Summary Of Discussions - First Nations Breakout Session

Opening, Key Messages and Essential Elements

The participants were asked to share their key messages, in response to the economic opportunities discussion. The messages were:

Introductory – agenda setting

• respect the spirit and intent of treaties including sharing resources equitably
• implement land claims that will facilitate economic opportunities
• economic development is a solution to many other issues in First Nations communities
• governance of the responsible institutions is important
• equity is important for all the have-not groups
• economic opportunities need to be a consistent priority at all levels
• cultural norms must be respected and promoted

Training

• there is a need to develop human resources
• there is a need to attract the best individuals from First Nations communities to work in economic opportunities
• people need to be trained in governance
• education supports are required
• capacity building is required for First Nations people
• assistance needs to be provided so that economic development officers meet their potential
• youth must be a major component; and
• experience is critical

Joint efforts

• governments at all levels must work with First Nations communities
• mainstream business, industry and the resource sector must be involved
• opportunities external to government must be available
• collaboration is required
• joint ventures are required
• existing policies, resource levels, capital access and economic approaches must be amended

Long-term sustainability

• an economic approach needs to commit to long-term sustainability
• government policy approaches need to change
• economic opportunities have to continue to be a priority regardless of government
• diverse needs and approaches are required
• support for existing efforts must continue
• more research is needed
• First Nations need ownership of resources
• tax credits need to be explored

Essential elements and shared values

The First Nations breakout group identified the following elements and shared values as being essential to improving economic opportunities: financing, land base, community economic development, recognition of rights, Aboriginal entrepreneurship, respect for divergent approaches, communications, youth involvement and sustainability.

Improved Access to Capital and Investment

Launch Question

What specific actions are needed to overcome barriers to access to capital and investment?

The facilitators requested the six small groups to identify the specific barriers and how these could be addressed.

Barriers

More than 30 barriers were identified. Generally stated these were:

• current capacity to address economic opportunities is limited;
• requirement for training and education;
• no coordination of efforts, agreements, funding or criteria;
• lack of access;
• little support from the political leadership;
• no long-term funding commitments;
• current land designation policies and leasing;
• not all sectors of the First Nations community are engaged; and
• private capital is untapped.

The groups indicated that these issues could be addressed by:

• ensuring opportunities exist for women, urban, youth, disabled, rural and remote communities;
• coordinating services, approaches, agreements, etc., which is critical;
• collaborating between government (federal and provincial) and First Nations groups from the beginning of any design or review process, which is critical;
• amending legal frameworks so that they support long-term development;
• separating the political from economic opportunities at the First Nations level;
• increasing funding levels, including establishing a core base to promote stability; and
• implementing the recommendations from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.

Supplemental Question

What specific actions are needed to enhance coordination of programming?

The specific actions identified were:

• respect and support local and regional differences and approaches;
• support initiatives for women, urban, youth, disabled, rural and remote communities;
• streamline the number of programs and approval processes;
• increase participation in decision-making authority;
• increase control by Aboriginal government, organizations and institutions on what kind of economic opportunities should be supported;
• expand and coordinate capital opportunities;
• increase access to technology; and
• coordinate efforts in economic opportunities at all levels.

Improving Economic Opportunities from Lands and Resource Development

Launch Question

What are the best approaches (business models, partnership mechanisms, governance structures, etc.) to foster improvements to economic opportunities related to the management and development of lands and resources?

The groups identified six critical issues with respect to lands and resources:

1. activities had to be beyond reserve borders;
2. jurisdiction of lands, resources, water, sub-surface have to be clarified, including the kilometer limit of the seas;
3. recognition of inherent Aboriginal and treaty rights;
4. a triple bottom line approach (profit, environment and social responsibility) has to be adopted;
5. revenue sharing; and
6. changes to the National Resource Transfers Act are required.

To address these it will also be necessary to establish First Nations jurisdiction and control; recognize the inherent Aboriginal and treaty rights and the needs of women, urban, youth, Métis and non-status people; and support community business that involves socio-economic benefits.

