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APPA - Standing Committee

Indigenous Peoples

Studies & Bills

  • Most Senate committees require an order of reference before they can undertake such work.
  • An order of reference is a decision of the Senate, authorizing a committee to study a proposed law, government spending or a specific subject related to the mandate of the committee. An order of reference might specify what subjects a study should cover, how long it should take to complete, and other important details. It establishes the scope of the study and may give other powers the committee needs to conduct the study.
  • Certain Senate committees have permanent orders of reference and are empowered by the Rules of the Senate to act on their own initiative without additional authority from the Senate.
  • Below is a list of orders of reference that this committee has been authorized to undertake by the Senate or is empowered to act on their own initiative.
  • You will also find for each order of reference:
    • meeting dates and witness details,
    • publicly available briefs and documents,
    • minutes of proceedings, transcripts and video or audio recordings of public meetings (when applicable).
    • Once the committee has completed its study, a link to its report to the Senate will also be posted here.
Committee Alerts

Bill S-227, An Act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day

Order of Reference: 2021-06-21
There are no meetings for this study/bill.

Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Order of Reference: 2021-06-03
Report(s):
  • Third Report: Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, without amendment but with observations

Date/Time Witnesses Location Links/Notes
Jun 07, 2021
02:00 PM ET

There are no witnesses on this study/bill for this meeting.

By videoconference

Study on the federal government’s constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples

Order of Reference: 2021-05-04
There are no meetings for this study/bill.

The subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 10 and 31 of Part 4 of Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other measures

Order of Reference: 2021-05-04
Report(s):
  • Second Report: The subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 10 and 31 of Part 4 of Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other measures

Date/Time Witnesses (10) Location Links/Notes
May 14, 2021
10:04 AM ET
  • Yves Denoncourt, Director, Governance Operations Directorate, Lands and Economic Development Indigenous Services Canada
  • Steve Berna, Chief Operating Officer First Nations Finance Authority
  • Jeffrey Clark, Legal Counsel Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
  • Ernie Daniels, President & Chief Executive Officer First Nations Finance Authority
  • Christopher Duschenes, Director General, Economic Policy Development Branch, Lands and Economic Development Indigenous Services Canada
  • Garima Dwivedi, Director General, Resolutions & Partnerships Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
  • Gene Hope, Chief Acho Dene Koe First Nation
  • Karl Jacques, Senior Counsel, Operations and Programs (LSU), CIRNAC/ISC Legal Services Indigenous Services Canada
  • Madeleine Mackenzie, Lawyer, Power Law Acho Dene Koe First Nation
  • Leanne Walsh, Director, Fiscal Policy and Investment Readiness Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
By videoconference

Examine the subject matter of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Order of Reference: 2021-04-20

