Third Annual Statutory Report (2022) Pursuant to Section 10 of the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Act, Statutes of Canada, Chapter 29, 2019

Residential Schools Missing Children - Community Support Funding

Launched on June 7, 2021, following a series of sixteen national engagement sessions, the Residential Schools Missing Children - Community Support Funding initiative is a responsive, request-driven contributions envelope intended to support Indigenous partners and communities in designing and implementing community-led, Survivor-centric and culturally appropriate initiatives seeking to locate, document, and memorialize burial sites associated with former residential schools, and honour families' wishes to bring children's remains home. Funding is available to First Nation, Inuit and Métis partners, including modern treaty and self-governing groups.

As of March 15th, 2022, the department had received 239 enquiries resulting in 95 funding requests seeking a total of $190.6 million in funding for activities relating to 110 former residential schools. 65 funding agreements have been put in place for a total of $72.6 million^{Footnote 1}, including contributions from Canadian Heritage for eligible commemoration and memorialization activities. An additional $7.6 million has been contributed to these approved initiatives from other government funders and the respective provincial and territorial governments.

Access to the full history and truth around residential schools

Reconciliation requires a whole-of-government approach, breaking down barriers and rethinking how we do our work. The Government of Canada is committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure we continue to do all we can to share the Residential School-related documents we have, while respecting Survivors' wishes, legislation, court orders, settlement agreements and ongoing litigation processes. To ensure that Indigenous Survivors and communities have access to the full history and truth around the residential schools, CIRNAC has undertaken a broad internal review of all existing documents to ensure transparency and full disclosure of all relevant information to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation wherever possible. This is an important step toward accountability and a stronger understanding of the legacy of Residential Schools.

Yukon Residential Schools

2021 was a significant year towards reconciliation for the Yukon region as the last remaining building of the former Lower Post Residential School was demolished. The demolition was marked by a ceremony on June 30, 2021 held by the Daylu Dena Council, which was also the 46th anniversary of the school's closure. A ground blessing ceremony was held afterwards to celebrate a new administration building, scheduled for the start of construction in summer 2022.

Qikiqtani Truth Commission

Since the formal acknowledgement of the findings of the Qikiqtani Truth Commission's final report and apology to the Qikiqtani Inuit, the Nunavut Regional Office has continued to collaborate to implement the report's 25 recommendations. Budget 2021 included an additional $25.75 million towards the implementation of the recommendations, and CIRNAC has engaged with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) on the delivery of this funding. Collaboration continues between QIA and CIRNAC to support self-determination for QIA to design and provide programs to support healing, restoring language, culture and identity.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls (MMIWG), and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People

Through funding provided by Budget 2021, a permanent MMIWG Secretariat has been established to work in collaboration with Indigenous partners and lead a whole-of-government approach to oversee the coordination of federal efforts regarding missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+. The Secretariat also convened and coordinated Indigenous families, survivors, partners, and provinces and territories on the development and publication of the first National Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+.

On June 3, 2021, the Government of Canada, alongside Indigenous families, survivors, partners and governments, as well as Indigenous women's organizations and provinces and territories, launched the National Action Plan. As part of the National Action Plan, the Federal Government also released the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People, outlining the federal government's commitments from over 25 federal departments and agencies. CIRNAC's role was key in coordinating the work on the National Action Plan and leading a whole-of-government and whole-of-Canada approach. As part of the whole-of-federal government approach, CIRNAC has been convening federal departments and agencies to develop reporting including a framework to measure outcomes and progress.

Furthermore, CIRNAC is supporting reconciliation and advancing self-determination by administering new and ongoing programs. The department is directly funding families and survivors through the Support for the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People program, which provides culturally-relevant and Indigenous led programming for those impacted by this tragedy. In 2021-22, the program funded 19 recipients for a total value of over $3.6 million. Further, in 2021-22, through the Supporting Indigenous Women's and 2SLGBTQQIA+ program, a total of 18 recipients funded for a total of over $9 million to support the capacity of Indigenous women's and 2SLGTQQIA+ organizations to engage in the development of policies, programs and legislation. Finally, as part of its work, the Cultural Spaces in Indigenous Communities program supported efforts to revitalize culture and languages through 15 Indigenous-led early investments projects totalling $40.4 million to support safe access to cultural and language programming.

As a way of supporting reconciliation through transparency and reporting, CIRNAC funded 19 Indigenous-led data research projects from Métis, Inuit, First Nations, Non-Status, urban and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations and researchers totaling $884,916 to begin the implementation of the National Action Plan Data Strategy (PDF). These initiatives will start to address data gaps related to Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and will contribute to improving the information available to Indigenous peoples, organizations, and communities.

