Indian Act

Constitution Act 1867

Mar 22, 1867

Established Canada as a Confederation. Assigned to Parliament legislative jurisdiction over "Indians and Lands reserved for the Indians"; 2 separate powers cover status and civil rights on the one hand and Indian lands on the other.

Canadian Government almost have complete control.

Mar 22, 1867

Control how Indians lived and interacted with non-indians.

Enfranchisement

Mar 22, 1869

Common legal process by which native peoples lost their Native Status under the Indian Act.

Reserves belong to the crown

Mar 22, 1895

Without ownership of land, Indigenous peoples are not able (to this day) to develop reserve lands because they have been unable to, for example, obtain bank loans as they have no collateral. As a result below-poverty standards of living are on-going today.)

Government strikes again

Mar 22, 1911

Government can take what it wants when it wants. Allowed portions of reserves to be expropriated by municipalities for roads, railways or other public purposes without Native consultation.

Indian act Amended

Mar 22, 1924

Indian Act amended to include Inuit people.

Amendment

Mar 22, 1951

Canadian government overhauled the act and continue to amend it throughout remainder of 20th century.

Canadian Status Indians Gain their rights

Mar 22, 1960

Canadian status indians gain the right to vote in Federal Elections.

Right to vote

Mar 22, 1962

Indians ad the right to vote in federal and provincial elections.

Law was changed

Mar 22, 1985

Indians could no longer be forced to give up indian status and native women who married non-status men no longer lost their Indian status.