Understand Indigenous engagement

Gain an understanding of the Government of Canada’s – and each employee’s – roles and responsibilities to support reconciliation.

Take some time going through additional information, tools and resources to further develop your working knowledge. This is a large, complex, and evolving topic of great importance, and requires constant work and commitment.

The Government of Canada consults and engages with Canada’s Indigenous peoples on matters that concern them. Understanding the interests and perspectives of Indigenous peoples is a pathway towards better relationships and reconciliation. The Government also has a legal obligation to consult Indigenous peoples and address their concerns before undertaking activities that could interfere with their rights.

Strong relationships and effective consultation and engagement with Indigenous peoples are required to build and operate a modern transportation system capable of moving goods and people safely and efficiently in support of a growing economy dependent on trade.

Indigenous peoples have lived on the land we now call Canada for thousands of years, with their own unique cultures, identities, traditions, languages and institutions. 

There are more than 600 First Nations communities, 50 Inuit communities in Inuit Nunangat (Inuvialuit, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut), and approximately 400,000 people identifying as Métis in Canada. 

Early partnerships between Indigenous nations and colonial governments were forged through treaties as well as trade and military alliances and were based on mutual respect and co-operation. Over many centuries, these relationships were eroded by colonial policies that were made into laws. 

Treaties provide a framework for living together and sharing the land Indigenous peoples traditionally occupied. These agreements provide foundations for ongoing co-operation and partnership as we move forward together to advance reconciliation. Canada recognizes 70 historic treaties and 54 Modern Treaties across the country, with 30 modern treaty negotiations underway. 

Canada has embarked on a journey of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. It is a necessary journey to address the scars left by a long history of colonialism. 

Much of Canada’s transportation infrastructure is within or close to the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples, including: 

• Many of the 23 airports under the National Airports System and 18 small airports owned by Transport Canada; 
• The 17 ports independently managed by Canada Port Authorities and 44 port facilities currently owned and operated by Transport Canada; and, 
• The national rail system, comprised of over 40,000 kilometers of track. 

In recent years, Transport Canada’s work with Indigenous peoples has evolved significantly and the department continues to adapt its activities in response to these changes. New direction from the Courts, government announcements and agreements have created new obligations which will continue to frame Transport Canada’s business into the future with wide ranging implications across all modes of transportation. 

• Cabinet Directive on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation 
• Treaties and agreements   
• Government of Canada and the duty to consult 
• Indigenous peoples and communities 
• Indigenous Learning Series on GCcampus, including: 
  • Fundamentals of Modern Treaty and Self-Government Agreement Implementation 
  • Modern Treaty and Self-Government Agreement Implementation for Policy and Program Officers 
• Reports issued or created by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 

Materials on this website were produced and/or compiled for the purpose of providing Canadians with access to information about the programs and services offered by the Government of Canada. It is subject to the following Terms and conditions.

This work is a derivative of “Treaties and agreements” from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and used under the Open Government Licence – Canada.