MOOSE JAW — The City of Moose Jaw has its first-ever Indigenous engagement framework document to help guide city council, city employees and residents to have meaningful involvement with Aboriginal groups and individuals.
Furthermore, the document is expected to provide education about area reserves and Metis communities, who they are and where they’re located, and references the 94 Calls to Action and the steps Moose Jaw has taken to address them.
Council voted unanimously to accept the framework during its recent regular meeting.
The City of Moose Jaw has been working since 2021 to take action to strengthen its ability to engage with First Nations and Metis groups, a council report said. Some actions have included:
- Hosting groups in Moose Jaw
- Hiring an indigenous engagement co-ordinator
- Creating a land acknowledgement
- Having the co-ordinator assume several roles to assist local Aboriginal activities, including organizing, hosting and promoting events
- Sponsoring and co-hosting National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Creating a First Nation-themed logo for the city
- Creating an indigenous relations web page
- Creating a cultural action plan; council adopted it this year
- Creating the engagement framework document
There are several reasons why an Indigenous engagement framework document is important, the report said, such as:
- Respecting the rights and sovereignty of Aboriginal people and including them in decisions that affect their areas, resources and lives
- Building trust and relationships through transparent, respectful and consistent interactions
- Having effective consultations and collaborations so communities are provided with meaningful opportunities to influence decisions that affect their interests
- Ensuring cultural sensitivity and inclusion so certain aspects are respected and incorporated into a decision-making process
- Enhancing outcomes by incorporating Aboriginal knowledge, perspectives and solutions, resulting in sustainable and mutually beneficial outcomes for all
- Promoting reconciliation and working towards addressing past wrongs and building a more equitable and inclusive society
- Promoting economic reconciliation by working with First Nations’ businesses to enhance investment opportunities
“An Indigenous engagement framework is not just about fulfilling legal obligations,” the report said. “It’s about fostering genuine partnerships and ensuring that indigenous peoples have a voice and stake in decisions that impact their communities and their future.”
City hall took the first steps in 2022 to create the framework, while it began making significant progress last year, with that work eventually leading to the document’s completion, the report continued. Throughout the process, the city gained knowledge and insight from community indigenous and Metis leaders and by participating in events.
The framework indicates where the City of Moose Jaw is on its reconciliation journey, while it will be a living document that council and administration will review annually and update when necessary to reflect further truth and reconciliation actions that the city takes.
Financially, city hall will deliver honoraria — roughly $1,500, which is within budget — to all indigenous partners who consulted on the document, while there may be budget implications for any plans, partnerships and/or initiatives the city takes with the framework, the council report said.
Furthermore, city hall has been engaging with area First Nations and Metis groups to discuss possible economic partnerships, while it will be able to confirm when applying for grant funding that it has consulted with Aboriginal communities, the document added.
“This has been a long process and a lot of hard work” by staff at city hall who worked with the Wakamow Aboriginal Community Association and New Southern Plains Metis Local 160, said Mayor Clive Tolley.
The mayor hoped that the community supported the framework and read it since there was plenty of information in the document, while it could help everyone “move forward” on their personal journeys of reconciliation.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Oct. 7.
