News Release

2002-11

National Library of Canada Launches a New Site: Indian Affairs Annual Reports 1864-1990 Web site

OTTAWA, May 29, 2002  -  At a ceremony today in Ottawa, the National Library of Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada officially launched a major Web site, Indian Affairs Annual Reports 1864-1990, which contains the complete text of the annual reports under the Indian Affairs portfolio for this period. The Reports are available on the National Library of Canada’s Web site at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/indianaffairs/index-e.html.

"The National Library of Canada and the Digital Library Task Force are proud to partner with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada on this important project," said National Librarian Dr. Roch Carrier. " This is just another example of how the National Library continues to play a major role in making sources of information accessible to all Canadians. "

In addition, the Web site also contains the full text for the Schedules of Indian Bands, Reserves and Settlements for the period 1902 to 1992 ,valuable as well for historical research.

Different departments were responsible for the portfolio of Indian Affairs before the department was created in 1966. The Indian Affairs Annual Reports 1864 - 1990 Web site contains the complete annual reports for the portfolio from 1967 to 1990 as well as the annual reports for the departments for the years 1864 to 1966.

"These reports have always been an important tool for claims researchers," said Ms. Marie Fortier, Associate Deputy Minister at Indian Affairs. "Now on the Web, they can be a rich and colourful source of Canadian history for First Nations communities, teachers and historians."

The Indian Affairs Annual Reports collection was first issued on CD-ROM in 1997. Through a cooperative effort between the National Library’s Digital Library of Task Force and the Departmental Library of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the full text of the reports are now available to the general public.

The National Library of Canada is a federal cultural institution whose main role is to acquire, protect and promote Canada’s published heritage. The Library serves as one of the nation’s foremost centres for research in Canadian studies and as a showcase for Canadian literature and music.

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Information:

Pauline M. Portelance
Media Relations Officer
National Library of Canada
613-996-6128