Creation of the 1969 White Paper

Influencing Canadian Identity

The Document

Motives and Intentions

Background of Creation

Community's Reaction

100

The response to the White Paper prompted the creation of multiple organizations, like this organization, which advocated for Indigenous rights in Canada

What is the Assembly of First Nations

This assembly promoted rights for Indigenous Canadians. The White Paper, while not intending to, caused many Indigenous people to form groups and advocate for Indigenous rights.

Lagace, N., & James Sinclair, N. (2015, September 24). The White Paper, 1969. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 9, 2025, from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-white-paper-1969

100

The White Paper suggested repealing this infamous Canadian act

What is the Indian Act

Trudeau and his government expressed their interest in repealing the Indian Act. However, this never happened as the White Paper was terminated in 1971.

100

The White Paper wanted to eliminate this certain legal status

What is Indian

Trudeau wanted to get rid of "Indian" as its own legal status. He claimed that this would make First Nations people more equal to other Canadians, and that First Nations people under Indian Status were therefore separated from the rest of Canadians in society.

100

The immigration of these people resulted in diseases, interruptions to trade and food routes, industrialization, and war.

What are Europeans

European immigration came along with a bunch of problems that had terrible and lasting effects on Indigenous people

The White Paper 1969. (2009). Indigenousfoundations. Retrieved August 9, 2025, from https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_white_paper_1969/

100

True or false: Many people saw the White Paper as a further attempt to assimilate Indigenous peoples

True

Multiple people considered the White Paper to be the final attempt by the government to assimilate the First Nation population. They felt that the government was attempting to dump their responsibilities onto others instead of dealing with them itself.

200

In 1971, Trudeau set this as an official government policy

What is multiculturalism

The White Paper and its responding documents provoked many conversations about multiculturalism in Canada. This led to it becoming an official government policy in 1971.

Statement by the Prime Minister on the 50th anniversary of Canada’s multiculturalism policy. (2025, April 4). Prime Minister of Canada. Retrieved August 10, 2025, from https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2021/10/08/statement-prime-minister-50th-anniversary-canadas-multiculturalism#:~:text=%E2%80%9COn%20this%20day%20in%201971,to%20the%20Canadian%20social%20fabric.

200

This is the position that Trudeau wanted to appoint to provide funds for economic development and settle land claims

What is a commissioner

Trudeau wanted to appoint a commissioner who would handle land disputes, as well as organize payments for economic development

200

Trudeau wanted to create this type of society

What is a just society

Trudeau felt that this paper would address discriminatory legislation, therefore helping create a more just society.

The White Paper 1969. (2009). Indigenousfoundations. Retrieved August 9, 2025, from https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_white_paper_1969/

200

Oppressive policies and acts, like residential schools and the Indian Act, had raised death rates, and many Indigenous people had fallen into this

What is poverty

These policies, along with the side effects of European immigration, had raised the rates of poverty and death within Indigenous populations.

200

This Cree leader rejected the White Paper by composing a document called "Citizens Plus," also known as the Red Paper

Who is Harold Cardinal

Harold Cardinal was the leader of the Indian Association of Alberta. His Red Paper guarded treaty rights, and he presented his Red Paper to the Liberal Cabinet in Parliament.

300

Responses to the White Paper, including the Red Paper and Brown Paper, encouraged this among First Nations communities

What is self-determination

These papers suggested that First Nations populations turn to self-determination, meaning that they would form their own government.

300

The White Paper proposed the idea of eliminating all of these agreements made early in Canadian history

What are Treaties

The White Paper proposed terminating all of the treaties that had been signed between First Nations people and the government of Canada. With the withdrawal of the document in 1971, this did not happen.

300

True or False: Trudeau created the White Paper as he felt that Indigenous people were being discriminated against because of their special Indian status

True

The White Paper stated that, "the treatment resulting from their different status has often been worse, sometimes equal and occasionally better than that accorded to their fellow citizens. What matters is that it has been different." Trudeau wanted everybody to be the same and nobody to feel different. However, this is not how the document made people feel.

