Canada bill backs Native womens' property rights

Wednesday, March 5, 2008  

The Canadian government has introduced a bill to address the property rights of Native women.

Provincial marriage laws do not apply on reserves and federal Indian law is silent on divorces. That means a man can sell marital property, such as a house, without a woman's consent.

The legislation, which was developed in consultation with the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations, ensures Native women have a way to protect their matrimonial property rights. It also allows each First Nation to develop their own community-specific laws [Press Release].

Get the Story:
Ottawa to extend property rights on reserves: Strahl (CBC 3/4)

Draft Report:
Matrimonial Real Property: A People’s Report (October 2007)

Native women for matrimonial property laws (10/16)
First Nations discuss matrimonial property (10/2)