| Table 1: Brief history of relations between native peoples and the federal government, especially those affecting health care in aboriginal communities | ||
| Year | Event | Comment |
| 1763 | Royal Proclamation | British Crown acknowledged aboriginal nations, including aboriginal title to uncolonized lands.[3] |
| 1867 | British North American Act | Act gave jurisdiction over aboriginal people and their lands to Canadian government.[3] |
| 1876 | Indian Act | On paper, this act was supposed to entitle registered Indians on reserves to housing, education and health care. In reality, it infringed severely on the rights of native people; it specified that almost all decisions made by native bands required approval by government.[4] |
| 1945 | Indian health services policy shift | Department of Indian Affairs transferred responsibility for delivery of Indian health services to the Department of National Health and Welfare.[5] |
| 1951 | Revision of Indian Act | Some restrictions were removed, but government retained ultimate jurisdiction.[4] |
| 1962 | Establishment of Medical Services Branch (MSB) | Since its inception, MSB of the Department of National Health and Welfare has overseen administration of health services to native people.[6] Although provincial programs currently provide diagnostic and treatment services to native people, MSB is responsible for community services and some hospitals in remote areas.[4] |
| 1982 | Constitution Act | New constitution affirmed the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of Canada's native people.[3] |
| 1985 | Act to Amend the Indian Act (Bill C-31) | This bill was an attempt to rectify some of the inequities of the Indian Act. For example, before passage of this bill, status Indian women who married non-native men lost their status under the Indian Act.[4] |
| 1992 | Brighter Futures Program | Federal government devoted a large component of this program to providing community mental health services in aboriginal communities.[4] |