The Complete Indian News Collection, 1954-1982

This complete digital collection of the Indian News 1954-1982 was a collaborative effort. University of Winnipeg student Felicia Sinclair read, analyzed and digitized the Indian News as a 2012 Summer Intern with the Manitoba First Nations – Centre for Aboriginal Health Summer Internship Program. Sinclair also edited the text of the documents so that the entire collection is searchable. The project was supervised by Dr. Mary Jane Logan McCallum, Department of History at the University of Winnipeg. University of Winnipeg Interlibrary Loan staff Heather Mathieson and Lynne Schultz helped to obtain issues from the University of Waterloo Library, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Library, University of British Columbia Library, Saskatchewan Legislative Library, and Mount Allison University Library. University of Winnipeg Librarian and Head of Scholarly Communication Michael Hohner, Librarian and Head Copyright Officer John Tooth and University Archivist Gabrielle Prefontaine worked to make the content available.

This digitized collection of the Indian News consists of reproductions of official works published by the Government of Canada and has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada. We acknowledge the source of this work as:

Newspaper: Indian News / Indian and Inuit Affairs Program
© Government of Canada. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada (2012)
Source: Library and Archives Canada/Indian news/Vol. 1-23, 1954-82/AMICUS 43585
ISSN: 0019-6029
Text in English and French
Published August 1954 to June 1982
Number of Volumes: 23
Number of Issues: 174
Digital File Size: 4.7 GB

During the years of 1954 to 1982 the Department of Indian Affairs issued a publication called the Indian News that was intended for distribution amongst Canada's First Nations people. Originating as a quarterly publication and eventually becoming a monthly one, the Indian News covered an array of topics and issues related to Canada's First Nations people and their communities.

The variance of content contained within the Indian News is vast. The contents of this publication included articles of community and economic development, cultural heritage, education, community events, health reports, and human interest pieces. Announcements pertaining to governmental policy changes in relation to Canadian First Nations people and reports on political movements and ventures of Canadian First Nations people were also included in this publication. The overall purpose of the Indian News appears to have been two-fold: to encourage assimilation through education and economic development and to foster confidence in the Canadian government by demonstrating its vested interest in First Nations affairs.

The Indian News is historically significant in that it captures the profound complex relationship between First Nations people and the Canadian government during a time of great change. Analysis of this publication’s content reveals the parameters of this complex relationship from expressions of Indigenous sovereignty to clear attempts at colonial control. It is important to consider the subjectivity of the publisher while reading the Indian News; this publication promoted integration at all levels and therefore represents a distinct federal point of view. Canadian First Nations people and their efforts to maintain sovereignty are often inaccurately represented in the content of this publication. Nonetheless, this historical source captures important aspects of First Nations social, political and cultural history from the 1950s to the early 1980s and, we hope, will serve as a reminder of the vast and varied historical experiences of Indigenous people in Canada.

Note: Indian News is freely available to use for personal or public non-commercial use in print or audio visual formats. When using the material, please provide full bibliographic information and cite the source as the Library and Archives of Canada.

Felicia Sinclair and Mary Jane Logan McCallum - Winnipeg, 2013