Introduction

The January 12-13, 2005 Sectoral Follow-up Session on Negotiations was the sixth in a series of sessions intended to fulfill the commitment made by Prime Minister Paul Martin at the conclusion of the April 19, 2004 Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable on Strengthening the Relationship. The sectoral sessions were intended to explore new and innovative ideas through which the Government of Canada and national Aboriginal leaders can work together to close the quality-of-life gap between Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians. In addition to Negotiations, sectoral follow-up sessions were convened for Lifelong Learning (Early Childhood Development and Kindergarten to Grade 12, Post-secondary Education and Skills Training), Health, Housing, and Economic Opportunities and Accountability for Results.

Following the distribution of the report on the April 19, 2004 Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable, the Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat (AAS) within the Privy Council Office (PCO) established an overall Planning Committee to develop the proposed sectoral follow-up sessions. The overall planning committee comprised five National Aboriginal Organizations (NAOs) including the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the Métis National Council (MNC), the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), and the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), key federal departments and agencies that served as lead departments or had related responsibilities, including Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Health Canada (HC), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Industry Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), and provincial and territorial officials.

A planning subcommittee, chaired by the lead department, in this case INAC, and comprising a similar combination of federal, Aboriginal and provincial/territorial members, applied the overall session planning guidelines to the particular needs of the negotiations field. The planning sub-committee responsibilities included the following:

• identification of policy priority topics, launch questions and the agenda to guide discussions at the session;
• development of background papers to provide participants with an overview of key issues (available on-line);
• selection of participants and observers (officials); and
• review of the facilitators’ report on the session.

The five NAOs were given the opportunity to select 10 participants (e.g. five core and five sectoral experts) from their organizations and/or communities at all levels. There were approximately 120 participants at the Negotiations Sectoral Follow-up Session. Both Aboriginal and government members of the planning sub-committee were designated as observing officials, who attended to provide support to their selected participants and report back on the discussions. Each NAO had three officials, the federal government had up to 15 officials and the provincial and territorial governments divided a total of 15 seats.

The Negotiations Sectoral Follow-up Session was designed to bring experts and practitioners together to address the specific session objectives established by the planning sub-committee, which were to share views and discuss options for establishing more effective policies and processes for addressing Aboriginal and treaty right by discussing:

• the legal objectives and principles, and lessons learned, for addressing Aboriginal and treaty right consistent with the recognition and affirmation of those right in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;
• the relationship objectives and principles, and lessons learned, for addressing Aboriginal land right, the inherent right of self-government, and treaty right;
• options for the renewal of policies to more effectively address section 35 Aboriginal and treaty right, including facilitating the achievement and implementation of land claims agreements and the implementation of the inherent right of self-government; and
• options for improving processes and mechanisms for addressing section 35 Aboriginal and treaty right, including good faith negotiations, the implementation of land claims agreements and the implementation of the inherent right of self-government.

The results from the sectoral session are contained in this Facilitators’ Report. The report is based on flip chart notes prepared by the participants and facilitators during the session and on a template/report outline approved by the overall Planning Committee. All flip charts were transcribed verbatim and are contained in Annex C of this report.

As a practical matter, it is not possible to reflect every idea placed on the flip chart notes during the breakout group in the narrative of this report. The facilitation team has attempted to draft the report in a manner that highlights the content of the flip chart notes as succinctly and objectively as possible. As a result, this report should be read in tandem with the detailed ideas contained in the flip chart notes.

As well, discussion at the session built on the content of background papers prepared in advance of the Negotiations Sectoral Follow-up Session. In specific cases this meant that recommendations that were included in the discussion papers were not always expanded on or discussed in the breakout groups. It is therefore essential that this report be read in conjunction with the background papers, which can be found on this site.

The discussions themselves, this facilitators’ report, the facilitators’ reports from the other scheduled sectoral follow-up sessions, and the facilitators’ final roll-up report on all sectoral sessions are intended to support and inform ongoing discussions leading to:

• a spring 2005 policy retreat between the Cabinet Committee on Aboriginal Affairs (CCAA), national Aboriginal leaders and provincial/territorial representatives ^{[ 1 ]} ; and
• a fall 2005 First Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) on Aboriginal Issues.

It is also anticipated that the participating governments and organizations may develop their own reports and analyses of the sectoral sessions. It is also understood that the brainstorming at the sectoral session in no way commits any particular government or organization to a discussion on any particular idea at the upcoming political forums.

It should also be noted that the session opened and closed by four Elders representing First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Their opening and closing remarks and invocations were often instrumental in setting the tone for the workshop and participants.

Workshop Methodology

Each sectoral session provided that the majority of time be allocated to breakout groups where the participants were organized into the three distinct Aboriginal groupings: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. There were approximately 64 participants in the First Nations breakout group; 29 participants in the Inuit breakout group; and 27 participants in the Métis breakout group.

Each of the three distinct breakout groups addressed the discussion topics identified by the planning sub-committee and listed on the agenda. Discussion questions for each topic were also included on the distributed agenda and posted in the breakout groups. These questions were a guiding tool to help focus discussion on issues that support achievement of the session objectives. Facilitators used the discussion questions in tandem with other process questions to support the development of recommended actions. Where time provided, participants were asked to apply short-, medium- and long-term time frames to their recommended actions.

Each breakout group was facilitated by two co-facilitators selected from a list recommended by the National Aboriginal Organizations during the planning process. For each discussion, facilitators used a variety of techniques and exercises to maximize input and output from participants. The exercises included facilitated discussion methods that were adapted to fit the circumstances, such as time allotment, number of participants, size of the breakout room and theme subject. In most cases, the exercises asked participants to work in smaller groupings to gain greater participation from all.

All participants were clearly notified in workshops that all issues, options and/or recommendations must be recorded on the flip charts to be included in the final report of the session.

1. Discussions are ongoing with provinces and territories regarding their participation in the planned spring policy retreat and this matter will be clarified as work proceeds toward this proposed initiative.

Table of Contents

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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