Indigenous Program Review (IPR) - Practical steps to add more groups, services and expertise
| Recommendations |
Actions |
Status |
Timing |
| Continue to strengthen program administration |
AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Annually update and make accessible clear and consistent program guidance materials including transparent criteria for the program milestones identified for new, emerging, progressing and sustainable enterprises and criteria used in decision-making |
DFO has updated application guidance documents for AICFI and PICFI to response to IPR's recommendations and incorporated findings. Application guidance documents have also been developed for NICFI participants and are promoted to participants in an accessible manner. |
Implemented |
Immediate |
| Ensure Program structures are aligned to Indigenous-set objectives, and meet the preferences, needs and aspirations of all groups |
AAROM |
Expand the network to geographical areas that are not served by a group |
In January 2019, DFO launched a multistep and multiyear process to support the planning and development of new AAROM departments. The main goal is to address significant gaps at the watershed level in the current AAROM network and to realize opportunities for these new AAROM departments to support diverse partnerships and service delivery, including participation in other DFO and Government of Canada programs and initiatives. This process is not intended to duplicate or displace existing AAROM departments. |
In Progress |
Long-term |
| AAROM, AFS |
Continue to offer and support flexible group models and a menu of service offerings and options that allow groups and Nations to choose their preferred technical roles or activities and develop the corresponding capacity. |
Indigenous Programs will continue to support the program and service objectives of participant organizations, recognizing that the watersheds, geographies and communities they serve are unique. New approaches to funding and service delivery will be explored in collaboration with participant organizations, and will encourage both long-term capacity development and short-term activity requirements. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AAROM |
Offer organizational capacity-building to new entrants, technical capacity-building to core groups, and funding security for current service offerings to project groups |
Renewed program funding models will support strategic, multi-year investments in capacity development. This includes incremental funding for new program entrants as they develop their core capacity, as well as stable and strategic funding opportunities for established organizations seeking to bolster their technical expertise and expand their project activities. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AAROM, AFS, AFG |
Recognize and enable groups that are ready to (or already) perform third-party technical contracts, including by adopting a department-wide Indigenous procurement policy and running enforcement procurement opportunities. |
In collaboration with other sectors and branches of the Department, Indigenous Programs will promote strategic opportunities for procurement (contract and G&C) with well-positioned program participants. Work through the National AAROM meeting Steering Committee and its Indigenous Procurement Working Group has begun, with a focus on developing resources that support Indigenous organizations as they seek to enter into third-party service contracts. |
In Progress |
Long-term |
| AFS, AFG |
Set the baseline capacity level for Nations to achieve as a measurement of success and regularly measure employment quality and retention to ensure program progress |
Indigenous Programs has committed to implement this as part the Management Action Plan developed in response to the AFS Evaluation, which outlines specific steps to be taken over the next 2-3 years, including ongoing co-development work with program participants. |
Planned |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Increase use of multi-year agreements and ensure reporting requirements are reasonable to meet minimum requirements |
Indigenous Programs will work with program participants to arrive at multi-year funding arrangements (e.g., possible five-year agreements) that reflect core capacity objectives and generate reporting requirements that are clear, concise and linked to commonly held performance metrics. |
In Progress |
Short-term |
| AFS |
Adjust the Department’s website so that Aboriginal fisheries appears first in the drop-down menu, as opposed to third (after commercial and recreational), and make other efforts to demonstrate the priority access of Indigenous peoples in communications |
Updates have and will continue to be made to the DFO website to better capture and promote overall program renewal and the implementation of the DFO-CCG Reconciliation Strategy, including actions to promote the overall visibility and awareness of Indigenous fisheries issues and content on the website. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AFG |
Separate the Aboriginal Fishery Guardian Program from the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy Program, without preventing designated fishery guardians from doing technical activities |
This Action Plan builds on the IPR process, where AFG and AFS were addressed as separate programs. This includes directing the necessary attention and resources to the implementation and management of AFG as its own program, which is why AFG is reported on separately in this Action Plan, including AFG specific renewal actions. Implications regarding administration of contribution agreements will be addressed over the next year. |
