Frequently Asked Questions - National Consultation Circle on the Future of the Wendat Nation

The Circle will need to adapt to the legislative amendments planned for the Indian Act. Specifically :

1. 1. If Bill S-2, “An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements)” is passed with the elimination of the second-generation cut-off rule (single-parent rule), the number of registered Wendats will increase. The Circle will then focus more on ways to transmit, promote, and protect Wendat culture.
2. If Bill S-2, “An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements)” is not passed with the elimination of the second-generation cut-off rule (single-parent rule), according to current demographic projections, over time, the number of Wendats with status will decrease. The Circle will then focus more on the rules and criteria governing Wendat identity.

The Circle will also have to adapt, if necessary, to any other legislative positions adopted by Ottawa.

The Circle will consist of a variety of meetings to allow as many Wendats as possible to participate.

Until then, information sessions and various tools will be made available to the Wendats so that they can be more informed of the different issues facing the Nation and prepare to eventually participate in the Circle.

Indeed, the Wendat Nation is faced with major demographic issues :

1. If the Indian Act remains unchanged, 50 years from now, the Nation’s established population will be decreased by half.
2. If the Indian Act is amended and the elimination of the second-generation cut-off rule is adopted, the Nation’s established population will increase.

These demographic issues have impacts on, among other things, the transmission of Wendat culture, Wendat identity, and the funding of services.

The website will be updated regularly to enable the population to stay informed.

Several hybrid information sessions will be held.

Information will be disseminated in various formats to reach Wendats of all ages, both in Wendake and outside of Wendake.

The preparatory work leading to the National Consultation Circle on the Future of the Wendat Nation will take the form of various meetings to give as many Wendats as possible the opportunity to participate.

This is a rule imposed by the federal government in the Indian Act regarding the registration of an “Indian”, which limits the transmission of status.

In concrete terms, after two consecutive generations in which one parent is not registered, the following generation is no longer entitled to Indian status.

This rule was introduced during amendments to the Indian Act in 1985 and is an example of the federal government imposing rules that define Indigenous identity without regard for Indigenous peoples’ understanding of their own identity, culture, and traditions.

If this rule is not changed, some communities could, in the near future, no longer have children who are eligible for registration.

Initially, Bill S-2 aimed to address four main issues :

• Repeal provisions related to enfranchisement
• Allow deregistration upon request;
• Facilitate reaffiliation to the natal band;
• Remove terms deemed outdated or offensive.

On November 18, 2025, the Senate added the following objective :

If Bill S-2 is passed, with the amendment proposed by the Senate, status can be passed on indefinitely by a single parent with status

2026-06-03 - According to LEGISinfo, the second reading of Bill S-2 concluded on February 27, 2026. The Bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs for further study. The Committee’s work began on April 16, 2026, and is ongoing. For more information: INAN – Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements)

*Please note that this information will be updated regularly as the file evolves.*

The Registrar is the ISC official responsible for the Indian Register.

In 1985, the Indian Act was amended, and First Nations received the right to adopt their own membership codes (section 10).

Most communities in the country have not adopted a membership code. This is the case for the Wendat Nation.

It provides for a decision-making mechanism based on a vote with specific conditions including the double majority voting threshold.

• A majority (50% + 1) of eligible voters must participate in the vote.

  Example: For a population of 5,000, 2,501 people must vote.

• A majority of those who voted must be in favour.

  Example: Of the 2,501 voters, 1,251 must have voted in favour.

The elimination of the cut-off after the second generation could mean adding registered “Indians” to the Wendat Nation membership list.

In the consultation materials provided by Indigenous Services Canada (2025), it is stated that if the double majority voting threshold requirement remains, it could become increasingly difficult for a community or nation, given its growing registered population, to reach the double majority threshold and therefore increasingly difficult for it to adopt its own membership code.

Also, the following statistic was included in the consultation materials provided by Indigenous Services Canada (2025) for the collaborative process on the post-second-generation cut-off and voting thresholds under Section 10 :

The band is then governed by section 11 of the Indian Act, and its membership list is maintained by the Indian Registrar at Indigenous Services Canada. This is the reality for the Wendat Nation.

If a community has not adopted a membership code, a person registered in the Indian Register is automatically a member of their band.

A band member means they meet the membership rules established by their community under section 10 of the Indian Act, or those established by Canada under section 11 of the Indian Act. Therefore, it is possible for a person to be a band member without being a registered Indian.

Membership rules may differ from the registration rules of the Indian Act.