2025-2026 Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report: Main Report

Whole-of-government coordination, engagement, and reporting (Call for Justice 1.1)

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) invested $16.6 million over 6 years to support CIRNAC's central coordination function. This investment supported

• continued engagement through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group
• coordination of the fourth annual National Indigenous–Federal–Provincial–Territorial Meeting on MMIWG2S+
• engagement with the National Family and Survivors Circle Inc.
• leadership and coordination of the Indigenous-led Data Research Projects Program and the Support for the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People Contribution Program

Rights alignment, UNDA-related consultation, cooperation and implementation, and Indigenous partner participation (Calls for Justice 1.2, 1.3)

Justice Canada continued working in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples on Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) and to support ongoing efforts to bringing federal laws into alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2025-2026, $7 million in funding was allocated to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments and organizations, as well as urban Indigenous organizations and groups representing Indigenous women, youth, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, and 197 meetings were held with 63 distinct Indigenous partners. Funding supported ongoing engagement focused on Indigenous partners' participation in the implementation of UNDA, monitoring of progress and ensuring opportunities for periodic renewal and co-development of new priorities.

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has continued to implement An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, supporting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis groups, communities and peoples as they develop and implement their own laws and systems for delivering culturally-grounded child and family services. In 2025-2026, ISC continued to support implementation of the Act through the provision of capacity-building funding, coordination agreement discussions with First Nations, and financial resources for the implementation of Indigenous laws. As of March 31, 2026, ISC had supported jurisdictional development activities and preparations for coordination agreement discussions through 690 projects from 321 Indigenous recipients.

In December 2025, ISC published the 2024 Annual Report on Registration under the Indian Act, First Nations Membership and Status Cards highlighting continued efforts to reform registration processes and ensure full implementation of a suite of legislative amendments removing sex-based inequities from the registration provisions of the Indian Act. In 2025-2026, ISC continued to lead the Collaborative Process on the Second Generation Cut-Off and Section 10 Voting Thresholds, with the aim of addressing longstanding discriminatory provisions in registration and membership under the Indian Act.

Removing denial-of-service barriers and addressing jurisdictional and administrative gaps (Call for Justice 1.6)

Justice Canada's Administration of Justice Agreements continued to reduce jurisdictional gaps by creating pathways for Indigenous governments to exercise administration of justice authority in ways that are culturally grounded and responsive to community safety needs, including the needs of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. This initiative was supported by $1.7 million in 2025–2026.

Justice Canada's Family Information Liaison Units initiative remained a critical element of the federal government's response to the crisis of MMIWG2S+ people. For many family members, accessing information about their missing or murdered loved one has been difficult, given a variety of interconnected, systemic and structural barriers. Many families continue to have questions about police investigation or the decisions made by government agencies and criminal justice professionals, and may not know where to turn to get answers or may not be satisfied with the answers they have received. Working within provincial and territorial victim services frameworks, Family Information Liaison Units have served as "one-stop" information and support hubs that offer culturally safe services for families, wherever they are and for as long as they are needed. In 2025–2026, almost $7.4 million was committed for these provincial and territorial units' delivery, within a broader funding commitment of $37.3 million over 5 years and $7.5 million annually ongoing.

As part of ISC's efforts to address administrative gaps and barriers to access services related to registration under the Indian Act, the Trusted Source program invested in 38 partnerships with urban Indigenous organizations to provide expanded and culturally safe registration services across 65 service points. These partnerships support urban individuals' service needs and overcome some of the barriers that can prevent access to the essential services and benefits tied to registration.

Violence prevention, culturally safe systems, and funding Indigenous community capacity (Calls for Justice 1.8, 1.9)

ISC's Family Violence Prevention Program continued to advance community-based violence prevention by funding Indigenous-led shelters, transitional housing, awareness activities, workshops, support groups, and culturally grounded prevention programming across First Nations, Inuit, Métis, urban Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities. As of March 2026, the Family Violence Prevention Program has spent a total of $96.6 million in 2025-2026. This includes $56.1 million to support shelter operations, $700,000 to support shelter project development, and $39.8 million to programs and services for Indigenous people facing gender-based violence. These investments provide sustained support for Indigenous communities to deliver practical, culturally relevant prevention and healing initiatives.

Justice Canada's Indigenous Courtwork Program provided funding to help prevent further family disruption by supporting culturally competent justice system navigation, advocacy, and referrals to community-based supports for Indigenous families involved in family and child protection matters. In 2025–2026, $3 million was available to support the development and delivery of these services, by Indigenous service providers across participating jurisdictions. This funding strengthens early intervention and helps families access more culturally relevant and stable pathways through the justice system.

The Public Health Agency of Canada's Preventing and Addressing Family Violence program advanced public education and violence prevention by funding projects that develop, deliver and test health promotion projects, including Indigenous-focused interventions that equip children, youth, families, and service providers with practical tools to recognize violence, build safe relationships, and disrupt potential risk factors before they escalate. The Public Health Agency of Canada invested over $15 million in 2025-2026 to support family violence prevention, including support for Indigenous-focused projects. Together, these initiatives promote resilience, healthy relationships, and cultural connection. For example, the Public Health Agency of Canada is contributing $601,959 over 4 years (2024 to 2029) to support the Infinity Women Secretariat to explore and promote the use of Red River Métis culture in building healthy relationships among youth. The Public Health Agency of Canada is also contributing $1.66 million over 5 years (2024 to 2029) to Ilitaqsiniq to deliver family strengthening programs across Nunavut to prevent child maltreatment. The knowledge generated from these projects can inform future policy and public education efforts.

CIRNAC's Supporting Indigenous Women's and 2SLGBTQI+ Organizations program invested $7,578,803 in 33 active projects to support organizations so they could improve governance capabilities, undertake community engagement with Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, support Indigenous women leadership training and organizational leadership development, and culturally relevant prevention-related work.

This funding helps organizations plan over the longer term, retain expertise, and continue community-informed work that supports, safety, participation, and systemic change.

Indigenous-led media, broadcasting, storytelling and narrative change (Calls for Justice 2.3, 2.7)

Canadian Heritage invested $940,000 through the Canada Media Fund's Changing Narratives Fund in 2025–2026, with $457,722 (49%) supported three Indigenous projects. These projects included mentorship and training cohorts for Indigenous women and technical training in immersive and virtual production. One project supported five Indigenous women writers and producers while another supported 29 Indigenous creators.

