2020 Indigenous Relations Division Annual Report April 2021 In this issue About Us . 3 Message from the Interim Manager . 4 Journey of Reconciliation . 5 • Association of Manitoba Municipalities • Indigenous Medicine Gardens • Indigenous Research Guide Welcoming Winnipeg . 6 • Welcoming Winnipeg Policy • Reconciling our History Walking Tour . 7 Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord . 8 • Partner Recruitment • New Opportunities to Engage in Reconciliation Work . 9 • Annual Accord Partner Goals and Progress Report • Annual Signing Ceremony • All Partner Gathering Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak . 10 • Community Partners • Youth by Numbers . 12 • Partner Highlight: Spence Neighbourhood Association Graduation • Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak Internship: In Her Own Words . 13 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls . 14 • The City’s Initial Response • Employee Education and Awareness Campaign . 15 Poverty Reduction Strategy . 16 Cultural Committee . 17 • Summer Solstice • Traditional Food Practices • Orange Shirt Day 2 City of Winnipeg | Indigenous Relations Division: 2020 Annual Report About Us The City of Winnipeg strives to be a vibrant and healthy Our Vision: A vibrant and healthy Winnipeg in which all city which places its highest priority on quality of life for Indigenous peoples and communities achieve the highest all its citizens. quality of life grounded in the spirit of truth, under- standing, reconciliation, equality, and self-determination. The City of Winnipeg has supported Indigenous specific projects and initiatives since 2000. The Indigenous Rela- Our Mission: The Indigenous Relations Division estab- tions Division (IRD) was created in 2013 to coordinate lishes and maintains meaningful relationships and part- Indigenous specific programs and initiatives. nerships with and between Indigenous peoples, commu- nities, and governments to assist the City of Winnipeg in our commitments to reconciliation. The City of Winnipeg’s Indigenous Relations Division team City of Winnipeg | Indigenous Relations Division: 2020 Annual Report 3 Message from the Interim Manager What a year! It is probably safe to say that 2020 was a unique year for everyone, and the Indigenous Relations Division (IRD) was no exception. In spite of the obstacles presented by a global pandemic, I am happy to report that there was progress made on many of our projects and initiatives. We were able to stay connected with our existing partners and even establish new relationships as we navigated the everchanging physical distancing requirements and using virtual platforms for the first time. 2020 had an exciting start with Council unanimously passing a motion to adopt the Welcoming Winnipeg: Reconciling our History Policy in January. This policy will guide the City in making decisions regarding requests to create new, add to or remove/rename historical markers and place names and resolve the absence of Indigenous perspec- tives, experiences and contributions in the stories remembered and commemorated. Staff have spent a significant amount of time over this past year developing the necessary framework to implement this policy. Tracey Cechvala Interim Manager When COVID-19 arrived in Winnipeg, Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak, Indigenous Relations Division the City of Winnipeg’s Indigenous Youth Strategy, community partners quickly adapted to respond to the immediate needs of their youth program participants and the broader community. Although their programming may have differed from what was tradi- tionally offered, we were able to continue to provide funding to these organizations, recognizing the important work they were doing in supporting Indigenous youth in unprecedented circumstances. In July, the Executive Policy Committee directed the Public Service to include a progress update on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Calls for Justice and other initiatives, that respond to the Calls for Justice, in the annual Winnipeg Indigenous Accord report and the Journey of Reconciliation report. Moving forward, the City will now include the MMIWG Calls for Justice within the Accord framework to enhance the opportunity for Accord partners to further participate in reconciliation. Additionally, staff have been at work developing a draft framework which includes engaging City departments and external groups on the implementation of the MMIWG Calls for Justice within the organization. As the City enters its 5th year since formally declaring its commitment to reconciliation with the 2016 Year of Reconcil- iation, I am reminded of, and inspired by, the following quote from Senator Murray Sinclair, Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: “The road we travel is equal in importance to the destination we