First Nations Consultation Policy
On August 16, 2013, Alberta’s current First Nations consultation policy, The Government of Alberta’s Policy on Consultation with First Nations on Land and Natural Resource Management, 2013 (Policy) was approved by Cabinet and publicly released. The Policy includes a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening Alberta’s First Nation consultation process, including the creation of a centralized Aboriginal Consultation Office (ACO), increased consultation capacity funding for First Nations, and a stronger role for Alberta in consultation processes. The Policy came into force on July 28, 2014, with the release of The Government of Alberta’s Guidelines on Consultation with First Nations on Land and Natural Resource Management, July 28, 2014 (Guidelines). The Guidelines respond to several procedural changes requested by stakeholders, such as the sector-specific consultation matrices and revised consultation timelines. Additionally, the Guidelines, in alignment with the Policy, are aimed at increasing clarity of roles, transparency, and consistency for all involved stakeholders.
Metis Settlements Consultation Policy
In Fall 2015, Alberta’s Metis Settlements consultation policy, The Government of Alberta’s Policy on Consultation with Metis Settlements on Land and Natural Resource Management, 2015 (Policy) was approved by Cabinet. The Policy was developed in consultation with the Metis Settlements General Council and a working group of Settlement leaders to ensure their interests and issues were well understood. Industry also played a key role in the development of the Policy. It is modeled closely after the current First Nations consultation policy (see below), and establishes, for the first time, a formal consultation process between Alberta, project proponents and the Metis Settlements. The Policy came into force and was publicly released on April 4, 2016 with the release of The Government of Alberta’s Guidelines on Consultation with Metis Settlements on Land and Natural Resource Management, 2016 (Guidelines). The Guidelines were similarly modeled after the First Nation consultation Guidelines, and support clarity of roles, transparency, and consistency for all stakeholders involved in the consultation process. Implementation of the Policy is consistent with Alberta’s approach to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
See also:
Fact Sheet for Proponents - First Nations and Metis Settlement Consultation Processes
The Metis Settlements Consultation Contacts are now available.
Consultation, Capacity, Training, and Outreach
As part of the larger consultation initiative Indigenous Relations (IR) currently administers the First Nations Consultation Capacity Investment Program (FNCCIP). Through this program, all First Nations within Alberta will receive a core investment to assist with building their capacity to participate in consultation related activities regarding land and natural resource management.
Under current FNCCIP procedures, all First Nations within Alberta receive a notification letter prior to the end of each fiscal year to initiate the process for providing consultation capacity core investment funding.
For more information on who can apply, when to apply, how to apply, approval conditions or processes, please refer to the FNCCIP overview documents attached below:
The following are the electronic reporting templates required for the FNCCIP program:
Band Council Resolution 
Letter of Request
Training Plan Template
Financial Reporting Template 2.0
Financial Reporting Template 1.2
Single Point of Contact Letter
Training and Outreach
Training and Outreach coordinates and facilitates the development and/or delivery of training in various topics to build knowledge and capacity for engagement in Indigenous consultation activities by Government of Alberta staff, Indigenous communities, and consultation proponents.
