Urban Indigenous Strategy

During Phase One of the strategy development, research was completed to see how reconciliation is happening locally and across Canada. How Canadian municipalities are responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report and how they are developing their own urban Indigenous strategies was first researched. This research found that municipalities across Canada are engaged in a number of activities, such as: cultural awareness training for staff; youth employment initiatives; creating information guides for Indigenous residents; renaming of facilities and infrastructure in Indigenous languages; and, establishing awards for local efforts in reconciliation.

Additional research conducted by McMaster students looked at how Indigenous services providers in Hamilton are addressing the TRC Calls to Action. In this report, two main opportunities were identified. First, the Calls to Action can help direct the future growth of the Indigenous agencies of Hamilton. The Calls to Action provide a framework for supporting capacity-building within the Indigenous community as well as guiding the development of strategic partnerships and collaborative programming. The second opportunity identified that Hamilton’s non-Indigenous agencies should take action to address discrimination and racism by providing their staff with cultural awareness and safety training. Training and education are seen as key to developing changes at the service level, and to assist agencies with better recruitment, service, and support for Indigenous clients and employees.

The research findings were backed up by the community engagement completed during Phase Two. The voices of residents reinforced the importance of collaboration, education, and helping Indigenous individuals and families to become healthy and feel respected.

The development of the Urban Indigenous Strategy was a collaboration involving City staff, elected officials and members of the Indigenous community. To keep the process informed and on track, two working groups were established.

A Coordinating Circle was created to lead the strategy with membership comprised of Indigenous community partners and City staff. The Coordinating Circle has acted as a planning table and carried out its work based on principles that honour traditional Indigenous knowledge and teachings including the Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee teachings of ga nigohi:yo. One of its key tasks was to review the 94 Calls to Action from the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and identify those that will be addressed within the strategy.

An internal Staff Circle on Indigenous Relations was also established and is comprised of management from all City departments. Its mandate has been to champion relationship building, share information and best practices, and identify opportunities for improved engagement with Indigenous peoples.

One objective of the Urban Indigenous Strategy is to identify municipal actions arising from the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada’s Final Report. The Coordinating Circle spent time reviewing the Calls to Action to identify which of the 94 should be included. In all, 17 Calls to Action were identified and then explored through Phase Two of the strategy development. Although some of the 17 Calls to Action may be directed at another level of government, or another institution, the Coordinating Circle members agreed that there would be actions the City of Hamilton could take to align with the spirit of the Calls to Action.

The following are the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report’s Calls to Action that are being addressed through the Hamilton Urban Indigenous Strategy. For the purposes of developing the Hamilton Urban Indigenous Strategy, the Calls to Action have been grouped into strategic themes of Land, People and Spirit.

The Land - this theme includes Calls to Action that acknowledge Indigenous peoples as the original nations of this land and who have knowledge, governance structures and rights to live peacefully in this territory.

43 We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.

44 We call upon the Government of Canada to develop a national action plan, strategies, and any other concrete measures to achieve the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

47 We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.

92 We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:

i. Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with economic development projects.

93 We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with the national Aboriginal organizations, to revise the information kit for newcomers to Canada and its citizenship test to reflect a more inclusive history of the diverse Aboriginal Peoples of Canada, information about the Treaties and the history of residential schools.

The People - this theme includes Calls to Action that look after the people, whether it is in providing services to residents, employment and education of people.

12 We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Aboriginal families.

17 We call upon all levels of government to enable residential school survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system by waiving administrative costs for a period of five-years for the name change process and the revision of identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver’s licences, health cards, status cards, and social insurance numbers.

22 We call upon those who can effect change within the Canadian health care system to recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the treatment of Aboriginal patients in collaboration with Aboriginal healers and Elders where requested by Aboriginal patients.

23 We call upon all levels of government to:

i. Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health care field.

ii. Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health care providers in Aboriginal communities.

iii. Provide cultural competency training for all health care professionals.

