Meeting on Indian status with CIRNAC - January 27, 2019

In order to address sex-based inequalities in Indian registration, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) will be hosting a meeting with Michel First Nation on January 27.

CIRNAC have scheduled to meet with Michel First Nation on January 27 to share information on band membership and to inform non-status members (descendants) on the requirements and process of applying for Indian Status. We do not have a place or a time of day when this meeting will take place, and will pass this on when this information becomes available.

All are welcome.

More background:

In August of 2015 a decision was rendered in the Descheneaux case by the Superior Court of Quebec which declared provisions of the Indian Act inoperative because they unjustifiably violated equality rights by perpetuating sex-based inequalities for Indian registration between descendants of the male and female lines. This decision also brought to light the long standing and unaddressed broader issues relating to Indian registration, band membership and First Nations Citizenship.

Legislative changes were introduced in 2016 under Bill C-3 and came into force on Dec 22, 2017. This act also requires that Canada consult broadly on issues around Indian registration, band membership and First Nations Citizenship.  As part of the government’s commitment to develop a collaborative process on these issues relating to BillC-3, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) sought input from First Nations and Indigenous groups to co-design the consultations under the collaborative process from Oct. 2017 to March 2018.

As a result of this information gathering CIRNAC is hosting community meetings to inform First Nations Groups on the processes relating to Indian registration, band membership and First Nations Citizenship.

A more comprehensive report is available on the web at Collaborative Process on Indian Registration or Band Membership and First Nation Citizenship