🔹 Who Are the First Nations?
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Diverse groups: Over 630 First Nation communities in Canada representing more than 50 distinct nations and 50 Indigenous languages.
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Some of the well-known nations include:
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Cree
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Ojibwe (Anishinaabe)
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Haida
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Mohawk (Kanienʼkehá꞉ka)
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Dene
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Blackfoot
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Mi'kmaq, and many others.
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🔹 Key Aspects
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Treaty Rights: | Many First Nations have signed treaties with the Crown (Canada) that grant land, rights, and protections. |
| Reserves: | Land set aside for First Nations under federal jurisdiction (often a legacy of colonial policies). |
| Languages: | Indigenous languages are deeply tied to culture, but many are endangered due to colonization. |
| Residential Schools: | A dark chapter in history where children were forcibly removed from families to assimilate them. |
| Self-Governance: | Many First Nations are working toward or have achieved self-governing agreements. |
🔹 Current Issues
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Land back and sovereignty movements
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Water rights and environmental protection
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Reconciliation and healing from residential school trauma
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Economic development and education access
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Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
🔹 Reconciliation
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released 94 Calls to Action in 2015 to address the legacy of residential schools and advance reconciliation.