WHO CAN OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF INDIAN STATUS?
All persons registered in the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development Indian Register.
For example, children born to registered Indian parents are mentioned
on the Indian Register.
In other cases, the Indian Status applicant has to demonstrate
that he or she is entitled to registration by producing official
documents. The official documents (birth certificates, marriage
certificates, etc) must be related to the applicant, his or her
parents, or grandparents. The
Tracing Your Ancestors in Canada guide indicates how
to proceed.
Many people in Quebec have Indian blood but are not entitled to registered
Indian Status.
Are
you eligible for registration? This is the question.
Major changes have been made to The Indian Act since 1985, when Parliament
adopted Bill C-31, ending over 100 years of discrimination, while
also allowing the First Nations to assume control of their membership.
The guide to legislation governing registration and the right to registration
entitled
The
Indian Act
Past And Present, lists all the changes related to registration
from 1850 to nowadays.
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