2023-24 Reporting on the Calls for Justice 16.1 to 16.46: Inuit Specific Calls

Budget 2022 Inuit housing investments are delivered to partners by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada for self-determined housing delivery. Inuit Treaty Organizations make housing prioritization decisions based on Inuit determined needs. Inuit housing investments align with Calls for Justice 4.1 as the overall goal of these direct investments and the implementation of the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy is to improve housing outcomes in Inuit Nunangat in line with outcomes for the rest of Canada.

As housing and infrastructure development takes considerable time in Inuit Nunangat, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada awaits partner reporting on their self-determined delivery for confirmation on the specific impact of these recent investments.

Lead Department: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Funding Amount: $845 million/7 years
Funding Source: Budget 2022
Partners: Inuit Treaty Organizations; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 4.6, 4.7, 16.18

The work of the Reaching Home program in part responds to Call for Justice 16.1 through engagement with the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit Land Claim Organizations, Regional Inuit Associations, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, and the Government of Nunavut. Reaching Home's Territorial Homelessness stream also supports homelessness programs and services for Inuit in Nunavut.

Reaching Home's Distinctions-based envelope supports homelessness programs, services and research for Inuit through direct funding with the four Inuit Treaty Organizations, for Inuit living within and outside Inuit Nunangat:

• Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
• Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
• Makivvik Corporation
• Nunatsiavut Government

Reaching Home's Distinctions-based Approaches stream funding supports Indigenous organizations and governments to implement projects that reflect the unique rights, interests, and circumstances of First Nations, the Métis Nation and Inuit experiencing and at risk of experiencing homelessness. In 2023-24, grant funding was advanced to the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit Treaty Organizations, Regional Inuit Associations to undertake homelessness programs, services and research for Inuit at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Infrastructure Canada engages with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut on homelessness investments through the Nunavut Homelessness Tripartite Table. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut have welcomed the establishment of the Tripartite Table as a forum to bring forward homelessness priorities for communities in Nunavut, and in 2023-24 the Tripartite Table successfully advanced Reaching Home funding to support renovations and operating costs for homeless shelters.

Lead Department: Infrastructure Canada
Funding Amount: $4 billion over 9 years (beginning in 2019-20)
Funding Source: $2.1 billion from 2019-2020 to 2027-2028 (Budget 2017); $409.2 million in 2019-20 and 2020-21 (COVID-19 emergency funding); $299.4 million in 2021-22 (Fall Economic Statement 2020); $567.2 million in 2022-23 and 2023-24 (Budget 2021); $562.2 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26 (Budget 2022); and, approximately $100 million in 2023-24 (departmental reallocation for unsheltered homelessness). Additionally, $1 billion from 2024-25 to 2027-28 is proposed in Budget 2024.
Partners: Provincial and territorial governments; National Indigenous Homelessness Council; National Indigenous Organizations (Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, Manitoba Métis Federation, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) and their affiliated organizations; and, Reaching Home Community Entities and Community Advisory Boards (includes 37 communities and regions across Canada under the Indigenous Homelessness stream); Modern Treaty Holders with provisions in their treaties related to the delivery of social services; Other partners within the housing and homelessness sectors
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 4.1, 4.7, 12.4, 16.1, 16.18, 16.19, 18.25

The National Housing Strategy is currently a 10-year, $82+ billion plan to give more people in Canada a place to call home. Launched in 2017, the Strategy includes a range of complementary programs and initiatives that address diverse needs across the entire housing continuum. These support the housing needs of households across Canada, including Inuit and northern communities, and contribute to supporting the housing and economic needs.

Meeting the housing needs of Indigenous communities is a priority under Canada's National Housing Strategy. Projects serving the needs of Indigenous peoples and families are prioritized for funding under many National Housing Strategy programs. There is also programming and funding exclusively for Indigenous and Northern housing. With a few exceptions, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation does not collect distinctions-based data on the National Housing Strategy to report on how the specific housing and economic needs of Inuit households are supported.

On November 30, 2020, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $724.1 million to support the construction and operations of 38 new shelters and 50 transitional homes for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people facing gender-based violence through the Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will allocate $420 million of this investment over 5 years to support the construction of new shelters and transitional housing through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, which is also considered a part of the National Housing Strategy. In January 2021, the Government of Canada announced a commitment to fund the construction and ongoing operation of new Inuit-specific shelters for women and their children and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

NHS Funding Exclusively for Indigenous and Northern Housing (As of December 31, 2023)

• $420 million through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, part of the Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy, to build a minimum of 38 shelters and 50 new transitional homes for Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQI+ people escaping gender-based violence.
  • Under this initiative, as of December 31, 2023, the Indigenous-led Steering committees have selected 47 projects for funding, 11 of which are Inuit-led.
• $25 million through the Affordable Housing Fund to repair 560 units in the existing urban Indigenous community housing stock.
  • Of this funding, $5 million has been conditionally or financially committed toward the repair of 144 units, some of which may support Inuit communities.
• $100 million through the Affordable Housing Fund to support the construction and repair of Housing in the Northwest Territories and Yukon.
  • Of this funding, $92.5 million has been conditionally or financially committed to support the development of 260 new units, some of which may support Inuit communities.
• $300 million through Northern Funding for the territories.
  • Of this funding, $150.00 million has been committed to date to help address the unique needs and challenges faced in the North. Some of this funding may be directed towards addressing the needs of Inuit communities.

Funding through NHS Programs of General Application

$4.23 billion has been conditionally or financially committed through the federal supply initiatives. This includes the Affordable Housing Fund commitments for urban Indigenous housing, emergency Indigenous shelters and housing in the territories listed above. Federal supply initiative commitments will support:

• 23,858 units through Indigenous and Northern housing projects. This includes 49 projects in the territories, where 50% of the population is Indigenous.
  • Of these units, 15,991 are for new construction and 7,867 are for repair or renewal. To date, 11,487 have been completed. Some of these units may support Inuit communities.

The Rapid Housing Initiative Rounds 1 to 3 committed $3.87 billion to support the creation of 15,742 new affordable units.

Of the total units committed, 4,181 units are led by Inuit governing bodies and organizations (1,668 of which have been built). Overall, the initiative has committed funding for 6,239 units aimed to address the housing needs of Indigenous peoples (2,635 of which have been built), some of which may belong to Inuit communities.

Lead Department: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Funding Amount: $82B over ten years, starting in 2017-18
Funding Source: Various
Partners: Provincial and territorial governments; National Indigenous Organizations, and their affiliated organizations; Indigenous governments and organizations; non-profit organizations; municipal governments
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 25 and 26
Related Calls for Justice: 4.6, 4.7 12.4, 16.18 and 18.25

The implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act supports in part this Call for Justice. Under the Act, federal institution may provide access to services in an Indigenous language if the institution has the capacity to do so and there is sufficient demand for access to those services in that language. In 2023-24, Canadian Heritage continued to engage with the senior-level interdepartmental steering committee to guide its work and complete a survey and analysis of current federal services in Inuktut in Nunavut. The Department has also begun engaging other federal departments on the development of pilot projects that can inform the advancement of potential regulations.

Lead Department: Canadian Heritage
Funding Amount: $275M/5 years and $2M ongoing
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Indigenous Governments; Indigenous governing bodies; Indigenous organizations; Indigenous communities; federal departments and agencies; provinces and territories
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 2.2ii, 2.3, 2.4, 16.2, 16.25

Library and Archives Canada has responded to the Call for Justice 16.2 by drafting the Library and Archives Canada Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami workplan prioritizing Inuit culture and language.