In Progress |
Short-term |
| AFG |
Pursue new ways to fund the program and to increase the number of designated fishery guardians in more communities |
Some new funding will be made available through AFG for the creation of new Aboriginal Fishery Guardians and at the same time, the AFG platform is being promoted internally and with other funders as a platform for new investments and creation of new designated Aboriginal Fishery Guardians. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AFG |
Use regular engagements to update guardians on legislation, policy and program changes covering practical information such as what the changes mean for their work |
DFO will examine practical ways to utilize and build upon engagement activities, especially through regional relationships but also based on consistent national approaches, to ensure regular communication with Guardians on existing or emerging legislation, policy and program issues that impact their work. |
Planned |
Long-term |
| Ensure the program structure meets enterprise needs and aspirations at all stages |
AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Expand and promote business development team service offerings and continue to build expertise in areas such as aquaculture and emerging fisheries. |
DFO will continue to promote the BDT offerings and communicate out to CFEs. |
Implemented |
Immediate |
| AICFI, PICFI |
Continue to support flexible funding eligibilities and opportunities to expand and diversify |
DFO will continue to provide multi-year funding options for expansion/diversification related projects, where possible, based on program funding constraints and standard project approval processes. |
Implemented |
Immediate |
| AICFI, PICFI |
Continue to allow multi-year funding options for larger acquisitions |
DFO will continue to provide multi-year funding options for expansion/diversification related projects, where possible, based on program funding constraints and standard project approval processes. |
Implemented |
Immediate |
| AICFI |
Support enterprises in the pursuit of industry information, including market, value-added and supply chain intelligence |
DFO will explore ways to expand BDT offerings. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Ensure training flexibility to increase community employment opportunities in value-added businesses, management, and new fisheries |
DFO will look to continue strengthening the expertise and offerings of the Business Development Team and Training Advisory Coordinator to meet the demand for an expanded CFE training suite. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AICFI |
Enable groups that want to transition into larger capital and export companies |
DFO will increase the flexibility of CFEs to allocate funding according to their priorities and will provide multi-year funding options when possible for expansion/diversification related projects |
Planned |
Ongoing |
| AICFI, NICFI |
Continue to modernize and improve the electronic fisheries management system database |
DFO will continue to explore enhancement of the fisheries management system to better meet the needs of CFEs participating in each of the AICFI, NICFI and PICFI programs. |
Implemented |
Ongoing |
| PICFI |
Pilot a licence bank for interested participants to pool resources together in order to increase their buying power to gain access to high-economic value quota and licences |
DFO will explore opportunities to increase the flexibility of CFEs to allocate funding according to their priorities. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| PICFI |
Maintain options for practical, hands-on and locally delivered training |
DFO will ensure harvester and management training support is flexible and supported by training coordinators and meets requirements of CFEs. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| PICFI |
Enable groups that want to pursue collaborations with other First Nations enterprises |
DFO has begun to improve program accessibility, for example, by working on a new entrants process to accommodate additional PICFI participants. |
In Progress |
Short-term |
| Reflect Indigenous definitions of success in the desired outcomes of the program |
AAROM |
Link reporting to performance metrics that are aligned to Indigenous success factors |
In response to this recommendations and the findings of the recent DFO evaluation of the AAROM program, DFO will undertake a multi-year plan, with program participants, to develop models and tools for defining and assessing capacity and program success. Further details can be found in the Management Action Plan for the AAROM Evaluation. |
In Progress |
Short-term |
| AAROM |
Establish an Indigenous-led management committee similar to those used in the commercial programs to oversee project proposals, program delivery and reporting |
In 2019-20 an AAROM program management committee, involving Indigenous leaders/experts and DFO programs, will be established, building on models developed through AICFI/PICFI. |
In Progress |
Short-term |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Track and regularly report on program success at the community level by drawing from the annual reports that enterprises develop and give to their communities |
DFO will continue to track and regularly report on program level by drawing from the annual reports that enterprises develop and give to their communities. |
Implemented |
Immediate |
| Maximize Departmental and other Federal Government collaborations |
AAROM, AFS, AFG |
