Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction 01/07 – Canadian Armed Forces Military Training Programs for Indigenous Peoples of Canada

1. Identification

Date of Issue: 2007-03-29

Date of Modification: 2025-05-30

Application:  This instruction applies to officers and non-commissioned members (NCMs) of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and employees of the Department of National Defence (DND) who administer, conduct, and review CAF Military Training Programs designed for Indigenous Peoples of Canada, which include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples as defined in Section 3 of the Employment Equity Act (EEA).

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Enquiries: Administrative Response Centre (ARC)

2. Definitions

Indigenous Peoples (peuples autochtones/Autochtones)

Aboriginal Peoples (avoid)
The Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada as defined in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Note 1 – The term “Indian” is used in this definition rather than “First Nation” to reflect what is in the Constitution Act, 1982.

Note 2 – “Indian”, “Inuit” and “Métis” have been interpreted by Canadian courts [Source: Constitution Act, 1982].

Note 3 – Capital “I” and capital “p” are used when referring to First Nations, Inuit and Métis; capital “I” and lower case “p” when we are speaking of individuals.
 

First Nation (Première Nation)

A group of Indigenous people who share an ethnicity.

Note 1 – Inuit and Métis are distinct from First Nations.

Note 2 – The term “First Nations” came into common usage in the 1970s to replace “Indians”, which was deemed offensive.

Note 3 – There are more than 60 distinct First Nations in present-day Canada.
 

Métis (Métis)

A group of Indigenous people with Historic Métis Nation ancestry.

Note – A person who self-identifies as Métis must be accepted by a recognized Métis Nation.

Inuit/Inuk (Inuit/Inuite/Inuk)

The Indigenous People of the Arctic.

Note 1 – “Inuk” is used for a single individual.

Note 2 – The word Inuit means "the people" in the Inuktitut language.

3. Policy Direction

Context

3.1 Historically, Indigenous Peoples have played an important role in the CAF. Through the EEA, the Canadian Parliament acknowledges that not all designated groups, including Indigenous Peoples, have been treated equitably in Canadian society. As a result, programs have been created to demonstrate to Indigenous communities in urban, rural, and remote locations, that the CAF, as a national institution, is an inviting environment in which to serve and offers a fair and equitable opportunity for a full and rewarding career. In intent, essence and character, these programs not only serve the interests of the CAF but also contribute to Canada’s broader social development objectives.

Policy Statement

3.2 The CAF is committed to CAF Indigenous programs and other outreach activities that strengthen the CAF by recruiting, developing, and retaining Indigenous Peoples, improving, and sustaining an open and supportive environment reflective of a diverse Canadian society, in a manner respectful of their cultures, and fostering individuals to excel throughout their careers. The CAF is committed to provide positive career choices to Indigenous communities.

4. Programs

Program Types

4.1 Pre-enrolment and post-enrolment programs are two types of CAF military training programs designed for Indigenous Peoples of Canada.

4.2 The pre-enrolment program, Canadian Armed Forces Indigenous Experience Program (CAFIEP), focuses on giving Indigenous candidates exposure to the challenges of military service and to prepare those interested in a career in the CAF for basic training.

4.3 The post-enrolment programs are Indigenous Leadership Opportunity Year (ILOY), and Indigenous Summer Programs (ISPs) such as Bold Eagle, Raven, Black Bear, Carcajou and Grey Wolf.

4.4 Bold Eagle, Carcajou and Grey Wolf are geographically based programs, which were developed and conducted in partnership with Indigenous organizations/communities. The primary aim of these programs is to engage with Indigenous Peoples partners to promote regional recruitment endeavours.

4.5 Raven and Black Bear are nationally course loaded and are designed to partner with local Indigenous communities, with a specific focus on nurturing the skills and potential of Indigenous Peoples for potential future employment within the CAF.

4.6 Both program types contribute to the overarching goal of fostering connections with Indigenous communities and creating a CAF career path that is more appealing and accessible to Indigenous Peoples. The programs include a cultural component and authorized CAF Qualification Standards (QS).

4.7 Indigenous Peoples have the option to enlist through the standard enrollment process, just like all Canadians, or they can choose to join the CAF through Indigenous specific experience programs. Self-identification is not required but is encouraged for statistical purposes.

4.8 Detailed course descriptions are contained at Annexes B through F.

Pre-requisite Training for Directing Staff and Instructors

4.9 All personnel directly involved in the delivery of CAF Military Training Programs for Indigenous Peoples must:

1. Meet the instructor requirements within the applicable Qualification Standard (QS) or Training Plan (TP); and
2. Be qualified having an Indigenous Awareness Training Course, for example The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Indigenous Cultural Training or the Military Personnel Generation Training Group (MPGTG) Indigenous Culture Orientation Course, national qualification (NQual) AESH, should be used, time and resources permitting.

