Meet with Indigenous Leaders

Completed

Way Forward Commitment:

Our Government is committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous communities in Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure programs and services reflect their needs. Our Government wants Indigenous leaders to know there are real opportunities to work together to make positive change, and through the annual Leaders Roundtable with Indigenous Governments and Organizations, we will shape an agenda together, as stronger relationships with Indigenous peoples is part of building for our future. Each year, the Premier will invite leaders of Indigenous Governments and Organizations, including Native Friendship Centres and Indigenous Women’s Organizations, to meet and establish priority actions. We will invite Indigenous leaders to participate in the first meeting by June 30, 2017.

In 2017, our government convened the province’s first Indigenous Leaders Roundtable to discuss and advance goals shared with Indigenous communities. The National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, mental health and addictions, and the repatriation of Beothuk remains from Scotland were among the issues discussed.

In 2018, our government will convene the second Indigenous Leaders Roundtable to identify and initiate new areas of collaboration.

What We’ve Accomplished:

  • The first annual Leaders Roundtable meeting occurred on May 26, 2017. The Roundtable provided a forum for discussing common interests and shared goals across Indigenous Governments and Organizations in the province. Progress was made in the following areas:
    • Engagement with Indigenous Governments and Organizations around the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls;
    • Discussion of recommendations from the All-Party Committee on Mental Health and Addictions with respect to Indigenous people and communities; and
    • Discussion of progress to date on the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
  • In addition, the Roundtable discussed the status of the Province’s request for the repatriation of the remains of Beothuk individuals held by National Museums Scotland, and a May 2017 Declaration signed by Nunatsiavut Government, Innu Nation, NunatuKavut Community Council, Miawpukek First Nation, and Qalipu First Nation, indicating their support for the repatriation.
  • Indigenous Governments and Organizations will be invited by the Provincial Government to engage in the second annual Indigenous Leaders Roundtable meeting in 2018. Government continues to engage bilaterally with Indigenous Governments and Organizations in the province, and views the Roundtable as a valuable opportunity to collectively discuss and advance common interests and shared goals.
  • The second annual Indigenous Leaders Roundtable was held in Corner Brook on June 8, 2018.
  • Building upon the progress achieved in last year’s inaugural meeting, the second roundtable included discussions involving:
    • Next steps towards the repatriation of Beothuk remains held by National Museums Scotland;
    • An update and discussion with respect to Indigenous people and communities on Towards Recovery: The Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador; and
    • An open discussion with the leaders of Indigenous Governments and Organizations on the Provincial Government’s Cultural Action Plan.

News Releases:

First Indigenous Leaders Roundtable Advances Mutual Goals of Indigenous Communities and Provincial Government

Indigenous Leaders Roundtable Provides Forum for Discussion on Matters of Common Interest