Reparations and Settlements of Past Wrongs

Recognition of Rights and Self-Determination Discussions

During the 2021-22 fiscal year, CIRNAC and Indigenous partners established 17 new discussions tables for a total of 175 active tables. In addition, five preliminary-type agreements and one reconciliation framework agreement were signed to frame discussions and identify priorities for future negotiations, bringing the total preliminary-type agreements to 93.

Ongoing Implementation of Modern Treaties and Agreements

The implementation of modern treaties and self-government agreements by federal, Indigenous, provincial and territorial signatories is a key element in renewing nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown and government-to-government relationships consistent with principles of Indigenous self-governance and self-determination and the ongoing implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada is currently implementing 25 modern treaties (18 of which include or have associated self-government agreements), four stand-alone self-government agreements, and two sectoral self-government education agreements across six provinces and all three territories. Fiscal transfers to self-governing Indigenous governments are guided by the Collaborative Fiscal Policy framework co-developed by Canada and self-governing partners. Between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, regular meetings were held and fiscal transfer payments of over $1 billion were made to Indigenous signatories in support of their jurisdictional responsibilities and governance activities.

In response to the mandate commitments for the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations to "work in partnership on the implementation of the spirit and intent of treaties, and land claim and self-government agreements with appropriate oversight mechanisms to hold the federal government accountable;" to "continue to work to fully implement Inuit land claims agreements;" and, to "… restore respectful nation-to-nation relations, in the spirit of self-determination, by renewing and updating treaty relationships where they exist;" the Department is working on a process with Modern Treaty agreement signatories to chart a path to further strengthen the implementation of Modern Treaties.

CIRNAC continues to strengthen whole-of-government implementation by advancing recommendations from the evaluation of the Cabinet Directive on Modern Treaty Implementation. CIRNAC has provided training to federal officials on modern treaty and self-government implementation to promote awareness, and provided advice and guidance on the Assessment of Modern Treaty Implications (AMTI) to ensure modern treaty rights and obligations are considered in federal policy making.

Together with modern treaty partners, the Department has also examined performance indicators through the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) on socio-economic and environmental importance to measure outcomes concerning the implementation of modern treaties. CIRNAC has introduced and is administering an additional reporting tool, the Modern Treaty Management Environment (MTME) version 2.0, to track and monitor the status of modern treaty and self-government obligations by departments and agencies.

Collaborative Fiscal Policy Development Process

Canada's Collaborative Fiscal Policy Development Process ("the Process") has created conditions for self-determination and renewed relationships, through the co-developed policy process in collaboration with representatives from self-governing Indigenous governments. These discussions seek to build on Canada's Collaborative Self-Government Fiscal Policy, and are aimed to strengthen the government-to-government partnership and better support self-government arrangements.

Over the past year, Canada and Indigenous governments have been working together on new innovative approaches to provide sufficient, predictable, and sustained funding that promotes Indigenous self-determination. While these discussions are broad in scope, the table has been focused on areas such as: governance, social and economic development, fiscal adjustment factors, infrastructure, culture and language and land and resources to ensure self-governing Indigenous governments have the means and fiscal capacity to govern effectively.

Since 2016, Canada and representatives from 25 self-governing Indigenous Governments have worked together to co-develop Canada's Collaborative Self Government Fiscal Policy ("the Policy") and the associated methodologies for funding for the range of responsibilities those governments have. Released in August 2019, the new Policy focuses on the actual expenditure needs of self-government, rather than linking funding to previous levels under the Indian Act. Key accomplishments of the Process include the completion of a funding methodology for governance and administration; continuing the collaborative process work with minor COVID-19 impacts; increased involvement of other government departments to focus on Land and Resource Management; and work on Culture, Language, and Heritage as well as Infrastructure.

Between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, regular policy development process meetings continued, building on the renewed government-to-government relationship for collaborative policy development. Participating departments included Canadian Heritage, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and ISC, with the Process expanding to include new entrants. Most recently, the Lands, Resources and Treaty Management working group has expanded to include five modern treaty holders without self-government agreements, as they have similar responsibilities to self-governing Indigenous governments.