Funding agreements were put in place to implement Changing Narratives in local journalism and in the Canada Periodical Fund, launched April 1, 2025. In addition, Canadian Heritage's Indigenous Screen Office Program continued to serve its mandate to foster narrative sovereignty and cultural revitalization by increasing Indigenous storytelling on screens and distributed $11.9 million to 222 projects. Canadian Heritage's Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting – Indigenous Languages Program invested $7.9 million to 22 recipients and almost half of the supported programming was produced and broadcast in Indigenous languages, supporting community access to language and cultural content across northern and remote contexts.

Revitalization and access to languages (Calls for Justice 2.2, 2.3)

Canadian Heritage continued to support the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act, notably through its Indigenous Languages Program which supports communities and organizations in reclaiming, revitalizing, maintaining and strengthening Indigenous languages. In 2025-2026, the program continued year three of distinctions-based funding models, allocating approximately:

• $46.9 million to First Nations Regionally Designated Organizations and the Cree Nation Government (within five-year agreements totaling approximately $230 million)
• $17.1 million to Inuit land-claim organizations (within five-year agreements totaling $92.1 million)
• $11.4 million to Métis Nation partners (within five-year agreements totaling $61.4 million)
• $6.1 million to multi-distinction and urban language initiatives through single- and multi-year agreements.

In 2025-2026, the federal government invested $3.5 billion in ISC's Elementary and Secondary Education Program, which funded 541 First Nations-administered education programs across Canada, supporting approximately 120,500 students ordinarily resident on-reserve to attend schools both on reserve and off reserve. The program provides, at a minimum, funding that is based on provincial funding formula methodologies, plus additional investments to address First Nations' unique circumstances, including funding for language and culture programming, full-day kindergarten for children aged four and five, before- and after-school programming, school food programming, and adult education. The program also supported First Nations in pursuing Regional Education Agreements as a key mechanism to advance self-determination and improve educational outcomes, resulting in the collective support of over 30,000 elementary and secondary students ordinarily resident on reserve across six provinces. As a result of this program, 94% of students in First Nations-administered schools received instruction in at least one First Nations language.

In 2025-2026, Employment and Social Development Canada's Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative delivered distinctions-based funding of $574.4 million (First Nations), $57.8 million (Inuit), and $194.4 million (Métis), under the guidance of approximately 60 Indigenous Early Learning Child Care National and Regional Partnership Tables, or through bilateral arrangements.

This partnership‑driven model supports a wide range of community‑identified Indigenous early learning and child care priorities including:

• governance and capacity building
• enhancements to programs and services
• infrastructure repairs and renovations
• continued strengthening of legacy programs

The remaining 2025-2026 Indigenous early learning and child care funding is dedicated to the Quality Improvement Projects fund that finances projects that foster innovation and quality improvement in Indigenous early learning and child care. Funding is also provided through the three Indigenous Early Learning and Childcare Legacy funding streams. In 2025-2026, $42 million was dedicated to the Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve program, $29 million to the Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities program, and $55 million to the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative.

Cultural heritage, records, repatriation, digitization and community-governed access (Calls for Justice 2.4, 2.5)

Canadian Heritage's Museums Assistance Program – Indigenous Heritage Component provided targeted support to Indigenous communities and organizations for preserving, presenting, and promoting Indigenous cultural heritage in museums and cultural institutions. Investments supported activities including developing Indigenous-led exhibits, research, educational programming and revitalizing cultural practices, that ensure Indigenous voices lead the interpretation of their own histories. In 2025-2026, the program supported 10 new repatriation-related projects totaling $819,080 and provided over $2.7 million to 44 Indigenous recipients across distinctions (including First Nations, Inuit, Métis, urban Indigenous, and multi-distinction organizations).

Rights alignment, anti-racism, and cultural safety in systems (Call for Justice 2.6)

Canadian Heritage continued to support the implementation of Changing Systems, Transforming Lives: Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy 2024-2028, to drive action in employment, justice and law enforcement, housing, healthcare and immigration systems. It also continued to support Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate, which addresses hate from multiple angles by supporting victims and survivors, helping communities prevent and respond to hate, strengthening research and data collection, increasing law enforcement resources, and raising public awareness. The federal government invested $273.6 million over six years (starting in 2024) for Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate, with an additional $29.3 million annually; $25.4 million over five years (starting in 2023) to the Anti-Racism Strategy; and $85 million over four years (starting in 2022) to the Action Plan and the Strategy.

Culturally safe access to health care and anti-Indigenous racism measures (Calls for Justice 3.1, 3.2, 3.6)

ISC continued leading the work to eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism in Canada's Health Systems and advance violence prevention through Indigenous-led, community-informed health programming that improves cultural safety, strengthens patient advocacy and navigation, and expands Indigenous midwifery and birth support services.

In 2025–2026, funding included:

• $10.5 million for health system navigators
• $2.8 million for patient advocates
• $12.35 million for midwives, doula and birth support workers
• $1.95 million for the Indigenous Women's Advisory Committee
• $900,000 for Indigenous health organizations

These investments help reduce harm in health systems and improve access to safer, culturally appropriate care for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

Health Canada's Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund invested $81 million to date, with an additional $10 million annually (2025–2026 to 2027–28) and $20 million per year ongoing. In 2025–2026, the fund allocated $12.6 million to 24 new projects in Quebec and $1.7 million was allocated to an additional six projects, all working to improve culturally relevant sexual and reproductive health information, navigation, and provider tools for Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Health Canada's Emergency Treatment Fund is supported by $150 million over three years (starting 2024–2025) and investments have expanded rapid responses to emergent needs in the substance use and overdose crisis. In 2025-2026, the Fund provided 50 Indigenous-focused projects with over $32 million in funding. The total number of Indigenous-focused projects that have received funding as of March 31, 2026, is 63 projects worth over $43 million.

Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program supported 19 Indigenous-focused and/or led projects, representing over $8 million in investments. In addition, broader federal investments include $144 million for the renewed Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy, with cumulative (2017-2026) Substance Use and Addictions Program investments of over $761.4 million to more than 470 projects.

