Fonds PR-2104 - Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development fonds

The Dept. of Indian Affairs and Northern Development was established by the government of Canada in 1873 under its first name, the Dept. of the Interior (SC 1873, c. 4) which took over the responsibility for the Indian Affairs program from the Dept. of Secretary of State for the Provinces. In 1880, an independent Dept. of Indian Affairs was created (SC 1880, c. 28), presided over by the minister of the interior as superintendent of Indian Affairs. In 1936, the Dept. of Indian Affairs was made a branch of the Dept. of Mines and Resources (SC 1936, c. 33). In 1949, the Indian Affairs Branch was transferred to the Dept. of Citizenship and Immigration (SC 1949, c. 16). The administrative structure of the branch remained unchanged until its transfer to the Dept. of Northern Affairs and National Resources in 1965 (SC 1965, c. 4). In 1966, the Government Organization Act established the Dept. of Indian Affairs and Northern Development under the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act (SC 1966, c. 25). One of the five branches of the new department was responsible for Indian and Inuit affairs. The mandate of the department is based on the Indian Act (RSC 1985, c. 1-5). In British Columbia, an Indian Reserve Commission was established in 1876 with representatives of both the dominion and provincial governments. The Commission was disestablished in 1878 when the first Indian Reserve Commissioner was appointed, reporting to both the provincial Dept. of Lands and Works and the federal Indian Superintendent for British Columbia under the Dept. of Indian Affairs. The Dept. of Lands and Works was disestablished in 1908 but the position was in place until 1910 when the first inspector of Indian Agencies was appointed for the southwestern agencies of the Dominion of Canada. In 1917, the position was renamed Chief Inspector of British Columbia. A new position of Indian Commissioner for British Columbia was established from 1923-1948. A major reorganization of the Dept. of Indian Affairs in 1948 provided an Indian Commissioner and a Regional Supervisor of Indian Agencies.