Lecture 7-Indian Act Flashcards
What was the Indian Act?
- a legislation that was introduced in Camada in 1876. Its primary aim was to control and assimilate Indigenous populations. Consolidated existing colonial policies and laws regarding Indigenous peoples.
How does the Indian Act define INdian?
The act imposed a legal definition of Indian, which determined who could be recognized as Indiegnous by the government. This limited definition excluded many people who identified as Indiegnous but didnt meet specific criteria
How did the act impose the elected chief and band counsil system?
The act replaced traditional governance systems with an imposed elected system
Denied status to women
The act initially denied Indian status to women who married non indigenous men, leading to the loss of their rights and connection to their communities
Creted reserves
The act established reserves, often less desireable land, as designated areas for Indigenous people to live. This policy resulted in the loss of vast tracts of traditional territories and limited Indigenous access to resources
Enfranchisment
Encouraged indiegnous peoples to give up thwir legal indian status in exchange for canadian citizenship.
expropriation of reserve lands
granted the governmetn the power to take portions of reserves for public works
renaming individuals
allowed givernment to rename Indigenous individuals with European names
permit system
Implimened a permit system to control Indigenous peoples ability to sell products from their farms
What are Indian agents?
Government appointed officials responsible for enforcing the INdian act on reserves.
What was the pass system?
An informal policy implimented by the Canadian government in the late 19th century. This policy was used to control the movement of the Indigenous peoples. They could not leave their reserves without first obtaining a written pass
