CAUAC is a collaborative effort between The City of Calgary and the Indigenous community to address and resolve issues pertaining to urban Aboriginal residents.

It is a initiative that sparked from the aboriginal population growth of the 1970's in Calgary and during that time it became apparent to Aboriginal leadership and Calgary City Council that a cooperative effort should be made towards addressing the social conditions of the Aboriginal community.

The Calgary Aboriginal Urban Advisory Committee is authorized, on behalf of City Council, to investigate areas of concern to people of Aboriginal ancestry and to make recommendations on policies. These recommendations are meant to help give urban Aboriginal people a more meaningful role within the governance of the Calgary community.

The committee strives to improve the opportunities and the quality of life of Aboriginal people living in Calgary. Its membership includes both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

In 1979, the Native Urban Affairs Committee was established to represent Aboriginal issues and concerns. In 1987, the Committee's name was changed to the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee. 

In 2026, the committee’s name was changed from Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee to Calgary Aboriginal Urban Advisory Committee to align with The City’s Boards, Commissions and Committees classification system.

In June 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released 94 calls to action for all Canadians to respond to.

In July 2015, Council asked CAUAC to review the 94 calls to action and provide a report that takes into consideration how to respond locally. CAUAC developed the White Goose Flying Report, a local adaptation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report. It identified 18 calls to action that can be influenced locally.

Every year, the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Advisory Committee presents two awards that honour the efforts and contributions of a person, group, or organization who has shown leadership and commitment to building bridges between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Since 1979, the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Advisory Committee has addressed issues in the areas of education, employment and training, child welfare, income security, health, Aboriginal women, Aboriginal/police relations and human rights. Other accomplishments include:

• The establishment of the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award and memorial sculpture
• The initiation of a city-wide native needs assessment
• The development of electronic and paper versions of a pamphlet on Aboriginal agencies and services in Calgary
• The establishment of the CAUAC Midzánághá águnìlíní achievement award.

The committee receives information, reports, or feedback from individuals, groups and organizations who are concerned with Aboriginal issues. You may contact cauac1@calgary.ca for further information

Read the committee bylaw.

If you are interested in applying to sit on the Aboriginal Urban Advisory Committee, please see committee for more information or the board's FAQ for how to apply.​​​​​​​​​