Lands and Economic Development Services Program

Lands and natural resources are among the most valuable assets held by First Nations and Inuit communities, and their effective and sustainable use is critical for Indigenous economic development. The Government of Canada supports economic potential of Indigenous peoples, their communities and their businesses by promoting Indigenous partnerships with the provinces and territories and the private sector.

With this goal in mind, in 2014, the Government of Canada combined 5 community-based economic and land management support programs into the Lands and Economic Development Services Program. This will help increase Indigenous participation in the economy through laws and programs, and allow communities greater control over land management.

The program, administered by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) offers different types of funding to help First Nations and Inuit communities address the following:

• economic development in First Nations and Inuit communities
  • Lands and Economic Development Services Program: Operational funding
  • Lands and Economic Development Services Program: Project-based funding
• reserve land and environmental management under the Indian Act
  • Reserve Lands and Environment Management Program
• First Nations land and environmental management not under the Indian Act
  • First Nations Land Management Regime

The Lands and Economic Development Services Program enables First Nations and Inuit communities to:

• deliver economic development services, such as community economic development planning, capacity development initiatives and proposal development
• assume greater control over reserve lands, resources and the environment on behalf of the Minister of ISC and in accordance with the Indian Act
• help build capacity to effectively manage their lands in accordance with the First Nations Land Management Act's various tools, such as land codes, individual agreements, land management systems and environmental agreements
• provide support services that prevent contamination of reserve lands under ISC custodial responsibility

Priority is given to:

• initiatives that:
  • strengthen land and environmental management, and economic development as a key function of a strong local government
  • support Indigenous participation in major resource development initiatives
  • support First Nations Land Management Regime readiness, or strategic economic development and associated land use planning
• initiatives that promote on-reserve environmental management and pollution prevention, with an emphasis on waste management
• additions to reserves, designations and surveys that support economic development

Funding is determined by:

• level of risk involved
• demonstrated need for federal funding
• environmental benefits for First Nations and Inuit individuals, businesses or communities, such as improved waste management or rehabilitation of contaminated lands on reserves under ISC's custodial responsibility