The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

The history of Canadian Departments who concern themselves in Indigenous issues dates back to 1755 when the British army created its first Indian Department in the Canada as an attempt to maintain military alliances with Indians. In 1830 the Indian Department was transferred from British military to civilian government control. In 1868, the Indian Branch was placed under the control of the Department of the Secretary of State of Canada and in 1880 Indian affairs was given its own department. Indian Affairs continued to jump around to different areas of the Canadian federal government in the 19th and 20th century. (Titley, Brian. pg. 1-2) For example in 1936, the Department of Indian Affairs was made a branch of the Department of Mines and Resources and transferred again to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration in 1949.

The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada (DIANC) was formed in 1966 as a federal department responsible for the development of policies pertaining to First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Northern communities. In November 2015, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada became Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). INCA mission statement is “Working together to make Canada a better place for Indigenous and northern peoples and communities.” The responsibilities of the INAC include Indigenous self-government, economic development, improved quality of life, efficient management of Indigenous land, resources and money, and northern development. (Indigenous. Northern Canada) The INCA mandate uses multiple sources for the claim to the Indigenous peoples of Canada. For example Canadian Constitution, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act, and Indian Act. Until the mid-20th century, Canadian Indian policy, managed by federal departments before INAC and DIANC, centered on assimilating Indians, and controlling those who did not assimilate so that they would not impede non-Native development. (Dacks, Gurston. 2006) Today, the focus is on fostering the self-sufficiency of First Nations by developing their economic strength, improving social conditions on reserves, and settling comprehensive and specific land claims. One major parts of the INACs contribution to Indigenous communities is through the First Nations Infrastructure Fund (FNIF). The FNIF was introduced in 2007 to improve the quality of life and the environment for First Nation communities. It is a targeted fund that accepted proposals for community projects under for Planning and Skills Development, Solid Waste Management, Roads and Bridges, Energy Systems, Connectivity. Starting in 2016-2017, budget 2016 proposes an additional $255 million in funding over two years to the First Nation Infrastructure Fund. (Indigenous. Northern Canada)

In tandem with the INACs responsibilities to the indigenous peoples of Canada the INAC plays a key role in the development of northern Canada. Canadas north makes up 40% of Canadas land mass and is an area of great economic opportunity. The Canadian Government and INAC looks to ensure that Northerners and all Canadians benefit from the tremendous natural resource potential of the region. Part of INAC's mandate in the North is significant including resource, land and environmental management responsibilities. They play a direct role in the political and economic development of the territories and share significant responsibilities for science, land and environmental management. (Indigenous. Government Canada) The department's role in North has undergone changes over the past couple decades. Once responsible for delivering government services to the North, territorial and provincial governments now provide the majority of social programs and services to all Northerners, including Indigenous peoples. (Dacks, Gurston. 2006)

DACKS, GURSTON. 2006. "Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Department of." Oxford Companion To Canadian History 308-309. America: History and Life with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed April 10, 2017).

Titley, E. Brian. 1986. A Narrow Vision : Duncan Campbell Scott and the Administration of Indian Affairs in Canada. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.

“Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.” Government of Canada. https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100010002/1100100010021 (accessed April 10, 2017)

“Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-affairs-and-northern-development-canada/ (accessed April 9, 2017)

British North America Act 1867

The Constitution Act, 1867 originally enacted as The British North America Act 1867 lies at the heart of Canada’s constitution. The British North America Act was enacted on March 29, 1867 by the British Parliament which created union between three of Great Britain’s colonies. Negotiated by Sir John A. Macdonald and the other Fathers of Confederation, The British North America Act was passed by Britain's Parliament and Queen Victoria. (BNA. Britannica) On July 1, 1867 the British North America Act came into force and brought the two provinces of Canada known as Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into dominion under the name of Canada. After that day, those three provinces formed under one Dominion as Canada. Canada was divided into four provinces, named Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The provinces of Upper Canada and Lower Canada separated into their own provinces with new names. Upper Canada shall constitute the province of Ontario and the part which formerly constituted as the province of Lower Canada shall constitute the province of Quebec. (BNA. American Journal) Under the British North America Act a provision was made that the other colonies and territories of British North America might be admitted. Even though Canada formed a new federal state with a parliamentary system, power and control still lied within Britain. The Executive Government and authority for and over Canada continued to be vested in the Queen. In the preliminary stages of the British North America Act it states, “And whereas such a nation would conduce to the welfare of the provinces and promote the interests of the British Empire.” British interest and control continued to be prominent during the union of Canada. (BNA. American Journal)

The British North America act defines much of the operations of the Canadian Government, including its federal structure, the House of Commons, the Senate, the justice system, and the taxation system. New power and responsibly was given to Federal and Provincial governments outlined in the British North America Act.

Federal Responsibilities

• The Public Debt and Property.
• The Regulation of Trade and Commerce.
• The Raising of Money by any Mode or System of Taxation.
• Postal Service.
• Militia, Military and Naval Service, and Defense.
• Navigation and Shipping.
• Currency and Coinage
• Banking, Incorporation of Banks, and the Issue of Paper Money
• Bankruptcy and Insolvency
• Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians
• Naturalization and Aliens
• Marriage and Divorce
• The Criminal Law

Provincial Responsibilities

• Direct Taxation within the Province in order to the raising of a Revenue for Provincial Purposes.
• The Management and Sale of the Public Lands belonging to the Province and of the Timber and Wood thereon.
• The Establishment, Maintenance, and Management of Hospitals, Asylums, Charities,
• Shop, Saloon, Tavern, Auctioneer, and other Licences in order to the raising of a Revenue for Provincial, Local, or Municipal Purposes.
• Local Works and Undertakings
• The Solemnization of Marriage in the Province.
• Property and Civil Rights within the Province.
• The Administration of Justice in the Province
• Generally all Matters of a merely local or private Nature in the Province.