Canada and self-governing partners have also completed a first phase policy approach to ensure adequate lifecycle capital and operations and maintenance funding for core community infrastructure assets in every self-government community. Fiscal policy work has also started in the areas of lands, resources and treaty management, and language. A core group of participants has been meeting monthly with CIRNAC and other government department officials. This process has built stronger ties and trust between Indigenous governments and the Government of Canada and across Indigenous governments themselves.

The Collaborative Self-Government Fiscal Policy Development Process also includes a shared focus on closing socio-economic and wellness gaps to help maximize self-determination. Tailored initiatives, supported with funding from Budgets 2018 and 2021, continue with on-going evaluation and reporting to assess progress.

Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia

Since 2019, the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and the First Nations Summit continue to implement the co-developed Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia (the "Policy"). The Policy replaces the Comprehensive Land Claims and Inherent Right policies in the context of treaty negotiations in British Columbia. A central feature of the Policy is basing negotiations on the recognition and continuation of rights without those rights being modified, surrendered or extinguished when an agreement is signed. Where there is interest, Canada is ready to discuss using the approaches found in the Policy with negotiation partners elsewhere in the country.

In 2021-22, tripartite policy work continued on priority areas outlined in the Policy, with a focus on lands-related issues. In addition to working closely with the Government of British Columbia and Participating Indigenous Nations in British Columbia, CIRNAC collaborated with implicated federal departments to ensure a whole-of-government perspective. Further, CIRNAC is working closely with provincial and First Nation partners on the first review of the Policy, as identified in Sections 62 and 63, to monitor and assess the effectiveness of Policy implementation, and ensure issues are addressed.

Redesigning the Comprehensive Land Claims and Inherent Right Policies

The mandate letter of the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations commits to working with Indigenous Peoples and relevant Ministers to accelerate the Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination discussion processes. Redesigning the Comprehensive Land Claims and Inherent Right policies to adopt flexible and rights-based policy approaches that address the needs of Indigenous partners is key to accelerating discussion processes and achieving treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements that are foundations for renewed relationships. CIRNAC will continue to address this commitment through a variety of efforts, including co-developing innovations with Indigenous partners, learning lessons from what we have heard in past engagement processes, and working in collaboration with other federal departments to build public service capacity for culture change in support of the recognition and implementation of rights. CIRNAC is also working in partnership with Indigenous partners on policy redesign process and continues to explore innovative ways to collaborate further.

Supporting Economic Development

The First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FNFMA) legislation provides First Nations, who choose to opt-in, with the institutional supports and tools to strengthen their communities and build their economies.

Between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, a total of nine First Nations were added to the regime. This brings the total to 321 of 580 First Nations that are able to access the measures available under the Act to advance self-determination and economic reconciliation at their own pace. In response to the pandemic, CIRNAC and the fiscal institutions identified opportunities to strengthen the regime through proposed amendments to the Act. Significant advancements were also made through collaborative work with the fiscal institutions, partner modern treaty First Nations and the Province of British Columbia on draft regulations to enable treaty and self-governing First Nations to benefit from the Act, with the policy development now concluded for other revenues. Work continues on the policy approach for public service-centered Indigenous organizations, such as health or education authorities, to benefit from the Act.

One measure that provides First Nations with greater flexibility to develop their economy is the capacity to borrow funds for the development of infrastructure at lower interest rates than traditional financial institutions. Since the inaugural bond issuance in June 2014 for $90 million, there have been nine additional issuances totaling $1.64 billion in debentures which has been accessed by 76 First Nations to support housing, infrastructure, education, health, renewable energy and other socio-economic development projects, creating over 17,000 jobs in the process and approximately $3.5 billion in economic output. During fiscal year 2021-2022, a total of $721.9 million in debentures has been accessed by 39 First Nations.

Between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, CIRNAC supported First Nations institutions in the following innovative projects, through the FNFMA, including:

