Indigenous community members will soon have a new way of helping shape city policies and decisions.
Meeting on Tuesday, city council approved an Indigenous relations framework that includes the creation of a staff-led advisory circle to comment on city initiatives, as well as increased visibility of Indigenous culture and strengthened communication with First Nations, among several other commitments.
During presentations to council’s committee of the whole meeting earlier this month, members of Guelph Indigenous Community Council criticized the city’s engagement efforts when drafting the plan and called for it to be scrapped.
Additional details of the group’s concerns can be found here.
The framework was approved by a 12-0 vote. Councillor Phil Allt was absent.
The lone delegate on the issue at Tuesday's council meeting, Morgan Dandie, stressed the need to include Indiginous community in the plans.
The framework’s other commitments are to develop and implement education and training for city council, staff and the public about Indigenous world views and histories, including colonization, as well as regular communication with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Six Nations of the Grand River.
The latter includes the signing of a memorandum of understanding to identify priorities and responsibilities.
It further calls for partnerships to be built with Indigenous organizations within the region to offer Indigenous-led programs and supports within the city, along with a commitment for city officials to work with First Nations to manage natural resources and ecosystems.
