THE Squamish Nation membership is set to go to the polls to decide whether the band will allow groups formerly not entitled to band membership the chance to join.
When the federal government passed Bill C3 in 2010, it allowed for descendants of First Nations people who lost their Indian status through marriage to apply for status.
However, gaining status didn't automatically bring membership in the First Nations bands. Bands have had control over their own membership since Parliament passed Bill C-31 in 1985.
The Squamish Nation's membership department has been keeping a running blog to keep members up to date on the referendum.
On April 4, band members will vote to decide if they want to accept individuals with Squamish heritage who are entitled to status because of changes made to the Indian Act by Bill C-3, as members.
According to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, about 45,000 people fell into that category across Canada, though only a small portion of them could be considered for Squamish membership.
"We need to emphasize that we are only talking about up to 200 new members - not thousands more," one entry of the blog post states. "The most important issue is that our current membership code inadvertently treats people differently based on gender. We need to decide if we, as Squamish people, would like to address this different treatment and treat the grandchildren of Bill C31 women in a fair and equal way.
"The Squamish are a generous people, and we are proud of our ability to take care of our own. We as Squamish people have to define who we are and who we want to be. It should not be about money, it's about equality, equal access and fair treatment."
The vote comes as the band's population of descendant members, who automatically pass on membership to their children, appears to have peaked while lineal members, who can only pass on membership if they have a child with another lineal member, are on the rise, according to the blog.
"Our membership records also tell us that our population growth over the past 12 years has decreased by more than 75 per cent, and there is no sign this decrease is going to stop. We are worried that in the future our population may begin shrinking," the blog states.
Band members will also vote on whether to accept children who are born of one Squamish parent and another non-Squamish First Nations parent and whether to allow husbands of female Squamish members to apply to become acquired members.
Band members are entitled to apply for services the band provides over and above federally-offered health and education benefits, including housing.
