Applying For Metis Status In New Brunswick

To apply for Metis status in New Brunswick, you must be a member of the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council (NBAPC), which represents the approximately 28,260 Status and Non-Status Aboriginal People living in the province. The NBAPC is a community of Aboriginal people residing off-reserve in Mi'kmaq/Maliseet/Passamaquoddy Traditional Territory of New Brunswick. To be recognised as Metis, you must meet the national definition of a Metis person, which is a person who self-identifies as Metis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, is of historic Metis Nation ancestry and who is accepted by the Metis Nation. To apply, you must submit an application form, a photo, a copy of photo ID, and payment. You must also prove your Metis ancestry through genealogical, historical, and legal documents.

Application forms and where to find them

The Métis National Council General Assembly defines a "Métis" as a person who self-identifies as Métis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, has historic Métis Nation Ancestry, and is accepted by the Métis Nation. The Métis National Council also states that each Registry has its own application forms and application process.

The Metis Nation of Canada (MNOC) has a standard application process for citizenship. The MNOC Citizenship criteria are as follows: a person who identifies as Métis, is a direct descendant of an Indigenous and European couple, and can prove Métis ancestry through verifiable genealogical, historical, and legal documents. The MNOC requires verifiable genealogical records, such as civic or church records, confirming the blood connection through every generation, from a person to their direct Indigenous ancestor.

The MNOC application form can be printed and filled out by hand, or it can be filled out digitally. The application package must include one photo of the applicant (head and shoulders only), a copy of a photo ID, and payment. The membership fee is a one-time, non-refundable payment.

The MNOC also requires a genealogical chart, which can be printed or filled out electronically. The chart must include at least one confirmed Métis line, and applicants should enter as much information as possible. The MNOC accepts an applicant's own family tree if they already have one. If the chart/family tree has multiple lineages, the main Métis line should be indicated using an asterisk (*) after the names of Métis ancestors.

The MNOC website provides detailed instructions on the application process, including a checklist to ensure the application package is complete. Incomplete packages may cause unnecessary delays in the application process, so it is important to refer to the checklist before submitting the application.

Application process

To apply for Metis status in New Brunswick, you must first meet the National Definition of Metis. This definition states that a Metis person is someone who self-identifies as Metis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, has historic Metis Nation ancestry, and is accepted by the Metis Nation.

The application process typically involves downloading and filling out an application form, which can usually be found on the relevant Registry's website or obtained in person or by mail from the Provincial or Regional Offices of the governing body.

• Download and print the application form, or fill it out digitally. Ensure that you have all the necessary information, including a photo of yourself, a copy of your photo ID, and your payment information.
• Gather the necessary supporting documents. These may include genealogical records, historical proof of your Metis ancestry, and proof of residency if required by the specific province or governing body.
• Submit your completed application package, including all supporting documents, to the appropriate office. In some cases, you may submit your application by mail, email, or in person.
• Wait for your application to be processed. This may involve an intake officer reviewing your forms and sending them to a registry agent, who will then prepare your documents and family tree for review by a genealogist.
• Receive a decision on your application. If your application is successful, you will be authorized to receive your citizenship card.

It is important to note that each province may have its own specific application process and requirements, so it is recommended to refer to the official sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Additionally, there may be fees associated with processing your application and issuing your citizenship card, which are typically non-refundable.

Supporting documents

To apply for Métis status in New Brunswick, you must submit a completed application package to the Métis Nation of Canada (MNOC). The application package must include supporting documents that prove your Métis status. Here are the details on the supporting documents required:

Civic or Church Records:

Provide civic or church records that confirm your blood connection or child adoption through each generation, from yourself to your direct Aboriginal ancestor. Your ancestor may be described using various terms, such as Indian, Inuit, Métis, Indigenous, or half-breed. The records should also include information on the union between your ancestors, which could include cohabitation, traditional marriage, or civil marriage. However, it's important to note that records from genealogical dictionaries or listings, such as Tanguay, Jetté, or Drouin, are not accepted as valid records for linking generations.

