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Canadian Native Status



Here’s an interesting tale I can finally share with my blog readers.  For many years I and my siblings were non status natives meaning we weren’t Gov’t registered to a native band/reservation.  Here is the story told by our family elders:  when our grandfather was a young man he was busy working in a saw mill out in the bush and didn’t bother to come home when the Canadian Gov’t officials came to register the Indian people.  He was a stubborn man who had little regard for the Gov’t he only spoke the Ojibway language and more concerned about having a job, you have to remember this was during the Depression era.  Unfortunately later when he married this caused a trickle effect his family were allowed to live on the reservation but considered non status Indians by the Canadian Federal Gov’t.  My mother was the middle child and never spoke about it.  Years later my uncles pleaded their case to the Gov’t eventually our grandfather was granted and listed as Status Indian after his death.  Aunt Emily was the last of his children and I’m so glad I got the chance to meet and talk with her before she died a few years ago.  Can you imagine she lived to be 80+ she would share some stories with us but they were vague, the years have clouded her memory.   Native elders are good at keeping family secrets you have no idea how hard it was for my brother and sister to obtain any information. 
My brother and sister are the ones who got the ball rolling in effort to obtain native status for the third generation King family members.  The time they spent talking to relatives and doing research was tiresome and difficult I figure if they can get native status then I would apply too.  About six years ago they were granted Native Status surprisingly I didn’t know this until later when we all met at a family gathering.  I exclaimed “What!  Why wasn’t I told this”  My sister Leanne just looked at me and replied sarcastically “You didn’t ask!”  You think I’m outspoken and direct, you should meet my sister. :P  Luv ya Leanne.  :)
About 3 years ago I applied for Native Status with the help from my brother Joey I submitted the required family information.  During this time UNH’s was driving me nuts about the Native Status requirement.  Applicants/tenants must be 50% Native or risk being evicted it’s a scare tactic that only annoyed me.  As a courtesy a few months ago I sent a fax to UNH’s explaining there’s a delay in Ottawa and promised as soon as I get my approval letter I will notify UNH’s head office.  
Well Folks! You are now looking at a proud Canadian “Native Status” Aboriginal blogger.  Yesterday I received my approval letter from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and I’m so happy and relieved.  The only thing I have to do next is travel to the Toronto or Brantford INAC regional office to obtain my status card with photo ID.
In closing I’d like to think honorable Grandfather Mathew King is sitting next to the Creator sharing a smoke pipe while looking down at us speaking Ojibway “Well done children!” or he could be saying “To hell with the Gov’t.”  :D

Thank you for reading my blog.

Tk

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