Congress of Aboriginal Peoples

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) (formerly the Native Council of Canada and briefly the Indigenous Peoples Assembly of Canada), founded in 1971, is a national Canadian aboriginal organization that represents Aboriginal peoples (Non-Status and Status Indians, Métis, and Southern Inuit) who live off Indian reserves in either urban or rural areas across Canada.[1] As of 2011 more than 70% of Aboriginal people live off-reserve.

Its head office is located in the capital, Ottawa, Ontario. The congress works with its affiliate organizations on issues that affect the Aboriginal peoples of Canada who live off-reserve. Affiliates of the congress have their own constitutions with some being separately funded through the Métis and Non-Status Indian Relations Directorate of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. The Métis and Non-Status Indian Relations Directorate works primarily with Aboriginal political organizations who represent the interests of Métis and non-status Indians (MNSI) and other off-reserve Aboriginal organizations.

The congress administers the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS), which links training to labour market demand. ASETS is designed to help Aboriginal people who live off-reserve prepare for and find high-demand jobs.

  1. ^ "Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Affiliates". Archived from the original on 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2009-11-20.