Membership Code
Registry Notices & Forms
Summary of Department:
The Registry Department is comprised of two divisions, Membership and Estates and Land Registry and Housing List. The Department exists to: adjudicate membership applications by committee: guide members in estate planning and procedures;provide recommendations to Chief and Council on housing allocations; and assists members in land allocation and boundary disputes.
Mission Statement:
To serve our membership through the application of codes, policies and procedure. It is paramount for our department to treat members in a fair and equitable manner, always mindful of our customs and traditions.
Purpose:
The purpose of the Squamish Registry Department is to provide the opportunity for Squamish Nation membership to make new applications, update existing applications and register in different areas, including:
- Birth
- Membership
- Housing
- Townhouses
- Land
- Estates
The Registry department realizes that these areas are all linked. If needed we will advocate with the appropriate people, which may include other departments or outside agencies, to ensure that the needs of Squamish Nation members are always being acknowledged, met and respected.
Our commitment to the membership of the Squamish Nation is to be the vehicle that brings satisfaction to membership in all the above mentioned areas.
Programs and Services:
Membership:
Registers births, deaths, marriages and miscellaneous amendments to Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development Canada and the Squamish Nation Band Census; maintains JDE system for member addresses and voters list; receives and processes completed membership applications for review by the Membership Committee; disperses a per capita payment (Distribution) three times a year and the SN Trust cheques once a year; sets up trust accounts for minor children; issues status cards; provides statistical information to other departments; and provides blood quantum letters for members wishing to find employment in the United States.
Estates:
Assists members in administering the estate of deceased persons; provides guidance and support to survivors; establishes proof of heirs in accordance with policies and procedures; takes action to assist clients to maximize economic advantages of assets; compiles information for preparation of final tax returns; ensures government forms are completed ie, Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Death Benefits and Survivor Benefits; provides an opportunity for members to complete a will; assists Elders in applying for CPP, Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): provides guidance concerning Power of Attorney and Representative Agreements; and maintains the newly acquired Family Tree database.
Land Registry:
Maintains a database for residential lands of the Squamish Nation; registers new land transactions in accordance to the Squamish Nation Custom Allocation Policy and Certificate of Possession with Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development Canada; supplies maps to other departments for construction or utility purposes; assists members in boundary disputes; conducts land status reports for surveyors in the event that land is being registered; processes new requests for lot allocations; sends letters to individuals to notify of changes in title; and verifies land title registration for internal/external decisions.
Housing List:
Receives and processes completed applications relating to the housing and townhouse/tenplex lists; examines applications, confirms validity based on terms and conditions of the Housing policy; issues, approves and denies applications; refers issues that have been denied to the Housing Appeals Committee; and maintains the Housing, Townhouse, L and Tenplex lists and Social Housing.
Ongoing Projects:
Residential School Project: Many of our members have applied for the Individual Assessment Process (IAP) and have received their money, however there were several who had not been able to complete the lengthy application. Therefore we have been assisting Indian Residential School Survivors to complete IAP applications. We have provided supporting documentation and assisted our members in retaining a lawyer to complete this process.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission: In the next few weeks we will be approaching our Survivors to inquire whether they would be interesting in having their experiences recorded in by the Commission for historical purposes, and finally be given a voice through the statement gathering process.
Residential Day School Project: The original statement of claim for Day School survivors, filed on July 31, 2009, was limited to Indian Day school survivors attending schools in Manitoba. On November 24, 2009 Spiritwind filed an amended statement of claim to ensure that all Aboriginal people affected can now be included in the class action across the country. We have recently been informed that a Class Action Writ has been filed with the Federal government by Sechelt and Kamloops.
Housing and Lot Allocation: As a commitment to membership, Chiefs and Council will be allocating 15 homes from the 09/10 year