Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
"INAC has primary, but not exclusive, responsibility for meeting the federal government’s constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Northerners. To fulfill this mandate, INAC must work collaboratively with First Nations, Inuit and Northerners, as well as with other federal departments and agencies, provinces and territories."

Site map

Programs and Services
- incl. links to : Claims - Corporate Initiatives - Economic Development - Education - Forms - Indian Government Support - Infrastructure and Housing - Lands and Trust Services - Northern Affairs Program - Overview - Self-Government - Social Assistance - Social Services - Other Sites

What's New
Kids' Stop - Wow! Well done, INAC. Check out this page, esp. Languages and History

Other Sites - 200+ links to sources of information that relate to Indian Affairs and Northern Development

 

Services for First Nations People - A Government of Canada Guide Updated to October 2006 There are 19 INAC programs and services listed in Services for First Nations People. Find out more about these programs and services. * First Nations Child and Family Services Program * Elementary/Secondary Education Program * Post-Secondary Education Program * Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business * Family Violence Prevention Program for First Nations * National Child Benefit First Nations Reinvestment * Food Mail * Social Assistance Program * The Indian and Inuit Art Centres * Indian Register * Indian Moneys Program * Wills and Estates * Annual Treaty Payments * Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Departmental Library * Aboriginal Canada Portal

 

Urban Aboriginal Strategy The Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) is led by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada through its Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, (INAC/OFI). The Strategy was introduced in 1998 as part of Gathering Strength: Canada’s Action Plan to address the serious socio-economic needs for urban Aboriginal people. In Ontario, Service Canada is the lead department responsible for the delivery of the UAS. - incl. links to : Ontario | Reports | Toronto | Toronto Projects | Thunder Bay | Thunder Bay Projects | Contact Us

 

Statistics - Links to the following statistical reports : * Aboriginal Labour Force Characteristics from the 1996 Census * Aboriginal Women: A Profile from the 1996 Census, Second Edition, Revised December 2001 * Basic Departmental Data * 1991 Census Highlights on Registered Indians: Annotated Tables * Comparison of Social Conditions, 1991 and 1996 * Comparison of Socio-economic Conditions, 1996 and 2001 * Highlights of Aboriginal Conditions 1991, 1986: Demographic, Social and Economic Characteristics * Northern Expenditure Plan 1995/1996 * Northern Expenditure Plan 1996/1997 * Northern Expenditures 1998/1999 * Northern Indicators * Overview of DIAND Program Data: June 2000 * Overview of DIAND Program Data - Education: 2001 * Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence * Registered Indian Population Projections for Canada and Regions 2000-2021 * Socio-economic Indicators in Indian Reserves and Comparable Communities, 1971-1991 * Statistics Canada's 1996 Census - Aboriginal Data Basic Departmental Data - Large and timely collection of statistics on a wide range of topics of interest in the area of First Nations social programs - includes demographics, health, education, social conditions, housing, self-government and The North. The Social Conditions section offers statistics (including a number of ten-year time series) on children in care, adults in institutional care, social assistance recipients and beneficiaries, and social assistance program administration. Also includes a glossary.

Prime Minister Harper announces major reforms to address the backlog of Aboriginal treaty claims
News Release
June 12, 2007
Ottawa -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced plans for a decisive new approach that will fundamentally change the way specific claims are handled in Canada. The Specific Claims Action Plan addresses the huge backlog of unresolved treaty claims that has been the source of division and conflict in communities across the country. “Instead of letting disputes over land and compensation drag on forever, fuelling frustration and uncertainty, they will be solved once and for all by impartial judges on a new Specific Claims Tribunal,” Prime Minister Harper said.
Source:
Government of Canada News Centre

Related links:

Backgrounder - Specific Claims in Canada
- from the website of Canada's New Prime Minister

Specific Claims Action Plan
"...outlines the actions Canada's New Government plans to take to accelerate the resolution of specific claims in order to provide justice for First Nation claimants and certainty for government, industry and all Canadians. The Specific Claims Action Plan will ensure impartiality and fairness, greater transparency, faster processing and better access to mediation. It is a critical first step in bringing the specific claims program into the 21st century to deal with the existing backlog once and for all."
Source:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

National Chief Phil Fontaine Applauds today’s Announcement by Prime Minister to Resolve Backlog of Specific Land Claims
News Release
June 12, 2007
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine said today's announcement by the Prime Minister is a positive response to what our people have advocated for decades, and it is a testament to the perseverance and dedication of our people.
Source:
Assembly of First Nations

Related articles in the news media (Google.ca search results)

Proposed First Nations Governance Act Moves Forward: May 28, 2003
- successful conclusion of hearings around Bill C-7, the First Nations Governance Act
Backgrounder - Recommended Committee Amendments to Bill C-7, The Proposed First Nations Governance Act
"The House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources is recommending more than 50 amendments, proposed by both government and opposition members on the basis of testimony heard in close to 300 presentations, that would respond to many of the important issues raised by First Nations during the Committee's review."

