Tribal Council Funding

Program

Tribal Councils are defined as institutions established as "a grouping of bands with common interests who voluntarily join together to provide advisory and/or program services to member bands".

The purpose of this program is to provide funding to Tribal Councils to enable them to provide advisory services to their First Nation members and also to enable Tribal Councils to deliver programs and services, subject to the agreement of the First Nation members. Tribal Councils may also enter into agreements with other federal government departments (such as Health Canada and Human Resources Development Canada) to deliver programs and services.

Program History / Background

The Tribal Council Program (TCP) is one component of First Nation Indian Government Support Funding Programs. The other components are Band Support Funding, Band Employee Benefits Program, Band Advisory Services, Indian and Inuit Management Development.

Introduced in 1984, this program operates under broad authorities provided by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act and derives its legislative authorities for the activity from annual Parliamentary appropriations and Treasury Board authorities.

Description of Operations

Tribal Councils are required to incorporate under provincial or federal legislation and must maintain their corporate affairs in good standing to be eligible for continued funding. Chiefs or other representatives from member communities serve as a Board of Directors and oversee the provision of advisory or other common services to member communities. Tribal Councils are primarily accountable to member First Nations and exercise flexibility in managing the delivery of advisory services or programs, consistent with the department's responsibility to account for public funds.

The specific advisory services that have been devolved from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) to Tribal Council administration include: economic development; financial management; community planning; technical services; and band governance. Tribal Councils are required to provide all five advisory services to their members.

In 2001-2002, there were 78 Tribal Councils providing advisory and program services to 475 First Nations. There are 135 First Nations not affiliated with a Tribal Council but 16 of these, with a population of 2000 or more, also receive funding for advisory services. Approximately 80 per cent of the on reserve population resides in communities where Tribal Councils or large unaffiliated First Nations provide advisory services.

Funding for Tribal Council advisory services and administrative overhead is determined by a funding formula which takes into account the services delivered, the number of First Nations forming the Tribal Council, the on-reserve population of member First Nations, and the geographic location of the Tribal Council office.