Research

Claims and Treaties

Aboriginal and Treaty Rights

This page examines the issue of the interpretation of Aboriginal and treaty rights within the framework of the Constitution Act of 1982.

Source: Government of Canada; Depository Services Program

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Economic Development and Business

Building Sustainable Communities: Good Practices and Tools for Community Economic Development

This report was developed to assist economic development officers in achieving sustainable economic development for First Nation and Inuit communities.

Source: Institute on Governance

Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development

This document introduces and examines the actions the federal government intends to take on priority areas to unlock the full economic potential of Aboriginal Canadians.

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Options for Commercial Enterprises in First Nations (PDF)

This background paper was commissioned by the Pictou Landing First Nation to assist them in establishing a regime for managing the commercial fishing licences and related boats and gear.

Source: Institute on Governance

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Education

CMEC Summit on Aboriginal Education: Strengthening Aboriginal Success — Summary Report (PDF)

Report on the outcomes of the CMEC Summit on Aboriginal Education.

Source: Council of Ministers of Education (Canada)

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Employment

Aboriginal Workforce, The: What Lies Ahead (PDF)

This paper was published by the Canadian Labour and Business Centre and discusses various demographic, economic and educational trends and forecasts pertaining to the Aboriginal workforce.

Source: Canadian Labour and Business Centre

Employment Equity and Diversity

Assists managers and human resources professionals in integrating employment equity principles and practices into daily operations by providing access to useful employment equity and diversity information, tools and resources.

Source: Government of Canada; Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC)

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Environment and Natural Resources

Environmental Damage and Aboriginal Health

This report outlines the harmful effects of pollutants on the health of Aboriginal Peoples. It looks at different types of pollutants, from nuclear to industry, logging and mining pollutants.

Source: National Indian and Inuit Community Health Representatives Organization

Environmental Protection: Challenges and Prospects for First Nations under the First Nations Land Management Act (PDF)

This paper addresses environment protection issues for First Nations under the FNLMA by describing existing regulatory voids and by exploring the regulatory options that are available.

Source: Institute on Governance

Relationships between First Nations and the Forest Industry: The Legal and Policy Context (PDF)

This study analyzes business partnerships between First Nations and forestry companies and outlines the nature of the legal and policy environment across the country.

Source: Insititute on Governance

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

This page contains links to papers and studies pertaining to Traditional Ecological Knowledge methods.

Source: The Aboriginal Mapping Network

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Governance

Aboriginal Governance

The Institute on Governance works with organizations and various levels of government - both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal - to create new initiatives for this important area.

Source: Institute on Governance

Aboriginal Governance in the Decade Ahead: Towards a New Agenda for Change (PDF)

This paper outlines the principal governance challenges facing Aboriginal communities and proposes an agenda for change to deal with these challenges over the coming decade.

Source: Institute on Governance

Aboriginal Roundtable to Kelowna Accord: Aboriginal Policy Negociations, 2004-2005

This paper outlines some of the main phases and features of the Roundtable-to-Kelowna process and offers a few observations about the outcomes.

Source: Government of Canada; Parliament of Canada

Advocacy and Public Information Program

Provides information about the APIP, which aims to contribute to reconciliation between former Indian Residential School students and the Government of Canada through dialogue and exchange of information.

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Bill C–7: The First Nations Governance Act

Electronic version of Bill C-7 that died on the Order Paper with the prorogation of Parliament on 12 November 2003. This Bill hence never replaced the Indian Act.

Source: Government of Canada; Parliament of Canada

Building Governance Capacity: the Case of Potable Water in First Nations Communities (PDF)

This paper presents a model for capacity development that outlines the various approaches and considerations for strategies to develop capacity. To illustrate this model, it is applied to the case of potable water in First Nations communities.

Source: Institute on Governance

Exploring Options for Métis Governance in the 21st Century (PDF)

The purpose of this research study was to review existing Métis Nation governance structures in Canada and explore options for their future development in order to stimulate thinking among Métis and across governments.

Source: Institute on Governance

Government of Canada's Approach to Implementation of the Inherent Right and the Negotiation of Aboriginal Self-Government, The

This page describes the Government of Canada's approach to implementation of the inherent right and the negotiation of Aboriginal self-government.

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

In Praise of Taxes: The Link between Taxation and Good Governance in a First Nations Context (PDF)

This paper makes a case for taxation of First Nation communities by their government, arguing that taxation is a governance issue and introducing tax regimes on reserve would enhance the performance of First Nations governments.

