Aboriginal Affairs Branch Department of Canadian Heritage

Aboriginal Affairs Branch

Department of Canadian Heritage

ABORIGINAL PROGRAMS

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS BRANCHEstablished in 2003 Strong Aboriginal policy base Some $67 million for programsDeveloping relationship between

Aboriginal & non-Aboriginal societies in Canada

Modernizing programming

Branch Foundations

Building on over 30 years of experience of Fostering the development of

Aboriginal organizations Pan-Aboriginal programs &

policy to enable Métis, Non-Status Indian, Inuit and First Nations people

Strong Urban/off-reserve focus

Branch Foundations – cont’d Promoting and supporting

Aboriginal languages Fostering Aboriginal cultural

distinctiveness

Foundation for ProgrammingNeed for Aboriginal partnership

To engage Aboriginal people in government decision-making

To improve Aboriginal socio-economic circumstances

To develop mutually acceptable solutions to Aboriginal issues

Policy & Program Environment

Government Agenda TodayGathering Strength: Canada’s

Aboriginal Action Plan2002 Speech From the Throne

Improving life chances Create and share opportunity Strong focus on youth issues

International commitments

Continually Evolving Political partiesCourt decisions Legal challengesInternational influences Land Claims/Self-GovernmentPublic opinion

Canada TodayCanadians support resolution of

Aboriginal issuesPublic celebration & recognition

of Aboriginal heritage & contributions National Aboriginal Day National Aboriginal Achievement

Awards Aboriginal Peoples Television

Network

Aboriginal People Today Increasing portion of total

Canadian population Majority do not live on reserve

About half live in urban areas

A young population Starting to age

Some evidence of improvement

Impact for the Branch ProgramsContinuing need to sustain

momentum Restructure to enable

flexibility to respond to ongoing change

Aboriginal Programs & Initiatives

Aboriginal Affairs Branch

Nature of Branch ProgramsPan-Aboriginal Predominately off-reservePrimary programming for

Aboriginal Languages renewal and preservation

Key Programming ElementsRepresentation & AdvocacyParticipation that supports

Cultural Distinctiveness & Capacity Building

Aboriginal LanguagesAboriginal BroadcastingAboriginal Youth

Central Goal 13 interrelating programs and

initiatives Intended to improve short to mid

term benefits by Enabling a concerted approach to

complex Aboriginal issues Strengthening Aboriginal cultural

identity and heritage

Key MilestonesPrinciple programs in place

since 1971Newer programming

designed to dovetail with and complement older programs

Practice of Aboriginal delivery since 1996

Purpose of Funding Majority of the funding is

directed to Aboriginal organizations To Sustain their operations

to enable them to work towards their larger goals

To deliver Branch programs on behalf of the Minister

Major SuccessesKey Aboriginal partners on

domestic & international issues Announcement of an Aboriginal

Languages and Cultures Centre APTN cable television networkStrong urban infrastructurePrimary federal programming

for urban Aboriginal youth

Aboriginal Youth Programs

Aboriginal Affairs Branch

Nature of Youth Programming

Urban focusCulturally relevant & respectfulActive engagement of Aboriginal

youthPrimarily delivered by Aboriginal

organizations

Goal of Youth ProgrammingEncourage full Aboriginal youth

participation in Aboriginal and Canadian societies by Strengthening their cultural identity

and attachment Building their self-esteem Equipping them with skills Fostering peer & elder support

Success Factors Aboriginal organizations have

extensive experience developing Aboriginal labour force

Aboriginal organizations reach the majority of urban communities with significant Aboriginal populations

Aboriginal organizations have extensive experience in delivery of federal programs

The Road AheadAboriginal Programming

A Time of ChangeGovernment modernizing

Program management All federal programs

Focus on citizens, results & responsible spending

OpportunityTo work with Aboriginal

clients to consolidate programming to Achieve greater flexibility Relieve administration burdens Integrate learning & Experience Integrate common

understanding of success & risk

Key Milestones New consolidated policy

framework by fall 2004New consolidated program

in place by April 2005

Impact for Young Canada WorksContinue within the new

consolidated program framework

No loss of integrity of initiativeReduced NAFC administrationEnhanced impact of YCW