Gradual Civilization Act

The Act to Encourage the Gradual Civilization of Indian Tribes in this Province, and to Amend the Laws Relating to Indians (Act to encourage the gradual civilization of Indian tribes in this province and to improve the legal relationship with Native Americans ), known as the Gradual Civilization Act (Act for the gradual civilization ), was a Parliament of the Province of Canada in 1857 law passed.

The Act introduced the bill continues to protect the Indians in Upper Canada (Act for the Protection of the Indians in Upper Canada), which was decided in 1839. But it also demanded that each registered Indians could be released from this status if it met certain conditions. First, he had to be at least 21 years old, speak, read and write the English or French, and can show a basic education. He also had to be debt-free and of good moral character. On the other hand, such a liberated ( enfranchised ) Indians would no longer have the legal rights and habits of Indians, yes, he would not even be on hold for an Indian, but to be a British subject.

Although sufficient in practice the moral requirement in conjunction with the language skills, even if they were limited as long as it is transmitted orally ruled one of the required languages. Also appeared before a three-year trial period. Sober and industrious life, freedom from debt and sufficient intelligence to lead an independent life, sufficed.

In addition, applicants should choose a family name, which had to be approved by the competent Indian Commissioner. The offspring were also exempt, were no longer members of their former tribe, unless they were married again in a trunk.

In addition, the applicant received on success, a piece of land (up to 50 acres), which however has been taken out of the country intended for his former master. He was like only owner, because only his children were owners of the land. So he could not even sell or trade. Then there was a certain amount of money.

By adopting it formally lost all rights of a registered Indian (status Indians) on contributions and participation. Died a couple without children, the country should return no later than the death of the last survivor of the crown. While an application could only be made on a voluntary enfranchisement, but women and children were not asked.

Who falsely posing as exempt Indians had to reckon with six months in prison.

The law was a huge failure, because until the adoption of the Indian Act of 1876 allowed only a single Indian "liberate". His name was Elias Hill.

But the law had fatal consequences insofar as the approach to trade from nation to nation, and accordingly to accept only contractual arrangements, was thus abandoned. Mistrust and rejection intensified, the tribes were protesting against the law.

For the first time decided no longer the tribes or their members, who was an Indian, but a British law. Also reserves could now be reduced without formal consent of the tribes. In addition, women were not asked in the liberation nor on the issue of re-entry into a strain.

In retrospect, it appears to the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development as "the beginning of a psychological assault on Indian identity did would be escalated by the later Indian Act Prohibitions on other cultural practices", which is the beginning of a psychological attack on Indian identity, should be increased by the prohibitions of the later Indian law.