Virtual Meeting

Inuit Elder Maria Brazeau of Nain, Labrador, delivered both the opening and closing remarks for the NIEDB virtual meeting.

The NIEDB met with representatives from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC).

Through the discussion with both CBSA and IRCC, the NIEDB learned that the departments are actively working with Indigenous partners to implement Measure 52 of the United Nations Declaration Act Action Plan, and to address complex border crossing and migration challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples divided by Canada’s international borders. A link to the report on engagements can be found here: Indigenous Mobility and Canada’s International Borders: Reflecting back and looking forward - Canada.ca. The NIEDB was also consulted by CIRNAC on the new Additions-to-Reserve policy.

On day two of the virtual meeting, the NIEDB met with Ernie Daniels, President & CEO of First Nations Finance Authority on recent initiatives and the organization’s growing reach within the financial sector. Additionally, Professor Adelle Blackett provided an overview of the Report from the Employment Equity Review Task Force. NIEDB members Sandra Sutter and Ruth Williams were both members of this task force. Read the report here: A Transformative Framework to Achieve and Sustain Employment Equity - Report of the Employment Equity Act Review Task Force - Canada.ca.

The NIEDB received a presentation from the Indigenous Advisory Group within the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). This session provided a brief background on the CRTC, the establishment of the Indigenous Relations Team and how the ultimate objective is to break down barriers in consultations and public hearings to enshrine appropriate methods of engagement within the Indigenous Broadcasting policy.