Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Affiliates

The affiliates of CAP are provincial and territorial organizations (PTOs) that have applied at various times since 1971 to formally and legally associate themselves with CAP (or the former Native Council of Canada) as their national representative body. Each affiliate has its own constitution and is separately funded under the federal Aboriginal Representative Organization Program (AROP). CAP's bylaws require affiliation be limited to one organization per province or territory. In effect, these affiliates are the corporate members of CAP, which does not, itself, have individual memberships.

Affiliates also receive both federal and provincial funding to carry out of wide range of programs and services for their members and constituents. The kinds of programs and services, as well as the amount of funding available, varies considerably from province to province. CAP participation in those programs is usually limited to lobbying for federal funding, and monitoring the national scope of some programs. It is the affiliates who actually deliver such programs to their constituents.

Each affiliate offers memberships to those individuals who meet the membership criteria of that particular PTO. These members are often organized into community locals, and, in the case of larger provinces, into regions or zones. Individual members elect their executive officers who serve as board members (and as zone directors in the larger organizations) for their particular province or territory. The Presidents or Chiefs of these PTOs constitute the board of Directors of CAP who meet several times a year to determine the overall policy and activity of CAP.

Affiliates are each entitled to send 16 voting delegates, including at least one elder and one youth, to an Annual General Assembly held at the national level by CAP. The national Assembly hears the activity related to the resolutions of the previous Assembly, is presented with the annual reports of each department and activity at CAP, and examines the auditor's report for that year. Individual delegates put forward motions and resolutions for the consideration of the Assembly and in an election year (every third year) select a Chief and Vice-Chief by secret ballot. At each Assembly workshops are held for delegates dealing with a variety of priority issues and concerns.

For details and contact information relating to specific PTOs use the links provided below.