logo
Guidelines Application Contact Us
Application Guidelines

PURPOSE OF THIS APPLICATION

This Application is to enroll as "Mi'kmaw of Nova Scotia" ‐ that is, as a beneficiary and rights‐holder entitled to access Mi'kmaq Treaty and Aboriginal Rights in the province of Nova Scotia.

WHO MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?

The Enrollment Committee is currently accepting Applications from individuals who do NOT currently have a status card to one of the thirteen Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Bands.

Note: Until further notice, individuals who possess a status card with one of the thirteen Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq bands may continue to use these status cards for the purpose of accessing Mi'kmaq Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in Nova Scotia.

Eligibility

To be eligible to be enrolled as a Mi'kmaw of Nova Scotia, an applicant must meet both of the following criteria:

A. Familial Connection, established by one of three methods:

  1. The applicant has Mi'kmaw of Nova Scotia Ancestry, meaning the applicant can demonstrate their ancestry to a Mi'kmaw of Nova Scotia family; or
  2. The applicant was adopted before the age of 18, under laws recognized in Canada or in accordance with Mi'kmaq custom, by an individual who can establish Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Ancestry under (i); or
  3. The applicant is the biological or adopted child of an enrolled Mi'kmaw of Nova Scotia; AND,

B. Acceptance by the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Nation

DEMONSTRATING A "FAMILIAL CONNECTION"

Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq have clearly stated that to be a Mi'kmaw of Nova Scotia, a person must be ancestrally Mi'kmaq. However, the English word "ancestry" does not translate and explain Mi'kmaq concepts of family and connection in the same way. The Mi'kmaq explain ancestry through concepts like tami wetapeksin, wenik kikmaq, wenik kujjewijik, and tami tleyawin. It is about your relations ‐ who is your family, what are your roots and to whom you are related.

Being a Mi'kmaw of Nova Scotia does not simply mean you can present evidence that somewhere within your family tree or lineage, you had one blood relative who was a Mi'kmaw. Ancestry for the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq, and for the purposes of the Enrollment Process, is centred on the consistent and present role of the family.

Flowing from this understanding, the criterion of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Ancestry under s. 2(a)(i) and 2(a)(ii) of the Eligibility Criteria requires proof of two elements: an ancestral connection on at least one side of the family, and a present‐day connection to at least one Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq family. Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Ancestry may be established by birth or adoption.

You must demonstrate, in your Application, that:

  1. At least one side of your family (maternal or paternal) has Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Ancestry.
  2. You have an ancestral connection after 1871
    • As Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq have stated, "just because your great, great, great, great grandparent was Mi'kmaw, that doesn't make you Mi'kmaw".
  3. You are connected to and/or a part of at least one Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq family presently.
    • Even if you can demonstrate Mi'kmaq heritage from a historical time point, you must still demonstrate your current and continued connection to a Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq family.

Usually, your present‐day connection to a Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq family will be provided through:

  • Letter(s) of support included with Application; or
  • by the Enrollment Committee establishing an Advisory Committee, with your authorization.

If your evidence cannot verify your familial connection, you may explain in your Application and through supporting documentation any special circumstances that caused you to be disconnected from your family. Special circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

  • Residential schools;
  • The "Sixties Scoop";
  • The child‐welfare system;
  • Domestic or intimate‐partner violence or abuse;
  • Gender‐based discrimination under the Indian Act;
  • Reasons related to personal characteristics such as gender, disability, family or marital status; or
  • Other impacts of colonialism.

DEMONSTRATING "ACCEPTANCE" BY THE NOVA SCOTIA MI'KMAQ NATION

"Acceptance" means the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Nation accepts you as a Mi'kmaw of Nova Scotia.

Mi'kmaq customs, traditions and practices connect many aspects of Mi'kmaq life. Even if a person hunts, makes baskets, attends powwows, and harvests sweet grass, this does not mean a person is L'nu pursuant to Mi'kmaq customs, traditions and practices.

