Lands/Membership and Estates
Duties and Obligations:
INDIAN REGISTRATION – WILLS & ESTATES
The Chippewas of Georgina Island consists of 3 Islands, Georgina, Snake and Fox Island we also own property at Virginia Beach and Island Grove near the town of Keswick. Our Band members live on Georgina with approximately 98 homes and 200 leasing properties. Snake Island has 227 cottage leases and Fox Island has 64 properties. The Lands Department employs a Lands/Membership & Estates Administrator, a Manger for Snake and Fox Island, a Lands Clerk and an Environmental Officer. This department is not only responsible for all the leasing activity for the First Nation but we are also responsible for Indian Registration, Membership, Wills and Estates and all Elections and Treaty Votes.
The total population for the Band is 725 to date and we control our own membership. This is what the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs calls a Section 10 Band. When a person receives their status from the Department they may then apply for Band Membership which entitles that person to vote in elections and hold property on the First Nation. An application must be completed and submitted to the Membership Committee which is then reviewed and approved if they meet the criteria their names are then posted on a Band Council Resolution for 60 days in the Band Office and after that time they are then added to the Membership Registrar. Certificate's of Indian Status are issued from this office as well as having to record all marriages, divorce, birth and death events.
Elections are held every two years and are governed under the Indian Act. You must be a Band Member to vote. For the Chippewas of Georgina Island there are 4 positions for Council and one Chief, only the members living on the Reserve may nominate for both Chief and Council with the Off-Reserve being allowed to nominate people for the position of Chief only however they may still cast their ballots for both Chief and Council positions.
The Lands Department is responsible for issuing all leasing documents, assignments of leases, addendums, relinquishments and mortgages. We issue Evidence of Title documents for Band Members who transfer or sell land to other Members and register all documentation with Indian Lands Registry in Ottawa.
Our Environmental person is kept quite busy with Septic and Tile Bed applications, inspections of new installations etc. An inventory of all systems is kept for all 3 islands as Environmental concerns are extremely important to the First Nation.
Staff
Sylvia McCue, Lands Manager
Phone: 705-437-3614
Fax: 705-437-3281
E-mail: smccue@georginaisland.com
Nancy Carr, Lands Assistant
ncarr@georginaisland.com
Lisa Hall, Lands Assistant
lhall@georginaisland.com
Edward McCue, Manager, Snake & Fox Island
905-989-2821 Island Grove