Indian act
Residential Homes
Languages, Stories, History, Challenges
First Nations today
100

When was the Indian Act enacted?

A)1876

B)1896

C)1906

D)1926

Answer : A

The Indian Act is enacted giving Government the exclusive right to create legislation regarding Indians and Indian lands. This Act identifies who is an Indian and establishes related legal rights.

100

When was the first Residential school opened?

A) 1821

B) 1828

C) 1902

D) 1942

The first church-run Indian Residential School was opened in 1828




Answer: B                                                         While no specific school is named as opening in 1828, this is cited as the year the first residential school in Canada opened as part of the broader system. The system's origins and development predated Confederation in 1867, with early acts like the Gradual Civilization Act of 1857 laying the groundwork for the forced assimilation of Indigenous children into dominant Canadian culture.

100

Which of these animals is important in First Nations stories?
A) Beaver
B) Eagle
C) Bear
D) All of the above

Answer D

they embody core spiritual teachings and values within the Seven Sacred Teachings, serving as metaphors for human qualities such as love (Eagle), courage (Bear), and wisdom (Beaver). These animals also symbolize an interconnected relationship with the Earth, with each playing a role in the ecosystem and cultural practices,

100

What are some of the ways First Nations are working to strengthen their cultures today?

A) By participating in modern society
B) By learning and teaching traditional languages, ceremonies, and practices
C) By becoming less involved in their communities
D) By avoiding discussions of history

B) By learning and teaching traditional languages, ceremonies, and practices 

First Nations and other Indigenous peoples are reinvesting in their languages through community-led efforts, supported by Canadian legislation like the Indigenous Languages Act (2019). This act and the First Nations Languages Funding Model provide resources for initiatives such as developing language immersion programs for children, creating digital resources like FirstVoices archives, training language champions, and developing orthographies. These efforts aim to increase the number of fluent speakers, document languages, and ensure the long-term vitality of Indigenous languages for future generations

200

What is the Indian Act

A) A agreement between first nations and the government

B) A protection of Indigenous rights and culture

C) A federal law created to oppress the Indigenous people

Answer C


The Indian Act is a part of a long history of assimilation policies that intended to terminate the cultural, social, economic, and political distinctiveness of Aboriginal peoples by absorbing them into mainstream Canadian life and values.

 The Indian Act is a Canadian federal law, first passed in 1876 and still in force today, that governs the lives of registered First Nations people and reserve lands. The Act aimed to assimilate Indigenous peoples into Canadian society and continues to impact First Nations' rights, cultures, and political structures by controlling Indian status, reserve lands, and band membership. It has undergone numerous amendments but remains a subject of controversy for its historical and ongoing oppressive and paternalistic nature.



200

How many Federal funded residential school were in Canada?

A) 56

B) 81

C) 94

D) 139

Answer D

The Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) has formally recognized 139 residential schools across Canada, but this number excludes schools that operated without federal support.[6]


200

What is a powwow?
A) A First Nations school
B) A traditional gathering with dancing and singing
C) A group of people talking
D) A name for a group of elders

B) A traditional gathering with dancing and singing

A powwow is a gathering with dances held by many Native American and First Nations communities. Inaugurated in 1923, powwows today are an opportunity for Indigenous people to socialize, dance, sing, and honor their cultures. Powwows may be private or public, indoors or outdoors.  

200

What is Orange Shirt Day?
A) To promote Indigenous fashion and art
B) A day to remember residential school survivors and honor First Nations children
C) Orange was the favourite colour of many Indigenous leaders
D) A fundraiser for indigenous school supplies

B) A day to remember residential school survivors and honour First Nations children 

Orange Shirt Day, observed annually on September 30, is a grassroots initiative and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, dedicated to remembering the Indigenous children who were forced to attend Canada's residential schools and the ongoing, intergenerational impact on their families and communities.

300

Did Indigenous women have the same right as Indigenous men under the Indian Act?

No

Yes

Answer No

The act is now viewed as having historically discriminated against women, their claim to status and being registered under the same terms as men. For example, women marrying a non-Indian lost their Indian status, but men who married non-Indians did not lose Indian status. (This was amended in the late 20th century.) Indigenous women were given the right to keep their Indian status in a mixed marriage in 1985 with the passage of Bill C-31,

300

How many residential school were there in Ontario?

A) 18

B) 12

C) 10

D)  8

Answer A

There were 18 federally recognized Indian Residential Schools in Ontario.


