Reports & Publications

Federal Legislation

Legislation Reference

• Fisheries Act
• Oceans Act
• Species at Risk
• Canadian Navigable Waters Act
• Canadian Aquaculture Act (Discussion Paper)
• Impact Assessment Act
• Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act
• Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act
• National Aquaculture Act
• Modernization of Fisheries Act
• Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act

Policy Reference

• Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Assessment Process
• The Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program
• DFO-Coast Guard Reconciliation Strategy
• Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy
• Indigenous Knowledge Policy Framework (IKPF)

Indigenous Governance Reference

• Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources Partnership Tenants
• Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas
• Assembly of First Nations – Declaring a First Nations Climate Emergency

Reports

Indigenous Knowledge Policy Framework Workshop Series Report (March 2022)

The following report is the result of two virtual workshops hosted by the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat over the fall and winter of 2021-2022. These workshops provided a venue for Atlantic First Nations in Atlantic Canada to discuss the Government of Canada’s proposed Indigenous Knowledge Policy Framework (IKPF). The report includes summaries of all presentations held over the two workshops including from the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, the Indigenous law firm Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, Dr. Deborah McGregor of York University, and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. The report also captures ’emergent themes’ across the workshop series which include, among other things, more details on how the government’s framework would be implemented.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report (December 2021)

Three virtual Fish & Fish Habitat workshops were held over the winter of 2021-2022. These workshops were for Atlantic First Nations to discuss the various regulations, policies and frameworks being developed by the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The report features recommendations based on the feedback of Atlantic First Nations participants. These recommendations include incorporating the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ Free Prior and Informed Consent language into the policies and adopting a First Nations First policy among others. APC will continue to support Atlantic First Nations in their consideration of these policies to support the conservation, protection and restoration of fish and fish habitat across the region.

Prepared by Heidi Weigand and Shelley Price

APC All Chiefs Fisheries Forum (November 2021)

The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs Secretariat’s (APC) hosted an All Chiefs Meeting to discuss Indigenous fisheries in the Atlantic Region. The discussions included areas of focus, Indigenous knowledge systems, issues, opportunities, and next steps. These were fruitful conversations, built on the foundation of knowledge sharing and a strong affirmation that Treaty Rights and Inherent Rights will never be ceded. Further discussion on the times when self-governance and when co-governance are strategic opportunities for moving forward.
Prepared by Heidi Weigand and Shelley Price

Best Practices in Indigenous Recruitment and Retention (April 2018)

The purpose of this report is to summarize systemic barriers to Indigenous recruitment and retention as well as identify best practices currently employed by organizations like the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). This report also summarizes the feedback received from CCG staff through interviewing on the subject of Indigenous recruitment. It provides considerations and recommendations for both Indigenous groups and for the Coast Guard to best support individuals and improve recruitment and retention in employment at the CCG.
Prepared by Michael Hennessey and Karen Travers

Impact Assessment Act

• New Impact Assessment Act

• Indigenous Participation and the Use of Indigenous Knowledge under the Impact Assessment Act: An Overview with Policy Recommendations
  Prepared by Susanna D. Fuller and East Coast Environmental Law
  January 29, 2020