What two "weaknesses" of native american life did the dawes act hope to eliminate?

The weaknesses were actually strengths of the NA way of life. 

The Dawes Act sought to break down the community and family structure for the purpose of destroying the tribal way of life. 

The Dawes Act also tried to make people who had always hunted for a living into farmers so they would settle down and give up their former ways. 

Another way was to force their children to become "educated" by taking the children out of the tribes and sending them to school where they suffered all kinds of indignities. For instance long hair was sacred to some tribes but they boys were forced to get it cut short. They were also beaten if they spoke their native languages. 

It was a spectacular failure as far as improving the lives of Native Americans. It simply destroyed their culture.