Historical Genealogical Connection:

You must provide evidence of a historical blood connection to an Aboriginal and European couple. Traditionally, Métis people are the children of Aboriginal women and European men who belonged to various occupations, such as fishermen, voyageurs, or fur traders. In some rare cases, the mother may have been European, and the father Aboriginal.

Verifiable Connection:

Even if your ancestor was not identified as Métis in any documentation, you can still establish a verifiable connection through a genealogical link to an Aboriginal and European union. In the absence of paper-based documentation, a sworn affidavit from an Elder who has known the individual or family as Métis for decades or a lifetime will be considered.

Genealogical Connection through Adoption:

If you are a non-Métis minor child who has been formally or culturally adopted into the Métis community, you can establish a genealogical connection through adoption. Upon reaching the age of majority, you have the option to remain registered with the MNOC.

It's important to note that photos of tombstones, obituaries, or monuments are not considered valid primary documents for registration. Additionally, it is not advisable to modify the documents by adding handwritten notes or encircling the subject.

Benefits of citizenship

The New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council (NBAPC) is the voice for the approximately 28,260 Status and Non-Status Aboriginal People who reside in the Province of New Brunswick. The NBAPC provides services, programs, and a political voice for their concerns.

Self-government

For the NBAPC, self-government begins with control over their land. This means jurisdiction over their renewable and non-renewable resources, education, health and social services, public order, and the shape and composition of their political institutions.

Advancing cultural, traditional, economic, and general living conditions

The NBAPC provides an organization for Off-Reserve Aboriginal People in New Brunswick to advance their cultural, traditional, economic, and general living conditions. They work to improve social, educational, and employment opportunities for people of Aboriginal Ancestry in New Brunswick.

Treaty and land claim rights

The NBAPC works to reaffirm, protect, and implement their Aboriginal, Treaty, and Land Claim Rights as Aboriginal People of New Brunswick. They also work with all levels of government, public and private agencies, and private industry to improve opportunities for people of Aboriginal Ancestry in New Brunswick.

Strengthening cultural identity and pride

The NBAPC works to foster and strengthen cultural identity and pride among people of Aboriginal Ancestry in New Brunswick. They also inform the general public of the special needs and rights of the people of Aboriginal Ancestry in New Brunswick and their efforts to achieve full participation in the economic, social, and political life of the Province.

Definition of Métis

The Métis are an Indigenous people whose historical homelands include Canada's three Prairie Provinces, as well as parts of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, parts of Ontario, and the northern United States. They have a shared history and culture, deriving from specific mixed European and Indigenous ancestry. The Métis are one of three major groups of Indigenous peoples that were legally recognised in the Constitution Act of 1982, the other two being the First Nations and the Inuit.

The Métis are historically the descendants of First Nations-European unions. The first Métis people emerged in eastern Canada in the early 1600s with the arrival of European explorers and their unions with Indigenous women. The Métis Nation originated in eastern Canada shortly after first contact between First Nations and Europeans in the era of fisheries, fur trade, and colonisation. As the fur trade pushed westward, new Métis communities were created along the way, with a second Métis Nation taking root in Red River, Manitoba, predominantly with the Cree and Ojibwa nations.

The Métis are defined as a person who self-identifies as Métis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, is of historic Métis Nation ancestry, and is accepted by the Métis Nation. While self-identification is an important aspect, it alone does not grant legal entitlement to recognition as a Métis person. To be registered as Métis, one must apply to the Métis Registry in the province in which they reside, as each Registry has its own application forms and processes.

The word "Métis" itself is originally French for "person of mixed parentage" and is derived from the Latin word "mixtus", meaning "mixed". The term was first used in the 17th century by those in the North American fur trade to refer to people of mixed European and North American Indigenous parentage in New France. At that time, it generally applied to French-speaking people of partial Indigenous and partial ethnic French descent. The term was also used in other French colonies to refer to people of mixed European and Indigenous backgrounds.

Over time, the Métis developed a distinct culture, customs, and traditions of their own, while also adopting parts of their Indigenous and European heritage. They are recognised as one of Canada's Indigenous peoples and have a population of over half a million people.

Frequently asked questions