Objectives

To build consensus for the mandate of this government on an overall approach to a First Nations agenda as part of the overall response to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, that reflects the mutual commitment to a renewed relationship.

To ensure certainty for First Nations that achieving consensus now, does not derogate from continuing action by the government to expand and implement further necessary activities in recognition of the needs of First Nations and their citizens and to effect the inherent right of self-government as they enjoyed their own forms of government for thousands of years before this country was founded.

Agenda for Action

A combination of new initiatives for immediate launch and identification of other key areas for future action, that builds on the RCAP report and Gathering Strength. This agenda is to be further developed with First Nations and federal departments, including the fiscal and financial resource requirements from Canada for implementation, and identification of possible changes in government organization and other structural requirements. Joint targets and measures for monitoring progress will also be developed.

This document outlines a specific agenda for First Nations and the federal government. It should be noted, however, that some of the initiatives described in this agenda are also applicable/available to other Aboriginal groups, including the Inuit, Métis, and off-reserve Aboriginal people. These other groups will also be involved through bilateral processes with the federal government, or, in some instances like the healing strategy, through a process to co-ordinate the involvement of the various Aboriginal groups as they were affected by abuse at residential schools.

This First Nations agenda will be implemented at the national, regional and community levels as appropriate.

Renewing the Partnership

Vision

To acknowledge errors of the past and take action to address the legacies of those errors, including establishing mechanisms to recognize First Nations as governments and as partners working together with the federal government to identify priorities, and to jointly address those priorities with identified resources and determined efforts. The federal government and First Nations will also work with other levels of government, the private sector and non-profit organizations and other partners, as appropriate, to design and implement initiatives under the agenda for action for on and off reserve.

Initiatives

Statement of Reconciliation: acknowledging contributions of First Nations to European settlers, describing negative impacts of subsequent periods of the relationship (including the Residential School system), expressing profound regret for errors of the past and making a commitment to learn from those errors. To the victims who suffered the tragedy of physical and sexual abuse in the Indian Residential School system the government has said it is deeply sorry.

Treaty Relationships: affirm that treaties provide the basis for the relationship when entering into new treaties or when building on the historic treaties which RCAP described as being made by Aboriginal nations on a nation-to-nation basis; emphasize willingness to continue treaty-making by working in partnership with First Nations and provinces to establish integrated processes on a regional level to address treaties, governance, and jurisdiction. Examples that could be built upon are currently underway in a number of regions recognizing the uniqueness of the past and present relationship between the Crown and First Nations.

Mechanisms for Decision-Making: National Protocol with the AFN, including commitments for Ministerial participation, joint meetings -- political and officials, government-to-government agreements. Review possible mechanisms for a national tripartite process to address challenges, both on and off reserve.

Regional Protocols: to bring together the federal government and First Nations to address regional challenges; review possibilities for tripartite (federal-provincial-First Nation) forums on a regional basis to address on and off reserve issues; consider mechanisms for dialogue with other partners such as municipal governments.

Healing: First Nations and the federal government will work together on a strategy to address the legacy and intergenerational effects of abuse at Indian residential schools.

Language, Heritage and Culture: joint federal government-First Nations work on Aboriginal Languages Program; other measures to preserve and protect First Nations languages, heritage and cultures.

Communications: joint federal government-First Nations action on communications and public education to maintain and build support for the themes and initiatives identified in the Agenda for Action with First Nations.

Recognizing and Strengthening First Nations Governments

Vision

Aboriginal people enjoyed their own forms of government for thousands of years before this country was founded and they continue to have the inherent right to self-government. The federal government is committed to working out government-to-government relationships at an agreed-upon pace acceptable to First Nations. These government-to-government relationships will be consistent with the treaties, the recognition of the inherent right of self-government, Aboriginal title, and Aboriginal and treaty rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Furthermore, in the international context, Canada supports the recognition of a right to self-determination for indigenous peoples which respects the political, constitutional, and territorial integrity of democratic states.

The federal government is committed to working in partnership with First Nations and other governments to support capacity-building for implementing self-government (legislative, executive, administrative and judicial), to ensure that First Nations women participate in governance processes, and to initiate other activities needed for the recognition and renewal of First Nations governments with the legitimacy, powers and resources for effective governance over their members and territories.

Initiatives

A National Recognition Instrument: jointly explore and develop legislation, s. 35 protection and other mechanisms to recognize First Nations governments and to establish a framework for working out jurisdictional and intergovernmental relations.

