Enfranchisement of Women
Beginning with the Gradual Enfranchisement Act, and replicated in the Indian Act of 1876, Indian women who married non-treaty Indian men, white men, or Metis were considered "enfranchised", and could, upon their request and approval by their First Nation, be provided with a one-time payment of ten years’ worth of annuities, referred to as commutation.
During the late 1800s there were hundreds of enfranchisements, but this number increased exponentially after 1920 when the power to refuse commutation was removed from First Nations and the government took it upon themselves to actively remove women from tribal annuity rolls, and ultimately reduce the annual treaty expenditures owed to First Nations women.
A listing of women removed from their Indian rights is provided below:
TREATY 1 BANDS
Treaty #1. St. Peter's Band
1879-80.
Harriet Hunt
1883-84.
Margaret McLeod, No. 146.
Margaret Pritchard, No. 357.
1884-85.
Lydia Sutherland, No. 354.
Jane White, No. 371.
Charlotte Desrosiers, No. 170.
Emily Ibester, No. 361.
Margaret Thom, No. 63.
E. J. McLeod, No. 136.
Caroline McDonald, No. 388.
Victoria Young, No. 166.
Nancy Leask, No. 143.
Lucy West, No. 409.
Nancy Marsh, No. 42.
Jane Grey, No. 322.
Jane M. Snider, No. 394.
Lucy Fiddler, No. 101.
Catherine Walker, No. 401.
1886-1887
Jessie Spence, No. 304.
Catherine Kennedy, No. 510.
1887-1888
Georgina Stark, No. 365.
1888-1889
Mrs. Catherine Ann Michaud, No. 536.
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Clouston, No. 511.
Mrs. Catherine Gilliaud, No. 77.
1889-1890
Eliza Daniels, No. 295.
Mrs. Ed. Kippling/Keplin, No. 551.
1890-1891
Matilda Asham, No. 6.
Harriet Fontaine, No. 531.
1891-1892
Mrs. Joseph Moore, No. 394..
Mrs. Sarah Sasford, No. 49.
Mrs. Sarah Sargeant, No. 558.
Mrs. Jane Mowat, No. 218.
Eliza Ann Walker, No. 393.
1892-1893
Nancy Harper, No. 54.
Annabella Gates, No. 560.
1893-1894
Mrs. Mary Ann Hamelin; No. 99.
Mrs. Margaret Sinclair, No. 142.
Caroline Mayo. No. 490.
Esther Flett-Kippling, No. 526.
Mrs. Margaret Rochen, No. 374.
Juliet Kennedy, No. 569.
1894-1895
Mary Ann Folster, No. 639.
Flora Bella Harper, No. 646.
Mary Minnie, No. 613.
Treaty #1. Long Plain Band
1885-1886
Anne Favel, No. 12.
Treaty #1. Fort Alexander Band
1884-1885
Rosalie Gagnon, No. 53.
1886-1887
Agnes Briere, No. 20.
1890-1891
Mary Ann ,Johnston, No. 160.
Angelique Johnston, No. 162.
1893-1894
Mrs. Elizabeth Lecoy, No. 157.
1894-1895
Maria Adele Starr, No. 40 .
1895-1896
Catherine Cavanagh, No. 182.
Treaty #1. Brokenhead River Band
1884-1885
Charlotte Lapierre, No. 53.
1887-1888
Kapoosohahsohting, No. 28.
1892-1893
Alice Linklater, No. 130.
Treaty #1. Roseau River Band
1894-1895
Margaret Nolin, No. 183.
TREATY 2 BANDS
Treaty #2. Lac Seul Band
1886-1887
Hannah Mcivor, No. 75.
Magna Young, No. 103.
Louisa Kirkness, No. 116.
1895-1896
Mrs. A. R. J. Bannatyne, No. 102.
Treaty #2. Lake Manitoba Band
1881-1882
Maria Misayabit, No. 20.
Margaret Misayabit, No. 21.
Shaw-aw-way-in-cit-ah-wook, No. 24.
Isabella, No. 1.
1882-83.
Mary Saunderson.
1891-1892
Marie Ste. Matte, No. 58.
Treaty #2. Ebb and Flow Lake Band
1880-81.
Isabella McAulley, No. 29.
Suzanne Sinclair, .No. 37.
Marguerite Moar, No. 28.
Lake Manitoba Band
Margaret Monkman, No. 24.
1891-1892
Elsie Spence, No. 46.
Treaty #2. Fairford Band
1880-1881.
Mary Jane Garreoch, No. 12.
1881-82.
Elizabeth Moar, No. 5.
1893-1894
Jane Anderson, No. 55.
Treaty #2. Water Hen River Band
1889-1890
Maria Lamalice, No. 33.
