Indian Status

An individual recognized by the federal government as being registered under the Indian Act is referred to as a Registered Indian (commonly referred to as a Status Indian). Status Indians are entitled to a wide range of programs and services offered by federal agencies and provincial governments. Over the years, there have been many rules for deciding who is eligible for registration as an Indian under the Indian Act. Important changes were made to the Act in June 1985, when Parliament passed Bill C-31, An Act to Amend the Indian Act, to bring it in line with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and again in 2011 with the coming into force of Bill C-3: Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act.

Knowing which programs and policies apply to you may be difficult. Legislation varies across the ten provinces and three territories and so do the services available to Canadians in general and to Aboriginal people in particular. What you are eligible for depends largely on where you live.

What Information is Available?

• Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS)
• Bill C-3: Gender Equity in the Indian Registration Act
• The Indian Register
• Maintenance of Indian Registration and Lists
• Are You Eligible for Indian Status?
• Application forms for Indian Status
• Indian Registration – Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document
• Unstated Paternity on Birth Certificate: Quick Facts on documentation required

You may also be interested in:

• Band Employee Benefits
• Searching for Your Ancestor?
• First Nations Statistics
• Benefits Information, Non-Insured Health Benefits, First Nations and Inuit Health, Health Canada
• Status Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, Canada Revenue Agency
• You Wanted to Know – Most Frequently Asked Questions