Library and Archives Canada has co-developed a workplan with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami for 2021-24, prioritizing and preserving Inuit culture and language. One of the functions of the ITK-LAC Workplan is to co-manage applicable materials. The We are Here: Sharing Stories initiative has integrated the Workplan objectives into their project planning to prioritize the digitization of records related to Inuit culture and history. LAC Indigenous Initiatives Division attended the first circumpolar Writers Festival in Iqaluit in Fall 2023 to provide services and share information on Inuit Communities.

Through its Listen, Hear Our Voices funding initiative, Library and Archives Canada indirectly responded to the Call for Miskotaha 21 by way of support for the following project:

The 2023-24 Listen, Hear Our Voices project, titled "Makivvik Historic Recordings," will acquire digitization equipment, digitize analog and digital recordings related to the history of the Makivik Corporation and Inuit culture. The Makivik Corporation's mandate stems from the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Makivik Corporation works within the Nunavik region with the main organizations created as a result of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, with the government of Quebec, and the government of Canada.

Makivik Corporation works with fellow Inuit from across Inuit Nunangat – the Inuit homeland – as part of the national Inuit political process, formally represented by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. At the circumpolar level, Makivvik is a member of the Inuit Circumpolar Council. This project will serve Makivik Corporation and Nunavik Inuit by ensuring continuity to culturally significant materials through appropriate preservation methods, providing access to employees and Inuit communities, raising awareness of these materials, and finally, by hiring a James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement beneficiary to fill the role of Archiving Clerk providing work skills and experience.

The materials described in this project preserve moments of great historical significance for Nunavik Inuit. Some date to before the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement which defined territorial, economic, and political rights of Nunavik Inuit, and served as a prototype for later land agreements between Indigenous communities and the federal government.

The recordings contain discussions with community elders (some of whom have now passed) about traditional lifeways and major historic events; meetings with politicians at all levels of government; and the activities of Makivik Corporation as it strives to serve Nunavik Inuit. The tacit knowledge contained on these sound recordings is vital to understanding Nunavik's past, present, and future. Preserving this material creates a direct link to the heritage and history of Nunavik Inuit, information that has valuable practical applications in education, scientific research, economic development, and political empowerment. Transfer of analogue content to a digital platform is the only way to guarantee the survival and continuity of these culturally important materials and ensure future use and access.

Through its We Are Here: Sharing Stories initiative, Library and Archives Canada also responded to the Call for Justice 16.2 by transferring the Inuit Land Use and Occupancy Project digitized content, including maps and textual records, to Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, after securing ITK consent.

Lead Department: Library and Archives Canada
Funding Amount: $14.9M/4 years
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: LAC Indigenous Advisory Circle; Listen, Hear Our Voices Contribution Program External Review Committee; National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation; National Claims Research Directors; Office of the Special Interlocutor
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 21
Related Calls for Justice: 2.2(ii), 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 16.2, 17.25

The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) previously contracted an Indigenous-owned firm to conduct research and stakeholder engagement in the territory of Nunavut. In December 2022, the firm finalized their report in consultation with the CRCC investigation team. Addressing Call for Justice 16.3, this report has been translated into the Inuit dialects of Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. The CRCC’s upcoming final report will follow the same process. These reports will be published in the Inuit dialects, as well as French and English, on the CRCC’s website once finalized.

Recognizing the significance of Indigenous cultural and language rights, the CRCC has ensured that its reports from the Nunavut systemic investigation are translated into the Inuit dialects of Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. These efforts prioritize greater accessibility and respect for Indigenous languages that continue to seek official language status as French and English.

Lead Department: Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
Funding Amount: Existing funding
Funding Source: Existing funding
Partners: External stakeholders; Indigenous communities and organizations
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 16.3, 16.43

Guided by the co-developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework Employment and Social Development Canada will continue to collaborate with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation governments and organizations in supporting Indigenous-led Early Learning and Child Care programs and services, delivered in communities across the country. The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework includes a distinct Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework.

Under the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Initiative, Indigenous partners, including Inuit partners make decisions on their program and service delivery, governance and other Early Learning and Child Care priorities each year.

2023-24 example

• Federal funding supported 73 Inuit communities to increase accessibility and expand services, including Indigenous language curriculum, cultural teachings and home kits for children. In Nunavut, funding has supported Indigenous language resources, such as Inuit character sets, Inuit cultural programs, wage subsidies for Early Learning and Child Care staff, and improvements to existing childcare facilities.
• The flexibility of the Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework has enabled Inuit to design, deliver and invest in solutions that respond to their needs and priorities. This also provides the opportunity for Inuit and Canada to implement solutions to address operational issues, such as governance and accountability, prior to full transfer of Early Learning and Child Care.
• The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has recently undertaken a separate mid-term evaluation of the Inuit Early Learning and Child Care. Framework, in line with Inuit self determination principles and monitoring, learning and evaluation priorities identified with the Framework. This evaluation is intended to guide continued implementation of the Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework, and the collaborative approach that has been fostered with Canada, consistent with the federally adopted Inuit Nunangat Policy, that also recognizes Inuit self determination goals.

Lead Department: Employment and Social Development Canada
Funding Amount: $1.7B over 10 years (Budget 2017); $120M in emergency funding in 2020-21; $145M over 5 years and $225M ongoing (Fall Economic Statement 2020); $2.5B over 5 years and $542 M ongoing (Budget 2021); All investments are incremental to existing ongoing investments in IELCC legacy programs
Partners: Employment and Social Development Canada-Service Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and First Nation, Inuit and Métis governments and their representatives – participating in IELCC partnership tables at the national and regional levels
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 2.3,16.21, 16.25, 17.26

The Universal Broadband Fund is one of the key programs helping to achieve Canada’s Connectivity Strategy Targets to provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadian households by 2026 and 100% by 2030.

In 2023-24, 11 projects targeting Indigenous households were completed resulting in over 3,000 Indigenous households receiving access to high-speed Internet. Overall, 74 projects targeting more than 25,000 Indigenous households have been announced, with over 13,000 of these households reached to date.

Since 2015 a total of $208M in federal funding has been announced for improved connectivity in Nunavut, including $7M for 2 projects under the Universal Broadband Fund. In addition, a $27M project was announced by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in December 2023. This project will help bring reliable Internet access to Nunavut’s 25 communities.

Lead Department: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Funding Amount: $3.225 billion
Funding Source: Budget 2019, 2020 Fall Economic Statement
Partners: Indigenous applicants; Indigenous communities
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 5.5

Inuit children from northern Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the territories may be placed in foster care outside the Inuit homeland. The Public Health Agency of Canada supports progress toward Call for Justice 16.6 via its partnerships with provincial and territorial child welfare authorities and with Inuit representative organizations. These partnerships are necessary to capture and use disaggregated data of Inuit children in care outside the homeland to ensure they obtain the benefits to which they have rights.

The Public Health Agency of Canada’s work with Nunatsiavut Government under the terms of a Memorandum of Agreement has continued. A draft governance document has been co-developed with Nunatsiavut Government to govern the partnership on initial placement data. This partnership can be an example to other Inuit governments and organizations of benefits that partnership in the Canadian Child Welfare Information System could bring.

Makivik Corporation has reviewed the first Canadian Child Welfare Information System report and signaled interest in further involvement.

