Recent History
Treaty 8 was signed by the First Nations bands in northern Alberta from 1899 to 1902.
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Day schools were established on the various reserves, but their effectiveness was compromised by the nomadic lifestyle of the First Nations Peoples. The government of Canada had the intention of providing education to the children of First Nations Peoples so that they could be assimilated into the broader society.
Aboriginal Peoples in the Peace River country continued their nomadic lifestyles even after Treaty 8 established reserves for them. The long periods away from the local community made day schools less effective. This led to a policy of placing the children in residential schools. The period of residential schools has left long lasting scars on First Nations Peoples as their children were taken from them. This policy was devastating to the First Nations Peoples as they lost their children, who also lost many of the cultural values of their communities in the residential schools.
Residential schools were closed from the 1950s to the 1960s. Aboriginal children were then bussed to the nearby towns where they mixed with the local population, which caused many conflicts as there were cultural clashes.
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In recent years local bands have taken over the residential schools and are providing education that includes the traditional ways. Many First Nations bands are now opening their own schools where students learn about their own culture and ways.
There have been many changes as First Nations peoples have created their own communities with administration over many services previously controlled by outside agencies. The First Nations peoples play roles in the administration of law, social services, education, and local government.
First Nations peoples work in forestry, oil and gas development, and hold roles in professions like law, education, social services, and in the arts. Many have also developed successful businesses.