Indian Affairs

Section 91(24) of the British North America Act (Constitution Act, 1867) identifies "Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians" as matters of federal legislative authority. This momentous provision has served as a key point of reference for the relationship between Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the Canadian government. While this relationship continues to be defined by treaties, the Indian Act and the Constitution as amended in 1982, orders-in-council have had an equally profound influence on Aboriginal cultural, economic and legislative matters. These records provide a unique account of government action, cultural disposition and the social impacts related to the administration of Indian Affairs since 1867. While land use and financial administration were regular concerns, the Privy Council also dealt with a wide range of related issues. For example, several orders-in-council were issued in support of the publications of Albert Lacombe, such as a "Dictionary and Grammar of the Chippewa or Saulteaux Language," which received a grant of $500 by order-in-council on January 1, 1876. The dictionary was never published, though Lacombe did contribute to other works such as Livre de prières, etc, en sauteux, published in 1880.