The Indian Act is not just a piece of legislation, it was never just a piece of legislation—it is a massive, jagged, rip straight through Canada’s moral fabric; this was an apartheid system designed to oppress and control Indigenous peoples from the beginning, and over years its influence only grew and spread tentacles, it never diminished. Its legacy has caused profound harm to Indigenous communities, stripping away their autonomy, culture, health, and well-being.
By actively suppressing Indigenous traditions, ceremonies, and spiritual practices, the Act forced a disconnection from ancestral roots. This dislocation has resulted in deep, generational trauma that continues to reverberate today.
Economically, the Act established “reserves,” inadequate parcels of land that restricted access to long-held indigenous lands, the public and natural resources available outside the reservation lands, and all opportunities to advancement, perpetuating cycles of poverty and limiting the ability of Indigenous communities to thrive. The imposed system of confinement has made it incredibly difficult for many communities to escape the grip of economic hardship.
The Act also created devastating health gaps by denying Indigenous people access to healthcare and essential nutrition. This resulted in alarmingly high rates of illness, malnutrition, and preventable diseases, the effects of which are still being felt in these communities today.
Further harm was inflicted through laws prohibiting traditional practices. The Act banned vital activities such as hunting, fishing, and trapping, —critical food sources and cultural connections, and outlawed Potlaches, which were crucial to communities’ relationships, under threat of immediate imprisonment.
 
The long-lasting consequences of the Indian Act have scarred Indigenous peoples socially, politically, and culturally. Its disruptions to health, food systems, relationships with the land, and cultural practices continue to affect communities today. The Act influenced a poisoning of public judgement that actively encouraged bigotry and intolerance. The Indian Act is not just a historical injustice—it is an ongoing legacy of harm that continues to shape the lives of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Every Canadian needs to look deeply into all the ways personal subconscious perspective has been impacted by this. Canada has only in recent history awakened from this dark place, but will build a future of repair, coalition, and respect with every mind that understands the truth and the damage.