The Indian Act is inherently racist and unworkable in a modern, democratic world.
The original intention was that Natives would remain on their reserves, and have no citizenship and take no part in the running of the country.
The courts and government rightly threw this out, but refused to look at the other half of the equation.
If the have the full rights of all other citizens plus special rights granted by their racial status they become "citizens plus"...privileged due to their ancestors.
A new aristocracy...