Lead Department: Public Health Agency of Canada
Funding Amount: Funded using the Public Health Agency of Canada's internally available resources and mechanisms (approximately $200,000 in O&M)
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Indigenous organizations; Provincial and territorial ministries of child and family services
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 12.4

An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (the Act) contributes to addressing aspects of Call for Justice 16.14 The Act affirms the rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services and provides for a framework under which Indigenous peoples can choose their own solutions for their children and families. Under this framework, Indigenous governing bodies are able to design child and family services models and laws which are culturally-relevant and address the individual needs of the communities being served.

As part of the implementation of the Act, a unique, holistic, and community-driven process has been put in place for groups, communities, or peoples to move towards the development of laws and exercise of jurisdiction. This process has included:

• Distinctions-based governance engagement mechanisms for partners to discuss high-level policy issues relating to transition and effective implementation of the Act;
• Funding to support Inuit communities, groups, and people and Inuit governing bodies develop capacity to implement their child and family service delivery plans;
• Establishing tripartite coordination agreement discussion tables; and
• Committing to fiscal arrangements that are sustainable, needs-based and consistent with the principle of substantive equality.

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation’s child and family services law Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun Maligaksat established under the framework of the Act currently has the force of federal law. Child and family services that provide cultural continuity have begun to be implemented.

Indigenous Services Canada is actively engaged in discussions with Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to establish agreements tailored to their unique needs and circumstances. These discussions encompass various aspects, including financial arrangements, to ensure that the agreements adequately support the priorities and objectives of Inuit groups.

Lead Department: Indigenous Services Canada
Funding Amount: Economic and Fiscal Snapshot: $542M over five years; Budget 2021: $73.6M over four years; Budget 2022: $87.3M over three to five years; Various funding sources: $1.29B - Funding allocated for various term lengths (up to ten years) starting over different fiscal years; Budget 2024: $1.8B over eleven years
Funding Source: Various
Partners: National Indigenous Organizations; Regional Indigenous Organizations; Indigenous, Federal, provincial and territorial governments; and First Nation, Inuit and Métis Indigenous governing bodies
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 29, 34, 36
Related Calls for Justice: 1.2 v, 1.3, 2.2 ii, 2.3, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.10, 12.11, 12.14, 16.16, 16.17, 16.18, 17.3, 17.4, 17.16, 17.17, 17.18

Indigenous Services Canada indirectly contributes to addressing Call for Justice 16.16. The Department has been working with the provinces, territories and Indigenous partners to develop distinctions-based data and reporting strategies.

To date, Indigenous Services Canada has been participating in distinctions-based working groups with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners to co-develop data and reporting strategies, including gender-based indicators, that provide additional insights to contribute to a better understanding of ways to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous children and youth in care. The Inuit data strategy working group includes representatives from: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit treaty organizations, Inuit women's and youth groups, and every territory and eight provinces. The working group has compiled the first-ever data inventory scan for Inuit children across and beyond Nunangat, which has delivered a picture of the quality of current data and offers tiered recommendations to consider in addressing Inuit-specific data gaps.

Building upon the data inventory scan, a resulting discussion paper is in its final review for release in mid-2024 by the working group. The comprehensive document features suggested actions for all partners to improve the enumeration and reporting on the number of Inuit children in care.

Canada co-developed – with Indigenous Peoples, Provinces and Territories – An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (the Act) that came into force on January 1, 2020. The Act includes provisions to enable the collection, sharing and reporting of child and family services data across jurisdictions to improve Indigenous data collection efforts.

As part of Indigenous Services Canada's objective to support Indigenous governing bodies in building data capacity as they exercise jurisdiction in relation to child and family services, the Department launched a series of knowledge-exchange sessions focused on exploring key elements of data governance, management and information sharing in October 2022. Since launching the series, Indigenous Services Canada has hosted 7 sessions (2 sessions in 2022-23 and 5 sessions in 2023-24). This Indigenous-led series has been regularly attended by an average of 55 participants, representing 35 unique communities and two National Indigenous Organizations (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis National Council). Additionally, the series led to a small demonstration project, in which Indigenous Services Canada supported a small number of communities in identifying and documenting a business requirements framework that can be leveraged in the development of a child and family services information system.

An integral part of this work involves adhering to a co-development process that respects Indigenous data sovereignty.

Lead Department: Indigenous Services Canada
Funding Amount: Economic and Fiscal Snapshot: $542M over five years; Budget 2021: $73.6M over four years; Budget 2022: $87.3M over three to five years; Various funding sources: $1.29B - Funding allocated for various term lengths (up to ten years) starting over different fiscal years; Budget 2024: $1.8B over eleven years
Funding Source: Various
Partners: National Indigenous Organizations; Regional Indigenous Organizations; Indigenous, Federal, provincial and territorial governments; and First Nation, Inuit and Métis Indigenous governing bodies
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 29, 34, 36
Related Calls for Justice: 1.2 v, 1.3, 2.2 ii, 2.3, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.10, 12.11, 12.14, 16.14, 16.17, 16.18, 17.3, 17.4, 17.16, 17.17, 17.18

An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (the Act) contributes to Call for Justice 16.17 by affirming the rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services and providing for a framework under which Indigenous peoples can choose their own solutions for their children and families.

As part of the implementation of the Act, a unique, holistic, and community-driven process has been put in place for groups, communities, or peoples to move towards the development of laws and exercise of jurisdiction. This process has included:

• Distinctions-based governance engagement mechanisms for partners to discuss high-level policy issues relating to transition and effective implementation of the Act;
• Funding to support Inuit communities, groups, and people and Inuit governing bodies develop capacity to implement their child and family service delivery plans;
• Establishing tripartite coordination agreement discussion tables; and
• Committing to fiscal arrangements that are sustainable, needs-based and consistent with the principle of substantive equality.

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation’s child and family services law Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun Maligaksat established under the framework of the Act currently has the force of federal law. Child and family services that provide cultural continuity have begun to be implemented.

Indigenous Services Canada is actively engaged in discussions with Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to establish agreements tailored to their unique needs and circumstances. These discussions encompass various aspects, including financial arrangements, to ensure that the agreements adequately support the priorities and objectives of Inuit groups.

Lead Department: Indigenous Services Canada
Funding Amount: Economic and Fiscal Snapshot: $542M over five years; Budget 2021: $73.6M over four years; Budget 2022: $87.3M over three to five years; Various funding sources: $1.29B - Funding allocated for various term lengths (up to ten years) starting over different fiscal years; Budget 2024: $1.8B over eleven years
Funding Source: Various
Partners: National Indigenous Organizations; Regional Indigenous Organizations; Indigenous, Federal, provincial and territorial governments; and First Nation, Inuit and Métis Indigenous governing bodies
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 29, 34, 36
Related Calls for Justice: 1.2 v, 1.3, 2.2 ii, 2.3, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.10, 12.11, 12.14, 16.14, 16.16, 16.18, 17.3, 17.4, 17.16, 17.17, 17.18

Budget 2022 Inuit housing investments are delivered to partners by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada for self-determined housing delivery. Inuit Treaty Organizations make housing prioritization decisions based on Inuit determined needs. Inuit housing investments align with Calls for Justice 4.1 as the overall goal of these direct investments and the implementation of the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy is to improve housing outcomes in Inuit Nunangat in line with outcomes for the rest of Canada.

As housing and infrastructure development takes considerable time in Inuit Nunangat, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada awaits partner reporting on their self-determined delivery for confirmation on the specific impact of these recent investments.

