Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Politics

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The relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canadian politics is one of the most significant and complex issues facing the country. Indigenous nations predate Confederation by thousands of years, with distinct cultures, languages, and systems of governance. Yet, colonialism and state policies sought to assimilate or marginalize them.

The Indian Act of 1876 epitomized this colonial approach, imposing federal control over Indigenous communities and undermining traditional governance. Residential schools, operating for more than a century, inflicted generational trauma by separating children from families and erasing cultural identity. These policies have left deep social, economic, and political scars.