Source: Institute on Governance

Managing the Relationship of First Nation Political Leaders and Their Staff (PDF)

This paper analyzes the relationship of political leaders and their staff in a First Nation context, with particular attention to some of the unique features that colour this relationship.

Source: Institute on Governance

National Centre for First Nations Governance

NCFNG is designed to support First Nations as they seek to implement their inherent rights of self-government, and to assist them in the further development of their day-to-day government operations.

Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non–Status Indians

The Federal Interlocutor helps to find practical ways to improve federal programs and services for Métis, Non-Status Indians and urban Aboriginal people.

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Pearson-Shoyama Institute

The Institute is a "think-tank" devoted to facilitating the involvement of a wider cross-section of Canadians in the development of public and private sector policy.

Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, The (In Brief)

Summarizes the report which is centred on a vision of a new relationship, founded on the recognition of Aboriginal peoples as self-governing nations with a unique place in Canada.

Source: Government of Canada; Parliament of Canada

Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples

This page from AANDC offers three electronic documents related to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development – House of Commons

Introduces this House of Commons Committee dealing with all areas covered by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Provides reports and studies conducted by the Committee.

Source: Government of Canada; Parliament of Canada

Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples – Senate of Canada

The Committee was first created in December 1989 and has a mandate to examine legislation and matters relating to the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada.

Source: Government of Canada; Parliament of Canada

Towards Sound Government to Government Relationships with First Nations: A Proposed Analytical Tool (PDF)

One of the objectives of this paper is to analyze what constitutes an effective or sound government-to-government relationship between the federal government and First Nations.

Source: Institute on Governance

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Health and Social Services

Aboriginal Early Learning and Child Care: Policy Issues

Discusses policy issues surrounding the development of a national early learning and child care program, and provides numerous links to related websites and documents.

Source: Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU)

Aboriginal Ethics Policy Development

CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People was presented as part of a project to develop Aboriginal specific health research guidelines to ensure adequate protections for Aboriginal research participants.

Source: Government of Canada; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Aboriginal Health Research Networks (AHRNet) Secretariat

AHRNet is the coordinating body for Network Environments for Aboriginal Health Research Centres across Canada. It seeks to lead a national advanced research agenda in the area of aboriginal health.

Aboriginal Women and Homelessness (PDF)

This issue paper examines the causes and possible solutions to the issue of Aboriginal women and homelessness.

Source: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs

Addictive Behaviours Among Aboriginal People in Canada (PDF)

Includes papers, speeches and panel discussions presented at the International Indigenous Symposium on Corrections.

Source: Aboriginal Healing Foundation

Diagnosis and Care of HIV Infection of Canadian Aboriginal Youth, The (PDF)

Source: Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network

Early Childhood Development Intercultural Partnerships

Provides information on various research projects conducted through the Early Childhood Development Intercultural Partnerships program, contributing to knowledge about conditions affecting the health and development of Indigenous children.

Factors Contributing to Unstated Paternity (PDF)

This information is believed to be central to gaining a better understanding of why unstated paternity is occurring and what may be done to ensure that First nations parents are better able to comply with the requirements of the birth and Indian registration processes.

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: An Environmental Scan of Services and Gaps in Inuit Communities (PDF)

This document presents a snapshot of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder-related services available in Inuit communities in September 2004 and gaps in services for Inuit.

Source: National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)

First Nations Children and Obesity: A Growing Epidemic – Protecting our Gifts and Securing our Future (PDF)

This report analyses the issue of obesity among First Nation children and makes recommendations for tackling the problem.

Source: Turtle Island Native Network

First Nations Cohesion Project

Aims at addressing how variations among capital and the cohesiveness of First Nations communities generate differential population outcomes.

Source: University of Western Ontario

First Nations Diabetes Report Card, A (PDF)

The report card aims to enhance relationships between the different stakeholders involved in diabetes and prevention and to raise awareness to the challenges faced by First Nations people with diabetes.

Source: National Aboriginal Diabetes Association

First Nations Falls Prevention – A Guide for Aboriginal Communities (PDF)

This comprehensive document promotes the health and independence of Elders by offering information about falls among Elders, suggestions for reducing risk factors, and ideas for encouraging an active lifestyle.

Source: University of Ottawa

Indigenous Children: Rights and Reality (PDF)

This report was prepared to assist the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in the development of a General Comment on the topic of Indigenous children and youth.

Source: First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

Literacy and Health: The Importance of Higher-Level Literacy Skills (PDF)

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of high-level reading skills in health decisions, healthy lifestyles and healthy communities.

