Info-Lands and Environment

First Nations Reserve Land and Environment Management Program (RLEMP)

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The First Nations Reserve Land and Environment Management Program (RLEMP) is a new program, still in the pilot project phase, offered to First Nations to prepare them to assume new responsibilities in terms of land, resource and environment management. The RLEMP is meant to be a restructuring of the Regional Lands Administration Program (RLAP) and the delegated authority program under sections 53/60 – delegated authority.

In order to be able to assume these new responsibilities, two types of training are available to First Nations, which are looking to increase their level of responsibility and which are at the step that would allow them to take on these responsibilities: post-secondary training and technical training.

The post-secondary training encompasses post-secondary courses on the legal systems, the management of natural resources and environmental studies. This training is given in French at Université Laval and in English, at the University of Saskatchewan. Once this training is completed, the participants will receive a certificate from the University of Saskatchewan.

The technical training is dispensed by the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association, both in French and English. The courses focus on the operations of the land manager under the RLEMP and in accordance with the Indian Act.

In both cases, the costs for one participant per First Nation, for the RLEMP program for certifying professional land management competencies will be covered by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, including tuition fees, travel costs, accommodations, as well as the other administrative fees.

This way, the First Nations will be able to, following these two training sessions, benefit from additional knowledge useful to land, resource and environment management. Once the pilot project phase is finished and the program has been confirmed, the Department hopes to benefit from the necessary authorizations to adjust financial assistance to the First Nations, in accordance with the responsibilities they have assumed in land and environment management and based on the results obtained.

MM. Gino Clement from Listuguj and Nick Ottawa from Kitigan Zibi, were awarded their degree from the University of Saskatchewan in March 2007.

Mrs. Dominique Roussel from Essipit, Isabelle Genest, Suzanne Picard and Mr. Réjean Gros-Louis from Wendake graduated on december 15, 2008.

Congratulations to them all.