What are the 2 main purposes of the Indian Act?
Notably, the original Indian Act defines two elements that affect all Indigenous Canadians: It says how reserves and bands can operate. The act sets out rules for governing Indian reserves, defines how bands can be created, and defines the powers of “band councils”.
What was the impact of the Indian Act?
Ever since the Indian Act was assented to in 1876, the health of Indigenous Peoples in Canada has been tragically impacted. They were dispossessed of their lands, traditional economies, and the traditional foods that had sustained them since time immemorial, which compromised their immune systems.
What was the problem with the Indian Act of 1876?
The oppression of First Nations women under the Indian Act resulted in long-term poverty, marginalization and violence, which they are still trying to overcome today. Inuit and Métis women were also oppressed and discriminated against, and prevented from: serving in the Canadian armed forces.
Who benefited from the Indian Act?
Systems of control that had been established in prior legislation were now newly defined under one act, the Indian Act of 1867. This act effectively treated Aboriginal people as children—a homogenizing and paternalistic relationship.
What are the positive aspects of the Indian Act?
With the Indian Act and treaties taking effect around the Aboriginals, it placed many pros and cons around this piece of legislation. The pros include: Food, supplies and medicine being delivered to them. Land (called reserved) reserved for them, and could be used for farming and such.
What did the Indian Act regulate?
The Indian Act, which was enacted in 1876 and has since been amended, allows the government to control most aspects of aboriginal life: Indian status, land, resources, wills, education, band administration and so on. Inuit and Métis are not governed by this law.
Is the Indian Act a good thing?
The Act imposed great personal and cultural tragedy on First Nations, many of which continue to affect communities, families and individuals today. Here are 21 restrictions imposed at some point by the Indian Act in its 140 years of existence.
Is the Indian Act still in effect 2021?
In Canada, many people are still oblivious to the Indian Act, says Joseph. Since it was first passed in 1876, the Indian Act has undergone numerous amendments but it still stands as law, governing matters pertaining to Indian status, bands and reserves, among other things.
What have been the most important reforms of the Indian Act?
It forbade First Nations peoples and communities from expressing their identities through governance and culture. The Act replaced traditional structures of governance with band council elections. Hereditary chiefs — leaders who acquire power through descent rather than election — are not recognized by the Indian Act.
Why did the Indian Act create reserves?
Colonial authorities and some Aboriginal people viewed the creation of reserves as a pragmatic solution to land disputes and conflicts between Aboriginal peoples and settlers. Reserve creation was not initially overseen by a central authority or administered by a central policy, and so practices varied between regions.
Why is the Indian Act an injustice?
The act has also been criticized by non-Aboriginal Peoples and politicians as being too paternalistic and creating an unjust system with excessive costs that are considered uneconomical. The Indian Act gave Canada a coordinated approach to Indian policy rather than the pre-Confederation piece-meal approach.
Why should we get rid of the Indian Act?
For well over 140 years, the Indian Act also specifically targeted Indian women and children for removal from their First Nations. The sex discrimination in the Act has been cited as one of the root causes of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls in Canada.