Our definition, which we have put forward to this committee, means to be responsive to that concern. In no way do we want organizations that aren't legitimate to be part of this.
This is what we propose in terms of “indigenous community” and “predominantly indigenous leadership”:
lndigenous community is an organization, community, band, tribal council, nation, or other group with a predominantly lndigenous leadership of First Nation, status, non-status, on or off reserve, Métis or Inuit.
Predominantly lndigenous leadership exists where the majority of a group's board of directors are status or non-status First Nations, Métis, or Inuit, on or off reserve and where the group
(i) demonstrates expertise and program delivery that is grounded in lndigenous laws and customs; and
(ii) advocates for culturally appropriate, community-based alternatives to prisons.
Our definition is meant to reflect the diversity of indigenous groups, with a nod to Métis in adding the word “nation”, and non-status women who are disenfranchised because of the Indian Act.