970, leaders like George Manuel, Harold Cardinal, and Dave Ahenakew officially created the National Indian Brotherhood.
• In 1971, the government started a program to help fund Indigenous organizations. The idea was to support three national Indigenous groups and one regional group for each province or territory. This helped these groups talk to the government and develop new leaders.
• The "First National Native Women's Conference" took place in July 1971.
• In April 1982, First Nations chiefs held their first assembly as the "Assembly of First Nations" (AFN) in Penticton, British Columbia. This new structure allowed individual First Nations chiefs to be members and vote, rather than just provincial organizations. This change was officially adopted in July 1985.

Different Views and Challenges

As Indigenous organizations grew, they sometimes faced challenges and different opinions.

Working Through Differences

• One challenge was how to define who was "Indigenous." Some groups, like the Native Brotherhood in British Columbia, represented both status and non-status Indians. Other groups, like the Council of Yukon Indians, also believed that the difference between status and non-status Indians was not important. This meant that sometimes a leader of a "non-status" group might actually have "status," and vice versa.

Organizations by Province and Territory

Many important Indigenous organizations have been formed in specific provinces and territories.

Yukon

• Yukon Native Brotherhood (1968-1979)
• Yukon Association of Non-Status Indians
• Council for Yukon Indians (1973–present, renamed Council of Yukon First Nations in 1995)

British Columbia

• Allied Tribes of British Columbia (1919-1927)
• Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (1969–Present)
• Native Brotherhood of British Columbia (1931–Present)
• First Nations Summit (1992–Present)

Northwest Territories

• Indian Brotherhood of the Northwest Territories (1969, renamed Dene Nation in 1978)

Alberta

• Indian Association of Alberta (1939–Present)

Saskatchewan

• Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, formerly Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (1958–Present)

Manitoba

• Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, formerly Manitoba Indian Brotherhood

Ontario

• Union of Ontario Indians (1949–Present)

Quebec

• Indians of Quebec Association (1968-)

New Brunswick

• Union of New Brunswick Indians (1969–present)

Nova Scotia

• Union of Nova Scotia Indians (1969–present)

Prince Edward Island

• PEI Association of Métis and Non-status Indians, (1973, renamed Native Council of Prince Edward Island in 1978)

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Native Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (1972-1975)
• Federation of Newfoundland Indians (1975-2013)