Source: National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)

Publications and Resources – First Nations, Métis and Inuit Health

Here you'll find links to the full text of 8 position statements by the Canadian Paediatric Society on First Nations and Inuit health.

Source: Canadian Paediatric Society

Reports and Publications – First Nations, Inuit and Aboriginal Health

These reports and publications on a variety of health-related topics have been created by Health Canada to inform and guide First Nations people and Inuit of issues that affect their health.

Source: Government of Canada; Health Canada (HCan)

Research on ICT with Aboriginal Communities

Research on Information and Communication Technologies with Aboriginal Communities is a new research cluster which is building a critical mass of knowledge that Aboriginal communities can both contribute to and learn from.

Resiliency and Holistic Inhalant Abuse Treatment (PDF)

This paper focuses on the role of a holistic conception of resiliency in inhalant abuse treatment in the National Native Youth Solvent Addiction program.

Source: National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)

Resources – Inuit Tuttarvingat

This page provides numerous links and informative documents about important Inuit health and wellness issues.

Source: National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)

Smoking Prevention Program for Aboriginal Youth, A (PDF)

Considering the alarming rate of tobacco use among Aboriginal youth, this paper explores how a holistic approach coupled with Aboriginal healthcare professionals is necessary for an effective smoking prevention program.

Source: First Peoples Child and Family Review

Voices From the Field – Aboriginal Service and Programs for Low-Income Families and Children (PDF)

In this paper, Ryan Calder, Executive Director Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, Eastern Region II, discusses Aboriginal services and programs for low-income families and children.

Source: Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development

Voices From the Field – Aboriginal Women and Tobacco (PDF)

This document examines the issue of smoking among Aboriginal woman, as perceived by Deborah Schwartz, Executive Director of Aboriginal Health, B.C. Ministry of Health Services.

Source: Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development

Voices From the Field – Aggression in Young Children from a First Nations' Perspective (PDF)

The author of this paper reviews research pertaining to aggression in young Aboriginal children.

Source: Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development

Voices From the Field – An Aboriginal View on Child Care (PDF)

This paper discusses the need for culturally-relevant child care for Aboriginal children and the fact that most research on child care is not relevant to Aboriginal practices.

Source: Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development

Voices From the Field – An Aboriginal View on FAS/FAE (PDF)

This paper examines the issue of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Aboriginal communities and a lack of Aboriginal content within research on FAS.

Source: Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development

Voices From the Field – First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (PDF)

Study on various challenges that arise from doing research on First Nations child social services.

Source: Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development

Voices From the Field – The First Nations and Inuit Perspective on Nutrition (PDF)

This document outlines the consequences of poor nutritional habits in First Nations and Inuit communities and the importance of an improved nutritional health.

Source: Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development

Working Papers of the Culture and Mental Health Research Unit

This page provides 11 working papers of the Culture & Mental Health Research Unit pertaining to Aboriginal Peoples.

Source: McGill University

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Housing and Infrastructure

Aboriginal Housing in Canada: Building on Promising Practices – The International Housing Coalition (IHC) (PDF)

This study examines the situation of Aboriginal housing in Canada and aims to contribute ideas to assist in the search for solutions to the problems of housing low-income families worldwide.

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Justice and Policing

Aboriginal Fisheries and the Sparrow Decision, The

This work, which is based mainly on messages from those with first-hand experience of the 1992 Fraser River salmon fishing season, aims to inform and to provoke thought.

Source: Government of Canada; Parliament of Canada

Aboriginal Fishing Rights: Supreme Court Decisions

The following is a summary of the cases mentioned above, as well as the rulings of the Supreme Court of Canada in Lewis(5) and Nikal,(6) which examined "on reserve" fishing issues

Source: Government of Canada; Parliament of Canada

Aboriginal – Publications by Subject

Series of publications, from Correctional Services Canada, all related to Aboriginal issues.

Source: Government of Canada; Correctional Service Canada (CSC)

Aboriginal Women and the Legal Justice System in Canada (PDF)

This issue paper examines the role and impacts of the Canadian justice system in the devaluation of Aboriginal women, and puts forth recommendations to improve their lives.

Source: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs

Aboriginal Women – Criminalization, Over-Representation, and the Justice System (PDF)

This document outlines the issue of over-representation of Aboriginal women in Canada's criminal justice system, and other related issues such as violence and AIDS in the Aboriginal population.

