Given that Canada is one of the most urbanized countries in the world, it should come as no surprise that well over one-half of Canada’s Aboriginal people live in urban settings. Two-thirds of the urban Aboriginal population lives in western Canadian cities alone.

Calvin Hanselman, Canada West Foundation, notes in his report Urban Aboriginal People in Western Canada, that "Urban Aboriginal people face challenges above and beyond those faced by the non-Aboriginal urban population including lower educational levels, lower labour force participation rates, higher unemployment rates, lower income levels and an over-representation in the criminal justice system, as both victims and offenders. "

While there are plenty of community and government initiatives designed to tackle the different issues experienced by Aboriginal people, the scope and depth of these challenges requires Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities to work comprehensively and collaboratively if we hope to make real progress.

The scores of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations involved in Calgary’s Urban Aboriginal Initiative (CUAI) have recognized that they are shaping a unique made-in-Calgary approach that is catching the eye of people and organizations across Canada.

Learn more about this unique initiative in this seminar!

On this page you'll find:

Meet the Speaker

Barbara E. Milmine is proud to be of Cree-Métis descent and to have grown up in St. Albert, Alberta, a region closely linked to her heritage. Having completed an Honours BA in Sociology at the University of Alberta, she moved on to conduct graduate work at the University of Victoria in Sociology, the University of Northern British Columbia in First Nations Studies, and the University of Auckland in Maori Studies.

Barbara has enjoyed a diverse career with a variety of organizations including the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).

In 1999 she took a position with the City of Calgary coordinating an in-depth community-based research initiative addressing issues and identifying solutions aimed at improving the lives of urban Aboriginal Calgarians. This work led to her secondment to Director of the Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative (CUAI) in 2000. Barbara's involvements have included membership on the Canada West Foundation's Urban Aboriginal People's Initiative Advisory Committee, the Board of Directors of the University of Calgary's Institute for the Humanities, the Board of Directors of the United Way of Calgary and Area, and Leadership Calgary.

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Seminar notes & audio clips

Understanding the Nature of Urban Aboriginal Issues in Calgary (5 minutes)

Audio Description	Select Format*
CUAI - (Runs 01:02:31)
*Download free players from the following websites: Windows Media Real Player

The number of Urban Aboriginal people in Calgary depends on the set of numbers used. Statistics Canada’s 2001 census suggests there are 22,000 Aboriginal people living in Calgary, but CUAI and its partners estimate Urban Aboriginals represent 25,000-30,000, or just over 2% of Calgarians. It’s difficult to track this population because of the way that census data is collected.

Aboriginal peoples are the fastest growing population in Canada, with birth rates that are at least double those of the rest of Canadians. In 2001, the median age of Aboriginal Canadians was 24.7, while it was 37.1 for the rest of Canadians, and children under 15 represented 32.9% of the Aboriginal population. This element of their demography has understandably significant implications for Aboriginal people.

Compared to the general population, Urban Aboriginal people are typically significantly over-represented at the negative end of the scale on most socio-economic indicators (i.e. lower education; higher unemployment; higher risk of poor health and of many diseases (diabetes); over-representation in the criminal justice system – both as victims and offenders, etc.)

Poverty, systemic racism and discrimination, and social disenfranchisement contribute to the difference between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, but to truly appreciate why Urban Aboriginal people face such an uphill battle, we have to place their situation in the context of the history of policy affecting Aboriginal peoples in Canada since contact (the Indian Act, the Residential School system, etc.); history takes a toll.

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Understanding CUAI

CUAI’s inception was the “Removing Barriers” initiative in 1999. A number of partners came together with the intention to stage a one-day conference on Urban Aboriginal issues, but realized a broader community consultation on the issues was needed.

Additionally, a new incarnation of UAS was getting underway in 1998. The UAS was developed in response to recommendations arising out of the 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in hopes of better addressing the serious socio-economic needs of Canada’s urban Aboriginal population. Designed to improve policy development and program coordination at the federal level and with other levels of government, the UAS decided to hold off in Calgary until the Removing Barriers research was complete.

In 2000, based on research from Removing Barriers and the Royal Commission, CUAI was born. Its mission is to provide a home for ongoing discussion, coordinated and informed action in support of Calgary urban Aboriginal issues and initiatives.

In essence, CUAI facilitates common tables for community stakeholders to gather and work together more efficiently on service and systems access issues for Urban Aboriginals living in Calgary. CUAI is not a government department, a nonprofit organization, a direct service organization. CUAI is a facilitator that provides space for coordinated discussion and action.

CUAI has a very broad base of involvement from community stakeholders, ranging from all levels of government to community agencies and organizations, the school boards, the tertiary educational institutions, all elements of the justice system, the Chamber of Commerce, the health region, foundations, not-for-profits, etc.

CUAI is funded by all levels of government. The City of Calgary provides significant in-kind support, in addition to providing operational support through FCSS. Provincial support flows through AAND and AHRE, and WED is the lead federal supporter.

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CUAI Focus Areas – the Domain Groups

The basis of CUAI’s structure is the Initiative’s eight domain groups: Education, Employment, Funding, Health, Housing, Human Rights, Justice, Social Services

Each is as community-based as possible. A CUAI Committee facilitates work within and among domain groups – it does not direct or advise the domain groups, but rather takes direction and advice from the domain groups in order to effect positive outcomes.

Representation on the CUAI Committee includes seats for each domain group, for each level of government, for local Aboriginal authorities, for the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee, for the Chamber of Commerce, as well as for Aboriginal community members, an elder, and a youth representative.

Domain Groups:

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A problem solving approach

CUAI’s structure has allowed it to focus on problem-solving and action. Key initiatives launched thus far include:

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The Collaborative Granting Process (CGP)

In 2002 the Federal UAS renewed its commitment by providing $25 million in seed funding to eight target cities, of which Calgary was one. The caveat of the funding was that it had to be dispersed through community conduits rather than traditional Aboriginal ways. CUAI developed a collaborative granting process for Urban Aboriginal pilot projects that they have used as their funding process for the last three years. CGP has dispersed at least $1.3 million in funds earmarked for Calgary and leveraged $4.9 million by bringing other funders to the table.

The CGP process benefits both applicants and funders.

Successes & Challenges

The structure, for instance, evolved over three years, but is now functional and as community-based as possible while still involving the major community players. This is often where other collaborations stall.

Relationship and trust building has been a challenge but also a success. The level of relationship building and trust building required to make a collaborative like this work is daunting. CUAI had three years under its belt when UAS came calling in 2002. Some other cities struggled because they had not yet built the relationships needed. Relationships and trust building can’t be fast-tracked or time-lined. We are now reaping the benefits of the work we put into building trust and relationships.

The focus and organization of CUAI works for Calgary, but it’s not a cookie-cutter solution. However, CUAI has learned some lessons regarding collaboration that any collaborative group tackling complex issues might find helpful. These include:

Additional Material

CUAI’s History – This document provides background information on CUAI’s vision, mission and its history. Download the document here.

CUAI’s Committee Model – Learn more about CUAI’s innovative committee model, including its domain groups! Download the document here.

Removing Barriers: A Listening Circle – This report was critical in the establishment of CUAI and emerged from a comprehensive consultative process. Download the report here.

Urban Aboriginal People in Western Canada – Read this report from the Canada West Foundation here.

Urban Aboriginal Strategy – Learn more about the federal government’s Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) here.

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