Indigenous Relations

Indigenous Relations

Key Facts

Details

Indigenous Engagement

• National Defence is moving forward its relationship with Indigenous Peoples to advance reconciliation and work to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. As part of these efforts, National Defence is engaging with Indigenous partners in a meaningful way to gain understanding of their perspectives and priorities.
• National Defence participated in the creation of the Inuit Nunangat Policy, which was co-developed with Inuit partners.
  • This policy directs federal departments and agencies to consider Inuit priorities, and engage early on projects or initiatives that affect Inuit Nunangat.
• In April, 2022, National Defence formally joined the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC) as a way to formalize and improve cooperation and collaboration with Inuit partners on sovereignty, defence, and security. The ICPC Leaders Meetings at the Ministerial level, occurs three times a year. Once a year, it is co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the President Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), Natan Obed. ITK is the national representational organization protecting and advancing the rights and interests of Inuit in Canada. Collaboration is also ongoing at the working level to make progress on shared priorities through the ICPC Working Group on Sovereignty, Defence and Security.
• In September 2022, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence attended the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework (ANPF) Leadership Committee meeting and presented to Northern Territorial and Indigenous leaders and other federal Ministers on NORAD modernization.
• In February 2023, following an incident in the Yukon involving the shooting down of a high-altitude object, National Defence engaged the ANPF All Partners Working Group, which is an officials’ level meeting, to provide Northern territorial and Indigenous partners with an update on the situation as well as a high-level, unclassified threat briefing on the Arctic.
• A full list of Strategic Level Engagement with Provincial, Territorial and Indigenous Partners on NORAD Modernization and Arctic Security can be found at Annex A.

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

• National Defence also supports reconciliation with Indigenous partners by facilitating the strategic implementation of the United Nationals Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and National Defence’s participation in the associated Implementation Action Plan.
• In Budget 2022, National Defence received a total of $6 million over four years in Vote 10, starting in 2023-24, for the grants and contribution programs, the Indigenous Reconciliation Program (IRP).
  • This program will support reconciliation with Indigenous partners and enable National Defence to better align its engagement and operations with the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
  • the IRP will provide Grants and Contributions funding up to $1.5 million annually to fund projects that help DND leverage the expertise and traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples across Canada. The goal of the program is to help National Defence in developing policies, programs and practices reflective of both First Nations, Inuit, and Metis priorities and National Defence needs.
  • The IRP will fund National Defence collaboration with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners in order to better understand diverse Indigenous perspectives and priorities. Funding will be available to support a broad variety of engagement, consultation and information sharing activities, and to encourage collaboration with DND on projects and activities such as military exercises, infrastructure projects, real property transactions, policy research and decision making.
• There are several key areas of the UN Declaration that have specific implications for National Defence and reconciliation:
  • Deepening engagement and collaboration on areas of mutual interest, notably military activities on Indigenous lands;
  • Facilitating Indigenous governance, and supporting self-determination and the objective of free, prior and informed consent; and,
  • Aligning our positions in treaty negotiations and in DND/CAF work that relates to land and to the environment with the Declaration.
• National Defence is also working closely with Indigenous partners on the co-development of the UN Declaration Action Plan measures in areas that apply to our department, with support from the Department of Justice.

Indigenous Investments

• The Government of Canada has implemented a mandatory target to have at least five percent (5%) of the total value of contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses. This target includes both infrastructure and materials procurement. Departments will be phased in to meet this new target, with National Defence onboarding in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
• National Defence has partnered with Defence Construction Canada to develop a Joint Indigenous Procurement Strategy, which includes outreach and consultation with Indigenous communities and firms.
• North Warning System In-Service Support Contract:
  • On January 31, 2022, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, awarded a contract to the Nasittuq Corporation, an Inuit majority-owned company, for the operation and maintenance of the North Warning System.
  • Contract value: The contract is for an initial period of seven years, and is valued at $592 million ($527 million before taxes). The contract also includes four two-year option periods for a total estimated value of $1.3 billion ($1.1 billion before taxes).
• Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert:
  • On October 3, 2022, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, awarded a contract to Nasittuq Corporation to provide support services to CFS Alert in Nunavut. The contract covers all support services for CFS Alert, including accommodations, food services, maintenance and operation of grounds and roads, buildings, fuel storage tanks, fire alarm systems, and water and sewage treatment systems.
  • Contract value: The contract is valued at $122 million (excluding taxes) for an initial period of eight-and-a-half years.
• In fiscal year 2021/2022, the total value of Indigenous contracts (inclusive of the North Warning system) was $634.5M, representing 20.6% of total contracts.