Bring other relevant funding and enforcement opportunities to the attention of Indigenous communities and organizations, especially those which align with their priorities for habitat, species at risk, oceans, science and resource management, and find ways to facilitate participation by building capacity or linking to current agreements. |
Promoting access to other funding opportunities will be a key objective for each of these programs and will inform all renewal actions undertaken and the assessment of progress made. Indigenous Programs will continue to work internally with other DFO programs and communicate with Indigenous communities and organizations about funding opportunities and will seek to promote consistent and effective participation across program areas. Regularized annual processes and communication strategies will be deployed to facilitate program participation by Indigenous organizations. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AAROM |
Raise Awareness and promote the group services and network |
An AAROM marketing and partnership toolkit is currently being co-developed and will be available as a resource to both promote Indigenous AAROM departments as key service providers and guide federal, provincial, territorial and non-governmental organizations as they seek to engage or partner with them. Indigenous Programs at DFO will continue to promote, both intra and inter-departmentally, the AAROM platform and its participant organizations as a key network of Indigenous technical partners. This includes the development and implementation of an internal outreach strategy. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Help commercial fishing enterprises access program funding from aquaculture and other business or economic development funding programs, such as the Atlantic Fisheries Fund. |
DFO has mainstreamed Aquaculture specific funding envelope beginning in 2018-19, additionally, the Business Development Team will continue to seek out and advise CFEs on the availability of funding from other sources, including for projects. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Use the strategic partnerships initiative to advance marketing activities with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and certain infrastructure priorities with appropriate agencies, such as processing or retail facilities, new gear or fishing technologies. |
DFO will explore areas of collaboration with other government departments to respond with a more horizontal approach to emerging opportunities. |
Planned |
Long-term |
| AFS, AFG |
Share the resource management and fishery guardian career path infographics with potential partners - such as those involved in water and resource management, environmental and aquaculture monitoring, and the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) - to align investments. |
DFO has begun and will continue to actively share the career path infographics with potential partners, within or outside the department, and will encourage aligned investments in capacity development and training where appropriate. |
In Progress |
Short-term |
| AFS |
Support fish enhancement initiatives and facilities in Indigenous communities to help them meet section 35.1 needs, when desired by the Nation, including by registering facilities to the salmon enhancement program |
DFO will work to review the relationship between Indigenous communities and fish enhancement initiatives, and explore opportunities better link the results of these initiatives to the food requirements of local Nations. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Establish consistency and standards regarding the economic components of the program and clearly communicate the future of the Allocation Transfer Program, including online |
Indigenous Programs is starting, as part of the program renewal process, to better align the economic components of the AFS with the capacity and supports available through existing commercial initiatives, including AICFI, PICFI and the emerging NICFI program. Information on how to access commercial program components will be clearly communicated to prospective and existing Indigenous participants. |
In Progress |
Short-term |
| Support Succession Planning |
AAROM |
Continue to support community outreach programs which align education and career progression paths for science, technical 'field' activities, and management |
DFO's Indigenous Programs branch will continue to support strong community outreach programs led by Indigenous program participants. Opportunities to align education and career progression in management, fieldwork and the sciences have been identified as a key component of any new approach to funding and service delivery. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AICFI, NICFI |
Leverage best practice of linking Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy community fishing activities with commercial enterprise succession planning |
DFO will explore areas to leverage best practices in succession planning. |
Planned |
Ongoing |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Support community outreach programs that align training, accreditation, professionalization, and career progression paths to employment in all aspects of the fishery |
Along with the BDT and Training Coordinators, the DFO will explore the mapping of career progression paths, which CFEs could use when engaging communities. |
Planned |
Ongoing |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Hold workshops to help enterprises learn how to develop and implement a succession plan |
Along with the BDT and Training Coordinators, DFO will explore the mapping of career progression paths, which CFEs could use when engaging communities on succession planning. |
