Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
867, boul. St-Laurent, Ottawa (Ontario) K1K 3B1
Website: www.abo-peoples.org
Email: reception@abo-peoples.org
Phone: 613 747 6022 / Sans frais : 1-888-997-9927
Our History
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) is one of five National Indigenous Organizations recognized by the Government of Canada. Founded in 1971 as the Native Council of Canada (NCC), the organization was originally established to represent the interests of Métis and non-status Indians. Reorganized and renamed in 1993, CAP has extended its constituency to include off-reserve status and non-status Indians, Métis and Southern Inuit Aboriginal Peoples, and serves as the national voice for its provincial and territorial affiliate organizations. CAP also holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which facilitates its participation on international issues of importance to Indigenous Peoples.
Our Affiliates and Board of Directors
Each of CAP’s affiliated provincial or territorial organizations establishes its own constitution and rules for membership, elected officers, and administration. Affiliates also may act as umbrella organizations for multiple regional and local groups. A President or Chief is elected for each affiliate by delegates at their own annual assembly. CAP also has a National Youth Council, with membership from the provincial and territorial affiliates, who select a representative to CAP’s Board of Directors. CAP’s Board of Directors is composed of the National Chief, the National Vice-Chief, the National Youth Representative, the National Elder Representative and an elected representative from each of the affiliated provincial and territorial organizations. The Board meets several times a year to monitor and direct the activity of CAP. The Board is the decision making body of CAP between Annual General Assemblies.
Elmer St. Pierre – NATIONAL CHIEF, CONGRESS OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
Mr. Elmer St. Pierre was elected as the National Chief at the October 3rd Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) 2020 Annual General Assembly. is the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP).
Chief St Pierre is a lifelong advocate for the rights of Indigenous people, in particular the off-reserve and non-Status communities. At 25 years old, he became involved in the Metis movement. In 2006 he became the Vice Chief of the Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal Peoples and in 2019 he became the Chief of Ontario Coalition of Indigenous Peoples. At the 2019 CAP Annual General Assembly, he became a member of the CAP Board of Directors.
During the CAP 2020 AGA Chief St Pierre said, “My family lived a very traditional way of life. At age fifteen, one of my daily chores was to check my dad’s trap line before school. I am proud that he taught me to hunt. My mother was a strong woman who taught me the importance of traditional ways. To this day, I value traditional knowledge in my life.”
As National Chief, his priority is to see the implementation of the CAP-Daniels Decision which he views as one of the biggest issues facing off-reserve Indigenous Peoples. In addition, he aims to support implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the fulfillment of the 2018 CAP-Canada Political Accord, and supporting CAP’s provincial and territorial affiliate organizations.
With regard to tradition and culture, Chief St Pierre said, “Culture is a big part of my family; my boys are drummers and my daughters and grandchildren traditional dancers. My life long goal has been to do the best I can for my family and community. It also has been my goal to help other Indigenous families by advocating for their rights. “
Other priorities Chief St. Pierre has laid out for the organization include:
- TRC Calls to Action
- MMIWG National Action Plan
- Murdered and Missing Indigenous Men and Boys
- Resource Rights
- Justice Reform
- Child Welfare Reform
- Post-Secondary Education
- Two-Spirited Individuals
- Gender Equity
- Environmental Issues
- Indigenous Day Schools Settlement
- 60s Scoop Settlement
Chief St. Pierre said he hopes to strengthen CAP’s position with the Federal Government through re-instated annual bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister and inclusion at First Ministers meetings.
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is the national voice representing the interests of Métis, status and non-status Indians, and Southern Inuit Indigenous People living off-reserve. Today, over 80% of Indigenous people live off-reserve.
KIM BEAUDIN – NATIONAL VICE-CHIEF, CONGRESS OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
Kim was born in Edson, Alberta, west of Edmonton, Alberta. His late father is Joe Beaudin, who was a citizen of the Métis Nation and his mother Margaret Callihoo, is a descendant of the Callihoo Reserve.
Kim’s Métis roots reach from the Red River in Manitoba all the way to Batoche, Saskatchewan. He is also a descendant of the Callihoo Reserve who signed the treaty in 1876. In 1958, the Michel Band and Indian Reserve 132 were enfranchised. This federal policy was used as a template to apply to reserves all across Canada, however it conflicted with the Canadian Bill of Rights and had to be repealed. Still with a stroke of a pen by the Federal Government, the Callihoo people became the forgotten people so Kim understands what it’s like to be a forgotten Aboriginal person in Canada.
This drives Kim to do the work he does today and he is well-known as an Indigenous political advocate, who has served in both political and administrative capacities with numerous Indigenous peoples’ organizations in Saskatchewan. He is also a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in recognition of his work for Indigenous Peoples. As President of the Coalition of Aboriginal Peoples of Saskatchewan for the past 7 years, Kim has raised the profile of a wide range of issues that impact the lives of Métis and Status and non-Status Indians living off reserve. Kim has participated in high-level discussions with the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, and understands how to present issues effectively at the highest level. Kim has worked on Indigenous rights and issues at various governmental tables and will continue to be actively involved in ongoing cases. He is also an outreach worker with the anti-gang initiative “STR8UP, 10 000 Little Step to Healing Inc.” in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
