The Indian Act of 1876

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(No Transcript)
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The Indian Act

• 1876

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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.
• The Canadian government could make decisions
  concerning the Natives without consulting them.

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The Act legally defines who is a Native Canadian
Indian

• Excerpt from the Indian Act
• 3.3 The Term Indian means
• First. Any male person of Indian blood reputed
  to belong to a particular band
• Secondly. Any child of such person.
• Thirdly. Any woman who is or was lawfully
  married to such person.

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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?

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If a Aboriginal wanted to be a Canadian citizen

• The individual Aboriginal must give up their
  status as a Native and all the things that go
  with that.
• Only Canadian citizens were allowed to vote so
  Natives were not allowed to vote in elections.
• In fact the Act defined a Person as an
  individual other than an Indian.

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The Act affected traditional Aboriginal government

• The Indian Act made new rules about who could
  qualify as members of a band.
• Membership in a band determined who could vote in
  band elections.
• Traditionally women were often equally involved
  in Native government practices.
• Elders were advisors.
• The Indian Act took away the influence of women
  and Elders.

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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.

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You lose your Native status if

• You earn a university degree
• You are out of Canada for over five years.

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What was the goal of the Indian Act?

• Assimilation
• Definition
• to make similar to

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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?

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References for the images

• Aboriginal Treaties and Relations. 2008.
  Canada in the Making. Nov 23, 2010.
  http//www1.canadiana.org/citm/images/images.