Planned |
Ongoing |
| Support Capacity-Building, Retention and Succession Planning |
AFS, AFG |
Partner with Employment and Social Development Canada to establish a long-term source of funding for training |
DFO will pursue a long-term partnership with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that brings synergy to training and capacity development for Indigenous people, particularly as it relates to professional skills development and fisheries and aquatic resource management. |
In Progress |
Short-term |
| AFS, AFG |
Hold joint departmental–Indigenous technical ‘field’ training opportunities |
Building on the experiences and successes to-date, DFO will work to identify and/or expand joint technical training opportunities with Indigenous communities and organizations, and encourage greater intradepartmental coordination of these efforts. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AFS, AFG |
Document all ‘field’ technician and enforcement-related training courses and institutions, map training needs more broadly, and standardize curricula and training as appropriate |
Initial scoping work may be completed in collaboration with Indigenous partners, and may find linkage to development of the ESDC training partnership identified as separate recommendation. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Support greater access by Nations to programs, tools, protocols and training that support their participation in environmental monitoring and decision-making, such as the Community Aquatic Mentoring Program and the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network |
Indigenous Programs will work closely with other program areas to identify readily available tools, protocols and training initiative in support of environmental monitoring and data collection and management. |
Planned |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Offer administrative and other management training courses to Indigenous fishery managers and regularly exchange information, such as changes to legislation |
Indigenous Programs will work to document and support training opportunities for Indigenous fishery managers, and will incorporate administrative and management expertise as part of a newly developed capacity assessment tool. |
Planned |
Ongoing |
| AFS |
Enable communities to share capacity-building best practices and identify areas of potential collaboration |
Indigenous Programs will work with participant organizations to establish a community network that can facilitate the transfer of knowledge and best-practices, and identify areas of collaboration. Lessons learned from AICFI, PICFI and AAROM will be considered. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AFS |
Connect communities to economic opportunities related to marine services and species habitat restoration; especially, Nations in areas without economic fisheries opportunities |
As part of promoting access to other funding sources, Indigenous Programs will explore options for enabling access to diversified service delivery, including possible coordination with the commercial programs. |
Under Review |
Ongoing |
| AFG |
Ensure the renewed Fishery Guardian Program offers competitive wages to guardians |
As part of co-developing consistent and shared frameworks for AFG planning and administration (including HR), an initial analysis will be completed to map out existing guardian wages and industry standards. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AFG |
Ensure a nationally consistent recruitment, curriculum, and training program is adopted by both the Department and Nations |
DFO will work collaboratively with Indigenous program participants to develop and maintain a nationally consistent Aboriginal Fishery Guardian curriculum that enhances recruitment, guides training, and supports career progression. This would likely fit within a larger training strategy to be co-developed with Indigenous partners. |
Planned |
Long-term |
| AFG |
Train guardians to use international monitoring, control and surveillance practices |
As part of a nationally consistent Aboriginal Fishery Guardian curriculum, DFO will pursue training strategies that reflect international understandings and approaches to monitoring, control and surveillance practices. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFG |
Enable fishery guardians to share cross-designation best practices and identify areas of potential collaboration, including with fishery officers and other enforcement personnel, as well as with Coastal Guardian Watchmen and Ranger programs |
Current collaboration will be expanded through co-development with Indigenous partners and other federal departments. DFO will explore opportunities to improve cross-designation practices within the Aboriginal Fishery Guardian program, and encourage collaboration between designated and un-designated fishery guardians, fishery officers, and other enforcement personnel. |
Planned |
Long-term |
| AFG |
Pursue funding the development of a suite of tools and applied technologies to advance the work of designated fishery guardians |
DFO will explore with AFG participants needs and options for developing such systems, as well as options for partnering with other program areas or departments that are utilizing or developing such tools. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
Indigenous Program Review (IPR) - Ignite a culture change that reflects both truth and reconciliation
| Recommendations |
Actions |
Status |
Timing |
| Invest in relationship building |
AAROM |
