Toolkit

February 14, 2022

Civic-Indigenous Placekeeping and Partnership Building Toolkit

Cover of the civic indigenous toolkit 2021

Tanya Chung-Tiam-Fook

Evergreen and Future Cities Canada

Aani bozhoo, kweh, tansi, shé:kon, éy swayel, ulakoot, greetings!

A very warm welcome to you, the reader of this civic-Indigenous engagement toolkit, produced by Evergreen and Future Cities Canada, with a focus on partnerships in urban placekeeping.

Municipalities and civic organizations are increasingly being called to commit to the Truth and Reconciliation Actions and to engage with the leadership of Indigenous partners through reflexive, equitable and reciprocal relationships.

The history and future of cities in Canada are interwoven with Indigenous peoples, lands, rights, systems, identities and futures. Civic leaders and municipalities can commit to investing in and supporting opportunities directed at: 

  • The restoration of land rights 
  • The strengthening of cultural identities and capacity-building  
  • Building robust communities that are self-determined by Indigenous peoples.  

Download the toolkit

Intended Audience

The Toolkit is intended for all those who are interested in Indigenous worldviews and truth and reconciliation. It will be especially useful for community leaders, practitioners’ and staff from municipalities, civic and cultural organizations working in the spaces of placekeeping, city building and reconciliation and who want to strengthen their relationships with Indigenous partners. Although the focus is on urban placekeeping and civic-Indigenous engagement, the Toolkit can also be used by organizations in other sectors interested in Indigenous engagement, Indigenous community, and organizations outside of urban centres, and provincial and territorial associations and organizations.

1. About the Toolkit

2. Context and Timeline of Settler-Indigenous Historical Events

3. Tools

Tool: Truth-Telling & Indigenous Cultural Awareness
Tool: Decolonizing from Within the Organization
Tool: Guiding Protocols for Civic-Indigenous Engagement Guiding Principles
Tool: Important Guidelines, Commissions and Reports
Tool: Relationship Agreement & Memorandum of Understanding
Tool: Understanding Indigenous Sovereignty & Rights
Tool: 150 Acts of Reconciliation as a Learning Journey
Tool: International Indigenous Design Charter
Tool: Indigenous Knowledge and Data Sovereignty

4. Teachings

Teaching: Partnership and Legacy Building through Seven Fundamental Truths
Teaching: Two Row and Dish With One Spoon Wampum Covenants
Teaching: Indigenous Principles for Civic Collaboration
Teaching: 7 Messages for Indigenizing the City

5. Indigenous Approaches to Program Evaluation

6. Community Engagement Event Planning

7. Case Studies and Examples of Best Practices in Placekeeping Partnerships

8. Glossary, Contributors and Resource List


Cover image: by Catherine Tammaro, TÀMMARO ART/Design

This page was updated May 29, 2023

Finding this resource useful?

We’ve got hundreds more toolkits, videos, podcasts and reports available for free. Simply register now and you’ll get full access to our library of world class city building resources.