Film Lens
Dancing Around the Table: Part One examines the significant influence of Indigenous peoples on the Canadian Constitution. It focuses on the 1984 Federal Provincial Conference of First Ministers on Aboriginal Constitutional Matters, where Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and the First Ministers faced off against Indigenous leaders from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. The documentary captures the tension of this pivotal meeting, which was marked by a refusal from the First Ministers to include Indigenous inherent rights to self-government in the Constitution.
This conference was particularly notable as it was Trudeau's final constitutional meeting before his resignation, after which the responsibility for the constitutional process was transferred to Brian Mulroney. The film provides insight into the historical context and the stakes involved for Indigenous leaders who sought to secure their rights in the Constitution, making it a critical examination of a defining moment in Canadian history.
Why Watch
- •See Trudeau's final constitutional meeting in 1984.
- •Find out how Indigenous rights were debated.
- •Meet key Indigenous leaders fighting for rights.
Did You Know
•The 1984 conference was the last constitutional meeting for Trudeau.
•Indigenous leaders included representatives from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
•The First Ministers refused to include Indigenous rights in the Constitution.
Perfect For
Canadian historyIndigenous rightsPolitical science