The first phase of a co-designed consultation plan to tackle the critical issue of second-generation cut-offs under the Indian Act has officially been launched.
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu explained that the second-generation cut-off rule prevents many First Nations people with status from passing that entitlement on to their children and grandchildren, depending on their parents’ lineage.
She acknowledged the profound and lasting impacts this has on First Nations individuals, families, and communities, as well as the inequities it perpetuates in registration under the Indian Act.
The consultations aim to pave the way for meaningful reforms beyond the Indian Act, guided by First Nations, rights holders, and affected individuals.
Hajdu emphasized that this initiative fulfills a commitment under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The consultations will address broader reforms related to registration and membership, including remaining inequities that disproportionately affect women.
These efforts are part of a broader plan to eventually transition away from the Indian Act while ensuring alignment with Canada’s duty to consult and accommodate First Nations.
The federal government says the process reflects its obligation to align federal laws with its commitments to Indigenous Peoples.