Trauma-informed mental wellness and crisis supports (Calls for Justice 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5)

ISC's Mental Wellness Program continued to support access to mental health and wellness supports. Service delivery includes a national network of an estimated 1,000 community-based Cultural and Emotional Support Workers through over 265 funding agreements, and 24/7 crisis line services, including the Hope for Wellness Helpline and crisis lines for Survivors and families impacted by the MMIWG2S+ crisis and Indian Residential Schools and Day Schools and other colonial sources of trauma.

Canadian Heritage's Stream Three — Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities invested $2.5 million to 42 projects, included a number of funded projects that explicitly include safe, inclusive programming for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people and incorporate culturally grounded wellness activities. For instance, $40,000 supported the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan's Coaches Mentorship Program and its associated Female and Gender Diverse Camps, and $60,000 supported Minwaashin Lodge: Indigenous Women's Support Centre's land-based healing and cultural empowerment program.

Justice Canada's Community Support and Healing for Families initiative invested $20 million over five years (starting in 2023), with $4.15 million annually, to sustain and expand the initiative to increase the availability of community-based supports and services for families of all missing and murdered Indigenous people, including men and boys. In 2025-2026, $4.4 million supported 27 Indigenous-led projects across regions, and as well as the launch of a Community of Practice intended to strengthen shared learning across projects.

Determinants of health, including food security, housing, and early learning (Call for Justice 3.1)

CIRNAC's Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund is supported by a $120.7 million commitment over three years (2024–2027), including $8 million in permanent annual support. Outcomes include support to more than 15,000 harvesters, over 700 food-sharing initiatives, and 400 community hunts and harvests across 112 remote communities, in partnership with 24 Indigenous governments and organizations.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada continued to support the Local Food Infrastructure Fund's Indigenous-led food production, harvesting, storage, and distribution projects that improve access to nutritious and culturally relevant food. To date in 2025–2026, the Local Food Infrastructure Fund approved $30.4 million over two years to 237 projects, including approximately $18.7 million for 118 Indigenous projects.

As part of the implementation of the Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy and the National Housing Strategy, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation supports the construction of new shelters and transitional housing through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative. This initiative allocated $420 million in program dollars towards the construction of shelters and transitional homes through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. As of March 31, 2026, approximately $395.97 million has been committed toward the construction of 38 new shelters and 42 transitional homes, and funds had been used to ensure Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQI+ people have access to these essential supports and services.

Employment and Social Development Canada's Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative delivered distinctions-based funding, with guidance from approximately 60 Indigenous Early Learning Child Care National and Regional Partnership Tables and bilateral relationships. Funding is also provided through the three Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Legacy funding streams. In 2025-2026, legacy investments included $42 million to the Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve program, $29 million to the Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities program, and $55 million to the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative.

Housing stability, urban Indigenous service delivery, and homelessness system responses (Calls for Justice 4.1, 4.7)

Launched in 2017, the National Housing Strategy is a long-term initiative that contributes toward addressing the unique needs of Indigenous peoples through a human rights-based approach to housing and with program investments address barriers (for example, overcrowding and substandard housing) that have historically marginalized Indigenous populations. Through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation-led programs, funding for new construction and repairs has been prioritized for Indigenous communities, in addition to other supports for homeownership assistance, rental subsidies, and energy-efficient housing solutions. Investments as of December 31, 2025, included $200 million to the Canada Community Housing Initiative to support 7,000 units in the existing urban Indigenous community housing stock to ensure continued availability to low-income households, as well as $300 million through Northern Funding as part of the $606.6 million federal-territorial joint investment delivered by Territories under the National Housing Strategy Bilateral Agreements.

Funded by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, the Action Research on Chronic Homelessness initiative continued to work as a strategic, community-based effort aimed at helping to prevent and reduce chronic homelessness, including Indigenous homelessness. Recognizing that Indigenous Peoples experience homelessness at disproportionately high rates due to historical and systemic marginalization, the Action Research on Chronic Homelessness initiative prioritized collaboration, system alignment, data enhancement and sharing, and culturally appropriate Indigenous supports. In 2025-2026, $420,774 was committed to support the completion of three projects.

Supporting and resourcing Indigenous-led shelters, transitional housing, and wraparound supports for people fleeing violence (Call for Justice 4.7)

Referenced earlier in relation to Call for Justice 3.1, the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and ISC, funded Indigenous-led and culturally relevant emergency shelter and transitional housing. Additional investments are provided by ISC to provide enhanced services and culturally relevant violence prevention services.

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada's Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy's Indigenous Homelessness stream and Distinctions-based Approaches stream received $111.6 million and $45.9 million respectively in 2025-2026. Reaching Home provides dedicated funding for culturally appropriate services to prevent and reduce Indigenous homelessness, including addressing critical infrastructure gaps and supporting access to critical economic, social and community integration services that connect individuals and families to income benefits, financial assistance, employment services, education and training programs, as well as to Indigenous Elders, culture and language.

Victim services and safety supports, including for people with lived experience in the sex industry (Call for Justice 4.3)

Justice Canada's Supporting Indigenous Victims of Crime initiative supported and expanded the development of culturally relevant supports designed and delivered in partnership with those who have lived experience. In 2025–2026, the initiative continued funding in support of 44 projects led or jointly-led by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis organizations, including programs that develop community-based trauma-informed models or promote the safety and security of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ persons engaged in the sex industry. This work has been supported by an investment of $38.6 million over five years with $8 million ongoing, and in 2025–2026, just over $7.1 million was allocated to support Indigenous-led approaches for victims and survivors of crime.

Education, training, and employment supports to strengthen economic security (Call for Justice 4.4)

ISC's First Nations Post-Secondary Education Strategy provided $474.5 million in 2025-2026 to support First Nations students through direct financial assistance for tuition, living expenses, and travel, and to support First Nations-led post-secondary education institutions and First Nations partnerships with institutions, expanding access to community-based culturally relevant programming and enabling more learners to access and succeed in post-secondary education.

Working in parallel, ISC's Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy allocated approximately $14.4 million in 2025-2026 to support improved access to post-secondary education for Inuit students through Inuit-led design and regionally delivered supports, including direct financial assistance, wraparound programs and services, as well as community engagement initiatives, all designed to enhance the accessibility of post-secondary education.

