Collective Rights 101

collective rights 101 A Social St u d ie s 9 Un it P ro j e c t b y Han n ah G u in t o N ovemb er 2012

{

collective rights

W h a t a re th e y ?

Collective rights are rights that are guaranteed to spe cific groups in Canada’s society.

A Canadian holds collective rights be cause he or she belongs to one of these groups.

Which groups hold collect ive rights?

Aboriginal peoples First Nations people whose first Inuit language is French Metis Francophones people whose first Anglophones age is English langu

Why do thes e gro ups hav e coll ecti ve righ ts?

The Aboriginal peoples, Francophones and Anglophones are the founding people of Canada. Collective rights recognize their contribution to Canada’s development.

}

e v i t c e l l o c e r a y h W t n a t r o p m i o s s t h g ri ? s n a i d a n a to all C Collective rights are a significant aspect of Canada, mainly for these reasons: They are a part of the dynamic relationship between the governme nt and the citizens of Canada.

They reflect the idea of mutual respect among peoples.

They affirm the collective identity of those in the three groups mentioned before (the Aboriginals, Francophones and Anglophones ).

They create a society that is united, despite being made up of diffe rent cultures and identities.

Collective identity

the shared identity of a group of people, especially because of a common language or culture

Here’s another reason for the importance of collective rights.

Collective rights have had a great effect on the legislation process in Canada. In fact, they are still continually affecting it today. Turn the page to read more.

Ho w ha ve co lle ct iv e rig ht s im pa ct ed th e le gi sl at io n pr oc es s in Ca na da ? up in Ca nad a’s his tor y, gro one at k loo s let’ n, stio que this lain To hel p exp tive righ ts. the Me tis, and the ir jou rne y tow ard s col lec

A Brief History The Metis are recognized as Aboriginals, one of Canada’s founding peoples, but it had not always been this way. In the past, the Canadian government had expanded its territories into lands that belonged to the Metis. The government felt no need to make agreements with the Metis as the they, at the time, were not considered an Aboriginal people. Of course, the Metis felt that this was unfair. With the leadership of Louis Riel, they began to fight for their rights.

Lou is Riel Lou is Rie l wa s a Me tis. He cha mp ion ed the cau se of bo th Me tis and Fra nco pho ne righ ts and hel ped est abl ish the pro vin ce of Ma nito ba.

Aft er lea din g the Re d Riv er Re sis tan ce and the No rth we st Re sis tan ce, he wa s trie d and hun g for tre aso n in 188 5. Ne ver the les s, he wa s con sid ere d a hero, the “Fa the r of Co nfe der atio n,” and he stil l is tod ay.

1875 - 1879

186 9 - 187 0 Bec ause of the Red Rive r Resi stan ce, the Can adia n gove rnmen t pass ed the Man itoba Act, whic h gran ted 500, 000 hect ares of land to the Meti s.

ti s th e la n d , e M e th g in iv g f In s te a d o th e m s c ri p , d e u s is t n e m rn e th e g o v be exchanged ld u o c t a th ts n e docum r s c ri p w a s fo g in ly p p A . d n fo r la . m is e d v e ry li tt le ro p it d n a lt u c fi d if

n, the a w e h askatc rthwest S n i e l to sett The No onflict . n 5 s a 8 d g n 8 e 1 ans b their la to military c e t p c o r e t u o r As E ht to p nded and led ment. g u o s Metis s fou over n a g w e e h t c n d Resista the Metis an n betwee

A f t e r L o u is R ie l w a s f o u n d g u il t y of t re a s o n . T h e M e t is moved furt her west in t o p re s e n t-day A lb e r t a .

Metis e h t , end e In the to mak e l b a t w e re n ’ e s c r i p , s o th use of d into e v o m they t-day p re s e n e w a n . ch Saskat

1938 A M e ti s - le d a s s o c ia ti o n lo b b ie d A lb e rt a m e n t fo r la n d ’s g o v e r n . T h e M e ti s P o p u la ti o n B e tt e was passed. rm e n t A c t It e s ta b li s h e d 1 2 te m p o ra ry s e tt le m e n ts .

M e ti s H o w e v e r, th e y p ro v e d to b fo r fa rm in g , h e u n s u it a b le u n ti n g o r fi s h in g a n d w e re s o o n c lo s e d .

90 1982 - 19

Af ter lob by ing th e go ve rn me nt , th e Me tis we re fin all y re co gn ize d in Ca na da ’s co ns tit ut ion as an Ab or igi na l pe op le. In Alb er ta, se ve ra l ac ts we re pa ss ed th at gr an ted th e Me tis pe rm an en t se ttl em en ts as we ll as th e rig ht to ma na ge th eir ow n aff air s an d to pa rti cip ate in oil an d ga s de ve lop me nt on th eir lan d.

As you can see, collective rights have had a great effect on the legislation process in Canada. Because of collective rights, laws have been—and are still being—constantly created and changed to adapt to the needs of the groups in Canada’s society. These laws are studied intently and given more thought in order to protect the rights of all peoples in Canada. Collective rights ensure that in every law and government decision, all peoples are considered and respected.

Here are some legislations that establish the collective rights of groups in Canada:

Modern Treaties First Nations

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

(+ Historic Treaties)

Francophones

The Metis

Anglophones

The Inuit

First Nations

Indian Act First Nations

Manitoba Act The Metis

The Metis The Inuit

Collective rights have not only impacted the legislation process.

Over time, they have also shaped Canada as a country and who we are as Canadians. Collective rights make our country unique. They have created opportunities and challenges for us. Learning about collective rights can make us realize how blessed we are to live here in Canada.

Im ag e So ur ce s First Page Image of Aboriginal girl (c) Kevin Frayer | http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/ 2011/12/07/aboriginal-population-forecast.html Image of Rendez-vous de la Francophonie | http://www.international.gc.ca/media/ franco/news-communiques/2012/02/27a.aspx?lang=eng&view=d Image of Canadian girls (c) Pensinger/Getty | http://articles.nydailynews.com/201004-29/entertainment/27063068_1_canadians-health-care-disparities

Second Page Image of First Nations chiefs (c) Tom Hanson | http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ story/2008/06/11/apology-future.html Image of government officials | http://www.adam-humphreys.com/politics/canadianpost-secondary-education-budgets-by-party/

Third Page Image of Metis couple | http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/french_and_metis_ settlements.html Image of Louis Riley (c) Library and Archives Canada | http:// www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/results/images?form=Fed+Results&lang= eng&startRecord=1&sortBy=score+desc&digitalContentInd=1&query=%22 louis+riel%22

collective rights 101 Made by Hannah Guinto