Aboriginal Women: A Profile from the 1996 Census - Revised to December 2001
- incl. info about : Population - Language - Family - Education - Labour Force - Income - Mobility - and more

Budget 2001 and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Publications and Research - LARGE, diversified collection - includes agreements, annual reports, claims, community profiles, estimates, information sheets, maps, kiosk (catalogue of publications), legislation, publications, research and analysis, statistical publications and treaty information

Social Support Services
- incl. links to : Aboriginal Workforce Directorate - Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative - Community Infrastructure and Housing - First Nations Housing (November 1997) - Gender Equity Analysis Policy - How do Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal living conditions compare? (summer-fall 1995) - Increase in post-secondary education enrolment (January 1996) - Living conditions north of 60^o (February 1996) - Post-Secondary Education & Labour Market Outcomes for Registered Indians - Youth Strategy- Social Development

Links to Aboriginal Websites - Over 75 links, mostly Canadian

Social Assistance Program
"The Department's present involvement in social assistance activities is primarily to provide funding to First Nations who in turn deliver programs and services to community members. DIAND must adopt the terms and conditions of provincial and territorial general assistance programs. While DIAND may directly deliver the social assistance program, the program has been largely devolved. In 2000-2001, 534 First Nations administered their own program (This figure does not include First Nations functioning under self-government arrangements)."

Social Development Policy and Procedures Manual - British Columbia
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
"Social Development Policy and Procedures Manual. This manual is designed for those involved in administering the Social Development Program in British Columbia. The program is administered by the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) and provides financial support to eligible individuals living on reserves."
- excellent, extensive collection of information for anyone interested in the administration of social assistance and other social programs on First Nations reserves in British Columbia.
Source : British Columbia (BC) Regional Office of DIAND

NOTE: First Nations social assistance programs mirror the general social assistance program in each jurisdiction.

Community Governance Pilot Projects
"Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has currently dedicated $5.2 million to community governance pilot projects. These projects focus on improving and enhancing governance structures in First Nations communities. As of December 2003, 129 projects have been approved in all regions of Canada involving 296 First Nations."

Minister Supports First Nations-Designed Governance Projects
News Release
November 5, 2003
"Robert D. Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, today announced $5 million for First Nations Governance pilot projects. These projects will focus on improving and enhancing governance structures in First Nations communities. Today, announcements are being made in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic and Yukon on approved projects. Over 200 project proposals have already been received from across Canada."

First Nations Governance Pilot Projects - Backgrounder
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Robert D. Nault, has launched a series of pilot projects totalling $5 million. These projects will focus on improving and enhancing governance structures in First Nations communities. Ninety-six projects have been approved in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic and Yukon. Over 200 proposals are being reviewed by INAC from all regions.

----------------------------

Urban Aboriginal Strategy
The Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) is led by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada through its Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, (INAC/OFI). The Strategy was introduced in 1998 as part of Gathering Strength: Canada’s Action Plan to address the serious socio-economic needs for urban Aboriginal people. In Ontario, Service Canada is the lead department responsible for the delivery of the UAS.
- incl. links to : Ontario | Reports | Toronto | Toronto Projects | Thunder Bay | Thunder Bay Projects | Contact Us
Source:
Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

Health Canada

First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
"First Nations and Inuit Health Branch works with First Nations and Inuit people to improve and maintain the health of Aboriginal peoples. It provides health services to status Indians living on reserve, communities in the territories, and to Inuit people through community-based nursing stations, health centres, and other health facilities in isolated and remote areas."

Improving Aboriginal Health: First Ministers' and Aboriginal Leaders' Meeting
Special Meeting of First Ministers and Aboriginal Leaders
News Release
September 14, 2004
First Ministers and Aboriginal Leaders agreed on the need for an action plan to improve health services for all Aboriginal peoples and adopted specific measures to close the gap between the health status of Aboriginal Peoples and the Canadian public.

Commitments to Aboriginal Health (PDF file - 72K, 4 pages)
September 14, 2004
"On September 13, 2004, a special meeting with the Prime Minister, First Ministers and Aboriginal leaders was held in Ottawa to discuss joint actions to improve Aboriginal health, and adopt measures to address the disparity in the health status of this population. In support of the agreed upon directions, the federal government announced total funding in the amount of $700 million for a series of new federal
commitments that will address urgent and critical aspects of a longer term plan."

First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (PDF file - 72K, 3 pages)
September 14, 2004
- incl. an overview of the Branch (part of Health Canada), new initiatives since Budget 2003 and a description of First Nations and Inuit Programs and Services

Related Links:

First Ministers' Meeting Website (Federal Government site)
"Putting in place a ten year plan for health care will require cooperation and collaboration by all levels of government, health experts, stakeholders and Canadians themselves."
- incl. Federal Government News Releases, Backgrounders (incl. 20+ fact sheets from Finance Canada and Health Canada), Notices, Speeches and Interactive pages
Source:
Office of the Prime Minister

The Government of Canada Announces an Early Childhood Development Initiative for Aboriginal Children
News Release
October 31, 2002
"...a funding allocation of $320 million over the next five years for a strategy to improve and expand Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs and services for First Nations and other Aboriginal children."

