Indian Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. I-5)

Marginal note:By-laws

• 81 (1) The council of a band may make by-laws not inconsistent with this Act or with any regulation made by the Governor in Council or the Minister, for any or all of the following purposes, namely,

  • (a) to provide for the health of residents on the reserve and to prevent the spreading of contagious and infectious diseases;

  • (b) the regulation of traffic;

  • (c) the observance of law and order;

  • (d) the prevention of disorderly conduct and nuisances;

  • (e) the protection against and prevention of trespass by cattle and other domestic animals, the establishment of pounds, the appointment of pound-keepers, the regulation of their duties and the provision for fees and charges for their services;

  • (f) the construction and maintenance of watercourses, roads, bridges, ditches, fences and other local works;

  • (g) the dividing of the reserve or a portion thereof into zones and the prohibition of the construction or maintenance of any class of buildings or the carrying on of any class of business, trade or calling in any zone;

  • (h) the regulation of the construction, repair and use of buildings, whether owned by the band or by individual members of the band;

  • (i) the survey and allotment of reserve lands among the members of the band and the establishment of a register of Certificates of Possession and Certificates of Occupation relating to allotments and the setting apart of reserve lands for common use, if authority therefor has been granted under section 60;

  • (j) the destruction and control of noxious weeds;

  • (k) the regulation of bee-keeping and poultry raising;

  • (l) the construction and regulation of the use of public wells, cisterns, reservoirs and other water supplies;

  • (m) the control or prohibition of public games, sports, races, athletic contests and other amusements;

  • (n) the regulation of the conduct and activities of hawkers, peddlers or others who enter the reserve to buy, sell or otherwise deal in wares or merchandise;

  • (o) the preservation, protection and management of fur-bearing animals, fish and other game on the reserve;

  • (p) the removal and punishment of persons trespassing on the reserve or frequenting the reserve for prohibited purposes;

  • (p.1) the residence of band members and other persons on the reserve;

  • (p.2) to provide for the rights of spouses or common-law partners and children who reside with members of the band on the reserve with respect to any matter in relation to which the council may make by-laws in respect of members of the band;

  • (p.3) to authorize the Minister to make payments out of capital or revenue moneys to persons whose names were deleted from the Band List of the band;

  • (p.4) to bring subsection 10(3) or 64.1(2) into effect in respect of the band;

  • (q) with respect to any matter arising out of or ancillary to the exercise of powers under this section; and

  • (r) the imposition on summary conviction of a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty days, or both, for violation of a by-law made under this section.

• Marginal note:Power to restrain by order where conviction entered

  (2) Where any by-law of a band is contravened and a conviction entered, in addition to any other remedy and to any penalty imposed by the by-law, the court in which the conviction has been entered, and any court of competent jurisdiction thereafter, may make an order prohibiting the continuation or repetition of the offence by the person convicted.

• Marginal note:Power to restrain by court action

  (3) Where any by-law of a band passed is contravened, in addition to any other remedy and to any penalty imposed by the by-law, such contravention may be restrained by court action at the instance of the band council.