This sub-series consists very largely of correspondence, with occasional informational material, invitations, clippings, and caucus material. This sub-series is very rich in Indian material.
In the correspondence portion, there are various requests for Marchand's intervention and assistance: from individuals for appointments to regulatory bodies; from Indian representatives for help (i.e. a request from the Cariboo Tribal Council to rework a compromised governance relationship with the Crown); and from Indian organizations for assistance in their work (i.e. From the National Indigenous Association for assistance in promoting careers of Indian professionals).
In the thematic / subject files, there are requests for Marchand's assistance on broader-themed issues, such as the Cariboo Tribal Council's proposal for self-government, which Marchand transmitted in 1988 to Bill McKnight, then Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. In short, these files reveal the intercessory work that Marchand did on behalf of causes dear to various Indian organizations and tribal councils, such as: difficulties with Indian Administration through I.N.A.C.; proposed changes to the Indian Act; housing needs; land claims settlement; post-secondary education; self-management of forestry and so on.
There are also files on many specific Indian tribes who called on Marchand for advocacy of their behalf, on issues very specific to their jurisdictions, such as the Gitskan Westseweten, Kamloops Indian Band Shuswap, Kahnawake Indian Band, Nicola Valley Indian Administration, Okanagan Tribal Council and so on.
There are also some files on Meech Lake and the First Ministers Council on Aboriginal Constitutional Affairs, and the attempts to bring Indians into acceptance of the proposed constitutional accords, which reflect Indian positions on this matter.
These subject files reveal those issues, both local-tribal and national, which Indians held dear, and the resolutions they pursued. They hold high-level correspondence amongst Indian representatives, Marchand himself, various MPs, Senators and Cabinet Ministers. In a sense, this series reflects what the A.P.C. had been intended for - conveying the needs and positions of the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada into the heart of government in an attempt to find resolutions favourable to their needs.
