"The Indian Act is the single most important piece of legislation dealing with Indians in Canada. In its present form it is the culmination of two hundred and fifty years of British-Canadian policy directed at governing relations with the aboriginal peoples in Canada. Indians have been the subject of continuous special legislation in Canada aimed at attempting to bring them into the mainstream of society and reducing their cultural and political independence. In many ways this approach has worked, but to a great extent these areas remain peripheral to more serious concerns. Today Indians endure low life expectancy, high Infant mortality, alarming rates of violent death and suicide, unemployment statistics in the 80-90 per cent bracket, the lowest average income levels of any Canadians, alcoholism and rates of incarceration far above the national average, and in some communities total social breakdown" ("Introduction," Helping Indians to Help Themselves : A Committee to Investigate Itself : The 1951 Indian Act Consultation Process).