Enable science-to-science 'field' partnerships, access to labs, and equipment sharing through collaborative agreements |
Opportunities to better share personnel, equipment and laboratory resources will be explored through organizational networking and intra-departmental initiatives, including the co-development of the AAROM marketing and partnership toolkit. |
In Progress |
Long-term |
| AAROM |
Fund group networking opportunities to advance collaborations and information-sharing |
Networking among AAROM departments, including information sharing and collaboration, has become a major focus of early AAROM renewal. In February 2019, an inaugural meeting of AAROM department directors was held, an event that was co-developed, co-designed and co-delivered with AAROM departments and through a national steering committee. This meeting focuses on practical and operational issues, solutions, and best practices for AAROM departments. The next annual meeting is scheduled for November 2019. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AAROM |
Increase support for communications and information-sharing between groups and communities |
Community outreach and communications is an eligible activity under the AAROM program and options for further supporting this capacity can be explored, as appropriate, with AAROM departments and could potentially be included in products like the AAROM toolkit or capacity assessment models/tools. At the same time, it is recognized that this recommendation is also directed to AAROM departments themselves and may involve considerations and actions in which DFO would have no part. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AAROM |
Help groups address issues with other users on the water through inclusion at inter-regional and international tables and other opportunities for joint activities |
DFO will work with other sectors and branches of the department to identify and facilitate increased involvement by AAROM program participants in joint decision-making or resource management activities, and to consider these requirements within new approaches to funding and service delivery. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Encourage regular networking opportunities for departmental program administrators, the business development team, and enterprise managers to continue to build knowledge about the communities they serve and their fisheries |
DFO will continue to explore and facilitate networking opportunities to advance knowledge sharing. |
Planned |
Ongoing |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Support synergies and collaborations between enterprises and aquatic resource and oceans management groups; especially, activities related to co-management of fisheries |
DFO will identify best practices and develop models to support synergies and collaborations between enterprises and aquatic resource and oceans management groups. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AICFI |
Help enterprises address issues with other fishery participants at advisory committee and other decision-making tables by holding more joint Indigenous and non-Indigenous commercial fish harvester activities |
DFO will explore and identify issues with other fishery participants and explore options to support joint Indigenous/non-Indigenous commercial fish harvester opportunities. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| PICFI |
Develop a program to “up ramp” departmental staff to learn files more quickly and respond with confidence to First Nations and internally within the Department and with other agencies |
DFO will continue to provide a permanent (2017) program with a staff complement who will share knowledge, network and collaborate with staff of varying skill sets. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AFS |
Honour the contributions of Indigenous persons, communities, and groups to the conservation, restoration and enhancement of Canada’s fish and fish habitat through an annual National Indigenous Fisheries Award program |
DFO will explore opportunities to create an award program that honours the contributions that Indigenous communities and organizations make to fisheries and aquatic resource management, potentially building on and aligning with similar awards related to the commercial programs. |
Planned |
Ongoing |
| AFS |
Establish a nationally consistent schedule for the Department to engage on food, social and ceremonial allocations so they reflect changing community and fish stock dynamics |
DFO will work across its relevant sectors and branches to develop strategies for better reflecting Indigenous community and fish stock dynamics within existing allocation frameworks. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Co-develop Indigenous Fisheries 101 training, including Indigenous point-of-view and two-eyed seeing course modules, and ensure fishery officers and other departmental officials take it. |
DFO will explore, in collaboration with key Indigenous organizations, and in coordination with the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS), opportunities to co-develop an 'Indigenous Fisheries 101' training initiative that becomes mandatory for all DFO staff and officials, and properly reflects Indigenous perspectives and relationships to fisheries and fisheries management. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS, AFG |
Stop commercial and recreational fishing in areas where Nations are not meeting food, social and ceremonial needs, including by adjusting laws and regulations to recognize and protect section 35.1 priority rights |
