Join SCO in calling for the end of the second-generation cut-off rule.
Canada’s second-generation cut-off rule, in the Indian Act, prevents many First Nations people from passing their status on to their children and grandchildren.
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is calling for an end to this legislated discrimination, which disconnects our citizens from their status and their Nations.
We are urging the federal government to remove the second-generation cut-off rule and replace it with a one-parent rule, so that status can be passed on when at least one parent is entitled to it.
SCO is also asking our citizens—and everyone affected by this rule—to contact their Member of Parliament (MP) and call for this discriminatory policy to be removed.
Why this matters
This means many of our citizens may be unable to pass status to their children. Over time, this can affect our Nations by:
- Children losing entitlement unless both parents are registered or eligible.
- Families being separated from their First Nations.
- Restricted access to healthcare, education, housing, and programs.
- Confusion about identity and belonging.
SCO believes the second-generation cut-off rule is inequitable, discriminatory, and harmful.
Overview of second-generation cut-off rule
The second-generation cut-off rule is part of Canada’s Indian Act. It decides who can be a status Indian. This rule can affect your rights, access to programs, and connection to your Nation.
SCO wants to help First Nations people understand this rule and its effects. Below you can see how the second-generation cut-off rule works:
In short: Your parents’ status can affect yours. If you’re unsure about your status, contact your band office or Indigenous Services Canada.
Call to action: One-parent rule
SCO is calling on the federal government to enact a one-parent rule.
- The one-parent rule is a proposed change to Canada’s Indian Act through Bill S-2. It would allow a child to receive First Nations status if at least one parent is registered or entitled to be registered. This change is meant to remove the second-generation cut-off rule.
History and efforts to remove the second-generation cut-off rule
Our efforts focus on restoring status to those affected by the second-generation cut-off rule, changing the Indian Act to remove generational cut-offs, and ensuring all First Nations people can pass status to their children without discrimination.
What you can do
Check your status
Contact your band or Indigenous Services Canada.
Keep family documents
Birth certificates, marriage papers, and old status cards help.
Call your Member of Parliament
Visit www.ourcommons.ca/members/ or check the resources below for Manitoba MPs contact information.
Send a letter to your Member of Parliament
Download and fill out a template letter here.
Ask for help
Your Grand Chief and Chief of your Nation can help advocate for you, and SCO’s Status Card Team can assist you with applying for your Secure Certificate of Indian Status.
Stay informed
Laws and rules can change. Knowing your rights helps protect them. You can learn more about the current status of the second-generation cut-off rule on the government of Canada website.
Sign the petition
Sign a petition calling on Parliament to adopt Bill S-2: An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements) as amended by the Senate here.
Resources
Contact info for elected officials
To find out who your Member of Parliament (MP) is, visit the House of Commons of Canada website and enter your postal code.
Below is a list of MPs in Manitoba along with their contact information:
Brandon—Souris
Main office – Brandon
658B 10th street
Brandon, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-282-0707
Email: grant.jackson@parl.gc.ca
Churchill—Keewatinook Aski
Main office – Thompson
305-83 Churchill drive
Thompson, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-282-0515
Email: rebecca.chartrand@parl.gc.ca
Elmwood—Transcona
Main office – Winnipeg
207-1111 Munroe avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-318-1515
Email: colin.reynolds@parl.gc.ca
Kildonan—St. Paul
Main office – Winnipeg
B-27 Red River Boulevard West
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-984-6322
Email: Raquel.Dancho@parl.gc.ca
Portage—Lisgar
Main office – Winkler
2B-915 Navigator road
Winkler, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-325-1540
Email: branden.leslie@parl.gc.ca
Provencher
Main office – Steinbach
9A-90 Brandt street
Steinbach, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-326-9889
Email: ted.falk@parl.gc.ca
Riding Mountain
Main office – Dauphin
22C-1450 Main street South
Dauphin, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-622-4659
Email: Dan.Mazier@parl.gc.ca
St. Boniface—St. Vital
Main office – Winnipeg
4-213 Saint Mary’s road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-220-7959
