The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is developing its workplan for participation in the First Nations Governance Initiative (FNGI) announced recently by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).  By participating in the consultation process, CAP plans to achieve a number of objectives.

General Objectives

The consultation provides the opportunity for CAP to pursue three general objectives:
 

1.  to get CAPs message to Member of parliament, Cabinet and other decision-makers and the general public on key governance policy objectives of off-reserve Aboriginal peoples.

2. to identify and negotiate the maximum protections possible for off-reserve Aboriginal peoples in any proposed amendments to the Indian Act or new stand-alone legislation on governance;

3. to lay the groundwork with Canada for more fundamental reform in the future (such as replacing the Indian Act with an Aboriginal Peoples Act.)

More specifically, participation  in the FNGI consultation process provides CAP the opportunity and some financial resources to:
 

1. pursue the broadest recognition and protection possible for the voting and other political interests of off-reserve Aboriginal peoples in any changes to the existing legislative framework for on-reserve First Nations governments.

2. bring attention and mobilize support in government and among the public to change fundamental inequalities underlying the Indian Act as a whole -- such as the Indian status and band membership entitlement systems, the imposition of "Band" and "Indian" identities, federal control of recognition of new First Nations and equity of access issues respecting rights, programs and services;

3. consult with the CAP constituency and the PTOs on existing governance objectives and identify new objectives;

4. carry out important research, policy development and legal work respecting governance to support CAP policy objectives;

5 conduct policy development work with Canada consistent with CAP objectives;

6. lay the groundwork for more fundamental reforms in the future through a communication strategy aimed at the Canadian public and through policy work with Canada during this process.

Other elements of the Governance Program can be accessed via the following links.