White Paper: The Evolution of the Departments of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Services Canada
On August 28, 2017, the federal government made a symbolic yet also substantive change to an important institution in the life of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in this country. On that date, the federal department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs was divided into two separate departments designed to better serve the interests of Indigenous people. One new department was named the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs while the other was called the Department of Indigenous Services. The former would be responsible for dealing with treaty relations, the renegotiation of treaties, land rights, and nation-to-nation relations between the Government of Canada and Indigenous nations. The latter was tasked with maintaining and improving all facets of service delivery owed by the Government of Canada to Indigenous peoples with respect to such matters as health care, education, water quality, income support, occupational job training, transportation, and seniors’ services.
In 2018, the name of the former department was changed yet again to just Crown-Indigenous Relations. In that year, the Department of Northern Affairs became a stand-alone department, meaning that the former department could concentrate solely on policy and programs related to Indigenous peoples.
This was just the latest of many name changes for the department. Prior to 2011, the institution had been known as Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the name the department had carried since 1966.
The term Indian has historically been used in reference to members of First Nations who are not Métis or Inuit. In this sense, the department’s old name from 1966 could be seen as exclusionary to Métis and Inuit identities and interests. But over time, the old department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development did develop and administer programs for Métis and Inuit peoples. The 2011 name change, deleting the word “Indian” in favour of “Aboriginal” can thus be seen as a reflection of what this change..
But names are important. In recent years the term “Indigenous” has come to be increasingly used by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples as their preferred term for referring to themselves, rather than the word “Aboriginal.” And so in 2015, with the election of the Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau, the new government sought to be culturally sensitive to Indigenous people by changing the name of the federal department that has the most impact on their lives.
And this is just one of a long list of administrative changes with respect to how British and Canadian governments have interacted with Indigenous peoples in this land. Consider the institutional evolution below with respect to Indigenous policy.
Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development
| 1755 | British Indian Department given responsibility for dealing with Indian peoples. |
| 1843 | Jurisdiction for Indians transferred to governors general. Actual authority delegated to colonial civil secretaries. |
| 1860 | United Kingdom transfers jurisdiction for Indian matters to the Province of Canada. |
| 1860 | Crown Lands department creates Indian Branch. |
| 1862 | Office of the Deputy Superintendent General of Indian Affairs created. |
| 1867 | The BNA Act, s. 91(24) assigns jurisdiction for “Indians and Lands reserved for the Indians” to the federal parliament and government. |
| 1868 | Indian Branch established within the department of Secretary of State of Canada |
| 1872 | Department of Interior given jurisdiction for development of the north. |
| 1873 | Jurisdiction for Indians transferred to department of the Interior. |
| 1876 | Indian Act established. |
| 1880 | Department of Indian Affairs established. |
| 1936 | Jurisdiction for northern development transferred to department of Mines and Resources. |
| 1950 | Jurisdiction for Indian Affairs transferred to department of Citizenship and Immigration. |
| 1953 | Jurisdiction for northern development now vested in new department of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources. |
| 1966 | Jurisdiction for Indian Affairs transferred to new department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Jurisdiction for northern development transferred to new department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development created. |
| 1982 | Recognition of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in Constitution Act, 1982, s. 35, and Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s. 25. |
| 1985 | Creation of the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. |
| 2004 | Entrenchment of Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians within the department of Indian Affairs and Northern Affairs; and creation of the Inuit Relations Secretariat within the same department. |
| 2011 | Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development created. |
| 2015 | Department of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development created. |
| 2016 | Federal government established national inquiry in Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. |
| 2017 | Departments of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Indigenous Services created. |
| 2018 | Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations established. |
Source: Trent University Archives.
