Land back. A wide variety of land justice initiatives have been established to honour treaty relationships with First Nations. Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives are also common across the region. Indigenous neighbours have access to culturally safe and affordable housing. Informed consent for development is achieved through meaningful consultation with Mississaugas of the Credit, Six Nations, Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and Métis Nation of Ontario. Land is considered as a sacred trust, and we work together to keep it healthy for future generations. Our relationship to land has moved away from a focus on private property, towards a sharing relationship with all neighbours and with all parts of the web of life. The Haudenosaunee Land Rights Statement is respected by municipal, provincial, and federal governments, and development on the Haldimand Tract proceeds with the consent of the Six Nations band council and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Cultural events and ceremony. There is an abundance of culturally relevant community gathering spaces for Indigenous neighbours, where groups can host events such as feasts, educational seminars, workshops, peer support, and other meetings. There are opportunities for settler neighbours to participate, learn, and build relationships with Indigenous communities. There is a centralized space for Indigenous people to gather, grow, learn, and build culture for future generations. A friendship centre or community hub is present in all three major urban centres of the Region, and in rural communities as well.

Decolonizing service delivery. Indigenous-centric programming, including changes to administrative and bureaucracy processes, are implemented in public facing institutions. Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods are integrated into community programming and service delivery for all neighbours.

Developing a more-than-treaty relationship. We have developed strong economic, tourism, and recreational relationships with nearby Indigenous communities along the Grand River including Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit. These cultural, employment, and economic ties are an extension of our treaty relationship.

Strong families. The number of Indigenous children taken into care by Family & Children’s Services has significantly reduced. Indigenous child care centres have been established that take a holistic approach to education and well-being, in a culturally- and spiritually-appropriate setting for Indigenous families. Communities acknowledge the impacts of residential schools and have developed ways to make a healthier community through improved relationship-building and undoing harms caused by colonial systems.

Decision-making. First Nations leadership, including the Six Nations of the Grand River, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Mississaugas of the Credit are directly involved in all planning and development within their traditional and treaty territories. 

Indigenous sovereignty: measurable outcomes

• Use of data collection and research methods that honour Indigenous data sovereignty
• Use of Indigenous-developed evaluation methods (e.g., Two-Eyed Seeing, community-based indicators)
• Feedback from Indigenous partners on the quality of relationship and mutual respect
• Number of Indigenous people in decision-making roles
• Training provided to non-Indigenous service providers on decolonization, anti-racism, and Indigenous rights
• Hectares of land returned, protected, or transferred to Indigenous governance
• Prevalence of Indigenous place names and languages in public signage and documentation
• Number of organizations that have integrated Indigenous knowledge systems into curriculum, research, and planning processes
• Workforce participation rates for Indigenous peoples in leadership roles
• Contracts awarded to Indigenous-owned businesses