Indian Act Research Paper

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How did the implementation and delivery of the Indian Act and its subsequent amendments (until 1951) result in the Hawthorne report claim that Indigenous people were ‘citizens minus’.
Until the 16th century, Aboriginal people were the only inhabitants of what is now Canada, hence, they were independent and self-governing. Europeans finally had the capacity to dominate Canada’s original inhabitants and possessors (Elias 1). The European Invasion brought about The 1876 Indian Act, which was developed over time through separate pieces of colonial legislation regarding Aboriginal peoples across Canada such as the Gradual Civilization Act of 1857 and the Gradual Enfranchisement Act of 1869. In 1876, these acts were consolidated as the Indian Act …show more content…
Many Canadians recognized that Aboriginal people in Canada were among the most disadvantaged in the country. This was particularly troubling for Canadians after the participation of First Nations soldiers in the war highlighted Aboriginal peoples’ contributions to Canada as a nation. This recognition, along with Canada’s commitment to the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, led to the revision of the Indian Act in 1951. The more oppressive sections of the Indian Act were amended and taken out. It was no longer illegal for Indians to practice cultural customs such as the potlatch. They were now allowed to enter pool halls and to gamble, although restrictions on alcohol were reinforced. Indians were also now allowed to appear off-reserve in a ceremonial dress without permission of the Indian Agent, to organize and hire legal counsel, and Indian women were now allowed to vote in band councils. Although enfranchisement was kept, it was now voluntary. The federal government’s general purpose for the amendments at that time was to move away from casting Indians as wards of the state and instead facilitate their becoming contributing citizens of …show more content…
The Indian acts main aim was to the kill the Indian Spirit. Despite numerous subsequent amendments, its essential assimilation doctrines remained significantly integral for more than a century. The endurance of such legislation for more than a century effectively demonstrates the values of Canadian mainstream. The impact of the original but also the amended Indian act was unquestionably profound. An essential dualism was established as the basis of Canadian Federalism and two paths were constructed: one for the non-Aboriginal Canadians to easily participate in activities of their community and one for Aboriginal people to be stripped of their self-determining power and separated from their national life. Then came the Hawthorne report, which served to greatly alleviate the plight of Indians and its impact can still be felt today. The report greatly aided in Canadians joining in the fight for the Indians whom they knew nothing about. Today although the Indian act still exists, Indian chiefs say it’s to remind the government of the atrocities they had committed. Today the message by Hawthorne is being executed, Indigenous peoples are now “citizens plus” in their own land. Although Indians still live with the memories and the scars of the evils of the Indian Act, they have come to not only adapt to the society but also to become contributing members of the
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