The major trends and issues in the historical development of Indian health services in Canada since Confederation are discussed according to: (1) the legislative bases, including the BNA Act, the Indian Act, Indian Treaties, landmark court decisions and post-War national health legislations; (2) the policy statements of the federal government regarding services to Indians, culminating in the Indian Health Policy of 1979; (3) the changes in the organization and delivery of health services from the appointment of the first chief medical officer in 1904 to the multi-million operations of the Medical Services Branch in the 1980s; and (4) the reaction of Indian communities and political organizations to government-sponsored health care and the recent trend towards their increasing participation.