Canada supports the efforts of Quebec Indigenous groups to rebuild their nations

March 5, 2019 — Cacouna, Quebec — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The Government of Canada is supporting Indigenous groups seeking to rebuild their nations in a manner that responds to the priorities and unique needs of their communities.

Today, while meeting with the Maliseet of Viger First Nation to learn more about their vision of self-determination and approach to rebuilding their nation, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced that Canada has provided $1.4 million this fiscal year to seven Indigenous groups in Quebec through the Nation Rebuilding Program. For the Maliseet of Viger First Nation, Canada is providing over $267,000 towards different nation rebuilding projects and initiatives being led by the First Nation.

Made possible by Budget 2018, the Nation Rebuilding Program provides funding support for activities facilitating Indigenous groups’ own path to reconstituting their nations. The Program is an important step forward in renewing nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous peoples, improving their well-being and economic prosperity and developing healthier, more sustainable communities.

Quotes

“With the Nation Rebuilding Program, the Government of Canada is supporting our Indigenous partners as they come together to chart their own path to rebuilding and reconstituting their nations for the benefit of their communities. This work is critical to advancing reconciliation and renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples.”

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

“For our First Nation, the support provided by the Nation Rebuilding Program will allow us to fund initiatives that were not eligible through other programs. This is a first step toward the recognition of our specificities and our particular needs.”

Jacques Tremblay
Grand Chief
Maliseet of Viger First Nation

Quick facts

• The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996) recommended that Indigenous groups should begin to reconstitute themselves as nations.
• Nation Rebuilding Program funding has been made available for five years starting in 2018-19. All funded proposals support capacity development as well as aggregation and nation-rebuilding activities that include more than one Indigenous group of the same nation.
• The seven Indigenous groups in Quebec who received Nation Rebuilding funding for 2018-19 are: Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council, Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw, Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government, Makivik Corporation, Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat, Huron-Wendat Nation and Maliseet of Viger First Nation.

Associated links

• Nation Rebuilding Program
• Nation Rebuilding Program Guidelines
• Contributions to support the Nation Rebuilding Program

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Matthew Dillon-Leitch
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
819-997-0002

Media Relations
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
819-934-2302
RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@canada.ca

Pascal Dubé
Acting Director General
Maliseet of Viger First Nation
418-860-2393

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