During 1636 and 1637, influenza spread south from the St. Lawrence Valley and killed many Hurons. Jesuit missionaries encourage Montagnais Indians to give up their nomadic pursuit of game in favor of farming and to settle a 3,500-hectare reserve at St. Joseph De Sillery, near Quebec.

1985-
The federal government amends the Indian Act to allow Native women who lost their status due to the marriage of non-Native mates to regain their status.
Jan. 1, 1878-A Mohawk named Big John Canadien shoots the white water at Lachine Rapids, Que., in a nine-metre boat to the delight and astonishment of appreciative crowds.

Jan. 1, 1999 -
New Year's Eve celebrations turn to tragedy in Kangiqsuqlujjuaq, a small Inuit community in northern Quebec, when an avalanche hits the village's community centre, killing nine.

Jan. 2, 1984 -
Native foster child Wayne Rolland freezes to death trying to walk from Fort Chip to his home in Fort McKay, Alta.

Jan. 6, 1966 -
The Drum, a new independent newspaper, begins publishing in the western Arctic. It is published in English, Inukitut and Kutchin.

Jan. 6, 1985 -
The Lubicon Lake Indian Band receives $1.5 million from the federal government to help defray legal costs in its land claims fight.

Jan. 7, 1984 -
Alberta architect Douglas Cardinal is chosen to design the National Museum of Man (renamed National Museum of Civilization) in Hull, Que.

Jan 9, 1949 -
Distance runner Tom Longboat dies at Six Nations reserve in Ontario.

Jan. 14, 1993 -
Mike Cardinal is sworn in as Alberta's first status Indian cabinet minister.

Jan. 17, 1888 -
Chief Big Bear dies on the Poundmaker reserve.

Jan. 18, 1989 -
A whooping cough epidemic hits Hobbema, Alta. and 250 residents are infected.

Jan. 22, 1999 -
Sixty-five elk are transplanted from Elk Island National Park in Alberta to the traditional lands of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation in Saskatoon. It is the first installment in what is expected to be a herd of several hundred and the first elk in the area in 25 years.

Jan. 23, 1995 -
Settlement grants totaling $4.4 million to the Grassy Narrow Indian band in Ontario are announced.

Jan. 25, 1870 -
The first meeting of Louis Riel's provisional government is held.

Jan. 26, 1993 -
Six children at Davis Inlet, Labrador, attempt suicide by sniffing solvents.

Jan. 27, 1945 -
Harold Cardinal, Indian leader, and author, is born at High Prairie, Alta. Cardinal was president of the Indian Association of Alberta from 1968 to 1977, serving nine terms in office.

Jan. 29, 1989 -
Hobbema boxer Danny Stonewalker wins the Canadian light-heavyweight title.

Jan. 30, 1977 -
Author Edith Brant Monture, the great-great- granddaughter of famous Mohawk warrior Joseph Brant, dies at Paris, Ont.

Jan. 30, 1981 - Constitutional changes accepted by the federal government include an assertion that "Aboriginal and treaty rights" are both "recognized and affirmed."

Jan. 31, 1646 -
A lunar eclipse predicted by French Jesuit missionaries has members of the Huron nation living in Ossosane, New France convinced of the spiritual powers of the priests the Hurons call Ondaki - demons.

Jan. 31, 1973 -
The Nisga'a in British Columbia have no rights over land in the Nass River Valley, announces the Supreme Court of Canada. However, a majority of the judges acknowledge Aboriginal title exists in law as opposed to the federal government's position that Aboriginal rights do not exist.

1976 -
The RCMP establish a Native Policing Branch and hire Native people to serve in the branch that will police Native communities.

1999 -
The Ha-Shilth-Sa First Nations newspaper celebrates 25 years of serving 14 First Nations communities on Vancouver Island. Ha-Shilth-Sa means Interesting News.

1976 -
The RCMP establish a Native Policing Branch and hire Native people to serve in the branch that will police Native communities.

Feb. 1, 1958 -
James Gladstone, 71, the first senator of Native heritage, is appointed.

Feb.1, 1999 -
The inquiry begins into the death of Tsuu T'ina band member Connie Jacobs and that of her nine-year-old son, Ty, both shot by RCMP during a botched child apprehension by social services.

Feb. 3, 1985 -
Radio station, CFWE, The Native Perspective, is launched in northern Alberta by AMMSA.

Feb. 4, 1989 -
A study of breast milk from Inuit mothers from northern Quebec shows it contained the highest levels of PCBs of any mother's milk in the world.

Feb. 4, 1999 -
Jones William Ignace, 66, aka Wolverine, is released from prison. He was in custody for his role in the Gustafsen Lake standoff in 1995.

Feb. 4, 1994 -
Davis Inlet Innu evict mining companies from Voisey's Bay.

Feb. 6, 1976 -
Leonard Peltier is arrested at Smallboys Camp in Alberta.

Feb. 6, 1892 -
Squamish leader, organizer and lobbyist Andrew Paull is born at Squamish, B.C.

Feb. 8 -
Senator Thelma Chalifoux's birthday.

Feb. 10, 1870 -
Louis Riel is elected president of the new provisional government in Red River, Man.

Feb. 12, 1875 -
Parliament votes to grant amnesty to Louis Riel for his role in the execution of Thomas Scott at the Red River Colony in 1870.

Feb. 14, 1992 -
Six children die in a house fire at Davis Inlet.

Feb. 17, 1693 -
The governor of New France, Buade de Frontenac, attacks three Mohawk towns. As many as 30 Mohawks are killed, 300 taken prisoner.

Feb. 20, 1941 -
Buffy Sainte-Marie, folk singer and song writer, is born at Piapot reserve in Saskatchewan.

Feb. 22, 1999 -
The CRTC approves the first-ever, national, public, Aboriginal television network. APTN plans for launch in September.

Feb. 24, 1994 -
James Bay Cree claim a victory against the development of future hydroelectric power projects in the James Bay area.

Feb. 26, 1957 -
A group of 14 Inuit has been formed to focus on issues such as waste disposal, clean water, fire protection, education and the local economy. Its objective is to give the Native people of the area a voice in decisions that have been previously made by non-Native residents.

Feb. 27, 1987 -
Tantoo Cardinal and Tom Jackson are nominated for Genie awards for their roles in Loyalties.

Feb. 28, 1985 -
Bill C-31 amendment to the Indian act restores treaty rights.