First Nations and Métis families
Who can inherit Métis Settlement land in Alberta?
Short answer
Only a Settlement member, or the Settlement itself, can hold Métis Title or an allotment on an Alberta Métis Settlement. A member who holds Métis Title can decide who will receive it at death. Disputes about who receives land after a death go to the Métis Settlements Appeal Tribunal. These estates follow settlement rules, so they need a specialist lawyer.
Who can hold Métis Settlement land?
The Metis Settlements General Council holds the underlying title. Members hold Métis Title or allotments.
Only a Settlement member, or the Settlement itself, can hold Métis Title or an allotment. This land does not follow ordinary Alberta title.
Can a member choose who receives the land at death?
Yes. A member who holds Métis Title can decide who will receive it at death.
These land rules shape any succession plan. Ask your lawyer whether any part of your estate, such as a Métis Settlement land interest, follows settlement rules instead of Alberta law.
A simple check for your planning: know whether any part of your estate falls under Métis Settlement rules, and whom to contact. Ask the right office early.
Who hears disputes about Settlement land after a death?
The Métis Settlements Appeal Tribunal hears land appeals. These include appeals about descent of property, meaning who receives land after a death.
Do ordinary tax rules apply?
Yes. For Métis Settlements, ordinary tax rules apply. The land rules, not the tax rules, are what make these estates different.
Before you sign anything, look for a lawyer who has worked on these estates. TaxOnTax can help with tax returns and tax planning; the land and estate questions belong with your own lawyer or a specialist.
Related questions
Do Métis people get the Indian Act tax exemption?
Generally not. Métis and Inuit people are generally not covered by that rule, and ordinary tax rules apply on Métis Settlements.
Does an ordinary Alberta estate guide cover Métis Settlement land?
No. Legacy Planning in Care is written for property under ordinary Alberta title and says these estates need a specialist.
Drawn from Legacy Planning in Care, Chapter 10. The will and what passes outside it (First Nations and Métis estates: where to get help); The Farm Tax Bible, A note on farms under different rules (Métis Settlements), by Derik Godbout, PBA, CEA, DMA. Reviewed October 2026. General information, not advice for your situation; rules and amounts change, so confirm current figures before you act.
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TaxOnTax™ Advisory Ltd. is a tax planning, accounting and executor advisory practice that also provides plain-language tax education. Derik Godbout is a PBA, CEA and DMA, Personal Tax Services Specialist™, not a CPA, lawyer, registered investment adviser, or licensed insurance professional. Nothing on this site constitutes personalized tax, legal, investment, or insurance advice. Always consult a qualified professional before acting on any information.