Canadian Heritage

Aboriginal Peoples' Program

Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

The HRSDC home page has a link called "Aboriginal Peoples" that takes you to a page with two links on it :
Aboriginal Canada Portal , and

Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy
- incl. links to : About Us - The Strategy - ASEP - Urban Strategy - Youth - Disabilities - Child Care - AHRDA Locations - Success Stories - Links - Sector Council

Aboriginal Relations Office (ARO)
NOTE: This is a dead link. After the Conservative Party of Canada took office early in 2006, Social Development Canada was reintegrated with Human Resources and Skills Development into a "new" department known as Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC). The Aboriginal Relations Office no longer exists within HRSDC.

-----------------------------

Related historical studies:

Lessons Learned Employment, Labour Market and Economic Development Policies,
Programs and Services for Aboriginal Peoples
March 1999
Table of Contents : Title Page - Preamble - Introduction - Lessons learned from labour and employment training policies, programs and services - Lessons learned from economic development policies, programs and services - General lessons learned - Areas for future research
Full Document
HTML
PDF (465K, 79 pages)

Lessons Learned Building Communities: Effective Practices in Aboriginal Communities
March 1999
Table of Contents : Title Page - Project Overview - Matrix: Lessons Learned from the Evaluation and Other Literature - Key Informant Interviews - Community Building: Case Studies from the United States - Bibliography
Full document:
HTML
PDF (660K, 66 pages)

Lessons Learned Literature Review on Employment, Labour Market and
Economic Development Policies, Programs and Services for Aboriginal Peoples
May 1998
Table of Contents : Title Page - Purpose of the literature review - Employment/labour market policies and programs directed to individuals - Community Development as the basis for an employment and economic-development strategy - Summary and synthesis - Appendix A Historical Perspective of Human Resources Development in Canada - 1965 to the Present - Appendix B Overview of Australian Labour Market and Training Programs -1970s-1990s - Appendix C Labour-market Training Programs in the United States - Last Four Decades - Appendix D Bibliography - Evaluation Reports - Web sites
Full document:
HTML
PDF (474K, 122 pages)

Source:
Evaluation and Data Development (EDD)
NOTE: EDD was part of Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), a federal government department that was split into two when Paul Martin became Prime Minister in December 2003.
Don't tell anyone that this link is still active, eh.

----------------------

Also related, but not from HRSDC

Not Strangers in These Parts : Urban Aboriginal Peoples (PDF file - 3MB, 281 pages)
December 2003
"Edited by Professors David Newhouse, Trent University, and Evelyn Peters, University of Saskatchewan, this volume is a collection of papers devoted to analyzing the realities of urban Aboriginal peoples in Canada. It is the first volume in a series of thematic publications of proceedings from the Aboriginal Policy Research Conference. Held in November 2002, the conference was co-hosted by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the University of Western Ontario (UWO), with the participation of over a dozen federal departments and agencies as well as four national Aboriginal organizations. The conference was the largest of its kind ever held, with over 640 Aboriginal community leaders, academics, and policy-makers coming together to examine and discuss state of the art research on Aboriginal conditions in Canada."
Source:
Policy Research Initiative (PRI)

News Release (PRI)
October 2, 2003

Statistics Canada

Selected studies focusing on Aboriginal Peoples from The Daily:

November 30, 2007
Canadian economic accounts, third quarter 2007 and September 2007
Economic growth moderated in the third quarter as real gross domestic product advanced 0.7%, down from 0.9% in the second. Economic output was up 0.1% in September, after increasing 0.2% in August and 0.1% in July. A more detailed analysis is available in Canadian Economic Accounts Quarterly Review.

November 30, 2007
Study: Impact of literacy on earnings for native-born Canadians
A new study, published today in the International Adult Literacy Survey monograph series, examines the distribution of literacy skills in Canada, how these skills are generated, and the impacts of literacy on labour market earnings. The study focused mainly on data from the Canadian component of the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey, composed of a sample of over 22,000 respondents. The Canadian component of the 1994 International Adult Literacy Survey was also used to obtain a more complete picture of how literacy changes with age and across birth cohorts.

Complete study:
Literacy and the Labour Market:
The Generation of Literacy and Its Impact on Earnings for Native-born Canadians (November 2007)

June 7, 2007 (under "New products")
How Statistics Canada Identifies Aboriginal Peoples
This reference document presents an overview of the different questions used by Statistics Canada to identify Aboriginal peoples. It is divided into three parts. Part one is a brief description of the data sources and their limitations. Part 2 deals with the 2006 census questions used to identify Aboriginal peoples while Part 3 deals with the identification questions used in the Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) and the Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS).

From the May 2007 issue of
Canadian Social Trends:

Aboriginal Languages in Canada: Emerging Trends and Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition
By Mary Jane Norris
Aboriginal people are confronted with the fact that many of their languages are disappearing. Over the past 100 years or more, at least 10 once-flourishing languages have become extinct. However, declining trends in the intergenerational transmission of Aboriginal mother tongues are being offset (to a degree) by the fact that Aboriginal languages are increasingly being learned as second languages.
HTML
PDF (104K, 9 pages)

January 25, 2007
Study: The Aboriginal labour force in Western Canada, 2001 to 2005
Aboriginal people in Western Canada are starting to benefit from increasingly tighter labour market conditions, particularly in Alberta and British Columbia, according to a new study. The study, published today in Perspectives on Labour and Income, uses the Labour Force Survey to compare employment characteristics of the off-reserve Aboriginal and the non-Aboriginal populations in Western Canada's labour force.
Complete study:
The Aboriginal labour force in Western Canada
By Jacqueline Luffman and Deborah Sussman
By 2017, Aboriginal persons of working age (15 and older) are projected to number close to a million—about 3.4% of the working-age population overall. With anticipated labour shortages in many areas, this growing population may constitute an important pool of workers. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in Western Canada are compared in terms of employment, occupational distribution, and skill level.

