“They Sigh or Give You the Look: Discrimination and Status Card Usage” was published in November 2022 by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. The report outlines findings of a study on stigma and discrimination experienced by Indigenous Peoples in B.C. when using their Indian status card. Recommendations focus on public education and reconciliation and on reducing these incidents and related harms, and are adressed to government, businesses and the media.
14 search results
Basic standards from the federal government
Recommendation 1: Clearly renounce the racism that status First Nations experience when using this form of identification.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Basic standards from the federal government
Recommendation 2: Clearly articulate the rights of First Nations governments as self-determining, including with respect to what tax regimes are applicable to their own peoples.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Basic standards from the federal government
Recommendation 3: Significantly improve its adherence to its own service standard for processing applications for status cards, and publicly publish its performance data relative to meeting this standard.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Basic standards from the federal government
Recommendation 4: Develop plain-language, standardized public information about status cards for retailers and other front-line staff, in particular a clear online toolbox addressing the question “I am serving someone who is using their status card, what do I need to know?” This should include a clear statement that an expired status card is not invalid.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Basic standards from the federal government
Recommendation 5: Radically improve its distribution network to service providers and retailers about status cards and the fact that they remain valid after expiry.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Basic standards from the federal government
Recommendation 6: Work with First Nations to establish a complaints protocol(s) or process(s) to support continued learning amongst retailers and service providers, and a safe experience for status card users.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Basic standards from the federal government
Recommendation 7: Develop options for, and engage with First Nations on, a consistent and streamlined systems solution for use of status cards to reduce time spent at the till in a way that benefits status card holders, and makes the process less variable and paper-heavy for retailers.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Basic standards from the federal government
Recommendation 8: Add a provision to the status cards to state that an expired card is not invalid.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Enhance training for retailers and service providers
Recommendation 9: Build basic information about status cards as legal identification into the training and onboarding for all staff.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Enhance training for retailers and service providers
Recommendation 10: In retail context in particular:- Establish clear and efficient workflows for status card use, to make this common experience more seamless for all involved.
- Ensure training about the tax exemption, and how to appropriately process the tax exemption.
- Ensure orientation to expected behaviours of staff when processing a status card – including definitions, examples, and negative consequences for displaying racism, discrimination, stereotyping, and microaggressions.
-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation: