The present Act is a piece of basic legislation that governs in matters pertaining to Indian status, bands, and Indian reserves. It has been suggested that the Indian Act provides ways of understanding native identity, organizing a conceptual framework that has shaped contemporary native life in ways that are now so familiar as to almost seem “natural”. The Indian Act is administered by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), formerly the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND). The Indian Act is a part of a long history of assimilation policies that intended to terminate the cultural, social, economic, and political distinctiveness of Aboriginal peoples by absorbing them into mainstream Canadian life and values. The text consists of 122 sections dealing, inter alia, with the following aspects: descent of property, wills, management of reserves and surrendered and designated lands, loan to Indians, farms, election of chiefs and band councils, taxation, legal rights.
Implemented by: Songhees Indian Reserve Act (S.C. 1911, c. 24) (2015-04-27)
Implemented by: New Brunswick Indian Reserves Agreement Act (S.C. 1959, c. 47). (1959)
Implemented by: Manitoba Claim Settlements Implementation Act (S.C. 2000, c. 33). (2000)
Implemented by: Grassy Narrows and Islington Indian Bands Mercury Pollution Claims Settlement Act (S.C. 1986, c. 23). (1986-06-17)
Implemented by: Indian Timber Regulations (C.R.C., c. 961). (1993)
Implemented by: Indian Timber Harvesting Regulations (S.O.R./2002-109). (2002-02-28)
Implemented by: Indian Mining Regulations (C.R.C., c. 956). (2006-03-22)
Implemented by: First Nations Financial Transparency Act (S.C. 2013, c 7). (2013)
Implemented by: Indian Reserve Waste Disposal Regulations (C.R.C., c. 960). (2006-03-22)
Implemented by: Split Lake Agreement. (1992-04-24)
Implemented by: Norway House Cree Nation Northern Flood Master Implementation Agreement Act (S.M. 1998, c. 43). (1998-06-29)
Implemented by: An Act for the settlement of certain questions between the Governments of Canada and Ontario respecting Indian Reserve Lands (S.C. 1924, c. 48). (1924-07-19)
Implemented by: Nelson House First Nation Flooded Land Act (S.C. 1997, c. 29). (1997)
Implemented by: Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation Self-Government Agreement. (1997-07-21)
Implemented by: Carcross/Tagish First Nation Self-Government Agreement. (2005-10-22)
Implemented by: Ta'an Kwach'an Council Self-Government Agreement. (2002-01-13)
Implemented by: Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Self-Government Agreement. (1998-07-16)
Implemented by: Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Self-Government Agreement. (1993-05-29)
Implemented by: Kwanlin Dun First Nation Self-Government Agreement. (2005-02-19)
Implemented by: Kluane First Nation Self-Government Agreement. (2003-10-18)
Implemented by: Selkirk First Nation Self-Government Agreement. (1997-09-29)
Implemented by: Teslin Tlingit Council Self-Government Agreement. (1993-05-29)
Implemented by: Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Self-Government Agreement. (1993-06-29)
Implemented by: First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun Self-Government Agreement. (1993-05-29)
Implemented by: Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement. (2007-12-06)
Implemented by: Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement among the Tlicho and the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada. (2003-08-25)
Authors and Publishers
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867, while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the world's longest international border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, education, social services, and economic competitiveness, as well as responding to the particular concerns of predominantly francophone Quebec.
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