300

There was discontent brewing about the mistreatment of Indigenous people due to a civil rights movement that was picking up steam, and the Indigenous impact in these two conflicts

What are the WWI and WWII

Canadians began to question the government and their policies. The mistreatment of Indigenous people was being brought to light, and people started to realize it.

300

A meeting with over 140 First Nations representatives in British Columbia resulted in this union being formed

What is the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs

A conference took place in BC, having over 140 Indigenous representatives, represnting 200 First Nations tribes. They rejected the White Paper and created their own document.

400

After the White Paper, a period of Indigenous pride and activism began. The change is referred to as this type of revolution

What is a quiet revolution

Indigenous people did not turn to violence or radical protest. However, the White Paper urged them to band together and voice their demands. Indigenous people were proud of their identity and the fact that they were Canadians.

Joseph, B. (2023, June 6). The Red Paper: A Counter-Punch to the White Paper. Indigenous Corporate Training INC. Retrieved August 10, 2025, from https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/the-red-paper-a-counter-punch-to-the-white-paper#:~:text=The%20White%20Paper%20really%20was,Thirteen%2C%20No.

400

The White Paper aimed to convert these lands to privately owned property

What are reserve lands

Trudeau wanted to transform reserves into private property that was owned by the band. This means that provincial governments would handle all of the services and responsibilities.

400

This is what Trudeau believed the White Paper would lower

What are the costs

As a bonus, Trudeau believed that the White Paper would cut the cost of treaty responsibilities and administering Indian Affairs.

400

A Survey of the Contemporary Indians of Canada: Economic, Political, Educational Needs and Policies, an investigative report about the treatment of Indigenous peoples in Canada, was written by this famous anthropologist

Who is Harry B. Hawthorn

Hawthorn was tasked by the government to study the social conditions around Indigenous people in Canada and compose a report

400

The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs created this document in response to the White Paper

What is A "Declaration of Indian Rights: The BC Indian Position Paper”

The union created this document as a rejection of the White Paper. The document claims that Indigenous people still hold the land titles, and argues that the relationship between First Nations people and the Canadian government must be protected. This document is commonly referred to as the "Brown Paper."

500

True or False: The White Paper proposed the termination of all past treaties. Most Indigenous people agreed with this stance

False

First Nations people argued that they were equals to the Crown when they signed the treaties, and that they were forever and sacred. Even though these treaties had been used wrongly in the past, First Nations people were proud of them and viewed them as essential.

500

The document also wanted to disband this department

What is the Department of Indian Affairs

The Paper wanted to get rid of the Department of Indian Affairs within five years. While that didn't happen, the department was eventually dissolved in 2019. However, it was replaced by two new departments, the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. (2021, June 17). Government of Canada. Retrieved August 9, 2025, from https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-northern-affairs.html

500

The White Paper claimed that removing Indian status would people whould allow them to feel this type of way

What is free

The White Paper stated that getting rid of Indian status would, "enable the Indian people to be free—free to develop Indian cultures in an environment of legal, social and economic equality with other Canadians.” According to the paper, the status they received through the Indian Act was preventing them from being equal to other Canadians

The White Paper 1969. (2009). Indigenousfoundations. Retrieved August 9, 2025, from https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_white_paper_1969/

500

It was due to this that Trudeau started to meet with Indigenous leaders

What is Hawthorn's report

After Hawthorn published his report on Indigenous social conditions, Trudeau was urged to meet with Indigenous leaders. Indigenous leaders brought up many issues to Trudeau that they wished to be addressed.

500

Other provinces, including Manitoba and Saskatchewan, created similar documents to the Brown Paper. Public protests followed, resulting in this movement.

What is the "Red Power" movement

This movement demanded that immediate and fair action on Indigenous issues be taken by the government of Canada.