Indigenous Realities and Resistance · Term 2

The Numbered Treaties: Spirit and Intent

Students investigate the concept of 'Spirit and Intent' versus the literal legal text of the Numbered Treaties.

About This Topic

Indigenous Sovereignty and Petitions focuses on the sophisticated diplomatic and political efforts of Indigenous leaders to protect their lands and rights between 1870 and 1914. Students examine how leaders like Deskaheh (Levi General) and organizations like the Allied Tribes of British Columbia used petitions, legal challenges, and international appeals to assert their sovereignty. This topic is essential for understanding that Indigenous peoples were not passive victims of colonialism but active political agents.

Students will investigate the 'Statement of the Chiefs of the Interior Tribes of British Columbia' and other key documents that articulated Indigenous views on land title and self-determination. They will also look at how the Canadian government responded by making it illegal for Indigenous groups to hire lawyers to pursue land claims. This topic comes alive when students can analyze these petitions and simulate the diplomatic missions of Indigenous leaders through role plays and collaborative investigations.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The 1910 Memorial

In small groups, students analyze the 'Memorial to Sir Wilfrid Laurier' from the Chiefs of the Shuswap, Okanagan, and Couteau tribes. They identify the key arguments the Chiefs made about their land rights and their relationship with the Crown.

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

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Role Play: Deskaheh at the League of Nations

Students re-enact Deskaheh's 1923 attempt to bring the Haudenosaunee's case for sovereignty to the League of Nations in Geneva. They play the roles of Deskaheh, international delegates, and Canadian officials who tried to block him.

⏱ 60 min·Whole Class

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Think-Pair-Share: The Legal Ban

Students read about the 1927 amendment to the Indian Act that made it illegal to raise money for land claims. They pair up to discuss why the government was so afraid of Indigenous people using the legal system.

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Indigenous people didn't start fighting for their rights until recently.

What to Teach Instead

Indigenous leaders have been using petitions, diplomacy, and legal challenges since the very beginning of contact. Using a 'timeline of resistance' helps students see the long and continuous history of Indigenous political organizing.

Common Misconception

Indigenous sovereignty is a new or 'radical' idea.

What to Teach Instead

Indigenous nations have always viewed themselves as sovereign and have consistently asserted this through treaties and diplomatic missions. Analyzing early petitions helps students see that sovereignty is an inherent right that has never been surrendered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Deskaheh?

Deskaheh (Levi General) was a Haudenosaunee leader who became a famous advocate for Indigenous sovereignty. In the 1920s, he traveled to the League of Nations in Switzerland to argue that the Haudenosaunee were an independent nation and should not be governed by Canada's Indian Act.

What were the Allied Tribes of British Columbia?

This was one of the first major Indigenous political organizations in Canada. Formed in 1916, it brought together different nations in B.C. to fight for the recognition of their aboriginal title to the land, which had never been surrendered through treaties.

How did the Canadian government respond to Indigenous petitions?

The government often ignored or dismissed the petitions. When Indigenous organizing became more effective, the government passed laws to stop them, such as the 1927 ban on raising money for land claims, which effectively shut down Indigenous legal challenges for decades.

How can active learning help students understand Indigenous sovereignty?

Active learning, such as role-playing Deskaheh's mission, helps students understand the global and sophisticated nature of Indigenous diplomacy. By analyzing the actual words of the Chiefs in their petitions, students see the clarity and strength of their arguments, making the history of Indigenous resistance much more powerful and inspiring.

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