Jack Layton and the New Democrats will:

Invest $5 billion over five years in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. This will improve health services, help provide adequate housing, water, and infrastructure to include traditional healing, nutrition, fitness, addiction treatment and suicide prevention.

This commitment alone will meet the commitments of the Kelowna Accord. It will build the foundation to end poverty.

Implement aggressive new efforts in education and training of First Nations children, youth and adults. We will respect Ottawa’s fiduciary obligations and encourage the participation of public and private sectors with the federal government in skills training initiatives. Federal education funding must recognize comparable levels of funding for non-reserve students.

Address the needs of urban First Nations, Métis and Inuit citizens with special attention to the appropriate development and delivery of affordable housing, public health care, education, skills training, and economic opportunities.

Help develop community economies by providing infrastructure so First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people can fully participate in the Canadian economy. We will enhance access to capital, skills training and natural resources, and remove the punitive 2% funding cap instituted by the Liberals and maintained by the Harper Conservatives.

Implement Jordan’s Principle to guarantee First Nations children are not hurt by jurisdictional disputes between governments. In 2007, the New Democrats introduced the "Jordan’s Principle" bill. The bill was passed unanimously by Parliament. Mr. Harper has not fully implemented it. The first and only provincial signature is the NDP government of Manitoba.

Create restorative justice and healing approaches that provide indigenous youth better opportunities and choices.

Ensure that Residential School survivors left out by the current agreement are fairly compensated.

Respect the inherent right to self-government by accelerating settlement of final agreements, and fairly and equitably implementing existing agreements.

Legally recognize the legitimacy and jurisdiction of indigenous governments.

Immediately ratify the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We will reverse the Conservative and Liberal governments’ refusal to sign the Declaration. We will ensure its provisions are properly respected in Canada and incorporated into Canadian law.

Develop a comprehensive land claims policy that genuinely respects Aboriginal title.

Engage with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women and appropriate organizations to ensure that their rights and personal safety are assured.

Ensure equitable participation of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and governments in Canada’s stewardship of the environment and resources, and on appropriate boards, commissions and international delegations.

Support the efforts of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities to renew indigenous languages in this generation, and develop a corps of those able to help teach indigenous languages by including it in education funding.