Aboriginal Affairs Branch Department of Canadian Heritage ABORIGINAL PROGRAMS

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS BRANCH  Established in 2003  Strong Aboriginal policy base  Some $67 million for programs  Developing 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 Programming  Need 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 Today  Gathering Strength: Canada’s Aboriginal Action Plan  2002 Speech From the Throne  Improving life chances  Create and share opportunity  Strong focus on youth issues  International commitments

Continually Evolving  Political parties  Court decisions Legal challenges  International influences  Land Claims/Self-Government  Public opinion

Canada Today  Canadians support resolution of Aboriginal issues  Public 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 Programs  Continuing need to sustain momentum  Restructure to enable flexibility to respond to ongoing change

Aboriginal Programs & Initiatives Aboriginal Affairs Branch

Nature of Branch Programs  Pan-Aboriginal  Predominately off-reserve  Primary programming for Aboriginal Languages renewal and preservation

Key Programming Elements  Representation & Advocacy  Participation that supports Cultural Distinctiveness & Capacity Building  Aboriginal Languages  Aboriginal Broadcasting  Aboriginal 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 Milestones  Principle programs in place since 1971  Newer 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 Successes  Key Aboriginal partners on domestic & international issues  Announcement of an Aboriginal Languages and Cultures Centre  APTN cable television network  Strong urban infrastructure  Primary federal programming for urban Aboriginal youth

Aboriginal Youth Programs Aboriginal Affairs Branch

Nature of Youth Programming  Urban focus  Culturally relevant & respectful  Active engagement of Aboriginal youth  Primarily delivered by Aboriginal organizations

Goal of Youth Programming  Encourage 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 Ahead Aboriginal Programming

A Time of Change  Government modernizing  Program management  All federal programs  Focus on citizens, results & responsible spending

Opportunity  To 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 2004  New consolidated program in place by April 2005

Impact for Young Canada Works  Continue within the new consolidated program framework  No loss of integrity of initiative  Reduced NAFC administration  Enhanced impact of YCW