StatCan reports on Aboriginal Peoples - 135 reports (as at 09/06)
- this is a page of search results using the StatCan search engine

January 25, 2007
Study: The Aboriginal labour force in Western Canada, 2001 to 2005
Aboriginal people in Western Canada are starting to benefit from increasingly tighter labour market conditions, particularly in Alberta and British Columbia, according to a new study. The study, published today in Perspectives on Labour and Income, uses the Labour Force Survey to compare employment characteristics of the off-reserve Aboriginal and the non-Aboriginal populations in Western Canada's labour force.
Complete study:
The Aboriginal labour force in Western Canada
By Jacqueline Luffman and Deborah Sussman
By 2017, Aboriginal persons of working age (15 and older) are projected to number close to a million—about 3.4% of the working-age population overall. With anticipated labour shortages in many areas, this growing population may constitute an important pool of workers. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in Western Canada are compared in terms of employment, occupational distribution, and skill level.

June 6, 2006
Aboriginal people as victims and offenders, 2004
Using data from victimization, police and corrections surveys, a new report provides a statistical portrait of the extent and nature of victimization and offending among Aboriginal people in Canada during the past few years, as reported to the 2004 General Social Survey (GSS) on Victimization.

Complete report:

Victimization and offending among the Aboriginal population in Canada (PDF file - 321K, 31 pages)
by Jodi-Anne Brzozowski, Andrea Taylor-Butts and Sara Johnson

June 28, 2005
Canada's Aboriginal population in 2017
The Aboriginal population could account for roughly 4.1% of Canada's population by 2017 when the nation celebrates its 150th anniversary, according to new population projections. This report is the result of a project initiated in 2004 by the Multiculturalism and Human Rights Program at the Department of Canadian Heritage. Under scenarios considered for these projections, between 1.39 million and 1.43 million persons could belong to one of the three Aboriginal groups: North American Indian population, Métis and Inuit. In 2001, the Aboriginal population of about 1,066,500 represented 3.4% of Canada's total population. (This figure, based on results of the 2001 Census, has been adjusted upwards to take into account factors such as net undercoverage.)
Complete report
Projections of the Aboriginal populations,
Canada, provinces and territories - 2001 to 2017 (PDF file - 578K, 91 pages)

June 23, 2005
Study: Aboriginal people living in metropolitan areas, 2001
Aboriginal people living in the nation's largest metropolitan centres were faring better overall in 2001 than they were two decades earlier. Nevertheless, these Aboriginal urban dwellers still faced many challenges, especially those living in western urban centres
Complete study:
Aboriginal Conditions in Census Metropolitan Areas, 1981 to 2001 (PDF file - 255K, 39 pages)

July 9, 2004
Aboriginal Peoples Survey: Children who live in non-reserve areas, 2001
A new report paints a portrait of Aboriginal children aged 14 and younger who live in non-reserve areas in Canada. It describes a group of young people who are, for the most part, healthy, have more opportunities for Aboriginal education at the preschool level, and are active in extra-curricular activities.
A Portrait of Aboriginal Children Living in Non-reserve Areas:
Results from the 2001 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS)
HTML version
PDF version (360K, 26 pages)

September 24, 2003
Aboriginal Peoples Survey: Well-being of the non-reserve Aboriginal population, 2001
"Canada's non-reserve Aboriginal population continues to face ongoing challenges in the areas of health, education, housing and language, according to first results from the 2001 Aboriginal Peoples Survey. Gains are being made, however, as the data for young Aboriginal people show."
Complete report:
Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2001 — Initial findings: Well-being of the non-reserve Aboriginal population
September 2003
HTML version
PDF version (433K, 37 pages)
Related link:
Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2001: Community profiles

2001 Aboriginal Population Profile
June 17, 2003
"These profiles contain free information on the Aboriginal identity population for various communities in Canada where the Aboriginal identity population is above 250. Communities include; cities, towns, villages, Indian reserves and Indian settlements, counties or their equivalents and metropolitan areas."
- also includes links to 2001 Community Profiles and 1996 Community Profiles.

