Getting my Native Status!

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I need to get my native status soon. I have been having difficulty applying for my native status in Canada. After me momma passed away when I was young I was adopted by my aunt (whom I consider my mother now). Now some funky business went on with the adoption agency that happened with my original birth certificate. No one can find it apparently (my parents called the person who processed the adoption and they can't find squat). The thing is I need this birth certificate because it had my original native last name (may have been a middle name or something at the time) on it and my biological father's name on it. On top of it all supposedly I am unable to request a search from the government until I am 18 which is January. Claiming native status is important for me because it will help me get through the financial burdens of university because the subsidies (free textbooks some fees and whatnot are wavered) native peoples get here. Any ideas on what I could do? I'm kind of stuck here. (I start school in a few weeks so time is of the essence since not having to spend 800 dollars on text books in winter semester would be great). Not to mention the fact that there is a great deal of job opportunities open to native people at my university many of which are aligned with my degree... I NEED TO GET MY STATUS DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING I DON'T