Duty to Accommodate

4.10 Pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act, the CAF is prohibited from discriminating against applicants and members based on a number of factors, including: race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability, and a conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered. When applicants or members face barriers to service based on one of these grounds, the CAF has a duty to accommodate their needs up to the point of undue hardship, considering factors relating to health, safety, and cost. This duty to accommodate is subject to the requirement that all serving CAF members must meet the minimum operational standards related to universality of service.

4.11 The CAF is committed to providing a workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment and will consider all requests for an accommodation measure based on a prohibited ground of discrimination. Participants within the training programs will be required to request accommodation measures as early as possible to ensure they are in place when required.

Future Programs

4.12 Any CAF organization considering an expansion of existing programs, or the development of new Indigenous programs is to seek CMP approval in principle through Military Personnel Generation Group (MPGG) via the normal Chain of Command. In turn, MPGG will consult with the Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) (ADM(IE)), Canadian Forces Recruiting Group (CFRG), Directorate Human Rights and Diversity (DHRD), L1 Employment Equity Officers, Gender Advisor (GENAD), the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (DIAG) and any other affected stakeholder. Any new proposals must include:

1. an impact assessment on recruiting;
2. training and education requirements;
3. gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) assessment;
4. conformity to the CAF Employment Equity (CAF EE) plan;
5. consultation with existing program coordinators to capitalize on synergy;
6. funding estimates;
7. listing of all other required resources; and
8. alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Report as well as the Minister’s Panel on Anti-Racism and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIPA).

5. Eligibility

5.1 In addition to DAOD 5002-1, Enrolment, the following criteria is also required:

1. Self-identify as an Indigenous person as defined in Section 2 of this Instruction; and
2. any additional criteria specific to each program as provided at Annexes A through G.

Note – Indigenous applicants to one of the aforementioned programs are NOT required to complete the Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (CFAT) as part of their application (i.e., prior to the successful completion of the program). However, they will be required to complete the CFAT if they wish to transfer to an occupation in the Primary Reserve (P Res) or Regular Forces (Reg F), as part of a Military Occupation Transfer (MOT) or Component Transfer (CT) process upon successful completion of an Indigenous program.

6. Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

7. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Associated DAOD

• Accessible Canada Act
• Canadian Human Rights Act
• Employment Equity Act
• QR&O Volume I – Chapter 6, Enrolment and Re-Engagement
• QR&O article 15.01, Release of Officers And Non-Commissioned Members
• CBI 210.80 Section 3 – Miscellaneous Expenses – Tuition Fees, Books, and Instruments – Officers and Non-Commissioned Members of the Regular Force at Canadian Military Colleges, Universities, Academic Institutes or Courses not within the Canadian Forces

Other References

• DAOD 4004-0, Indigenous Affairs
• DAOD 5002-1, Enrolment
• DAOD 5002-3, Component and Sub-Component Transfer
• DAOD 5023-1, Minimum Operational Standards Related to Universality of Service
• DAOD 5031-2, Individual Training and Education System Strategic Framework
• DAOD 5031-8, Canadian Forces Professional Development
• DAOD 5516-3, Religious or Spiritual Accommodation
• DAOD 5516-5, Learning Disability Accommodation during Recruiting, Training and Education
• CAFMPI 03/08, Canadian Forces Component Transfer and Component Transfer Career Programs
• A-CG-001-000/JD-000, Canadian Armed Forces-Royal Canadian Chaplain Service Manual (RCChS), Ch 16, Support for Indigenous Spiritual Practices (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• CAF Employment Equity Plan 2021-2026 (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• Indigenous Leadership Opportunity Year Training Plan (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• Indigenous Leadership Opportunity Year QSP
• Indigenous Leadership Opportunity Year Questionnaire
• Qualification Standard/Training Plan Canadia Armed Forces Indigenous Experience Program (CAFIEP) (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• Qualification Standard/Training Plan Indigenous Summer Programs (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

 8. Annexes 

1. Annex A – Canadian Armed Forces Indigenous Experience Program (CAFIEP)
2. Annex B – Canadian Army Indigenous Summer Program – Bold Eagle
3. Annex C – Canadian Armed Forces Indigenous Summer Program – Raven
4. Annex D – Canadian Armed Forces Indigenous Summer Program – Black Bear 
5. Annex E – Canadian Army Indigenous Summer Program – Grey Wolf
6. Annex F – Canadian Army Indigenous Summer Program – Carcajou
7. Annex G – Canadian Defence Academy – Indigenous Learning Opportunity Year (ILOY)