Minister’s message
This report covers the period from April 2025 to March 2026 and provides an update on the 181 measures set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UN Declaration Act) Action Plan. As in previous years, it was developed in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous partners and brings together input from 47 federal departments and agencies, enriched by the perspectives of 71 Indigenous partners.
Over the past year, we made steady progress in advancing Indigenous rights and supporting self-determination, while continuing to strengthen coordination across government.
Key results reflecting progress in legislation, service delivery, engagement, and collaboration include:
- Establishing the Indigenous-led Action Plan Advisory Committee to strengthen Indigenous leadership in guiding implementation of shared priorities, while complementing the ongoing consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples (Shared Priorities Measure 22)
- Supporting the collaborative development of culturally grounded health service models with six First Nations communities (First Nations Priorities Measures 12 and 13)
- Continuing construction and operations of Aqqusariaq, the Nunavut Recovery Centre, improving access to culturally appropriate substance use and trauma services (Inuit Priorities Measures 13 and 14)
- Introducing the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty Act (Bill C-21) to support Métis self-government and strengthen government-to-government relationships (Métis Priorities Measure 1)
- Introducing the Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation Act (Bill C-10) to improve oversight and accountability for modern treaty implementation (Indigenous Modern Treaty Partner Priorities Measure 9)
Each year, as we continue to take concrete steps to promote and protect Indigenous rights, we contribute to building a fair, inclusive, and equitable Canada for First Nations, Inuit and Métis, now and for future generations.
While we acknowledge that Indigenous peoples have expressed concern that the pace of progress of Action Plan implementation has slowed over the past year, important results have been achieved as part of the Government of Canada’s efforts to confront the many challenges that 2025 to 2026 held for the country.
Looking ahead, we will continue to learn from experience and feedback, including what we’ve heard from Indigenous peoples who contributed to this annual report about the need for better coordination across departments, greater support for Indigenous-led initiatives, ongoing inclusion of the perspectives of Indigenous women, youth, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, persons with disabilities, and Elders in implementation, and continued focus on fulfilling treaty obligations.
As we reflect on the last year through this report, we also take the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to moving forward together to advance UN Declaration Act implementation with a clear focus on achieving meaningful and lasting results for generations to come.
The Honourable Sean Fraser, P.C., K.C.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
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