Advance positions in co-operative dispute resolution processes that are consistent with the resolution of past wrongs toward Indigenous peoples.

What success looks like

Resolution of past grievances through collaborative, trusted, mutually respectful processes consistent with the government's commitment to a renewed nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown and government-to-government relationship.

Government's narrative on progress

Recent settlement agreements between the Government of Canada and Indigenous peoples signify progress on this commitment. This has been demonstrated by the government's new approach to Indigenous Childhood Claims Litigation, and specifically through the *Anderson* (Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools) settlement agreement (September 2016), the Prime Minister’s historic apology to former students of the Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools (November 2017), and the Sixties Scoop settlement (May 2018), the joint development of the parameters of the Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation, and the recent announcement of the *McLean* proposed settlement (March 2019). In addition, Canada entered into a settlement agreement (federal investment of $666 million) with Ontario and the seven Williams Treaties First Nations, resolving a 95 year old land claim. As part of this agreement, Canada and Ontario acknowledged and recognized the rights of the Williams Treaties First Nations to hunt, trap, fish and gather in various pre-Confederation treaty areas in central Ontario, and further, both governments provided an oral and written apology to the First Nations (November 17,2018). In October 2018, the government, in partnership with the Lubicon Lake Band and the Government of Alberta, concluded the Lubicon Lake Band No. 453 Treaty 8 Lands and Benefits Claim Settlement Agreement (federal investment of $95 million) and ancillary agreements following overwhelming community ratification. This settlement resolves the original omission of the Lubicon from Treaty 8 and addresses the grievances over this past wrong through the provision of reserve lands, compensation for the decades of loss of use of those lands and other treaty benefits and commits to the construction of significant community infrastructure. The settlement is a major step forward towards reconciliation with the Lubicon. Also, in September 2018, Canada reached a final settlement to resolve the Ahiarmiut litigation concerning the relocation of the community on multiple occasions throughout Nunavut in the 1950s. In addition to the monetary settlement, on January 22, 2019, the Government of Canada delivered an apology to advance reconciliation with the Ahiarmiut. The government is also advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples through symbolic Ministerial statements of posthumous exoneration and/or pardon that address historical incidents of cultural conflict and misunderstanding. A posthumous exoneration stands as an important symbol of the Government of Canada's commitment to reconciliation. For example, on March 26, 2018, the Prime Minister delivered a statement of exoneration on behalf of the Government of Canada to the Tsilhqot’in Nation and the descendants of six Tsilhqot’in Chiefs who led the Tsilhqot’in war effort in 1864 in response to a colonial road crew attempting to build a road through Tsilhqot'in territory without the agreement of the Tsilhqot'in Nation, and were executed in 1864 and 1865. In addition, the government is working with the Poundmaker Cree Nation to exonerate Chief Poundmaker who was wrongly convicted for treason against the Crown as one of the leaders of a community that had been involved in armed conflict against the Canadian Expeditionary Force following the looting of Battleford in 1855 (present day Saskatchewan). Ninety-eight (98) specific claims have been settled with First Nations since November 2015. These settlements address longstanding historic grievances. Resolving them advances reconciliation and is consistent with Canada’s commitment to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The government is committed to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and to redressing past wrongs related to Canada’s failure to discharge its legal obligations to First Nations. The specific claims process helps right past wrongs and address longstanding grievances of First Nations through a voluntary process to seek resolution of claims through negotiations, rather than through the court system. The current funding to support the settlement of specific claims was to expire in March 2019. To support negotiated settlements of specific claims in a timely way, Budget 2019 proposes to renew and replenish funding for the Specific Claims Settlement Fund for a further three years, starting in 2019–20 ($3.125 billion over 5 years). Budget 2019 also proposes to provide additional support of $40.0 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, to First Nations to help research and develop their claims.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.