Pass system (Canadian history)

The pass system was an informal Canadian administrative policy, never codified in the Indian Act or enacted as law, which intended to keep First Nations in Canada separated from settlers and confined to Indian reserves, unless they had been issued a special travel permit, called a pass issued by a government official known as an Indian Agent. It was introduced in 1885, at the time of the North-West Rebellion, and remained in force for 60 years. Any First Nation person caught outside their reservation without a pass issued by an Indian agent was returned to their reservation or incarcerated.

Objections to the policy were raised by the North-West Mounted Police in 1893, and its commissioner William Herchmer ordered the officers to cease returning First Nations individuals to reserves. He was overruled by the federal Indian Affairs commissioner Hayter Reed.

The policy is the subject of a 2015 documentary film, The Pass System.

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