21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality

1) "Traditional names went against the government's assimilation objectives; the government feared that leaving Indigenous people with their traditional names would take away their motivation to assimilate. Traditionally, Indians had neither a Christian name nor a surname. They had hereditary names, spirit names, family names, clan names, animal names, or nicknames. Hereditary names, in some cultures, are considered intangible wealth and carry great responsibility and certain rights. Hereditary names have been described as being analogous to royal titles such as Duke of Edinburgh. In many cultures, the birth name was just for that one stage of life, and additional names were given to mark milestones, acts of bravery, or feats of strength. None of the great heritage, symbolism, or tradition associated with names was recorded, recognized, or respected during the renaming process."

2) "In order to obtain a permit to pass, Indians would occasionally have to travel many days by foot to the Indian agent's house, not knowing if he would be there when they arrived. If the agent was away, they would either have to camp and wait, or return home. The pass system was also a means of maintaining a separation between Indians and the European farmers, which seems illogical considering the government's goal of assimilation—it's hard to achieve assimilation if the target population is isolated on reserves. The pass system restricted Indians' access to local towns in order to prevent Indian farmers from wasting their time when they should be tending their crops, which they were restricted from selling. The pass system additionally supported the government's attempts to quash potlatches, the Sun Dance, and other cultural practices."

3) "The right to vote, which most Canadians take for granted, was a hard-fought battle for Indigenous Peoples. In most parts of Canada, Indians were offered the right to vote at the time of Confederation—but only if they gave up their treaty rights and Indian status. Understandably, few were willing to do this. Métis people were not excluded from voting as few were covered by treaties and there was nothing to justify disqualifying them. Inuit were excluded from voting and no steps were taken to grant them the right to vote as most communities were geographically isolated. In the absence of special efforts to enable them to vote, the Inuit had no means of exercising the right."

4) "Indigenous self-government is often referred to as an 'inherent' right that pre-existed long before European settlement. For this reason, some Indigenous Peoples balk at the concept of Canadian governments granting them self-government, because they believe the Creator gave them the responsibilities of self-government and that that right has never been surrendered; it was simply taken by government legislation. In this light, self-government does not have to be recognized by federal or provincial governments because the right continues to exist."