Parks Canada's Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat
Who we are and what we do
The Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat (AAS) was created in 1999 to provide national leadership, direction and support within the Parks Canada Agency on matters relating to its continually evolving relationships with Aboriginal peoples (First Nation, Inuit, and Métis). The Secretariat supports the development of policies, guidelines, frameworks, strategies, tools and training in order to advance relationship building with Aboriginal peoples.
The Secretariat is located in the Parks Canada offices of the National Capital Region and is part of the Chief Executive Officer’s office. The Director of the AAS reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
Our Objectives
Five key corporate priorities remain a central focus and continue to be addressed in the Business Planning Process.
- Building meaningful relationships with Aboriginal peoples;
- Creating economic partnerships;
- Increasing programming at parks/sites;
- Enhancing employment opportunities; &
- Commemorating Aboriginal themes.
The AAS helps to enhance the participation of Aboriginal peoples in Canada’s natural and cultural heritage places. Four keys projects are:
- Support, advise and guide field units, service centres and National Office directorates in matters relating to Aboriginal engagement;
- Develop an Aboriginal Engagement Framework to engage Aboriginal peoples in the planning and management of heritage places it administers. As part of this framework, by 2013, Aboriginal advisory relationships will be established in various locations across the organization, guided by the unique legal and cultural contexts of the different Aboriginal groups;
- Set up and chair an integrated Aboriginal affairs network (IAAN) across the organization in order to share best practices in Aboriginal engagement;
- Develop and deliver a national training project on Aboriginal Consultation and Accommodation and working with Aboriginal peoples.
Meet the AAS employees
A/Director – Nadine Crookes
Executive Assistant – Dominique Thauvette
Senior Analyst – Nathalie Gagnon
Senior Policy Advisor, Aboriginal Consultation – John McCormick
Senior Policy Advisor, Traditional Knowledge – Bill Hipwell
Analyst – Reg Sylliboy
Contact Us
Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat
Parks Canada Agency
25 Eddy Street, 7th Floor
Gatineau, QC K1A 0M5
Tel: (819) 953-5777
Fax: (819) 934-1106
Email: aboriginal.autochtone@pc.gc.ca