CANADA ;.c i DEPARTMENT OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION REPORT OF Indian Affairs Branch FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1959 ( Reprinted from the Annual Report of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration) THE QUEEN'S PRINTER AND CONTROLLER OF STATIONERY OTTAWA, 1960 79193-9-1 CONTENTS PAGE Indian Affairs Branch ........................................................... 45 i Economic Development ............................. " ...................... 46 ~ Wildlife and Fisheries ....................................................... 48 Social Welfare .............................................................. 51 Education ................................................................. 55 ~. Reserves .................................................................. 63 Indian Estates ............................................................. 64 Membership ............................................................... 64 Trusts and Annuities ........................................................ 64 Engineering and Construction ................................................ 66 The Provincial Picture ...................................................... 67 Names and Locations of Indian Agencies ...................................... 87 Indian Affairs Statistical Tables .................................................. 89 Table I-Indian Population 1949, 1954, 1958 .................................. 89 Table 2-Indian Land in Reserves and Number of Bands by Province ........... 89 Table 3-0rdinary Expenditures, 1958-59 ..................................... 90 Table 4-Revolving Fund Loans, Year Ended March 31, 1959 ................... 90 Table 5-Indian Trust Funds, Receipts and Disbursements, Year Ended March 31, 1959 .......................................................... 91 Table 6-Indian Education-Total Expenditure, 1958-59 .................... " .. 92 Table 7-Housing Program, 1958-59 .................. '" .... " ..... " ......... 93 Table 8-Government-owned Indian Schools classified according to Academic Class- rooms ......................................................... 93 Table 9-Indian School Statistics by Province as at January 1, 1959 ............. 94 Table lo-Grade Distribution of Indian Pupils ................................. 94 Table ll-Number of Instructors in Practical Arts in Indian Schools and Number of Students as at December 31, 1958 ................................ 95 Table 12-Indian Day School Enrolment by Province, as at January 1, 1959 ..... 95 Table 13-Indian Seasonal School Enrolment by Province, 1958 .................. 95 Table 14-Indian Hospital School Enrolment by Province as at January 1, 1959 .. 96 Table 15-Residential School Boarders attending Indian Day Schools, by Province, as at January 1, 1959 ............ " .... , ........................ 96 Table 16-Residential Schools Boarders attending Non-Indian Schools, by Province, as at January 1, 1959 ............ '" ............................ 96 Table 17-Day Pupils attending Indian Residential Schools, by Province, as at January 1, 1959 ................................................ 97 Table 18-Enrolment of French-Speaking Indian Pupils at Indian Schools of Quebec, as at January 1, 1959 ............................................ 97 Table 19-Non-Indian Pupils Enrolled at Indian Schools as at January 1, 1959 .... 97 Table 20-Analysis of Enrolment of Indian Pupils, 1958-59 ...................... 98 Table 21-Indian Residential School Boarders, Classified by Denominational Auspices, by Province, January 1959 .............................. 98 Indian Affairs Branch H. M. Jones, Director The rapid establishment of Canadian Indians in the social and economic life of the country has been one of the most encouraging aspects of Indian Affairs during the past decade. More Indians are taking year-round jobs offering a steady income. In the north industrial growth opened up many new employment opportunities. In the southern regions, many Indians have migrated to urban areas, where they have found satisfactory employment. Others have taken advantage of the continuing demand for resources found on or near their reserves. Over the past ten years, education has helped Indians to adjust to the process of economic and social integration. Significantly, there has been a marked increase in the number of Indian students receiving elementary, second­ ary, vocational and professional education, from 23,285 in 1948-49 to 38,836 in 1958-59, an increase of 15,551. Wherever possible, and in consultation with the Indian parents, arrangements are made for students to attend non-Indian schools. The number attending such schools increased from 1,406 in 1948-49 to 8,186 in 1958-59. Legislation has given Indians many social welfare benefits provided to other Canadians. These benefits include Old Age Security, Old Age Assistance, Blind Persons Allowances and benefits under the Disabled Persons Act. Indians have also been brought more and more into the social welfare programs of the provinces and private agencies. Substantial progress has been made in establishing a standard of direct relief for Indians comparable to that of non-Indian com­ munities. Construction of over 10,000 houses on Indian reserves since 1948 has raised the standard of living in many areas. In 1951, the Indian Act was amended to permit Indians, at the request of the province concerned, to consume intoxicants in public places. Indians have been given this right in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Following meetings with Indian repre­ sentatives, the Indian Act was again amended in 1956 so that Indians could possess and consume intoxicants on a reserve if they took a local option vote to do so. On November 6, 1958, Ontario proclaimed the right of Indians to decide whether they wanted liquor on their reserves. Community organization on Indian reserves has developed steadily. Indian band councils, Homemakers' Clubs, young peoples' associations and other organizations have all contributed to the establishment of improved social and economic conditions. The Leadership Training Program was introduced in 1954 and has proved most successful. It was designed to help Indians, selected on the basis of demonstrated leadership qualities, to identify and understand reserve problems so that they could playa leading role in improving conditions on reserves. Reflecting the general betterment of Indian welfare is the substantial increase in the Indian population, which has climbed from 136,407 in 1949 to 174,242 at the end of the 1958 calendar year, a gain of 37,835 or 27.7%. 45 Indian Affairs Branch H. M. Jones, Director The rapid establishment of Canadian Indians in the social and economic life of the country has been one of the most encouraging aspects of Indian Affairs during the past decade. More Indians are taking year-round jobs offering a steady income. In the north industrial growth opened up many new employment opportunities. In the southern regions, many Indians have migrated to urban areas, where they have found satisfactory employment. Others have taken advantage of the continuing demand for resources found on or near their reserves. Over the past ten years, education has helped Indians to adjust to the process of economic and social integration. Significantly, there has been a marked increase in the number of Indian students receiving elementary, second­ ary, vocational and professional education, from 23,285 in 1948-49 to 38,836 in 1958-59, an increase of 15,551. Wherever possible, and in consultation with the Indian parents, arrangements are made for students to attend non-Indian schools. The number attending such schools increased from 1,406 in 1948-49 to 8,186 in 1958-59. Legislation has given Indians many social welfare benefits provided to other Canadians. These benefits include Old Age Security, Old Age Assistance, Blind Persons Allowances and benefits under the Disabled Persons Act. Indians have also been brought more and more into the social welfare programs of the provinces and private agencies. Substantial progress has been made in establishing a standard of direct relief for Indians comparable to that of non-Indian com­ munities. Construction of over 10,000 houses on Indian reserves since 1948 has raised the standard of living in many areas. In 1951, the Indian Act was amended to permit Indians, at the request of the province concerned, to consume intoxicants in public places. Indians have been given this right in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Following meetings with Indian repre­ sentatives, the Indian Act was again amended in 1956 so that Indians could possess and consume intoxicants on a reserve if they took a local option vote to do so. On November 6, 1958, Ontario proclaimed the right of Indians to decide whether they wanted liquor on their reserves. Community organization on Indian reserves has developed steadily. Indian band councils, Homemakers' Clubs, young peoples' associations and other organizations have all contributed to the establishment of improved social and economic conditions. The Leadership Training Program was introduced in 1954 and has proved most successful. It was designed to help Indians, selected on the basis of demonstrated leadership qualities, to identify and understand reserve problems so that they could playa leading role in improving conditions on reserves. Reflecting the general betterment of Indian welfare is the substantial