5. The Indian Act

The Indian Act was legislation which created sharp distinctions between Indian and Métis people. Métis people are not recognized under this legislation.

The Indian Act was legislation which allowed for the administration of almost every aspect of an Indian person's life.

Throughout its history, the Indian Act had three main principles:

• to civilize Indian people;
• to manage Indian people and their lands; and
• to define who was and was not an Indian. 

Christianity was imposed on Indian people as a means of "civilizing" them. Potlatches and Sun Dances were outlawed in 1884. Persons who were caught celebrating these events could be imprisoned. Banning these traditional gatherings assisted missionaries in their attempts to replace Indian spiritual beliefs with Christian beliefs.

"No Trespassing" signs were posted on the boundaries of Reserves.

Enfranchisement (getting the right to vote) for the purposes of assimilation was a constant feature of the Indian Act. If an Indian person became enfranchised (accepted the right to vote) he or she had to relinquish their Indian Status.

To this day, the provisions of the Indian Act allow for the administration of Indians on Reserves in areas such as: education, taxation, management of land, and membership.

In 1960, the Federal Elections Act was amended to allow Indian people to vote. An Indian person could now be both an Indian and a Canadian citizen at the same time.