(Lheidli T'enneh Territory/Prince George and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) – The B.C. Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) call upon all Members of Parliament to stand with First Nations title and rights holders to pass Bill S-2 “An Act to Amend the Indian Act” (new registration amendments) with amendments to eliminate the second-generation cut-off (s. 6(2) Indian Status) without delay and to implement a one-parent rule.
The second-generation cut-off was introduced by Canada in 1985 and legally bars the transmission of Status and associated rights and entitlements to First Nations children after two generations of parenting with a non-status person. On December 4th, 2025, in a landslide decision, the Senate voted to pass Bill S-2, and it will now go to the House of Commons. If the House of Commons does not vote in favor of Bill S-2 and act swiftly to remove the second-generation cut-off, Status Indians will become legally extinct in a few generations according to data by Indigenous Services Canada. The Government of Canada cannot debate discrimination and the violation of rights. This is a pivotal moment to raise our voices and demand that Canada prevent legislated extinction and uphold our rights, as protected by the Constitution and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
BCAFN and UBCIC celebrate the Senate’s momentous decision and thank the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, who heard from nearly 60 witnesses who spoke in favor of amendments, and the rightsholders who have fought for these critical amendments for decades. To learn more about the history and ongoing impacts of discriminatory policies under the Indian Act, click here.
The UBCIC and BCAFN invite First Nations to write to the Government of Canada and Members of Parliament, urging them to pass Bill S-2 to eliminate the second-generation cut-off once and for all. A template letter can be found here.
First Nations Chiefs, leaders and impacted individuals are invited to attend the BCAFN/UBCIC Webinar “First Nations Citizenship / Membership: Eliminating Sex Discrimination in the Indian Act” on December 12, 2025, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PT to learn more about Bill S-2, eliminating the second-generation cut-off and outstanding discrimination from the Indian Act. To register, click here.