Operating context

The Government of Canada created Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to aid in reconciliation and renew the relationship with Indigenous Peoples. ISC supports the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership as part of the journey towards reconciliation. The goal of ISC is to improve access to high-quality services, socio-economic conditions, quality of life, and safety for Indigenous communities. ISC aims to support and empower Indigenous Peoples to control delivery of their services. This approach advances self-determination and self-government of Indigenous Peoples and is threaded into ISC's mandate to transition program and service delivery to Indigenous governments and organizations.

Historically, Indigenous Peoples have experienced disadvantages through the context of systemic and institutional racism. Acknowledgement and redress are required to advance a reconciliation agenda with Indigenous partners. ISC will continue to advance reconciliation and help Indigenous communities to fulfill their inherent right as a self-determining nation.

The 2020-21 year posed significant and unique challenges within the context of COVID-19. The pandemic highlighted the necessity and urgency of the ISC's work as it exposed challenges in the access to and provision of health care service delivery. The health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis has been and will remain Indigenous Services Canada's primary focus. However through this pandemic, the department continued to support flexible, Indigenous-led measures to improve the health and socio-economic outcomes of Indigenous communities and enable them to address the specific needs, in recognition of their right to self-determination.

ISC focused on interconnected priority areas in partnership with Indigenous Peoples: advancing health, supporting families, helping build sustainable communities, and supporting Indigenous communities in self-determination.

ISC is mandated to advance systemic change in how the federal government delivers services to Indigenous Peoples. The transfer of the design, planning, and management of services to Indigenous control will be done through taking a distinctions-based approach in the delivery of services and development of partnership models.

The Government of Canada recognizes that the relationship between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples has been built on colonial structures, which have contributed to the current unacceptable socio-economic gap. While day-to-day realities in Indigenous communities must continue to be addressed directly, there must also be a path to systematic change.

These efforts are only the beginning. In partnership, ISC and Indigenous Peoples will shape the composition of, and services offered by ISC, all the while recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the distinctions among First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nations and communities. The goal is Indigenous-led design, delivery, and control of services.