The Indian Act was enacted in 1876 to “kill the Indian in the child”; a new one is repealed by First Nations National Chief in order to share resource and push all parties to move forward on land claims.
It introduces two sides to the relationship between the first nation and Indian Act. Some of them don’t like the government interfere too much but they cannot give up its protections. As the article says, the relationship is ambivalent. Other aboriginal people choose to cooperate with the federal government to gain powers to manage lands, resources and the environment. Some radical aborigines set up their own governments instead of working with the federal government.
National chief Shawn Atleo of First Nation has called on to repeal the Indian Act, I think it is a beneficial thing for aborigines. In early time the act actually harmed lots of native children and eliminated aboriginal culture, but it is a multicultural world now, which means we cannot stick to old rules. The new Indian Act helps to promote the economics development in Canada, which is beneficial for everyone. The combination of culture, technology, and natural resources is not only good for Canada but also the whole world.
Link:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/background-the-indian-act-1.1056988