Finally, ISC's Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategy provided approximately $39.8 million in 2025-2026 to enhance access to post-secondary education for Métis Nation students' by addressing financial barriers through direct financial assistance, supporting student services, and strengthening Métis Nation education governance.

ISC's First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy operated the First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program that supported initiatives that help First Nations and Inuit youth acquire essential employability and job-related skills, learn about job and career options and prepare for employment and career development. The First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy also includes the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program and supported initiatives to help First Nations and Inuit youth acquire skills, prepare for full-time employment and earn income to support post-secondary education, through summer work experiences. Combined, the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy funds 300 recipients and provides over 5,530 opportunities for First Nations and Inuit youth annually.

Housing construction, repairs, and community infrastructure to reduce overcrowding and housing insecurity (Calls for Justice 4.1, 4.6)

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada's Housing Infrastructure Fund recognizes the unique nature of infrastructure and housing needs in Indigenous communities and was designed to support Indigenous applicants through specialized and flexible eligibility requirements. In 2025-2026, over $52 million was invested in First Nations and Inuit led programs, including:

• the Michipicoten First Nation Water Treatment Plan upgrades
• the Curve Lake First Nation Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System project
• a collaborative land development project in Iqaluit, Nunavut

The fund invested in modernized, expanded, improved critical housing-enabling infrastructure projects that serve the social and economic needs of Indigenous Peoples and their communities through better living conditions, safe drinking water, and essential waste management services.

Safe transportation and mobility for remote and rural communities (Call for Justice 4.8)

Transport Canada's Remote Passenger Rail Program invested $13.026 million for Keewatin Railway Company (capital improvements and maintenance), $17.4 million to Tshiuetin Rail Company (operational and capital supports), and $25 million to Arctic Gateway Group (Hudson Bay Railway), and supported safe, reliable travel that reduced reliance on high-risk transportation conditions linked to trafficking and violence risk factors.

Indigenous-led justice systems and systemic reform implementation (Call for Justice 5.1)

Justice Canada began a phased approach to early implementation of the Indigenous Justice Strategy, through existing justice-focused collaborative tables, with the objective of advancing priority-setting and developing regional costed implementation plans. The strategy creates space for revitalization of Indigenous laws, legal systems and legal institutions, community-based justice programs, diversion initiatives and restorative approaches that reflect the unique needs of Indigenous people. Justice Canada's role in supporting administration of justice negotiations ensures that community-identified priorities guide the development of legal systems that reflect Indigenous legal orders and traditions.

Criminal law reform (Calls for Justice 1.5, 1.9, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.19)

On December 9, 2025, the Government of Canada introduced significant reforms to Canada's Criminal Code and other pieces of legislation through Bill C-16, Protecting Victims Act. Bill C-16 proposes changes to enhance victims' rights and strengthen the criminal justice system's response to gender-based violence, in particular intimate partner violence and sexual offending, and offending against children. Proposed reforms include: making murder motivated by hate first-degree, including femicide even where it is not planned and deliberate; criminalizing coercive control; prohibiting the non-consensual distribution of sexually explicit deepfakes; and increasing penalties for the distribution of intimate images without consent, sexual assault on summary conviction, voyeurism, and obtaining sexual services from a child. The reforms proposed in Bill C-16 reflect the government's continued and ongoing commitment to end gender-based violence, including against Indigenous women and girls. Development of the Bill was informed by recommendations from several reports and studies, including the Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry into MMIWG2S+, and input from Indigenous partners.

Indigenous policing governance, resourcing, and operational capacity (Call for Justice 5.5)

Public Safety Canada continued work to reform the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program so that it better reflects the needs of First Nations and Inuit communities. In 2025-2026, the department invested close to $393 million to support culturally appropriate policing services, through 104 cost-sharing agreements with provinces and territories.

Public Safety Canada also supported policing facilities through the First Nations and Inuit Policing Facilities Program, providing funding for infrastructure builds, acquisitions, repairs and renovations to ensure that Indigenous police services can operate in stable, safe and culturally appropriate facilities. In 2025–2026, $97,350,000 supported this work, and two new projects received $8,883,355 in funding and 13 ongoing projects received $31,633,295 in funding. These projects included two new builds in Alberta for Lakeshore Regional Police Service and Tsuut'ina Nation Police Service. Additionally, one continuing project in Alberta supported a new build for the Blood Tribe Police Service, and twelve other projects across Ontario and Québec are continuing – mainly supporting the construction of new policing infrastructure/detachment.

Community safety prevention and community-defined planning (Calls for Justice 5.5 roman numeral 1i, 5.5 roman numeral 4iv)

Public Safety Canada's Aboriginal Community Safety Planning Initiative supported Indigenous communities to develop Community Safety Plans and implement community-designed safety projects. In 2025-26, this initiative worked with Indigenous communities across Canada to complete safety planning supported by facilitator-guided workshops and knowledge sharing across communities. Of these communities, 11 submitted completed Community Safety Plans within the fiscal year, and 35 processes remain ongoing.

To increase high-speed Internet access and improve cellular coverage in rural and remote communities, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada has been delivering the Universal Broadband Fund, a $3.225 billion initiative. The program includes specific provisions for Indigenous communities. In 2025–2026, funding was announced for 11 broadband and two mobile projects to improve connectivity in Indigenous communities, bringing high-speed internet to over 6,000 Indigenous households in British Columbia and Saskatchewan and improving mobile coverage along 122 km of highway surrounding Indigenous communities in British Columbia.

Victim and survivor access to justice and culturally grounded navigation supports (Calls for Justice 5.6, 5.11)

As mentioned under Calls for Justice 4.1 to 4.8, Justice Canada advanced the Supporting Indigenous Victims of Crime Initiative which seeks to increase access to Indigenous-led, culturally safe, survivor-centered services and supports, at the community level, for Indigenous people who are victims and survivors of crime. It also supports activities that strengthen partnerships between Indigenous agencies, justice sector agencies, and all levels of government, to identify and design actions, practices and initiatives within the justice system (including policing, courts, and victim services) to reduce the harm that Indigenous victims and survivors experience when in contact with the system, while also strengthening victims' rights.

