The Impact Of The Indian Act Of 1876 In Canada

The Indian Act of 1876 had a profound and lasting impact on Indigenous peoples in Canada, resulting in the erosion of their cultures, languages and communities. While the Act was initially intended to assimilate Indigenous peoples into mainstream Canadian society, but instead had devasting consequences, including the forced removal of children from their families and communities, the loss of traditional lands and resources, and the denial of basic human rights. Indian Act also had profound effect on Indigenous land and resource rights. The act has allowed the federal government to unilaterally expropriate Indigenous lands for purposes such as mining, forestry without consultation and led to the loss of traditional territories and the destruction

Under the Act, Indigenous people were forcibly removed from their traditional lands and relocated to reserves, often far from their original homes and communities. This practise of forced relocation disrupted Indigenous societies and resulted in the loss of traditional languages, cultures and ways of life (Wilson, n.d.). Forced relocation also had negative impacts on Indigenous people's health and wellbeing. The trauma and stress of being forced to leave their homes and communities led to an increased risk of mental health issue’s such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Indigenous people who were relocated to unfamiliar areas also had to adapt to new environments and resources, which often led to poverty and malnutrition (Onderkova,2015). Forced relocation continued to be major issue for Indigenous people. The Pass System, for example, was a policy introduced by the Canadian government in the late 19^(th) century that required Indigenous people to obtain a pass in order to leave the reserve (CBC,2015). This policy severely restricted the mobility of Indigenous people and further contributed to the loss of traditional ways of life. Forced relocation also led to the loss of land and resources for Indigenous people. When they were moved to reserves, they were often placed on land that was not suitable for agriculture or resource gathering. This forced them to rely on government for food and other necessities, which resulted in loss of independence and self-sufficiency (Monchalin, 2016). Furthermore, forced relocation was often carried out without consultation from the affected communities. This disregard for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination further perpetuated the colonialism and oppression of Indigenous peoples (Onderkova,