Traditional Governance and Adapted Forms of Government

In the early 19th century, British and Canadian governments began interfering directly with the autonomy and sovereignty of Indigenous nations. They forcefully disposed of traditional governments and replaced them with a system of indirect rule effected through newly created offices of Chief and Councilor. Initially viewed as an experiment in ‘civilization’ and ‘assimilation’, this system soon became preferred federal policy and was institutionalized in the Indian Act using Band Councils...