Chapter 3 charter

• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms


  Part of the constitution that guarantees our rights and freedoms
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ensures our freedom of conscience, freedom of press, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to protest (peacefully)
• democratic rights such as the right to vote and run for office
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides mobility rights such as the right to enter, remain in, and leave Canada, and the right to move and take up residency
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides legal rights such as the right to life, liberty, and security of person, and the right to a fair trial when charged
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides equality rights, ensuring equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination based on sex, age, race, etc.
• English and French are the official languages of Canada, and the government must provide services and education in both languages
• It is important to make the Charter part of the constitution so that the rights and freedoms it guarantees are harder to change or defend against
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a fundamental part of Canada's democratic legal system
• Affirm


  To validate and express commitment to something
• collective rughts

  Rights guaranteed to specific groups in Canadian society for historical and constitutional reasons. These groups are: Aboriginal peoples, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples; and Francophones and Anglophones.
• Sovereignty


  Independence as a people, with a right to self-government.
• First Nations


  The umbrella name for the diverse Aboriginal peoples who have collective rights that are recognized and protected in Canada's constitution.
• Indian


  Europeans used the word Indian to describe the First Nations of North America, although the peoples were diverse and had names for themselves. Many First Nations prefer not to use the word indion to describe themselves.
• Annuity


  An annual (yearly) payment. Under the Numbered Treaties, annuities are mostly symbolic today. For example, the members of Treaty 8 each receive $5.00 per year.
• Reserve


  Land for the exclusive use of First Nations
• Assimilate


  Become part of a different cultural group
• Ethnocentrism


  The belief that one's culture is superior to all other cultures
• Indian Act


  Federal legislation related to the rights and status of First Nations peoples, first passed in 1876 and amended several times
• Anglophone


  A person whose first language is English
• Francophone


  A person whose first language is French
• Official Language Community


  One of the groups in Canadian society whose members speak an official language of Canada (French or English) as their first language
• Official Language Minority


  A group that speaks one of Canada's official languages (English or French) and that does not make up the majority of the population of a province or territory
• Publicly Funded


  Paid for by taxes and provided by government
• Scrip


  In Metis history, a document that could be exchanged for land and that was offered to the Metis at the time the Numbered Treaties were negotiated
• Autonomy


  Authority to make decisions
• Collective Rights


  Rights guaranteed to specific groups because of historical and constitutional reasons
• Groups with collective rights

  • Aboriginals (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit)
  • Francophones
  • Anglophones
• Numbered Treaties


  Historic agreements that affect the rights and identity of some First Nations in Canada
• Numbered Treaties


  • Are agreements between the Queen and First Nations people and are considered sacred
  • Recognize First Nations' rights to land
• Transcontinental Railway


  • Avoided war
  • First Nations people wanted a secure future
• The Royal Proclamation recognized First Nations' rights
• The Indian Act


  • Was the first attempt to protect the collective rights of First Nations'
  • Affirms collective rights of First Nations
  • Created "Indian Agents"
  • Defines "Status Indian"
• The Cdn. government created the Act with no consultation with First Nations' leaders
• Ethnocentrism


  Example of
• Aimed to assimilate


  1. Defined how they were to conduct their affairs (e.g. Band elections)

  2. Restricted right to travel freely, political action, wear traditional dress, traditional ceremonies

  3. Forced to give up legal identity to vote
• Treaty 6 (1876-1899) Terms

  • Health Care
  • Education
  • Hunting and Fishing Rights
  • Reserves
  • Farming Assistance
  • Payments
  • Annuities
  • Special Benefits
• Treaty 7 (1877) Terms

  • Education
  • Hunting and Fishing Rights
  • Reserves
  • Farming Assistance
  • Payments
  • Annuities
  • Special Benefits
• Treaty 8 (1899) Terms

  • Health Care
  • Hunting and Fishing Rights
  • Reserves
  • Farming Assistance
  • Payments
  • Annuities
  • Special Benefits
• Education was mentioned in the written report of the negotiations, but not the written treaty