Indigenous Relations

The use of Indigenous Medicines Policy

The City of Hamilton has developed a Use of Indigenous Medicines Policy, which confirms the City’s commitment to supporting Indigenous peoples to use sacred medicines in ceremonies such as smudging or prayer pipe ceremonies in municipal facilities. The policy outlines the steps that City of Hamilton staff are expected to follow to accommodate the use of Indigenous medicines.

In the course of developing Hamilton’s Urban Indigenous Strategy, smudging ceremonies have been incorporated to begin the meetings of the Coordinating Circle in the Lister Block. Since the Fall of 2017, weekly cultural competency training run for the Hamilton Police Services has also incorporated smudging ceremonies. The new policy not only supports these important initiatives but will be used by other divisions and programs within the City that are working to build relationships with Indigenous peoples and create a welcoming environment in municipal locations.

Indigenous Archaeological Monitoring Policy

The City of Hamilton acknowledges Indigenous peoples as the original peoples of this land and recognizes that Indigenous peoples have an inherent and rights-based interest in the archaeology and heritage of their ancestors. The City of Hamilton is working to improve existing Municipal-Indigenous relationships, including how Indigenous communities are involved in the archaeological assessment process. The City's Indigenous Archaeological Monitoring Policy provides a interim process for engaging with Indigenous communities on City-initiated archaeological assessment work and for coordinating and funding Indigenous monitoring, until relationship agreements are developed with each Indigenous community and adopted by the respective Councils.