As highlighted in the Calls for Justice 3.2 to 3.5 section, Justice Canada expanded support for the Community Support and Healing for Families Initiative, which supports the work of Indigenous community agencies and governments to increase access to community led healing spaces and culturally grounded support networks that help families navigate their grief, loss, and trauma.

As highlighted in the Calls for Justice 1.1 to 1.11 section, Justice Canada's Family Information Liaison Units initiative remained a critical element of Canada's work to offer support for families and survivors, focused on ensuring that family members have access to all the available information they are seeking about their loved ones, including information from justice sector institutions such as police, prosecutions, coroners, child protection, and correctional services, while ensuring families are connected with culturally grounded supports and community resources to help them on their healing journeys.

Funded through the Indigenous Courtwork Program, Justice Canada provided Indigenous Family Courtwork Services that include culturally competent justice system navigation, early intervention, and advocacy for Indigenous people involved in family and child protection proceedings. In 2025–2026, the program operated in all provinces and territories and reached more than 80,000 clients, and $3 million was available to support Indigenous families involved in family and/or child protection justice systems.

Fair process, legal representation, and Indigenous-led community-based justice options (Calls for Justice 5.13, 5.16, 5.22)

Justice Canada's Criminal Legal Aid initiative received investments in 2024 of $440 million over five years (starting in 2024–2025), in addition to ongoing funding of $142.4 million per year. Within this allocation, $90 million was earmarked for 2025–2026 to continue supporting delivery of criminal legal aid services, including for Indigenous Peoples facing systemic barriers and overrepresentation.

Justice Canada's Indigenous Justice Program provided core funding to over 211 Indigenous-led community justice programs delivering diversion, restorative justice, mediation, and reintegration supports grounded in Indigenous laws and values, including $26.9 million over five years and $5.4 million ongoing supporting continuity and capacity for community-based justice services. Some examples of IJP community-based justice programs include:

• the Tsuu'tina Nation in Alberta who provides Peacemaker services to the Tsuu'tina Peacemaker court on-reserve
• the Mi'kmaw Legal Support Network in Nova Scotia that promotes prevention, provides diversion services referred by provincial courts or Indigenous court workers, communities and provide sentencing circles
• the Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services Society in British Columbia that delivers prevention

Correctional Service Canada launched revitalized Women-Centered Training in July 2025, grounded in the five Creating Choices principles. The updated training reflects a more trauma-informed, gender responsive approach, equipping staff to apply women centred practices in their respective roles while supporting the successful reintegration of federally sentenced women. Training of staff will continue and will include all new staff as they are identified.

Gladue implementation and post-sentence Gladue aftercare (Call for Justice 5.15)

Justice Canada continued funding to support the implementation of Gladue Principles, by providing $3.5 million annually through the Indigenous Courtwork Program for the community-led development and delivery of Gladue reports in every province and territory. In addition, in 2025–2026, the Indigenous Justice Program continued to fund 48 programs delivering Gladue aftercare services across Canada, supporting clients in meeting sentence conditions and implementing recommendations from Gladue reports.

Indigenous-led and culturally grounded data systems (Call for Justice 5.24)

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada continue to support Indigenous-led research through the Indigenous-led Data Research Projects Program. In 2025-2026, over $1.5 million was allocated to support 12 existing multi-year projects focused on developing culturally grounded safety indicators and methodologies that reflect Indigenous worldviews. This included $175,000 in continued funding for a multi-year initiative specifically focused on Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Statistics Canada continued to advance its Disaggregated Data Action Plan, supporting Calls for Justice 5.24 by improving the availability of data disaggregated by identity, gender, geography, and other social factors. This work helps demonstrate the distinct experiences of Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and the barriers they may face within institutions such as policing and the justice system. Updates to Statistics Canada's Uniform Crime Reporting Survey in 2025-2026 further support Calls for Justice 5.24 by strengthening the collection of Indigenous and racialized identity data in police-reported crimes, improving transparency, accountability, and identification of systemic bias in policing. On July 16, 2025, following endorsement by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Statistics Canada released two additional reports outlining the Operational Guidelines and Analytical Framework for collecting this data.

Indigenous-led cultural safety, navigation, and anti-racism measures in health systems (Call for Justice 7.1)

ISC's Addressing Anti-Indigenous Racism in Canada's Health Systems continued to support Indigenous partners and health organizations to deliver Indigenous-led, community-informed approaches that improve cultural and patient safety and expand navigator and patient advocate roles, including some supports delivered in Indigenous languages. Investments were structured to support health system navigators, patient advocates, Indigenous health human resources, and national Indigenous health organizations.

Revitalization of Indigenous midwifery and birth practices (Call for Justice 7.4)

ISC's Addressing Anti-Indigenous Racism in Health System's initiative also supported midwifery initiatives included work led by Indigenous midwives, communities, and advocates to restore Indigenous birth practices, including the National Council of Indigenous Midwives' Indigenous Midwifery Education Framework. Thirteen Indigenous midwifery students in eight communities were completing education while living and working in their Nations and Sturgeon Lake First Nation completed construction of a standalone birthing centre expected to open in spring 2026. Métis-specific midwifery and doula initiatives continued, alongside Saskatchewan's network of Indigenous birth support workers to provide one-on-one advocacy and referrals during hospital births, and work toward a community-based midwifery program and birth lodge in Canoe Lake.

Trauma-informed mental wellness supports for those impacted by the MMIWG2S+ crisis and other colonial harms (Call for Justice 7.2)

ISC's Mental Wellness Program continued to provide immediate, trauma-informed, culturally appropriate supports, including suicide prevention and life promotion initiatives, crisis response services, and culturally grounded substance use prevention and treatment. This included continued support for a suite of services:

• flexible funding for community-based mental wellness services
• 24/7 crisis line services
• trauma-informed mental health, emotional, and cultural support for Indigenous people impacted by MMIWG, survivors and intergenerational survivors of Indian Residential Schools and Federal Indian Day Schools, class members and potential class members of First Nations, Child and Family Services, and Jordan's Principle Settlement Agreement, and other colonial sources of trauma

In addition, in 2025-2026, ISC funded a national network of community-based Cultural and Emotional Support Workers as well as mobile multidisciplinary Mental Wellness Teams that provided services to communities across the nation. Mental wellness funding provided communities with the flexibility to tailor programming to their unique cultural and linguistic priorities and needs.

