Students will analyze the following pieces of information and sort them in one of the four ways to take civic action.
| Provide support | The Mayor of Ottawa personally welcomed protestors who arrived by train. |
|---|---|
| Step up as a leader | George Manuel, president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, came up with the idea of the “Constitution Express” train. |
| Bring leaders together | Hundreds of chiefs and elders from all provinces and territories (except Alberta) held the first All Canada Chiefs Assembly so they could work together on constitutional issues. |
| Create a way for people to take part | The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs rented two trains to bring groups of protesters from Vancouver to Ottawa. |
| Set up an action committee | The Inuit Committee on National Issues was created to present Inuit views on Canada’s Constitution. |
| Coordinate activities | First Nations groups arranged marches on Parliament Hill and at provincial legislatures. |
| Create a new national organization | The National Indian Brotherhood changed the way it was organized and became the Assembly of First Nations. |
| Educate others | First Nations activists organized a campaign to educate the public about Aboriginal and Treaty Rights. |
| Take it to the world | First Nations leaders travelled to Britain, Europe and the United Nations to tell an international audience about their cause. |
| Make it visible | About 1, 000 First Nations protesters attracted attention by travelling from Vancouver to Ottawa aboard a train they called the “Constitution Express.” |
| Talk to the media | When the “Constitution Express” train arrived in Ottawa, First Nations activists spoke with journalists who spread the word about Aboriginal rights. |
| Build community awareness | The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs organized workshops across the province to educate First Nations communities about rights and treaty issues. |
| Lobby British lawmakers | Over 200 First Nations Chiefs travelled to England to meet British parliamentarians and convince them that Aboriginal rights needed to be protected. |
| Make presentations | First Nations, Métis and Inuit groups made many formal written and verbal presentations to the Canadian parliamentary committee that was working on the Constitution. |
| Meet with the Governor General | On behalf of the National Indian Brotherhood, National Chief Noel Starblanket met with the Governor General of Canada. |
| Petition the Queen | First Nations Chiefs took a petition to Queen Elizabeth (as head of state) to ask her and the British government to delay patriating the Constitution. |
| Discuss with Canadian decision makers | First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders met with politicians and government officials at all levels to express their concerns about the wording of the Constitution. |
| Work with elected representatives | Aboriginal activists asked Peter Ittinuar, the only Inuk member of Parliament, to arrange meetings with key decision makers on Parliament Hill. |
| Donate money | Individuals donated money to cover the $90,000 cost of renting two trains to bring protesters from Vancouver to Ottawa. |
| Join a national protest | Individuals gave up several days to travel by train from Vancouver to Ottawa to protest on Parliament Hill. |
| Bring food | At stops along the way, people brought food and gifts for the train passengers to help them on their journey. |