Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat (AAS)

The Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat (AAS) was created in 1999 to provide national leadership and support within Parks Canada on matters relating to Aboriginal peoples and to facilitate the strengthening of relationships with Aboriginal Peoples.

The AAS is located in the Parks Canada offices in the National Capital Region and currently consists of three employees. The Director of the Secretariat is accountable directly to the Chief Executive Officer. A network of Parks Canada employees across Canada also supports the AAS unit.

The broad objective of the AAS is to facilitate the participation of Aboriginal people in Canada's natural and cultural heritage places. Flowing from that objective, five main priorities have been identified:

• Strengthening relationships with Aboriginal communities;
• Increasing presentation and interpretation of Aboriginal heritage;
• Encouraging economic partnerships and opportunities with Aboriginal peoples;
• Enhancing Aboriginal employment opportunities; and,
• Commemorating new national historic sites focusing on Aboriginal history.

In addition, three priorities have been established for the AAS for the 2005-06 fiscal year, which are:

• Consultation and Engagement
• Aboriginal Economic Development and Tourism
• Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Contact Information

Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat
25 Eddy St. (25-7-N)
Gatineau, QC, Canada
K1A 0M5
Tel: (819) 953-6041
Fax: (819) 994-1261
Email: aboriginal.autochtones@pc.gc.ca