Do all Aboriginal people have Indian status?
There are three types of Aboriginal peoples set out in the Constitution Act: “Indian, Métis and Inuit”. The latter two are not defined as Indians as per the Indian Act. The Government of Canada has historic relationships with individual Aboriginal people and with First Nations as a whole. The relationship with individual Aboriginal people has evolved in different ways. Not all First Nation people have status, nor do all First Nation people have membership in Indian Bands. For some, this relationship has included registration under the Indian Act. These people are commonly referred to as Status Indians. Under section 10 of the Indian Act, Indian Bands can assume control over their own membership. Part of this process is the formulation of their own membership rules or codes. As a result, some Status Indians will not be members of a Band. On the other hand, there may be members of Bands who do not meet the requirements for registration under the Indian Act.
