Causes And Effects Of The Indian Act Of 1876

Causes, issues, and groups involved

The conflict with the aboriginal people of Canada is seen to have begun with the official Indian Act of 1875. However for decades prior to the Indian Act the population of Canada had been aiming to get the indigenous population to assimilate to the new, more modern European settler lifestyle and cultural ideals. Prior to the Indian Act, there was the Gradual Citizens act which was passed in 1857. These laws and acts became the basis of the modern Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada.

The Gradual Citizen Act has been viewed as the true predecessor and primary cause of the Indian Act of 1876 and as the start many similar racist laws. These laws were built around the idea of enfranchisement of the

The Indian Act of 1876 and impart the events that followed are the chief causes of the modern day truth and reconciliation commission. The origins of the Indian act was brought further into consideration predominantly by the influential Roman-Catholic church of Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada. Soon after the push for the Indian Act from the church the act was made law by the Canadian Government due the informal lack of separation between the churches at state. While there are many different effects from the Indian act of 1876 there most predominant and lasting effect was the forced attendance for school for aboriginal minors. This act made into the law anyone under the age of 21 to attend schools which were often mandated by the Canadian church system. There were three types of schooling offered, including a day school, industrial school, and residential school. However while day school, industrial school or residential school were all offered, a residential school in many/most cases was the only viable option for the families. While these schools did teach the basics of education including math, rudimentary science, and language, these schools were still seen and immoral and unjust. This poor imagine derived from the fact that the schools were controlled by the church and not by the government, therefore meaning that religion was forced upon the minor aboriginal population for the purpose of assimilation. These schools were also viewed as immoral because that separated the minor population from their families. This separation came from the lack of day and industrial schools being built by the government, meaning that the minor population was forced to travel to residential schools. RESTATE Other negative effects of the Indian Act included gender discrimination, limited to access to the court system and finally