DFO will consider the ways and means by which commercial and recreational fisheries are managed in areas where there are pressures to meet growing Indigenous food, social and ceremonial needs. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFG |
Recognize the role of fishery guardians in successful enforcement activities and incidents in media products and through an annual Indigenous Fishery Guardian award |
DFO will co-develop approaches and criteria for acknowledging the value and importance of fishery guardians in successful fisheries enforcement, including by highlighting successful activities in program communications, and by pursuing an awards program that reflects the contributions made by fishery guardians. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AFG |
Establish a joint Indigenous–departmental management committee to oversee command and control structures and the recruitment, curriculum, and training program |
DFO will pursue joint Indigenous-departmental management structures that can oversee program planning, coordination and delivery. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AFG |
Establish a national standard / code of conduct for departmental fishery officers as identified in the current policy and based on the best practice examples of officers in the Newfoundland and Labrador and Gulf regions |
DFO will review existing policy approaches, identify best practices, and work toward a national standard or code of conduct to inform and guide joint-training and deployment activities. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFG, AFS |
Designate fishery guardians, managers and technicians as habitat inspectors, if desired by Nations, and identify potential designation authorities in other departmental legislation or regulations. |
DFO will work to improve the linkages between the Aboriginal Fishery Guardians and the elements of compliance and enforcement which apply to habitat protection, specifically those set out in the Fisheries Act. |
Under Review |
Short-term |
| Recognize the right and the importance of meeting food, social and ceremonial needs |
AFS, AFG |
Be accountable for changing departmental practices, programs, and policies (in that order) to demonstrate the priority rights of Nations to fish before commercial and recreational users; including internal policies directing the responsibilities of Resource Management, Conservation and Protection, and fishery officers |
DFO will continue to review the policies and practices that guide program operations, identify opportunities to demonstrate the priority rights of Indigenous communities and, over the long-term, work to incorporate the principles of reconciliation within every program and internal service. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS, AFG |
Put together a federal–provincial–territorial–Indigenous team at the Deputy Minister and Ministerial levels through the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers to ensure Indigenous priority rights are respected in provincial and territorial jurisdictions, and resolve jurisdictional issues impeding cross-designations |
DFO will identify opportunities to facilitate high-level dialogue on Indigenous priority rights and related jurisdictional issues or considerations. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Ensure Indigenous communities are the beneficiaries of fish enhancement activities |
DFO will work to review the relationship between Indigenous communities and fish enhancement initiatives, and explore opportunities better link the results of these initiatives to the food requirements of local Nations. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Establish a nationally consistent practice regarding the use of program funding for food distribution and storage costs |
Indigenous Programs will consider the role of food distribution and storage as a core program objective and will work, in collaboration with program participants, to develop and apply nationally consistent guidelines on its funding. |
Planned |
Long-term |
| Recognize the value of enforcement collaboration to better protect and conserve resources |
AFG |
Recognize that Indigenous fishery guardians and officers are better placed to perform enforcement services in their territories |
DFO will work to improve its recognition, and the means by which it expresses its recognition, of the enforcement role Indigenous fishery guardians and officers play within their territories. |
Under Review |
Short-term |
| AFG |
Develop and implement options to offset liability insurance costs to all Nations, such as through memoranda of understanding |
AFS funding is currently addressing this in some cases. Potential gaps and challenges in full implementation will be examined and options developed to ensure a consistent national approach. |
In Progress |
Short-term |
Indigenous Program Review (IPR) - Reconcile resource management by recognizing the co-management relationship
| Recommendations |
Actions |
Status |
Timing |
| Continue to build Indigenous co-management capacity |
AAROM, AFS |
Use the science, data, and knowledge generated by groups in decision-making and management planning processes for fisheries, aquaculture, habitat and oceans |
Indigenous Programs will work with other sectors and branches of the Department to better coordinate, consider and reflect the science, data and knowledge generated and shared by program participants in decision-making and resource management processes. |
Under Review |
Ongoing |
| AAROM |
Invest in Indigenous knowledge systems and enable networking opportunities among groups to learn from best practices |
