Native Council of Canada

Native Council of Canada. The Native Council of Canada was a national political organization founded in 1970 to represent the interests of Non-Status Indians and Métis peoples across Canada. It emerged during a period of significant political mobilization among Indigenous peoples in Canada, seeking a distinct voice separate from groups like the National Indian Brotherhood. The council played a crucial role in advocating for constitutional recognition and was a key participant in negotiations leading to the Constitution Act, 1982.

History

The organization was established in 1970, a time of rising activism exemplified by the Red Power movement and the 1969 White Paper proposal by the Government of Canada. Its formation directly addressed the political void for Off-reserve Indigenous peoples not recognized under the Indian Act. A pivotal moment in its history was its involvement in the Patriation debates, where it fought for the inclusion of Aboriginal rights in the Canadian constitution. Leaders like Tony Belcourt and Harry Daniels were instrumental during the First Ministers' Conferences on Aboriginal rights in the 1980s. The council's advocacy contributed to the inclusion of Section 35, which recognizes and affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights. The organization was dissolved in 1993, reconstituting itself as the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples to continue its advocacy work.

Organization and structure

The council operated as a federation of provincial and territorial affiliate organizations representing Non-Status Indians and Métis. Its national office was headquartered in Ottawa, allowing direct lobbying of federal institutions like the Parliament of Canada and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Governance typically involved an elected national president and a board of directors representing each provincial affiliate. Key internal bodies included committees focused on issues such as constitutional reform, land and resources, and social policy. This structure was designed to unify diverse regional perspectives from groups such as the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council and the Labrador Métis Nation under a single national voice for political negotiations.

Political advocacy and issues

The council's primary advocacy centered on securing legal recognition and rights for populations excluded from the Indian Act. It was a persistent voice in critical national debates, including the Meech Lake Accord and the Charlottetown Accord. Core issues included fighting for Treaty rights for Non-Status Indians, advocating for Métis scrip claims resolution, and addressing systemic issues in housing, education, and healthcare. The organization also engaged with international bodies, contributing to discussions on Indigenous rights at the United Nations. Its work laid essential groundwork for later legal victories, such as those seen in Supreme Court of Canada cases like R. v. Powley and Daniels v. Canada.

Affiliated organizations

The national body was composed of various provincial and territorial organizations. These included the Association of Métis and Non-Status Indians of Saskatchewan and the Manitoba Métis Federation in its early years, though some groups like the latter later formed separate entities. Other key affiliates were the Native Council of Nova Scotia, the Federation of Newfoundland Indians, and the Ontario Métis and Non-Status Indian Association. These affiliates conducted grassroots organizing and represented local concerns at the national level, forming the council's foundational network across provinces from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Notable leaders and members

Prominent figures provided strategic direction throughout the council's existence. Harry Daniels served as President and was a central figure in the constitutional talks; his activism is commemorated by the Harry Daniels Scholarship. Tony Belcourt, another long-serving President, was a key negotiator and later helped establish the Métis Nation of Ontario. Sharon McIvor, a noted activist and lawyer, was involved in the council's work prior to her landmark case, McIvor v. Canada. Other significant members included Clem Chartier, a future President of the Métis National Council, and Viviane Gray, who advocated for women's and children's rights within the organization's platform.

Category:Indigenous organizations in Canada Category:Defunct organizations based in Ottawa Category:Organizations established in 1970 Category:Organizations disestablished in 1993