A Governance Transition Centers: operated at arms length from government, to support First Nations in developing governance structures and to support capacity building to design and operate governance institutions, including justice institutions.

Justice and Dispute Resolution Bodies: support justice initiatives and the establishment of First Nations-controlled bodies on a regional basis to mediate/resolve disputes.

Independent Claims Body: establishment of an Independent Claims Body with structure and powers to be developed in a joint process between the federal government and First Nations.

Comprehensive Claims: joint federal government-First Nations exploration of the Comprehensive Claims Process in order to consider and respond to First Nations concerns, in part related to the recommendations of RCAP, with the existing process and policies.

Certainty: joint federal government-First Nations exploration of possible methods other than surrenders or extinguishments of Aboriginal rights or Aboriginal title to provide clarity, stability and certainty through comprehensive claims settlements and which would be supported by federal and provincial governments, First Nations and the public.

Lands and Resources: partner with First Nations a strategy to deal with lands and resource issues, including working with provinces to encourage co-management and further programming opportunities to enhance the value of reserve lands and increase access to and ownership of lands and resources.

Equitable and Sustainable Fiscal Relationships

Vision

New fiscal relationships to support First Nations governments in developing fiscal autonomy and the financial capacity to support governance responsibilities and agreed upon public services at levels reasonably comparable to the relevant local, regional or national standard. New fiscal relationships will allow First Nations governments to exercise increased autonomy and greater self-reliance through expanded new transfer arrangements, First Nation fiscal authority, resource revenue-sharing and incentives for enhancing First Nations own source revenue capacity.

Initiatives

Government-to-Government Transfer System: work at national and regional levels to develop government-to-government transfer systems which will provide fair, stable, and equitable transfers commensurate with responsibilities and circumstances.

Resource Revenue-Sharing: federal-First Nations-provincial government initiatives on resource revenue-sharing.

Own Source Revenue: develop First Nation tax jurisdictions as negotiated; incentives for exercising same; agreements on coordination.

Accountability, Data Collection and Exchange: initiatives to strengthen the accountability of First Nations governments to their membership, and to improve data collection and exchange by and between the federal government and First Nations governments and, where relevant, other levels of government.

Supporting Stronger First Nations Communities and People

Vision

New measures on and off reserve to support healthy sustainable communities, enhance economic development, and increase individual and community self-reliance within a strategic and planned approach, developed in partnership, and addressing the issues of standards, comparability and performance indicators. Participation of women and people with special needs in the design and delivery of programming to support stronger First Nations people and communities is a priority.

Initiatives

Developing an Economic Base: implement additional federal measures, including increased resources and explore and develop tax incentives, to promote economic development, explore ways to reduce the costs of doing business, and promote local decision-making. Work jointly with First Nations, industry, the provinces and municipalities to develop a national partnering strategy on Aboriginal economic development to increase Aboriginal participation in economic and business opportunities and to augment private sector partnerships in Aboriginal economic development.

Welfare to Work: the federal government will work with First Nations to reform the on-reserve welfare system from passive to active case-management, develop a new framework for First Nations Social Assistance and increase the capacity of First Nations to reduce welfare dependency and increase employability.

Investing in Aboriginal Education/Training: develop through broad-based partnerships an improved human resources development framework that links school, training and work opportunities; measures to improve the quality of education and programming to encourage youth to stay in school; and regional bilateral agreements on employment services and other measures to increase employment opportunities.

Investing in the Well-Being of Children and Families: work with First Nations on the expansion of the Aboriginal Head Start Program and on the First Nations component of the National Children's Agenda; work with First Nations regional organizations on re-investment related to the National Child Benefit and new programs/services for First Nations children.

Investing in First Nations Youth: develop jointly with First Nations on a national basis, youth initiatives both on and off reserve, including the establishment of multi-purpose urban youth centres; implement community based initiatives for youth at risk.

Community Infrastructure: work with First Nations to enhance capacity to develop sustainable approaches to community housing and water and sewer systems; work with provincial and territorial governments to improve off-reserve housing for First Nations people.

Addressing Key Health/Disease Concerns: reduce the "gap" on leading health/disease indicators (e.g. diabetes, HIV/AIDS) through new programming such as an Aboriginal Diabetes Strategy and establishment of an Aboriginal Health Institute.

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