The First Nations breakout session was also asked to discuss how to address the economic opportunities for access to capital and access to lands and resources for urban Aboriginal peoples, non-status Indians, Aboriginal women, Aboriginal youth and Aboriginal people living in rural and remote communities (i.e. crosscutting themes). There was general consensus that these groups did require some unique approaches. There were a number of specific approaches identified for each theme. These included addressing transportation needs and child care needs, establishing mentorship programs, ensuring designated funds, improving communications, establishing or mandating specific institutions to address the needs and deliver services, training opportunities, and amending existing funding formulas and policies.

Improved Governance and Capacity

Launch Question

What specific elements (institutional, skills development, infrastructure) related to governance and capacity are necessary to best support economic opportunities?

Among the ideas suggested, significant attention was given to the following issues:

• financial capacity
• education and training
• entrepreneurial mentoring
• flexible policies and programs
• separation of business from politics
• inclusion of off-reserve and non-status members
• human resource strategy
• land and resource access and control
• business incubation
• more networking

In order to address the issues, the First Nations breakout group identified the need to:

• improve the existing policy, coordination and funding levels;
• look at increased and specific funding;
• provide board governance training;
• identify labour force needs;
• revisit a human resource strategy;
• create new opportunities for growth and inclusion of other members (non-status, urban, women and youth);
• establish consistent accreditation and professional standards;
• establish role model programs;
• improve communications; and
• recognize First Nations government and public service.

Improving Regulatory/Legislative Frameworks to Facilitate Economic Opportunities

Launch Question

What adjustments are needed to improve or streamline the regulatory or legislative environment to support timely investment/business decisions and to improve the investment climate?

The areas that will require improvement were:

• access to capital
• community economic development;
• private sector investment and partnerships
• labour force development/participation (human capital)
• land base/environment
• Aboriginal entrepreneurship

The improvements identified again emphasized:

• streamlining
• tax changes
• incentives
• more collaboration
• more partnerships
• harmonization
• increased resource base
• clarifying First Nations corporations status
• encouraging all parts of the First Nations communities to be involved
• participation in national and multinational economic development institutions
• recognition of Aboriginal and treaty rights
• increased authority and decision making
• modifying management regimes
• land management amendments
• program and policy development
• serving on boards of directors
• training and mentoring opportunities

The First Nations breakout group also identified the ways in which they would know that progress was being made. The exercise was done at the end of both days of the sectoral session. They identified that progress would be seen when a number of governance, capacity and legislative and regulatory changes had occurred. These included:

• higher incomes
• more investment
• First Nations partnerships
• increased mentorship and training
• better networks and economic growth
• increased representation on boards of directors
• enhanced leadership and governance training
• harmonization of policies
• increased resources for economic opportunities;
• more leverage for private economic opportunities
• regulation and reforms would be in place in one year
• greater control over land, resources, decision making
• existing legislative and regulatory framework would be reviewed
• increased participation of Aboriginal women, urban people, youth, disabled, rural and remote communities

The First Nations participants were asked to return to the key messages identified at the beginning of the breakout group and invited to raise new issues or reinforce any of their earlier messages. The summary of those comments include:

• the Government of Canada must assist with the buy-in at all levels;
• the issue of taxation and/or tax credits must be addressed;
• private sector investment has to be sought and encouraged;
• there needs to be increased information sharing and communications;
• this session must be followed up on within six months and changes initiated;
• Supreme Court cases such as Haida/Taku and the need to consult must be implemented;
• the federal government fiduciary responsibility to First Nations includes economic self sufficiency and not continued social dependency;
• only Aboriginal organizations should deliver Aboriginal programs;
• develop models that create economy by addressing housing, education and health, etc.;
• build parallel political and economic structures that are distinct; and
• ensure coordination among the departments that are involved in economic development, including reviewing the numerous ad hoc and advisory bodies that are addressing economic opportunities.

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The documentation contained on this website does not necessarily represent the views of any government or National Aboriginal Organization. The purpose of this website is to share information related to the Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable: background papers, Facilitator's sectoral and final reports, agendas and media announcements.

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