Indigenous Services Canada

Indigenous Services Canada is a federal body that recruited Lakehead alumna Michaela Parenteau through a mentorship program.

The name appears in the Lakehead University Alumni Spotlight profile of Michaela Parenteau.

In Anishinabek News

• March 2018: The department provided $50,000 to assist First Nations youth, families, and staff with travel costs for the Little Native Hockey League tournament. The agency coordinated with the Hockey Hall of Fame to provide admission passes for the participating athletes.
• March 2018: The department provided $94,050 in 2017-2018 and $76,230 in 2018-2019 to support Supercom Industries Limited Partnership. The funding was delivered through the Community Opportunity Readiness Program to help First Nations participate in economic opportunities.
• June 2018: Staff from this department attended the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association conference in Thunder Bay to give presentations. The department was among the groups providing updates on Indigenous education in 2018.
• August 2018: The organization's Thunder Bay Zone Facilities Manager, Lawrence Dorey, helped secure funding for the new health centre in Biigtigong Nishnaabeg.
• October 2018: A representative from this department met with Scott McLeod to discuss jurisdictional issues and enforcement agreements.
• June 2019: This department provides funding for the expanded child and family programs at Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
• March 2020: The department is involved in efforts with the Saulteaux Pelly Agency Health Alliance to secure new health infrastructure and programs.
• April 2020: The department processes applications for Jordan's Principle, though many from southern Ontario have been denied or marked as incomplete. Intake workers at the department have been described as being stretched for time and sometimes unhelpful to First Nations applicants.
• April 2020: The department reviewed the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek custom election code and requested specific changes before ratification. Officials stated that new regulations allow First Nations to postpone elections for up to six months due to COVID-19 health risks. The department indicated that the pandemic has delayed the final approval process for the community's conversion to a custom election system.
• April 2020: The department's minister, Marc Miller, spoke regarding efforts to provide financial flexibility to Indigenous entrepreneurs during the 2020 health crisis.
• June 2020: As of June 2020, the department provided data regarding the number of First Nations people killed by police during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• July 2020: The ministry is led by Marc Miller, who was mentioned in relation to the administrative responsibilities for Indigenous people.
• July 2020: Indigenous Services Canada maintains a collection of success stories related to economic development in Indigenous communities.
• August 2020: The department provided $1 million in funding for the Sheguiandah First Nation housing project following a proposal review. The funding was allocated from the 2017 federal budget specifically for on-reserve housing.
• August 2020: The Minister of Indigenous Services Canada has the discretion to determine the validity of a will for First Nations individuals living on a reserve. The department estimates that as of August 2020, only nine percent of First Nations people living on a reserve have a valid will.
• August 2020: The department's website provides information on federal legislation that enables First Nations to develop their own child protection laws.
• September 2020: The department provided $671,850 in funding for the construction and renovation of homes at Atikameksheng Anishnawbek in 2020. It partnered with the community to support capacity development and lot servicing for new housing units.
• November 2020: The department announced funding for several southwestern Ontario First Nation groups to address critical needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency reported that the Indigenous Community Support Fund has assisted 260 First Nations organizations as of November 2020.
• December 2020: The department's minister, Marc Miller, spoke at the opening of the Mino Bimaadiziwin Healing and Prevention Centre. The ministry is involved in efforts to reform Indigenous child and family services.
• December 2020: The Ministry of Indigenous Services collaborated with Batchewana First Nation to plan a new water treatment plant. The department worked alongside Arcadis and Matheson Constructors on the infrastructure project.
• December 2020: The department described the purpose of the McLean Day School Settlement Corporation as providing healing and cultural support for communities.
• February 2021: Representatives from this department provided presentations and took part in discussions during the 2021 Lands, Resources and Economic Development Forum.
• March 2021: The department's status cards are used for the First Nations Gas Tax Rebate program. New security measures in iPOS systems prevent retailers from storing or transmitting sensitive information from this department.
• April 2021: The department provided a collective total of more than $875,000 to three Ontario First Nations starting in March 2020. The agency administered the Indigenous Community Support Fund to help communities safeguard their members during the pandemic.
• April 2021: The department was one of the funders for the Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations digital infrastructure initiative.
• May 2021: The department's deputy chief medical officer, Evan Adams, provides health expertise during virtual town halls.
• May 2021: The department has provided support for the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation plan to become an independent internet service provider. As of May 2021, three neighbouring First Nations have lobbied the department together to bring attention to the lack of connectivity in their rural settings.
• May 2021: The department's minister appointed a new chair to the National Indigenous Economic Development Board in 2021.
• June 2021: This department partnered with several Indigenous organisations to help First Nations complete applications for pandemic relief funding. The department provides direct assistance to Inuit and Métis communities for submitting financial applications.
• July 2021: The Building Bandwidth report suggests this agency should allocate more funding for digital devices and technology courses in schools through its transfer formulas.
• August 2021: The department defines Comprehensive Community Planning as an ongoing process enabling a community to plan development to meet its needs and aspirations.
• November 2021: Indigenous Services Canada provided the funding used by Koganaawsawin to purchase land-based supplies for 39 Anishinabek First Nations.
