Indian agent (Canada) facts for kids
From the 1870s until the 1960s, an Indian agent was a person who worked for the Canadian government. Their job was to represent the government on First Nations reserves. This role no longer exists today.
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What Was an Indian Agent?
The job of an Indian agent started in the early 1870s. These agents were in charge of carrying out government rules on reserves. They also made sure the Indian Act was followed. This Act was a set of laws about First Nations people. Indian agents also managed the daily lives of First Nations people on reserves.
An Indian agent was like the main manager for First Nations matters in their area. They had a lot of power over the lives of First Nations people. Their duties were similar to those of a magistrate (a type of judge) or a policeman.
The Pass System
From 1885 until World War II, there was something called the pass system. Under this system, a Status Indian person was not allowed to leave their Indian reserve without a special pass. This pass had to be signed by the Indian agent. If someone was found off the reserve without a pass, or with an expired pass, they could be arrested.
Important Indian Agents
Some well-known Indian agents in Canada included Henry Ross Halpin, Ebenezer McColl, and Alexander McKee.
Changes and the End of the Role
In 1969, the Canadian government suggested a new plan called the White Paper. This plan wanted to remove the special legal differences between First Nations people and other Canadians. It also suggested getting rid of the Indian Act.
However, First Nations people strongly disagreed with this plan. They did not want to lose their unique identity and rights. They also disliked how the government treated them, which felt like the government was trying to control them too much. Because of this, the government slowly started to change its approach. One of these changes was removing all Indian agents from reserves.
The term "Indian agent" was also used in the United States. There, it referred to people who worked for the U.S. government to interact with Native American tribes.
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