Non-status Indian

{{Confused|Non-resident Indian}}{{Short description|Canadian First Nations person not registered with the government}} In Canada, the term '''non-status Indian''' ({{langx|fr|Indiens non inscrits}}){{refn|group=nb|''Indian'' is used here because of the historical nature of the article and the precision of the name, as with Indian hospital.<ref name=Indian>{{cite web|title=Terminology Guide: Research on Aboriginal Heritage|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/aboriginal-heritage/Documents/Terminology%20Guide%20%20Aboriginal%20Heritage.pdf|publisher = Library and Archives Canada |date=2012|accessdate=April 8, 2023}}</ref> It was, and continues to be, used by government officials, Indigenous peoples and historians. The use of the name also provides relevant context about the era in which Indigenous peoples in Canada were homogeneously referred to as ''Indians'' rather than by language that distinguishes First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.<ref name=Indian/> Use of ''Indian'' is limited throughout the article to proper nouns and references to government legislation.}} refers to any First Nations person who for whatever reason is not registered with the federal government, or is not registered to a band recognized under the Indian Act.{{CN|date=August 2025}}

For several decades, status Indian women automatically became non-status if they married men who were not status Indians.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Nestor |first=Rob |title=Non-status Indians |url=https://teaching.usask.ca/indigenoussk/import/non-status_indians.php |access-date=2025-10-10 |website=Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia |publisher=University of Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref>

Prior to 1955, a status Indian could lose their status and become non-status through enfranchisement (voluntarily giving up status, usually for a minimal cash payment), by obtaining a college degree<ref name=":0" /> or becoming an ordained minister.{{CN|date=August 2025}}

The 2013 Federal Court case ''Daniels v. Canada'' established that non-status Indians (and Métis) have the same aboriginal rights as status Indians, in that they are encompassed in the 1867 Constitution Act's language about "Indians".<ref>{{cite news |url= https://vancouversun.com/news/Court+decision+ends+ambiguity+status+Indians+Metis+officially+Indians/7789924/story.html |title= Court decision ends ambiguity for non-status Indians and Metis, now officially 'Indians' |first= Kim |last= Pemberton |work= Vancouver Sun |date= January 8, 2013}}</ref> However, the 2014 Federal Court of Appeal decision "Daniels v Canada" overturned that verdict after the government appealed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/11/19/metis-non-status-indians-supreme-court-canada_n_6185790.html |title=Metis, Non-Status Indians To Learn If Top Court Will Hear Landmark Case |first=Steve |last=Rennie |agency=Canadian Press |work=Huffington Post |date=November 19, 2014}}</ref> In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the 2013 verdict after a subsequent appeal on the 2014 decision. As a result, the federal government has jurisdiction and fiduciary duty over status Indians, non-status Indians, and Métis alike.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/metis-ruling/article29628869/ |title=Métis, non-status Indians win Supreme Court battle over rights |first1=Gloria |last1=Galloway |first2=Sean |last2=Fine |work=The Globe and Mail |date=April 14, 2016}}</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist|group=nb}}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:First Nations history in Canada Category:Canadian Aboriginal and Indigenous law Category:Assimilation of Indigenous peoples of North America * Category:Indigenous rights in Canada Category:Non-Status Indians