Additions to reserve: Policy Redesign

Co-develop policy through a First Nation-led process.

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Why redesign the 2016 policy?

Lands are central to First Nations' traditions, identity and prosperity. They are a crucial asset for advancing self-determination, economic development and well-being. Canada is committed to working with First Nations to remove systemic barriers, and to co-develop transformative changes to the Additions to Reserve Policy. These changes will meet First Nations' needs, and will help build healthier and more sustainable communities and regions.

For information on the administration of Additions to Reserve, consult Additions to Reserve: Implementation and process.

Since its introduction in 1972, the Additions to Reserve Policy has been incrementally updated, most recently in 2016, but the changes have not addressed First Nations' concerns regarding the complex, time-consuming process.

Budget 2021 provided $43 million between Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), starting in 2021. This money is used to work with First Nations partners and other stakeholders to redesign the federal Additions to Reserve Policy and to accelerate work on existing requests from First Nations across the country.

CIRNAC's policy redesign includes engagement with First Nations organizations, rights holders and communities across the country. The goal is to support First Nations-led engagement to advance recommendations that will contribute to a co-developed policy. Supporting First Nation-led engagement is an important first step in co-developing options for the Additions to Reserve Policy redesign.

Engagement

With the understanding that each First Nation has unique needs and goals, we are collaborating with interested First Nations partners in a way that best suits their community.

Through engagement, we are working alongside First Nations and First Nation organizations to redesign the Additions to Reserve Policy.

To learn more about engagement activities on the Additions to Reserve Policy redesign, consult Engaging on Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign.

Co-development of the Additions to Reserve Policy

The Government of Canada will put community needs first by seeking First Nation driven policy options through engagement with First Nations and First Nation organizations. Doing so is an important step on the path of reconciliation with First Nations.

To read more about the intent of the redesign and how the Government of Canada will include the voices of Indigenous peoples during the Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign, consult: Engaging on Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign.

Technical Advisory Committee

In summer 2024, CIRNAC launched a Technical Advisory Committee (the committee) to facilitate the co-development of the Additions to Reserve Policy redesign. The intent of this committee is to ensure that the Additions to Reserve (ATR) Policy aligns with the diverse needs of First Nations, advances reconciliation through the recognition of rights, and is consistent with Canada's commitment to renewing relationships with First Nations, including implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

The committee includes representatives from First Nations, First Nation organizations, and key federal government departments involved in the ATR process. Currently, membership is comprised of representatives from the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the First Nations Land Management Resource Centre (LABRC), National Aboriginal Land Managers Association (NALMA), self-governing First Nations, and representatives from the Crown Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Services ATR units.

The committee gathers technical experts to provide advice and help facilitate the development of policy options for a streamlined approach to ATR Policy redesign. Through First Nation-led engagement, First Nations and First Nation organizations have brought forward recommendations and policy options to redesign the ATR Policy. The committee oversees the development of the policy options brought forward by First Nation-led engagement while providing First Nation technical expertise and perspectives.

The committee is one piece of many facets of engagement. The development work of the committee is complementary to parallel engagement processes and working groups on Additions to Reserve Policy redesign undertaken by the Government of Canada.

To get in touch with the Technical Advisory Committee or submit feedback on the Additions to Reserve Policy redesign, please contact: CCT-TAC@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

Related legislative framework

The addition to reserve or reserve creation policy and process is supported jointly between the departments of CIRNAC and ISC. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations is responsible for approving additions to reserve and reserve creation pursuant to the Addition of Lands to Reserves and Reserve Creation Act (ALRRCA) and the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management and the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management Act (FAFNLMA), by way of Ministerial Orders. The Minister of ISC is responsible for the administration of reserve lands under the Indian Act, as well as the operational policy and processes for the implementation of additions to reserve and reserve creation pursuant to ALRRCA and FAFNLMA.

ALRRCA came into force on August 27, 2019, to facilitate the setting apart of lands as reserves for the use and benefit of First Nations. Some of these benefits include an increase in economic development opportunities through increased access to lands and resources, additional procedural tools to create reserve land, and timelier decisions.

Through ALRRCA, all First Nations have access to the same procedural tools available through the former Claim Settlements (Alberta and Saskatchewan) Implementation Act of 2002:

Land Code First Nations

Through the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management Act, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations may, by order, and at the request of a First Nation with a land code in force, set land apart as a reserve for the use and benefit of that First Nation. Alternatively, First Nations that are operational under the Framework Agreement can also use ALRRCA to add land to reserve, before transferring administrative control of the newly added lands under its land code.

Consult: First Nation Land Management: Policy and legislation

Past and current Additions to Reserve Policies

Since the first appearance of an Additions to Reserve Policy in 1972, there have been small incremental changes to the policy over 3 revisions. The current 2016 policy can be accessed through the Land Management Manual - Chapter 10.

Contact the Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign Unit to request a copy of the past policies.

Contact us

For all inquiries, please contact us:

Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign Unit
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
25 Eddy Street, 6th Floor
Mail stop – 25E-32
GATINEAU, QC  K1A 0H4

Toll-Free: 1-833-860-7778

Email: politique.aar-policy.atr@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

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