Departmental/Program Objectives

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Departmental Mission

Working together to make Canada a better place for First Nations, Inuit and Northerners.

Program Objectives

Indian and Inuit Affairs Program
To support Indians and Inuit in achieving their self-government, economic, educational, cultural, social, and community development needs and aspirations; to settle accepted native claims through negotiations; and to ensure fulfilment of Canada's constitutional and statutory obligations and responsibilities to Indian and Inuit people.

Northern Affairs Program
To promote the political, economic, scientific and social development of Canada’s North; to assist Northerners, including Aboriginal groups, to develop political and economic institutions which will enable them to assume increasing responsibility within the Canadian federation; to effectively manage and regulate the sustainable development of the North's natural resources in preparation for devolution to the territorial governments; to preserve, maintain, protect and rehabilitate the northern environment; and to manage ongoing federal interests in the North, including federal northern policy, federal-territorial relations and claims and self-government implementation, and federal circumpolar activities.

Administration Program
To provide for policy direction and sound management of the Indian and Inuit Affairs and Northern Affairs programs and for efficient and effective planning, accounting, personnel, communications and other administrative support.

Canadian Polar Commission

Objective

To promote the development and dissemination of knowledge in respect of the polar regions.