Post Bill S-3 Grassroots and Expert Roundtables

NWAC is currently leading a national assessment on whether Bill S-3 effectively eliminated gender-based discrimination from the “Indian status” registration provisions within the Indian Act.

As part of this project, we will be holding up to eight grassroots engagements sessions with Indigenous women and gender-diverse people who have been directly affected by the amendments to the registration provisions. We will also be holding up to six engagement sessions with experts who have a sound understanding of Indigenous gender-based issues when it comes to the status registration provisions.

NWAC also wants to hear from our grassroots and expert participants about Bill S-3. We want to hear about your:

• experiences with applying for registration both before and after the legislation was implemented
• suggestions for what the registration provisions should look like
• advice on who should be included in the consultation processes

NWAC also wants to receive feedback on whether there exists any ongoing discrimination in the legislation, traditional community membership policies and any other valuable commentary.

These engagements will inform our assessment and final report on the effectiveness of Bill S-3 in eliminating sex-based inequities from the registration provisions of the Indian Act. We will advocate that the findings be considered for all future legislative changes to the registration provisions, and we will continue to demand inclusion in all policy discussions that affect Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people.

The time and insights of Indigenous women and gender-diverse people are valuable. For this reason, we will be offering a small honorarium to those who participate in our engagement sessions.