The Indian Act in Canada was enacted to recognize the rights of registered Indians, their bands and the system of the Indian reserves. The Act mandated the federal government of Canada with an exclusive authority to govern Indian Status, resources, Land, band administration and education. The current Act enacted in 1951 repealed the 1859 Act. The provisions of the 1951 Act are based on Royal Proclamations and colonial ordinances.
The 1859 Act was aimed at regulating transactions of trade between Non-Indians and Indians within the territories of Canada. Before the Act was amended, it majorly described entitlement to live ...