By the mid 1960s, opposition to assimilation by First Nations people was strengthening and a civil rights movement was growing under the banner of self-determination.

What's self-determination?

International law defines self-determination as the right of all peoples to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. The intended outworking of self-determination policy approaches was First Nations participation in policy and decision-making, and in individual and community leadership. Finally First Nations people could regain control over their lives.