Lead Department: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Funding Amount: $845 million/7 years
Funding Source: Budget 2022
Partners: Inuit Treaty Organizations; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 4.6, 4.7, 16.1, 16.18

The work of the Reaching Home program in part responds to Call for Justice 16.18 by providing funding for housing and homelessness supports for Inuit within and outside Inuit Nunangat, helping to ensure that Inuit at risk of or experiencing homelessness have access to culturally appropriate services.

Reaching Home's Distinctions-based envelope supports Inuit through direct funding with the four Inuit Land Claim Organizations:

• Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
• Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
• Makivvik Corporation
• Nunatsiavut Government

In 2023-24 an Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Homelessness Working Group was convened to advance work in the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Homelessness Priority Area. The Working Group is co-lead by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Infrastructure Canada, with membership from Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Indigenous Services Canada, the four Inuit Regions, Regional Inuit Associations, and Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada. The objective of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Homelessness Priority Area is to substantially reduce Inuit homelessness by 2030, while supporting all Inuit experiencing or at risk of homelessness across Canada.

To date the Homelessness Working Group has been focused on co-developing a Homelessness Work Plan which outlines key outcomes, action items, deliverables and timelines that will guide work on the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Homelessness Priority Area moving forward. Adhering to the Inuit Nunangat Policy and Inuit Crown Co-development Principles, the collaborative work within this group constituted a positive continuation in laying the foundations for targeted work towards addressing and preventing Inuit homelessness inside and outside of Inuit Nunangat. Moreover, the Work Plan supports the Inuit distinctions-based approaches under Reaching Home, as well as other federal initiatives linked to housing and homelessness.

Lead Department: Infrastructure Canada
Funding Amount: $4 billion over 9 years (beginning in 2019-20)
Funding Source: $2.1 billion from 2019-2020 to 2027-2028 (Budget 2017); $409.2 million in 2019-20 and 2020-21 (COVID-19 emergency funding); $299.4 million in 2021-22 (Fall Economic Statement 2020); $567.2 million in 2022-23 and 2023-24 (Budget 2021); $562.2 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26 (Budget 2022); and, approximately $100 million in 2023-24 (departmental reallocation for unsheltered homelessness). Additionally, $1 billion from 2024-25 to 2027-28 is proposed in Budget 2024.
Partners: Provincial and territorial governments; National Indigenous Homelessness Council; National Indigenous Organizations (Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, Manitoba Métis Federation, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) and their affiliated organizations; and, Reaching Home Community Entities and Community Advisory Boards (includes 37 communities and regions across Canada under the Indigenous Homelessness stream); Modern Treaty Holders with provisions in their treaties related to the delivery of social services; Other partners within the housing and homelessness sectors
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 4.1, 4.7, 12.4, 16.1, 16.18, 16.19, 18.25

An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (the Act), which came into force on January 1, 2020, contributes to the aspect of Call for Justice 16.18 regarding respecting the rights of Inuit children and people in care, including those who are place in care outside of their Inuit homelands. The Act sets out national minimum standards and principles (the best interests of the child, cultural continuity, and substantive equality) which apply throughout Canada in the provision of child and family services in relation to Indigenous children (including Inuit children) regardless of where they live.

The Act also contributes to ensuring that children and people in care have access to their families and kinship systems and have meaningful access to their culture and language and to culturally relevant services. Section 16 of the Act requires service providers to prioritize family unity, including that the service providers conduct a reassessment on an ongoing basis, of whether it would be appropriate to place the child with an adult family member. One of the principles in the Act that all service providers must follow is cultural continuity. In Section 9(2)(b) of the Act, it is noted that "the transmission of the languages, cultures, practices, customs, traditions, ceremonies and knowledge of Indigenous peoples is integral to cultural continuity." The Act also specifically states that, in the context of child and family services, an Indigenous child cannot be apprehended based solely on socio-economic conditions, including lack of adequate housing.

It is up to the service providers to follow the standards and principles within the Act.

The Act affirms the rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services and provides a framework under which Indigenous peoples can choose their own solutions for their children and families. Under this framework, Indigenous governing bodies are able to design child and family services models and laws which are culturally-relevant and address the individual needs of the communities being served.

As part of the implementation of the Act, a unique, holistic, and community-driven process has been put in place for groups, communities, or peoples to move towards the development of laws and exercise of jurisdiction. This process has included:

• Distinctions-based governance engagement mechanisms for partners to discuss high-level policy issues relating to transition and effective implementation of the Act;
• Funding to support Indigenous communities, groups, and people and Indigenous governing bodies develop capacity to implement their child and family service delivery plans;
• Establishing tripartite coordination agreement discussion tables; and
• Committing to fiscal arrangements that are sustainable, needs-based and consistent with the principle of substantive equality.

Through coordination agreements implemented under the Act, communities are supported to provide services that may close socio-economic gaps and provide culturally-relevant child and family services in the best interests of the child.

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation’s child and family services law Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun Maligaksat established under the framework of the Act currently has the force of federal law. Child and family services that provide cultural continuity have begun to be implemented.

Indigenous Services Canada is actively engaged in discussions with Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to establish agreements tailored to their unique needs and circumstances. These discussions encompass various aspects, including financial arrangements, to ensure that the agreements adequately support the priorities and objectives of Inuit groups.

Lead Department: Indigenous Services Canada
Funding Amount: Economic and Fiscal Snapshot: $542M over five years; Budget 2021: $73.6M over four years; Budget 2022: $87.3M over three to five years; $1.29B – Funding allocated for various term lengths (up to ten years); Budget 2024: $1.8B over eleven years
Funding Source: Various
Partners: National Indigenous Organizations; Regional Indigenous Organizations; Indigenous, Federal, provincial and territorial governments; and First Nation, Inuit and Métis Indigenous governing bodies
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 29, 34, 36
Related Calls for Justice: 1.2 v, 1.3, 2.2 ii, 2.3, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.10, 12.11, 12.14, 16.14, 16.17, 16.18, 17.3, 17.4, 17.16, 17.17, 17.18

In collaboration with Pauktuutit Inuit Women and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Indigenous Services Canada launched the Shelter Initiative for Inuit Women and Children, which is an Inuit-led aspect of the larger Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative.

For the Initiative, Pauktuutit co-chairs the Inuit Steering Committee with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada. The Committee is comprised of representatives from all land claim organizations, which review and select Inuit projects for emergency shelters and transitional housing.

As of April 2024, a total of 11 Inuit-led shelters and transitional housing projects have been selected.

The selected facilities include:

• an emergency shelter in the Municipality of Sanikiluaq in Nunavut; and
• one emergency shelter and one transition home in the Northern Village of Puvirnituq in Nunavik (Québec).

Lead Department: Indigenous Services Canada; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Funding Amount: $724.1M/5 years and $96.6M ongoing
Funding Source: Fall Economic Statement 2020
Partners: Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada; Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak; Assembly of First Nations' Women's Council; National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence; National Family and Survivors Circle; Urban partners; 2SLGBTQQIA+ partners
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 19, 23, 25
Related Calls for Justice: 1.8, 3.4, 4.7, 7.3, 16.19, 16.29, 17.20, 17.23

The work of the Reaching Home program in part responds to Call for Justice 16.19 by providing funding for housing and homelessness supports in Inuit Nunangat.

