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Indigenous rights and government relations
This page has the following sections:
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Indigenous representative organizations
- Indigenous Foundations
- Canadian treaties, land rights, and claims
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
- National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1991 - 1996
- Residential schools in Canada
- Canadian government information
- Selected Canadian federal legislation
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP)
This federal legislation, which came into force on June 21, 2021, is intended to advance the implementation of the UN's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) as part of the Government of Canada’s efforts to build a positive relationship with Indigenous peoples.
- Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in CanadaThis Act is intended to provide a road map for the Government and Indigenous peoples to work together to fully implement the Declaration.
Indigenous representative organizations
- Assembly of First NationsA national advocacy organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada.
- Congress of Aboriginal PeoplesRepresents off-reserve and non-status peoples.
- Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK)ITK does research, advocacy, public outreach, and education on issues affecting the four Inuit regions.
- Métis National CouncilThe Council represents the Métis Nation nationally and internationally.
- Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)NWAC represents Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people in Canada.
Indigenous Foundations via the University of British Columbia
- Indigenous FoundationsFind overviews on issues such as:
Government Policy (The Indian Act, Reserves, Royal Proclamation 1763, The Residential School System, Sixties Scoop, The White Paper 1969, Constitution Act 1982 Section 35); Community & Politics; and Global Indigenous Issues.
Created in 2009
Canadian treaties, land rights, and claims
- Native-LandIdentify the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples across Canada.
Dish With One Spoon, with Richard Hill. Via the series: Voices from Here
- 1492 Land Back LaneInformation via The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Haldimand Proclamation of 1784A decree issued by Frederich Haldimand, then Governor of the Province of Quebec, that granted land to the Mohawk who had served on the British side during the American Revolution.
- Indian Treaties and Surrenders, from 1680 to 1890Volume 1, 1891
- Indian Treaties and Surrenders, from 1680 to 1890Volume 2, 1891
- Indian Treaties and Surrenders from no. 281 to no. 483 .Volume 3, 1912.
- Land Back CampFounded in 2020. O:se Kenhionhata:tie (land back camp) occupied land in Kitchener, Ontario's Victoria Park and Waterloo, Ontario's Waterloo Park for six months. The group worked with the cities' administrators to waive fees for Indigenous events hosted in public facilities, hire Indigenous people to city positions, and create ceremonial gathering spaces in both parks.
The Clay We Are Made Of by Publication Date: 2017
Compact, Contract, Covenant: Aboriginal Treaty-Making in Canada by Publication Date: 2009
Doodem and Council Fire: Anishinaabe Governance Through Alliance by Publication Date: 2020
Lament for a First Nation by Publication Date: 2008
Negotiating the Deal: Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements in CanadaPublication Date: 2013
On Being Here to Stay: Treaties and Aboriginal Rights in Canada by Publication Date: 2014
The Right Relationship: Reimagining the Implementation of Historical Treaties by Publication Date: 2017
Treaty No. 9: Making the Agreement to Share the Land in Far Northern Ontario in 1905 by Publication Date: 2010
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC): resources
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC)Find documents, statements, and other materials via the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC): Calls to ActionRead the 94 calls to action.
- Indexed TRC Calls to ActionVia the University of Victoria Library.
"This resource is an educational tool designed to enhance the accessibility of the Final Report, promote engagement with the Calls to Action, and thus help further the reconciliation project initiated by the TRC."
A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of CanadaPublication Date: 2015Foreword by Phil Fontaine; Afterword by Aimée Craft
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Mandate (in part):
" ... look into and report on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls, including sexual violence. We must examine the underlying social, economic, cultural, institutional, and historical causes that contribute to the ongoing violence and particular vulnerabilities of Indigenous women and girls in Canada. The mandate also directs us to look into and report on existing institutional policies and practices to address violence, including those that are effective in reducing violence and increasing safety."
The inquiry took place from 2015-2019.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1991 - 1996
- Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People, 1996s (RCAP)Volume 1 - Looking Forward, Looking Back [PDF 5MB]
Volume 2 - Restructuring the Relationship [PDF 6MB]
Volume 3 - Gathering Strength [PDF 4MB]
Volume 4 - Perspectives and Realities [PDF 4MB]
Volume 5 - Renewal: A Twenty-Year Commitment [PDF 2MB]
Residential schools in Canada
- Interactive map showing locations of residential schools across CanadaClick on each site to get more information.
Via the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation.
- Books and articles on residential schools available through UWaterloo LibraryAn automated search generated in Omni, the Library's catalogue.
- The Settlement agreementView the Agreement, the schedules to the Settlement Agreement, and the Agreement in Principle.
- Shingwauk Residential Schools CentreBased in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the Centre works in partnership with the Shingwauk Education Trust (SET), the Dan Pine Healing Lodge, Algoma University, and others to: research, collect, preserve and display the history of residential schools.
Canadian government information
- Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada"[This department]... continues to renew the nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown, government-to-government relationship between Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Métis ...".
- Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)"... Our vision is to support and empower Indigenous peoples to independently deliver services and address the socio-economic conditions in their 'communities'."
Some of the areas covered by ISC are:
"Indian" status; Indigenous health; Water in First Nations communities; and First Nations housing. - Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN)This House of Commons committee studies all business administered by the Department of Indigenous Services and the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.
- Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal PeoplesThis committee studies matters before the Senate relating to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples including bills, petitions, and inquiries.
Selected Canadian federal legislation
Via the Canadian Department of Justice
- Indigenous Justice, Recognition and ReconciliationVarious legislative initiatives
- Act Respecting Indians (R.S.C., 1985, c. I-5)Short title: Indian Act
Last amended: 2019-08-15
You tell us
We welcome all feedback related to the Indigenous research guide at: libindigenous@library.uwaterloo.ca