Okay, so I've tried a few options and have received little response so far, and don't know where else to turn.

I am presenting a paper at a conference in a few weeks about race and the Indian Act, and I am trying to gauge how much students know about the Indian Act.

I speculate it's not all that much. I know with Mac, there are only two Canadian History courses, and the last few times they've been taught they have focused mostly on the history of Christianity in Canada.

So...what do you know (without checking out Wikipedia)? Even saying you know nothing would be really helpful.

Thanks!

Via my cultural anthropology class, I know that First Nations in Canada have continually got the short the end of the stick in many issues, such as the Cree and land rights in a recent encounter with De Beers diamonds.

....and that's about it. I suppose my knowledge on this subject would be described as "hardly any".

I remember the term from history during highschool
but to be completely honest, I don't remember a single thing about it lol

Originally Posted by Shmowen

I suppose my knowledge on this subject would be described as "hardly any".

But you know way more than most. Trust.

I remember some things from High School, and have heard things in passing being from a smallish northern ontario community with a 50/50 white and native population. Wasnt it passed in the 60's? or soooomething. I think theres some things in there about land rights, fishing/hunting/gathering rights, and some promises from the government. Im unsure if this is correct or if I am thinking of some other government thingy regarding the natives.

AnnaM, the first version of the Indian Act became enacted in 1876...so I'm not sure what you're referring to.

Indian Act = cultural genocide.

FYI, Aboriginal issues are also addressed in Political Science classes like Federalism and Public Law. I wrote a paper last year on comparative federalist policies in Canada and Australia's Northern Territories towards Aboriginals- and sadly found similar results in both places.

I know nothing.

I know about nouveau morrisseau and that's from grade 10 art, lol.

The indian act helps indians? (apart from being a politically incorrect name for it)

I'm not social science, so this ignorance is forgivable?

Maybe its because of my uber-political nature, but my basic understanding of the "Indian Act", is that it was a tiny part of the BNA Act of 1867 (the Act that brought into being the Dominion).

This Act deems someone a registered "Indian" and established the reserve system, which, depending on your POV could be akin to Apartheid or the native people's saving grace.

It definitely belittled the culture of the aboriginal people, because I remember that some of the 'amendments', particularly the in the pre WWII era, were about enforcing residential schooling or treating aboriginal people and culture as if it were inferior to its British equivalent.

Correct me if I'm wrong, though...

I know it exists. That's all I can say about that.

Isn't that the one that outlines things like Indian status and what that gives you and such?

@Naheed: I've been told the Poli Sci classes that address Indigenous Issues tend to do it from a non-Native perspective, so they often use rather outdated info.

@rcrw88: Debatable. All of my Native friends hate living under it.

@ c.erl: One of the main goals was to civilize the Indian. Up until 1960 Indigenous persons weren't allowed to vote in Canada, couldn't participate in cultural activities (powwows, sundance, potlatch etc). And then there's the residential school issue. It's the only piece of policy in Canada that defines someone by race.

@ Maegs: Yes, it outlines what is considered Indian according to the Canadian government...which makes it complicated because Indigenous people have no say in how they are defined.

Thanks for the replies, keep them coming (please)!