Finding Métis Scrip

Scrip was a document, warrant, or certificate that entitled the holder to a certain allotment of crown lands in what is now Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. These allowed the Department of the Interior to grant land without specifying the actual piece of land involved. At various times, they issued it to:

• Métis residents (called Half-Breed Scrip in the records of the Department of the Interior)
• Original White Settlers
• members of the militia and the North-West Mounted Police

This collection includes applications, affidavits, case files, powers of attorney, certificates, receipts, correspondence and other scrip documents found in the records of the Dominion Lands Branch of the Department of the Interior.

Before you start

Gather information such as:

• the names of the individuals who may have applied for Métis Scrip. Consider any variations of spellings
• residence of the person claiming scrip (claimant) at the time that he or she appeared before a scrip commission
  • Residence is important if you choose to search by location rather than using an individual claimant’s name.
• commission under which the claimant applied for scrip
  • This option is helpful if you want to understand who may have applied for Métis Scrip in a particular place and time.

Places to look

To search for a scrip file for a particular person:

• Go to Collection Search and select Advanced search
• In the All these words search field, enter "RG15, scrip", plus the name of the applicant
  • for example: "scrip Sara Goulet"
• Under Database, select Collections and Fonds
• Under Hierarchical level, select File
• Leave the other fields blank.
• Click Search

Also try your search with just the name and without the word scrip. You may find related documents, such as a power-of-attorney, declaration, application or other records.

Scrip is also found in the Department of Interior fonds, R190-0-3-E or under the former archival reference number RG15.

Search tips

• The applications and affidavits usually include detailed information about the person such as when and where they were born, the names of their parents and often details about their siblings and children. There are often other details such where they lived etc...
• Scrip issued to women can be listed under the person’s maiden or married family name. Sometimes you'll find them under the name of the woman's father or brother. Try searching different combinations of names of people in the immediate family.
• In some cases, scrip files were created for Original White Settlers and their descendents and white militiamen who fought for the Government of Canada in the North West Resistance.

Access the records

Records that are digitized

If you find a record of interest, there may be a digital image. Some of these are available through Collection Search. Others, particularly digitized microforms, are available through Héritage.

Records that are not digitized

To consult records that are not digitized, you have two options:

• You can order a copy of the document.
• You can visit our Ottawa location to view the record in person.
  • Pre-order the material before your visit using the Material retrieval form. This is not applicable if the record is on microform in the microform self service room.

Include these details from the database entry when completing the copy or retrieval form for non-digitized items:

• Title
• Reference number indicated next to the Reference field