The Royal proclamation

Essay by kmnguyenCollege, Undergraduate February 2014

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In Jardine, G. and Lawrence, B. articles, both authors commented on the significance of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 as recognition by the British Crown that the lands of Canada 'belonged' to the Indigenous peoples. However, I don't think that the Crown in 1763 would have said that the land "belonged" to the Aboriginals. I think that King George III, who passed the Royal Proclamation act, believed that the land belonged to him and he was protecting the rights of the Aboriginals. The Royal Proclamation was issued in 1763 by the British government to prevent foreign settlers from claiming land that belonged to the Indigenous people initially. Canada responded to this act as a way to protect Aboriginal rights of the First Nations people. I think that the Royal Proclamation allowed a relationship between the Crown and the Native people in North America, in hopes of the Indigenous land coming as one.

Now I will describe the legislation acts and factors that contributed many issues and how it affects the First Nations.

From what I know from my education, is that France had just lost its chance in to claim North America as their home. Great Britain controlled all of North America. I think that the French had to face the fact that the Indigenous people have already lived in North America. Foreign settlers from the east were trying to move west across the Appalachians and they were unhappy of how North America was governed. Therefore, the British Crown made this declaration to try to stop conflicts between the colonists and the Native people. I believe this drew a line between the "Indian territory" to the west where Aboriginal people "should not be molested or disturbed" (as cited by Jardine, pg 32). Hence, Britain ensured that any further

negotiations with the Aboriginals should be done in public by representatives of the crown. I also believe that the proclamation allowed Britain the right to purchase and own hunting and fishing grounds. Despite Britain owning the grounds, the Aboriginals were given the right to hunt and fish on these lands.

In addition, the British Crown made this declaration to try to stop conflicts between the colonists and the Native people. I believe this drew a line between the "Indian territory" to the west where Aboriginal people "should not be molested or disturbed" (as cited by Jardine, pg 32). To expand on this topic, the Royal Proclamation is sometimes called the "magna carta" of the Native people. During my secondary education, I learnt about how the Royal Proclamation is referred to the "magna carta" from time to time. I questioned back then: "What is the magna carta?" Well, the document adhere the basic rights that the Aboriginals should be inhabited. This meant that the Aboriginals have the right to live and use their land and is not allowed to be interfered by others. Foreign settlers who attempt to colonize the Indigenous' land cannot do so because of this document. To conclude, it protected the Aboriginals from being "being molested or disturbed" (as cited by Jardine, pg 32).

Furthermore, in Canada, the Royal Proclamation has become the basis for constitutional recognition and protection of the Aboriginal rights. The crown entered the treaties in Canada with the First Nations, in attempt to extinguish their rights to the land across the prairies. I think that Canada responded in a respectful manner in hopes of protecting the rights of the Aboriginals and to become a more diverse nation. Despite the actions that Canada took to protect the rights of the Aboriginals, Britain still has control over "Indian" affairs. In Lawrence's article "Gender, race, and the regulation of Native identity in Canada and the United States: An Overview, he explains how "the British government was responsible for Indian affairs, from 1763 to 1860" (7).

During this period of time, many epidemics rose and as a result Indian reserves were created. By this legislation enacted, it "restricted Indians to specific territories only" (7).