Consultations will begin soon by the federal government on how to best address concerns related to band membership, registration and citizenship.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs has appointed Claudette Dumont-Smith as the minister’s special representative to lead the consultations.

Dumont-Smith will be tasked with examining three areas:

  • Clauses to remove the 1951 cut-off from the Indian Act
  • How to best address any remaining inequities related to registration and membership
  • To begin discussing how to devolve First Nations of the exclusive responsibility for the determination of the identity of their members

A final report is expected by next June.

(PHOTO: Claudette Dumont-Smith. Photo courtesy of femicideincanada.ca)