1763 - Royal Proclamation passed by King George III recognizes aboriginal people as "nations or tribes" and acknowledges that they continue to possess traditional territories until they are "ceded or purchased" by the Crown (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs).
1870 - Joseph Trutch, as Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, writes memorandum denying the existence of Aboriginal title (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs).
1871 - The Colony of British Columbia becomes a province within the Canadian Confederation. British Columbia is the sixth province to join the Dominion of Canada. The Terms of Union between British Columbia and Canada states that the federal government will assume responsibility for Indians and British Columbia will retain authority over land and resources. Joseph Trutch is appointed as the province's first Lieutenant Governor (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs).
1876 - Indian Act is established. The Act focused on three main areas: Land, Membership, and Local Government.
Romania, Germany, Canada, Hungary
English: Monument to aboriginal war veterans in Co...
The Centre Block on Parliament Hill, containing th...It consolidates all previous Indian legislation; defines Indian status; and gives the Superintendent General administrative powers of Indian affairs (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs).
1881 - Chief Mountain leads a Nisga'a protest delegation to Victoria (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs).
1884 - The Indian Act is amended to outlaw cultural and religious ceremonies such as the potlatch, which is the major social, economic and political institution of the coastal peoples (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs).
1886 - Nisga'a in the Upper Nass resist surveyors and begin organized pursuit of land claims (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs).
1887 - Nisga'a chiefs traveled to Victoria to demand recognition of title, negotiation of treaties and provision for self-government but they were turned away (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs).
1890 - The Nisga'a established their first Land Committee to begin the campaign for recognition of...