About Indian status

<!DOCTYPE html>   <html class="no-js" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8">  <title>About Indian status </title> <meta content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1" name="viewport">   <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-NLBMCJ3');</script>    <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Government of Canada; Indigenous Services Canada"> <meta name="dcterms.issued" title="W3CDTF" content="2008-11-03"> <meta name="dcterms.modified" title="W3CDTF" content="2023-01-11"> <meta name="description" content="Indian Registry System (IRS) / Certificate of Indian Status (CIS)"> <meta name="dcterms.description" content="Indian Registry System (IRS) / Certificate of Indian Status (CIS)"> <meta name="dcterms.language" title="ISO639-2" content="eng"> <meta name="dcterms.subject" title="gcinac" content="Certificates of Indian status; Computer systems; First Nations; Indian registration; Indian registry; Indians; Information systems; Non-Status Indians; Registers; Registration; Status Indians; Status transmission"> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="About Indian status"> <meta name="dcterms.type" title="gctype" content="reference material"> <meta name="dcterms.audience" title="gcaudience" content="aboriginal peoples"> <meta name="gcterms.topicTaxonomy" content="Indigenous Services Canada > Indian status">   <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.canada.ca/etc/designs/canada/cdts/gcweb/rn/cdts/compiled/soyutils.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.canada.ca/etc/designs/canada/cdts/gcweb/rn/cdts/compiled/wet-en.js"></script> <noscript>    <link href="https://www.canada.ca/etc/designs/canada/cdts/gcweb/rn/assets/favicon.ico" rel="icon" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.canada.ca/etc/designs/canada/cdts/gcweb/rn/css/theme.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.canada.ca/etc/designs/canada/cdts/gcweb/rn/cdts/cdtsfixes.css">    <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.canada.ca/etc/designs/canada/cdts/gcweb/rn/css/noscript.min.css"> </noscript> <script src="/DAM/PresentationDAM/STAGING/Scripts/inter-cdts.js"></script>  <script type="text/javascript"> document.write(wet.builder.refTop({ cdnEnv: "prod" })); </script>  <link href="/DAM/PresentationDAM/STAGING/css/cust-isc.css" media="screen, print" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">   <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/css/all.css" integrity="sha256-mUZM63G8m73Mcidfrv5E+Y61y7a12O5mW4ezU3bxqW4=" crossorigin="anonymous"/> </head> <body vocab="http://schema.org/" typeof="WebPage"> <span typeof="Organization"><meta property="legalName" content="Department_of_Indian_Affairs_and_Northern_Development"></span>   <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-NLBMCJ3" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>   <div id="def-top"> </div>  <script type="text/javascript"> var defTop = document.getElementById("def-top"); defTop.outerHTML = wet.builder.customTop({ cdnEnv: "prod", showPreContent: false, lngLinks: [{lang: 'fr',href: 'https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/fra/1100100032463/1572459644986',text: 'Fran莽ais'},], customSearch: [{"action":"https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/search.html"}], breadcrumbs: [{title: "Canada.ca", href: "https://www.canada.ca/en.html"},{title: "Indigenous Services Canada", href: "/eng/1518196579110/1520997240623"},{title: "Indian status", href: "/eng/1100100032374/1572457769548"}] }); </script> <main role="main" property="mainContentOfPage" class="container"> <h1 property="name" id="wb-cont">About Indian status</h1> <p>Find out more about entitlement, benefits and registration under the <cite>Indian Act</cite> and the Indian Register.</p> <section class="alert alert-info"> <h3>Use of the term "Indian"</h3> <p>Many Indigenous people in Canada prefer not to describe themselves as "Indians" and view this term as rooted in colonialism and racism. Under the <cite>Indian Act</cite>, the precise legal meaning of the term "Indian" refers to First Nations persons who are entitled to registration. </p> </section> <section> <h2>Choose a topic</h2> <ul> <li><a href="#sec1" rel="bookmark">What is Indian status</a></li> <li><a href="#sec2" rel="bookmark">Benefits, rights, programs and services</a></li> <li><a href="#sec3" rel="bookmark">What is the Indian Register</a></li> <li><a href="#sec4" rel="bookmark">Who is the Registrar</a></li> <li><a href="/eng/1462808710500/1462808746748">If you disagree with the Registrar's decision</a></li> <li><a href="#sec5" rel="bookmark">What are the key changes to the <cite>Indian Act</cite> relating to registration</a></li> <li><a href="#sec6" rel="bookmark">How to prove you're registered</a></li> </ul> </section> <section> <h2 id="sec1">What is Indian status</h2> <p>Indian status is the legal standing of a person who is registered under the <cite>Indian Act</cite>.