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 is to improve access to high-quality services, socio-economic conditions, quality of life, and safety for Indigenous communities. This approach is threaded into ISC's mandate to support Indigenous communities in self-determination and self-government, and restore rightful control of services.

Historically, Indigenous Peoples have experienced disadvantages through the context of systemic and institutional racism. The Government of Canada is committed to addressing the significant and long-standing gaps in the socio-economic standard in Indigenous communities resulting from colonial structures. ISC recognizes that collaboration with Indigenous Peoples is key to further building the relationship between the Crown and Indigenous communities. While daily realities must continue to be attended to directly, a path to systemic change is of the highest priority.

ISC's mandate is also focused on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In support of this, ISC participated in the development of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan in 2022-23 (released by the Department of Justice – June 2023). This contribution supports the Government of Canada's efforts to break down barriers, combat systemic racism and discrimination, close socio-economic gaps, and promote greater equality and prosperity for Indigenous peoples.

In order to address this need, ISC introduced a restructured Departmental Results Framework for 2023-24. This framework continues to support the evolution of the Government of Canada's recognition of Indigenous priorities by moving to a single Core Responsibility of Indigenous Well-Being and Self-Determination. Working in a collaborative approach with the Indigenous People, the co-development of the framework supports the concept of "nothing about us without us", acknowledging the distinct nature and lived experience of First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

The framework shifts the organization of programs from service delivery types into those that support outcomes for Indigenous Peoples and communities. This new structure aligns with the department's mandate and will strengthen the performance measurement through quality and relevant data and be more reflective of outcomes to which ISC's programs and services contribute.

ISC continues to actively support the implementation of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the Clerk's Call to Action, the Many Voices One Mind report, the Calls to Justice for Missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. ISC's advancement towards reconciliation is focused on the following interrelated priority areas in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples: advancing health, supporting families, helping build sustainable communities, and supporting Indigenous communities in self-determination.

Through these challenges, the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis remained ISC's top priority. The department began ramping down it's COVID-19 Public Health Fund in 2022-23 as the COVID-19 pandemic was no longer considered a global health emergency. The department focused on essential and urgent public health measures for affected communities including administration of COVID-19 vaccines and testing and addressing medical needs during outbreaks. ISC has reflected throughout the course of the pandemic to draw on lessons learned to continue supporting flexible, Indigenous-led measures to improve the health and socio-economic outcomes of Indigenous communities.

These efforts are ongoing and continuous with much more work to accomplish. 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. With the reaffirmation that Indigenous Peoples are equal to all other peoples and in exercising their human and treaty rights, should be free from all discrimination, the goal of ISC is to promote space for Indigenous-led design, delivery, and control of services.

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) was created to ensure the provision of services to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, with a responsibility to implement the gradual transfer of those services to Indigenous organizations in support of self-determination.