Gwich’in Enrolment Board

OBJECTIVE
One of the objectives of the Gwich’in Tribal Council is to uphold the rights, interest and benefits of the Gwich’in in reference to the Constitution Act, Treaty 11 and the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (GCLCA).

EXECUTIVE MEMBER
The Vice-President is the Executive member responsible for the Gwich’in Enrolment Board.

GWICH’IN ENROLMENT BOARD
The Board is responsible for enrolling all eligible persons of Gwich’in ancestry in the GCLCA and for publishing an Enrolment Registry once a year, listing all enrolled Participants.

ELIGIBILITY
You are eligible for enrolment if you are:
- a person of Gwich’in ancestry who resided in or used and occupied the Gwich’in Settlement Area on or before December 31, 1992; or
- are a descendant of such a person; and
- a Canadian citizen.

You can apply for enrolment if you were adopted - either under Gwich’in custom or under any law of Canada - by a person of Gwich’in ancestry, or are a descendant of such a person, and are a Canadian citizen.

You can also apply for enrolment if you meet the above requirements and are enrolled in another land claim agreement in Canada but you must resign from that land claim before you can be enrolled under the GCLCA.

INDIAN ACT Band Membership
Enrolment in the GCLCA is not identical with membership in one of the Indian Act bands in Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson, Aklavik or Inuvik. Your 10-digit Treaty Status Card number reflects band membership under the Indian Act.

BENEFITS
Enrolment under the GCLCA is necessary to vote or run in elections for the Gwich’in Tribal Council or the Designated Gwich’in Organizations (also known as DGO’s).

These include the:
-      Gwichya Gwich’in Council (Tsiigehtchic);
-      Tetlit Gwich’in Council (Fort McPherson);
-      Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council (Aklavik); and
-      Nihtat Gwich’in Council (Inuvik).

Participants are also entitled to:
-      participate in the activities of the GTC (such as its annual general assembly and board meetings) and its affiliated bodies;
-      access and assistance from GTC/DGO programs and services;
-      annual capital distributions (pay-outs); and
-      Christmas household hampers.

ENROLMENT
Keeping the Registry up-to-date is a major part of the Enrolment Coordinator’s work, as Participants move, marry, have children or die. Participants continue to receive all the benefits to which they are entitled to under the GCLCA as long as the Board has current and accurate information.

You must enrol to receive benefits under the GCLCA: however, membership is not automatic even if you already belong to a Gwich’in Indian Act band. To apply, you must request and complete an application form and also submit a Live Birth certificate showing both biological parents. Enrolment is open to all who qualify regardless of age, so eligible Gwich’in can enrol themselves and their children.

On enrolment, each Participant receives:
-      a Certificate of Enrolment; plus
-      a Gwich’in Enrolment Identification Card bearing the logo of the Gwich’in Nation, the Beneficiary’s four-digit enrolment number and the associated Gwich’in community.

The members of the Gwich’in Enrolment Board include:
-      Mary Ann Ross - Chair
-      Robert Alexie, Sr., Tetlit Zheh
-      Anna May McLeod, Tsiigehtchic
-      Leanne Nerysoo, Aklavik
-      Billie Lennie, Inuvik

Please contact us with your new addresses and contact information or if you know of someone who may be eligible but has not yet enrolled.

CONTACT
Cheryl Wright, Enrolment Coordinator
Gwich’in Enrolment Board
PO Box 1509 Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Ph: 867-777-7916 Fx: 867-777-7955
Toll-free:     1-866-414-4670
E-mail:      cherylw @ gwichin.nt.ca