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| Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat |
| Formation | 1971 |
| Jurisdiction | Province of Ontario |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Chief1 name | (varies) |
| Parent agency | Ministry of Indigenous Affairs |
Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat The Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat was an agency created to coordinate provincial policy toward First Nations in Ontario, Métis and Inuit peoples in the Province of Ontario. It operated alongside ministries such as the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs (Ontario), the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ontario), and the Ministry of Education (Ontario), engaging with institutions like the Assembly of First Nations and the Métis National Council. The Secretariat played roles in treaty implementation, program coordination, and liaison with Indigenous political organizations including the Grand Council of Treaty 3 and the Anishinabek Nation.
The Secretariat was established amid policy shifts following reports such as the White Paper (1969) backlash and court rulings including decisions influenced by the Calder case. Early years intersected with activism from groups like Indian Rights for Indian Women and leaders such as Harold Cardinal, George Manuel, and Shawn Atleo. The Secretariat’s evolution paralleled provincial responses to milestones including the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the signing of modern treaties such as the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and litigation exemplified by cases like R v Sparrow and R v Powley. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s it coordinated with bands and tribal councils such as the Six Nations of the Grand River and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
Mandate elements reflected interactions with statutory frameworks such as the Indian Act and provincial statutes like the Ontario Heritage Act where Indigenous interests applied. The Secretariat provided policy advice related to agreements, claims negotiation similar to processes in the Specific Claims Tribunal, and program alignment with agencies including the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Ontario Power Authority on projects affecting Indigenous lands. Functions included liaison with federal counterparts such as Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, participation in provincial tables with organizations like the Métis Nation of Ontario, and support for implementation of accords akin to the Nisga'a Final Agreement model.
The agency reported to provincial ministers comparable to the Minister of Indigenous Affairs (Ontario) and worked with deputy ministers in ministries such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (Ontario) and the Ministry of Transportation (Ontario). Its internal units liaised with entities like the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, procurement offices engaging with corporations including Ontario Power Generation, and legal teams coordinating with courts such as the Ontario Court of Justice. It partnered operationally with regional offices in locations near communities like Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Kenora, and Sault Ste. Marie.
Initiatives included capacity-building similar to programs run by the National Aboriginal Health Organization and economic development efforts in partnership with bodies like the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. The Secretariat supported cultural heritage projects involving institutions such as the Canadian Museum of History and post-secondary collaborations with First Nations University of Canada and the University of Toronto’s Indigenous studies units. It helped facilitate infrastructure investments paralleling projects by Infrastructure Ontario and housing initiatives with organizations like the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation in Indigenous communities.
The Secretariat engaged with political organizations including the Union of Ontario Indians, Independent First Nations Alliance, Wabun Tribal Council, and provincial chapters of national bodies such as the Native Women’s Association of Canada. It participated in forum processes like the Assembly of First Nations Grand Council meetings, regional summits with leaders from Treaty 9 and Treaty 3 territories, and consultations akin to those under the Duty to Consult doctrine as informed by decisions like Haida Nation v British Columbia (2004) and Taku River Tlingit First Nation v British Columbia (2004).
Funding streams were coordinated with provincial fiscal frameworks administered by bodies such as the Treasury Board of Ontario and budget processes in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Accountability mechanisms included reporting to cabinets, audits by the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario, and program evaluations comparable to reviews by the Ombudsman of Ontario. Funding agreements often mirrored tripartite models involving Canada (Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs) and community organizations such as the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.
The Secretariat faced criticism on issues paralleling debates surrounding the Sixties Scoop response and resource projects like the Ring of Fire (Ontario) development, with contested consultation practices highlighted by groups such as Ontario Native Women’s Association affiliates and legal challenges referencing jurisprudence like R v Marshall. Critics pointed to overlaps with provincial ministries such as the Ministry of Energy (Ontario) and federal agencies including Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, raising concerns echoed by scholars from institutions like Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and advocates associated with Amnesty International Canada.
Category:Indigenous affairs in Ontario