Former natives

...This law (enacted in 1899) was enacted for the Ainu people, who had been forced into poverty by the advance of Japanese people and the development policy after the Meiji Restoration, with the aim of securing land, encouraging agriculture, and spreading education. "Former natives" was the name given to the Ainu people that was unified by a Hokkaido Development Commission order in 1878. The main points of the law were that Ainu who wish to engage in agriculture could be granted land of up to 15,000 tsubo (5 ha) free of charge, but restrictions on ownership were imposed such as prohibiting buying, selling, transferring, and pawning, that assistance and relief was provided from Ainu common property and other financial sources, and that elementary schools could be established in areas where Ainu settlements had been formed.

*Some of the terminology that refers to "former aborigines" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…明治維新以後，和人の進出や開拓政策のためにその生活圏を侵食され，窮迫を深めたアイヌの人々に対し，土地の確保と農耕の奨励，教育の普及などを目的として制定された法律(1899制定施行)。旧土人とは1878年の開拓使の達（たつし）によって統一されたアイヌに対する呼称である。農業に従事しようとするアイヌに対して1万5000坪(5ha)以内の土地を無償下付できること，ただし売買･譲渡･質入れの禁止など所有権に制限を加えること，アイヌ共有財産その他の財源によって補助や救恤（きゆうじゆつ）を行うこと，アイヌの集落をなした場所に小学校を設置できること，などが法律の骨子である。…

※「旧土人」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報