1969

Trudeau and Cretein’s White Paper advocates the abolition of Indian status and transferring responsibility of Indians to the provinces.

1973

The Calder case has six Supreme Court Justices agreeing on the existence of aboriginal rights and forces the federal government to reconsider its positions leading to the creation of a Native claims process.

1975

The Department of Indian Affairs in Williams Lake is closed.

1977

Kamloops Indian Residential school is closed.

1982

The Constitution Act recognizes and affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights.

1991

Chief Justice Allen McEachern of the BC Supreme Court rules that aboriginal rights in BC were extinguished by pre Confederation legislation.

1993

BC Treaty Commission is established to negotiate land claims.

1993

Cariboo Tribal Council chiefs file a letter of intent to enter treaty negotiations with the federal government.

1997

The Supreme Court of Canada, Delgamuukw case, provides its first comprehensive statement about Aboriginal title, recognizing oral history and claims to the land.