Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada facts for kids
| Relations Couronne-Autochtones et des Affaires du Nord Canada | |
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| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2019 1880 (historic) |
| Jurisdiction | Canada |
| Headquarters | Gatineau, Quebec, Canada |
| Employees | 4500+ |
| Minister responsible |
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Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC; French: Relations Couronne-Autochtones et des Affaires du Nord Canada) is a part of the Government of Canada. It helps manage Canada's northern lands and territories. It also works on policies and relationships with Indigenous peoples in Canada. These groups include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
CIRNAC is one of two government departments that replaced an older one. That old department was called the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND). The other new department is Indigenous Services Canada.
Two government ministers lead CIRNAC. One is the Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations. This minister handles things like treaty rights and land talks. The other is the Minister of Northern Affairs. CIRNAC's main office is in Terrasses de la Chaudière, in Gatineau, Quebec.
Contents
Understanding Names for Indigenous Peoples
It's important to use the right words when talking about different groups of people. Here's how some terms are used in Canada:
Why "First Nation" is Used
The term "First Nation" has been used since the 1970s. Many people prefer it instead of the word Indian, which some found offensive.
The Term "Indian"
The word Indian is still used in some legal and historical documents. For example, it's found in the Indian Act and the Canadian Constitution. It refers to "Status Indians" as defined by law.
Understanding "Inuit"
The term Inuit refers to an Aboriginal people in Northern Canada. They live in places like Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Northern Quebec, and Northern Labrador. The word "Inuit" means 'people' in their language, Inuktitut. The singular form of Inuit is Inuk.
The word Eskimo is found in older historical documents about Canadian Inuit. However, it is not used today.
The Term "Aboriginal"
The term Aboriginal is often used to talk about the three main groups of Indigenous peoples together. These groups are First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Some Indigenous people in Canada also use this term. They use it when they talk about their rights to their lands.
What CIRNAC Does
CIRNAC is one of the government departments that helps Canada meet its promises to Indigenous peoples. It also helps with the government's duties in the North. The department's work is guided by many laws, agreements, and court decisions.
Most of CIRNAC's programs and money are used through partnerships. These partnerships are with Indigenous communities. They also work with agreements between the federal government and provinces or territories. CIRNAC also works with Indigenous people who live in cities. This includes Métis and Non-Status Indians, many of whom live in rural areas.
CIRNAC helps Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) and people in the North to:
- improve their well-being and economic success;
- build healthier, more lasting communities;
- take a bigger part in Canada's growth.
CIRNAC also manages the resources on federal lands. This includes land leases and money from resources like oil and gas.
A Look at CIRNAC's History
How Aboriginal Affairs Started
In 1755, the British Crown (the government of Britain) created the British Indian Department. The Governor General of Canada was in charge of Indian affairs. But they often let other officials handle most of the work. In 1860, the British government passed this job to the Province of Canada.
In 1876, the Indian Act became law. This act is still a very important law for First Nations today. Also, many treaties were made between Canada and different Indian bands across the country.
Between 1873 and 1966, different government departments handled Indian Affairs and Northern Development. In 1880, the Indian Affairs Department was created. In 1939, courts decided that federal laws for Indian peoples also applied to the Inuit. A new version of the Indian Act was passed in 1951.
On October 1, 1966, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development was officially created. Later, in 2011, it started using the name Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
The Start of Northern Development
The Northern Development part of the department began with the Department of the Interior. This department was created by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald in 1872. Its job was to manage federal lands.
When the Department of the Interior closed in 1936, Indian Affairs moved to the Department of Mines and Resources. But there was a need for social and health services in the North. So, in 1951, the Northern Administration and Lands branch was set up. This led to the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources in 1953. This department then became the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 1966.
Early Arctic Expeditions
Starting in the early 1900s, the Government of Canada sent yearly trips to the Canadian North. These trips took many photos of the lives of northern Indigenous peoples. Explorers, engineers, scientists, and medical staff took part in these trips.
Richard S. Finnie was an explorer, photographer, and filmmaker. He went on many trips to the North. His first trip was in 1924. Lachlan T. Burwash, an engineer, surveyed the east coasts of Hudson Bay and James Bay in the late 1920s.
Zoologist Joseph Dewey Soper traveled to the Baffin Island region in the late 1920s. He documented the land, plants, and birds. J.G. Wright, a superintendent and photographer, was on a 1945–1946 trip. S.J. Bailey, a director for Family Allowances in Yukon and the Northwest Territories, also joined Arctic trips.
Changes to the DIAND
In August 2017, the Canadian government announced that the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) would be split up. It was replaced by two new departments: Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. This change officially happened on July 15, 2019.
The reason for this change was to create a new way of working with Indigenous peoples. The old department was seen as having a "paternalistic, colonial way." This means the government used to make decisions for Indigenous peoples, rather than working with them. The new departments aim to improve services and help Indigenous communities achieve more self-government.
How CIRNAC is Organized
CIRNAC has offices in ten different regions across Canada. It also has its main headquarters. These offices deal with things like treaties and Indigenous government. They also handle land, economic development, education, and social development. The Northern Development part of CIRNAC is mainly in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut offices.
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was signed in 1993. This agreement was between the Inuit of the Nunavut Settlement Area and the Government of Canada. The territory of Nunavut was then formed in 1999. CIRNAC has big responsibilities for managing the lands and resources in Nunavut.
For the Inuit of Nunavut, CIRNAC is working on a plan called "The Nunavut Project." This plan aims to increase how much Inuit people are involved in Nunavut's federal and territorial public services.
See also
- Unikkausivut: Sharing Our Stories, an Inuit DVD boxset and website.
- Indian Agent (Canada)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs (a similar US government agency)
- Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (a similar Australian agency)
