TEACHING GUIDE: The Indian Act

How did the Indian Act come to be? What is the human cost of this policy for Indigenous people, particularly women?

CBC Podcasts · Posted: Sep 24, 2019 2:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: March 30, 2021

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In 1876, the young country of Canada passed a set of laws intended to govern First Nations people in Canada. Decades later, those laws still exist and are largely unchanged.

So, how and why did The Indian Act come to be? And why is it still on the books? This episode of The Secret Life of Canada explores the federal law that overhauled settler-Indigenous relations.

Possible teaching connections include Geography, History, Social Studies, Law, Civics, and Anthropology. Learn how to use this resource here.

This teaching guide includes:

Download the master folder here.

Have questions about these resources? Are you using them with your class? We want to hear from you!

Email us at podinclass@cbc.ca, or tweet us @CBCPodcasts using the hashtag #CBCPodEdu. Send us pictures of your students using these materials for a chance to get a shout out from Leah and Falen! Feedback will be used to help us make these guides the best they can be.

More Teaching Guides for The Secret Life Of Canada and other CBC Podcasts are available HERE.

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