21 things you may not have known about Canada's Indian Act

denied women status (1869-1985, with corrective legislation passed in 2019);

introduced residential schools (the last school closed in 1996, but their legacy continues);

created reserves (1876-present);

renamed individuals with European names (1880-undetermined)

restricted First Nations from leaving the reserve without permission from an Indian Agent (phased out in the 1960s)

enforced enfranchisement of any First Nation admitted to university (1876-1951, though enfranchisement was tied to voting until 1961, and women marrying non-Indigenous men until 1985);

could expropriate portions of reserves for roads, railways and other public works, as well as to move an entire reserve away from a municipality if it was deemed expedient (1876-1985, though still an issue, says Joseph);

could lease out uncultivated reserve lands to non-First Nations if the new leaseholder would use it for farming or pasture (1906-1985);

forbade First Nations from forming political organizations (1927-1951);

prohibited anyone, First Nation or non-First Nation, from soliciting funds for First Nation legal claims without special license from the Superintendent General. (this 1927-1951 amendment granted the government control over the ability of First Nations to pursue land claims.);

prohibited the sale of alcohol to First Nations (1884-1985);

prohibited sale of ammunition to First Nations (1882-undetermined);

prohibited pool hall owners from allowing First Nations entrance (1927-1951; however, the Governor General still has powers to regulate such on-reserve establishments);

imposed the "band council" system (1869-present, unless self-government was in place);

forbade First Nations from speaking their native language (the 1880s to 1960s, though in practice, it was phased out with residential schools);

forbade First Nations from practicing their traditional religion (until 1951; however, in practice, residential schools continued the policy);

forbade western First Nations from appearing in any public dance, show, exhibition, stampede, or pageant wearing traditional regalia (1906-1951);

declared potlatch and other cultural ceremonies illegal (1884-1951);

denied First Nations the right to vote (until 1960);

created a permit system to control First Nation's ability to sell products from farms (1881-2014);

is a piece of legislation created under British rule for the purpose of subjugating one race — Indigenous people.