Gathering Strength -- Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan

Gathering Strength is our Action Plan to renew our relationship with Aboriginal people.

It is based on: recognizing past mistakes and injustices; reconciliation, healing and renewal; and building a joint plan for the future. And it's design has been guided by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, a significant and historic body of work.

RECONCILIATION

The government of Canada formally acknowledges and expresses profound regret for past actions of the federal government which have contributed to the difficult pages in the history of our relationship with Aboriginal people.

The Government acknowledges the role it played in the development and administration of the Residential School system. To those who suffered the tragedy of physical and sexual abuse in these schools, the government has said it is deeply sorry.

We are committing $350 million to support the development of community-based healing for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples as a means of dealing with the legacy of sexual and physical abuse at residential schools.

THE ACTION PLAN

Gathering Strength has four objectives: renewing partnerships; strengthening Aboriginal governance; developing a new fiscal relationship; and supporting strong communities, people and economies. It sets long-term objectives while focussing on short-term measurable results aimed at meaningful and lasting change.

Renewing Partnerships between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Canadians will require reconciliation as well as cooperative action to create more effective program and service delivery that is sensitive to the needs of Aboriginal people.

Approaches to Strengthening Aboriginal Governance will vary depending on the needs, history and circumstances of different Aboriginal groups and communities.

Having recognized the inherent right of Aboriginal self- government, however, we are committed to working with Aboriginal people to create effective Aboriginal governments and institutions with the capacity, size and resources to effectively govern their members and territories and to help develop forms of self-government that are appropriate to the circumstances of Métis and off-reserve Aboriginal people. In addition, we are committed to developing practical arrangements that affirm the treaty relationship and take steps to improve the claims process.

To develop a New Fiscal Relationship, we are committed to a more stable fiscal relationship with Aboriginal governments or organizations. It will be based on transfer models that are transparent and predictable, that support own-source revenues and that strengthen the accountability of Aboriginal governments and institutions to their members.

We will also work to support Strong Communities, People and Economies, with a special focus - on and off reserves - on youth, employment and health.

We firmly believe that solutions to Aboriginal health problems are best found in Aboriginal communities themselves. Initiatives such as Aboriginal Head Start and the Aboriginal Health Institute are concrete examples of our commitment in this regard.

Human Resources Development Canada will also be developing a five-year Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy supported by a private sector-driven Council, to improve Aboriginal peoples' access to jobs. An Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council will also be created to strengthen links between Aboriginal people, business, labour and educators to increase Aboriginal participation in the mainstream economy.

Gathering Strength's success depends on the participation of Aboriginal people, the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, the private sector and Canadians in general.

The Bottom line? We must work together to make life better for Aboriginal people.