Indian Status Legislation Becomes Law

Indian Status Legislation Becomes Law

Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 15:49

 

 

Bill C-3, the Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act, received Royal Assent yesterday.

 

The Bill amends provisions of the Indian Act that the BC Court of Appeal found to be unconstitutional in the Sharon McIvor case.

 

The legislation will mean that eligible grandchildren of women who lost status as a result of marrying non-Indian men will become entitled to Indian status.

 

The government estimates roughly 45,000 individuals will become newly entitled to registration when the Bill comes into force.

 

The date when the legislation will take effect will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

Bill C-3 received all party support in the House of Commons, but it hasn’t got a ringing endorsement from Aboriginal leaders, who argue that it doesn’t address the broader issues associated with Indian registration, band membership and First Nations citizenship.

 

Government officials say those issues will be examined in an “exploratory process” which will include First Nations organizations and individuals across the country.

 

Ottawa says that process is expected to last one year and will wrap up next December.