More StatCan reports on Aboriginal Peoples - 135 reports
- this is a page of search results using the StatCan search engine

First Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable
April 19, 2004

Address by Prime Minister Paul Martin at the Opening of the First Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable
April 19, 2004
Six key areas:
- support for improvements in educational outcomes for our youngest generations of Aboriginal peoples from kindergarten to grade 12
- recognition of the particular health needs of health of Aboriginal peoples
- creation of economic opportunities for Aboriginal peoples both on and off reserve
- improve the stock of adequate housing for Aboriginal peoples
- accountability (manageable and transparent Aboriginal Report Card to set clear targets for achievement and to measure progress
- development of more efficient ways to conclude negotiations on self-government and land claims agreements
Source:
Office of the Prime Minister

Presentation of the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
April 19, 2004
Canada ~ Aboriginal Roundtable
"A 'Getting Results Strategy' involves moving forward on three tracks:
o Recognizing and Implementing First Nations Government based on nation-to-nation, government-to-government principles;
o Securing the Place of First Nations in Canada and the World by recognizing and promoting Indigenous rights internationally and smashing the barriers of poverty domestically;
o And Strengthening First Nation Communities by raising the quality of life for First Nations."
Source:
Assembly of First Nations

Paul Martin calls for new beginning in federal relationship with aboriginals
April 20, 2004
"OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin outlined a four-point plan Monday that he hopes will one day wipe out the archaic Indian Act and the sprawling Indian Affairs department."
Source:
Canada.com

Martin vows sweeping overhaul of native policy
April 19, 2004
"Canada's aboriginal peoples will have more say in their own affairs under an ambitious new plan unveiled by Prime Minister Paul Martin. After spending the day meeting with 70 aboriginal leaders and 20 cabinet ministers in Ottawa, Martin outlined for a news conference the steps he hopes will transform the lives of aboriginal Canadians within a decade.They include an annual report card on progress on Ottawa's progress on meeting its objective of 'closing the gap in living conditions for aboriginal Canadians,'Martin said."
Source:
CTV News

Google News search Results : "Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable"
Google Web Search Results : "Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable"
Source:
Google.ca

PM plans aboriginal talks
April 7, 2004
"OTTAWA—Prime Minister Paul Martin will host in coming weeks an aboriginal summit aimed at easing the social miseries of Canada's first peoples. Leaders of all five major native groups representing those on and off reserve, as well as the Inuit, are to be included."
Source:
The Toronto Star

Justice Canada

Aboriginal Rights in Canada since 1900
- links to info about key court cases and laws that have shaped human rights in Canada since 1900
Source:
Human rights in 20th Century Canada - A Historical Perspective
[ Justice Canada ]

Also from Justice Canada:

Second National Study Shows Fewer Aboriginal Youth In Custody
November 22, 2004
"OTTAWA – The Department of Justice, with the support of the provinces and territories, today released the second One Day Snapshot of Aboriginal Youth in Custodyacross Canada . The report documents the number of Aboriginal youth in custody on a single day - June 4, 2003 - and is a follow up to the first Snapshot done in 2000. The 2003 Snapshot shows a 36% reduction in the number of Aboriginal youth in custody from three years earlier: down from 1,128 in 2000 to 720 in 2003."
Backgrounder

Complete report:

A One-Day Snapshot of Aboriginal Youth in Custody Across Canada : Phase II
February 2004
HTML version - table of contents, links to each section (all in HTML)
PDF version (4.8MB, 45 pages)

The Aboriginal Justice Learning Network (AJLN) is a broad-based voluntary network of representatives of the conventional justice system and Aboriginal communities. The AJLN is managed through a National Co-ordinator's Office in the Department of Justice in Ottawa.
- incl. links to : About the AJLN - The Aboriginal Justice Strategy - Funding Guidelines - AJLN Resources - Our Partners

Status of Women Canada

From Status of Women Canada (posted January 21, 2005):

A Holistic Framework for Aboriginal Policy Research
October 2004
"The purpose of this paper is to provide a document to support Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers working in an Aboriginal context and to encourage them to adopt a holistic approach to Aboriginal policy research."

First Nations Women, Governance and the Indian Act:
A Collection of Policy Research Reports
November 2001
Contents :
- A strong and meaningful role for First Nations women in governance / Judith F. Sayers and Kelly A. MacDonald
- First Nations women and governance : a study of custom and innovation among Lake Babine Nation Women / Jo-Anne Fiske, Melonie Newell and Evelyn George
- First Nations governance, the Indian Act and women's equality rights / Wendy Cornet
The research and publication of this study were funded by Status of Women Canada's Policy Research Fund.
Source : Status of Women Canada

Library of Parliament

Parliamentary Research Branch Publications
Large collection - links to almost 200 studies and reports!
Source:
Library of Parliament (Click on Virtual Library on the home page)

Here are some sample studies (click on the Publications link above to access these reports):
The Aboriginal Fisheries and The Sparrow Decision
Aboriginal Fishing Rights: Supreme Court Decisions
Aboriginal Peoples and the 1995 Quebec Referendum: A Survey of the Issues
Aboriginal Self-Government[In Brief]
Aboriginal Self-Government
Aboriginal Title: The Supreme Court of Canada Decision in Delgamuukw v. British Columbia
Bill S-24: The Kanesatake Interim Land Base Governance Act
Indian Status and Band Membership Issues
The Nisga'a Final Agreement
The Report on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples[In Brief]
Settling Land Claims [In Brief]
Suicide among Aboriginal People: Royal Commission Report

