Imperial Conferences

This name was given to the meetings arranged by which the British and Dominion governments met on a regular basis. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who was the Canadian Prime Minister at the time of its inception in 1907 was suspicious of its intent. He felt London’s right to commit Canada to foreign policy was unfair without proper consultation. He challenged the British government in these conferences and in 1926, the conference accepted the fact that the dominions were independent nations. The Balfour Declaration recommended a new constitutional framework in which the dominions became "autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status, united by a common allegiance to the crown".

Interprovincial Conferences

The first such conference designed to be a governmental consultation was convened by Honoré Mercier in 1887. The provincial heads passed resolutions against the federal government’s disallowing power and for increases in provincial subsidies. Today, these conferences focus mainly on economic and constitutional matters, headed by the First Ministers’ Conference. Since 1960, the provincial premiers have also met on a yearly basis.

Inuit

Formerly known as the Eskimos, the Inuit are the indigenous people of the Canadian Arctic. Traditionally their eight tribes live in regional groupings of bands. Their first recorded contact with Europeans came in the late 18 century. Politically, the Inuit were never included in the Indian Act, but became a federal responsibility in 1939. In 1972, the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC) was established to preserve their culture.The result has been more government consultation and increased subsidies.

Iroquois

Most of these native people settled in villages in the Great Lakes area. While the women farmed, the men hunted, fished, traded and defended their homes and communities many times with their neighbours.