Indigenous Programs will continue to support, through its suite of programming, community-led development of Indigenous Knowledge systems, and will identify opportunities for AAROM program participants to network and establish best practices. This includes ongoing discussions facilitated through the AAROM network and at the annual National AAROM Meeting. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AAROM |
Establish data-sharing agreements and parameters with resource management, science and other sectors of the Department |
DFO will work to establish more formal and effective arrangements pertaining to data and information sharing. Preliminary discussions have already occurred between different sectors and branches of the department, and opportunities to network with AAROM program participants may be pursued through the National AAROM Steering Committee. Data-sharing agreement templates may also constitute a component of the AAROM marketing and partnership toolkit. |
Under Review |
Ongoing |
| AAROM |
Build on examples where traditional ecological knowledge has been properly reflected in decision-making |
DFO has begun an intradepartmental review of traditional ecological knowledge, including its consideration and reflection in decision-making processes. Examples of effective application have been identified, and opportunities to build on these examples will be explored both within the Department and in collaboration with AAROM program participants. The agenda for the 2019-20 National AAROM Meeting will also include a working session amongst Indigenous AAROM Directors to discuss best practices on the use and application of Indigenous knowledge in their organizations. |
In Progress |
Long-term |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Hold the Department’s resource management and science fisheries advisory meetings with First Nations governments (Tier 2) prior to engaging stakeholder resource users |
DFO Indigenous Commercial Programs will work with other sectors and branches of the department to improve coordination, and to promote consideration of resource management and science fisheries advisory meetings with Indigenous governments prior to engaging stakeholder resource users. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AICFI, PICFI, NICFI |
Hold annual decision-making workshops for First Nations and department staff in resource management and science |
DFO will explore and identify areas for collaborative workshops between DFO staff and First Nations in support of resource management and science. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AFS |
Hold the Department’s resource management and science advisory meetings with Nations (Tier 2) prior to and following engagement of privileged users (Tier 3) |
DFO will pursue actions and objectives that ensure Indigenous peoples are engaged in management and decision-making processes, and in ways that reflect rights recognition and the nation-to-nation relationship. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Recognize and encourage inter-tribal arrangements established to help Nations access fish for their section 35.1 needs |
DFO will pursue long-term objectives that recognize and encourage Indigenous strategies for managing fisheries within their territories, and support appropriate access to fish for food, social and ceremonial (FSC) purposes. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Recognize Nations as co-management partners in other ways, such as at transboundary and international meetings and negotiations |
DFO will pursue actions that better recognize and engage Indigenous peoples in collaborative management and decision-making processes, including those involving transboundary or international issues and negotiations. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Appreciate that the technical work plans of Nations will focus on the species and/or areas of cultural and historical import to their communities |
Indigenous Programs will continue to appreciate the links between technical works plans developed by program participants and the culturally significant species, areas and ecosystems they aim to support. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AFG |
Adopt nationally consistent designation and redesignation processes and schedules |
DFO will work with Indigenous partners to review and strengthen the current designation process and ensure a consistent national approach. In the meantime, DFO will extend current designations to ensure there is no gap in service. |
Planned |
Short-term |
| AFG |
Enable the training and designation of Indigenous fishery officers, if this is the desired career pathway of fishery guardians |
Through a renewed Aboriginal Fishery Guardian program, DFO will offer support to fishery guardians who pursue careers as trained and designated fishery officers. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFG |
Work with co-delivery partners to establish an Indigenous command and control structure for fishery guardians and to identify options to form an Indigenous fishery guardian or officer cadre across watersheds and/or regions |
DFO will, as part of its program renewal efforts, pursue joint Indigenous-departmental management structures that can oversee program planning, coordination and delivery, including issues associated with compliance and enforcement recruitment, training and command-and-control. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| Tackle Difficult Issues |
AAROM |
Enable groups to implement restoration plans for culturally significant aquatic species by aligning them with habitat, oceans projection place (coastal restoration), and species at risk programs |
