The Indian Association of Alberta: A History of Political Action

The history of indigenous political action in Canada is long, hard-fought, and under-told. By the mid-1900s, Native peoples across western Canada were actively involved in their own political unions in a drive to be heard outside their reserve communities. In Alberta, the Indian Association of Alberta (IAA) represented the Interests of Alberta’s reserve communities. Best known for its role in spearheading the protest against the 1969 White Paper produced by the Department of Indian Affairs, the IAA allowed Native peoples access to politics at the provincial level. Its rich history reveals much about First Nations’ perspectives on the place of Indian peoples in Canada before the emergence of civil rights movements and large-scale federal funding of Native organizations. This vital history will be welcomed by those with an interest in Native studies, political science, and Canadian history.