Welcome to the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) Exploratory Process website. The purpose of the NAFC Exploratory Process website is to provide an opportunity for urban Aboriginal Canadians to communicate their opinions, thoughts and feelings on the Exploratory Process - issues regarding nationhood, identity, citizenship, registration and membership. The NAFC Exploratory Process is open to all Aboriginal Canadians - First Nation (Status and Non-Status), Metis and Inuit peoples. Please Note: Deadline to submit responses to the online questionnaire is November 30, 2011 4:00 p.m. (EST).
So what is the Exploratory Process?
During the 2009 engagement on the Government's plan to implement the McIvor decision, First Nations and other Aboriginal groups identified a number of issues on Indian registration, Band membership and First Nations citizenship that went beyond the scope of the decision and the legislative amendments recently passed under Bill C-3. At that time, First Nations and other Aboriginal groups also called for a federal commitment to a joint process that would substantively examine and address these broader issues.
The Government of Canada recognized the importance of these issues to First Nations and other Aboriginal groups. The Government also recognized that issues surrounding Indian registration, Band membership and citizenship are complex and that First Nations and other Aboriginal groups hold diverse views on these matters. It is clear that broader reform cannot be achieved overnight, or in isolation, and requires the gathering of information and the identification of critical issues for discussion prior to embarking on any process for substantive change.
As a result, when Bill C-3 was tabled on March 11, 2010, the Government announced its intention to launch an Exploratory Process on issues relating to Indian registration, Band membership and citizenship. With the passage of Bill C-3, the Exploratory Process is now being officially launched. Activities under the Exploratory Process are expected to take place over a period of one year, ending in December 2011.
The Exploratory Process is an Aboriginal-led initiative that is meant to examine and discuss the broader issues relating to Indian registration, Band membership and citizenship that go beyond the scope of the Bill C-3 amendments. It is important to note that the government has not pre-determined or pre-defined the agenda or questions in terms of subject-matters dealing with registration, membership and citizenship.
Accordingly, the Assembly of First Nations, the Native Women's Association of Canada, the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples are leading activities under the process at the national level. The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will provide funding support for the planning, organization and implementation of activities with their respective membership. In addition, the Department will work with regional First Nations organizations who are interested in leading activities under the process with their constituencies.
The Exploratory Process is designed to be inclusive by encouraging the participation of First Nations, Métis and other Aboriginal groups, organizations and individuals at the national, regional and local community levels. This includes the participation of national, provincial/territorial, regional First Nations organizations, Métis and other Aboriginal organizations, Treaty First Nations and Nation groups, Tribal Councils, First Nations governments and communities, Métis communities, First Nations individuals living on and off reserve, Métis individuals and other interested parties.
The NAFC Exploratory Process is very unique in that it offers two models of participation. 1 – Friendship Centre ‘community’ dialogue sessions where an individual will have the opportunity to participate in group discussion. 2 – NAFC Exploratory Process website where an individual will have the opportunity to fully participate anonymously.
Information collected from the Friendship Centre dialogue sessions and website questionnaire will be compiled into a national report. It is hoped that the national report will be used as consideration in the development and implementation of future government policies to create stronger government relations with Aboriginal Canadians. The national report will also be used to guide policy and advocacy for the Friendship Centre Movement in the areas of self-determination, nationhood, identity, citizenship, registration and membership.
More about the NAFC Exploratory Process
NAFC Exploratory Process 'community' dialogue sessions will be conducted at selected Friendship Centres across the country. All local Aboriginal people(s) are invited and encouraged to participate in these dialogue sessions. To find out if the Friendship Centre in your area is hosting a dialogue session please check Friendship Centres hosting dialogue sessions regularly.
If you are unable to attend a Friendship Centre dialogue session or if one is not scheduled in your area you can still fully participate in the NAFC Exploratory Process! This website contains the Exploratory Process Questionnaire which contains the same questions that are presented at the Friendship Centre Exploratory Process dialogue sessions. Exploratory Process Resource Materials such as, Bill C-3, Exploratory Process Facilitators Guide, Exploratory Process definitions, FAQ's, etc., are also available to view and download from this website. Deadline to submit responses to the online questionnaire is November 30, 2011 4:00 p.m. (EST).
The NAFC encourages you to explore this website and participate in the Exploratory Process Questionnaire. Your opinion, thoughts and feelings matter and your words must be heard and read.
Please note that you are not required to provide your name and/or personal information at any time. The demographic questions will provide the NAFC with regional overviews and conclusions. For more information on how to use this website please visit the FAQ page; Question one: How do I use the website.
If you have any questions regarding the NAFC's Exploratory Process please contact: NAFC Policy Director Conrad Saulis at (613) 563-4844 ext. 323 or Project Technician Musqwaunquot Rice (613) 563-4844 ext. 332.
Website Administrator - NAFC Communications Officer Ryan Barberstock (613) 563-4844 ext. 328
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