Talking Back to the Indian Act

Mary-Ellen Kelm is Canada Research Chair and Professor in the Department of History at Simon Fraser University. Keith D. Smith teaches in the Departments of Indigenous/Xwulmuxw Studies and History at Vancouver Island University.

Maps 1 to 7
Introduction

1. The 1876 Indian Act
1.1 Indian Act of 1876, Sections 1-3
1.2 Selections of House of Commons Debates on the Indian Act, 1876
1.3 Report of Proceedings of the Ojibway Grand Council Relative to the Indian Act, 1876
1.4 “Grand Indian Council of the Province of Ontario,” Wiarton Echo, 1876
1.5 Memorial from Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations to J.A. Macdonald, 1879
1.6 Interview with Vern Harper, 1983
1.7 Interview with Adam Solway, 1983

2. Governance
2.1 Indian Act of 1876, Sections 61-63, Council and Chiefs
2.2 Amendment to the Indian Act, 1880
2.3 Indian Advancement Act, 1884
2.4 Declaration of Crop Eared Wolf as Chief, 1900
2.5 Letter from Indian Agent R.N. Wilson to Indian Commissioner David Laird, 1908
2.6 “The New Story of the Iroquois by Chief Des-ka-heh,” 1925
2.7 Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1985

3. Enfranchisement
3.1 Indian Act of 1876, Sections 86-94
3.2 Selections from Minutes of Grand Council of Chippewas, 1874
3.3 Memo on Enfranchisement
3.4 Evidence of D.C. Scott to the Special Committee of the House of Commons, 1920
3.5 Indian Act Amendment, 1920
3.6 A.G. Chisholm, “The Case of the Six Nations,” London Free Press, 20 March 1920
3.7 Letter from F.O. Loft to James Lougheed, 9 February 1921

4. Gender
4.1 Indian Act of 1876, Section 3
4.2 Amendment to the Indian Act, 1985
4.3 “Commutation of Annuity of Rosalie Howse née Ermineskin,” 1891
4.4 Mavis Goeres, Enough is Enough
4.5 Manitoba Justice Inquiry, “Cultural Changes—the Impact upon Aboriginal Women”
4.6 Excerpts from the “Reasons for Judgement,” McIvor v. The Registrar, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
4.7 Indigenous Bar Association in Canada, “Position Pater on Bill C-3”

5. Land
5.1 The Indian Act of 1876, Sections 4-10, 25-28, and 59-60
5.2 An Act Respecting the Songhees Indian Reserve, 1911
5.3 “Last Chapter in Problem,” Daily Colonist, 17 March 1911
5.4 Memorandum for the Prime Minister on an Act to Amend the Indian Act
5.5 An Act to Amend the Indian Act (the Oliver Act), 1911
5.6 Letter from Chiefs Hill et al to Governor General Grey, May 1911
5.7 Letter from J.D. McLean to Chiefs Hill et al, May 1911
5.8 Lee Maracle, “Good-bye Snauq.”

Appendix A: Reading Historically
Appendix B: The Indian Act in Historical Context Timeline