Page 22 - Chippewas of Rama First Nation

Population

As of 2018, the population of our First Nation was approximately
1941 people. This population only includes Status Indians. Status
Indian refers to someone whose parents are of First Nations
ancestry and whose birth has been registered with Crown–
Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC).
There may be other members of our First Nation who are not
registered, resulting in a larger population than the registration
list shows.

To become enfranchised meant Who may or may not be “status” is troubling for many First
that the individual had to give Nations people because it allows the government to determine
up their status and their treaty
who belongs. In our community, there are members who were
rights for reasons such as
born without status and gained it, and there are members who
serving in the army and buying
land outside of the reserve. This were born with status, lost status through enfranchisement, and
was the practice from the early regained it when the Indian Act changed in 1985 (see page 67 of
to mid-1900s. The government
the Resources section for details of these changes).
considered enfranchised
people to have become non-
Indigenous. For instance, until
Where Our People Live
1960, Status Indians could not
vote in municipal, provincial,
or federal elections without
enfranchising. In 1960, all Status
Indians were given the right to
Members living
vote. The policy and practice of 710 on-territory
enfranchisement was formally
stopped in 1985.

1231
WORDS TO KNOW
municipal: to do with a city, Members living
town, district, or other area with off-territory
local government
Our population includes people who live on our territory and people
who live in other First Nation and non-Indigenous communities. Many
people moved to other parts of Canada or the world to seek education or
employment but are now returning as the economy in Rama grows.

Chippewas of Rama First Nation
ISBN: 017687495X
20 Chippewas of Rama First Nation
FN otccb_afn_f03
CO Allan Moon
ogemawahj_community_book5.indd 20 2019-03-14 8:11 AM
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