• The First Nations Fiscal Management Board (FNFMB) to advance discussions of the Road Map Project on how the FNFMA Institutions could empower First Nation participants with the fiscal tools and capacity needed to develop self-sufficient and prosperous communities;
• The First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC) to further advance a First Nation Cannabis Tax Option and to continue to work with First Nations to develop, support, or advance proposals to increase First Nation regulatory and fiscal jurisdiction over tobacco and cannabis taxes;
• The FNTC to further advance the Fuel, Alcohol, Cannabis and Tobacco (FACT) sales tax proposal;
• Advancing the establishment of the First Nations Infrastructure Institution (FNII) under the FNFMA that will provide institutional capacity supports and tools for First Nations to efficiently and effectively plan, procure, own and manage infrastructure assets on their lands;
• The First Nations Leading the Way IV National Meeting: Making Reconciliation a Reality, a follow up to previous national yearly meeting which highlights the challenges and successes of First Nations at the forefront of expanding jurisdiction and their vision for the future, and informs, educates and responds to First Nations' inquiries on how the Institutions can support and enhance economic reconciliation in fiscal relations as well as 10-year funding plans.
• The First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA) to undertake activities to start a Commercial Paper Program (C.P. Program) that will allow FNFA to better meet anticipated future client loan demands by permitting FNFA to raise short term loan monies (Interim Financing) under its own name;
• The FNFA for an Information Technology Project to develop a new customized Financial Management System; and
• $32.5 million to the FNFA in Emergency / Contingency Funds to provide repayable financial support for borrowing members encountering difficulties due to COVID-19 or future widespread economic shocks.

The Department, in collaboration with ISC, continued to explore the development of the Infrastructure Institution through proof of concept projects with Kettle and Stoney Point, the First Nations Health Authority, and the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority.

First Nation Land Management

In the early 1990s, First Nations chiefs urged the Government of Canada to enter into negotiations concerning the management of First Nations land. A sectoral approach to a nation-to-nation agreement was proposed that included elements of land governance.

On February 12, 1996, Canada and 13 First Nations chiefs signed the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management relating to First Nation land governance outside of the Indian Act. In 1999, the First Nations Land Management Act came into force to ratify the Framework Agreement.

The Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management is a First Nations-led nation-to-nation agreement that Canada ratified with the passage of the First Nations Land Management Act. This agreement helps create conditions for self-determination and renewed relationships by enabling First Nations to manage and govern their land, environment and resources using a community approved land code rather than be subject to the lands-related provisions of the Indian Act. In 2021-22, 16 new First Nations became signatories of the Framework Agreement (total of 194 First Nations) and four new First Nations have implemented their community approved land code (total of 100 First Nations), while others are at various stages of developing their land codes.

Based on the consensus of First Nations signatories to the nation-to-nation Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management, the Department is working with the Lands Advisory Board to replace the First Nations Land Management Act with shorter, simpler legislation that better respects the central importance of the nation-to-nation Framework Agreement. Over the last year, the government has partnered with the Lands Advisory to co-develop new legislation to replace the First Nations Land Management Act. In early March 2022, the proposed legislation was supported unanimously by First Nations signatories to the Framework Agreement and is expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2022-23.

Legislation to Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Implementation Plan

On June 21, 2021, Bill C-15 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent. The Act affirms the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration) as a universal international human rights instrument with application in Canadian law and provides a framework for the Government of Canada's implementation of the Declaration.

On December 10, 2021, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada launched an engagement process with Indigenous peoples to advance implementation of the Act.

CIRNAC and the Department of Justice are continuing to work closely with First Nations, Inuit and Métis to better understand their priorities in order to help shape the initial draft of an action plan, and to begin to identify potential measures for aligning federal laws with the Declaration. This important dialogue will continue over the Spring of 2022.

Guidance, Advisory and Information Services on Consultation and Accommodation with Indigenous Peoples

Consultation activities are key for Canada to uphold its commitment to rebuilding relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis. To support this, CIRNAC provides funding for consultation tools, such as Consultation Protocols and Resources Centres, thus enhancing capacity to manage consultation consistent with their recognition and self-determination objectives. The Consultation and Accommodation Unit offers guidance, systems and tools to federal officials in order to support Canada's whole-of-government approach to the Duty to Consult. Together with Justice Canada, CIRNAC provided practical guidance to federal, provincial and territorial officials to support the fulfilment of meaningful consultation activities under the unique circumstances of the pandemic.

Between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, negotiation was initiated for an additional Consultation Protocol, bringing the number of Consultation Protocols under negotiation to nine. Consultation Protocols foster important relationships while clarifying engagement processes and laying out important parameters and standards necessary to the consultation planning process. Implementation is ongoing for the 10 signed Consultation Protocols, currently supporting 44 Indigenous communities and 15 Métis regions in Ontario and Alberta, while five Resource Centres are supporting 62 Indigenous communities and 18 Métis regions in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Resource Centres support Indigenous partners to meaningfully engage in consultation by ensuring that they have the tools and capacity to manage and coordinate requests for consultation.

While in-person training sessions to federal officials on Crown consultation and accommodation obligations were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the past year, CIRNAC delivered virtual presentations to 10 federal departments and agencies.