Canadian Rangers

• The Canadian Rangers, 23% of whom self-identify as Indigenous, are part of the Reserve Force and provide surveillance and sovereignty patrols, conduct training and support CAF operations to include federal responses to flooding, fires and community evacuation events, and may be called upon to support provincial, territorial, and local authorities conduct ground search and rescue.
  • Canadian Rangers provided immediate Ground Search and Rescue support 40 times in 2021.
  • They are the eyes and the ears in the North, enhancing key capabilities across Inuit Nunangat and beyond.
• Consisting of approximately 5,000 personnel working in approximately 200 communities, the Canadian Rangers help safeguard our communities in sparsely settled, remote, northern, coastal, and isolated areas of Canada.
• They also play a critical role in support of Indigenous communities, including during the pandemic through the transportation and distribution of information and supplies, provision of wellness checks, and staffing of emergency centres. In addition, they provide evacuation support in the event of flooding and fires.
• The Minister of National Defence recently announced a $3.7 billion dollar investment over the next 20 years to provide operational clothing and footwear for all the Canadian Armed Forces, including the Canadian Rangers.
  • A Canadian Ranger authorized to use personal equipment for an approved CAF activity that incurs damage, or the loss of equipment, is entitled to reasonable cost of repairs or the fair market value of a replacement item, so long as these items are not already insured under a private premium.
  • In recognition of the importance of this personal equipment to the livelihood of the Rangers, the CAF has recently streamlined the compensation claims process to allow more immediate levels of authority in their chain of command to approve their compensation claims. This will significantly expedite the process for Canadian Rangers to receive their reimbursement for repair or replacement of personal equipment in a more timely manner.
• Additionally, as part of Strong, Secure, Engaged the CAF has stood up a team that is currently working at enhancing the effectiveness of the Canadian Rangers to improve their functional capabilities through a holistic review of their role, mission, tasks and as required, update policies and processes to better enable the Canadian Rangers to execute their mission now and into the future.

Annex A

Strategic Level Engagement with Provincial, Territorial and Indigenous Partners on NORAD Modernization and Arctic Security

Associate Deputy Minister Northern Trip

Forum	Date	DND Participants	Non-DND Participants
DMA Northern Trip to Northwest Territories	23-26 Jan 2023	DMA, Def IGA, ADM(IE), included NORAD mod discussions	Territorial/Municipal: GNWT, Town of Inuvik Indigenous: Dene Nation, Tłı̨chǫ Government, Gwich’in Tribal Council, North Slave Métis Alliance Federal: CIRNAC Regional Office

Arctic and Northern Policy Framework

Forum	Date	DND Participants	Non-DND Participants
ANPF All Partners Working Group (Director-level forum chaired by CIRNAC. Part of the ANPF governance structure and includes all ANPF participants)	15 June 2021	ADM(Policy) officials briefed on NORAD modernization	Provincial/Territorial: NWT, Nunavut, Yukon, Manitoba, Quebec, NFLD Indigenous: Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Dene Nation, Council of Yukon First Nations, Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation, Tłı̨chǫ Government Federal: CIRNAC, GAC
ANPF All Partners Working Group	25 Jan 2022	ADM(Pol) Officials briefed on NORAD modernization updates	Provincial/Territorial:  Nunavut, Yukon, Manitoba, Quebec, NFLD Indigenous: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), Dene Nation, Council of Yukon First Nations, Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation, Tłı̨chǫ Government, Gwich’in Council International, Gwich’in Tribal Council Federal: CIRNAC, GAC
ANPF All Partners Working Group	19 July 2022	ADM(Pol) Officials provided an update on NORAD modernization	Provincial/Territorial: Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, Manitoba, Quebec Indigenous: Council of Yukon First Nations, Tłı̨chǫ Government, Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation, Gwich’in Tribal Council, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government Federal: CIRNAC, GAC, NRCAN
ANPF Leaders Meeting	29 Sept 2022	Parliamentary Secretary provided an update on NORAD modernization	Indigenous Leaders from: Gwich’in Tribal Council, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Tłı̨chǫ Government, Little Salmon FN, North Slave Métis Alliance.  Provincial/Territorial: Premier Cochrane (NWT) (co-chair), Premier Akeeagok (NU), Premier Silver (YK), Government of Québec, Government of Manitoba. Federal: Minister Vandal (co-chair), Minister Wilkinson, Parliamentary Secretary Jones (NRCan/Northern Affairs), MP Michael McLeod.
ANPF All Partners Working Group	21 Feb 2023	ADM(Pol) officials, JTFN, CFINTCOM provided a threat brief and spoke of the high-altitude object	Indigenous partners from: Gwitch’in Council International, Council of Yukon First Nations, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government, Tłı̨chǫ Government, Inuit Circumpolar Council-Canada (ICCC) Provincial/Territorial: Nunavut, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Québec Federal: CIRNAC, GAC, RCMP

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) – Inuit Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC)^{Footnote *}

