Matrimonial Real Property (MRP)

Having strong Matrimonial Real Property (MRP) laws ensures that orderly processes exist on-reserve for both the breakdown of marriage, and for the death of a non-member spouse. BNA ratified its MRP laws in 2016. It was required to follow the federal law, which had a 6-month period in which the non-member would need to leave the home in the case of death of a member spouse or marriage breakdown. Unfortunately, this issue does not provide the protection for members currently living on the land, most of whom do not have a member spouse, but are rather married or common-law with a non-BNA member. BNA must solve this issue and fix Section 5.20 of the MRP laws for the membership, which calls for the removal of a non-member within 6 months upon the death of a member-spouse.