The Indian Act 1876

Basic Summary All the laws related to Aboriginals are put together in one act. Under the act, Native Canadians were not legally qualified to make decisions for themselves. They were treated as children – known as “children of the state” The Canadian government could make decisions concerning the Natives without consulting them.

The Act legally defines who is a Native Canadian – “Indian” Excerpt from the Indian Act: 3.3 The Term “Indian” means Any male person of Indian blood reputed to belong to a particular band; Any child of such person. Any woman who is or was lawfully married to such person.

Excerpt Continued Provided that any Indian woman marrying any other than an Indian or a non-treaty Indian shall cease to be an Indian in any respect within the meaning of this Act. How did the Indian Act affect First Nations women?

Indian Act Purpose: Assimilation Assimilation means: the forceful implication of mainstream culture onto another culture It made aboriginal life so hard that people were pressured to give up their status to become a Canadian citizen – which was the governments goal

What was the goal of the Indian Act? Assimilation Definition: to make similar to…

Aboriginals lost status when… Aboriginals must give up their status as a Native and all the things that go with that if they: Wanted to vote If they wanted to be a “person” Wanted to live off reserves Wanted to marry a non-native person Wanted to work Wanted human rights

You lose your Native status if… You earn a university degree You are out of Canada for over five years.

The Act affected traditional Aboriginal government The Indian Act made new rules about who could qualify as members of a band. The government put Indian Agents to run the reserve government Traditionally women were often equally involved in Native government practices. Elders were advisors. The Indian Act took away the influence of women and Elders.

The Indian Act Makes Cultural Activities Illegal In 1884 the potlatch was banned. In 1895 Natives are not allowed to wear traditional clothing or participate in traditional dances.

Quotes from Aboriginal People [The Indian Act has] deprived us of our independence, our dignity, our respect and our responsibility. June Delisle Instead of implementing the treaties and offering much needed protection to First Nations rights, the Indian Act subjugated to colonial rule the very people whose rights it was suppose to protect. Harold Cardinal How do these two people interpret the Indian Act?

References for the images “Aboriginal: Treaties and Relations”. 2008. Canada in the Making. Nov 23, 2010. http://www1.canadiana.org/citm/images/images.