What is self-government?
First Nations have been living under the Indian Act for 125 years. The Indian Act establishes a limited form of local administration that does not take into account the specific circumstances of individual First Nation communities. Under the Act, Band Councils are primarily accountable to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, rather than to their own community members. For example, Indian Act Band Councils can pass by-laws, but they must be forwarded to the Minister, who has the power to disallow them.
