To apply for a Metis Status Card (also known as an Aboriginal Status Card, Indian Status Card), you must first obtain the information required to prove your native ancestry. If you’re wondering who qualifies for Metis status, generally anyone with Native ancestry is biologically Metis. The card you have depends on who your ancestors were.
This usually means that you start with yourself and work backwards through your family tree. You can’t just randomly pick a Native American you were told you “might be related to” and try to match your tree to that person. This is why it can take some time to put your tree together and find a native ancestral line.
Start by making a family tree chart. Each person on the chart has 2 parents, so they become like branches on the tree (you can find blank tree charts online). List your name and date of birth as the first person, then add your parents as branches in the next column, then your parents in the next column, etc., with each generation in a separate column. Add the dates of birth and marriage for each generation. Eventually, you’ll need to search for archival records or church records from older generations, but always work backwards in time, checking ancestors as you go.
If and when you do find your native ancestors, you will need to obtain copies of all the records linking each generation along that line, because most organizations do not do this for you without charging you a fee, as they It consumes much time. Metis organizations are not funded by the government to find their native ancestors and prove that line. It’s up to you to show them who you are. Some organizations will not verify your line at all and will simply decline membership.
For you, you need a birth or baptismal record that shows who your parents were. Then, for each person along that line, you’ll need a record indicating who their parents were. This is generally known as a “long form” record, because it provides proof of parental names. Because some families have multiple people with the same name, the only way to know for sure if each person is fully documented is to have birth and marriage records that list the parents’ names. You’ll need records like this for each generation going back to your native ancestor. Names and dates obtained from regular Internet sites or family trees are not considered proof. You should obtain copies of government or church records, or other legal documents, either online or from that agency.
Once you have copies of all the actual records to prove your native line (no gaps in the untested line), you need to find out which Metis organization best matches your ancestry and will represent you as a member of their Metis community.
Metis organizations have different requirements, goals, and offer different types of representation. They are generally not affiliated with each other and do not share the same membership information. They also offer various services for the application fee. Some only give Aboriginal status cards, others offer programs and services. If you are interested in getting help with your tree and also knowing the results of what is found, you should ask the organization about this service, how much it will cost, and what you will get for your money, as some provide information on your tree and some do not.
Before applying, you may wish to speak personally with your representatives or employees, to help determine your likelihood of being accepted into your community and whether you believe your community best represents you and your ancestry. Some organizations may deny you status if you don’t have a specific type of proof, so you don’t want to find out that you paid an application fee and then got denied, and then have to pay another organization to apply. record. By contrast, other organizations may appear to require very little testing.
Either way, a strong Metis community record should contain documented proof of every generation, from your baptism or birth record to your native ancestor, with no gaps. If you only have your standard issued birth certificate that does not list your parents’ names, then you should obtain your baptismal record from your church or your “long form” birth certificate, which is available from the government, and submit copies. to the organization. You will also need this same type of document for each generation. This is the only way a registry can prove that all of its members are truly of Native American descent. The amount of funding an organization obtains will depend on the number of registrants who have complete documentation and whether your organization is prepared to negotiate funding on their behalf.
Once you’ve decided which group to apply to and have your paperwork in order, you’re ready to apply for your Metis Card.