You must demonstrate in your Application that you meet the Acceptance criterion for eligibility, by providing information or evidence related to the following factors:

  1. Letter(s) of support;
  2. Your participation, contribution, or to the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Nation or a recognized Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq band and/or area;
  3. Knowledge of you by members of the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Nation;
  4. Your degree of knowledge of or familiarity with Mi'kmaq culture, customs, lifestyles, and history;
  5. Your degree of knowledge of the Mi'kmaq language;
  6. Where and how you were raised, and how this factor may have impacted clauses (a)‐(d), above;
  7. The impacts of colonialism, including residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, or the child welfare system; or other special circumstances; and how these factors may have impacted your acceptance by the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Nation.

If your evidence of Acceptance is not strong and/or a letter of support is not available and/or verifiable, you should provide information or evidence to explain how any of the following factors may have impacted your acceptance by the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Nation:

  1. the impacts of colonialism, including residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, or the child welfare system;
  2. any reasons related to your personal characteristics, such as gender, disability, family or marital status, including but not limited to domestic or intimate‐partner violence or abuse and gender‐based discrimination under the Indian Act.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION CHECKLIST

The following documentation is required to be included with your Application Form (Form 001):

  • Copy of long‐form birth certificate;
  • Copy of government‐issued photo identification;
  • Identification photo;
  • Completed Family Tree (Form 002)

Note: If this documentation is not included with your Application form, your Application will be considered incomplete.

Recommended Additional Supporting Documents

In addition to the required documents, you are encouraged to include as much other documentation as possible to demonstrate how you meet the Eligibility Criteria, such as:

  • Letter of support
  • Vital Statistics Records (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificates, death records).
  • Letter from membership clerk of a band or a recognized Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq association or organization that provides support to off‐reserve or Non‐Status Mi'kmaq, confirming Acceptance.
  • Court Orders or Court documents.
  • Church records (e.g., for birth, baptism, marriage, and death).
  • Census records.
  • Historical photographs.
  • Completed Genealogy.
  • Adoption Records.
  • Indian Status Card(s) of relative(s).
  • Statutory declaration(s) of the applicant or other individuals.

Note: documentation dated prior to 1871 will not be accepted unless it is accompanied by more recent documentation. Please do not provide originals of official documents, except for letters and statutory declarations.

APPLICATION PROCESS

You must complete the entire Application. Incomplete Applications will result in delays in processing and may result in your Application being rejected.

Once you have submitted your completed Application form together with all supporting documentation, you will receive notice that your Application has been received.

The Enrollment Committee will review your Application file. The Enrollment Committee may determine that it needs more information before it can make a decision. If so, the Enrollment Committee may request further documents from you, or may request an interview with you to supplement or verify the information in your Application. The Enrollment Committee may also interview any other individuals, including establishing an Advisory Committee.

Note: You are encouraged to provide as much supporting documentation as possible with your initial Application. The processing of your Application may be delayed if your Application is incomplete or does not contain enough information to allow the Enrollment Committee to evaluate your eligibility for enrollment.

ENROLLMENT COMMITTEE

The Enrollment Committee is an independent body comprised of five individuals who are responsible for assessing Applications based on the Eligibility Criteria. The Enrollment Committee includes a representative from each of the following groups: Elders, youth (age 18‐30), single parents, urban/off‐reserve, and Grand Council.

NOTICE OF DECISION

Once the Enrollment Committee has completed its review of your Application, you will receive written notice of their decision. If your Application is accepted, you will receive your Beneficiary Identification Card. If your Application is rejected, you will have the right to ask the Enrollment Committee to reconsider their decision, to appeal to the Appeals Committee, or to reapply at a later date. Your decision letter will explain these options.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you need assistance in completing this application, you can appoint a representative or contact our office toll‐free at 1 888 803 3880 or email: info@mikmawns.ca

Note: It is your responsibility to keep the Enrollment Committee informed of your current address and personal information.

Please note: Eligibility and enrollment as a Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq is not the same as enrollment as a band member and will not interfere with Indian Status and/or Band entitlements. If you need to register as a Status Indian, please contact the Indian Registry Administrator (IRA) for assistance.

Wula na kinu | Guidelines | Application | Contact Us