[ * ] An asterisk appears where sensitive information has been removed in accordance with the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.
Objectives
Early calls with National Indigenous Organization (NIO) leaders will allow you to signal priorities and a continued strong desire to work collaboratively on areas of shared interest.
These conversations will also enable you to pose questions regarding NIO priorities and their expectations for the federal agenda, including areas of shared interest and collaboration.
NIO leaders may use this opportunity to seek your commitment to continue advancing key policy initiatives, notably in areas of ongoing joint work, as well as to seek your support for new priorities. They may also raise policies, programs or initiatives they would like to see reformed or replaced.
A number of significant initiatives are underway and will require continued attention and collaboration. Consequently, agreement on prioritization and sequencing of commitments would help to ensure successful implementation of key priorities.
Context for calls
The identification of unmarked gravesites at former residential schools brought renewed attention to the need for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.
Recent federal policy has increasingly prioritized reconciliation and unprecedented investments have been made to advance Indigenous policy initiatives. Canada’s approach to litigation has also evolved in recent years, with the publication of the Principles Respecting the Government of Canada's Relationship with Indigenous Peoples and the Attorney General of Canada's Directive on Civil Litigation Involving Indigenous Peoples. In keeping with this direction, recent settlements have been reached with respect to childhood claims and drinking water advisories.
Levels of investments have grown significantly over the past two decades and there has been a significant increase in co-operation and engagement with NIOs, which they will expect to continue.
NIOs may want to check in on status of previous joint policy commitments:
- Assembly of First Nations-Canada Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Priorities (2017)
- Canada – Métis Nation Accord (2017)
- Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee work plan on reconciliation measures (April 2021)
The beginning of this mandate provides an opportunity to establish joint priorities, which could be done through the permanent bilateral mechanisms (PBM), or similar structures.
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For the implementation of many key initiatives, it will be important to bring provinces and territories into conversations early, particularly in areas of shared or unclear jurisdiction.
Issues that all NIOs may raise
- All three NIOs have called for adequate, stable and equitable funding.
- Expectations for the overall federal approach to reconciliation, such as:
- Distinctions-based approach
- Support for co-development
- Principle of equity in funding
- Continued transfer of control and jurisdiction
- Status of key initiatives in the new mandate, such as:
- Confronting the legacy of residential schools
- Continuing the work to eliminate all clean long-term drinking water advisories
- Taking action to confront systemic racism against Indigenous peoples, especially in the justice system and health care
- Launching an Indigenous Urban, Rural, and Northern Housing Strategy
- Protecting the wellbeing of Indigenous children and families
- Your commitment to organizing a First Ministers’ Meeting on Indigenous Issues.
- Ensuring the appropriate mechanisms are in place to support dialogue through a leaders’ meeting with the three distinctions.
Points you may wish to raise:
- Congratulate [ * ] on [ * ] election as [ * ] of the AFN.
- Recognize that the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is taking place on September 30; note that there will be events taking place across the country to commemorate the significance of the day and express an interest in collaborating with partners to raise awareness about it.
- Seek the new [ * ] views on a distinctions-based, nation-to-nation approach to reconciliation.
- Identify key mandate priorities and areas of proposed cooperation.
- Explore future potential for a joint priority-setting exercise and openness to participating in a permanent bilateral mechanism (PBM) meeting.
- Re-emphasize the Government’s commitment to working with the class counsel for the parties in the AFN-Moushoom class action to finalize a fair and equitable settlement for First Nations children and families negatively impacted by past discriminatory child and family service policies.
- Reiterate your commitment to organizing a First Ministers’ Meeting on Indigenous Issues, and ask [ * ] for input on objectives.
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Initiatives underway |
New commitments |
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| Pan-Indigenous |
- Implement child and family services coordination agreements and funding program
- Implement funding model for Indigenous languages
- Co-develop action plan to implement United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
- Co-develop Indigenous Justice Strategy
- Support Indigenous policing and community safety
- Address critical infrastructure needs by 2030
- Provide pandemic support to Indigenous communities
- Address anti-Indigenous racism in health systems
- Support the development of Indigenous-led data strategies
- Co-develop distinctions-based health legislation
- Implement distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategies
- Invest in Indigenous early learning and child care
- Establish National Treaty Commissioner’s Office
- Implement a five per cent phased-in mandatory target for federal procurement from Indigenous businesses
- Support transition to clean, renewable energy
- Co-develop implementation of Federal Pathway and National Action Plan for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
- Implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action
- Establish National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Appointment of Special Interlocutor on Residential Schools
- Provide resources to support healing, commemoration activities and rehabilitation of residential school sites
- Installation of a National Residential Schools Monument
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- Further invest in a distinctions-based Indigenous mental health and wellness strategy
- Build a permanent home for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and provide sustained financial support for core operations
- Fully implement Joyce’s Principle and ensure it guides our work in co-developing distinctions-based Indigenous Health legislation to address racism
- Invest in Indigenous housing and co-develop Indigenous Urban, Rural, and Northern Housing Strategy and a National Indigenous Housing Centre
- Co-develop a distinctions-based, community-led, Indigenous Long-term and Continuing Care Framework
- Expand the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program
- Host a First Ministers Meeting on Indigenous priorities
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| First Nations |
- Eliminate all long-term drinking water advisories on reserve
- Update the Specific Claims and Additions- to-Reserve policies
- Replacement of the First Nations Land Management Act
- Co-develop a legislative framework for First Nations policing
- Co-develop a Collaborative Self-government Fiscal Policy and New Fiscal Relationship
- Implement Jordan's Principle
- Strengthen K-12 education on reserve
- Establish mercury treatment centers
- Develop a new national benefits-sharing framework for major resource projects
- Develop and implementation a First Nations Data Governance Strategy
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- Meet regularly with the AFN to make progress on First Nations priorities though PBM process
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Points you may wish to raise:
- Congratulate [ * ] on [ * ] reelection (acclaimed) as [ * ] of the ITK.
