On July 1, 1960, women and men identified as Status Indians under the Indian Act are granted the right to vote in federal elections without losing their treaty status.

In 1867 Status Indians were given the right to vote on condition that they gave up their status. The decision to extend the right in 1960 was made by the federal government without serious consultation with Indian people. Inuit people were enfranchised in 1950 but were rarely enumerated and ballot boxes were not available in the Arctic until 1962. Metis were not a legally recognised group until 2003 and so had the right to vote from 1867.