Working with Aboriginal People

Several groups of Aboriginal people live in the Northwest Territories, including the Dene (who are First Nations), the Inuvialuit (who are Inuit), and the Métis. Although these groups have a lot in common, they have very different languages, cultural practices, spiritual beliefs, social structures, and community goals.

The Government of Canada, represented by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), works with these Aboriginal people and communities to help them meet their needs and goals.

INAC Programs and Services

INAC supports First Nations, Inuvialuit and Metis groups in developing healthy, sustainable communities and in achieving their economic and social goals. INAC also assists with land claims, self-government agreements, political development, natural resource management, and environmental protection.

Working for and with Aboriginal people and communities:

• INAC maintains the Indian Band Registry. This means that INAC keeps records of who is registered as a Band member.

• INAC helps bands establish their membership rules, such as who can be considered a member of the band.

• INAC helps bands develop their election rules and policies.  Just as Canadians vote for the mayor and councillors of their town, bands vote for their Band Chief and Councillors.  Election rules and policies establish who can run for Chief or Council, how long they can serve, who is allowed to vote for them, and other important election guidelines.

• INAC offers support and advice to Bands about land management, governance, economic development and environmental issues.

• INAC provides certificates of Indian Status, more commonly referred to as “Status Cards.”  These cards certify the Aboriginal status of an individual.  

• INAC coordinates the management of funding arrangements between INAC and First Nations, Tribal Councils, and incorporated First Nation and Inuit organizations.

• INAC helps Aboriginal families with some family matters, such as custom adoptions or managing and administering funds held in trust for individuals and Bands.

• INAC fulfills obligations established under Treaty 8 and Treaty 11.  For example, under Treaties 8 and 11, the Canadian government guaranteed Aboriginal people the right to hunt, trap and fish in the treaty area - except in those areas taken up for settlement, mining and timber cutting. INAC makes sure that these rules are followed.

• INAC makes Treaty payments.  When Treaties 8 and 11 were signed, the Canadian Government agreed to make a cash payment each year of $25 to Chiefs, $15 to Councillors and $5 to all other band members.   (We may not consider $5 a lot of money today, but this cash payment was worth much more when the Treaties were signed many years ago.) Every year on Treaty Day, an INAC treaty party travels to the communities to give this cash payment to each treaty beneficiary.

• INAC helps people apply for registration or reinstatement of Indian status under Bill C-31. In the past, when an Indian woman married a non-Indian man she lost her “status” as an Indian, and the ability to pass that status on to her children. She could no longer live on a reserve or receive treaty benefits. Bill C-31 now allows Aboriginal women who lost their Indian status through marriage to a non-status man to have their status reinstated.

• INAC invests in Northern individuals, communities and businesses through the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program.  This program's focus is to strengthen the economy of the Northwest Territories, help Northerners take advantage of economic opportunities, and encourage coordination and co-operation between people and programs. SINED funds projects that support geoscience data collection, planning activities for infrastructure and industrial projects, tourism industry expansion, and the growth of small- and medium-sized Northern businesses.

• INAC delivers programs and services for Aboriginal business development through Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC). ABC's focus is to help Aboriginal entrepreneurs and organizations achieve their business goals and to increase the number of Aboriginal owned and operated businesses in Canada. ABC provides funding to help with business planning, start-up, marketing, and expansion. Emphasis is placed on projects that support innovation in tourism, youth entrepreneurship, and market expansion which will strengthen Aboriginal financial and business development organizations.

• INAC supports and administers four Youth Employment programs:  the Science and Technology Program, Career Promotion and Awareness Program, Student Summer Employment Opportunities Program, and Youth Work Experience Program.

• INAC also administers the University and College Entrance Program (UCEP) which provides funding for students enrolled in courses that will prepare them to directly enter a college or university program upon completion. Students are eligible for tuition, books and a living allowance for a lifetime maximum of ten months.  Some students are also eligible for a travel allowance. For more information or to apply for UCEP, please call 669-2626.

For more information, visit Programs and Services for First Nations and Inuit.