Indian Registration System (IRS) / Certificate of Indian Status (CIS) Project

Background

A Certificate of Indian Status (CIS), more commonly referred to as a status card, is an official form of identification for status Indians in Canada, issued by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) in accordance with the Indian Act. The status card confirms the cardholder as a person who is registered by the Government of Canada as an Indian within the Indian Registration System (IRS). Status cardholders are entitled to programs and services that include non-insured health benefits such as dental, vision and prescription needs, and certain tax exemptions. Each year INAC issues approximately 75,000 cards and about 70,000 life events (such as births, deaths and marriages) are recorded in the IRS.

The current form of status card has been under review for several years because cases of misuse and fraud by non-Indians have been identified. In 1993, a study commissioned by INAC suggested the financial losses to government, both federal and provincial, as a result of misuse and misapplication of the status card may exceed $62 million annually.

In 1999, through the Assembly of First Nations - Lands & Trust Services Joint Initiative, a pilot project was initiated in southern Alberta with the Treaty 7 Tribal Council to test plastic cards and new card issuance processes. In 2001, INAC started the Indian Registration System / Certificate of Indian Status (IRS/CIS) Project to enhance the existing pilot project and to introduce a new and improved card and card issuance process. Through this project INAC, in partnership with key stakeholders, is issuing a new secure and valid status card which minimizes its misuse and is enhancing the technological capacity of the Indian Registration System (IRS) to support key on-line services.

As a Government On-Line (GOL) initiative, this project is modernizing the existing IRS and business practices are being re-engineered to enable secure on-line access by Indian Registry Administrators (IRAs). This new on-line business process will standardize, automate and improve business processes, while ensuring the privacy of the cardholder. IRAs in remote location will be better able to manage their clients' registry files and can more efficiently register life events, eliminating manual paper-based transactions.

The new status card features several security improvements that significantly reduce unauthorized alterations or duplication. The card will continue to be used to access programs and services, however, the new card will ensure that these programs and services are accessed by only those who are eligible.

This enhanced pilot project is projected to be conducted from April 2002 to March 2005. A national roll-out is anticipated to follow the pilot project, based on available funding. The Government of Canada is committed to working with First Nations and all partners to address concerns around the current status card and to improve the overall quality of life of First Nations people in Canada.

The objectives of the IRS CIS Project will be addressed in four phases:

Implement/maintain the enhanced Alberta Treaty 7 Pilot Project (May 2002 to March 2005)

• Enhance the existing Alberta Treaty 7 CIS Pilot Project technology infrastructure;
• Enable real-time validation and card issuance by Indian Registry Administrators (IRAs);
• Issue an updated and more secure Indian Status Card; and
• Identify opportunities and issues as lessons learned for the National Deployment stage

The analysis and development phase of the pilot project was completed by end of March 2002 and deployment phase was completed by 14 June 2002. The pilot application will be operational until March 2005 to obtain lessons learned for the future development and deployment of the overall IRS CIS application.

Re-engineer the Indian Registration System (April 2002 to May 2003)

• Streamline and standardize IRS maintenance and card issuance processes
• Enable secure on-line accessibility to perform registration and card issuance functions.
• Replace existing legacy IRS with a modern online system.

Implement Nationally the Indian Registration System (June 2003 to March 2004)

• Replace the exiting IRS with the new web-enabled IRS application;
• Train all existing IRS active users on the new web-enabled IRS application; and
• Improve access (Write Access) on the new web-enabled IRS application for the Indian Registration Administrators.

Implement Nationally the Certificate of Indian Status (To be determined)

• Deploy and implement new sophisticated equipment to IRAs for the issuance of the new enhanced CIS; Information Sheet different CIS cards displayed down below;
• Deploy and implement Print Centre for the printing of the new enhanced CIS;
• Streamline card issuance and acceptance processes nationwide.

The Government of Canada is committed to working with First Nations and all partners to improve the quality of life of First Nations people in Canada. As part of this commitment, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is updating the Indian Registration System and introducing a new Certificate of Indian Status, which is commonly referred to as a status card, through the Indian Registration System/Certificate of Indian Status (IRS/CIS) Project. This new status card is a secure and valid form of identification for status Indians and is designed to facilitate access to federal, provincial and First Nation programs and services, such as non-insured health benefits and tax exemptions.

There are currently three (3) VALID types of status cards. They are:

Paper/laminated version (the paper/laminated version of the status card continues to be issued at all locations throughout Canada)

Front	Back

"All-in-One" pilot project version (previously issued through the Treaty 7 pilot project, these cards are no longer issued but remain valid)

Front	Back

New enhanced pilot project version (the new enhanced pilot project card is being issued in southern Alberta and at INAC Headquarters in Gatineau, Quebec)

Front	Back

The final, single, version of the status card will be introduced at the time of a national roll-out and will reflect the feedback and an evaluation of lessons we have learned from the pilot project phases. The goal of this project is to provide a status card which best meets the needs of status Indians.

For specific questions about this card or to report a lost or stolen card, please call (819) 953-7915.

Frequently Asked Questions

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