Forum	Date	DND Participants	Non-DND Participants
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) (ADM-level bilateral engagement)	7 Oct 2021	ADM(Pol), ADM(IE) Director General Indigenous Affairs (DGIA) officials briefed on NORAD modernization	Executive Director, Director Policy Advancement, Director of Inuit Qaujisarvingat, Senior Policy Advisor
ITK (DG-level bilateral engagement)	2 Dec 2021	ADM(Pol) officials, ADM(IE) DGIA briefed on NORAD modernization	Director Policy Advancement; Senior Policy Advisors
ITK (Ministerial bilateral engagement)	16 Dec 2022	MND	President ITK
ITK (ADM-level bilateral engagement)	27 Jan 2022	ADM(Pol), ADM(IE) Director General Indigenous Affairs (DGIA), briefed on NORAD modernization	Executive Director, Director Policy Advancement, Senior Policy Advisor
ITK (DG-level bilateral engagement)	9 Mar 2022	ADM(Pol) officials, ADM(IE) DGIA, provided an update on NORAD modernization	Director Policy Advancement; Senior Policy Advisor
ITK (Ministerial bilateral engagement)	24 Mar 2022	MND	President ITK
ICPC (Leaders meeting)	21 April 2022	MND, briefed on NORAD modernization	Inuit: President ITK, Chair & CEO Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, President Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, President Makivvik Corporation, President Nunatsiavut Government, President Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada, President Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, President Inuit Youth Council GOC: Prime Minister, Ministers for Crown Indigenous Relations, Northern Affairs, Indigenous Services Canada, Justice, Transport
ITK (ADM-level bilateral engagement)	11 May 2022	ADM(Pol), ADM(IE) provided an update on NORAD modernization	Executive Director, Director Policy Advancement, Senior Policy Advisors
ICPC (Leaders meeting, Inuvik)	27 June 2022	MND (virtual), provided an update on NORAD modernization	Inuit: President ITK, Chair & CEO Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, President Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, President Makivvik Corporation, President Nunatsiavut Government, President Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada, President Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, President Inuit Youth Council GOC: Ministers for Crown Indigenous Relations, Northern Affairs, Indigenous Services Canada, Justice, Transport, Treasury Board, Heritage
ICPC (Sovereignty, Defence and Security Working Group)	12 Dec 2022	MND, ADM(Pol), Def IGA, D NORAD, ADM(IE) (DGDRPPP, DGIA), SJS, JAG, CFINTCOM	Inuit: ITK (including President Obed), IRC, Makivvik Corporation, NTI, Nunatsiavut Government, ICC Canada GOC: CSIS, GAC

Provinces and Territories

Pan-Territorial Engagements

Forum	Date	DND Participants	Non-DND Participants
	11 Mar 2022	MND, Commander CFINTCOM, ADM(Pol) officials provided a threat brief and discussions following invasion of Ukraine	Premiers Cochrane, Akeeagok, Silver, Minister Vandal, GAC officials
	1 Apr 2022	MND, ADM(Pol) officials	Prime Minister, Premiers Cochrane, Akeeagok, Silver
	7 Mar 2023	ADM(Pol) officials, Comd JTFN, Comd CFINTCOM provided a threat brief following the high altitude object	Premiers Cochrane, Akeeagok, Pillai, Minister Vandal, PMO, MNDO, PCO IGA

NWT

Forum	Date	DND Participants	Non-DND Participants
	28 June 2021	ADM(Pol) Officials briefed on NORAD modernization	Deputy Secretary Indigenous and IGA
	13 June 2022	ADM(Pol) Officials provided an update on NORAD modernization	Deputy Secretary Indigenous and IGA

Nunavut

Forum	Date	DND Participants	Non-DND Participants
	20 July 2021	ADM(Pol) Officials briefed on NORAD modernization	Acting ADM, Indigenous and Circumpolar Affairs in the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs
	28 June 2022	ADM(Pol) Officials provided an update on NORAD modernization	Director Indigenous and Circumpolar Affairs

Yukon

Forum	Date	DND Participants	Non-DND Participants
	28 July 2021	ADM(Pol) Officials briefed on NORAD modernization	ADM Intergovernmental Affairs
	29 June 2022	ADM(Pol) Officials provided an update on NORAD modernization	Intergovernmental Affairs
	31 Jan 2023	ADM(Pol) and CMP Officials provided an update on NORAD modernization	Intergovernmental Affairs

Arctic Forums

Forum	Date	DND Participants	Non-DND Participants
Arctic Security Working Group (ASWG)	24 Nov 2021	Commander Joint Task Force North (JTFN), ADM(Pol), SJS, CJOC, ADM(IE), CFINTCOM, Maritime Security Operations Centre (MSOC) briefed on NORAD modernization	Indigenous Governments, academics, industry, Coast Guard, RCMP, CIRNAC, Transport Canada, Public Safety, territorial representatives