Suicide prevention, crisis response, and community-based prevention (Call for Justice 7.3)

The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to support the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline, available across the country 24/7/365. Since launching in 2023, 9-8-8 has answered more than 850,000 calls and texts. In some parts of the country, callers to 9-8-8 can choose to be connected to the Hope for Wellness Helpline, a national service funded by ISC that is available to all First Nations, Inuit and Métis people across Canada, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hope for Wellness offers support in English and in French, as well as Cree, Ojibwe (Anishinaabemowin), and Inuktitut upon request.

Public Health Agency of Canada's HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund and Harm Reduction Fund investments supported community prevention capacity, stigma reduction in systems of care, and culturally safe sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections service access. On an annual basis, the Community Action Fund invests $26.4 million, and the Harm Reduction Fund invests $7 million to fund the work of 160 five-year projects.

Violence prevention and safer service pathways linked to health and wellbeing (Call for Justice 7.3)

ISC's Family Violence Prevention Program supported over 400 community-driven prevention projects in 2025–2026 (for example, outreach, awareness campaigns, workshops, support groups, and land-based programming), alongside distinctions-based partners including Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada and Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak. This program funded Indigenous-led initiatives aimed at increasing awareness, and addressing the root causes of family violence.

The Public Health Agency of Canada's Preventing Family Violence Program reached over 1,270 Indigenous children, youth and families, funded Indigenous-focused prevention projects (including culturally grounded healthy relationship programming, dating violence prevention for Inuit youth with disabilities, and family strengthening programs), and investing $18 million in 2025–2026 and over $14 million per year ongoing.

Specialized, culturally grounded treatment closer to home and in Indigenous languages (Call for Justice 7.5)

Supported and co-funded by ISC, and led by the Government of Nunavut, Aqqusariaq (formerly known as the Nunavut Recovery Center) is being constructed (with an anticipated operational start in fall 2026), to provide in-territory substance use treatment and trauma healing grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles, with services offered in Inuit languages when possible. By integrating traditional knowledge with clinical interventions, Aqqusariaq aims to transform the way substance use and trauma are treated in Nunavut and to reinforce community-based, on-the-land healing connections. The federal government committed $47.5 million over five years for design and construction, and $9.7 million ongoing for the operations of programs and services. In 2025–2026, $12,088,400 in funding for programs and services was provided to the Government of Nunavut.

Indigenous health workforce and training capacity (Calls for Justice 7.6, 7.7, 7.8)

Health Canada funded work of the National Circle for Indigenous Medical Education ($4.6 million agreement over three years) which included development and piloting of cultural safety and anti-racism learning products, including the Anti-Indigenous Racism 101 course, alongside leadership development programming for Indigenous physicians. These trainings aimed to advance Indigenous-led systemic change in medical education and support physicians with the ability to acknowledge, respect, and protect Indigenous peoples' rights to culture and languages as inherent rights.

While ISC's Addressing Anti-Indigenous Racism in Canada's Health Systems initiative has been highlighted in relation Call for Justice 7.1, it also contributes to advancing Calls for Justice related to strengthening Indigenous representation across all levels of the health care system, by supporting the recruitment, retention, and advancement of Indigenous professionals within health systems, and by providing mentorship programs, education pathways, and workplace transformation.

RCMP reconciliation and institutional transformation (Calls for Justice 9.1, 9.2 roman numeral 2i, 9.2 roman numeral 4iv)

The 2025-2026 launch of the RCMP's Positive Space Initiative represented a significant institutional step toward transparency, accountability, and reconciliation with 2SLGBTQI+ communities. It operationalizes multiple Police Services Calls for Justice by:

1. acknowledging historical harms
2. embedding anti-discrimination learning and policy change
3. improving representation and workplace safety
4. setting a precedent for other law-enforcement bodies to address systemic violence through public accountability and inclusive reform

Community-defined tools to support locally informed, distinctions-based policing (Calls for Justice 9.2, 9.5)

The RCMP continued the development of Community Profiles to enable communities to define what police should know about local culture, language, and traditions, and advanced work toward national consistency while maintaining community specificity. In 2025–2026, a national template entered review (with internal and external partners) and was positioned for piloting in two RCMP Divisions.

The RCMP's Contract and Indigenous Policing business line, has also developed two national trauma-informed guides: one for families of homicide victims and one for families of missing persons. Both guides were released in September 2025 as part of the 30 Days of Action, and the Commissioner sent a letter to all police chiefs across Canada to inform them of these new tools. Both guides provide trauma-informed, plain-language explanations of investigative timelines, roles, responsibilities, and available supports. They were developed in direct response to the testimony of families during the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and address concerns related to lack of information from police, confusion about the criminal justice system, and jurisdictional complexity. While authored by the RCMP, the guides are not agency-specific and are intended for use by all police and victim services across Canada, including Indigenous-administered police services. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police co-sponsored the guides and formally endorsed their use.

Standardized investigative standards, national coordination, and cross-jurisdictional tools for missing persons and complex cases (Call for Justice 9.5)

The RCMP's National Office of Investigative Standards and Practices (National Office) continued to provide national oversight and guidance to Divisions on major and complex investigations, including those involving Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. In 2025–2026, the National Office sustained Corporal-level positions in F and K Divisions (Saskatchewan and Alberta, respectively) to support continuity on MMIWG-related files, and through its Investigative Genetic Genealogy Technique program began a proof-of-concept to advance otherwise unsolved homicide files.

The RCMP's National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains continued delivery of centralized supports (including national databases), and advanced trauma-informed practice through a Missing Person Return Support Discussion pilot informed by consultation with Indigenous scholars, communities, and policing partners. In 2025–2026, the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains co-hosted a national symposium to strengthen investigative collaboration and approaches for missing persons and vulnerable populations, including Indigenous people and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

The RCMP continued maintaining the Violent Crimes Linkage Analysis System (ViCLAS) as a national-level violent-crime reporting mechanism that provides a unified platform for law enforcement agencies to share and analyze data and supports consistency in how files are investigated across jurisdictions. In 2025-2026, ViCLAS training (15-day course) was provided, in collaboration with the Canadian Police College, in-person to analysts at ViCLAS centers, and included training on the use of ViCLAS software.