• December 2021: Indigenous Services Canada announced the recipient of the 2021 National First Nations Water Leadership Award on December 9, 2021. The department recognizes outstanding dedication to water safety in First Nations communities through the award.
• January 2022: The Health Transformation Working Group received a presentation about this department during their January 2022 meeting.
• January 2022: The department's website was designated to host information and applications for capital infrastructure funds starting in February 2022.
• June 2022: The department committed $25.8 million to support the construction of a new school for Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. The agency worked in partnership with local leadership and the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation to ensure the project's success.
• July 2022: The Grassy Narrows River Run marchers concluded their demonstration at the Toronto office of this department. Community members made their demands for mercury justice and land protection clear at this location.
• September 2022: The department has recognized the Orange Standard Service Delivery Model project initiated by Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services.
• September 2022: The department's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch provided the capital funding required to build the Spirit Healing Lodge.
• October 2022: The department's minister, Patty Hajdu, led a delegation to New Zealand to discuss Indigenous trade and rights. The department was involved in the visit where a new Indigenous Collaboration Arrangement was signed.
• November 2022: Representative Heather Larson provided a presentation to the health transformation working group in October 2022.
• November 2022: The department hosted the Ontario Joint Gathering in 2022 to engage with First Nations leadership. Representatives reported that 69 drinking water advisories had been lifted in Ontario, while 22 remained active in 19 communities. Bureaucrats from the department participated in panels regarding the Addition to Reserve and claims processes.
• March 2023: The department partnered with Biigtigong Nishnaabeg to develop a new $58 million water treatment plant. The agency is supporting the project to ensure the community has access to clean drinking water and to proactively safeguard future water quality.
• March 2023: The department is contributing $500,000 toward a new cultural centre for Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. The funding was announced by Minister Patty Hajdu during a visit to the community in March 2023.
• May 2023: The Anishinabek Nation is preparing a business case to this department to seek funding for health transformation.
• July 2023: This department provided $2.6 million in 2017 to improve the water treatment facilities at Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation.
• August 2023: The department approved the proposal for the new Benbowopka Treatment Centre facility after a seven-year application process.
• October 2023: The agency is to be reformed to prevent the recurrence of discrimination in child and family services.
• December 2023: The Anishinabek Nation Health Transformation Team presented a business case to the department in Ottawa during September 2023. The department is reviewing a proposal for increased funding to support further community engagement and health planning.
• February 2024: The department employs nurse advisors like Priscilla Sky to support First Nations in developing their home and community care service delivery plans.
• June 2024: The department provided approximately $73.2 million in funding for the water treatment project at Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation. The department partnered with the First Nation to develop the new water distribution system.
• June 2024: The agency provided ongoing funding and support for the construction of the Indigenous Women and Children's Shelter. A representative from the Ontario Region Family Violence Prevention Program attended the project's groundbreaking ceremony.
• September 2024: A representative from the department, Maria Kamin, attended the grand opening of the new school in Sagamok Anishnawbek.
• February 2025: The department is investing over $47 million into the water infrastructure project at Zhiibaahaasing First Nation. Funding for the new plant is being provided through the Emergency Management Assistance Program.
• February 2025: The department is committed to providing $8.5 billion over nine years under the terms of the Ontario Final Agreement.
• March 2025: The department engaged in a three-day event with Anishinabek Nation leaders to enhance mutual understanding of priorities. Officials met with leadership to discuss resource allocation and community engagement strategies.
• May 2025: Indigenous Services Canada offers funding for waste management through the First Nations Solid Waste Management Initiative. Many communities receive annual funding for solid waste management from Indigenous Services Canada based on a formula determined by their location in Ontario.
• June 2025: Jared Commanda argued that First Nation communities should strive for self-reliance to avoid needing services from this department.
• July 2025: Patty Hajdu served as the minister of this department.
• September 2025: The department introduced an operational bulletin in February 2025 that required more documentation from professionals for Jordan's Principle requests. Officials from the department have allegedly claimed that the Jordan's Principle initiative is being abused by First Nations. The department is responsible for the final approval of funding requests submitted under the initiative.
• September 2025: The department received incident reports about a mill spill and forwarded them to the Nokiiwin Tribal Council.
• October 2025: This department provided partial funding for the housing projects recently completed in Serpent River First Nation.
• October 2025: The department provided demographic data showing that roughly 29 per cent of registered Indians hold only half status as of October 2025. Its data suggests that in some regions, up to 50 per cent of the population is impacted by status transmission limits.
• November 2025: The Anishinabek Nation called on the minister of this department to accept senate amendments to Bill S-2 in 2025.
• November 2025: The Anishinabek Nation reported a significant change in their relationship with this department following the 2025 federal election. Leadership indicated that increased efforts would be needed to ensure the voices of their people are heard by the new government.
• January 2026: The department received a resubmitted business case from the Anishinabek Nation in December 2025 regarding health funding. In 2024, the department did not approve funding for the initiative due to internal resource constraints despite the proposal meeting readiness criteria.