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The Indian act pg. 137

The Indian act pg. 137. Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Perspective. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaubXDSgAxg. What is the Indian Act?.

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The Indian act pg. 137

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  1. The Indian act pg. 137

  2. Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Perspective http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaubXDSgAxg

  3. What is the Indian Act? • It is federal legislation related to the rights and status of First Nations Peoples (“status Indians”), first passed in 1876 and amended in several times.

  4. Why is it Important • Not only was it the first document outlining the status and rights (or limitation of) the aboriginal peoples of Canada it also reflects how the GOVERNMENT understood the later TREATIES that came after the Indian Act.

  5. Under this Act… • The government is able to develop specific policies and programs to administer Treaty rights to First Nations. • The collective rights of First Nations people was affirmed. • It DEFINES who mat be registered as a “STATUS INDIAN” with Treaty rights.

  6. Problems with the Act ASSIMILATION – force a dominant culture onto peoples from another culture • It aimed to assimilate First Nations People • It defined how First Nations peoples had to conduct their affairs (i.e. band elections) even when they had their own system of governing themselves • At times in history, the act restricted First Nations peoples from traveling freely, taking political action, wear traditional dress, and to take part in traditional ceremonies. • Until 1960, the act required First Nations to give up their legal identity and Treaty rights to gain the right to vote.

  7. Problems with the Act Cont…. • It created officials for each reserve – “Indian Agents” – with the power to decide individually how the government would fulfill it’s duties. This meant there were many interpretations of what Treaty rights meant on a case-by-case basis. • The act was made in 1876. A time when the government thought it was okay to make laws for First Nations without consulting them. (This is because in the past, Canada’s colonial system practiced ETHNOCENTRISM – this is the belief that one’s culture is superior to all other cultures).

  8. What has Happened Over the Years? • Pressure from First Nations has caused Canada’s government to revise the Indian Act several times. • The Act remains in force today. SIDEBAR: First Nations and Canada’s government agree that the Indian Act needs updating. But First Nations rejected the government’s attempt in 2002.

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