Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is now making it easier to obtain your Status Card and other forms of ID free of charge.
In the last year, SCO staff assisted 7786 citizens, including 5728 adults and 2058 children and youth!
Status Cards:
As a Status First Nation citizen, a Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) is key to accessing benefits negotiated by our ancestors, such as:
- Non-Insured Health Benefits Program (NIHB)
- Jordan’s Principle Program
- Education funding
- Hunting/harvesting rights
- Tax exemptions for fuel and other goods
- Border crossing
- Valid form of government picture ID
SCO is authorized as a Trusted Source to act on behalf of our clients and our trained team members can assist through the status card renewal, replacement, or first time process at no cost.
SCO staff will:
- review your application to ensure it’s complete and that all the required documentation is attached;
- take your picture using the SCIS photo app and digitally sign as a guarantor as a Trusted Source;
- provide guidance on forms of identification accepted by the federal goverment; please view a list of acceptable identification here;
- CIDO certify original documentation to support SCIS and new registration applications;
- ensure your identification is verified as a copy of the original with SCO’s Trusted Source stamp; and
- submit your completed application for processing.
Are you entitled to be registered under the Indian Act?
You may be entitled to registration under the Indian Act if at least one of your parents is registered or entitled to be registered under subsection 6(1) or both your parents are registered or entitled to be registered under subsection 6(1) or 6(2).
SCO is pleased to offer this service and walk ins are accepted at our Dublin sub-office in Winnipeg. Assistance with Applications for Registration on the Indian Register are available at our Dublin sub-office by appointment only. SCO also travels to First Nations, communities, and conferences on request, to offer pop-up service.
Not sure where to begin when searching for family history, need help accessing records?
SCO’s Residential School Research Project team can assist you with accessing records and archival data when looking into your family history, to help accessing records needed to registering for the Secured Certificate of Indian Status.
Other forms of identification:
SCO can now also support you with applying for or replacing your Manitoba Health Card or Manitoba Birth Certificate, and assist with the process to legally change your name due to the impacts of Residential School, Federal Indian Day School and 60’s Scoop Survivors and their families with reclaiming original birth names.
Walk-Ins Available
We welcome walk-in visits at 1572 Dublin Avenue in Winnipeg from 9 am to 3:30 pm from Monday to Friday. Our office closes for lunch from 12 to 1 pm.
Staff will be available for renewals, replacements and first time Secure Certificate of Indian Status
Valid identification (ID) is required to apply for your status card..
If you have any questions or to book your appointment today, contact:
Southern Chiefs’ Organization Inc.
Telephone: 1-204-946-1869
Toll free: 1-866-876-9701
Email: statuscard@scoinc.mb.ca
For more information on SCIS or new registrations, contact the Indigenous Services Canada Manitoba Region Client Service Centre:
Telephone: 1-833-983-5910
Service hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm Central Standard Time.
Resources:
Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) Application Form