Final answer:
The Indian Act's policies caused First Nation status women to lose status upon marrying non-status men, affecting their rights within their community. The discriminatory policies were amended in 1985, allowing some women and their children to regain status.
Step-by-step explanation:
The specific governmental strategy that contributed to the loss of status for First Nation status women who married non-status men was rooted in the policies of the Indian Act. The Act stipulated that Indigenous women lost their status and rights within their community if they married men who were not recognized as status Indians by the federal government. This had far-reaching implications, stripping affected women of their rights to live on their traditional land, participate in community and political life, and access various social and economic benefits linked to their status. Over time, the enfranchisement rules of the Indian Act were heavily criticized for being discriminatory and were amended to remedy some of the injustices faced by Indigenous populations, including First Nation status women.
Significant changes to these rules did not come into effect until the amendments to the Indian Act in 1985, known as Bill C-31, which allowed many women (and their children) who had lost status as a result of marrying non-status men to regain their status. However, the legacy of these policies continues to affect Indigenous communities in Canada.