* They were not considered to be British subjects. At the time of Confederation, the British North America Act (BNA Act) defined "British subjects" as those who were born in the United Kingdom or its colonies, or who had been naturalized as British subjects. This definition excluded most First Peoples, who were considered to be "Indians" and were not British subjects.
* They were not considered to be citizens. The BNA Act also defined "citizens" as those who were British subjects and who had been born in Canada or naturalized as Canadian citizens. This definition also excluded most First Peoples, who were not considered to be citizens.
* They were not considered to be part of the political community. The political community in Canada at the time of Confederation was made up of white, male, British Protestants. First Peoples were excluded from this community based on their race, gender, and religion.
* They were seen as a threat to the new nation. Many of the founders of Canada believed that First Peoples were a threat to the new nation because they were seen as being uncivilized, savage, and incapable of self-government. They feared that First Peoples would resist the authority of the new government, and that their inclusion in the Confederation would lead to conflict and violence.
As a result of these factors, First Peoples were not included in the Confederation discussions and were not given any say in the shaping of the new nation. This exclusion had a lasting impact on the relationship between First Peoples and the Canadian government, and it continues to be a source of conflict and tension today.