Email: ginette.lavack@parl.gc.ca
Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman
Main office – Selkirk
1-228 Manitoba avenue
Selkirk, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-785-6151
Email: james.bezan@parl.gc.ca
Winnipeg Centre
Main office – Winnipeg
892 Sargent avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-984-1675
Email: Leah.Gazan@parl.gc.ca
Winnipeg North
Main office – Winnipeg
98 Mandalay drive
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-984-1767
Email: kevin.lamoureux@parl.gc.ca
Winnipeg South
Main office – Winnipeg
80-2855 Pembina Highway
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-984-6787
Email: terry.duguid@parl.gc.ca
Winnipeg South Centre
Main office – Winnipeg
102-611 Corydon avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-983-1355
Email: ben.carr@parl.gc.ca
Winnipeg West
Main office – Winnipeg
D-3092 Portage avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-480-5711
Email: doug.eyolfson@parl.gc.ca
Below is a list of Ministers and their contact information for the second-generation cut-off rule:
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada
K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-4587
Email: rebecca.alty@parl.gc.ca
Minister of Indigenous Services
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada
K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-3030
Email: mandy.gull-masty@parl.gc.ca
Template letters
Act now! Download SCO’s ready-to-use letters to email or mail to your Member of Parliament (MP) and call for the removal of the second-generation cut-off rule. Simply fill out the letter and send it today.
Note:
- Check the “Contact info for elected officials” tab to find the email address for your MP and Ministers
- You do not need postage to mail a letter to your MP
Sign the petition
SCO encourages citizens, and anyone impacted by the second-generation cut-off rule, to sign a petition calling on Parliament to adopt Bill S-2: An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements) as amended by the Senate.
Join the thousands of people who have already signed the petition, before it closes on April 2, 2026.
Sharon McIvor from Vancouver, British Columbia initiated this petition while Member of Parliament Luci Idlout from Nunavut is sponsoring it, so it can be presented in Parliament.
In December 2025, the Senate of Canada unanimously passed changes to Bill S-2 that would remove the second-generation cut-off and the 1985 cut-off in the Indian Act and return to a one-parent rule for passing on status.
First Nations leaders, organizations, and families have called for these changes for decades.
Now, the House of Commons must act.
Sign the petition to help call on Parliament to pass Bill S-2 without delay
Frequently asked questions
What is the Second-Generation Cut-Off Rule?
It’s a law in Canada’s Indian Act that decides who can be a status Indian.
It can affect your rights, access to programs, and connection to your First Nations community.
Who does it affect?
It mainly affects:
- Nations where many generations have been affected by the Indian Act
- Children of parents who lost status
- Families trying to pass status to the next generation
How does it work?
- If both your parents lost status, you might not get status.
- If one parent has status under certain conditions, you might not get status.
- Over generations, this rule can cut families off from rights and Nation membership.
Why is this important?
Your status affects:
- Access to healthcare, education, and social programs
- Housing supports
- Participation in cultural and community programs
- Your legal recognition as a First Nations person
SCO believes this kind of law is unfair and discriminatory.
How can I check if I’m affected?
Contact your band or Indigenous Services Canada to check your registration status. Gather family documents like birth certificates, marriage papers, and old status cards—these will help.
What can I do if I’m affected?
- Ask for help. Contact your band office or Indigenous Services Canada.
- Keep your family records safe.
- Stay informed about changes to the law.
Where can I get more information?
Contact your band or Indigenous Services Canada.
How SCO can help
SCO continues to advocate for legislative change in our call to enact a one-parent rule and supports families navigating the second-generation cut-off rule.
To help SCO does the following:
- Provide guidance, resources, and support to our SCO citizens to acquire their status card through our Status Card and ID Program.
- Our Grand Chief Jerry Daniels and SCO Chiefs are advocating for changes to the second-generation cut-off rule to end legislated discrimination.
- SCO has issued calls for legislative changes, and our Grand Chief and Chiefs have met with members of parliament to advocate for our citizens.
Learn more about these efforts in our media releases:
