Hamilton council hoped for 'fresh start' with Indigenous community. Leaders reflect on gains, 1 year later
"My hope is we do continue on this good road,' says HRIC's Audrey Davis of relationship with council
This week, CBC Hamilton is looking back at this council's first year. This is Part 2 of a three-part series. Read Part 1 here.
On a frosty December day in 2022, weeks after Hamilton's city council was inaugurated, local Indigenous leaders invited council members for what they called a "historic" meeting, to share about their respective roles in the community.
After hearing from community members around a sacred fire and doing a Two Row Wampum belt beading project, one councillor said the meeting was a "fresh start" for the relationship.
Nearly a year later, "things are looking better," says Audrey Davis, one of the organizers of the meeting and executive director of the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre.
"The reason we're getting a little bit of advancement is because of who makes up city council and the mayor."
Davis is also a member of the Circle of Beads, a grassroots group of local Indigenous leaders who have collaborated for years but formalized late last year after a Hamilton police officer assaulted local Indigenous man Patrick Tomchuk.
While she can't speak for all members in the circle, Davis said the relationship with the city seems to be growing stronger.
"There are more councillors who are supportive," she said, adding there is still a need for more "action," a sentiment echoed by others.
New health strategy, city hall event 'a huge win'
Jo-Ann Mattina, acting chief executive officer of Indigenous health centre De dwa da dehs nye s, said the organization's relationship with the last city council was good and that continues with the current council.
She points to the city's support in establishing the Biindigen Well-Being Centre, which will have housing, health care and social services and is expected to be complete in four to five years.
"The relationship is continuing and growing with the new council as well," said Mattina.
Mattina said she was able to work with city staff to incorporate "Indigenous ways of knowing and being" into the purchase of sale for the land of the future well-being centre.
WATCH: Jo-Ann Mattina says relationship continues to grow
Davis said councillors showing up to the welcome ceremony last December was an example of council's commitment to the community. Nearly all attended.
Another example, Davis said, was when the city posted a job to hire a director of Indigenous relations and modified it after feedback from the circle.
Beth Dockstator, acting manager of the city's Indigenous relations team, said strengthening the relationship is the end goal.
She noted the mayor and every councillor attended the National Indigenous Peoples Day event at City Hall in June — a first, according to Dockstator.
"They made sure that was a priority … that was a huge win for our community," she said.
City council also approved its first Indigenous Health Strategy in late August. The strategy will see "some immediate next steps," according to the city's website, including:
- providing ongoing Indigenous cultural safety education for staff
- increasing Indigenous representation within Hamilton Public Health Services, and
- establishing an Indigenous health governance circle to guide Indigenous health initiatives.
An implementation plan is to be presented to council at the end of 2024, the city added.
'Now it comes down to action'
At the December meeting last year, Davis said there had been a lack of consultation from previous councils with the Indigenous community on urban issues.
Davis said she still wants to get to a point where consulting Indigenous leaders is part of city procedures, so it won't matter who is on council or who is mayor in the future.
She also said she would like to see Indigenous relations be its own city department, instead of falling under the healthy and safe communities department.
"Indigenous people don't fit in that system," Davis said.
Dockstator said Hamilton having its own department for Indigenous relations is a "natural step to the way the strategy has been building."
She also said the city has been growing the Indigenous relations team, adding three new positions this year.
Mattina said the city has done a "great job" improving its understanding of Indigenous knowledge and would like to see that continue.
Davis said she wants to see the city continue to make progress on implementing its Urban Indigenous Strategy and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
Dockstator said some key accomplishments related to those since 2019 include:
- Developing a use of Indigenous medicines policy and procedure, which allows Indigenous people to use medicines in ceremonies, such as smudging or prayer pipe ceremonies, in municipal facilities.
- Indigenous cultural competency training for the new mayor, councillors and city leaders.
- A review of landmarks and monuments, which saw interim signs added at sites deemed "problematic."
- Developing strategies and policies to how the city engages with Indigenous groups about archaeology and environmental assessment work.
"This is only the beginning of our journey and we know there is still much more to be done," she said.
Davis would also like to see the city offer up vacant land to Indigenous stakeholders at an affordable rate — something she sees as a key piece to advancing reconciliation.
For example, seeing the city turn the former King George Elementary School site on Gage Avenue into a Friendship Centre and Indigenous housing hub.
As of right now, Davis said she is cautiously optimistic about the future.
"My hope is we do continue on this good road … now it comes down to action and we'll see where it goes from there."
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With files from Aicha Smith-Belghaba