Date/Time Witnesses (78) Location Links/Notes
May 31, 2021
10:02 AM ET
Appearing
  • The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P., Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
  • The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Department of Justice Canada
Witnesses
  • Tabatha Bull, President and Chief Executive Officer Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
  • Marla Israel, Director General Crown-Indigenous Relations
  • Shannon Joseph, Vice-President, Government Relations and Indigenous Affairs Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
  • Sandra Leduc, Director and General Counsel, Aboriginal Law Centre Department of Justice Canada
  • Dawn Madahbee Leach, Chairperson National Indigenous Economic Development Board
  • Koren Marriott, Senior Counsel, Aboriginal Law Centre, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio Department of Justice Canada
  • Shannin Metatawabin, Chief Executive Officer National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association
  • Ross Pattee, Assistant Deputy Minister, Implementation Sector Crown-Indigenous Relations
  • Laurie Sargent, Assistant Deputy Minister, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio Department of Justice Canada
  • Brian Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd.
  • Mark Sevestre, Senior Advisor & Founding Member, National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association (NATOA) Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative
  • Katherine Wheatley, Manager Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative
By videoconference
May 28, 2021
10:00 AM ET
  • Merle Alexander, K.C., Legal Counsel First Nations Leadership Council of British Columbia
  • George Arcand Jr., Chief Alexander First Nation
  • Dr. Mauro Barelli, , University of London As an Individual
  • Douglas Beaverbones, Chief O'Chiese First Nation
  • Arnie Bellis, Chair Indigenous Resource Network
  • Stephen Buffalo, President and Chief Executive Officer Indian Resource Council of Canada
  • Beatrice Carpentier, Band Manager O'Chiese First Nation
  • The Honourable Arlene Dunn, MLA, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Government of New Brunswick
  • Mike Evans, Senior Manager, Government Relations Fort McKay First Nation
  • Mel Grandjamb, Chief Fort McKay First Nation
  • Chris Johnson, Chief Executive Officer Fort McKay First Nation
  • Norma Large, Legal Technician O'Chiese First Nation
  • Dwight Newman, Professor of Law & Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Rights, University of Saskatchewan As an Individual
  • Mark Podlasly, Director of Economic Policy and Initiatives First Nations Major Projects Coalition
  • Romeo Saganash As an Individual
  • Dale Swampy, President National Coalition of Chiefs
  • Terry Teegee, Regional Chief First Nations Leadership Council of British Columbia
  • Okimaw Vernon Watchmaker, Grand Chief Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations
By videoconference
May 14, 2021
10:04 AM ET
  • Margo Auger, Chief Administrative Officer Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
  • Jim Badger, Chief, Sucker Creek First Nation Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
  • Dr. Abel Bosum, Grand Chief Grand Council of the Crees
  • Russ Diabo As an Individual
  • Paul Joffe, Legal Counsel, GCC(EI)/Cree Nation Government Grand Council of the Crees
  • Ken Kyikavichik, Grand Chief Gwich'in Tribal Council
  • Naiomi Mettalic, Assistant Professor Chancellor's Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University As an Individual
  • David Monias, Chief Pimicikamak Okimowin
  • Ross Montour, Chief Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
  • Matthew Norris, President Urban Native Youth Association
  • Arthur Noskey, Grand Chief Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
  • Matthew Peigan, Chief Pasqua First Nation
  • Crystal Smith, Chief Councillor Haisla Nation
  • Hillory Tenute, Executive Director Canadian Roots Exchange
  • Francis Walsh, Legal Counsel Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
  • Norman Yakeleya, National Chief Dene Nation
By videoconference
May 10, 2021
10:00 AM ET
  • Dr. Tom Flanagan, Professor, Emeritus of Political Science, University of Calgary As an Individual
  • Brenda Gunn, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba As an Individual
  • Aluki Kotierk, President Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
  • Drew Lafond, President Indigenous Bar Association
  • Mira Levasseur-Moreau, Political and Legal Advisor Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador
  • Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, Canada Research Chair of Global Indigenous Rights and Politics, University of British Columbia As an Individual
  • Dr. Wilton Littlechild, International Chief for Maskwacis (Hon) As an Individual
  • Jason T. Madden, Lawyer and Managing Partner, Pape Salter Teillet LLP As an Individual
  • Alexa McClaren, Barrister & Solicitor Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
  • Lori Mishibinijima, Board member Indigenous Bar Association
  • Val Napoleon, Director, JD/JID program, Associate professor, Law Foundation Chair of Indigenous Justice and Governance, University of Victoria As an Individual
  • Pamela Palmater, Chair in Indigenous Governance, Ryerson University As an Individual
  • Ghislain Picard, Chief Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador
  • Steve Smith, Chief Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
By videoconference
May 07, 2021
11:00 AM ET
Appearing
  • The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P., Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
  • The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Department of Justice Canada
Witnesses
  • Joel Abram, Grand Chief Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians
  • Michael Anderson, UNDRIP Advisor Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
  • Perry Bellegarde, National Chief Assembly of First Nations
  • Adam Bond, Manager, Legal Services Native Women's Association of Canada
  • David Chartrand, MNC Vice-President and National Spokesperson Métis National Council
  • Lynne Groulx, Chief Executive Director Native Women's Association of Canada
  • Marla Israel, Director General Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
  • Sandra Leduc, Director and General Counsel, Aboriginal Law Centre Department of Justice Canada
  • Brandon MacLeod, Senior Policy Advisor Métis National Council
  • Koren Marriott, Senior Counsel, Aboriginal Law Centre, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio Department of Justice Canada
  • Celeste McKay, Consultant Métis National Council
  • Tania Monaghan, Legal Advisor Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
  • Natan Obed, President Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
  • Ross Pattee, Assistant Deputy Minister, Implementation Sector Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
  • Laurie Sargent, Assistant Deputy Minister, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio Department of Justice Canada
  • Garrison Settee, Grand Chief Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
  • Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond Assembly of First Nations
By videoconference

Study matters relating to the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada, as stated in rule 12-7(13)

Order of Reference: 2021-03-30

Date/Time Witnesses (2) Location Links/Notes
Apr 19, 2021
02:00 PM ET
  • Karen Hogan, Auditor General of Canada Office of the Auditor General of Canada
  • Glenn Wheeler, Principal Office of the Auditor General of Canada
By videoconference

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