FINALLY......A CHANCE OF EQUALITY!
In the news this morning, there's an article that's going to peeve a lot of people off around here...
Governments giving out special issued funding and rights to the "First Nation's" people, is a sore point already!
Can you imagine the uproar on this report if it goes through!
New law to extend Indian status to thousands
11/03/2010 4:58:47 PM
The Conservative government introduced new legislation to amend the Indian Act that, if passed, could recognize an additional 45,000 Canadians as status Indians.
"This addresses the difference in treatment between how descendants of aboriginal women who marry non-aboriginal people are treated differently than aboriginal men. So this is a gender equity issue," said Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, who introduced the bill in the House of Commons on Thursday.
Under the proposed legislation, the grandchildren of women who marry non-natives would be granted Indian status. People who have registered Indian status are entitled to certain benefits, tax exemptions, federal programs and rights guaranteed under specific treaties.
The changes come after Ottawa lost a court case challenging the discrepancies in the way men and women are treated when it comes to Indian status under the Indian Act.
Originally under the Indian Act, women were stripped of their status if they married a non-native, but men were allowed to keep their status no matter whom they married.
In 1985, Ottawa changed the rules. Women who married non-natives would retain their status, as would their children, but not their grandchildren.
But the rules were still different for Indian men. They were allowed to marry a non-native and pass status down to two generations.
Last year's court decision prompted the government to extend Indian status for one more generation for women who had married non-natives. This means grandchildren of such a union will now have native status but not great-grandchildren.
Strahl refuses to speculate on increase in numbers
Strahl said he could not estimate what the new status recognition would cost the government in terms of funding. There have been estimates that 45,000 Canadians would be eligible to be recognized as status Indians if the legislation passes.
Currently, there are about 800,000 status Indians in Canada.
Strahl said that if every single person who becomes eligible for Indian status under the new law applies for it, it could increase the number of status Indians by eight per cent.
But Strahl said it's unclear how many people will apply and how many will want to move to a reserve, get membership in an existing band or just take advantage of the privileges that come with a status card.
"You can always pluck a number out of the air on a per capita basis, but it would be pretty frivolous," he said.
The British Columbia Court of Appeal gave Ottawa a deadline of April 6, 2010, to change the law. The government has applied for an extension until the end of the current parliamentary session.
Strahl said he hopes Parliament will expedite passage of the bill
With files from The Canadian Press
Under the proposed legislation, the grandchildren of women who marry non-natives would be granted Indian status. People who have registered Indian status are entitled to certain benefits, tax exemptions, federal programs and rights guaranteed under specific treaties.
The changes come after Ottawa lost a court case challenging the discrepancies in the way men and women are treated when it comes to Indian status under the Indian Act.
Originally under the Indian Act, women were stripped of their status if they married a non-native, but men were allowed to keep their status no matter whom they married.
In 1985, Ottawa changed the rules. Women who married non-natives would retain their status, as would their children, but not their grandchildren.
But the rules were still different for Indian men. They were allowed to marry a non-native and pass status down to two generations.
Last year's court decision prompted the government to extend Indian status for one more generation for women who had married non-natives. This means grandchildren of such a union will now have native status but not great-grandchildren.
Strahl refuses to speculate on increase in numbers
Strahl said he could not estimate what the new status recognition would cost the government in terms of funding. There have been estimates that 45,000 Canadians would be eligible to be recognized as status Indians if the legislation passes.
Currently, there are about 800,000 status Indians in Canada.
Strahl said that if every single person who becomes eligible for Indian status under the new law applies for it, it could increase the number of status Indians by eight per cent.
But Strahl said it's unclear how many people will apply and how many will want to move to a reserve, get membership in an existing band or just take advantage of the privileges that come with a status card.
"You can always pluck a number out of the air on a per capita basis, but it would be pretty frivolous," he said.
The British Columbia Court of Appeal gave Ottawa a deadline of April 6, 2010, to change the law. The government has applied for an extension until the end of the current parliamentary session.
Strahl said he hopes Parliament will expedite passage of the bill
With files from The Canadian Press
Having special status being only recognized for the men pissed me off the most, as it affected my family!
My great grandmother, on my dad's side, fell into this non-existing category, when she married a "white" man, causing her to loose all status as an First Nation Indian! She became a nothing!
Most crab and complain that these people [first nation] shouldn't get any special treatment and I agree on the ones living off their reservations. People who WERE here first should get some recognition even if they did lose their war. You'd have to PAY ME to live on some of them!
But if the government is willing to throw money that way...I would have liked to see some of it myself even though I'm a great grandchild!
Our problem is proving we are "First Nation" Indians...!
They weren't great at keeping detailed records! One of my ancestors is listed as "married to a Cree Indian Woman"?
I figure, if we got to live with all of the racial slurs as "Indians", then we should be able to qualify also...?
I'd love nothing more than to have all of those exemptions, programs and special rights too!
1 comment:
I don't understand why it as a slur to be considered Indian. I have a good dose of Cherokee blood, enough to go live on a reservation should I so desire. The ones I've seen haven't been all that desirable, so guess I'll keep paying taxes. I have cousins who look full blooded and have overheard people pointing and talking about them. I just don't get it. Good luck with those special rights. I suspect you'll need it.
Enjoyed reading your post.
Post a Comment