1894-1895
Maria Lacouette, No. 38.
Treaty #2. Pine Creek Band
1894-1895
Sophie Napakisit, No. 18.
TREATY 3 BANDS
Treaty #3. North-west Angle Band
1895-1896
Mary Morisseau, No. 12.
Treaty #3. Grassy Narrows Band
1892-1893
Isabella Jette, No. 46.
Treaty #3. Couchiching Band
1893-1894
Elizabeth Mainville, No. 44.
Maria Jourdain, No. 7.
Treaty #3. Islington Band
1894-1895
Ann Savyard, No. 16.
Treaty #3. Dalles Band
1894-1895
Mrs. James Swan, No. 46.
Treaty #3. Nickousemenicaning Band
1894-1895
Mary Brown, No. 19.
Treaty #3. Wabigoon Band
1894-1895
Sarah Park, No. 5.
TREATY 4 BANDS
Treaty #4. Pasquah's Band
1883-1884
Marguerite Parisien.
Marie Hose Parisien.
Mame Parisien.
Frarcoise Parisien.
Teresa St. Denis.
Julie St. Denis.
Rosalie St. Denis.
Marie St. Denis.
1884-1885
Julia Angneau, No. 71.
Melaine Wallet, No. 66.
Treaty #4. Blackfoot Reserve
1886-1887
Sally Bird.
Treaty #4. Muscowequan's Band
1883-1884
Francoise Desjarlais.
lsabelle Desjarlais.
Caroline Blondeau.
Melanie Blondeau.
Treaty #4. Little Black Bear's Band
1883-1884
Mary Ann McKay, No. 12.
Treaty #4. Assiniboine Reserve
1885-1886
Susie Thompson, sister of Chief Jack.
Keeseekouse-Mary McDonald, No. 13.
Treaty #4. Cowesess' Band
1883-1884
Caroline Peltier, No. 27.
Mrs. Trochier or Oopeepeewahnook, No. 9.
1885-1886
Theresa Breland.
1890-1891
Marie Gervais, No. 83.
1894-1895
Susanne Nadeau, No. 37.
Treaty #4. Muscowpetung's Band
1885-1886
Sarah Fisher, No. 37.
Mary Thomas, No. 37.
Treaty #4. Peepeekeesis' Band
1887-1888
Philomena Daniels, No. 35.
Treaty #4. Gordon's Band
1887-1888
Elizabeth H. Pratt, No. 10.
1894-1895
Virginia Favel, No. 54.
Mrs. Nancy LaVallie, No. 13.
Treaty #4. Gambler's Band
1887-1888
Anne Houle, No. 123.
1894-1895
Isabella Peppin, No. 15i.
Victoria Nabbis, No. 160.
Mary Bellehumeur, No. 140.
Treaty #4. Key's Band
1891-1892
Nancy Laronda, No. 54.
Flora Chartrand, No. 26.
Harriet Chartrand, No. 26.
1892-1893
Mary Field, No. 4.
Treaty #4. Cote's Band
1893-1894
Mary Murray, No. 131.
Treaty #4. Waywayseecappo's Band
1894-1895
Cecile Fleury, No. 160.
TREATY 5 BANDS
Treaty #5. Fisher River Band
1884-1885
Jane Shaw, No. 29.
Betsy Semours. No. 26.
1887-1888
Jane Norquay, No. 61.
1890-1891
Mary J. Cochrane, No. 24.
1893-1894
Mary Favel, No. 66.
1894-1895
Elizabeth Papanakis, No. 24.
Maggie Raymond, No. 190.
Fannie Thomas, No. 1.
Elizabeth Dahl, No. 45.
Treaty #5. Norway House Band
1883-1884
Christie McLeod, No. 184.
Catherine Swain, No. 138.
Bella Morrisson, No. 81.
Graud Rapids Band
Rosalie Moore, No. 21.
Harriet Houston, No. 15.
1884-1885
Adelaide Garson, No. 43.
1893-1894
Mrs. Albert Tate, No. 43.
Treaty #5. Hollow Water River
1885-1886
Mary Jane Boulette, No. 82.
Treaty #5. Black River Band
1887-1888
Mrs. Mary Ned, No. 17.
1889-1890
Emma Robideaux, No. 20.
1891-1892
Sarah Clarke, No. 22.
Treaty #5. Moose Lake Band
1889-1890
Kitty Smith, No. 29.
1890-1891
Margaret Jane Buck, No. 69.
Treaty #5. Cumberland Band
1890-1891
Philomena Budd, No. 116.
Margaret Mackay, No. 110.
1891-1892
Mrs. Albert Bellendine, No. 101.
