Summary of the Evaluation of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Program 2014-15 to 2018-19

Evaluation Services Directorate
May 10, 2022

On this page

• List of acronyms and abbreviations
• Overview
• Findings
  • Relevance
  • Effectiveness
  • Efficiency
• Recommendations

Alternate format

List of acronyms and abbreviations

PCH

Canadian Heritage

APP

Aboriginal Peoples’ Program

NAB

Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting

ALI

Aboriginal Languages Initiative

Overview

The Aboriginal Peoples’ Program (APP) aimed to contribute to the preservation, promotion and revitalization of Indigenous languages and cultures in Canada.

The evaluation examined the APP's relevance, effectiveness and efficiency from 2014-15 to 2018-19.

Following the enactment of the Indigenous Languages Act in 2019, the APP was renamed the Indigenous Languages and Culture Program. This change occurred after the period of this evaluation.

The APP had three core funding elements:

1. Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI)
   • Community-based projects and activities
2. Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting (NAB)
   • Production and distribution of Indigenous audio and video content for television or radio broadcasting
3. Territorial Language Accords (TLA)
   • Government-to-government agreements to support territorial government Indigenous languages preservation and promotion activities

It also supported National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Scholarships and Youth Initiatives — National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

Findings

Relevance

There is an ongoing need for programming that supports the preservation, promotion and revitalization of Indigenous languages. APP was complementary to other programming; its unique features were national scope, higher funding, and a focus on Indigenous languages. APP supported many valuable language projects.

Effectiveness

• The APP contributed to the preservation, promotion and revitalization of Indigenous languages.
• ALI supported an average of 129 projects per year over the 5-year period, reaching an average of 7,428 participants annually. It engaged communities to use and share Indigenous languages and culture - particularly Elders, youth, and women.
• NAB supported delivery of over 300,000 broadcast hours of Indigenous content.

Efficiency

Improvements were made over the 5-year period to better meet needs of recipients and communities:

• Implementation of ALI multi-year funding in 2018-19
• NAB opened to new applicants; while this was positive for reach and results, it led to lower funding and organizational instability for some original NAB recipients
• APP staff took time to understand projects and community needs

Opportunities for further improvement:

• Timing of application deadlines
• Meeting service standards
• Delays in funding decisions
• Use of flexibilities and examination of alternate delivery options

Recommendations

There was a delay in finalizing this report due in part to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Changes occurred to the program after the evaluation period and the evaluation acknowledges that the program has already taken actions to address the recommendations in this report.

1. The evaluation recommends that the Assistant Deputy Minister, Community and Identity, with Indigenous partners, build upon the findings of this evaluation and the programming changes already implemented since 2019, and continue examining and implementing delivery approaches that support the evolving needs of Indigenous communities and maximize opportunities for flexibility.
2. The evaluation recommends that the Assistant Deputy Minister, Community and Identity, complete the review of its program grants and contribution processes launched in Fall 2021 with the Chief Financial Officer Branch to establish and implement consistent standards for service delivery and timely funding decisions.
3. The evaluation recommends that the Assistant Deputy Minister, Community and Identity, with Indigenous partners, continue measures to review the needs and priorities of Indigenous broadcasters in the North, with the goal of making changes to the Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting program element as needed.

©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2022
Catalogue number: CH7-35/2-2022E-PDF
ISBN: 978-0-660-43812-2