Encyclopedia > Department of Indian and Northern Affairs
The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, also referred to as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing First Nations and Canada's three northern territories. The word department has a number of meanings: It can mean an administrative sector of the government. ... First Nations is the current title used by Canada to describe the various societies of the indigenous peoples, called Native Americans in the U.S. They have also been known as Indians, Native Canadians, Aboriginal Americans, Amer-Indians, or Aboriginals, and are officially called Indians in the Indian Act, which...
The term "Indian" as referenced in the department's name refers to Status Indians defined by the Indian Act. The Indian Register is the official record of Status Indians or Registered Indians in Canada. ... The Indian Act of Canada (1876) (full title An Act respecting Indians) is an Act which establishes the rights of registered Indians and of their bands. ...
The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is the Honourable Andy Scott. In the Cabinet of Canada, The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development really heads two different departments. ... Andy Scott (born March 16, 1955) is a Liberal Member of the Canadian Parliament representing Fredericton, New Brunswick. ...
The Department of IndianAffairs and Northern Development (FIP: Indian and NorthernAffairs Canada, French: Affaires indiennes et du Nord Canada) is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing First Nations of Canada and Canada's three northern territories.
With respect to the Inuit of Nunavut, the department and its Minister have the challenge of implementing "The Nunavut Project." Authored by Thomas Berger, this is a report of recommendations to increase Inuit participation in Nunavut's federal and territorial public service.
In 1970 legislation establishing the department was amended.
We found that the Department and the participating First Nations lack a common understanding of their roles and responsibilities and that the agreement is ambiguous (see The Mi'kmaq Education Agreement).
While the Department is committed to moving forward with First Nations and other partners as quickly as possible, given the complexity of issues such as jurisdiction, geography, and demography (as outlined in Appendix A of this chapter), it is clear that success in First Nations education must be measured over the longer term.
Indian and NorthernAffairs Canada is the main federal organization responsible for administering elementary and secondary education for First Nations students living on reserves, and for supporting First Nations and Inuit post-secondary education.
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