Metis

"This report is a summary of the second of a series of symposiums organized by the Sustainable Communities Directorate of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). The purpose of the symposium was to stimulate discussion between community development experts from across the country and to explore strategies to integrate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit community development principles and approaches with government programs and policies."

Article describes how economic participation must be on their own terms and for their own purposes. Also, traditional lands, history, culture and values all play a critical role in economic development. In order to attempt to compete in the global economy on their own terms, Indigenous people are using all types of partnerships, both among themselves and with non-Indigenous enterprises. A case study of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band is used as they are recognized as one of the leaders in economic development in Canada.

"This article addresses three questions: 1) Why study intra-Aboriginal inequality? 2) What is the gap in wages and income between the general Canadian population and the different Aboriginal peoples? and 3) How much inequality exists within the Aboriginal groups and between Aboriginal groups and the non-Aboriginal population? The article points to a general pattern of increase in measured disparity and polarization in income for all Aboriginal groups in comparison to the non-Aboriginal population.

"The 1949 Terms of Union between Newfoundland and Canada made no mention of Aboriginal people in the new province. This deviated from standard practice when a jurisdiction joined the Canadian federation and First Nations people were registered, reserves created, and programs and services delivered. Because there was no mention of First Nations, the Indian Act was not applied in Newfoundland. This meant that the province’s Innu and Mi’kmaq were ineligible for the range of programs and services enjoyed by their counterparts in continental Canada.

"This strategic plan was developed with the view to establish broad long-term priorities relating to Aboriginal economic development which will guide the work and activities of the NAEDB and its Secretariat over the three year period (2012-15). These priorities will be linked to relevant objectives which will assist the federal government’s work to address the gaps between First Nation, Inuit and Métis, and non-Aboriginal Canadians.
For 2012-15, the NAEDB has identified the following long-term priorities:
1. Addressing Barriers to Aboriginal Economic Development

"The Aboriginal Economic Benchmarking Report is the first comprehensive document of its kind to assemble indicators and establish benchmarks to measure the social and economic well-being of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. It focuses on the key indicators and measures that best align with the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development.The Benchmarking Report project was developed by the NAEDB over a four year period beginning in 2008-09. It synthesizes a substantial body of research and analysis undertaken at the direction of the NAEDB."

"An Environmental Assessment (EA) is a process used to identify and mitigate the environmental effects a project may have on the environment before the project is carried out. It can also be referred to as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)."

"Today women are reasserting themselves. Much of the power women once held in their communities has been lost. While the residential schools are closed and the Indian Act amended, there are still many lingering effects of assimilationist policies. But there is hope. Women are regaining their roles as caretakers, leaders, and nurturers of their communities; they can find their voices once again. It is the aim of this Toolkit to empower Aboriginal women to have a voice in environmental decision-making that affect their communities now and for the next seven generations."