From 1981 to 1985, indigenous issues were mainly the responsibilities of the Attorney General and the Provincial Secretary for Resources Development (as Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Native Affairs).
In June 1985, Premier David Peterson designated a minister responsible for "native affairs" for the first time in Ontario history.
The entity acted as a support for the Minister Responsible for Native Affairs, and was headed by an Executive Director and later a Secretary, who for the most part held the rank of Assistant Deputy Attorney General.
Land claims are negotiated by the Ontario and Canadian governments, as representatives of the Crown, directly with First Nations.
There is no independent body that represents affected Canadian settlers in native land claim negotiations.