Auditor General of Canada

2006 Report of the Auditor General of Canada - May 2006
- go to the link above to download small PDF files for each of the following chapters
NOTE: because of the social program focus of Canadian Social Research Links, the only chapter that's hyperlinked below is Chapter 5, because it deals with First Nations, which is one of the thematic pages of this site
A Message from the Auditor General of Canada
Chapter 1 — Managing Government: Financial Information
Chapter 2 — National Defence—Military Recruiting and Retention
Chapter 3 — National Defence—NATO Flying Training in Canada
Chapter 4 — Canadian Firearms Program
Chapter 5 — Management of Programs for First Nations
Chapter 6 — Management of Voted Grants and Contributions
Chapter 7 — Acquisition of Leased Office Space
Chapter 8 — Canada Revenue Agency—Collection of Tax Debts
Government Decisions Limited Parliament's Control of Public Spending

From the 1994 Report of the Auditor General of Canada:
Chapter 23—Indian and Northern Affairs Canada—Social Assistance

Reports to Parliament by Topic:
Aboriginal Affairs
- links to 30 reports from 2007 back to 1986

Library and Archives Canada

Aboriginal Peoples
(Click the link above to access any of the features below)
* Aboriginal Documentary Heritage
* Aboriginal Peoples - Guide to the Records of the Government of Canada
* Aboriginal Resources and Services
* The Canadian West
* Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
* Government of Canada Files (ArchiviaNet Research Tool)
* Indian Affairs Annual Reports 1864-1990
* Indian Reserves - Western Canada (ArchiviaNet Research Tool)
* Louis Riel, the Red River Rebellion (Unpublished Thematic Guides)
* Métis Land Claims
* Métis Scrip Records (ArchiviaNet Research Tool)
* Naskapi Lexicon
* Native Residential Schools in Canada: A Selective Bibliography
* Pride and Dignity: Aboriginal Portraits
* Project Naming (available in Inuktitut)
* Red and Black Series (ArchiviaNet Research Tool)
* Treaties, Surrenders and Agreements (ArchiviaNet Research Tool)
* Treaty 8: 1899-1999
* Western Land Grants, 1870-1930 (ArchiviaNet Research Tool)

Aboriginal Justice Inquiry - Child Welfare Initiative (AJI-CWI) - Manitoba
The AJI-CWI is focused on restructuring the child and family services system in Manitoba to make it a system of concurrent jurisdiction in which the responsibility for CFS services will be based on a person's culture not where they live. Through this First Nations and Metis CFS agencies will serve members no matter where they live in the province. The AJI-CWI recently (August 9th) released a vision paper describing the proposed plan and has launched a public feedback process that will be underway until the end of September. The AJI-CWI represents a joint initiative among four parties: The Province of Manitoba - The Manitoba Metis Federation - The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs - The Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. The purpose of the joint initiative is to work together through a common process to develop and subsequently oversee the implementation of a plan to restructure the child welfare system in Manitoba.

Also about Manitoba:

Aboriginal People in Manitoba (872K, 101 pages)
April 2006
The information contained in this publication is intended to:
* Serve as a resource for policy makers
* Provide general information for those who want to learn about Aboriginal Manitobans
* Provide factual information to aid in eliminating misinformation and stereotypes
* Provide baseline information for measuring program results.
Aboriginal People in Manitoba was produced by Service Canada in co-operation with the Province of Manitoba.
Source:
Service Canada

Together to make a difference. Québec, 2003.
34 pages in 5 separate PDF files --- (1092K - 1088K - 1071 - 1209 K - 1058 K)
Other title:
Aboriginal people in Quebec: together to make a difference
http://dsp-psd.communication.gc.ca/Collection/R2-251-2003E-1.pdf
http://dsp-psd.communication.gc.ca/Collection/R2-251-2003E-2.pdf
http://dsp-psd.communication.gc.ca/Collection/R2-251-2003E-3.pdf
http://dsp-psd.communication.gc.ca/Collection/R2-251-2003E-4.pdf
http://dsp-psd.communication.gc.ca/Collection/R2-251-2003E-5.pdf
Source:
Weekly Checklist - Govt. of Canada Publications

Non-Government Sites

Aboriginal Peoples and Postsecondary Education in Canada (PDF file - 1.1MB, 52 pages)
Michael Mendelson
July 2006
The success of Aboriginal people in our postsecondary education (PSE) system is of vital interest to all Canadians. Aboriginal Peoples and Postsecondary Education in Canada reviews the empirical data about how Aboriginal peoples are doing in the PSE system and what the data suggests about strategies to improve these results. The report finds some positive signs. In community colleges, Aboriginal PSE graduation is almost at a level with that of the general population. However, on the negative side, there are many fewer Aboriginal graduates from university, and the situation did not improve over the last several years. Most troubling, Aboriginal people are still failing to complete high school in hugely disproportionate numbers; for example, on Manitoba reserves as many as 70 percent of Aboriginals between the ages of 20 and 24 failed to complete high school (compared to about 16 percent among everyone aged 20 to 24). A surprising and important finding in this paper is that Aboriginal high school graduates have about the same probability as anyone else (75 percent) of graduating with a PSE degree or diploma; the problem therefore is the rate of failure to complete high school. The author argues that, while it is unusual for a quantitative analysis to have direct policy implications, the data in this report clearly shows that high school graduation is the key to improving PSE outcomes for Aboriginal peoples.
Source:
Caledon Institute of Social Policy

Where to from here?: Building a First Nations early childhood strategy
by Greenwood, Margo
Discussion paper for the Assembly of First Nations is part of a national dialogue on a First Nations early childhood strategy to inform the federal government policy positions
Source:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit
April 2005

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First Nations Seeker:
Directory of Canada's First Nations Portals
"Visit First Nations communities through websites they have created!"

