Trety 2 Territory – As of August 15, 2019, the Government of Canada is correcting the gender based discriminatory actions committed against women and children who lost their status going back to 1869 (150 years ago)
The Government of Canada has brought into force the final provisions under Bill S-3, which removes the 1951 cut-off from the Indian Act registration provisions and provides the opportunity for those entitled to be registered as status Indians going back to 1869.
If you believe you are entitled to be registered as a status Indian, please visit: www.canada.ca/indian-status for more information OR speak to your local Band Membership Clerk
What this means is Indian status will be extended to these women and descendants of women who were removed from band lists or not considered Indian because women married a non-Indian. Yet non-Indian women automatically gained Indian status by marrying Indian men.
With Canada removing the 1951 cut-off from the Indian Act registration. This ensures that all descendants born prior to April 17, 1985 (or of a marriage before that date) of women who lost status or were removed from band lists because of their marriage to a non-Indian man going back to 1869 will be entitled to be registered as status Indians.
In addition to removing the 1951 cut-off from Indian registration, the changes now in force will result in the repeal of the 6(1)(c) paragraphs of the Indian Act and will bring into force the new 6(1)(a) paragraphs. This means that anyone who was previously entitled to registration under any 6(1)(c) paragraph, will now be entitled under the new 6(1)(a) paragraphs. Individuals already registered do not need to reapply; their files will be updated automatically.
The long standing gender discrimination has played a role in the genocide of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited.
See Canada’s announcement:
Through the Collaborative Process on Indian Registration, Band Membership and First Nation Citizenship, First Nations expressed support for Indigenous women’s right to Indian status through the removal of the 1951 cut-off.
To review the report that was tabled in Parliament on what was heard during the consultation discussions on the Collaborative Process including the Minister’s Special Representative, Claudette Dumont-Smith’s full report and recommendations, please visit
https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1560878580290/1560878705449.
“We have been attempting to survive within a colonial Indian Act system that ripped apart the backbone of our Nations, the women, which also broke the centre of the life circle, the family home and the stealing of our children. For true reconciliation and healing to take place, the women, the matriarchs and their children must be given back their inherent spaces and life purpose.” stated Grand Chief Eugene Eastman
Last modified: August 22, 2019
