I.

Introduction

Indian Act of Canada, law designed to integrate Indians in Canada into the mainstream economy and culture. Introduced in 1876, the act allowed the Canadian government almost complete control over how Indians lived and interacted with non-Indians. At the same time, it gave the government special responsibility for the health, education, and lands of much of the Indian population. The Canadian Parliament overhauled the act in 1951 and continued to amend it significantly throughout the remainder of the 20th century. While the more recent changes allowed less federal intrusion, the government still exercised a large degree of control over the lives of Indian people. In addition, the government’s control of the Indian population actually worked counter to the act’s stated goal; the act isolated Indian people from mainstream Canadian society instead of integrating them into it.