The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada’s Representation of Indigenous History from 1945 to 1982

Abstract

Canada formed the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1919 to commemorate subjects of national historic importance, the terms of which were very subjective and initially narrowly interpreted. This thesis explores the development of the Board’s representation of Indigenous history in national historic designations from 1945 to 1982. It does so by examining Board meeting minutes, reports, administrative structures, policies, and drafted inscriptions. This thesis argues that the Board worked towards better representing Indigenous history internally during the period, though the results only became public toward the end. Indigenous subjects considered and subsequently designated were largely Indigenous figures who supported assimilationist practices by the British and Canadian governments, or archaeological sites that divorced Indigenous peoples from the present. Another significant source of subject matter useful in examining the Board’s improved means of presenting Indigenous history was the North-West Campaign. Internally, the Board struck the Indian Tribes of Canada committee that became the Fur Trade and Indigenous Peoples committee, developed policy on Indigenous language use and the protection of archaeological remains, and collaborated with the National Museum of Man to reconcile shortcomings in its expertise to improve its portrayal of Indigenous history. These factors were all instrumental in the development of the Board’s more accurate and informed presentation of Indigenous history by the end of the period, with higher numbers of designations and a broader range of Indigenous subjects.