The Aboriginal and Treaty Rights and Information System (ATRIS) supports assessments of Duty to Consult obligations by detailing the geographic location and nature of potential and established Aboriginal and Treaty rights. Between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, 49 ATRIS webinars and seven tailored coaching sessions were delivered to 193 federal officials to support data needs, and 46 cartographic services on emerging issues were provided.

Permanent Bilateral Mechanisms

Métis Nation Housing Strategy

The Métis Nation Housing Strategy is addressing the housing crisis faced by the Métis Nation and Manitoba Métis Federation communities in a culturally-appropriate and distinctions-based manner, targeting a 50% reduction in the Core Housing Need gap between Métis and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Housing was identified as a key priority of the Canada-Métis Nation PBM, and the Métis Nation Housing Strategy was a result of the signing of the Canada-Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord in July 2018, with the Government of Canada committing $500 million over 10 years through Budget 2018. Under the Métis Nation Housing Strategy, Canada provides support for housing programming delivered by Governing Members of the Métis National Council and the Manitoba Métis Federation to address housing needs of Métis people.

In this reporting year, a combined 22 Housing Technical Working or Data Sub-Group meetings were held. The Technical Working Group is Métis-led and provides a productive forum for parties to collaborate, support the implementation of the Housing Strategy, and improve data collection practices. The success of housing initiatives implemented over the last year by Métis housing authorities, such as renovation and home buyers support programs, have been shared with federal partners through the newly integrated Métis Housing and Homelessness Technical Working Group, with a focus of this reporting year being the design of a housing needs assessment survey. The integrated Technical Working Group both responds to the stated needs of Métis partners in simplifying how they interface with federal partners on related issues such as housing and homelessness and builds on the momentum generated through the previous Housing Technical Working Group and Housing Data Sub-Group. CIRNAC and Métis partners have connected with federal colleagues in the Homelessness Policy Directorate at Infrastructure Canada (formerly Employment and Social Development Canada) to ensure coherence with housing and homelessness programs.

Budget 2021 invested $240 million over four years to address shovel-ready infrastructure projects through Métis-led infrastructure programming from the Métis Nation of British Columbia, Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation of Ontario, and the Métis Settlements of Alberta. These investments in Métis community infrastructure are the first direct federal infrastructure investment for Métis, and will begin to address the infrastructure gap that perpetuates the economic and social inequities that exist between Métis and non-Indigenous Canadians.

Child and Family Services

Since its enactment, CIRNAC has collaborated with ISC in implementing Bill C-92: An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. At the end of this reporting period, 60 Indigenous governing bodies provided a notice or a request to exercise jurisdiction under Bill C-92, and almost 20 Indigenous governing bodies have begun trilateral coordination agreement discussions. These discussions with Indigenous governing bodies provide essential coordination for complex jurisdictional transition and to ensure successful implementation of Indigenous child and family service policies and laws based on each of their particular histories, cultures, and circumstances. These discussions have resulted in two coordination agreements with Cowessess First Nation and Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, with more agreements anticipated in the coming year. The Government of Canada will continue to work with Indigenous partners, provinces, and territories to respond to the priorities of Indigenous Peoples for child and family services reform, with a focus on the best interests of Indigenous children, cultural continuity, and substantive equality.

Arctic and Northern Policy Framework

The Arctic and Northern Policy Framework ('the Framework') was launched in September 2019 following its co-development with Indigenous, territorial and provincial partners, and with the more than 33 federal government departments and agencies that have responsibilities or interests in the Arctic and northern regions of Canada. The Framework is now being implemented with partners, beginning with the co-development of Framework governance approaches.

The Framework supports the Government's commitment to renewing Inuit-Crown, and government-to-government relationships based on a recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. It articulates a shared vision for a strong, prosperous and sustainable Arctic, and a set of principles that recognizes that decisions about the Arctic and the North will be made in partnership with northerners to reflect their rights, needs and perspectives. It additionally represents the need for ongoing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, building on the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and other initiatives.

The Framework articulates eight goals with associated objectives, including, but not limited to: strengthening infrastructure to closes gaps with other regions of Canada; supporting strong, sustainable, diversified and inclusive local and regional economies; supporting healthy and resilient ecosystems in the Arctic and North; and advancing reconciliation to support self-determination and mutually respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

The reconciliation goal will be implemented by various collective actions across federal portfolios, including honoring and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, supporting self-determination and representation, strengthening Indigenous languages, completing devolution, and continuing to redress past wrongs against Indigenous Peoples.