This program follows a community-based approach, with direct financial support to communities allowing flexibility to respond to local challenges and priorities by investing in a range of interventions, including programming designed to meet the needs of vulnerable populations (e.g. women experiencing violence, people fleeing family violence, Indigenous people, the 2SLGBTQI+ communities, etc.).

Reaching Home's Distinctions-based envelope supports Inuit within and outside Inuit Nunangat through direct funding with the four Inuit Land Claim Organizations:

• Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
• Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
• Makivvik Corporation
• Nunatsiavut Government

Reaching Home's Territorial Homelessness stream also supports homelessness programs and services for Inuit in Nunavut.

Reaching Home's Distinctions-based Approaches funding supports Indigenous organizations and governments to implement projects that reflect the unique rights, interests, and circumstances of First Nations, the Métis Nation, and Inuit experiencing and at risk of experiencing homelessness. In 2023-24, grant funding was advanced to the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit Land Claim Organizations, and Regional Inuit Associations to undertake homelessness programs, services and research for Inuit at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Infrastructure Canada engages with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut on homelessness investments through the Nunavut Homelessness Tripartite Table. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut have welcomed the establishment of the Tripartite Table as a forum to bring forward homelessness priorities for communities in Nunavut, and in 2023-24 the Tripartite Table successfully advanced Reaching Home funding to support renovations and operating costs for homeless shelters.

In 2023-24 an Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Homelessness Working Group was convened to advance work in the Input-Crown Partnership Committee Homelessness Priority Area. To date the Homelessness Working Group has been focused on co-developing a Homelessness Work Plan which outlines key outcomes, action items, deliverables and timelines that will guide work on the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Homelessness Priority Area moving forward. The key outcomes include deliverables related to reducing Inuit homelessness and housing vulnerability by ensuring that wrap around services and Inuit shelter needs are adequately addressed.

Lead Department: Infrastructure Canada
Funding Amount: $4 billion over 9 years (beginning in 2019-20)
Funding Source: $2.1 billion from 2019-2020 to 2027-2028 (Budget 2017); $409.2 million in 2019-20 and 2020-21 (COVID-19 emergency funding); $299.4 million in 2021-22 (Fall Economic Statement 2020); $567.2 million in 2022-23 and 2023-24 (Budget 2021); $562.2 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26 (Budget 2022); and, approximately $100 million in 2023-24 (departmental reallocation for unsheltered homelessness). Additionally, $1 billion from 2024-25 to 2027-28 is proposed in Budget 2024
Partners: Provincial and territorial governments; National Indigenous Homelessness Council; National Indigenous Organizations (Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, Manitoba Métis Federation, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) and their affiliated organizations; and, Reaching Home Community Entities and Community Advisory Boards (includes 37 communities and regions across Canada under the Indigenous Homelessness stream); Modern Treaty Holders with provisions in their treaties related to the delivery of social services; Other partners within the housing and homelessness sectors
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 4.1, 4.7, 12.4, 16.1, 16.18, 16.19, 18.25

The National Housing Strategy is currently a 10-year, $82+ billion plan to give more people in Canada a place to call home. Launched in 2017, the Strategy includes a range of complementary programs and initiatives that address diverse needs across the entire housing continuum. These support the housing needs of households across Canada, including Indigenous Peoples, and contribute to supporting the housing and economic needs.

The National Housing Strategy recognizes that women and their children are disproportionately impacted by housing need and that intersections of identities such as race, sexual orientation, age and socio-economic status create distinct types of housing barriers for them. For this reason, the federal government aims to put 33% of the strategy's investments, with a minimum of 25%, towards serving the unique needs of women and their children. As of December 31, 2023, the NHS has committed an estimated $12.32 billion towards meeting the housing needs of women and their children, which represents 31% of all National Housing Strategy funding committed.

Meeting the housing needs of Indigenous communities is a priority under Canada's National Housing Strategy. Projects serving the needs of Indigenous peoples and families are prioritized for funding under many National Housing Strategy programs. There is also programming and funding exclusively for Indigenous and Northern housing. With a few exceptions, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation does not collect distinctions-based data on the National Housing Strategy to report on how the specific housing and economic needs of Inuit households are supported.

On November 30, 2020, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $724.1 million to support the construction and operations of 38 new shelters and 50 transitional homes for Indigenous women, children, and2SLGBTQI+ people facing gender-based violence through the Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will allocate $420 million of this investment over 5 years to support the construction of new shelters and transitional housing through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, which is also considered a part of the National Housing Strategy. In January 2021, the Government of Canada announced a commitment to fund the construction and ongoing operation of new Inuit-specific shelters for women and their children and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

NHS Funding Exclusively for Indigenous and Northern Housing (As of December 31, 2023)

$420 million through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, part of the Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy, to build a minimum of 38 shelters and 50 new transitional homes for Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQI+ people escaping gender-based violence. Under this initiative, as of December 31, 2023, the Indigenous-led Steering committees have selected 47 projects for funding (25 Shelters & 22 Transitional Housing), which is $207 million in capital funding and 786 spaces/units. 33 projects in total have advanced to the point of receiving an agreement and $26 million has been advanced. Of the 47 projects selected for funding: 11 are Inuit-led and 1 is 2S+ led.

• $13.1 million through the Affordable Housing Fund for 2 emergency shelters in the territories. This is part of the $44.8 million 2020 Shelter Initiative for Indigenous women and children escaping family violence. This initiative is supporting the construction of 12 Indigenous shelters across Canada. There will be:
  • 2 in the territories funded through the Affordable Housing Fund.
  • 10 in First Nations communities in the provinces, funded through Canada Mortgage and Houearsing Corporation's On-Reserve Shelter Enhancement Program. To date, 79 have been completed.
• $300 million through Northern Funding for the territories.
  • Of this funding, $150.00 million has been committed to date to help address the unique needs and challenges faced in the North.

Funding through NHS Programs of General Application

Federal Supply Initiatives

$4.23 billion has been conditionally or financially committed through the federal supply initiatives. This includes the Affordable Housing Fund commitments for urban Indigenous housing, emergency Indigenous shelters and housing in the territories listed above. Federal supply initiative commitments will support:

• 23,858 units through Indigenous and Northern housing projects. This includes 49 projects in the territories, where 50% of the population is Indigenous.
  • Of these units, 15,991 are for new construction and 7,867 are for repair or renewal. To date, 11,487 have been completed.
• Commitments made to date will support:
  • 14,084 units on reserve, 6,650 of which have been completed
  • 1,655 units in the territories, 582 of which have been completed
  • 6,869 Indigenous units in urban areas, 2,410 of which have been completed
  • 1,250 Indigenous units in rural or remote areas, 561 of which have been completed

Since the launch of the Affordable Housing Fund, as of December 31, 2023, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has committed $8.17 billion to support the creation of 32,919 new units (21,488 under 80% median market rent) and the repair/renewal of 159,847 units (127,088 under 80% median market rent) for households across Canada. Of the 32,919 new units, 3,466 units are conditional commitments, 16,407 units are in progress, and 13,046 units are built.

Among those units:

• 5,119 new units and 17,826 repair units are specifically targeted towards Indigenous households, 6,425 of which have been completed. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation does not collect distinctions-based data on the AHF.

The Rapid Housing Initiative Rounds 1 to 3 committed $3.87 billion to support the creation of 15,742 new affordable units, of which 5,532 units are built, 4,865 are currently under construction and 187 units are financially committed.

Of the total units committed, 18 units are led by Inuit governing bodies and organizations. Overall, the initiative has committed funding for 6,239 units aimed to address the housing needs of Indigenous peoples (2,635 of which have been built).