Source: Elizabeth Fry Society

A One-Day Snapshot of Aboriginal Youth in Custody Across Canada

This page provides statistics on the incarceration rates of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth in all provinces and territories of Canada.

Source: Government of Canada; Justice Canada, Department of

Federally Sentenced Aboriginal Women Offenders (PDF)

This issue paper examines the detention conditions of Aboriginal women in the Canadian correctional system and makes recommendations for improvement of their condition.

Source: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs

First Nations Residential Schools – First Nations House of Learning – Xwi7xwa Library (Subject Links)

Directory links to documents related to First Nations residential schools in Canada and in British Columbia.

Source: The University of British Columbia Library

Indian Status and Band Membership Issues

Discusses the issues that also raised broader questions about the changing nature of the Indian population in Canada, the rights of individuals and communities, and the power to determine membership under self-government arrangements.

Source: Government of Canada; Parliament of Canada

International Comparison of Indigenous Policing Models

This paper provides a brief review of current policing programs and initiatives relating to Indigenous peoples in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: Government of Canada; Public Safety Canada

Native Residential Schools In Canada: A Selective Bibliography

This site offers a selective but comprehensive listing of materials pertaining to Native Residential Schools in Canada available at the National Library of Canada.

Source: Government of Canada; Library and Archives Canada

Risk assessment of male aboriginal offenders: A 2006 perspective

This research explores whether risk factors are similar for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal male offenders, and examines various risk assessment instruments to determine how well they predict risk.

Source: Government of Canada; Public Safety Canada

Victimization and First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples

This issue of JustResearch examines the issue of the overrepresentation of Aboriginal victims in research.

Source: Government of Canada; Justice Canada, Department of

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Language, Heritage and Culture

5000 Years of Inuit History and Heritage

This document presents an overview of five thousand years of Inuit history and heritage.

Source: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK)

Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage

This project aims to document, analyze and theorize on the diversity of principles, interpretations, and actions arising in response to Intellectual Property issues in cultural heritage worldwide.

Source: Simon Fraser University

Inuit History and Culture: A Select Bibliography – Departmental Library

This bibliography is an introductory reading list intended to increase basic awareness of the history and culture of the Inuit people of Canada.

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Teaching First Nations History as Canadian History – Mi'kmaq Resource Centre

This document analyses the need to increase Aboriginal content in primary and secondary school curricula across Canada.

Source: Cape Breton University

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Research Tips and Tools

Aboriginal Archives

The Special Interest Section on Aboriginal Archives deals with archival issues relating to records created by Aboriginal peoples, and records concerning Aboriginal peoples created by non-Aboriginal peoples.

Source: Association of Canadian Archivists

Aboriginal Research (Development Grants and Research Grants)

This page provides information about funding for the Aboriginal Research pilot program, which aims to facilitate research by and with Aboriginal scholars and Aboriginal communities.

Source: Government of Canada; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

Canadian Polar Commission

The Canadian Polar Commission has responsibility for: monitoring, promoting, and disseminating knowledge of the polar regions; contributing to public awareness of the importance of polar science to Canada; enhancing Canada's international profile as a circumpolar nation; and recommending polar science policy direction to government.

Source: Government of Canada; Canadian Polar Commission

Ethical Principles for the Conduct of Research in the North

The 20 principles presented here are intended to encourage the development of co-operation and mutual respect between researchers and the people of the North.

Source: Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS)

First Nations Research Site On-Line Journal

The First Peoples Child and Family Review is an online journal that focuses primarily on First Nations and Aboriginal child welfare practices, policies, and research.

Source: First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

Historical Online Database

This page allows users to find individuals by browsing through the online database by last name, birth year, record type or record year.

Source: Métis National Council

Indian Affairs Annual Reports 1864-1990

Search through the Indian Affairs Annual Reports (1864-1990), a collection that contains the complete annual reports for the department from 1967 to 1990.

Source: Government of Canada; Library and Archives Canada

Northern Perspectives

Series of articles from the Northern Perspectives, published by the Canadian Arctic Resources Committee.

Source: Canadian Arctic Resources Committee

Publications

This page from AANDC offers publications and research focusing on several subjects (eg. agreements, annual reports, claims, etc.)

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Terminology

Provides writers with background information and guidance on appropriate word usage and style issues.

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

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Urban

Not Strangers in These Parts: Urban Aboriginal Peoples (PDF)

A publication of the Government of Canada's Policy Research Initiative, this volume is a collection of papers devoted to analyzing the realities of urban Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

Source: Government of Canada; Policy Research Initiative (PRI)

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