Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations facts for kids

The Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations is an important job in the Canadian Cabinet. This minister works for the Government of Canada. Their main role is to manage the relationship between the federal government and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.

This minister is one of two who lead the department called Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC). This department handles laws and policies related to Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The current minister is Gary Anandasangaree. He has held this position since July 26, 2023.

This role was created on August 28, 2017, by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It was part of a plan to divide the old Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada department into two new ones. The other new role is the Minister of Indigenous Services, who focuses on services like health care and water for Indigenous communities.

What the Minister Does

The Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations works to build a better relationship between Canada and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. This means working together as "nation-to-nation" or "government-to-government."

Their job also includes updating how the Canadian government works. This helps Indigenous peoples have more control over their own future. The minister also leads the government's work in Canada's North.

Understanding Key Terms

Over time, the names used for Indigenous peoples and government departments have changed. This is to be more respectful and accurate.

• First Nation: This term has been used since the 1970s. Many people prefer it over the older term "Indian."
• Indian: This word is still used in some legal documents, like the Indian Act and the Canadian Constitution. It refers to people who are officially registered as "Status Indians" under the Indian Act.
• Aboriginal: This term is often used to talk about all three main groups of Indigenous peoples in Canada: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

The idea of an "Aboriginal nation" means a large group of Indigenous people who share a common identity. This identity can come from their history, language, culture, or traditions. They usually live in a specific territory.

History of the Role

The government's relationship with Indigenous peoples has a long history. Before Canada became a country in 1867, the "Indian Department" handled these relations.

After 1867, a "Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs" was part of the Canadian Cabinet. Over the years, the responsibilities for Indigenous affairs moved between different government ministers and departments.

In 1983, a special committee suggested that the Indian Act should be phased out. They also recommended that First Nations communities should manage their own affairs. These ideas were not fully put into action at the time.

In 1985, changes were made to the Indian Act. These changes gave "Indian status" back to many people who had lost it unfairly. This included women who married non-Status Indian men and their children.

By 2017, the government decided to create two separate ministries. This was to better focus on the unique needs and rights of Indigenous peoples. The goal was to improve relationships and support Indigenous self-determination.

List of Ministers

This table shows the people who have held the position of Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, and later the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and finally the Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations.