</p> <p>Registration under the <cite>Indian Act</cite> is not the same as applying for a status card.</p> <p>You need to be registered before you receive a status card, but you can apply for both at the same time. Once you are registered, you will receive your status card within 8-12 weeks. </p> <p>This <a href="/eng/1641932747043/1641932770031">infographic</a> helps explain the differences.</p> <p>As a registered person, you have certain benefits and rights and are eligible for a range of federal and provincial or territorial programs and services. You may also be eligible for other programs and services offered by non-government providers. </p> <p>To find out if you are entitled to register and would like to apply, visit <a href="/eng/1462808207464/1572460627149">How to apply for Indian status</a>. You may want to <a href="https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/collection/research-help/indigenous-heritage/Pages/first-nations-genealogy.aspx" rel="external">research your genealogy and family history</a> to provide additional documents in support of your application. </p> <p>If the Registrar confirms your entitlement to registration, your name will be added to the Indian Register. </p> <section class="alert alert-info"> <h3>Registration and First Nation membership or citizenship</h3> <p>To be registered under the <cite>Indian Act</cite> isn't the same as being a First Nation member or citizen.</p> <p>If your <a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/i-5/section-11.html" rel="external">First Nation's membership list is maintained at Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)</a>, your name will automatically be added to the First Nation membership list that your parents are affiliated with once you are registered.</p> <p>If your <a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/i-5/section-10.html" rel="external">First Nation controls its own membership or citizenship</a>, you must apply directly to the First Nation to become a member or citizen. </p> <p>To find out more about First Nation membership or citizenship, visit <a href="/eng/1100100032469/1572461264701">About First Nation membership or citizenship</a>.</p> </section> </section> <section> <h2 id="sec2">Benefits, rights, programs and services</h2> <p>Registered persons have certain <a rel="external" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/indigenous-peoples/benefits-and-rights-for-indigenous-peoples.html">benefits, rights</a>, programs and services, for example:</p> <ul> <li>education</li> <li>tax exemptions, in specific situations</li> <li>non-insured health services </li> </ul> <p>To find out more about what is available to you as a registered person, visit <a rel="external" href="https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1461766373625/1556203056093">Indigenous peoples</a>.</p> </section> <section> <h2 id="sec3">What is the Indian Register</h2> <p>The Indian Register, maintained at ISC, is the official record of persons registered under <a href="https://www.laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/i-5/section-6.html" rel="external">section 6 of the <cite>Indian Act</cite></a>. </p> <section class="alert alert-info"> <h3>If <span lang="fr">M茅tis</span> or Inuit</h3> <p>There is no register at ISC for <a href="https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100014427/1535467913043" rel="external"><span lang="fr">M茅tis</span></a> or <a href="https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100014187/1534785248701" rel="external">Inuit</a>. </p> <p>If you self-identify as <span lang="fr">M茅tis</span>, you may want to register with your local <span lang="fr">M茅tis</span> organization. </p> <p>If you are Inuit, you may already be a member of a land claim agreement. </p> </section> </section> <section> <h2 id="sec4">Who is the Registrar</h2> <p>The Registrar is the official officer in charge of the Indian Register and First Nation membership lists maintained at ISC.