Series GR-3543 - First Nations issues files

The series consists of correspondence, briefing notes, reports, copies of court orders and studies created or received by the Local Government First Nations Relations section of the Ministry of Community Services. The records were created between 1955 and 2008, although the records predominantly date from the early 1990s onwards. The series is divided into three subseries : band issues files, local government case files, and First Nations organizational files. The division was made based on the original classification scheme assigned to the records by the creator.

The first subseries (containers 956965-0001 to 956965-0003) consists of band issues files. The records are arranged alphabetically by First Nations band name. Researchers should note that the creator used the official First Nations band names (for example, “Tsilhqot’in” rather than “Chilcotin,” and “Snuneymuxw” rather than “Nanaimo”). The records consist of correspondence, briefing notes, legal records, and press releases and provide evidence of the effect that actions of local First Nations bands had on non-Aboriginal municipalities, organizations, and individuals. Many of the files relate to taxation matters under the Indian Self-Government Enabling Act (RSBC 1996 c. 219). The subseries is based on Local Government Services ORCS (schedule 123679), secondary 55500-20.

The second subseries (container 956965-0003) consists of local government case files and provides evidence of the effect that the actions of local governmental bodies (i.e. municipalities, villages, and districts) had on First Nations bands. The records are arranged alphabetically by municipality name. The subseries is based on Local Government Services ORCS (schedule 123679), secondary 55500-30.

The third subseries (container 956965-0003 and 956965-0003) consists of First Nations organization files. These records provide evidence of the work of organizations such as the Indian Taxation Advisory Board and First Nations Financial Association. The files are organized in alphabetical order by the name of the association or board. The subseries is based on Local Government Services ORCS (schedule 123679), secondary 55500-50.

Electronic records from both the floppy disk and the CD ROM were printed and placed into their respective files. The Excel spreadsheet on the floppy disk did not appear to have been filled out, and instead appears to be a template. There did not appear to be any formulas or functions in the cells. The workbook is divided into 8 spreadsheets : specific targeted programs, roll-up of targeted programs, branch consultation costs, roll-up of consultation costs, interim measures by objective, roll-up of interim measures, branch resources for treaties, and division resources for treaties.