Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC; French: Relations Couronne-Autochtones et des Affaires du Nord Canada)[NB 1] is the department of the Government of Canada responsible for Canada's northern lands and territories, and one of two departments with responsibility for policies relating to Indigenous peoples in Canada (the other being the Department of Indigenous Services, or ISC).
"Department of Indian Affairs" redirects here. For the United States Department of Interior agency, see Bureau of Indian Affairs.Department overview
2019
1880 (historic)
4500+
CIRNAC, along with ISC, were established to replace the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND).
The department is overseen by two cabinet ministers, the Minister of Crown–Indigenous relations (whose portfolio includes treaty rights and land negotiations) and the Minister of Northern Affairs.[1] Its headquarters is in Terrasses de la Chaudière, in downtown Gatineau, Quebec.[2]
Nomenclature[edit]
"First Nation"[3] has been used since the 1970s instead of the word Indian, which some people found offensive.[4]
The term Indian is used for legal and historical documents such as Status Indians as defined by the Indian Act. For example, the term "Indian" continues to be used in the historical and legal document, the Canadian Constitution and federal statutes. The then-Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada used the term Inuit in referring to "an Aboriginal people in Northern Canada, who live in Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Northern Quebec and Northern Labrador. The word means 'people' in the Inuit language — Inuktitut. The singular of Inuit is Inuk."[4]
Eskimo is found in historical documents about Canadian Inuit.
The term Aboriginal is commonly used when referring to the three groups of indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) as a whole.[4] It is also used by Aboriginal people who live within Canada who claim rights of sovereignty or Aboriginal title to lands.
CIRNAC is one of the federal government departments responsible for meeting the Government of Canada's obligations and commitments to First Nations, Inuit and Métis, and for fulfilling the federal government's constitutional responsibilities in the North. The department's responsibilities are largely determined by numerous statutes, negotiated agreements and relevant legal decisions. Most of the department's programs, representing a majority of its spending - are delivered through partnerships with Aboriginal communities and federal-provincial or federal-territorial agreements. CIRNAC also works with urban Indigenous people, Métis and Non-Status Indians (many of whom live in rural areas).[5]
CIRNAC supports indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and Northerners in their efforts to:
CIRNAC also works with urban First Nations, Métis and Non-Status Indians (many of whom live in rural areas) through the Office of the Federal Interlocutor.[6] CIRNAC also manages the resources of federal lands, including land and subsurface leases and resource royalties.
Organization[edit]
CIRNAC has offices in ten (10) regions, at headquarters and to deal with oil and gas leases. The offices are further divided into the broad divisions of treaties and aboriginal government; lands and economic development and education and social development. Northern Development is represented in only the Northwest Territories (NWT) and Nunavut (NU) regional offices and headquarters.
[edit]
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was implemented in 1993 between the Inuit of the Nunavut Settlement Area and the Government of Canada subject to the Constitution Act of 1982. The territory of Nunavut was formed in 1999. CIRNAC has major responsibilities for managing the lands and resources of Nunavut.
With respect to the Inuit of Nunavut, the department and its Minister have the challenge of implementing the Conciliator's Final Report, dated March 1, 2006 on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Implementation Contract Negotiations for the Second Planning Period 2003-2013 "The Nunavut Project" authored by Thomas Berger.[17] This report recommends an increase in Inuit participation in Nunavut's federal and territorial public service.