Budget 2021 announced new measures to support Framework implementation and complement existing efforts to strengthen Arctic and northern communities by aligning federal investments with Framework goals and objectives. CIRNAC is making progress on implementing these goals, including on the investments committed to in Budget 2021. The political-level Leadership Committee for the Framework met in November 2020 and December 2021 with significant participation by Indigenous partners; these meetings provided co-development partners with opportunities to identify key funding priorities for the Arctic and the North. Several partner priorities received federal funding through Budget 2021, including support for housing in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, climate change funding in Yukon, funding to support the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university, and funding to expand CIRNAC's Nutrition North Canada program to address food insecurity.

Northern Housing

Canada's northern, remote and isolated communities face unique housing and infrastructure needs given the challenges presented by geography, climate change, limited infrastructure, location, and historic underfunding.

Given these challenges, the Government of Canada, through Budget 2021, provided $50 million dollars to the Governments of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to respond to their housing needs. The funding provided to the Government of the Northwest Territories ($25 million) is to support the construction of 30 new public housing units across the Territory, while the funding ($25 million) provided to the Government of Nunavut is to support the Territory's short-term housing and infrastructure needs.

Furthermore, Budget 2021 allocated $18 million over four years for investments in northern communities to support social outcomes and respond to high priority needs such as urgent infrastructure gaps for First Nation communities in the Northwest Territories with non-reserve lands, and to Métis communities not represented by a Métis national Indigenous organization and not subject to a modern treaty or self-governing agreement. Allocation of this funding is based on community need.

The Government of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories received their respective Budget 2021 funding allocations, and the first portion of the funding was distributed to the Decho, Akaitcho, Northwest Territories Métis and the North Slave Métis Alliance based on their submitted Action Plans.

Northern Food Security

The Nutrition North Canada (NNC) program helps make nutritious food and some essential items more affordable and more accessible to residents of isolated communities without year-round surface access. NNC supports eligible communities in three ways: a retail subsidy to help offset the high cost of groceries in the north; a Harvesters Support Grant which increases access to country foods by providing funding to support traditional hunting, harvesting and food sharing in isolated communities; and nutrition education initiatives delivered through ISC and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The NNC retail subsidy is applied against the cost of eligible food and other items in 122 isolated communities that lack year-round surface transportation (road, rail, marine), with the goal of increasing affordability and access to market food. Program enhancements were introduced in 2020-21 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including an additional $25 million to increase subsidy rates, expand the list of subsidized items, and support community isolation measures. In 2021-22, these supports remained in place to address the ongoing needs of northerners. In the past year, the program also added six communities to those eligible for the program, and provided approximately $138 million in retail food subsidies overall.

In addition to NNC's retail subsidy, the program is also providing direct support to made-in-the-North food security solutions that extend beyond store-bought market food. As a key example, the Harvesters Support Grant (HSG) was implemented in early 2020, its design directly informed by feedback from Indigenous partners. The HSG is one of the first initiatives developed recognizing a decolonized model recommended by the TRC and MMIWG Commissions. It encourages self-determination and local decision making where recipient organizations and communities develop and deploy their own solutions, based on traditional decision-making and local priorities, positioning government in a supportive role. The program provides flexible funding, allowing communities to respond to individual needs and evolve local food systems over time. The HSG provides grant funding through partnerships with Land Claim Organizations, Self-Government entities and Indigenous organizations to support hunting, harvesting and food sharing activities and networks in 108 eligible communities.

Nutrition North programming is directly informed by the NNC Advisory Board which reports to the Minister of Northern Affairs, and two working groups - the Indigenous Working Group, and the Inuit Crown Food Security Working Group. Each of these partnerships are key to the program's continued evolution. In June 2021, the Advisory Board welcomed four new members with extensive experience living and working within NNC's broad delivery area. Strong northern and Indigenous representation on the Advisory Board is helping to inform ongoing improvements to NNC's programming.

This past year, through its established network of Indigenous and community partners, NNC co-developed options to allocate the Budget 2021 allocation of $163.4 million to support northern food security priorities. These options contribute in part to the department's response to the Inuit Nunangat Food Security Strategy, released in July 2021 by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and inform the direction of NNC moving forward in supporting local food systems comprised of market, traditional, and locally grown foods.

Post-Secondary Education Initiatives

As part of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework implementation, Budget 2019 announced a number of new targeted Arctic and Northern investments to support post-secondary education.

