(Washington, D.C.) – The Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Neal McCaleb is in Ottawa, Canada today for bilateral talks with representatives from the Ministry of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). The bilateral talks were created to provide an opportunity for the United States and Canada to exchange information on how each administer their responsibilities to their indigenous populations.
“I welcome the exchange of information and ideas on how each country deals with the unique relationships we have with our first nations,” Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Neal McCaleb said. “It will be constructive dialogue that will result in our doing a better job of delivering services.”
During the one-day meeting, the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Neal McCaleb will meet with a group headed by Marc Lafreniere, Deputy Minister, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). The discussion of issues will involve: First Nation governance; education; economic development and on-reserve employment; litigation; federal responsibilities for land and natural resource management; building infrastructure; water rights; and cross border issues that Canada and the United States share in common.
Accompanying the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs is, William Mahojah, Director, Office of Indian Education Programs, Jim Pace, Director, and Eric Wilson, Deputy Director, Office of American Indian Trust.
Two years ago, a group of Canadian government officials and First Nations people traveled to Washington, DC and met with the former Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs and staff at the Department of the Interior.
