The Infested Blanket: A Historical Tool of Germ Warfare Against Indigenous Peoples
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Presentation Transcript
Infested Blanket By: Anton V ENVR 4650
What is an infested Blanket? • A tool historically used by Europeans to infect natives with Smallpox • Was not always done on purpose • Blankets were popular trading item • Devastating effect • Often acts of Genocide
Smallpox • Often deadly disease • Highly contagious • Europeans have resistance • Domesticated animals • No resistance by indigenous people • Germ warfare by British, Americans • Oral evidence
Liverating Johnson 1880 • Disagreement with Blackfoot Indians in Southern Alberta • Sent a cart full of infested blankets to Blackfoot Nation • Traditional tribal gathering with Blood and Peigan nations • The chiefs took the disease to their own tribes • Devastating effect
Infested blanket today • 1982 Constitution Act • Section 35…recognizes and affirms existing aboriginal rights… • Indian sovereign nationhood, 3rd Gov. level • Aboriginals were not consulted • Sec. 35 was first pulled off by B.C. and Alberta • Later returned with a word “existing” in a backroom meeting
1982 Constitution Act Con’d • Limited aboriginal rights to pre 1982 era • Is not specific about rights • Sec. 35 is subject to interpretation • Sec. 37 Canadian government equal party, AFN represents a minority • Not Nation to Nation (treaties) • Some nations pulled out from the Assembly of First Nations that represented all treaty and status Indians in 1983 Canada’s Constitutional Conference (1/4)
Coalition • 70,000 • New Brunswick Indians • Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (Quebec) • Brotherhood of Indian Nations (MB) • Treaty Six Alliance (Alberta) • Lil’Wat Nation (West Coast) • $2,520,000 in financial support to AFN • Outside Canada discussion
1982 Constitution Act Con’d • Unintentional effects • Constitutionally protects Aboriginal Rights • Doesn’t include self government • 1983 Report by the Special Committee of the House of Commons • Later analysis concluded that the self government rights are included • Subject to interpretation of Sec. 35
References • Eric Robinson. (1985). The infested blanket, Canada’s Constitution-Genocide of Indian Nations. Queenston House Publishers • The Native Investment & Trade Association. (1998). Aboriginal Law in Canada, 1998: comprehensive overview of all recent major legal developments including landmark Delgamuukw Decision. • Background picture: http://www.wisdomoftheelders.org/prog207/images/ew_painted_tipis_assiniboin_curtis_a2zcds.jpg
Questions ??? http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/amherst/drawing.jpeg