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party	Ministry
Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs
1		Hector Louis Langevin	May 22, 1868	December 7, 1869	Conservative	1 (Macdonald)
2		Joseph Howe	December 8, 1869	May 6, 1873	Liberal-Conservative
–		James Cox Aikins (acting)	May 7, 1873	June 13, 1873
3		Thomas Nicholson Gibbs	June 14, 1873	June 30, 1873
4		Alexander Campbell	July 1, 1873	November 5, 1873	Conservative
5		David Laird	November 7, 1873	October 6, 1876	Liberal	2 (Mackenzie)
–		Richard William Scott (acting)	October 7, 1876	October 23, 1876
6		David Mills	October 24, 1876	October 8, 1878
7		Sir John A. Macdonald 1st time	October 17, 1878	October 2, 1887	Liberal-Conservative	3 (Macdonald)
8		Thomas White	October 3, 1887	April 21, 1888	Conservative
(7)		Sir John A. Macdonald (acting) 2nd time	May 8, 1888	September 24, 1888	Liberal-Conservative
9		Edgar Dewdney	September 25, 1888	June 6, 1891	Conservative
			June 16, 1891	October 16, 1892		4 (Abbott)
10		Thomas Mayne Daly	October 17, 1892	November 24, 1892	Liberal-Conservative
			December 5, 1892	December 12, 1894		5 (Thompson)
			December 21, 1894	April 27, 1896		6 (Bowell)
11		Hugh John Macdonald	May 1, 1896	July 8, 1896	Conservative	7 (Tupper)
–		Richard William Scott (acting)	July 17, 1896	November 16, 1896	Liberal	8 (Laurier)
12		Clifford Sifton	November 17, 1896	February 28, 1905
–		Sir Wilfrid Laurier (acting)	March 13, 1905	April 7, 1905
13		Frank Oliver	April 8, 1905	October 6, 1911
14		Robert Rogers	October 10, 1911	October 28, 1912	Conservative	9 (Borden)
15		William James Roche	October 29, 1912	October 12, 1917
16		Arthur Meighen	October 12, 1917	July 10, 1920	Unionist	10 (Borden)
17		Sir James Alexander Lougheed	July 10, 1920	December 29, 1921	Liberal-Conservative	11 (Meighen)
18		Charles Stewart 1st time	December 29, 1921	June 28, 1926	Liberal	12 (Mackenzie King)
–		Henry Herbert Stevens (acting)	June 29, 1926	July 12, 1926	Conservative	13 (Meighen)
–		R. B. Bennett (acting)	July 13, 1926	September 25, 1926
(18)		Charles Stewart 2nd time	September 26, 1926	June 26, 1930	Liberal	14 (Mackenzie King)
19		Ian Alistair Mackenzie	June 27, 1930	August 7, 1930
20		Thomas Gerow Murphy	August 7, 1930	October 23, 1935	Conservative	15 (Bennett)
21		Thomas Alexander Crerar	October 23, 1935	November 30, 1936	Liberal	16 (Mackenzie King)
Minister responsible for Indian Affairs (Minister of the Interior, Minister of Mines)
(21)		Thomas Alexander Crerar	December 1, 1936	April 17, 1945	Liberal	16 (Mackenzie King)
22		James Allison Glen	April 18, 1945	June 10, 1948
23		James Angus MacKinnon	June 10, 1948	November 15, 1948
			November 15, 1948	March 31, 1949		17 (St. Laurent)
24		Colin William George Gibson	April 1, 1949	January 17, 1950
Minister responsible for Indian Affairs (Minister of Citizenship)
25		Walter Edward Harris	January 18, 1950	June 30, 1954	Liberal	17 (St. Laurent)
26		Jack Pickersgill	July 1, 1954	June 21, 1957
–		Davie Fulton (acting)	June 21, 1957	May 11, 1958	Progressive Conservative	18 (Diefenbaker)
27		Ellen Fairclough	May 12, 1958	August 8, 1962
28		Dick Bell	August 9, 1962	April 22, 1963
29		Guy Favreau	April 22, 1963	February 2, 1964	Liberal	19 (Pearson)
30		René Tremblay	February 3, 1964	February 14, 1965
31		John Robert Nicholson	February 15, 1965	December 17, 1965
32		Jean Marchand	December 18, 1965	September 30, 1966
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
33		Arthur Laing	October 1, 1966	April 20, 1968	Liberal	19 (Pearson)
			April 20, 1968	July 5, 1968		20 (P. E. Trudeau)
34		Jean Chrétien	July 5, 1968	August 7, 1974
35		J. Judd Buchanan	August 8, 1974	September 13, 1976
36		Warren Allmand	September 14, 1976	September 15, 1977
37		James Hugh Faulkner	September 16, 1977	June 3, 1979
38		Jake Epp	June 4, 1979	March 2, 1980	Progressive Conservative	21 (Clark)
39		John Munro	March 3, 1980	June 29, 1984	Liberal	22 (P. E. Trudeau)
40		Doug Frith	June 30, 1984	September 16, 1984		23 (Turner)
41		David Crombie	September 17, 1984	June 29, 1986	Progressive Conservative	24 (Mulroney)
42		Bill McKnight	June 30, 1986	January 29, 1989
43		Pierre Cadieux	January 30, 1989	February 22, 1990
44		Tom Siddon	February 23, 1990	June 24, 1993
45		Pauline Browes	June 25, 1993	November 3, 1993		25 (Campbell)
46		Ron Irwin	November 4, 1993	June 10, 1997	Liberal	26 (Chrétien)
47		Jane Stewart	June 11, 1997	August 2, 1999
48		Bob Nault	August 3, 1999	December 11, 2003
49		Andy Mitchell	December 12, 2003	July 19, 2004		27 (Martin)
50		Andy Scott	July 20, 2004	February 5, 2006
51		Jim Prentice	February 6, 2006	August 14, 2007	Conservative	28 (Harper)
52		Chuck Strahl	August 14, 2007	August 6, 2010
53		John Duncan	August 6, 2010	May 17, 2011
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
(53)		John Duncan	May 18, 2011	February 15, 2013	Conservative	28 (Harper)
–		James Moore, (acting)	February 15, 2013	February 22, 2013
54		Bernard Valcourt	February 22, 2013	November 3, 2015
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
55		Carolyn Bennett	November 4, 2015	August 28, 2017	Liberal	29 (J. Trudeau)
Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
(55)		Carolyn Bennett	August 28, 2017	July 18, 2018	Liberal	29 (J. Trudeau)
Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations
(55)		Carolyn Bennett	July 18, 2018	October 26, 2021	Liberal	29 (J. Trudeau)
56		Marc Miller	October 26, 2021	July 26, 2023	Liberal
57		Gary Anandasangaree	July 26, 2023	Incumbent	Liberal

See also

• Recognition and Implementation of Indigenous Rights Framework
• Minister of Indigenous Services
• Minister of Mines and Resources (1936–1950)
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Indian Register
• Indian Agent (Canada)
• Indian Department, for historical background
• Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
• Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
• The Canadian Crown and First Nations, Inuit and Métis
• Canadian Aboriginal and indigenous law
• Aboriginal peoples in Canada
  • First Nations
  • Inuit
  • Métis people (Canada)
• Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (Australia)