Statistics Canada advanced work on a national approach to Missing Persons Data Standards, including collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police committees to develop a framework for national-level indicators and to move toward recommended national standards. To support this, the project explored a pathway that looks at the key touchpoints where data on missing persons moves across police-based information systems on a national-level.

In 2025-2026, the Missing Persons Data Standards project worked to finalize recommendations for national-level data standards for missing persons at the microdata and aggregate levels. The Missing Persons Data Standards project worked in partnership with Public Safety Canada on a collaborative project led by CanOps to develop national-level data standards on the incidents of ground search and rescue. The scope of these initiatives are closely aligned and considered to be complementary sources of information on missing persons.

Family-facing communication supports and Indigenous-led public alert approaches (Call for Justice 9.3 roman numeral 2ii, 9.5 roman numeral 2ii, 9.5 roman numeral 7vii)

During the 30 Days of Action in September 2025, the RCMP released the English and French Guides for Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons with the aim of providing trauma-informed, plain-language information for families navigating investigative and justice processes. The Guides have been translated into 5 Indigenous and 5 non-Indigenous languages, which will be formatted and released as they are ready.

CIRNAC, Manitoba, and Giganawenimaanaanig continued to advance the Red Dress Alert Pilot Project. In 2025–2026, Giganawenimaanaanig released What We Heard: Manitoba-Wide Red Dress Alert System Pilot Project (PDF) and outlined a recommended path forward (PDF), with federal analysis underway.

Independent oversight and systemic review of RCMP practices (Call for Justice 9.2 roman numeral 2i)

Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP continued its systemic investigation of the British Columbia RCMP's Community-Industry Response Group (note: the Community-Industry Response Group has been renamed the Critical Response Unit – British Columbia). This investigation examined the governance, structure and operations of the Community-Industry Response Group, as well as RCMP policies, procedures, guidelines and training. In 2025-2026, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP completed its review of materials from the RCMP, and conducted final interviews with RCMP members and program areas.

Mandatory training and professional standards to strengthen cultural safety, anti-racism and anti-sexism (Calls for Justice 9.2 roman numeral 4iv, 9.3 roman numeral 5v)

The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP continued to respond to Call for Justice 9.2 roman numeral 4iv and provide Indigenous awareness training and education to its staff. As a means of ensuring transformational systemic change over time, the training is mandatory and has been integrated into all employees' performance management plans. In 2025-2026, employees participated in various activities, including an educational walking tour of downtown Ottawa with Indigenous Walks Ottawa, a demonstration on Ojibwe Spirit horses at Mādahòkì Farm, and training courses offered by the Canada School of Public Service. Additionally, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP launched an Indigenous Relations Speaker Series, featuring presenters on diverse Indigenous-related issues.

The RCMP's Intercultural Learning Strategy mandatory learning products continued to be implemented and tracked, including the Uniting Against Racism course (90.3% completion as of November 1, 2025), the Cultural Awareness and Humility course (93.5% completion as of November 1, 2025) and the Cultivating Equitable and Unbiased Policing course.

Indigenous-led jurisdiction over child welfare, governance, and service design

As discussed under Calls for Justice 1.1 to 1.11, ISC continued to lead the work on the implementation of An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, and as of March 2026, there were 15 signed coordination agreements (14 with First Nations and one with an Inuit governing body), with 23 active discussion tables. Funding to implement the act continued to be supported through multiple federal budget allocations, including $1.8 billion over 11 years (ending in 2035).

Prevention, family preservation, and addressing poverty and cultural bias as drivers of apprehension (Call for Justice 12.4)

As highlighted in the Calls for Justice 4.1 to 4.8 section, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada Action Research on Chronic Homelessness's findings were shared as Community Snapshots and practical tools on the Homelessness Learning Hub. The initiative's Sudbury project continued to explore ways of improving systems alignment with the child welfare system and outcomes for Indigenous youth. The Sudbury project worked towards creation of the Emerging Adult Services for Empowerment Network, a network for key organizations that interact with youth transitioning out of child welfare, and piloted the Growing Response Analytics on Child-Welfare Exists Database in Homeless Individuals and Families Information System.

The Public Health Agency of Canada's Canadian Child Welfare Information System initiative continued to work in partnership with the Nunatsiavut Government on a pilot project using Newfoundland and Labrador data to compare out-of-home care rates among Inuit and non-Indigenous children and to document how Inuit research principles shaped the work. This initiative strengthens the evidence base needed to identify inequities and cultural bias in child welfare, and the work is supported through existing Public Health Agency of Canada resources.

ISC renewed the Inuit Child First Initiative and continued co-developing a long-term Inuit-specific approach with Inuit partners so Inuit children can access needed health, social, and educational supports before unmet needs contribute to child welfare involvement. On February 19, 2026, the federal government announced $115 million to renew funding for the Inuit Child First Initiative until March 31, 2027.

ISC's First Nations Child and Family Services program continued to require that all services funded through the program uphold the principles and minimum standards set out in An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, including the principles of the best interests of the child, cultural continuity, and substantive equality. The program continued delivering culturally grounded prevention and protection services, post-majority supports, and First Nations Representative Services, while also engaging partners on program reform and transition planning in Ontario. These measures help reduce apprehensions by addressing structural drivers such as poverty, housing instability, and intergenerational trauma.

Post-majority supports for youth "aging out" of the child welfare system and representative services for children, youth, and families (Call for Justice 12.11)

As referenced in relation to Call for Justice 12.4, ISC's First Nations Child and Family Services program also advanced Call for Justice 12.11 by funding post-majority support services to youth formerly in care, up to the age of 26 or to the age as defined in provincial or Yukon legislation, whichever is greater. These services are designed to help young adults transition to independence and stability by addressing critical needs such as housing, food security, education, employment, mental health, addiction support, and healthy relationships. By offering these supports, the program recognizes that the impacts of care and trauma do not end at the age of majority and aims to reduce the risks of homelessness, exploitation, and continued marginalization. Youth benefit from extended, culturally grounded supports that help them reclaim agency over their futures, while communities are better able to support youth in healing, reconnecting with culture and family, and contributing to community life. This approach fosters long-term safety, resilience, and self-determination for young adults as they move into adulthood.

