Quote:
Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen
And before 1985, a woman marrying a non-Indian man or non-status Indian would lose her Indian-status (losing basic rights like the ability to live on the reserve etc.).
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This was originally to prevent bands from being taken over by non-native men who would marry into a band for financial gain. Keep in mind, at the time almost all indigenous Canadians were illiterate, and opportunists with a bit of legal or financial knowledge could exploit a band's resources ruthlessly.
Bill C-31, passed in 1985, overturned these sexist provisions. But do you know who fought against Bill C-31 tooth and nail right through the 90s? Indigenous leaders. They asserted the federal government had no right to determine who could or couldn't belong to a band roll, and opposed efforts to restore indigenous women and their children to band membership (and with it recognition as Status Indians). Many legal battles had to be fought by the federal government on behalf of indigenous women to get all First Nations to conform to C-31.