Non-Status Indian

In Canada, a Non-Status Indian is a legal term referring to any First Nations individual who for whatever reason is not registered with the Federal government, and/or is not registered to a band which signed a Treaty with the Crown.

For several decades, Canadian First Nations women automatically became non-status if they married non-First Nations men.

Prior to 1955, a status Indian may lose their status and become non-status through enfranchisement (voluntarily giving up status, usually for a minimal cash payment), by obtaining a college degree or becoming an ordained minister.