Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

Leadership is fundamental to achieving community objectives. Community members must have confidence in the processes they use to elect their leaders.

Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services has gained an excellent reputation for competence and dependability in assisting communities with elections. However, a formal elections unit which has access to current information is required.

The cornerstone of an effective election process is an accurate membership list. The Corbiere decision has underscored the importance of maintaining such lists for both on and off-reserve populations. Electronic registration would be an important tool to efficiently managing and maintaining this data. This capability within Advisory Services is a necessary asset.

Wills and estate have not been traditional practices of First Nations. Many Bands rely on historic custom for distribution of estates, but that process is not recognized by the Indian Act. Because the Act makes no provision for these customary practices, provisions can be imposed that disregard the wishes of the deceased or their families. However, DIAND considers estates as a private family matter, best administered by families (60% of estates are administered by families) and currently only acts as a last resort. It is therefore becoming increasingly important that this area be recognized by Bands and community members as important in family planning activities. A Wills and Estates Unit needs to be established within the Advisory Services. The primary goal of this unit is to assist communities in such matters as:

• understand the need for wills
• the responsibilities and liabilities associated with being an executor
• to provide a central Wills Registry
• to examine how traditional practices and today's legal requirements can be harmonized

The services this department provides are listed below:

• Conducts elections and by-elections often as Electoral and Deputy Electoral Officers. Each election takes three months from beginning to end. This Membership unit is also requested by other First Nations to conduct their Elections. As long as it does not interfere with our area First Nations Elections, they do conduct outside Elections.
• Assists INAC with treaty days.
• Obtains and reports and/or enters events that affect the Indian Register.
• Issue status cards.
• Assist with Bill C-31 applications.
• Reports status category upgrades.
• Issue identification letters.
• Submits applications for gas cards.
• Submits applications for age of majority.
• Assist and report Band transfers .
• Provide Commissioner of Oaths in regards to Membership.

Membership forms available to be downloaded:

• NOTE: To download most of the following forms, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. To download it, or to find out more about it, please visit the Adobe web site.
• Request for Registration
• Request for Transfer
• Births & Marriages Registration Link

Other Downloads:
Services for First Nations People (booklet: Published by INAC).