Teaching (and Learning About) The Indian Act

It has been five years since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation report.  We all can admit that we are at different points in our learning about the history of Canada’s relationships with Indigenous Peoples.  In order to feel equipped to teach our students about this history and to feel more comfortable/enabled to have difficult conversations, we need to take steps to learn it ourselves. 

There are many Ontario Social Studies curriculum expectations connections to the Indian Act, the time period surrounding the implementation of the Indian Act, as well as the acts that were in place before the Indian Act (The Gradual Civilization Act, 1857; and the Gradual Enfranchisement Act, 1869).

These resources will help you learn more about The Indian Act, and the effect it still has on Indigenous peoples today, as well as give you some tools to use to teach this part of history to your students. 

What is the Indian Act?

This is an incredibly oppressive and racist statute of laws that was implemented in 1876 to force assimilation on First Nations peoples here in what we now call Canada. It is still in effect today, and although there have been some amendments, a lot of the laws still remain in The Indian Act’s original form. 

The Indian Act governs every aspect of First Nations peoples lives and some of the pieces of the legislation include: 

• Forced First Nations peoples to live on small, leftover portions of land

• Forced First Nations children to go to residential schools

• Outlawed cultural practices such as ceremonies and celebrations

• Removed the rights of First Nations women, made them dependents of their husbands (which was contrary to Indigenous customs)

• Instituted the Reserve Pass System which made it illegal for First Nations people to leave their reserve without permission from the Indian Agent. 

There are many, many more details to this oppressive piece of legislation about which, through guided inquiry, you and your students will be able to learn more, make connections to current events and then be called to take action. 

Resources

Strengthen your own understanding 

To learn more about The Indian Act, you can watch this recording of a Workshop that was provided to LKDSB employees on December 2nd. This workshop dove into the history of the Indian Act, and the details of some of its oppressive policies.  Educators can use this recording to build their own understanding of the Indian Act and how it still affects the lives of First Nations peoples today.  By taking the time to learn this information, you will be strengthening your own understanding and better equipping yourself to have difficult conversations with your students, families and friends.

Teach your students

I created a tool, Digital Evidence Box, for teachers to use with their Grade 7 and 8 students to teach about the Indian Act.  You can find this resource here:

https://sites.google.com/lkdsb.com/evidenceboxindianact/

Using the Indian Act Digital Evidence Boxes in Your Classroom

This is a 20-minute recording about how you might use this tool in your class.  Sample learning goals and success criteria are shared as well as ideas for other curriculum connections and possible assessment strategies.

French Immersion Considerations

It would be fantastic if any resources that share the true accurate histories and the voices and stories of Indigenous peoples would have been translated from their ancestral languages, but that is not the case.  It is important to acknowledge at this time that through the oppressive realities of Canadian history, most First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples do not speak the languages of their ancestors.

While these resources are exclusively in English, this resource can still be used in a French Immersion classroom. It has proven to be quite difficult to find Community and Primary resources in the French language, as most Indigenous people speak English.  It is very important to note that for so long, Indigenous people’s voices were not shared or amplified, and it is very important for us as educators to make sure we are sharing and amplifying Indigenous voices through primary and community sources.

Some ways to use this resource in a French Immersion classroom: 

• Listen, read and watch the resources as they are in English and respond to them in French
• Work with your teaching partner so these resources are used in an English Language Arts class

In Conclusion

By taking the time to teach about the Indian Act, you are helping students to understand the relationships between Canada and the Peoples indigenous to this land, as well as help your students to make connections to current events and issues.  Many students (and teachers) come to school with biases in place, and also a lack of understanding of this history.  

Through engaging in this teaching and learning a shift in thinking is able to take place and hopefully some empathy and understanding can be gained. Let’s work together to respond to and act on the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

Miigwech!