New Indian Status Applications Approaching 15,000

New Indian Status Applications Approaching 15,000

Friday, May 20, 2011 at 14:39

Since Bill C-3 was passed by Parliament in January, about 14,600 people have applied for Indian status in Canada.

The bill, known as the Gender Equity Registration Act, was introduced to fix past gender discrimination.

Government officials have estimated roughly 45,000 new people are now eligible for Indian status.

Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson Genevieve Guibert says about 500 applications have been received from Saskatchewan since the legislation became law, and 74 people have been registered as status Indians.

Guibert adds people who have received their status since January may be eligible for a treaty annuity payment this year.

For people who may qualify for Indian status under Bill C-3, information is available at the Department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs website.