Genealogy

The Powley Test
The Supreme Court said that the appropriate way to define Métis Rights in section 35 is to modify the test used to define the Aboriginal Rights of Indians (the Van der Peet test). This Métis test is called the Powley test and is set out in 10 parts.

For those of you unaware of the Powley test, we can provide a copy of it here.

You need documentation to prove your ancestry. The documents you will need are:

1. Your long form birth certificate. This record should list the names of both your parents.

If you do not have your long form birth certificate; it can be obtained from the department of vital statistics in the province in which you were born. If your place of birth doesn’t have long form birth certificates, we need your official birth record listing both your parents.

OR

An acceptable alternative, if applicable, is your baptismal or christening record, as this is a record that has your parent�s names on it. It may be obtained from the church where you were baptized or christened, or from the Archdiocese of the church.

2. The long form birth certificate of the parent whom you are verifying Métis ancestry through. This record should have not only your parent’s name on it, it should have the names of her/his parents as well. Should you have Métis ancestry through both parents, we will need long form birth certificates for everybody involved.

OR

If you do not have the long form birth certificate for this/these parents, it can be obtained from the department of vital statistics in the province in which they were born. If her/his/their place of birth doesn’t have long form birth certificates, we need an official birth record that lists both of her/his/their parents.

OR

Acceptable alternatives, if applicable, are baptismal or christening records, which may be obtained from the church where they were baptized or christened, or from the Archdiocese of the church.

If your parent(s) is(are) deceased: As the living next of kin you are eligible to apply for this information from the above agencies.

3. A copy of your genealogy, which must go back to at least the 1901 census. Use the 5-generation pedigree chart available below for download included with the application package forms.

4. In addition to your long form birth certificate/birth documentation, please send a copy of at least one other form of identification, such as: BC driver�s license, BC voters card, BC Identification card, BC care card, or passport. If you live somewhere other than BC, send a copy of your government issued driver’s license, voter card, ID card, or passport from where you live.

5. A recent color photograph (head shot) is required. This should be of the size and quality of a passport photo. Any others are not acceptable.

6. There is a $65.00CA fee to cover the costs of all related expenses of the card. Please include a cheque or money order with each application package. Please make cheques/money orders payable to Fraser Valley Métis Nation and mail to:

Fraser Valley Métis Nation
PO Box 737
Station A
Abbotsford, BC
V2T 7A1

We will soon be accepting Paypal.

Download our 5-generation pedigree chart

Include as much information as possible, i.e. Birth dates, birthplaces, marriage dates and places, death dates and places. Without these specific details the office of FVMN may not be able to verify your genealogy. Always use maiden names –the surname they used before marrying– for women.

Download our application here