“A Three-Minute Guide to the BNA Act, 1867.” Human Rights in Canada: A Historical Perspective. http://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/historical-perspective/en/browseSubjects/bnaguide.asp (accessed April, 9 2017)

Numerous amendments and changes have be made to the British North America Act 1867 and the provinces who form under the dominion of Canada. The British North America Acts 1867–1975 are series of Acts at the core of the constitution of Canada which make revisions and add to the British North America Act 1867. For example Rupert's Land and the North-West Territories were acquired for the new Dominion of Canada government from the Hudson's Bay Company and their British investors in 1868. (BNA. Britannica) In 1871 the power for the parliament of Canada to admit or erect new provinces into the Dominion of Canada was extended by the British North America Act 1871. (BNA 1871. American Journal) During that time the provinces and colonies of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia admitted into the dominion of Canada. Under the British North America Acts, a total of 12 provinces and territories have become a part of the dominion of Canada.

“The British North America Act." The American Journal of International Law 4, no. 1 (1910): 39-67

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"The British North America Act, 1886." The American Journal of International Law 4, no. 1 (1910): 70-71.

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“British North America Act.” Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/British-North-America-Act (accessed April 11, 2017)

Jean Chrétien

Joseph-Jacques-Jean born January 11, 1934 was Canada's twentieth Prime Minister. Jean Chrétien was a Canadian Lawyer and a Liberal Party Politician who served as the Prime Minster of Canada from 1993-2003 during three terms. Chrétien was born into a working-class family in Shawinigan, Quebec, and educated at St-Joseph Seminary in Trois-Rivières and at Laval University. Chrétien practiced law from 1958 to 1963, when he was elected to Parliament. Chretien has a long political career in Canada. He sat in Parliament for a total of twenty seven years. Chretien’s first political accomplishment came in 1963 when he won election to the House of Commons as a Liberal. (Bothwell, Robert. 2006) He ran for parliament with very poor English speaking proficiency. Early in his political career he served in Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson's Cabinet as parliamentary secretary, then later in 1968 was appointed as the parliamentary secretary under Mitchell Sharp who was the Minister of Finance. Later that year in 1968, Pierre Trudeau was elected as Liberal leader and Prime Minister. Chrétien participated in many different roles during his political career. Trudeau appointed Chrétien as Minister of National Revenue. Under Trudeau Chrétien held the title as President of the Treasury Board from 1974–1976, Minister of industry, trade, and commerce from 1976–1977, and the first French Canadian minister of finance from 1977–1979. (Jean Chrétien. Encyclopedia)

One of Chrétien’s important positions during his time under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, was as Minister of Indian Affairs and Norther Development. During his time as Minister of Indian Affairs he proposed a number of reforms to Canadian Indigenous peoples. One of his major contributions to Indian Policy and the Indigenous peoples of Canada was through what is called the 1969 White Paper. Officially entitled, Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian policy, was a policy presented to Parliament in 1969. The core of the White Paper proposed to end discriminatory practices and viewpoints towards the Indigenous peoples of Canada. The Canadian government promised to end Canada’s discriminatory Indian policy, repeal the Indian Act, do away with the Department of Indian Affairs and abolish previous legal documents pertaining to Indigenous peoples in Canada. Also to give control of Indian lands to Indian bands and terminate Indian treaties. (Tobias, John. 2006) It was also made clear that it would not recognize any Aboriginal rights or Aboriginal title. Chretien and Trudeau faced a large amount of criticism and the 1969 White Paper was terminated in 1970. However the White Paper sparked a movement that increased political awareness regarding the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

Chrétien first ran for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in 1984, but was defeated by John Turner. Chrétien subsequently left politics in 1986, returning to private law practice but returned in 1990 as Leader of the Liberal Party. In 1993 Chrétien won the majority government and became Canadas Prime Minister. Chretien served three terms as Prime Minster of Canada and under Chrétien, the Liberals won three consecutive majority governments due to his vast political experience. Major accolades were prominent with Chretien. Chrétien led a cautious and fiscally conservative government, restoring federal finances after 20 years of deficits by cutting into sensitive government programs. Chretien eliminated the deficit and lowered the federal debt by the late 1990s that been around since the 1970s. By 1997-98, the federal government recorded its first annual surplus in 28 years. (Bothwell, Robert. 2006) In 1995, Quebec held a second sovereignty referendum. Parti Québécois, which was governing Quebec at the time looked for withdrawal from Canada. The end results were very close with the “No” vote for referendum winning with 50.58% of the vote. Following Quebec’s referendum attempt Chrétien took several steps to counter future Quebec sovereignty movements. He passed a bill in the House of Commons recognising Quebec as a distinct society with French background. (Jean Chrétien. Encyclopedia) In 2003 Chretien stepped down as prime minister and was succeeded by Paul Martin.

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