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.
 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
 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.

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?
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”.

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.

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.

You lose your Native status if…
You earn a
university degree
 You are out of
Canada for over
five years.

What was the goal of the Indian Act?



Assimilation
Definition:
to make similar to…
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/i
mages.