Substantive equality in access to services for children and addressing jurisdictional gaps (Call for Justice 12.10)

ISC's Jordan's Principle continued to work to prevent gaps, delays, or denials in access to services for First Nations children. In 2025–2026, the Government of Canada announced that it is implementing new ways to process Jordan's Principle requests with the intention of providing greater clarity and consistency related to the services available to First Nations children. These changes reflect Canada's commitment to the long-term sustainability of Jordan's Principle, and the Government of Canada continues to work alongside the Parties to the complaint before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to advance resolution and to fully implement Jordan's Principle. Incremental funding announced in March 2025 increased total in-year Jordan's Principle funding for 2025–2026 to $1.8 billion.

Policy and regulatory tools to strengthen prevention and mitigation in major projects (Calls for Justice 13.1-13.5)

In 2025–2026, Natural Resources Canada continued advancing work under UNDA Shared Priority Measure 12 to establish a senior management committee to lead a coordinated federal government approach to MMIWG2S+ in resource development. The Department also engaged Indigenous and federal partners relating to Calls for Justice 13.1-13.5 to strengthen strategic partnerships to gain insights with a view of developing practical tools and supports that respond to heightened concerns about major project acceleration and associated risks (including trafficking and gender-based violence) along major project corridors. In addition, Natural Resources Canada established the MMIWG2S+ in Resource Development Regulatory Working Group and began developing a compendium of community-identified promising practices intended to provide project proponents and investors with Indigenous-informed guidance to reduce harms across the project lifecycle and strengthen implementation of Calls for Justice related to safety provisions and equitable benefits.

Enhancing Indigenous oversight, research and knowledge translation in large-scale infrastructure projects (Calls for Justice 13.1, 13.2, 13.4)

The Socio-Economic Subcommittee and the Circle on MMIWG2S+ and Resource Development associated with the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and Existing Line continues to support Indigenous involvement in oversight, undertake research and knowledge translation activities, and provide advice to regulators and federal partners focused on community safety and other socio-economic impacts linked to major projects. In 2025-2026, nine subcommittee meetings, one Alberta youth training pilot event, one Wise Practices event and three Circle gatherings took place to support this work. The federal government committed $44 million over three years (2024–2027) to Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committees for Energy Infrastructure Projects, and in 2025–2026, $7.9 million in grants and contributions was allocated to Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and Existing Line, including $544,870 directed specifically to the Socio-Economic Subcommittee.

Targeted investments to expand service capacity and social infrastructure in and around development pressures (Call for Justice 13.5)

ISC supported First Nations health infrastructure to strengthen service capacity in communities, including in areas where development pressures intersect with health risks. As of September 5, 2025, $100.3 million had been invested in the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority Hospital Redevelopment Project and the Saskatchewan Virtual Health Hub. These investments support improvements to health service delivery and community capacity to deliver services such as mental health supports, emergency response, and monitoring services in contexts affected by development pressures.

Applied research and Northern-led evidence-building relevant to development pressures (Call for Justice 13.5)

The National Research Council's Arctic and Northern Challenge Program advanced Northern-led applied research priorities through its final call for proposals in 2025 and an agreement and contracting phase for selected projects (with planned launches in 2026–2027). The program provided approximately $1.4 million during 2025–2026 for research project collaboration.

Expanding community-based decarceration and reintegration options (Calls for Justice 14.1,14.2)

CSC continued exploring new section 81 agreements with Indigenous communities and organizations, strengthened processes for transfers to section 81 facilities and Healing Lodges, advanced a section 84 Release Planning Kit for communities, and supported Indigenous-led reintegration services through the Community Reintegration Fund, backed by $3.5 million in ongoing funding.

Improving culturally grounded, trauma-informed programming for Indigenous women (Calls for Justice 14.6, 14.8, 14.10)

CSC launched the Indigenous Women Offender Correctional Program Pilot in August 2025, with implementation underway at three of six sites. The pilot incorporates updated materials developed with guidance from an Elders' Advisory Committee and ongoing feedback from federally sentenced Indigenous women and Elders, reflecting progress toward programming that is more responsive to Indigenous women's realities, healing needs, and rehabilitation pathways.

Beginning to address systemic barriers in classification, case management, and correctional decision-making (Calls for Justice 14.3, 14.4, 14.5)

CSC continued research and engagement with Indigenous partners to improve security assessment and classification processes for federally sentenced Indigenous individuals, established the re-Search Advisory Council of the People of the Land, drafted an interim policy bulletin requiring case conferences at least every six months for women classified as maximum security, and issued guidance reminding staff to incorporate Indigenous Social History, mental health considerations, and victim concerns into decision-making.

Strengthening healing, mental health, family, and community supports (Calls for Justice 14.6,14.11)

CSC continued to deliver Elder-driven, trauma-informed correctional programming for Indigenous women, provided $43,000 in reintegration support funding to Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge to enhance work release coordination, continued implementation of improvements to the Mother-Child Program following its 2025 audit, and consulted incarcerated and formerly incarcerated Indigenous women, on changes needed to better support mothers and children. CSC also continued to review community-based residential capacity and alternatives to suspension, including temporary voluntary residency and other culturally relevant options.

Public Safety Canada's Indigenous Community Corrections Initiative continued working with successful applicants from the 2023-2024 call for proposals to implement their reintegration and alternatives to incarceration projects, entering into nine contribution agreements in fiscal year 2025-2026.

Advancing distinctions-based approaches, Elder participation, education, and safer institutional practices (Calls for Justice 14.8, 14.9, 14.10, 14.13)

Through the Anijaarniq Holistic Inuit Strategy, CSC continued to strengthen Inuit-specific pathways, including Inuit Cultural Awareness training, Elder and Spiritual Advisor supports, and community engagement linked to section 81 and 84 development. CSC also continued to expand education, employability, and vocational supports, including through the National Employability Skills Program, which was completed by 74 Indigenous women between April 2024 and September 2025. In parallel, CSC continued implementation of body scanner technology, with 11 operational scanners planned by the end of 2025–2026, including three in women offender institutions, as a less intrusive alternative to routine strip-searches where conditions permit.