Indigenous Peoples in Canada: From Colonial Trauma to the Path of Self-Determination Introduction: Terminology and Demographics In Canada, official terms for Indigenous peoples are established in the Constitution Act of 1982: “First Nations” — Indigenous peoples (excluding Inuit and Métis), “Inuit” — Indigenous peoples of the Arctic, and “Métis” — descendants of mixed marriages between Europeans and Indigenous peoples. Collectively, they are referred to as “Indigenous Peoples.” They number over 1.8 million people, or about 5% of the country’s population, representing more than 600 recognized communities (First Nations Bands) and speaking over 70 languages. Their history is one of resistance, adaptation, and a complex path toward restoring rights within the modern Canadian state. Historical Trauma: The Reservation System and Residential Schools A key mechanism of colonial policy was the Indian Act of 1876, which remains the primary legislative act regulating relations between the state and First Nations (although it has been amended multiple times). It established the reservation system — isolated territories where Indigenous peoples were effectively confined, deprived of civil rights and control over resources. Reservation lands belong to the Crown, and communities have only usage rights. The most destructive institution was the Residential Schools, operating from the 1880s to the 1990s. Under the slogan “kill the Indian in the child,” children were forcibly removed from their families, forbidden to speak their native language or practice their culture, and subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The goal was forced assimilation. Scale of trauma: About 150,000 children passed through this system. The official Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2008-2015) recognized this as cultural genocide. Consequences: Intergenerational trauma, loss of languages (over two-thirds of First Nations languages are endangered), social problems (alcoholism, suicide, violen ... Read more