M Brandon Cotter
Visual Artist


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The Indian Act  (R.S.C., 1985, c. I-5)


This is an ongoing project. 

On the right in, column 1, are sections of the Canadian Government’s Indian Act - A piece of legislation governing the rights and freedoms of Indigenous & First Nations peoples living in so-called Canada. 

On the right, in column 2, are poems and probes I have written using the language of the Indian Act.  I have Written a program to inventory the words in each section. From these word inventories I write.

 My aim is to pick apart, complicate, reframe, recreate and retell this peace of legislation section by section. 
01. Indian Act Sections: 02. Poems & Probes: 
Section 18-19 Word Inventory
Reserves
Marginal note: Reserves to be held for use and benefit of Indians

18 (1) Subject to this Act, reserves are held by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of the respective bands for which they were set apart, and subject to this Act and to the terms of any treaty or surrender, the Governor in Council may determine whether any purpose for which lands in a reserve are used or are to be used is for the use and benefit of the band.

Marginal note:Use of reserves for schools, etc.

(2) The Minister may authorize the use of lands in a reserve for the purpose of Indian schools, the administration of Indian affairs, Indian burial grounds, Indian health projects or, with the consent of the council of the band, for any other purpose for the general welfare of the band, and may take any lands in a reserve required for those purposes, but where an individual Indian, immediately prior to the taking, was entitled to the possession of those lands, compensation for that use shall be paid to the Indian, in such amount as may be agreed between the Indian and the Minister, or, failing agreement, as may be determined in such manner as the Minister may direct.

R.S., c. I-6, s. 18

Marginal note: Children of band members

18.1 A member of a band who resides on the reserve of the band may reside there with his dependent children or any children of whom the member has custody.

R.S., 1985, c. 32 (1st Supp.), s. 8

Marginal note: Surveys and subdivisions

19 The Minister may
(a) authorize surveys of reserves and the preparation of plans and reports with respect thereto;
(b) divide the whole or any portion of a reserve into lots or other subdivisions; and
(c) determine the location and direct the construction of roads in a reserve.

R.S., c. I-6, s. 19 The Minister

The Minister

whom shall reside in 

the in between


is but a marginal note

a portion of a man 


For all what resides with in 

His purpose

His welfare 

His health

are set in reserves


held by Her 


For the location and construction of

burial grounds



Section 34  Word Inventory
Roads and Bridges

34 (1) A band shall ensure that the roads, bridges, ditches and fences within the reserve occupied by that band are maintained in accordance with instructions issued from time to time by the superintendent.
Marginal note:Idem

(2) Where, in the opinion of the Minister, a band has not carried out the instructions of the superintendent issued under subsection (1), the Minister may cause the instructions to be carried out at the expense of the band or any member thereof and may recover the cost thereof from any amounts that are held by Her Majesty and are payable to the band or member.

R.S., c. I-6, s. 34
 Poem 2

Poem test

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Daisies are yellow

Sunflowers are too

Monsteras are green 

So are most trees
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