Lead Department: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Funding Amount: $82B over ten years, starting in 2017-18
Funding Source: Various
Partners: Provincial and territorial governments; National Indigenous Organizations, and their affiliated organizations; Indigenous governments and organizations; non-profit organizations; municipal governments
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 25 and 26
Related Calls for Justice: 4.6, 4.7 12.4, 16.18 and 18.25

The First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy (FNIYES) is a component of Economic and Social Development Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). The strategy aims to help young people, particularly those facing barriers to employment, get the information and gain the skills, work experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition into the labour market. FNIYES responds to Call for Justice 4.4 by supporting employers to hire and retain students aged 15-30 who are First Nations living on reserve or Inuit living outside of their land-claim areas to gain work experience.

FNIYES is a proposal-based program that provides funding under two streams:

• the First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program, which helps First Nations and Inuit youth acquire essential skills that will assist in gaining employment, help them function well in the workplace, and learn about job and career options; and,
• the First Nations and Inuit Youth Summer Work Experience Program, which provides students with career, learning and labour market information to assist with gaining summer employment.

Since FNIYES's launch in 1997, it has provided thousands of opportunities to First Nations and Inuit youth. Approximately 600 First Nations and Inuit communities design and implement projects each year.

Additional funding for the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy was announced in Budget 2021 and has been implemented in the 2023-24 allocations. Work to modernize the Terms and Conditions of the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy following an engagement process is currently underway.

Successful proposals for fiscal year 2023-24 have been funded to support First Nations and Inuit youth in work placements that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school.

Lead Department: Indigenous Services Canada
Funding Amount: $80.1M/1 year (2021-22) through Fall Economic Statement 2020; $28.8M/1 year (2022-23) through B21; $100.2M over three years to extend the IAFNIYES pilot project for 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25
Funding Source: 2020 Fall Economic Statement, Budget 2021
Partners: First Nation communities and organizations; Income Assistance recipients and clients
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 1.1, 4.4, 16.21

Guided by the co-developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework Employment and Social Development Canada will continue to collaborate with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation governments and organizations in supporting Indigenous-led Early Learning and Child Care programs and services, delivered in communities across the country. The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework includes a distinct Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework.

Under the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Initiative, Indigenous partners, including Inuit partners make decisions on their program and service delivery, governance and other Early Learning and Child Care priorities each year.

2023-24 example

• Federal funding supported 73 Inuit communities to increase accessibility and expand services, including Indigenous language curriculum, cultural teachings, and home kits for children. In Nunavut, funding has supported Indigenous language resources, such as Inuit character sets, Inuit cultural programs, wage subsidies for Early Learning and Child Care staff, and improvements to existing childcare facilities.
• The flexibility of the Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework has enabled Inuit to design, deliver and invest in solutions that respond to their needs and priorities. This also provides the opportunity for Inuit and Canada to implement solutions to address operational issues, such as governance and accountability, prior to full transfer of Early Learning and Child Care.
• The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has recently undertaken a separate mid-term evaluation of the Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework, in line with Inuit self determination principles and monitoring, learning and evaluation priorities identified with the Framework. This evaluation is intended to guide continued implementation of the Inuit ELCC Framework, and the collaborative approach that has been fostered with Canada, consistent with the federally adopted Inuit Nunangat Policy, that also recognizes Inuit self determination goals.

Lead Department: Employment and Social Development Canada
Funding Amount: $1.7B over 10 years (Budget 2017); $120M in emergency funding in 2020-21; $145M over 5 years and $225M ongoing (Fall Economic Statement 2020); $2.5B over 5 years and $542M per year ongoing (Budget 2021); All investments are incremental to existing ongoing investments in IELCC legacy programs
Partners: Employment and Social Development Canada-Service Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and First Nation, Inuit and Métis governments and their representatives – participating in IELCC partnership tables at the national and regional levels
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 2.3, 16.4, 16.25, 17.26

Guided by the co-developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework Employment and Social Development Canada will continue to collaborate with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation governments and organizations in supporting Indigenous-led Early Learning and Child Care programs and services, delivered in communities across the country. The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework includes a distinct Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework.

Under the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Initiative, Indigenous partners, including Inuit partners make decisions on their program and service delivery, governance and other Early Learning and Child Care priorities each year.

2023-24 example

• Federal funding supported 73 Inuit communities to increase accessibility and expand services, including Indigenous language curriculum, cultural teachings, and home kits for children. In Nunavut, funding has supported Indigenous language resources, such as Inuit character sets, Inuit cultural programs, wage subsidies for Early Learning and Child Care staff, and improvements to existing childcare facilities.
• The flexibility of the Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework has enabled Inuit to design, deliver and invest in solutions that respond to their needs and priorities. This also provides the opportunity for Inuit and Canada to implement solutions to address operational issues, such as governance and accountability, prior to full transfer of Early Learning and Child Care
• The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has recently undertaken a separate mid-term evaluation of the Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework, in line with Inuit self determination principles and monitoring, learning and evaluation priorities identified with the Framework. This evaluation is intended to guide continued implementation of the Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework, and the collaborative approach that has been fostered with Canada, consistent with the federally adopted Inuit Nunangat Policy, that also recognizes Inuit self determination goals.

Lead Department: Employment and Social Development Canada
Funding Amount: $1.7B over 10 years (Budget 2017); $120M in emergency funding in 2020-21; $145M over 5 years and $225M ongoing (Fall Economic Statement 2020); $2.5B over 5 years and $542M per year ongoing (Budget 2021); All investments are incremental to existing ongoing investments in IELCC legacy programs
Partners: Employment and Social Development Canada-Service Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and First Nation, Inuit and Métis governments and their representatives – participating in IELCC partnership tables at the national and regional levels
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 2.3, 16.4, 16.21, 17.26

The Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program, via the implementation of s. 8 and 9 agreements under the Indigenous Languages Act, supports this Call for Justice in small part.

Under Section 9 of the Act, Canadian Heritage continued to fund an agreement with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to increase the number of educators that can speak Inuktut in the Government of Nunavut educations system.

Lead Department: Canadian Heritage
Funding Amount: $275M/5 years and $2M ongoing
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Indigenous Governments; Indigenous governing bodies; Indigenous organizations; Indigenous communities; federal departments and agencies; provinces and territories
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 2.2ii, 2.3, 2.4, 16.2

The Circle of Nations' programming supports Calls for Justice 16.27, which call upon the federal government to provide Inuit-specific cultural competency training to public servants.

To date, in 2023-24 the Circle of Nations offered 58 learning events across the Government of Canada, resulting in the participation of 3,560 public servants across all federal departments and agencies. Additionally, the Circle of Nations held 27 events specifically for Natural Resources Canada staff, which helped 1,046 departmental employees achieve their eight hours of must-do Indigenous cultural competency training. In addition, the Elders-in-Residence attended and supported 58 different meetings, Circles and events for sectors within Natural Resources Canada.

The Circle of Nations held special focused events, including a Partner Spotlight of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, the President spoke to staff about Pauktuutit's mandate and how we work together to advance Reconciliation. In addition, NRCan's Nokwewashk and GBA Plus Center of Excellence hosted Pauktuutit in NRCan's GBA Plus Community of Practice to raise awareness of Pauktuutit's Inuit-specific GBA Plus framework.

