Indigenous

Indigenous Relations

Key Facts

Details

Indigenous Engagement

• National Defence is working in partnership with Indigenous peoples to advance reconciliation and to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). As part of these efforts, National Defence is engaging with Indigenous partners in a meaningful way to gain understanding of their perspectives, priorities, and values and to facilitate input on Defence matters.
• National Defence participated in the creation of the Inuit Nunangat Policy, which was co-developed with Inuit partners.
  • This policy directs federal departments and agencies to consider Inuit priorities and engage early on projects or initiatives that relate to Inuit Nunangat and that are intended for Inuit, no matter where they live.
• In April 2022, National Defence formally joined the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC) as a way to formalize and improve cooperation and collaboration with Inuit partners on sovereignty, defence, and security.
• The ICPC Leaders Meeting at the Ministerial level occurs three times a year. Once a year, it is co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the President Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), Natan Obed. Collaboration is also ongoing at the working level to make progress on shared priorities through the ICPC Working Group on Sovereignty, Defence and Security.
• In February 2023, following an incident in the Yukon involving the shooting down of a high-altitude object, National Defence engaged the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework (ANPF) All Partners Working Group, which is an officials’ level meeting, to provide Northern territorial and Indigenous partners with an update on the situation as well as a high-level, unclassified threat briefing on the Arctic.
• In October 2023, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence attended the ANPF Leadership Committee meeting and provided an update on NORAD modernization to Northern Territorial and Indigenous leaders and other federal Ministers.
• Also in October 2023, MND participated virtually in the 2023 Yukon First Nations Annual Summit, where he had the opportunity to engage with Yukon First Nations Chiefs, councillors, and leaders to discuss Arctic security and Northern defence.

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

• National Defence supports reconciliation with Indigenous partners by facilitating the strategic implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and National Defence’s participation in the associated Implementation Action Plan.
• There are several key areas of the UN Declaration that have specific implications for National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces and reconciliation:
  • Deepening engagement and collaboration on areas of mutual interest, notably military activities on Indigenous lands;
  • Facilitating Indigenous participation and supporting self-determination; and,
  • Aligning our positions in treaty negotiations and in National Defence work that relates to land and to the environment with the Declaration.
• The UN Declaration Action Plan 2023-2028 was released in June 2023 and National Defence have a total of 5 Action Plan Measures (APMs): 1 cross cutting priority and 4 Inuit priorities.
  • The departmental action plan measure #45 aims at aligning Defence work with Article 30 and other relevant articles in the UN Declaration.
  • The four action plan measures co-developed with Inuit will help DND/CAF advance the implementation of the Inuit Nunangat Policy and support the safety, security and defence objectives of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework.
• In Budget 2022, National Defence received a total of $6 million over four years starting in 2023-24 for the Indigenous Reconciliation Program (IRP).
  • This program will support reconciliation with Indigenous partners and enable National Defence to better align its engagement and operations with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and with the objectives of the UN Declaration.
  • the IRP will provide Grants and Contributions funding up to $1.5 million annually to fund projects that help DND leverage the expertise and traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples across Canada. The goal of the program is to help National Defence in developing policies, programs and practices reflective of both First Nations, Inuit, and Metis priorities and National Defence needs.
  • The IRP will fund National Defence collaboration with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners to better understand diverse Indigenous perspectives, priorities and values. Funding will be available to support a broad variety of engagement, consultation and information sharing activities, and to encourage collaboration with DND on projects and activities such as military exercises, infrastructure projects, real property transactions, policy research and decision making.

Indigenous Investments in Procurement

• The Government of Canada has implemented a mandatory target to have at least five percent (5%) of the total value of construction contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses or joint ventures. This target includes both infrastructure and materials procurement. Departments will be phased in to meet this new target, with National Defence onboarding in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
• In addition, the Government of Canada may also have Indigenous procurement obligations resulting from modern treaties that apply to Defence work.
• National Defence has partnered with Defence Construction Canada to develop a Joint Indigenous Procurement Strategy, which includes outreach and consultation with Indigenous communities and businesses.
• North Warning System In-Service Support Contract:
  • On January 31, 2022, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, awarded a contract to the Nasittuq Corporation, an Inuit majority-owned company, for the operation and maintenance of the North Warning System.
  • Contract value: The contract is for an initial period of seven years and is valued at $592 million ($527 million before taxes). The contract also includes four two-year option periods for a total estimated value of $1.3 billion ($1.1 billion before taxes).
• Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert
  • On October 3, 2022, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, awarded a contract to Nasittuq Corporation to provide support services to CFS Alert in Nunavut. The contract covers all support services for CFS Alert, including accommodations, food services, maintenance and operation of grounds and roads, buildings, fuel storage tanks, fire alarm systems, and water and sewage treatment systems.
  • Contract value: The contract is valued at $122 million (excluding taxes) for an initial period of eight-and-a-half years.

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