Organization and Responsibilities

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is responsible for two mandates, Indian and Inuit Affairs and Northern Development, which together support Canada's Aboriginal and northern peoples in the pursuit of healthy and sustainable communities and broad economic and social development objectives.

The INAC Minister is also the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and is responsible for the Office of the Federal Interlocutor.

The Department is divided into 9 sectors and 10 regions, as illustrated in the diagram below.

See below for a list of responsibilities by sector:

• Audit and Evaluation Sector
• Chief Financial Officer
• Communication Branch
• Corporate Secretariat
• Education and Social Development Programs and Partnerships
• Human Resources and Workplace Services
• Inuit Relations Secretariat
• Lands and Economic Development
• Legal Services
• Northern Affairs Organization
• Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
• Policy and Strategic Direction
• Regional Operations
• Resolution and Individual Affairs
• Treaties and Aboriginal Government

Audit and Evaluation Sector

• Assessment, Investigation, Audit and Assurance Services
• Risk assessment and management
• Evaluation, Performance Measurement and Review
• Liaison with the Office of the Auditor General and Office of the Comptroller General
• INAC Audit and Evaluation Committee

Chief Financial Officer

• Departmental finances and resources
• Departmental information management and information technology
• Departmental assets, materiel and procurement

Communication Branch

• Media Relations
• Public Outreach
• National Aboriginal Day
• Communication Products and Events
• Web and multimedia

Corporate Secretariat

• Portfolio coordination
• Access to Information and Privacy
• Executive and Ministerial services
• Indian and Inuit Art program
• Values and ethics, conflict of interest, post-employment
• Conflict resolution services
• Workplace disclosures and allegations and complaints
• Staff Ombudsman services

Education and Social Development Programs and Partnerships

• National Programs Redesign
• Partnerships
• Domestic and Regional Research
• Community Infrastructure Policy, Innovations & Partnerships

Human Resources and Workplace Services

• Human resources management
• Accommodation and telecommunication management
• Security and emergency management

Inuit Relations Secretariat

• Serving as the Government of Canada's primary point of contact for collaboration with Inuit organizations
• Providing information, advice and expertise within the Government of Canada on Inuit matters
• Managing the Inuit component of the Aboriginal Representative Organization Program (AROP)

Lands and Economic Development

• Economic opportunities
• Employment opportunities
• Pan-Aboriginal framework & strategy
• Business development
• Lands registry
• First Nation Land Management Initiative
• Additions to Reserve and Land Titles
• Indian Oil and Gas Canada
• Environment

Legal Services

• Legal Services to provide specialized legal advice and support core
• departmental initiatives, policies and programs

Northern Affairs Organization

• Natural resources & environment
• Northern oil & gas
• Northern governance
• Circumpolar affairs

Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

• Urban Aboriginal Strategy
• Métis and Non-Status Indians organizational capacity development
• Métis rights management
• Pan-governmental relations to support Métis and Non-Status Indian issues.

Policy and Strategic Direction

• Federal/Provincial/Territorial and International relations
• Management of Constitutional issues
• Cabinet, legislative, parliamentary and regulatory affairs
• Policy development and approvals
• Short/medium/long term policies
• Women's issues and gender equality
• Litigation
• Departmental planning

Regional Operations

• Delivery of national and regional programs and services (7 regions)
• Emergency planning and crisis management
• Governance
• Community infrastructure operations

Resolution and Individual Affairs

• Indian Registrar
• Monies and Estates
• Indian Residential Schools Resolution

Treaties and Aboriginal Government

• Negotiations of claims and self-government
• Treaty Commissions
• Claims settlement
• Implementation of claims
• Funding and fiscal arrangements