</p> <p>The Registrar is the only person who has the authority to make changes to the Register and First Nations membership lists maintained at ISC, including: </p> <ul> <li>adding a person's name</li> <li>omitting a person's name</li> <li>deleting a person's name</li> </ul> </section> <section> <h2 id="sec5">What are the key changes to the <cite>Indian Act</cite> relating to registration</h2> <p>With the full enactment of Bill S-3 on August 15, 2019, all known sex-based inequities have been eliminated from the <cite>Indian Act</cite>. </p> <p>To find out more about the key changes to the <cite>Indian Act</cite>, visit <a href="/eng/1467214955663/1572460311596">Bill S-3: Eliminating known sex-based inequities in registration</a>.</p> </section> <section> <h2 id="sec6">How to prove you're registered </h2> <p>You can use any one of these documents as proof of registration:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/eng/1100100032424/1572461852643#s2-1">Secure Certificate of Indian Status</a></li> <li><a href="/eng/1100100032424/1572461852643#s2-2">Certificate of Indian Status</a></li> <li><a href="/eng/1551364517335/1572460866709">Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document</a></li> </ul> </section> <section> <h2>Related links </h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/S-3/royal-assent" rel="external">Bill S-3,<cite> An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur g茅n茅ral)</cite></a></li> <li><a href="https://www2.metisnation.ca/about/citizenship/" rel="external"><span lang="fr">M茅tis</span> National Council: Citizenship</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100028574/1529354437231" rel="external">Treaties and agreements</a> </li> </ul> </section>  <div class="row row-no-gutters mrgn-tp-xl"> <div class="col-sm-7 col-lg-6"> <section class="gc-pg-hlpfl provisional"> <div class="well mrgn-bttm-0"> <form id="gc-pg-hlpfl-frm" action="#" method="post" autocomplete="off"> <input type="hidden" name="institutionopt" value="Institution acronym - required - must use same value EN and FR"> <input type="hidden" name="themeopt" value="Indigenous peoples"> <input type="hidden" name="language" value="Language - required - use EN or FR"> <input type="hidden" name="pageTitle" value="Page title EN - required"> <input type="hidden" name="submissionPage" value="Page URL - required"> <input type="hidden" name="sectionopt" value=""> <input type="hidden" id="helpful" name="helpful" value="Yes"> <div class="gc-pg-hlpfl-btn"> <div class="row row-no-gutters"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-7 mrgn-tp-sm"> <h2 class="mrgn-tp-sm h5">Did you find what you were looking for?</h2> </div> <div class="col-xs-8 col-sm-5 text-right"> <button id="btnyes" type="submit" value="Yes" class="btn btn-primary">Yes</button> <button id="btnno" type="button" class="btn btn-primary mrgn-lft-sm nojs-hide">No</button> </div> </div> </div> <p class="h3 hidden nojs-show">If not, tell us why:</p> <div class="gc-pg-hlpfl-no nojs-show"> <fieldset> <legend class="h4 mrgn-tp-0 mrgn-bttm-md">What was wrong?</legend> <div class="radio"> <label for="problem1"> <input name="problem" id="problem1" type="radio" value="I can't find the information" data-gc-analytics-wtph-value="I can't find the information-Je ne peux pas trouver l'information" data-gc-analytics-collect="notPrivate"> I can't <strong>find</strong> the information </label> </div> <div class="radio"> <label for="problem2"> <input name="problem" id="problem2" type="radio" value="The information is hard to understand" data-gc-analytics-wtph-value="The information is hard to understand-L'information est difficile 脿 comprendre" data-gc-analytics-collect="notPrivate"> The information is hard to <strong>understand</strong> </label> </div> <div class="radio"> <label for="problem3"> <input name="problem" id="problem3" type="radio" value="There was an error / something didn't work" data-gc-analytics-wtph-value="There was an error or something didn't work-Il y avait une erreur ou quelque chose ne fonctionnait pas" data-gc-analytics-collect="notPrivate"> There was an error or something <strong>didn't work</strong> </label> </div> <div class="radio"> <label for="problem4"> <input name="problem" id="problem4" type="radio" value="Other reason" data-gc-analytics-wtph-value="Other reason-Autre raison" data-gc-analytics-collect="notPrivate"> Other reason </label> </div> </fieldset> <label for="problem6" class="mrgn-bttm-0">Please provide more details</label> <p class="small"> <strong>You will not receive a reply. 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About Indian status