Natural Resources Canada's Elders in Residence Program

The Elders have a collective memory of history, treaties, Indigenous ways of knowing and being, teachings, songs and ceremonies, which have been passed down for centuries. Currently, eight Elders make up Natural Resources Canada's Elders in Residence Program. Comprised of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Elders, the Elders play a vital role to build bridges and foster greater understanding and reconciliation at Natural Resources Canada. The program is inclusive of 2SLGBTQI+ people and includes two Two Spirit Elders. In the upcoming year, the Elders will continue to promote awareness and the use of Indigenous languages through their teachings and ceremonies. Weekly Teachings cover many topics, including the traditional roles of Indigenous women, women ceremonies, women traditional Pow Wow dances and teachings related to addressing and mitigating violence against Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

In 2023-24, the Circle offered a series of Inuit teachings from Elder Edna Elias including:

• Inuit and the Criminal Justice System (April 21, 2023)
• Inuit Clothing and Design (May 16, 2023)
• Protocols for Working with Inuit Communities and Inuit Elders (June 15, 2023)
• Inuit languages and Writing Systems (October 12, 2023)
• Inuit Resilience (December 7, 2023)
• Inuit Ceremonies and Performing Arts (February 22, 2024)
• Inuit Women: Then & Now (March 21, 2024)

Lead Department: Natural Resources Canada
Funding Amount: $450,000 annually, over two years (2022-23 to 2023-24) through NRCan Departmental Reserve
Funding Source: Existing funding mechanisms
Partners: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Elders; 2SLGBTQI+ people; Indigenous organizations; National Indigenous Women's Organizations; Survivors of violence and their families
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 17.8

In 2022-23, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada developed and launched a new training curriculum for its prosecution teams that focuses on Crown-Indigenous relations, anti-racism, bias, trauma and Gladue reports. The course entitled "Historical and Present Indigenous Realities, Trauma and Gladue Reports" course was developed through a collaboration between Public Prosecution Service of Canada’s Advancement Centre for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility, the Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation Committee, the National Indigenous Council for Employees and the NVision Insight Group Inc. This course is mandatory for all non-Indigenous employees of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

This curriculum is divided into four modules.

• Module 1 focuses on the historical relationship between the Crown and Indigenous peoples;
• Module 2 focuses on cultural competency and current realities and aims to challenge stereotypes associated with Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Métis people;
• Module 3 focuses on intergenerational trauma and trauma-informed practices; and
• Module 4 provides hands-on training on Gladue principles and the role of the Crown.

The first three modules of the course are mandatory for all employees, while the fourth module is mandatory for prosecutors and paralegals, and remains open to all other employee groups.

Since the launch of the training in 2023, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada has delivered nine (9) training sessions in the following regional offices: Ontario, Yukon, Nunavut, Manitoba, Quebec, Atlantic, National Capital, Headquarters and Internal Services. Each training session is adapted to integrate the Indigenous specific realities of the region.

Delivery of the training will continue throughout the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The development of the "Historical and Present Indigenous Realities, Trauma and Gladue Reports" training curriculum was informed by the founding principles of Distinctions-based Culturally Relevant Gender-based Analysis. Each training session is specifically adapted for every regional office to acknowledge and integrate the unique historical and present realities of the First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Indigenous communities living that particular geographical region and serviced by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

Through this training, Public Prosecution Service of Canada employees learn about the various factors that may be contributing to the systemic discrimination faced by Indigenous People. Prosecutors also learn about consideration that is relevant at various stages of the prosecutorial process that will help ensure the equity of outcomes and contribute to curbing over-representation of Indigenous persons in the criminal justice system.

Lead Department: Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Funding Amount: $23.5M/3 years (shared by all four PPSC initiatives)
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Internal Indigenous committees; NVision Insight Group Inc.
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 10.1, 16.27, 17.8, 17.29

Indigenous Services Canada has provided over $2 million to support Inuit-specific violence prevention activities.

Indigenous Services Canada collaborates with Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada to help generate applications for violence prevention funding from Inuit organizations and Inuit communities. In addition, the Program has made pre-development funding available through its annual Call for Proposals, enabling communities to support the soft-costs of developing a proposals for the Shelter Initiative for Inuit Women and Children, under the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative.

The Family Violence Prevention Program funds a project that helps an Inuit community restore their cultural and personal identity connections through the use of visual arts, carving, sewing, language, and cultural information – reconciliation through the arts.

Lead Department: Indigenous Services Canada; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Funding Amount: $724.1M/5 years and $96.6M ongoing
Funding Source: Fall Economic Statement 2020
Partners: Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada; Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak; Assembly of First Nations' Women's Council; National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence; National Family and Survivors Circle; Urban partners; 2SLGBTQQIA+ partners
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 19, 23, 25
Related Calls for Justice: 1.8, 3.4, 4.7, 7.3, 16.19, 16.29, 17.20, 17.23

Through Budget 2023, the Government of Canada is providing $95.8 million over 5 years, and $20.4 million annually on an ongoing basis, to expand support for Indigenous families of missing and murdered women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S+) to access information about their loved ones; enhance community supports to ensure that families of MMIWG2S+ have access to community-based, Indigenous-led support to assist them with the grief and trauma of their loss; and enhance the availability and accessibility of services and supports for Indigenous victims and survivors of crime.

Of this amount, $38.6 million over 5 years and $8.45 million annually on an ongoing basis was announced to create a new funding initiative called Supporting Indigenous Victims and Survivors of Crime (SIVC). This funding will support a wide range of Indigenous-led and co-developed activities to support and assist Indigenous victims of crime and survivors of violence across Canada.

Following the Budget 2023 investment, a call for proposals will be launched in late spring or early fall of 2024 to support a wide range of Indigenous-led and co-developed projects. This will support Indigenous victims and survivors of crime and new justice system partnerships to better meet the needs of Indigenous victims and survivors of crime within the criminal justice system, including Inuit victims and survivors.

Lead Department: Justice Canada
Funding Amount: $38.5M over 5 years and $8.45M annually on an ongoing basis
Funding Source: Budget 2023
Partners: Victims and survivors of crime; Family members; Distinctions-based child advocacy centres
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 4.3, 5.6, 16.39, 17.28

Through Budget 2023, the Government of Canada is providing $95.8 million over 5 years, and $20.4 million annually on an ongoing basis, to expand support for Indigenous families of missing and murdered women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S+) in accessing information about their loved ones; enhance community supports to ensure that families of MMIWG2S+ have access to community-based, Indigenous-led support to assist them with the grief and trauma of their loss; and enhance the availability and accessibility of services and supports for Indigenous victims and survivors of crime, including for families of missing or murdered Inuit people and Inuit victims and survivors of crime.

Of this amount, $37.3 million over 5 years and $7.75 million annually on an ongoing basis was secured to ensure that the critical services provided by Family Information Liaison Units (FILUs) to families of missing and murdered Indigenous people continue to be available for as long as they are needed. This funding will also help Family Information Liaison Units to expand their operations to address gaps in service delivery and remain responsive to the needs of Indigenous communities.

Since 2016, FILU funding has been renewed with one and three years of funding, creating significant stress for family member clients, and strain on FILU operations and partners. The ongoing funding announced in Budget 2023 will create a sustainable, long-term, family-centred source of support, permit new FILU partnerships and increase capacity to undertake new activities in response to the gaps that family members have identified in FILU operations. With this new funding commitment, the Government of Canada is seeking to ensure that FILU support is available to families.

