In what year did First Nations people gain the unconditional right to vote federally?

Question: In what year did First Nations people gain the unconditional right to vote federally?

Answer options:

• 1918
• 1949 ✅ 1960
• 1982

Correct answer: 1960

Explanation: First Nations people in Canada officially gained the unconditional right to vote in federal elections in 1960 under the leadership of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, resolving a long history of franchise exclusion based on treaty status. The year 1918 is incorrect because it marked when female citizens gained the vote, while 1949 represents the federal franchise for Japanese and Chinese Canadians. The year 1982 refers to the patriation of the Constitution, long after the vote was secured. This milestones reflects Canada's progressive democratic expansion and the evolution of human rights. It is a highly assessable topic on the citizenship exam to highlight the developmental timeline of Canadian democratic institutions.