Changes to Indian Status without resources a blow says NDP

OTTAWA – New Democrats welcome the legislation introduced today to allow some women to pass on their Indian Status to their grandchildren but are concerned that the government has not yet provided any new funds to meet the financial impact this change will have on band councils.

“The government’s own estimates say more than 45,000 people will be added to the Indian Registry as a result of this legislation. All of those people will be eligible for the benefits that Status brings,” said Jean Crowder (Nanaimo-Cowichan) the NDP Aboriginal Affairs critic. “But we have heard nothing in the Throne Speech or saw anything in the budget about covering the costs of these additional members.”

For education in particular, which all parties have identified as a priority for First Nations, the addition of this many people will put a lot of pressure on Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes and more importantly, on post-secondary education. 

“We need more First Nations students and workers to improve their education and fill labour gaps, but without adequate funding, we are creating an expectation that can’t be met,” said Crowder.

The narrow scope of the Bill only gives the right to pass on Status to a small group of women, those who had “married out” prior to 1985. It does not deal with Status issues for children whose parents or grandparents were enfranchised, illegitimate daughters who were denied Status and the broader issue of the second-generation cut-off.

“There has to be a broader process that looks at the many issues around Status. Piecemeal changes in response to judicial orders are not the right way to deal with the inequities that arose from the Indian Act,” said Crowder. “There are whole communities, like the Michel First Nation in Alberta that lost Status in the past. We need to hear from all the stakeholders and come up with comprehensive legislation. It will take time but this is a crucial issue for First Nations in Canada.”