Name Change:
In June 2011, the government of Canada changed the name of the department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada (INAC or IAND) to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC). The name change does not affect the mandate or operations of the Department.
AANDC’s mandate derives from the Indian Act and its amendments, as well as from judicial decisions, policy decisions, and program practices that have developed over the years. AANDC negotiates comprehensive and specific land claims and self-government agreements on behalf of the Government of Canada, and oversees the implementation of claim settlements. It delivers services such as education, housing, community infrastructure, and social support to Status Indians on reserves. It also manages land and executes other regulatory duties under the Indian Act.
See also/voir aussi:
- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) – formerly INAC
- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada: Specific Claims
- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada: History Calls for and Efforts to Create an Independent Tribunal on Specifc Claims
Negotiating a Specific Claim with AANDC:
The process of negotiating a specific claim can be complicated. Generally, once a First Nation submits a claim which meets a “minimum standard”, a “three-year” process begins. A successful claim will be assessed, accepted for negotiation, and settled within this three-year time frame. An unsuccessful claim may be rejected for negotiation, or a settlement will not be reached after negotiation takes place. If a claim is rejected for negotiation or a settlement is not concluded, the First Nation may opt to submit the claim to the Specific Claims Tribunal. Below are AANDC documents that provide an overview of the Specific Claims Negotiation process:
- The Three Year Time Frame
- Minimum Standard for Filing a Specific Claim
- A Guide to the Specific Claims Negotiation Process
- The Specific Claims Process – Key Definitions
The Coldwater-Narrows Land Claim negotiation is a recent example of the type of negotiations that take place between the AANDC and First Nations on specific claims. The following are documents produced by AANDC pertaining to the negotiation:
- Fact Sheet – The Coldwater-Narrows Land Claim
- Frequently Asked Questions – Coldwater-Narrows Land Claim Negotiation
Reports and Statistics: AANDC keeps records of the Specific Claims filed in Canada. Below are a compilation of statistics and reports created by AANDC on Specific Claims progress.
- Summary Report on Specific Claims (2011)
- Specific Claims Progress Report 2008 – 2009
- Specific Claims Progress Report 2009 – 2010
- Specific Claims Progress Report April 2010 – September 2010
- Status Report on Specific Claims
- Settlement Report on Specific Claims
- National Summary on Specific Claims
- See also Reporting Centre on the AANDC website.
The AANDC publishes various documents from time to time informing the public on current developments on the Department’s operations. Below is a compilation of AANDC documents pertaining to Specific Claims. Developments and Publications – From the 1960s to present:
2014
- Specific Claims Snapshot
- Negotiation News
- Canada and Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation Sign Settlement Agreement of the 1895 Surrender Specific Claim
2013
2012
- First Nation Communications Toolkit for Specific Claim Negotiations
- Canada and Mohawks of Akwesasne Conclude Negotiations on Kawehnoke Claim
- Canada and the Mohawks of Akwesasne Finalize Kawehnoke-Easterbrook Settlement Agreement
- Coldwater-Narrows Specific Land Claim Ratification Vote
- Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada at the Crown-First Nations Gathering
2011
- Canada and the Caldwell First Nation Achieve Win-Win Solution to Conclude Longstanding Claim
- Canada and Four Ontario First Nations Take Major Step Toward Claim Settlement
- Statement by the Honourable John Duncan on the three-year time frames for negotiating Specific Claim Settlements
- A History of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada [2011]
- A History of Treaty making In Canada [2011]
- Aboriginal Consultation and Accommodation Guidelines [2011]
- Year-End Reporting Handbook [2011]
- Summary Report on Specific Claims [2011]
- Mandate, Roles and Responsibilities [2011]
- Canada-First Nation Joint Action Plan [2011]
- Sustaining Momentum: The Government of Canada’s Third Report in Response to the Kelowna Accord Implementation Act (2010-2011) [2011]
- AANDC Negotiation News [2011]
2010
- History of Calls for and Efforts to Create an Independent Tribunal on Specific Claims [c. 2010]
