Indian land registry operations standard

This National Standard of Canada will help modernize the Indian Lands Registry System by ensuring uniformity, reliability and predictability in the registration of interests in lands on reserve in Canada. 

It is to develop a standardized approach for processing, recording and registering lands interests in the Indian Lands Registry System (ILRS), for ensuring and assessing the quality and integrity of the registry system employed by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada through its regional offices across Canada and by the affiliated First Nations stakeholders.

The provision of a reserve lands registry is mandated under Sections 21 and 55 of the Indian Act, Section 25 of First Nations Land Management Act, and it is also included in the Westbank Self-Government Agreement. 

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) maintains three electronic registries for First Nations:

•           The Indian Land Registry System (ILRS) consists of documents related to and interests in reserve (and any surrendered) lands that are administered under the Indian Act.

•           The First Nations Land Registry System (FNLRS) is used for the land records of First Nations who operate under their own Land Code pursuant to the First Nations Lands Management Act (FNLMA).

•           The Self-Governing First Nations Land Register (SGFNLR) is established in accordance with the terms of First Nations self-government agreements and record documents that grant an interest in self-governed First Nation lands.

The registries are maintained in the Ottawa and are web-based. They are accessible to First Nations, INAC staff and the general public.

This standard may also assist other land registries in Canada.