Bill: No. 144 was a bill enacted by the federal government to replace previous sections of the Indian Act with new sections. It was passed in 1898.
The bill addressed numerous sections in the Indian Act. It changed sections regarding the sale or lease of reserve lands, powers held by the superintendent general of Indian Affairs (at the time this was a position held by the minister of the Interior) regarding money from First Nations land or natural resource sales and punishments First Nations people could face based upon real or perceived offences (see also Federal Departments of Indigenous and Northern Affairs). The bill established the requirement that First Nations people living on-reserves “perform labour” on public roads on or adjacent to reserves, if directed by the superintendent general. It also laid out the ability of the governor in council to “introduce the elective system of chiefs and councillors or headmen” if deemed necessary for “good government of a band.” Additionally, the bill established requirements surrounding governance and electoral systems on First Nations.
An image of one of the bill’s opening pages is included below. The Canadian Encyclopedia includes this primary source as part of a partnership with the Canadian Research Knowledge Network’s Canadiana collections. For the work in its entirety, please visit their website.
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Title Page for Bill: No. 144 An Act further to amend the Indian Act.
(by Government of Canada, courtesy Canadiana)