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Role and Mandate

The Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians works to further the efforts of Métis, Non-Status Indians and urban Aboriginal people in order to realize their full potential economically, socially and politically in Canadian society.

The role of the Federal Interlocutor was created in 1985 in response to negotiations with Métis and Non-Status Indian political leaders seeking constitutional protection of their peoples and rights to provide a point of contact between the Government of Canada and national Aboriginal organizations who represent Métis and Non-Status Indians to discuss their priority issues. The role of the Federal Interlocutor has evolved significantly since the days of the Constitutional Conferences.

In general, the Federal Interlocutor works with Métis, Non-Status Indian and urban Aboriginal organizations, as well as with provincial governments where appropriate, to find practical ways to improve the life chances of Métis, non- status Indians and urban Aboriginal people. The Federal Interlocutor does this through a variety of mechanisms.

As the advocate of Métis, Non-Status Indian and urban Aboriginal people's interests, the Federal Interlocutor acts as a facilitator between the representative organizations and the appropriate federal ministers and departments on a wide range of issues, as well as an informed advisor within Cabinet when issues affecting their issues and concerns are raised.

In keeping with this role, the Federal Interlocutor maintains a bilateral relationship with each of the two national Aboriginal organizations which represent Métis and Non-Status Indian interests, and who participated in the Constitutional Conferences: the Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. These relationships help to inform federal policies, raise political awareness of the concerns and interests of Métis and Non-Status Indians, and support links with a broad range of other activities, such as the federal-provincial-territorial-Aboriginal discussions.

In addition, the Federal Interlocutor is the Minister responsible for federal participation in tripartite negotiation processes that involve Métis and off- reserve Aboriginal organizations and provinces, in keeping with the Government of Canada's Inherent Right policy. These processes focus on strengthening the organizations' governance capacity, supporting their institutions and better access to federal and provincial programs and services.

The Federal Interlocutor is also the Minister responsible for the co-ordination of the federal government's Urban Aboriginal Strategy, an initiative within government to better serve the needs of urban Aboriginal people through improved co-ordination, collaboration and better working relationships within the federal government, and among all orders of government.

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