Suggestions for Changing the Indian Act

There has been much discussion about changing or repealing Canada's Indian Act. The Act's name itself is considered offensive to many.

Perhaps a good suggestion would be to replace the Indian Act with a revitalization of those principles from the Royal Proclamation of 1763 - a reaffirmation. The statute could simply be called the Reaffirmation of the Aboriginal Principles in the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Rather than the Indian Act, it could be given a more acceptable title but it would need to carry forward the essential policies of the Royal Proclamation so that the lands of First Nations are not inappropriately alienated without their consent. That’s the only thing probably that’s worth saving in the Indian Act. Virtually everything else in the Indian Act could go.

In a recent video, Jack Woodward, lawyer discusses this challenging question.

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