- Recognize that the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is taking place on September 30; note that there will be events taking place across the country to commemorate the significance of the day and express an interest in collaborating with partners to raise awareness about it.
- Explore [ * ] views on a distinctions-based approach to reconciliation, and advancing joint priorities through the Inuit Crown Partnership Committee, the Inuit permanent bilateral mechanism (PBM).
- Identify key mandate priorities and areas of proposed cooperation.
- [ * ] may wish to use this opportunity to seek a federal commitment to finalize co-development of an Inuit Nunangat Policy in a timely manner. This is an umbrella policy designed to guide federal policy-making and program development in Inuit Nunangat.
- [ * ] may also seek an update on food security investments announced in Budget 2021.
| |
Initiatives underway |
New commitments |
|---|
| Pan-Indigenous |
- Implement child and family services coordination agreements and funding program
- Implement funding model for Indigenous languages
- Co-develop action plan to implement (UNDRIP)
- Co-develop Indigenous Justice Strategy
- Support Indigenous policing and community safety
- Address critical infrastructure needs by 2030
- Provide pandemic support to Indigenous communities
- Address anti-Indigenous racism in health systems
- Support the development of Indigenous-led data strategies
- Co-develop distinctions-based health legislation
- Implement distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategies
- Invest in Indigenous early learning and child care
- Establish National Treaty Commissioner’s Office
- Implement a five per cent phased-in mandatory target for federal procurement from Indigenous businesses
- Support transition to clean, renewable energy
- Co-develop implementation of Federal Pathway and National Action Plan for MMIWG
- Implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action
- Establish National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Appointment of Special Interlocutor on Residential Schools
- Provide resources to support healing, commemoration activities and rehabilitation of residential school sites
- Installation of a National Residential Schools Monument
|
- Further invest in a distinctions-based Indigenous mental health and wellness strategy
- Build a permanent home for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and provide sustained financial support for core operations
- Fully implement Joyce’s Principle and ensure it guides our work in co-developing distinctions-based Indigenous Health legislation to address racism
- Invest in Indigenous housing and co-develop Indigenous Urban, Rural, and Northern Housing Strategy and a National Indigenous Housing Centre
- Invest in Indigenous housing and co-develop Indigenous Urban, Rural, and Northern Housing Strategy and a National Indigenous Housing Centre
- Co-develop a distinctions-based, community-led, Indigenous Long-term and Continuing Care Framework
- Expand the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program
- Host a First Ministers Meeting on Indigenous priorities
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| Inuit |
- Strengthen food security programs
- Implement Inuit land claims agreements
- Co-develop an Inuit Nunangat policy
- Support Inuit data capacity and distinctions-based data strategies
- Help Northern communities transition to clean energy
- Inuit Child First Initiative
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- Meet regularly through the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee to make progress on Inuit priorities
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Points you may wish to raise:
- Explore the MNC [ * ] views on continuing a distinctions-based approach to reconciliation, and supporting self-determination with the Métis.
- Recognize that the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is taking place on September 30; note that there will be events taking place across the country to commemorate the significance of the day and express an interest in collaborating with partners to raise awareness about it.
- [ * ]
- Identify key mandate priorities and areas of proposed cooperation.
| |
Initiatives underway |
New commitments |
|---|
| Pan-Indigenous |
- Implement child and family services coordination agreements and funding program
- Implement funding model for Indigenous languages
- Co-develop action plan to implement (UNDRIP)
- Co-develop Indigenous Justice Strategy
- Support Indigenous policing and community safety
- Address critical infrastructure needs by 2030
- Provide pandemic support to Indigenous communities
- Address anti-Indigenous racism in health systems
- Support the development of Indigenous-led data strategies
- Co-develop distinctions-based health legislation
- Implement distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategies
- Invest in Indigenous early learning and child care
- Establish National Treaty Commissioner’s Office
- Implement a five per cent phased-in mandatory target for federal procurement from Indigenous businesses
- Support transition to clean, renewable energy
- Co-develop implementation of Federal Pathway and National Action Plan for MMIWG
- Implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action
- Establish National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Appointment of Special Interlocutor on Residential Schools
- Provide resources to support healing, commemoration activities and rehabilitation of residential school sites
- Installation of a National Residential Schools Monument
|
- Further invest in a distinctions-based Indigenous mental health and wellness strategy
- Build a permanent home for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and provide sustained financial support for core operations
- Fully implement Joyce’s Principle and ensure it guides our work in co-developing distinctions-based Indigenous Health legislation to address racism
- Invest in Indigenous housing and co-develop Indigenous Urban, Rural, and Northern Housing Strategy and a National Indigenous Housing Centre
- Co-develop a distinctions-based, community-led, Indigenous Long-term and Continuing Care Framework
- Expand the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program
- Host a First Ministers Meeting on Indigenous priorities
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| Métis |
- Manitoba Métis Self Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement
- Métis Nation of Alberta Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreement
- Métis Nation of Ontario Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreement
- Métis Nation of Saskatchewan Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreement
- Self-Government Framework Agreement with the Northwest Territory Métis Nation
- Support Métis data capacity and the development of distinctions-based Métis data strategies
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- Meet regularly with Métis Nation partners to make progress on Métis priorities
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