"Residential schools were used to remove the Indigeneity out of children by imposing the English language and the removal of their Indigenous identities. The Indian Act is the main law that Canada used to administer Indian status, First Nations governments, management of reserve land and outline obligations to First Nation peoples. The Act contains colonial laws aimed to eliminate First Nations culture by assimilation into Euro-Canadian society.

Through the Indian Act, the government of Canada determines which individuals hold “status” as “Indians.” Changes to the Act in 1985, intended to address gender discrimination, instituted what has come to be known as the “second generation cut-off.” After two consecutive generations of parenting with an individual who does not hold status, the third generation cannot be registered to obtain Indian status. These changes shifted the discrimination against women onto children and grandchildren of Indigenous women who parented with a non-status individual. The eventual result of the second generation cut-off will be a decline in the population of individuals holding status under the Act, and thus membership in their First Nations community.

The Government of Canada should move away from determining status under the Indian Act as many First Nations are dependent on this legislation to determine the members of their nations and causes discrimination within the community."

A One-parent Rule for Status should increase the population of Indigenous people. The One Parent Rule for status alternative would involve amendments to the Indian Act to allow direct descendants of individuals with a 6(2) parent to become available for status."

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University of Calgary - School of public policy

Photo: Cassilly Adams (American Artist)