57 We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

88 We call upon all levels of government to take action to ensure long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games, including funding to host the games and for provincial and territorial team preparation and travel.

The Spirit - this theme includes Calls to Actions that honour the history and the spirit of the survivors and ancestors.

75 We call upon the federal government to work with provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, churches, Aboriginal communities, former residential school students, and current landowners to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried. This is to include the provision of appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children.

77 We call upon provincial, territorial, municipal, and community archives to work collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to identify and collect copies of all records relevant to the history and legacy of the residential school system, and to provide these to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

78 We call upon the Government of Canada to commit to making a funding contribution of $10 million over seven years to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, plus an additional amount to assist communities to research and produce histories of their own residential school experience and their involvement of truth, healing and reconciliation.

79 We call upon the Federal Government, in collaboration with survivors, Aboriginal Organizations, and the arts community, to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration.

80 We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

87 We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.

Partnerships and collaboration were successful ways to raise awareness and establish a presence in the community. Collaboration was achieved in the following areas.

• Community Outreach: Outreach and relationship building activities were conducted through participation and partnership on community events. Examples include a Haudenosaunee Legal Principles workshop, a photo exhibit, the 12th Annual Celebration of Growth, the Soaring Spirits Festival, and an Ally=Action event. Hundreds of Indigenous partners, residents and staff attended these events.
   
• Staff Engagement: The Staff Circle on Indigenous Relations has sought out learning opportunities to increase knowledge about the Indigenous community in Hamilton and increase an understanding of what City staff need to learn before moving ahead with reconciliation. These opportunities included listening to residential school survivors at the Woodland Cultural Centre and getting together with the Professional Aboriginal Advocacy and Networking Group to listen to traditional teachings. The Corporate Leadership Team welcomed Amos Key Jr., Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan, to speak about the legacy of Indian residential schools. Additional learning opportunities for staff included a Summer Doc Series and tours of the Chedoke Collection of Inuit Art at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
   
• Policy Development: A separate staff working group also worked collaboratively to develop a Use of Indigenous Medicines Policy and Procedure. This policy is one the first such policies for a Canadian municipality.

• Indigenous Community Conversation: The Coordinating Circle held a community conversation on reconciliation with Indigenous community members on December 13, 2017 at the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre. 41 participants came and shared their experiences and views on what reconciliation means to them and what should happen in Hamilton. Educating City staff and the general public about Indigenous history and intergenerational trauma was a major recommendation.
   
• Community Conversation featuring the KAIROS Blanket Exercise: The Coordinating Circle hosted a KAIROS Blanket Exercise on March 19, 2018 which invited residents and staff to build their awareness and become engaged in a conversation on reconciliation. Over 100 people participated in the exercise, and comments shared about their experience revealed the public good that comes from education.
   
• “Bringing the City to the Community” Information Fair: Indigenous community members stated that the City of Hamilton needs to do better to get out in the community. Holding an Information Fair for the community provided the opportunity to learn through action. This one day event brought over 20 different City of Hamilton programs and initiatives to Indigenous community members. The key learnings from the event were the benefits of staff-community interaction in a relaxed environment; having multiple services and programs involved; and the importance of proactive engagement with the community.

In order to fully address reconciliation now and into the future, it is important to listen to the voices of youth. The Urban Indigenous Strategy has engaged youth in all gatherings and events to share their feedback. During Phase Two, a workshop titled “Youth Shaping Spirit in Hamilton” brought young Indigenous people together to provide their thoughts on activities that support the strategic theme of Spirit.

In February 2018, the youth representatives of the Coordinating Circle, Nicole Jones and Micheal Forrest, attended the Canadian Roots Youth Reconciliation Conference in Sudbury, Ontario. The conference hosted over 250 youth participants, who aim to facilitate sharing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, encourage youth to engage in interactive dialogues on the significance of solidarity and reconciliation, and challenge negative stereotypes that divide communities. Micheal and Nicole facilitated a workshop about looking at the Truth and Reconciliation’s Commissions Call to Actions in relation to the teachings of the Anishinabek Medicine Wheel.

