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Indian Acts

Category: Legislation
Binomial Name: Canadian Federal Government
Date: 1 January 1876
Sub Category:Legislation
Place:
State/Country:Canada
Alternative Names:
  • Indian Act
  • Subject Matter:Cultural Heritage | Recognition of Native Title or Traditional Ownership | Recognition of Traditional Rights and Interests
    Summary Information:
    The original Indian Act was adopted in 1876, and has been periodically amended since that time. It was originally used to expand the system of Aboriginal Reserves in Canada, and narrowed the land base of tribal groups. It was also used as a mechanism to control various aspects of tribal life and provided for 'Indian Band governance on those reserves, determined who was and was not an Indian, determined the status of Band members, disenfranchised Indian women who married outside the Tribe, limited voting rights in Band matters to men, enabled the removal of Indian children to non-reserve boarding schools, enabled the regulation of traditional cultures by banning certain ceremonies, restricted Indian legal claims, instituted a pass system for travel on and off reserves and empowered the dislocation of many Tribes from their homelands to secure lands and resource access for non-Aboriginal settlers and interests' (Nettheim et al, 83).

    Related Entries

  • Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement 1994
  • Organisation
  • Government of Canada
  • Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
  • Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
  • Canadian Centre for the Independent Resolution of First Nations Specific Claims
  • Sahtu Dene Council
  • Event
  • Royal Proclamation 1763
  • Coolican Report 1986
  • Legislation
  • Constitution Act 1867
  • Constitution Act 1982
  • Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act 1984
  • Specific Claims Resolution Act (2003, c.23)
  • People
  • Chipewyan Band
  • Policy/Strategy
  • White Paper on Indian Policy
  • Specific Claims Policy 1973
  • Gathering Strength: Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan 1998
  • In All Fairness: A Native Claims Policy 1981
  • Outstanding Business: A Native Claims Policy 1982

  • References

    Resource
    Canadian Government (1876) Indian Act
    Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (2003) Backgrounder: Canadian Centre for the Independent Resolution of First Nations Specific Claims
    Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (2004) Specific Claims Branch
    Canadian Arctic Resources Committee (1987) From Recommendations to Policy: Battling Inertia to Obtain a Land Claims Policy
    Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (1998) Gathering Strength: Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan
    Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (2003) Backgrounder: Canadian Centre for the Independent Resolution of First Nations Specific Claims
    Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (2003) Overview
    Department of Justice Canada (2003) Specific Claims Resolution Act [Not in force] (2003, c. 23 )
    Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Backgrounder: Canadian Centre for the Independent Resolution of First Nations Specific Claims

    Glossary

    Legislation | Indian Claims Commission (Canada)

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