An examination of the relevant literature reveals that "policy" means different things to different people. Among the concepts that emerge when these meanings are reviewed are that policies are intentional, decision-based, goal-oriented, and conditional; they lead to results, balance facts and values, and allocate resources; and they emerge as the result of an informed process. The policy process is generally understood as a progression from initiation through selection and implementation to review. This progression may be affected by pressures to select and implement policies before all the relevant information has been gathered. To control the flow of information, an information system should be established that provides adequate data and analytic feedback at all steps in the process. Once the process is established, it can be twisted into a spiral form that can generate successive policies in given policy areas as goals are achieved. With increasing responsibility for the education of Canada's Indians devolving on trained Indian educators, it is important for these new policy-makers to be very clear in their definitions of policy, to recognize the significance of information and analysis to the policy process, and to be conscious of their own roles in the process. A two-page bibliography concludes the document. (PGD)