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Jordan’s Principle
CCSD supports Jordan’s Principle, which urges a child-first approach to the resolution of jurisdictional disputes involving the care of First Nations children.
Source:
Canadian Council on Social Development

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II Indigenous Peoples Summit of the Americas
The First Indigenous Peoples Summit of the Americas took place in Ottawa, Canada, in 2001. This Summit represented the first step in the creation of an indigenous peoples’ movement that parallels the Summit of the Americas process. The 2005 Indigenous Summit provided a forum whereby more than 500 participants developed the Declaration of the Second Summit of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.

Related Links:

Assembly of First Nations
"The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. The AFN represents all citizens regardless of age, gender or place of residence."
- The Second Indigenous Peoples Summit Of The Americas

Google Web Search Results : "Second Indigenous Peoples Summit Of The Americas"
Google News search Results : "Second Indigenous Peoples Summit Of The Americas"
Source:
Google.ca

Assembly of First Nations
"The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is the national representative organization of the First Nations in Canada. There are over 630 First Nation's communities in Canada. The AFN Secretariat, is designed to present the views of the various First Nations through their leaders in areas such as: Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, Economic Development, Education, Languages and Literacy, Health, Housing, Social Development, Justice, Taxation, Land Claims, Environment, and a whole array of issues that are of common concern which arise from time to time."
- incl. links to: Calendar - National Achief Phil Fontaine - About AFN - Resolutions - Contact Us - Executive Committee - Links
Links to programs incl. Communicartions - Econpmic Development - Education - Environment - Finance - Fiscal Relations - Health - International - Justice and Firearms - Lanhuages - Residential School Issues - Social Development* - Treaties and Lands - Veterans - Youth

*Social Development
[Click on "Social Development" in the sidebar on the left side of the AFN home page]
- includes an overview of AFN activities in the area of social development programs - DIAND Renewal of Authorities - Income Assistance - Assisted Living - First Nations Child and Family Services - Family Violence Prevention - National Child Benefit Reinvestment - Social Development Program Management Infrastructure Initiative - DIAND Anomalies in Current Practices - Income Security Reform - First Nations Child and Family Services - Early Childhood Development - National Child Benefit - Adult Care - Key Planned Acivities - Issues, Challenges and Opportunities - more...

Sample website content:

AFN National Chief applauds today’s passage of the
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – Recognizing 30 years of work in the making
September 18
Source:
Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine and Former Conservative Minister
Urge Support for passage of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
News Release
August 9, 2007

The $9 Billion Myth Exposed: Why First Nations Poverty Endures (PDF file - 460K, 4 pages)
February 2007

AFN Publications

First Nations National Day of Action - June 29
- incl. links to two videos - one on the "Make Poverty History for First Nations" initiative and one announcing the National Day of Action - as well as messages of solidarity and more...

National Day of Action - June 29 (PDF file - 79K, 1 page)
Poster
The National Day of Action is an opportunity for First Nations and Canadians to stand together in a spirit of unity to support a better life for all First Nations peoples. Let us stand together to put an end to First Nations poverty as the greatest social injustice in Canada. Together, we can demonstrate that the relationship between First Nations and Canadians is based on principles of RESPECT, DIGNITY and FAIRNESS.

On June 29th, National Chief Phil Fontaine will give voice to First Nations CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ELDERS – who will be leading our March of Solidarity.
The March will start at 12:00 Noon on Friday, June 29th from Ottawa City Hall (Festival Plaza) at 110 Laurier Avenue West to Victoria Island, traditional land of the Algonquin Nation.

Questions & Answers
about the National Day of Action

How can I support the support the National Day of Action?
- how to show your support for the National Day of Action whether you're part of the general public, the private sector, a trade union, a citizen's coalition or a public advocacy organization

National Event Schedule

March 15, 2007
National Chief welcomes today’s 2007 Alternate Federal Budget’s
commitment to close the First Nations poverty gap with rest of Canada
"(...)The 2007 Alternate Federal Budget, released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, allocates a total of $6.1 billion in spending for First Nations over the next three years. 'This represents an ideal budgetary response to the needs of First Nations. It meets the requirements of First Nations after years of failed promises and commitments that have not been met. It is also consistent with what was promised in the 2005 Kelowna Accord,' said National Chief Phil Fontaine."
Source:
Assembly of First Nations

Related links from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives:

Federal surplus evaporating: Think-tank
Harper plan at odds with Canadian priorities
Press Release - Alternative Federal Budget
March 15, 2007
OTTAWA — The Harper government is on the brink of exhausting its fiscal surplus on a pre-election spending plan that is at odds with what Canadians want, says the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.The Centre released a national Environics poll today showing that any government that takes concrete action to reduce Canada’s growing income gap would enjoy support from the majority of Canadians.

