Overview

The City of Edmonton’s Indigenous Framework is intended to answer the question: 

“How can the City of Edmonton best support and build strong relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Edmonton?” 

Through the adoption of this Framework, it becomes the responsibility of each and every City of Edmonton employee to forge stronger relationships with the descendants of the original inhabitants of this land, and to recognize we all have roles to play in our journey towards reconciliation. The Framework is designed to be a living initiative that will change and adapt as our relationships grow and mature.

cover of the framework document

Indigenous Framework

Final Report

Responsibilities of the City of Edmonton

There are two distinct levels of responsibility within this Framework: those for the entire corporation and those for individual City staff. These commitments have been co-created with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community partners, youth and the broader Indigenous community.

Four Roles

It is the responsibility of every employee to live out these four roles in their interactions with Indigenous Peoples:

  1. Listener: “We listen, with open hearts and minds, when Indigenous Peoples share their stories and experiences.”

  2. Connector: “We connect Indigenous Peoples to the programs, services, people, and resources that enrich the community and foster relationships to create positive change.”

  3. Advocate: “We stand with Indigenous Peoples to create a safe and inclusive city where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.”

  4. Partner: “We work in partnership with Indigenous Peoples on initiatives to improve the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional well-being of Indigenous Peoples in Edmonton.”

Seven Commitments

These seven commitments are how the City of Edmonton will strive to honour and enact the Framework through its policies, programs, and services.

  1. Support the journey of Reconciliation by applying the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a foundation for the Indigenous Framework. 

  2. In partnership with organizations, businesses, academic institutions, other orders of government, and individual citizens, eliminate the systemic racism and discrimination that Indigenous Peoples face in Edmonton. 

  3. Identify and implement ways to make City spaces and buildings welcoming and safe for Indigenous Peoples and ensure they can see themselves reflected in the City’s spaces and places.  

  4. Support all City staff to build relationships that honour the four roles of the Framework within their interactions with Indigenous Peoples and increase staff’s knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and world views through education and learning opportunities.

  5. Host and participate in events where the City of Edmonton, including Council, senior leadership and all levels of administration, and Indigenous Peoples can build relationships, and celebrate our journey together.

  6. Identify and remove the systemic barriers that exist for Indigenous people in gaining employment with the City of Edmonton and create career development opportunities for Indigenous employees.

Ensure Indigenous Peoples and City staff are informed and engaged, when appropriate, on actions the City of Edmonton takes in relation to the Indigenous Framework.