DFO will continue to support, through the AFS, AAROM, AFSAR, HSP and CRF, the objectives of AAROM program participants as they relate to the conservation of culturally significant aquatic species, and will work with other sectors and branches of the department to ideD89:D101ntify relevant funding opportunities that can contribute to effective implementation of restoration plans. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AAROM |
Enable groups to undertake technical research activities to address local concerns impacting section 35.1 food security |
DFO will continue to support the technical research capacity of AAROM program participants, including as it relates to local concerns around section 35.1 food security. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| PICFI, NICFI |
Deal with access and licensing issues to increase First Nations participation in the fishery |
DFO will continue to support First Nations participation in the commercial fishery by providing funding to acquire access. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| PICFI |
Strengthen the management of all federally regulated recreational fisheries to ensure reliable catch estimates, improved stock assessments, and fully informed decision-making |
DFO will work with other sectors and branches of the department to improve the coordination and consideration of scientific data and knowledge related to all federally regulated recreational fisheries, in order to strengthen the management of the recreational fishery. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| PICFI, NICFI |
Focus aquaculture efforts on building knowledge about what species and technologies are viable on land or in water |
DFO will continue to support aquaculture activities through its expanded Indigenous commercial programs. |
In Progress |
Ongoing |
| AFS |
Measure the achievement of communities to have fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes to ensure program progress and success over time |
DFO will work to reflect Indigenous definitions of success, including the ability of communities to access fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes, within its program performance metrics and capacity assessment tools. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Make the Integrated Resource Management Sector accountable for co-managing fish and fish habitat with Indigenous Nations |
DFO will work to incorporate the actions and principles of reconciliation as a component of every program and internal service area, including those respecting collaborative management. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Apply Nation-led conservation decisions in territorial waterways to commercial and/or recreational fishing activities which occur in or alongside these waterways |
DFO will identify opportunities to reflect Indigenous management strategies and decision-making within new or existing program policies and processes. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Strengthen the management of all federally regulated recreational fisheries to ensure reliable catch estimates, improved stock assessments and fully informed decision-making |
DFO will review existing policies and operational practices, including those relating to stock assessment, integrated fisheries management, and the roles and perspectives of Indigenous peoples. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Deal with access and licensing issues to increase Indigenous participation in the fishery and enable Nation preferences for dual fishing (single allocation) and preferred means |
DFO will identify opportunities to pursue actions and long-term objectives concerning Indigenous management and decision-making within new or existing program policies and processes. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFS |
Update the Policy for the Management of Aboriginal Fishing to reflect current case law and trends in Canada, as well as the Government’s commitment to reconciliation and a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples |
DFO will continue to review the policies and practices that guide program operations, including the Policy for the Management of Aboriginal Fishing, and will pursue the principle of collaboration with Indigenous people in the renewal of these policies. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFG |
Make Conservation and Protection accountable for co-managing fish and fish habitat with Indigenous Nations – and ensure oversight at the Deputy Minister level |
DFO will work to incorporate the actions and principles of reconciliation as a component of every program and internal service area, including those respecting collaborative management. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFG |
Strengthen the enforcement of all federally regulated recreational fisheries to ensure compliance with the rules of their licences and more oversight of sport fishery activities |
DFO will review existing policies and operational practices, including those relating to Indigenous involvement in fisheries compliance and enforcement. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
| AFG |
Update the Policy for the Management of Aboriginal Fishing to reflect Indigenous fisheries laws, the jurisdiction and authority of Nations over their territories, and a national standard for training and joint patrols |
DFO will continue to review the policies and practices that guide program operations, including the Policy for the Management of Aboriginal Fishing, and will pursue the principle of collaboration with Indigenous people in the renewal of these policies. |
Under Review |
Long-term |