* Alternative Federal Budget 2007: Strength in Numbers - PDF File, 855 Kb
* Alternative Federal Budget 2007: Poverty Primer: A Comprehensive Strategy to Reduce Poverty and Inequality in Canada - PDF File, 119 Kb
* What Can Governments Do About Canada's Growing Gap? Canadian Attitudes Towards Income Inequality - PDF File, 1065 Kb
* Alternative Federal Budget 2007: Budget in Brief - PDF File, 159 Kb

A Call to Action on First Nations Poverty
A Communiqué from National Chief Phil Fontaine
March 2007
The second phase of our campaign -- Make Poverty History: The First Nations Plan for Creating Opportunity – was launched Friday, February 23, on Parliament Hill. A Call to Action Against First Nations Poverty was attended by Members of Parliament, Senators, and representatives from national and international humanitarian organizations. Buzz Hargrove, President of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) was our special guest speaker and announced the support of the entire Canadian labour movement for the campaign. We gathered in solidarity to show Canadians, and the global community, that we will no longer tolerate the abject levels of poverty facing too many of our First Nations people. The AFN also launched a new report, The $9 Billion Myth Exposed: Why First Nations Poverty Endures.
Source:
The First Perspective (National Aboriginal News)

The $9 Billion Myth Exposed:
Why First Nations Poverty Endures (PDF file - 561K, 4 pages)
February 2007

Speaking Notes for Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine
From Poverty to Prosperity: Creating Opportunity, Shared Responsibility
The Economic Club of Toronto
February 22, 2007
My address to you today consists of 4 points:
First, I will set out the facts…..what our poverty looks like compared to the rest of Canadian society.
Second, I will tell you why we are so poor: what causes and perpetuates our poverty.
Third, I will talk about how, working together, we can create conditions to alleviate that poverty; and
Fourth, I will describe how the Corporate Challenge will work and list some of the benefits that will flow to all Canadians as a result.

Source:
Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

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Canadian Human Rights complaint on First Nations child welfare filed today by
Assembly of First Nations and First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
February 23, 2007
Today, the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada formally filed a complaint today with the Canadian Human Rights Commission regarding lack of funding for First Nations child welfare. “There are more than 27,000 First Nations children in state care. This is a national disgrace that requires the immediate and serious attention of all governments to resolve,” said National Chief Phil Fontaine. “Rational appeals to successive federal governments have been ignored. After years of research that confirm the growing numbers of our children in care, as well as the potential solutions to this crisis, we have no choice but to appeal to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.”

First Nations Child and Family Services - Questions and Answers
February 2007

Leadership Action Plan On First Nations Child Welfare (PDF File - 1.5MB, 16 pages)
November 2006

Related link:

Cindy Blackstock Speaking Notes
Human Rights Complaint News Conference (PDF file - 107K, 6 pages)
February 23, 2007
Ottawa
Source:
First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

From Make Poverty History (Canada):

Make Poverty History: The First Nations Plan for Creating Opportunity
November 20, 2006
In Canada, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) recently launched Make Poverty History: The First Nations Plan for Creating Opportunity. We are asking all members of the public to sign our on-line petition to ensure that the Government of Canada sees that First Nations poverty is a truly shared issue for all Canadians.

Royal Commission on Aboriginal People at 10 Years:
A Report Card (351K, 20 pages)
November 2006
"(...) summary analysis points to a clear lack of action on the key foundational recommendations of RCAP and a resultant lack of progress on key socio-economic indicators. Based on our assessment, Canada has failed in terms of its action to date. (...) The reality for First Nations communities today is ongoing poverty, and an increasing gap in living conditions with other Canadians, which were reported during the RCAP hearings."
Source:
Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

Related Link:

Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996)
- includes links to the full final report, highlights, a news release and a speech
Source:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

First Nations early learning and child care action plan
April 2005
Report from the Assembly of First Nations sets out their vision for a “First Nations controlled and sustainable child care system that adopts a holistic, culturally appropriate approach.”

First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
"The purpose of the Caring Society is to promote the well being of all First Nations children, youth, families and communities with a particular focus on the prevention of, and response to, child maltreatment."
- incl. links to : About the FNCFCS (mission, mandate, org chart, strategic plan, board of directors) - Membership - Projects (First Nations Research Site, Voluntary Sector Initiative, Disabilities Research) - Publications (Databases, On-Line Journal, Fact Sheets, FNCFCS publications, recommended readings) - Resources (Agency List, Child Welfare Law, Links) - Event

Five Ways to Make a Difference:
1. Register your individual or organizational support for Jordan's Principle which is a child first principle to resolving inter governmental jurisdictional disputes.
2. Help reshape the child welfare system so that it better supports Aboriginal children, youth and families by endorsing the Reconciliation in Child Welfare:
Touchstones of hope for Indigenous children and youth.
3. Join Amnesty International Canada in putting an end to inequitable child welfare funding for First Nations children
4.Join us in supporting the Many Hands One Dream principles to guide improvements to Aboriginal health care resulting in healthier Aboriginal children and young people.
5. Learn how to respectfully engage young people in your organization's work by registering your support for the Declaration of Accountability on the Ethical Engagement of Young People and Adults in Canadian Organizations.