Canada supports the efforts of Manitoba Indigenous groups to rebuild their nations

Press Release

February 13, 2019 — Winnipeg, Manitoba — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The Government of Canada is supporting Indigenous groups seeking to rebuild their nations in a manner that responds to the priorities and unique needs of their communities.

Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced that Canada has provided $1.9 million this fiscal year to five Indigenous groups in Manitoba through the Nation Rebuilding Program. This week Minister Bennett met with three of the funding recipients, Norway House Cree Nation, Island Lake Tribal Council and Treaty No. 5 First Nations, to learn more about their communities’ unique priorities and needs.

Made possible by Budget 2018, the Nation Rebuilding Program provides funding support for activities facilitating Indigenous groups’ own path to reconstituting their nations. The Program is an important step forward in renewing nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous peoples, improving their well-being and economic prosperity and developing healthier, more sustainable communities.

Quotes

“First Nations are working hard to build strong and self-reliant Indigenous nations. Nation-rebuilding investments accelerate the path to self-determination by providing the resources for reconstituting nations and creating a governance of their own choosing. Reconciliation requires renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples based upon the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership.”

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Quick facts

• The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996) recommended that Indigenous groups should begin to reconstitute themselves as nations.
• Nation Rebuilding Program funding has been made available for five years starting in 2018-19. All funded proposals support capacity development as well as aggregation and nation-rebuilding activities that include more than one Indigenous group of the same nation.
• The five Indigenous groups in Manitoba who received Nation Rebuilding funding for 2018-19 are: Treaty No. 2 First Nations, Island Lake Tribal Council, Norway House Cree Nation, Treaty#1 First Nations and Treaty No. 5 First Nations.

Associated links

• Nation Rebuilding Program
• Nation Rebuilding Program Guidelines
• Contributions to support the Nation Rebuilding Program

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Matthew Dillon-Leitch
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
819-997-0002

Media Relations
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
819-934-2302
RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@canada.ca

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