Land Registration
Program:
- To maintain a land register pursuant to the Indian Act requirements.
- To examine, register and maintain documents (leases, allotments,
designations, orders in council, etc.,) relating to interest in Indian lands.
- To provide service to First Nations, regions and districts in making available
copies of abstracted records and documents, both manual and computerized.
Program History / Background:
The Indian Act requires the Department to maintain a land register for Indian
lands. Prior to 1967, transactions/documents affecting reserve lands were kept
in departmental files. In 1967, a registration system modelled similarly to a
provincial deeds registry was established. Like a provincial deeds registry, this
newly established registry did little more than take notice of claims. Over the
years the Indian Lands registry has evolved to include a more comprehensive check
of the documents received, and the abstracts/records, to determine if established
criteria has been met.
Description of Operations:
The Indian Lands Registry
is maintained in Ottawa. All regional offices, several district offices and approximately
30 First Nations are presently accessing the computerized registry records on
a daily basis.
Headquarters registry staff perform the following tasks:
- Examine, register and maintain documents concerning Indian lands.
- Maintain
originals and the official, legal record for all documents relating to legal interests
in Indian lands.
- Respond to user inquiries by searching for and releasing
information on Indian lands.
- Distribute copies of abstracted records and documents
to regional, district and First Nation offices.
- Provide access and training
for the Indian Lands Registry System (ILRS) to regional, district and First Nation
offices.
- Operate computerized database of records.
- Operate on a 48 hour
turn around time for the registration of documents.
- Convert data into
automated format. Automation facilitates access to information and speeds up the
registration process.
- Maintain and update the Indian Lands Registration Manual
which outlines the policies, procedures and requirements for registration of documents.
Regional staff perform the following tasks:
- Enters the document
particulars into the ILRS before submitting document to the Indian Lands Registry.
- In conjunction with the Indian Lands Registry, provide access and training,
for the ILRS to regional, district and First Nation offices.
"Indian Lands Registration Manual - 2006" Table
of contents.
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