Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) is a Canadian governmental body dedicated to improving the lives of First Nation and Northern peoples. Established in 1966, its origins trace back to the British Crown's Indian Department founded in 1755, reflecting a long history of evolving relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Over the decades, DIAND has shifted from a paternalistic role to one focused on support and advisement, emphasizing self-governance and self-determination for Indigenous communities.
DIAND manages a substantial budget, primarily funding programs for Indian and Inuit communities, land claims, and northern affairs. The department plays a critical role in addressing grievances through two classes of land claims: specific claims, which focus on treaty fulfillment issues, and comprehensive claims, recognizing ongoing Indigenous rights to traditional territories. By supporting First Nations, Inuit, and Northerners in their pursuit of autonomy, DIAND aims to foster equitable partnerships within the Canadian federation. The department's mission and activities are integral to addressing historical injustices and promoting the well-being of Indigenous populations across Canada.
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) has the mission of “working together to make Canada a better place for First Nation and Northern peoples.” To fulfill its mission, the department has changed its role over the years from caregiver and administrator to adviser and supporter. This change reflects the ongoing evolution of relations in Canada between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples as colonial and paternal models are replaced with the self-government that Aboriginal peoples had before the arrival of settlers and the early federal policies of assimilation.
The history of DIAND extends back to 1755 when the British Crown established the Indian Department as a branch of the military. The 1867 British North American Act, which made Canada a confederacy, gave the federal government control over First Nation peoples and their lands. The twentieth century saw the increase of departmental administration through various channels. DIAND was created in 1966 by an act of Parliament, and in 1998, administered an annual budget of 4.4 billion dollars covering four principal areas of Indian and Inuit programs, land claims, northern affairs, and administration. More than 83 percent of the first three areas are managed by the First Nations.
The department has two primary goals: to improve living conditions in First Nation communities and to settle Aboriginal land claims. In 1973, the government recognized two classes of claims: specific and comprehensive. Specific claims refer to grievances about fulfilling treaties or other matters governed by the Indian Act. Comprehensive claims recognize that there are continuing Indigenous rights to parts of the country where Indigenous peoples originally held title.
DIAND is essentially an advisory, funding, and supportive agency in its relations with the First Nations, Inuit, and Northerners. It supports the efforts of the First Nations, Inuit, and Northerners to achieve self-determination and self-government to become full partners in Canada.
Bibliography
Belanger, Yale D. "Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development." History and the Headlines. ABC-CLIO, 2011.
Flanagan, Tom, et al. Beyond the Indian Act: Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights. McGill-Queen's UP, 2010.
"Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada." Government of Canada, 2021, www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-northern-affairs.html. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Zellen, Barry Scott. On Thin Ice: The Inuit, the State, and the Challenge of Arctic Sovereignty. Lexington, 2009.