Metis Settlements Land Registry

What We Do

The Metis Settlements Land Registry is responsible for keeping the records and documents that show who has what area of land within Alberta's eight Metis Settlements. The Registrar keeps a copy of all the land interest documents are submitted. Information about these documents is entered into a computerized registry system.
This registry system will show such information as;

• the date a document was received
• the parcel or parcels of land which are subject to the interest
• the name of the interest
• the name of the holder of the interest

An interest in land refers to the rights a person has to use the land. Some interests may limit what a person can do with the land and for how long. A person's right to use the land may be written in an agreement or listed in the General Council Land Policy. The land use rights for a Metis title, allotment and provisional Metis title interest are listed in the General Council Land Policy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The process of getting or giving up an interest is called a transaction.

By keeping records about each transaction, the Registrar can show who currently has what type of interest in what parcel of land. The Registrar cannot record or register a transaction unless it is in writing. If a document contains all the necessary information and is signed by the right people, the Registrar may enter information about the transaction in the registry.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An interest is either recorded or registered.

The recording of an interest will give the holderof the interest priority over any similar interest that may be recorded at a later date. The recording of the interest does not guarantee that it is a legal interest. The recording of the interest could be cancelled by an order of the Metis Settlements Appeal Tribunal if the holder of the recorded interest cannot prove the interest to be true.

A registered interest gives a holder a greater level of protection. The registration of an interest confirms that the interest legally exists and is owned by the person shown in the registry. Registration gives the holder greater legal protection from any challenge to his right to hold the interest in the area of land. A land interest holder can receive compensation for the loss of the interest because of an error or oversight in the operation of the registry.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While the structure and the operation of the Metis Settlements Land Registry is similar to a provincial land titles system, the types of land interests and transactions for the settlements are significantly different from other jurisdictions. The Metis Settlements General Council holds the fee simple interest in settlement lands. The General Council Land Policy creates a Metis title interest for each parcel of land in the Settlements. The Metis title interest is somewhat similar to a title interest in non-settlement lands. They differ in that only a settlement or confirmed member of the settlement may be registered as a holder of the title interest, however, both members and non-members may hold a lesser interest in settlement lands.