The Urban Indigenous Strategy Survey was conducted to gather community input to identify action items that the Strategy should focus on over the next 2 to 5 years to strengthen its relationship with Indigenous community members. The survey was available online between May 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Paper copies of the survey were also distributed at various events in the Indigenous community including, for example, the Celebration of Growth on May 17, 2018, and the Soaring Spirits Festival on June 22-24, 2018. In total, 513 fully or partially completed surveys were collected.

The survey provided rich information that has greatly shaped the actions identified in the Urban Indigenous Strategy. The survey findings, along with the input gathered at community events have been organized in three strategic themes; Land, People and Spirit. When asked to rank a number of activities that match the themes of Land, People and Spirit, survey participants were clear to indicate that all activities were equally important and must be moved on by the City. In addition, meaningful consultation and involvement of Indigenous people in decision-making was shown to be a key priority. Other common recommendations revealed that the City should play a role in public education, involve more Elders in services like health care and restore Indigenous place names on street signs, parks, and maps.

An important snapshot of the negative experiences that many Indigenous community members have had was gathered. Indigenous participants were asked to report the frequency of discrimination they experienced in the last two years and if the frequency has changed at all in that time. The majority of Indigenous participants in this survey reported experiences of discrimination based on their Indigenous identity. These experiences more often occurred in the broader community, as opposed to when accessing City services. Nevertheless, the amount of discrimination experienced is enough of a call to action for the City of Hamilton. The findings of the Urban Indigenous Strategy have shown that the City of Hamilton has a major role to play in truth and reconciliation at the local level. Community members are looking for concrete actions that contribute to eliminating discrimination and increasing respect.

The Land theme is about acknowledging and respecting the spiritual, mental, physical and emotional connections that Indigenous people have to land. This connection extends into Indigenous knowledge, governance, language, and relationships with non-Indigenous organizations. It recognizes that the first relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada were focused on the sharing, use, and stewardship of land.

Key Directions:

• The City of Hamilton should adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as the framework to move forward with reconciliation.
• Indigenous people must be involved in decision-making in municipal activities that affect them.
• Consultation with urban Indigenous people and with local First Nations communities must be meaningful.
• Urban Indigenous people need a space outdoors for gathering, practicing sacred ceremonies and sharing teachings.
• Care for the environment, including the land and water, are important. Respecting Indigenous ecological knowledge will benefit environmental restoration and preservation in Hamilton.
• Acknowledgment of traditional Indigenous territory in Hamilton should be practised across the city. The City needs to demonstrate this acknowledgement beyond words.

The Spirit theme embodies how Indigenous contributions and experiences, including the Indian residential school system, are honoured and commemorated. This may involve exploring archives to shed light on untold histories and how Indigenous people and histories are visibly represented in the City.

Key Directions:

• The City of Hamilton can do more to visually represent the historic and continuing presence of Indigenous peoples.
• Indigenous art in public spaces is needed to honour historic and contemporary contributions.
• Increase support for Indigenous artists and art programming.
• Indigenous cultures and traditions need to be respected and seen as more than a performance.
• Indigenous stories and languages need to be seen as part of Hamilton’s heritage.
• More can be done to celebrate National Indigenous History Month in Hamilton.

The People theme embodies how Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples build mutually respectful relationships in every day settings. This can include how services are provided and are accessible to Indigenous people, housing, employment, and support for Indigenous people in the workplace.

Key Directions:

• Use public education to increase understanding and break down stereotypes and racism.
• The City of Hamilton should become a leader for other corporations and institutions in increasing employment opportunities for Indigenous people.
• City employees should be mandated to have a cultural understanding.
• Be creative about how to deliver mainstream services to Indigenous peoples in culturally appropriate ways.