seek. There are no shortcuts. When it comes to truth and reconciliation, we are all forced to go the distance”. Merci, Meegwetch, and thank you, on behalf of the Indigenous Relations team. Tracey Cechvala Interim Manager, Indigenous Relations Division 4 City of Winnipeg | Indigenous Relations Division: 2020 Annual Report Journey of Reconciliation The City of Winnipeg’s Journey of Reconciliation began in 2016 with initiatives such as the creation of Winnipeg’s Indige- nous Accord and the implementation of five Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action that relate to municipalities. This remains an ongoing effort and is done in collaboration with community partners and other City departments. Please read on to find out more about IRD’s 2020 Journey of Reconciliation achievements, as well as the successes of our Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak partners. ASSOCIATION OF MNA ITOBA MUNICIPALITIES The City of Winnipeg was highlighted in the Association of Manitoba Munici- palities’ Fall 2020 edition of Municipal Leader, a quarterly magazine circulated to over 1,900 mayors, reeves, councillors, administrators, MLAs, MPs, and others. IRD’s progress with Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord and the Welcoming Winnipeg: Reconciling our History policy was featured as part of a special report on Municipal/Indigenous Partnerships. Read the full article! Indigenous Medicine Gardens at City Hall INDIGENOUS MEDICINE GARDENS Created in 2016 to support the City in being more inclusive and embedding more diverse culture and knowledge on Indigenous peoples, a traditional medicine garden was planted in the courtyard at City Hall. 2020 marked the fifth year of the Indigenous Medicine Gardens at City Hall, this year also included an expansion of a new garden planted at the Living Prairie Museum. The addition of this garden will allow traditional harvesting to take place while minimizing the impact on the preserve itself; this allows guests to safely remove plant material in a sustainable way. The planting of the Indigenous Traditional Medicine harvesting that took place June 2020 Medicine Gardens also served as an educational opportunity as Elder Carolyn Moar was on hand to provide traditional teachings and a blessing at both City Hall and the Living Prairie Museum. INDIGENOUS RESEARCH GUIDE The City of Winnipeg Archives and Records Control Branch holds records that lend themselves to the exploration of Indigenous histories in Winnipeg, and of civic policies, programs and decisions that affect Indigenous communities within the city. The Branch continues to enhance the accessibility of its hold- ings by creating, updating and sharing resources with internal and external stakeholders. Indigenous Medicine Garden at the Living Prairie Museum In partnership with IRD, the Archives and Records Control Branch hired historian Dr. Karine Duhamel to review and write a foreword for the publication Indigenous Peoples and Records: A Guide to Research at the City of Winnipeg Archives. It’s anticipated that the revised text will be made public in 2021. City of Winnipeg | Indigenous Relations Division: 2020 Annual Report 5 Welcoming Winnipeg The Welcoming Winnipeg initiative is just one aspect of the the Welcoming Winnipeg Committee of Community reconciliation process the City of Winnipeg is committed Members (CCM). Due to COVID-19, recruitment for the CCM to, and will help ensure that the contributions, experi- was delayed from spring to summer, but over a 6-week ences, and perspectives of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit period from June to July, 40 applications were submitted are reflected truthfully in our stories, historical markers, to IRD. In August the committee was established and the and place names. first meeting held virtually on August 26, 2020. WELCOMING WINNIPEG POLICY The eight members of the committee from the community On January 30, 2020, Council passed a motion to adopt are: the Welcoming Winnipeg: Reconciling our History Policy. • Robert Gendron This policy was developed to guide the City in making • Mabel Horton decisions regarding requests to create new, add to or • Albert McLeod remove/rename historical markers and place names and • Reanna Merasty resolve the absence of Indigenous perspectives, experi- • Dr. Erin Millions ences and contributions in the stories remembered and • Angie Mojica commemorated. The policy will proactively utilize a lens • Raymond Sokalski of balance, inclusion and Indigenous perspectives. • Katherena Vermette Creating the necessary framework and documents to Additionally, Tricia Chestnut has been designated as an implement this unique policy were key priorities for IRD ex-officio member by the Mayor. throughout 2020; an important first step was establishing The inaugural Welcoming Winnipeg Committee of Community