300

Why is Truth and Reconciliation important?
A) To ensure all Canadians learn Indigenous languages
B) To promote tourism in Indigenous communities
C) It helps people learn about First Nations' history and work together for a better future
D) It is a holiday to honour Indigenous people

C) It helps people learn about First Nations history and work together for a better future 

Truth and Reconciliation refers to the process in Canada of understanding the history and devastating legacy of the residential school system and taking action to mend that harm and build positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Initiated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), this effort includes honouring Survivors, creating a historical record of residential schools, and following the TRC's 94 Calls to Action to create a more equitable future. The process culminated in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a yearly observance on September 30th.

300

What is one major issue that many First Nations communities in Canada still face today?

A) Too much government funding
B) Lack of interest in preserving their culture
C) Limited access to clean drinking water, housing, and health services
D) Complete independence from the Canadian government

C) Limited access to clean drinking water, housing, and health services 

 Canada possesses the world’s third largest freshwater reserves. Despite that, 618 First Nations Communities are not supplied with safe drinking water. This issue has been going on for decades, with these communities suffering the full weight of the consequences of the inadequate water they have.

400

Where Indigenous people allowed to vote in federal elections?

Yes

No

Other

Answer: Other

  • Up until 1960, Indigenous peoples in Canada did not have the right to vote in federal elections, unless they were willing to give up their 'Indian' status through enfranchisement.
400

When was the last federally funded residential school closed

A)  1994

B) 1995

C) 1996

D) 1997


Answer D

The last federally funded Canadian residential school, Kivalliq Hall in Rankin Inlet, closed in 1997. While earlier sources state the last closure was in 1996, the 1997 closure is accurate. Some schools, such as Kivalliq Hall, were formally recognized later in 2019 due to court rulings, leading to confusion in earlier accounts.

400

What was the purpose of residential schools?
A) To help First Nations children stay with their families
B) To force First Nations children to learn English and French and stop their traditions 

C) To teach First Nations children their own culture
D) To give children free education

Answer B

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) concluded that residential schools were “a systematic, government- sponsored attempt to destroy Aboriginal cultures and languages and to assimilate Aboriginal peoples so that they no longer existed as distinct peoples.” The TRC characterized this intent as “cultural genocide.”

400

What is the significance of land acknowledgements in Canada today?

A) They are used to claim ownership of Indigenous lands
B) They are a formality with no real meaning
C) They replace the need for treaties and land agreements
D) They recognize that the land we are on is the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples and show respect for their enduring presence

D) They recognize that the land we are on is the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples and show respect for their enduring presence 

In Canada, the significance of land acknowledgements lies in recognizing and honouring the ongoing presence and stewardship of Indigenous peoples, fostering truth and reconciliation, and promoting awareness of the harms of colonialism and treaty relationships. They serve as an act of respect, acknowledging Indigenous governance and kinship to the land, and can initiate important conversations about Canada's true history and the need for systemic change.

500

Where Indigenous women allowed to dance in traditional attire during cultural ceremonies?


Yes

No

Answer No

Indigenous women were implicitly allowed to dance when bans on cultural ceremonies were removed from the Indian Act in 1951. Prior to this amendment, certain traditional ceremonies, including those involving dance, were illegal under the Act, and amendments in 1914 had specifically restricted the use of Aboriginal costumes in dances without ministerial approval.

500

How many children died at Residential schools in Canada?

A)1000

B) 4400

C) 6000

D)Unknown

Answer D

In 2019, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation shared the names of 2,800 children who had died in those schools. At that time, it was believed that there were still an additional 1,600 unnamed children.

As communities have continued to push for searches across the country, the numbers have kept growing. The most recent collective findings from community searches across the country (versus the official numbers of recorded deaths) suggest that the number of deaths may be much greater than those originally reported.

500

What happened to First Nations people when European settlers came to Canada?

A) They were given equal land rights and political power by settlers
B) They benefited equally from European technology and trade, without consequences
C) They experienced loss of land, exposure to new diseases, forced assimilation, and disruption of their traditional ways of life
D) They quickly adopted European lifestyles and abandoned their own cultures by choice

C) They experienced loss of land, exposure to new diseases, forced assimilation, and disruption of their traditional ways of life

500

How has the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) influenced First Nations communities today?

A) It led to the immediate return of all Indigenous lands
B) It documented the history and impacts of residential schools and issued Calls to Action aimed at addressing ongoing inequalities and promoting healing
C) It eliminated the need for further dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians
D) It focused solely on financial compensation for survivors

B) It documented the history and impacts of residential schools and issued Calls to Action aimed at addressing ongoing inequalities and promoting healing