Métis and Non-Status Indians

The Federal Interlocutor works with Métis, Non-Status Indian and urban Aboriginal organizations, as well as with provincial governments where appropriate, to find practical ways to improve the life chances of Métis, Non-Status Indians and urban Aboriginal people.

The role of the Federal Interlocutor was created in 1985 to provide a point of contact between the Government of Canada and National Aboriginal Organizations who represent Métis and Non-Status Indians to discuss their priority issues.

The Federal Interlocutor provides funding to support bilateral and tripartite processes and to support Métis, Non-Status Indian and off-reserve Aboriginal organizations, so they can better represent their constituents, become more accountable, develop partnerships and develop and train their personnel. In addition, the Federal Interlocutor provides modest funding to organizations for projects that recognize the contributions of Métis to Canada.
The Federal Interlocutor maintains a bilateral relationship with each of the two national Aboriginal organizations which represent Métis and Non-Status Indian interests: The Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.

Bilateral discussions provide a forum where these organizations can meet federal ministers to discuss priority issues with respect to the people they represent, helping to inform federal policies, raise political awareness of the concerns and interests of Métis and Non-Status Indians.

In addition, the Federal Interlocutor is the Minister responsible for federal participation in tripartite negotiation processes that involve Métis and off- reserve Aboriginal organizations and provinces.

Tripartite negotiation processes enable provincial, regional and urban Métis and off-reserve Aboriginal organizations to engage with provincial and federal governments to build effective partnerships and to participate in negotiations of practical measures to strengthen organizational governance capacity, support their service delivery institutions and discuss better access to federal and provincial programs and services. The Federal Interlocutor is also responsible for the co-ordination of the federal government's Urban Aboriginal Strategy, an initiative within government to better serve the needs of urban Aboriginal people through improved co-ordination, collaboration and better working relationships within the federal government, and among all orders of government.

What Information is Available?

In September 2003, the Supreme Court of Canada made a ruling in favour of two Métis men which affirmed Métis Aboriginal rights in Canada. In this section learn more about the Powley case by consulting the Powley Frequently Asked Questions and the Frequently Asked Questions for general information on Métis.

You may also be interested in:

• Hudson's Bay Company Archives  
•  Metis Culture & Heritage Resource Centre Inc  
• Métis National Council  
• Canada's National History Society  

Contact Us

INAC Public Enquiries Contact Centre
Phone: (toll-free) 1-800-567-9604
TTY: (toll-free) 1-866-553-0554
Fax: 1-866-817-3977
Room 1204, 66 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H4 Canada
E-mail Address:
OFI-BIF@ainc-inac.gc.ca