Indigenous partnerships are critical to advancing reconciliation.
That is why we are committed to engaging Indigenous governments and organizations on Defence investments and planning.
National Defence launched the Indigenous Reconciliation Program (IRP) in April 2023.
This program provides up to $1.5 million a year for four years to Indigenous communities to increase collaboration between National Defence and First Nations, Inuit, and Metis partners on shared priorities such as infrastructure projects, policy research, or military exercises.
In the first year of the IRP program, we have provided grants and contributions to the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the T'Sou-Ke First Nation, Assembly of First Nations Yukon Region, Dakota Tipi First Nation, and others.
A range of activities are eligible for funding, from participation in events on procurement, to engagement on common priorities, to capacity building for specific projects.
Overall, the program has received 38 applications and the call for applications remains open for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
In addition, Indigenous Participation Plans (IPPs) are a mechanism that our procurement officers use to include an Indigenous component in a procurement activity.
This includes contracts related to maintenance and operations at Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert, where the IPP includes employment opportunities for Indigenous People of approximately 6.6M employee training hours, and Sub-contracting opportunities valued at approximately $4.9M.
We know there is more to be done to advance reconciliation, and we will continue to build and strengthen our relationship with Indigenous partners across Canada.
If pressed on validation of Indigenous contracts:
National Defence has begun to implement the whole-of-government commitment to award at least 5 percent of the total value of contracts to Indigenous businesses.
We will report on our progress related to the minimum 5% target in the 2024-2025 Departmental Reporting Results.
In order to qualify under this initiative, an Indigenous business must either be registered in the Government of Canada’s Indigenous Business Directory or be registered in a beneficiary business list for contracts in a modern treaty or self-government agreement area.
Further, to be listed on the Indigenous Business Directory, a business must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by Indigenous peoples.
The Government of Canada has also established clear guidelines outlining what evidence is required for registration on the Directory and Indigenous Services Canada verifies eligibility.
Key Facts
June 2022: LGen Jocelyn Paul became the first Indigenous commander of the Canadian Army, as well as the first Indigenous Defence Team Champion for Indigenous peoples, and Indigenous Champion for National Defence.
Representation in the CAF: Indigenous representation in the CAF is 3.1% as of November 1, 2023.
23% of Canadian Rangers self-identify as Indigenous.
Indigenous Contracts: In fiscal year 2022/2023, the total value of Indigenous contracts was $273.9M (excluding taxes).
All six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) will be affiliated with regions of Inuit Nunangat by 2026.
Details
Indigenous Engagement
National Defence is committed to implementing the Inuit Nunangat Policy, which was co-developed by the federal Government, including National Defence, and Inuit partners.
The goal is to support the wellbeing of Inuit communities by working to integrate their priorities, whenever possible, in Defence projects or initiatives that take place in Inuit Nunangat and that impact Inuit.
National Defence has been part of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC) since April 2022, advancing cooperation and collaboration with Inuit partners on shared priorities related to sovereignty, defence, and security through the Working Group 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.
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
In Budget 2022, National Defence received a total of $6 million over four years starting in 2023-24 for the Indigenous Reconciliation Program (IRP).
In fiscal year 2023-24, the IRP funded 12 applications.
So far, in fiscal year 2024-25, the IRP has approved 3 applications with 26 pending.
Overall, the program has received 38 applications and the call for applications remains open for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
There are several key areas of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act 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 Act Action Plan 2023-2028 was released in June 2023 and National Defence has a total of 5 Action Plan Measures: 1 departmental 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.
Indigenous Investments in Procurement
National Defence partnered with Defence Construction Canada to develop a Joint Indigenous Procurement Strategy, that was released in 2022 and applies to infrastructure and environmental services contracts. The Joint Strategy supports the defence procurement community in aligning with the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business by:
Holding ongoing multi-stakeholder outreach sessions have been held with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses, with the following objectives:
To provide clarity on certain processes, including how to bid for contracts, as well as other applicable requirements.
To encourage Indigenous business capacity, including by facilitating partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses.
Indigenous Participation Plans (IPPs) are a mechanism procurement officers can use to include an Indigenous component in a procurement activity, as well as a set of commitments within the contract when it is not possible to award to an Indigenous business.
Indigenous Participation Plans are the key to success in building Indigenous Capacity within the Defence Supply Chain
National Defence is incorporating IPPs into procurements. Some examples include:
Maintenance and operations of the Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert with Nasittuq Corporation: IPP includes:
Employment opportunities for Indigenous People in the area of some 6.6M employee training hours (representing $400K).
Sub-contracting opportunities in the area of $4.9M.
Future Air Crew Training Program: Contract award expected in 2024. The IPP requirement will represent at least 5% of the total contract price and must remain in place throughout the duration of the contract. The contractor must provide professional employment opportunities including but not limited to
apprenticeship programs and on-the-job opportunities;
skilled and non-skilled labour; and
professional and executive opportunities.
Operational Clothing and Footwear Consolidated Contract with Logistik Unicorp: Inclusion of Indigenous businesses in the supply chain; incentivizing the contractor up to 1% of the annual value of the contract.
Construction d'un nouveau bâtiment Lévis, Quebec: Contractor is sub-contracting 5% of the total value of the contract to Indigenous 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.
This contract further includes an Indigenous Participation Plan that incentivizes the creation of additional employment opportunities for Indigenous People and sub-contracting opportunities.
The contract is valued at $122 million (excluding taxes) for an initial period of eight-and-a-half years.
In fall of 2023, DND’s remit to Indigenous Services Canada demonstrated that DND met the minimum target and reported a result of 5.18% for Indigenous contracts awarded from April 1st, 2022, to March 31st, 2023.