1892-1893
Isabella Judd, No. 125.
1895-1896
Nancy Custer, No. 14.
Mrs. Peter Bell, No. 46.
Treaty #5. Pas Band
1890-1891
Margaret Saunders, No. 41.
1892-1893
Margaret Dorion, No. 219.
1895-1896
Susan Buck, No. 244.
Treaty #5. Poplar River Band
1893-1894
Maria Disbrowe, No. 142.
TREATY 6 BANDS
Treaty #6. Cumberland Band
1881-1882.
Elizabeth Brittain, No. 6.
Annie Cox, No. 26.
Mrs. Jourdain, No. 51.
Annie McKay, No. 58.
Josette Sais, No. 77.
Treaty #6. Red Pheasant's Band
1881-1882
Mrs. T. T. Quinn, No. 12.
1885-1886
Mary DeCoteau, No. 33.
1886-1887
Emma Brabant, No. 53.
Treaty #6. Petaquakey's Band
1884-1885
A. Laframboise, No. 27.
1893-1894
Julia Arcand, No. 4.
Treaty #6. Seekaskoutch's Band
1885-1886
Emilie Vivier, No. 50.
Treaty #6. James Seenum's Band
1886-1887
Louisa Donald, No. 57.
1889-1890
Judith Boucher, No. 109.
1894-1895
Genevieve Larocque, No. 138.
1895-1896
Caroline Reed, No. 141.
Mary Ann Cardinal, No. 142.
Treaty #6. Alexander's Band
1886-1887
Annie Whitford, No, 73.
Treaty #6. Muskegwatic's Band
1886-1887
Catherine Besson, No. 34.
1887-1888
Peggy Favel, No. 26.
Treaty #6. Blue Quill's Band
1886-1887
Jane Collins, No. 14.
Treaty #6. John Smith's Band
1887-1888
Rosaline Fournier, No. 53 .
1890-1891
Mrs. Charles Fiddler, No. 50.
1892-1893
Band-Eliza Shaw, No. 82.
Isabella. Pruden, No. 86.
Treaty #6. Michel's Band
1888-1889
Adelaide Loyer, No. 132.
1890-1891
Lizzie Callihoo, No. 132.
1894-1895
Isabella Loyer, No. 5.
Josephine Ladourette, No. 1.
Treaty #6. Beaver Lake Band
1888-1889
Margaret Cardinal, No. 11.
Treaty #6. Lac La Biche Band
1888-1889
Matilda Cardinal, No. 41.
Treaty #6. Ahtakakoop's Band
1888-1889
Mrs. D. Leblanc, No. 99.
1893-1894
Maggie Drevor, No. 132.
Treaty #6. Thunderchild's Band
1889-1890
Emma Higgins or Apistatim, No. 111.
Treaty #6. Poundmaker's Band
1889-1890
Phoebe Jefferson, No. 189.
Treaty #6. Ermineskin's Band
1890-1891
Rosalie House, No. 1.
Treaty #6. George Gordon's Band.
1890-1891
Elizabeth St. Germain, No. 137.
Treaty #6. Mistawasis' Band
1891-1892
Maria Beaudry, No. 36.
1892-1893
Maria Beaudry, No. 33.
1893-1894
Eliza McKay, No. 141.
1894-1895
Eliza Masketaytamay, No. 99.
Treaty #6. Enoch's Band
1892-1893
Bella, No. 101.
Margaret Calder, No. 27.
Isabella Blanc, No. 10.
1893-1894
Marie Louise Grove, No. 120.
Mary Paul, No. 131.
Cecile Passpasschase, No. 93.
Treaty #6. Kapahawekenum's Band
1893-1894
Maria Isabella Laliberte, No. 22.
1894-1895
Susette Morin, No. 33.
Treaty #6. James Robert's Band
1893-1894
Mary Ann McLeod, No. 91.
Nancy Saunderson, No. 84.
Alice Saunderson, No. 70.
1895-1896
Jane Mary Nelson, No. 105.
Treaty #6. Wahsatanow Band
1894-1895
Nancy Howse, No. 17.
Eliza Howse, No. 42.
TREATY 7 BANDS
Treaty #7. Running Wolfs Band, Piegan Reserve
1887-1888
Lucy Cook, No. 25.
1889-1890
Julia Choquette, No. 46.
Isabella Grant, No. 59.
Treaty #7. Bear's Paw Band, Stony Reserve
1888-1889
Emma Jonas
Treaty #7. Blood Band
1889-1890
Mrs. Howard, No. 35.
Mrs. Murphy, No. 19.
Mrs. Millar, No. 34.
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REFERENCE: (1897) Dominion of Canada Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the year 1896. Ottawa: E.W. Dawson.