I have chosen to write on the Indian Act of 1876. The Indian Act is a Federal Law of Canada that governs matters regarding Indigenous people of Canada regarding status, Reserves and Bands. This Act has been seen as invasive and controversial for as long as it has been around. It makes it so that the Canadian Federal Government can regulate day to day life of registered First Nations people, affairs, and reserve communities. The Indian Act was famous for its oppression of traditional Indigenous practices. One of the most famous examples of this is the Potlatch Law. In 1884 Potlatches were banned using the Indian Act. Potlatches were most important to the west coast bands. A Potlatch was seen as being ceremonial and a way to help spread wealth and good intentions to people in the Indigenous community.Other important ceremonies such as the Sun Dance were banned in following years under the Indian Act. The Indian Act has been through many revisions over time since it was originally brought into use in 1876. It was after World War Two that Canadian citizens really started to become more concerned and aware of what human rights are. In 1957 a revision to the Indian Act made it so that it was no longer illegal for Indigenous people to practice their cultural traditions and customs. This change also made it so that Indigenous people could go into pool halls and partake in gambling which prior to this was not allowed. Although, with these positive changes the consumption of alcohol by Indigenous people was still controlled by the government. The Canadian Government wanted to move away from making First Nations people look like wards of the state and stop some of the negative views associated with their culture. However by doing this the government wanted to facilitate ideas to help Indigenous people to become “contributing members” of Canadian society. I think that this was a very misleading objective of the Canadian Government as the Indigenous people make up a very large part of what Canada is. However I do understand that this was a old school view on First Nations people. The Indian Act continues to be one of the most controversial Acts of Canadian Government practices. The changes made since it was implemented have been beneficial but I do not think that the government will ever fully get rid of the Indian Act.
Works Cited:
“Indian Act.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/indian-act.
“The Indian Act.” Indigenousfoundations, indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_indian_act/.
Hi Megan!
I like that you chose to talk about such an influential aspect of Canadian legislature, especially because so many people do not know much about it. As someone who went to high school in Canada, I learned a lot about the Indian Act and the ways that it has been amended over time as Canada has developed as a nation. However, I believe it is still incredibly limiting considering the extensive growth that the country has undergone in the last century, as a place that claims to be known for its multiculturalism and inclusivity.
In regards to the invasiveness of the Indian Act (such as its banning of Potlatch ceremonies), how do you think it may have influenced the prominence of traditions practiced in Indigenous communities today? Do you think it was so drastic that the practice of cultural ceremonies could not completely recover following its amendments?
Hi Megan,
It’s almost unbelievable to think that the Canadian government had the right to enact a law that stripped ceremonial, cultural practices of the Aboriginal community all for the sake of, as Coleman put it, the white civility project. I think the Indian Act of 1876, without a doubt, supports Coleman’s argument since to be deemed a Canadian, you had to abide by their strict laws and rules to maintain the British mode of civility, which was perceived to be the “true” definition of Canadian identity.
Do you think the Indian act of 1876 supports Coleman’s claims? Why do you think Canada continues to segregate and mistreat indigenous communities? I wonder if a reason for this could be the repercussions of the Canadian Government’s role in trying to erase their culture, which only further created a divide between society in which it treats them as outsiders.