The three defining moments are: Aboriginal Right to Vote 1960, Indian Act 1951 and Oka Standoff 1990. All these events have a certain meaning for Canada and Aboriginal population in Canada. They tell us what Indians fought for and what they got it. .
Actions taken by Aboriginal people have significance for Canada.
One of these events is Indian Act 1951 (revised). This was a change for the previous Act which took place earlier. With this Act Aboriginal people gained more authority. Aboriginal women got a right to vote in band elections. Band members no longer needed special permissions to sell their products. This Act continued to prevent Indians from drinking and their land was not subdivided. This Act also stopped the assimilation of Indian people.
Other event which had significance is that Indians gained the Right to Vote in federal elections. Only registered Indians could vote. John Diefenbaker was the Prime Minister which made this Right without any attachments. Then Diefenbaker appointed first member of Senate of Aboriginal origin.
The third event is Oka Standoff. This took place in little town Oka in Quebec province. The reason they made this action was that Quebec wanted to expand golf course on the land that was ancestral to Mohawk people. It started on 10 July 1990 they made a barricade across the road. On the barricade mostly women and children were standing. Men were hiding in the woods with the rifles. Arm conflicts broke out between Indians and police, one policeman died. Mohawks got supported by Indian groups from all over Canada. Most of them suggested that they going to do the same if they will continue. They asked United Nations for help and to investigate that their rights are being violated. Canadian government sent armed forces to Oka. After negotiations on September 26 the Standoff ended. They saved the land from building a golf course.
They showed the world what was happening and that their rights were violated.