Through Budget 2023 investments, funding was extended, expanded and increased for the Family Information Liaison Units to continue helping families across all 13 provinces and territories to access the available information they are seeking about their missing and murdered loved ones, across agencies, sectors and jurisdictions with the support of a culturally-grounded, trauma-informed team to assist them through this process. FILUs also assist families in accessing culturally grounded healing supports and services at the community level to address the grief and trauma of their loss.

Lead Department: Justice Canada
Funding Amount: $37.3M over 5 years and $7.75M ongoing annually
Funding Source: Budget 2023
Partners: Provincial and territorial governments; FILU national networks (operational and frontline); Family members; Partner agencies in the justice system
Related Calls for Justice: 1.6, 5.6, 17.28

Through Budget 2023, the Government of Canada is providing $95.8 million over 5 years, and $20.4 million annually on an ongoing basis, to expand support for Indigenous families of missing and murdered women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S+) in accessing information about their loved ones; enhance community supports to ensure that families of MMIWG2S+ have access to community-based, Indigenous-led support to assist them with the grief and trauma of their loss; and enhance the availability and accessibility of services and supports for Indigenous victims and survivors of crime.

Of this amount, $20 million over 5 years and $4.15 million annually on an ongoing basis was committed to the Community Support and Healing for Families initiative to ensure that families of missing and murdered Indigenous people have access to Indigenous-led, community-based supports to assist them with their grief and their healing journey, including supports for Inuit families.

Through Budget 2023 investments, funding was extended during 2023-24 for Indigenous-led organizations to continue providing Community Supports and Healing for Families of MMIWG2S+. Increased funding was made available to expand supports to meet the needs of children and youth of missing, murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people and the families of missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys. A call for proposals was launched in October 2023 to increase the number of organizations providing community support and healing for families, for projects to begin after April 1, 2024.

Lead Department: Justice Canada
Funding Amount: $20M/5 years, and $4.15M annually ongoing
Funding Source: Budget 2023
Partners: Family members; Partner agencies in the justice system
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 5.6, 17.28

Through Budget 2023, the Government of Canada is providing $95.8 million over 5 years, and $20.4 million annually on an ongoing basis, to support Indigenous families in accessing information about their missing or murdered loved ones; enhance community supports to ensure that families of MMIWG2S+ have access to community-based, Indigenous-led support to assist them with the grief and trauma of their loss; and enhance the availability and accessibility of services and supports for Indigenous victims and survivors of crime.

Of this amount, $38.6 million over 5 years and $8.45 million annually on an ongoing basis was announced to support a wide range of Indigenous-led and co-developed activities to support and assist Indigenous victims of crime and survivors of violence across Canada. This funding could support the establishment of Inuit child advocacy centres.

Following Budget 2023 new investment, a call for proposals will be launched in the late spring or early fall of 2024 to support a wide range of Indigenous-led and co-developed projects to support Indigenous victims and survivors of crime.

Lead Department: Justice Canada
Funding Amount: $38.5M/5 years and $8.45M annually ongoing
Funding Source: Budget 2023
Partners: Victims and survivors of crime; Distinctions-based child advocacy centres
Related Calls for Justice: 4.3, 5.6, 16.29, 17.28

The Nunavut systemic investigation addresses Call for Justice 16.43, as it seeks to improve the public complaint process and strengthen police oversight in the territory. The investigation team leveraged the findings and recommendations of an Indigenous-owned firm to inform the broader review and will link their document in the final report of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC), which is currently under development. It was previously shared that this would be completed by summer 2023; however, an extended timeline was needed to conduct additional interviews, collect relevant materials, and ensure a more thorough analysis. It is expected to be finalized by fiscal year 2024-25.

This review particularly examines whether the policies, procedures and guidelines that govern the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) public complaint process in Nunavut, and the training related to this process, are adequate, appropriate, sufficient, and clear; whether the RCMP is complying with these policies, procedures and guidelines; whether the RCMP has the means to assess this compliance, and whether it is doing so; and whether the people of Nunavut are aware of, and confident in, the RCMP public complaint process. Based on its investigation, the CRCC will share findings and provide recommendations for the purposes of strengthening the public complaint process, ensuring greater accountability, and increasing public trust.

Lead Department: Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
Funding Amount: Existing funding
Funding Source: Existing funding
Partners: External stakeholders; Indigenous communities and organizations
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 16.3, 16.43

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.44, as it funds Indigenous-led data projects to improve the data landscape on Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people by developing quantitative distinctions-based indicators, addressing methodological gaps, or working to define safety through Indigenous ways of understanding.

In 2021-22, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Secretariat held a Call for Proposals for the Indigenous-Led Data Research Projects Program, and subsequently provided funding for 17 multi-year projects, some going until 2026-27. In 2023-24, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Secretariat is funding 19 projects from the 2021-22 Call for Proposals. The total funding contribution to this important work totaled $1.88 million for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Lead Department: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Funding Amount: $8.5M over 6 years
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Funding recipients
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 5.24, 16.44, 17.2, 18.4

The first cycle of the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces, which collected self-reported information on experiences of gender-based violence in Canada, was conducted in 2018.

Between August and October 2022, Women and Gender Equality and Statistics Canada engaged with over 100 stakeholders – including survivors, academics, researchers and community-based organizations serving people who have experienced violence – to inform the second cycle of the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces.

Based on the consultations and research findings using the first cycle of data, the overall sample size will be increased from 104,000 to 150,000 and there will be oversampling of the following population groups: Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), gender minorities (non-binary and transgender) and youth (aged 15 to 24). This oversampling will enable increased disaggregation and intersectional analysis, including distinction-based reporting of Indigenous peoples (i.e., providing separate results for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples) and allow for additional data disaggregation among 2SLGBTQI+ people.

Data collection for the second cycle of the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces will be over several months between 2024 and 2025 and findings will be reported in 2026.

The Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces fills important data and knowledge gaps on the self-reported experiences of gender-based violence in Canada. Generally, victimization is not always reported to the police, and for Indigenous women, the issue of reporting is complex and may be largely impacted by the mistrust in police and criminal justice systems (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 2015). In addition, Indigenous women may face unique barriers to reporting experiences of violent victimization or seeking help following victimization, including a lack of access to culturally appropriate resources, inaccessibility of support services, a general distrust of law enforcement, and perceived lack of confidentiality in the justice system (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 2015). The Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces thus compliments police-reported data to better understand the nature and extent of victimization, perceptions of safety, and attitudes toward the criminal justice system.

The data from the survey provides valuable information on the experiences of gender-based violence among different populations, including Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Results from the 2018 survey confirmed that Indigenous women are overrepresented in lifetime experiences of gender-based violence. Survey results enable researchers, policymakers, service providers and other stakeholders to develop evidence-based policies and programmes that will respond to the issues that were raised by respondents. Results are also used to increase public awareness of this issue and are useful in the development of indicators to track progress and monitor trends in Canada.

A specific example of a distinctions-based approach using the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces can be found in a 2022 Statistics Canada report that examined the prevalence of violent victimization and perceptions of safety among First Nations, Métis and Inuit women in Canada (Victimization of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in Canada). Similarly, Statistics Canada also released a study of victimization in Canada's remote communities, areas that are home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit women (Women's experiences of victimization in Canada's remote communities). Both studies provided important information regarding the context within which violence and victimization happens.

Lead Department: Statistics Canada; Women and Gender Equality
Funding Amount: $1M
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Indigenous organizations and researchers
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 17.2