In October 2020, CIRNAC launched the Task Force on Post-Secondary Education in the North, the establishment of which had been announced in Budget 2019. The establishment of the Task Force was a key priority for the Government of Canada as identified in the mandate letter for the Minister of Northern Affairs. The Task Force is comprised of 13 members nominated by Northern governments, Indigenous organizations and co-development partners of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework.

In 2021, Task Force members led public engagement sessions both in the north and elsewhere. These recommendations, which will address gaps in post-secondary education across the North and Arctic, have been formulated into a final report (PDF) which was published on March 31, 2022. Recommendations are expected to be framed broadly so that they may be applicable across the region, rather than being explicitly aimed at any given jurisdiction or educational institution.

Climate Change Programs

The impacts of climate change are already being felt across Canada and include social, cultural, ecological and economic implications. Indigenous peoples are among the most exposed to climate change impacts because of their locations, close relationship with the land and its resources. As well, climate change exacerbates existing challenges and health stressors, such as the housing and infrastructure deficits, that are persistent across Indigenous and northern communities, and lower health outcomes among Indigenous peoples.

CIRNAC is working with Indigenous partners, and in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada and other departments, to promote equitable Indigenous access to federal funding, and to advance Indigenous Climate Leadership and self-determined climate action through all Government of Canada climate programs. This work is supported by commitments under Canada's new Strengthened Climate Plan to co-develop – on a distinctions basis – an Indigenous Climate Leadership agenda and decision-making guidance, under which self-determination is the key principle. Indigenous climate leadership means investing in the agency of Indigenous peoples and communities, supporting Indigenous-led and delivered solutions, equipping Indigenous peoples with equitable resources, and ensuring appropriate access to funding to implement self-determined climate action. Co-developing and advancing an Indigenous Climate Leadership agenda will aim to build regional and national capacity and progressively vest authorities and resources for climate action in the hands of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representative organizations.

Best practices for engagement, program design and implementation were developed with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners through the joint bilateral climate change tables in the form of Decision-Making Guidance. It identifies key considerations and practical steps that departments/programs can take to ensure that federal climate initiatives advance self-determination and that program funding is wholly accessible to Indigenous communities. A next step is implementing the Decision-Making Guidance within the government policy cycle at all stages of program development and implementation.

CIRNAC's current climate change programs were developed based on engagement with Indigenous communities, representative organizations and past recipients. The programs take a collaborative and capacity building approach, working with communities and Indigenous organizations, as well as other stakeholders such as provincial and territorial governments, to first identify priorities and then provide direct funding support to Indigenous communities to: monitor and collect local climate data and information; conduct assessments to identify the impacts of climate change and plan to address these risks; plan for and implement community renewable energy projects; and, engage in policy discussions on climate action.

The programs are: First Nation Adapt, Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring, Climate Change Preparedness in the North, Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity, and Engaging Indigenous Peoples in Climate Policy. These five programs were designed to empower Indigenous peoples and northerners to take a leadership role in climate action. All projects are based on communities' self-determined priorities. Following different mechanisms tailored to each program, Indigenous peoples guide funding decisions and strategic direction through program advisory and review committees.

In fiscal year 2021-22, the five climate change programs invested over $37 million in 300 community driven projects in Indigenous and Northern communities across Canada. The specific project examples below highlight the opportunity to support reconciliation through place-based climate research and development of clean energy projects between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022:

• In British Columbia, the First Nation Adapt program supported the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance in the development of an Indigenous organization (the Emergency Planning Secretariat). The purpose of the Secretariat is to support Indigenous governance in the development of an emergency planning and preparedness regime for all-hazards management throughout S'ólh Téméxw. This project builds off of Natural Resources Canada's "Stó:lō All Hazards Workshop". One of the main goals of the Secretariat is to collaborate with regional First Nations to address communities' climate change concerns, and to ensure that these concerns are aligned and heard at regional flood management tables.
• The Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program funded a project planned and led by Matawa First Nations Management in partnership with nine member First Nations in northern Ontario. The project aims to develop a regional climate monitoring initiative with a focus on addressing critical data gaps, capacity building, community engagement, and networking in support of their climate change adaptation planning initiatives.
• The Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program funded a project which seeks to engage Nunatsiavut beneficiaries and community members in monitoring the impacts of climate change to coastal areas and archaeological sites. Through annual community consultations, the project will also gather information about community priorities for mitigating the effects of climate change to archaeological sites, with the ultimate goal of formulating a Nunatsiavut Archaeology Climate Change Management Plan that will guide ongoing and future responses to climate change impacts.
• Northern REACHE is supporting Generation Power, a program led by Indigenous Clean Energy that provides Indigenous Youth with employment opportunities in Canada's clean energy sector. Indigenous youth are able to explore a variety of clean energy careers, build leadership and job skills, and develop a better understanding of the clean energy landscape. Participating employers will create a more culturally aware workplace and be better positioned to attract and retain Indigenous talent. In addition to providing funding support to Generation Power, Northern REACHE is a participating employer.
• The Engaging Indigenous Peoples in Climate Policy program is supporting the development of a Youth-led Yukon First Nations Reconnection Vision & Action Plan that will help guide Yukon First Nations and other communities, governments, and industry in responding to the challenges of climate change with actions that reflect a First Nations worldview.

Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program

The Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program, which commenced in 2020-21, continues to address the eight largest and highest risk abandoned mines in Yukon and the Northwest Territories. The Program has allowed the Department to implement long-term remediation contracts, which provide greater certainty and economic opportunities for Indigenous people, Northerners and communities affected by these projects.

In the past, Indigenous communities located near these large mines did not realize any benefits from the operation of the mines and were left with contamination on their lands following abandonment. The Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program ensures that communities and Indigenous groups are involved in all aspects of the remediation projects through employment, training and business opportunities which provide an opportunity for self-determination and economic reconciliation.

Between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, the Department made progress towards these goals by advancing project-specific socio-economic frameworks and benefit plans in partnership with Indigenous communities and territorial partners. For example, at the Giant Mine Remediation Project in the Northwest Territories, the Department signed a Community Benefits Plan Agreement with an affected First Nation, which includes up to $20 million over ten years to support socio-economic development opportunities. In the Yukon, the majority of new contracts on the Faro Mine Remediation Project will require successful bidders to develop a socio-economic strategy in addition to making commitments to maximize employment, training, and subcontracting opportunities for members of the local Indigenous community affected by the project. One example of the impact of this commitment was an agreement between a subcontractor and the local community to have more residents employed in the undertaking of on-site environmental monitoring.

The Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program also advances reconciliation through consultation and engagement with affected Indigenous communities throughout the full project lifecycle. An example of this was at the Great Bear Lakes Remediation Project in the Northwest Territories, where the Department hosted a site tour for community members, as well as a Town Hall event to provide community members with an overview of the project and a forum for questions and answers. Building and maintaining strong relationships with Indigenous partners is essential to the success of the program, and partners will continue to inform the Department's approach to cleaning up the eight largest and most complex abandoned mines in its portfolio.

Nunavut Devolution

The devolution of responsibility over lands and resource management to the territory is a long-standing federal policy objective and is a top priority under the Government of Canada's agenda to advance reconciliation. Placing decision-making powers over lands and resources into the hands of Nunavummiut, ensures that economic and other benefits of resources development in the region are shared with the people of Nunavut. Devolution fosters the spirit of reconciliation by renewing the Inuit-Crown relationship and advances self-determination for Inuit and all Nunavummiut. Devolving Northern governance also strengthens the territories' role in Canada.

Following the signature of the Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) in 2019, which completed a significant milestone in the devolution process, the next step is negotiating the Final Agreement. As an initial priority of the AIP, a Transitional Human Resources Development Strategy was approved by all parties in September 2020 and supports self-determination and self-governance among Indigenous Peoples. The Strategy is essential for the successful future implementation of devolution as it outlines an approach for transfer of staff, training of new human resources, and meeting the needs of legislated responsibilities. The Strategy aims to maximize Inuit employment at all levels within positions that will be created as a result of devolution, as well as ensuring that the Government of Nunavut will have the necessary human resource capacity to discharge its responsibilities.

Nunavut Region

Yukon Region

The Yukon Region leads the Government of Canada's work with the 11 Self-Governing Yukon First Nations. This includes managing Self-Governing Yukon First Nations' fiscal transfers, transferring control of federal programs and services, and related funding, from Canada to Self-Governing Yukon First Nations, negotiating amendments to Financial Transfer Agreements, and contributing to national policy developments that directly impact Self-Governing Yukon First Nations.

Between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, the Yukon Region successfully ratified 44 Financial Transfer Agreements amendments in the areas of infrastructure, water/wastewater, skills and employment, and child and family services; and 43 Program Service Transfer Agreements for programs and services delivered by ISC, Canadian Heritage and CIRNAC. This work continues to support the Government of Canada's fundamental shift in how the rights and needs of Indigenous Peoples are addressed by providing a framework for local control over local programs and services.

Northwest Territories Region