March 31, 2025 – Fort William First Nation has done a poor job at explaining how non-status band members fit into our community. We are therefore left with no choice but to explain it ourselves. It’s simple: Non-status band members are members of Fort William First Nation. We are part of the collective that makes up the tribe.

In 1987, Fort William separated band membership from Indian status. This means that, in accordance with our membership code, one does not need to be registered as an Indian to be a member of the band. The reality is that more and more people across Canada are no longer eligible for Indian status. Past Fort William leaders anticipated this by making it possible for some non-status people to be members so long as certain lawfully enacted criteria are met.

Yet, FWFN seems willing to exclude us or our kids by opting to privilege Indian status above all else. Such a position would contravene the spirit and intent of not only FWFN’s 1987 membership code, but the will of the people who voted it into law.

There are some who believe non-status band members should not be included in FWFN. To this, we respond with 3 points:

1. First and foremost: We are your family members, with or without status. We belong because of Anishinaabe kinship law.
2. Second: The Robinson-Superior Treaty was concluded before Indian status was invented. It recognized the collective nature of our right to belong. Canada has wrongfully excluded us from enjoying some aspects of the treaty based on its racist notion of Indian status. By excluding non-status members, FWFN would perpetuate this historic and on-going injustice.
3. And finally: Section 4.1 of the Indian Act outlines the rights of non-status band members. While imperfect, it is one more tool we can use to bridge the divide between status and non-status band members.

In closing, we say to Council: You cannot uphold a treaty right by undermining treaty rights. The Robinson-Superior Treaty protected our kinship laws. Do not throw us away just because it might be easier to rely on Indian status.

This statement was prepared in collaboration with a group of FWFN band members concerned about apparent marginalization of non-status band members within our community.