City of Edmonton Indigenous Framework

CS00278 Attachment 1 CITY OF EDMONTON INDIGENOUS FRAMEWORK Artist: MJ Belcourt CS00278 Attachment 1 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The City of Edmonton acknowledges the traditional land on which we reside today, is in Treaty Six Territory. We would like to thank the diverse Indigenous Peoples whose ancestors’ footsteps have marked this territory for centuries, such as nêhiyaw (Cree), Dené, Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), Nakota Isga (Nakota Sioux), and Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) peoples. We also acknowledge this as the Métis’ homeland and the home of one of the largest communities of Inuit south of the 60th parallel. It is a welcoming place for all peoples who come from around the world to share Edmonton as a home. Together we call upon all of our collective, honoured traditions and spirits to work in building a great city for today and future generations. When the Final Report of the Truth and endeavour to build strong communities, it is a Reconciliation Commission was released, land responsibility shared by us all to begin to reflect acknowledgements became known as an act on the experiences and stories that have made of reconciliation that governments, institutions, us who we are and define how we will serve in organizations, and Canadians could take in relationship with the First Peoples of this land. responding to the legacy of residential schools and displacement of Indigenous Peoples from Those involved in the creation of this work their homelands. Land acknowledgements are a are grateful and humbled by the wisdom and reminder that we all must continue to strengthen knowledge that has been shared with us the relationships and understanding between through its development. By learning about the non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples. As City relationships that have been abused in the past, staff undertake the journey of implementing the we are ever more aware of the responsibility Indigenous Framework, we must recognize that we we have to commit to our own learning and are all Treaty People and have various relationships personal growth, and understand how we need to this land through our ancestral connections. to collectively build a prosperous city for all. Artist: Dawn Marie Marchand See page 25 for description. While we each seek a sense of belonging and 2 3 CS00278 Attachment 1 Table of Contents 6 Introduction 8 The Indigenous rameworkF 10 Why this framework is needed 11 Our Co-Creation Story: A Journey of Building Good Relations 12 Building relationships with Indigenous Elders 13 Wahigicicobi: Kinship Relationships 14 Indigenous Framework Timeline 15 Guiding Principles 16 Responsibilities of the City of Edmonton 16 The Four olesR 18 Seven Commitments 19 City Alignment 21 Sustaining Good Relationships 21 Committing to your own journey of reconciliation 22 The Indigenous rameworkF through Art 4 5 CS00278 Attachment 1 This is a new era for the City of Edmonton. With Introduction the adoption of this Framework, it becomes the responsibility of every City of Edmonton employee This Framework has been built on years of dialogue to develop understanding and forge stronger with Indigenous communities, through formal relationships with the descendants of the original and informal relationships with Elders, community inhabitants of this land and recognize that we all Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous youth, as play a role in the reconciliation journey. Missteps well as information gathering from research and may be made along the way, and that is why it is discussions with municipal and community leaders, essential to be patient with one another, seek to service providers, and academic professionals. This build understanding, and embrace new experiences. important work is intended to answer the question: The logo is a circle, drawing from medicine wheel and “How can the City of Edmonton best tipi teachings of various Indigenous tribes. It represents Mother Earth as the ultimate support and build strong relationships with connector of kinship. It is surrounded by 13 smaller circles to represent Indigenous Peoples in Edmonton?” the tipi poles - this is our home. They also represent the sun and moon cycles. The Framework has been designed to be a For this to happen, there has to be an awareness Cutting diagonally across living initiative that will change and adapt as of the past, acknowledgement of the harm that the circle is a blue our relationships grow and mature, and as has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, line representing the Indigenous communities identify needs and and action to change behaviour. While the City of North Saskatchewan priorities. The Framework also builds upon the Edmonton has not yet met this goal, this Framework River as it flows City of Edmonton’s historical work of the Urban provides the guidance to begin our journey there. through Edmonton - Aboriginal Accord and it is broadly informed by Edmonton’s location the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of What makes this Framework distinct is the process is not by accident, Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation of co-creation with members of Indigenous as it is the water that Calls to Action, and the Missing and Murdered communities, organizational partners, youth, has brought us all to Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice. Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and City staff. The this gathering place for roles and commitments flowing out of this initiative thousands of years. The This City initiative intends to help guide City came directly from Indigenous Peoples. Through different shades of green staff on their journeys of reconciliation and is implementation, the Framework will guide and represent the land and the predicated on building and maintaining positive and influence how City staff provide service and different colours represent the respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples. interact with Indigenous Peoples. It is not meant treaty principle “...as long as the sun This journey of reconciliation is about establishing to be prescriptive; instead, it is a guide for how shines, the rivers flow, and the grass grows.” and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship to strengthen the City’s relationship between between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. non-Indigenous and Indigenous Peoples. -logo design and description by Tashina Makokis 6 7 CS00278 Attachment 1 THE INDIGENOUS FRAMEWORK Vision: What is the Indigenous Framework? As City of Edmonton employees, we are encouraged and supported to demonstrate leadership in The three main elements of the Framework (guiding principles, four roles, and seven commitments) are meant to guide City staff on their learning building quality relationships with Indigenous journeys of reconciliation and relationship-building with Indigenous Peoples. Peoples as we honour and strive to understand Indigenous experiences, histories, and cultures. Guiding Principles: Relationships, Agreements, Celebrations, Renewal 4 Roles: Listener, Connector, Advocate, Partner 7 Commitments Artist: Lana Whiskeyjack See page 26 for description. 8 9 CS00278 Attachment 1 Why this Framework is needed Recent transformative initiatives such as the Truth The City of Edmonton recognizes that it needs to and Reconciliation Commission and the National honour and respect its foundational relationship Our Co-Creation Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous with the First Peoples. When Treaty Six was Story: Women and Girls have begun to shift Canada’s first made in 1876, the Indigenous signatories consciousness towards reflecting on its relationships expected that it was to be the beginning of a A Journey of with the First Peoples. Indigenous Peoples have long successful relationship of peace, shared Building Good lived through many injustices perpetrated by prosperity, and responsibility. For over 150 governments and all have left a legacy of mistrust years, Canadian governments have broken that Relations and poor relationships. As a result of systemic promise in disastrous magnitudes, as evident racism and discrimination, Indigenous Peoples have through successive colonial policies, including the This Framework has been experienced significant disparities in education, residential school system and the Sixties Scoop. built on the significant work health, and justice and face higher levels of poverty The purpose of the Indigenous Framework is to that the City of Edmonton and homelessness. Despite these injustices, help the City of Edmonton understand and return and Indigenous Peoples Indigenous Peoples have shown strength and to those original intentions and relationships that have undertaken over the resilience from which the City of Edmonton can learn. allowed all peoples to prosper, and that made last two decades in building the founding of Edmonton possible. This will be good relations. It has been co- accomplished through living the values of mutual created through seven rounds of respect, responsibility, and renewal to build and community engagement, four Elders maintain strong relationships between governments and Knowledge Keepers gatherings, and Indigenous Peoples who share the land. two youth gatherings, and numerous other milestones along the way (as outlined in the graphic on page 14). Like a river, the process of co-creating this Framework has not been linear, as the initiative has needed to adapt to the relationships that have been built and significant moments along the way. Artist: Brad Crowfoot See page 27 for description. 10 11 CS00278 Attachment 1 Wahigicicobi: Kinship Relationships From this Ceremony

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