On April 1, 2014, project-based spending for Aboriginal Representative Organizations will be realigned so that funds are directed at projects that yield concrete results and promote healthier, more self-sufficient Aboriginal communities and peoples.
A summary of project results will also be posted on the AANDC website annually, which will provide greater transparency regarding these funding allocations.
The following provides further details of the themes upon which project funding will be based. These themes for project funding are linked to and advance key priorities.
Theme 1: Improving First Nation elementary and secondary education outcomes
Eligible projects will focus on:
- obtaining feedback from stakeholders on the draft legislative proposal to improve First Nation education outcomes,
- facilitating engagement, discussion and partnerships, between stakeholders on the provision of services under new education systems.
Theme 2: Economic development
Eligible projects will focus on:
- supporting Aboriginal community and business participation in major resource development projects,
- attracting private sector capital to Aboriginal communities,
- addressing legislative and regulatory barriers to economic development on reserve,
- conducting research into best practices related to land management and economic development capacity in Aboriginal communities.
Theme 3: Métis and non-status partnerships and policy development
Eligible projects will focus on:
- supporting concrete action on economic development or strengthening of own source revenues,
- improving governance and accountability functions and building capacity for Métis membership Systems,
- improving linkages to the Urban Aboriginal Strategy and supporting related projects, including educational supports and skills readiness initiatives,
- improving the socio-economic outcomes for Métis and non-status Indians through partnerships with the Provinces.
Theme 4: Social program reform
Eligible projects will focus on:
- identifying solutions to accessibility and service barrier issues experienced by one or more of the demographic groups served by AANDC's on-reserve social programs (e.g., children, lone-parent families, low-income individuals and families, persons with disabilities, and seniors),
- identifying solutions to areas where AANDC's on-reserve social programs are not in alignment with comparable programs and services available off reserve,
- building capacity and professional support for social program delivery on reserves, including training, oversight, arrangements with provinces/third parties for support, and/or service delivery,
- partnering with national stakeholders to create awareness campaigns, research, videoconference workshops and other activities aimed at promoting family violence prevention awareness,
- outlining more efficient models of data management and reporting to communities and funders.
Theme 5: Capacity development and accountability
Eligible projects will focus on:
- developing and implementing policies to support governance-related legislation,
- building internal capacity related to the implementation of governance legislation within AROs.
Theme 6: Northern research and development programs, and climate change programs for Aboriginal and northern communities
Eligible projects will focus on:
- building research, monitoring, communication, outreach and capacity in Northern communities to work towards reducing and, wherever possible, eliminating contaminants in traditionally harvested foods, and providing information that assists informed decision-making in the North by individuals and communities in their food use,
- building regional knowledge to enable efficient and effective regulatory approvals for future oil and gas exploration and development in the Beaufort Sea and ensuring Inuvialuit communities and partners are better prepared for these activities,
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Aboriginal and northern communities by supporting the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects,
- supporting Aboriginal and northern communities to assess vulnerabilities to climate change impacts and develop climate change adaptation plans.
It is important to note that funding for program and service delivery, funding related to claims and self-government processes and funding that flows through AANDC from another federal government department to an Aboriginal Representative Organization are not impacted by this new approach.
This approach balances the need to find savings with the goal of continuing to invest in measures that will help to create the conditions for Aboriginal communities to become more self-sufficient, and for Aboriginal people to participate more fully in Canada's economy.
For more information on accessing project-based funding, organizations should go through their regular channels and contact their AANDC regional office or headquarters program manager.
