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The Inuit Regions, also known as the Inuit Nunangat, dataset contains the geographical boundaries of the 4 Inuit Regions in Canada: Inuvialuit, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut. The boundaries, land only, have been drawn as per information defined in each land claim agreement. The marine boundaries of the 4 Inuit Regions will soon be available. The Inuit Regions (Inuit Nunangat) geographical boundaries are approximate and should be used for illustration purposes only.

The Targeted Investments in First Nations Community Infrastructure dataset depicts infrastructure projects on reserves across Canada that are funded through Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) programs. It contains data related to project location, category, description and status.

The dataset allows the Department to pinpoint and share information about individual infrastructure projects in First Nation communities, in a proactive and transparent manner, to:

• Showcase where and how investments are carried out in First Nation communities

• Demonstrate the Government’s commitment to improve the socio-economic conditions of Indigenous peoples and their communities.

For more information, visit https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1526995988708/1526996020578

The First Nations geographic location dataset contains the geographic location of First Nations (groups and subgroups) in Canada as points as well as basic attributes data. The location identifies where the First Nations live. Each First Nation point represents its administrative office address as it is registered in Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) Band Governance Management System (BGMS). When the First Nation administrative office is located outside its associated most populated reserve boundary, adjustments are made to relocate the point within its boundaries, otherwise within the boundaries of another associated reserve or the city where the administrative office is located.

The Indigenous agreements dataset contains geographic boundaries as well as basic attribute data representing arrangements between the Government of Canada, provinces and territories, and Indigenous organizations and communities. These arrangements address Indigenous and northern affairs, such as education, economic development, child and family services, health, and housing, that have not been addressed by treaties or through other means. However, this dataset only contains the Indigenous agreements that have a geographic boundary. The Indigenous agreements dataset includes:

1) Self-government agreements which represents the Indigenous groups that govern their internal affairs and assume greater responsibility and control over the decision making that affects their communities.

The Modern treaties (formerly known as the Post-1975 treaties) dataset contains geographic boundaries as well as basic attribute data representing signed agreements that were negotiated between Indigenous groups, the Government of Canada, and provincial and territorial governments after 1975. These boundaries represent the areas of Canada where Indigenous land rights and title have not been addressed by treaty or through other legal means. These boundaries represent the final result of a negotiated First Nation’s claimed area. These boundaries are usually not surveyed but help to delineate the geographic extent of the rights of Indigenous beneficiaries defined within the agreement.

The Historic treaties (formerly known as the Pre-1975 treaties) dataset contains geographic boundaries as well as basic attribute data representing signed treaties that were negotiated between Indigenous peoples and the Crown between 1725 and 1929. However, the Treaties of Peace and Neutrality, signed between 1701 and 1760, are not represented in this dataset because they do not have geographic boundaries that can be represented on a map. Apart from the Peace and Friendship Treaties, these boundaries represent the historic treaties signed after 1763, which provided large areas of First Nations land, to the Crown (transferring their Aboriginal title to the Crown) in exchange for reserve lands and other benefits. The Government of Canada recognizes 70 historic treaties in Canada signed between 1701 and 1923.

A tribal council is a grouping of First Nations with common interests who voluntarily joined together to provide services to member First Nations. The tribal council geographic location dataset contains the geographic location of all tribal councils in Canada as points as well as basic attributes data. Each tribal council point represents its address as it is registered in Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Indian Government Support System (IGSS). A connection with the IGSS is in place to ensure that any update to the system is reflected in the attributes data associated with the geography of each tribal council.

The dataset contains the extents of mineral claims of Nunavut. A mineral claim is an area of Crown Land that is staked out by an individual or Mineral Exploration Company that holds a valid Prospectors license. This grants the individual or mineral exploration company the mineral rights to the staked out piece of land as provided for under the Nunavut Mining Regulations, SOR/214-69. If the holder of a mineral claim wishes to produce minerals from the claim, or to hold it for more than ten years, the holder must apply for a lease of the claim.

The dataset contains the extents of mineral leases of Nunavut. A mineral lease is a mineral claim that has been surveyed by a Canada Lands Surveyor. A mineral lease can be applied for after an exploration Prospecting company has done a minimum of representation work in the claim area and if a legal survey on the claim has been recorded. A mineral lease is required for disposal or sale of minerals or of a gross value of more than $100,000 in one year.

The dataset contains the extents of prospecting permits in Nunavut. A prospecting permit allows prospecting in a large area without competition for a period of three or five years, and gives the holder the exclusive rights to stake a mineral claim within that area. For more information, visit http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100027889/1100100027890. Note: This is one of the four (4) datasets that describe mineral tenure in Nunavut.