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In This Volume

  • 365.3 (1) For the purpose of this Act, a First Nation is deemed to have the power and capacity of a natural person of full capacity in acquiring and disposing of land despite a stipulation, restriction or qualification expressed or imposed in any other Act or law, or in any other document.
  • (2) Subsection (1) does not relieve a person who under an Act or law is responsible for or in control of a First Nation from liability for acts of the First Nation that, despite subsection (1), are beyond the powers of the First Nation.
  • (3) If a First Nation holds land in a fiduciary capacity, subsection (1) is subject to section 180 and does not
  • (a) extend the powers of the First Nation in respect of that land, or
  • (b) relieve the First Nation or a person who by statute or law is responsible for or in control of the First Nation from liability to the beneficiaries for an act of the First Nation that is beyond its powers, or is contrary to the trusts under which the First Nation holds the land.
  • (4) Subsection (5) applies despite
  • (a) any other Act or law, or
  • (b) any other document.
  • (5) An instrument executed by or on behalf of a First Nation is, in favour of all persons dealing in good faith with the First Nation, conclusively deemed to be properly executed and the instrument takes effect accordingly if
  • (a) the instrument is executed for the First Nation by an individual whose signature is represented in the instrument as the signature of an authorized signatory of the First Nation, and
  • (b) the execution of the instrument is witnessed or proved in accordance with Part 5.
  • (6) The registrar may accept the signature of an officer under Part 5 or an affidavit under section 49 as sufficient evidence that a First Nation existed at the time an instrument was executed by it, or the registrar may require further evidence of that fact.

2024-9-1.

PRACTICE

First Nation Power to Acquire and Dispose of Land

Pursuant to the authority of s. 365.3, a First Nation is deemed to have the power of a natural person to acquire and dispose of land.

Proof of Existence

The registrar relies on the authority in s. 365.2 and s. 365.3 that a First Nation existed at the time an instrument was executed by it.

CROSS REFERENCES AND OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Property Law Act

See also s. 44, Property Law Act, which states a First Nation has the power and capacity of a natural person to acquire and dispose of land in British Columbia.