- Signing Ceremony – Toronto Purchase and Brant Tract Specific Claims Agreement with the Mississaugas of the New Credit [October 29, 2010]
- Specific Claim Settlements Involving Land [2010]
- Specific Claims Progress Report 2009 – 2010 [2010]
- Specific Claims Progress Report April 2010 – September 2010 [2010]
2009
- Historique des demandes et des efforts visant la création d’un tribunal indépendant des revendications particulières [c. 2009]
- Politique sur les revendications particulières et Guide sur le processus de règlement [2009]
- Specific Claims: A Statistical Snapshot [c. 2009]
- Specific Claims Progress Report 2008 – 2009 [2009]
- Specific Claims Action Plan – Frequently Asked Questions [c. 2009]
- The Specific Claims Policy and Process Guide [2009]
- Record Results Achieved Again on Specific Claims – News Release [August 27, 2009]
- Extraordinary Progress Setting Specific Claims in British Columbia – News Release [February 15, 2009]
2008
- Notes for an address by the Honourable Chuck Strahl on the Woodstock First Nation Specific Claim Settlement [April 22, 2008]
- Aperçu de la Loi sur le Tribunal des revendications particulières [2008]
- At a Glance – The Specific Claims Tribunal Act [2008]
- Frequently Asked Questions from First Nation Claimants about The Specific Claims Tribunal Act [2008]
- Minimum Standard For Filing a Specific Claim Submission with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development [2008]
- Mini Summary by Province – Specific Claims Branch, 1970-2007 [c. 2008]
- National Mini Summary – Specific Claims Branch, 1970-2007 [c. 2008]
- Norme minimale pour le dépôt d’une revendication particulière auprès du Ministre des Affaires indiennes et du Nord canadien [2008]
- Plan d’action relatif aux revendications particulieres – Foire aux questions : Survol [2008]
- Public Information Status Report – Specific Claims Branch, 1970-2007 [c. 2008]
- Questions fréquemment posées par les requérants des Premières nations : La Loi sur le Tribunal des revendications particulières[2008]
- Les revendications particulières au Canada, d’hier à aujourd’hui [2008]
- Revendications particulières : quelques statistiques [c. 2008]
- Specific Claims In Canada – Then and Now [2008]
2007
- Accord politique entre le ministre des Affaires indiennes et du Nord canadien et le chef national de l’Assemblée des Premières Nations concernant la réforme des revendications particulières [2007]
- Le gouvernement du Canada annonce une nouvelle mesure d’importance pour résoudre les revendications particulières au Canada (Communiqué de presse) [27 novembre 2007]
- The Government of Canada Announces New Key Step to Resolve Specific Claims in Canada (News release) [November 27, 2007]
- Land Claim Settlement Provides Economic Boost for Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation – News Release [November 30, 2007]
- Canada’s New Government and Assembly of First nations Strike Specific Claims Task Force – News Release [July 25, 2007]
- Political Agreement between the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Relation to Specific Claims Reform [2007]
- Le projet de loi sur le Tribunal des revendications particulières [2007]
- Revendications particulières : La Justice, Enfin [2007]
- Revendications particulières : La Justice, Enfin—Plan d’Action relatifs aux revendications particulières 2007 [2007]
- Specific Claims: Justice At Last [2007]
- Specific Claims: Justice at Last—Specific Claims Action Plan 2007 [2007]
- Specific Claims Action Plan 2007
2000
- Gathering Strength—Canada’s Aboriginal Action Plan: A Progress Report [2000]
- Rassembler nos forces—Le plan d’action du Canada pour les questions autochtones: Rapport d’étape [2002]
1980’s
- Outstanding Business, A Native Claims Policy: Specific Claims [1982]
- Dossier en souffrance, une politique des revendications des autochtones : revendications particulières [1982]
- Le Règlement des Revendications des Autochones au Canada 1867 – 1979 [1981]
- Le Règlement des Revendications des Autochones au Canada 1867 – 1979 [1981]
- A History of Native Claims Processes in Canada: 1867-1979 [1980]
1970’s
- Report on Administrative Processes for the Resolution of Specific Indian Claims [1979]
- Statement Made By the Honourable Jean Chrétien, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on Claims of Indian and Inuit People [1973]
1960’s
- Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy (The White Paper) [1969]
- A Survey of the Contemporary Indians of Canada: Economic, Political, Educational Needs and Policies – Part I [1966]
- A Survey of the Contemporary Indians of Canada: Economic, Political, Educational Needs and Policies – Part II [1966]
- Le Règlement des Revendications des Autochones au Canada 1867 – 1979 (part 2) [1980]