Walking Together: Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in Brantford

Moving at the speed of trust. Co-creating solutions with Indigenous organizations and community members.

The City of Brantford is seeking input from community members to inform the City's ongoing Indigenous relations and reconciliation efforts. This engagement will help outline concrete steps the City can take to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The engagement with work to address the unique history of City of Brantford and its relationships with Indigenous people and organizations.

This engagement is not a final plan. The City is in the beginning process of listening and relationship-building. The engagement will help ensure a plan reflects Indigenous priorities, voices, and definitions of reconciliation.

Your Voice Matters!

We invite you to take a few minutes to share your thoughts by completing our survey. Your input is valued and will help inform meaningful decisions, ensuring diverse perspectives are reflected in our work.

SURVEY COMING SOON.

Who is Leading the Project?

The City has engaged Fluid Consulting, an Indigenous-owned firm rooted in Six Nations of the Grand River, and KLB Consulting to conduct community engagement and provide recommendations back to inform the potential development of an Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Framework (IRRF).

Fluid Consulting will lead Indigenous-centred engagement, communications, and facilitation, grounded in cultural safety, trauma-informed practice, which is guided by the teachings of respect, relationship, and reciprocity.

KLB Consulting will support research, municipal planning, and implementation design to ensure what we hear translates into practical steps the City can operationalize.

The work will be majority Indigenous-led, with guidance from Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Survivors, youth, and community advisors.

Who Are We Seeking to Engage?

We are committed to engaging Indigenous peoples, Indigenous-serving organizations, and local residents connected to the City of Brantford, County of Brant, Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

This includes, among others:

Invitation to leadership from Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation to participate
Survivors of the Mohawk Institute, their families, and Survivors’ Secretariat
Indigenous organizations and service providers in the Brantford
Urban Indigenous residents, youth, 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, and Knowledge Keepers
Brantford City Council, City of Brantford Senior Leadership Team and staff

Additional partners will be invited as the work progresses, based on guidance from Nations and community advisors.

Please contact EngagementIRRF@gmail.com for questions

What Happens With What We Hear?

What we hear through this process will be translated into recommendations for municipal actions: governance options, training, timelines, and indicators the City can use.

Every major step will include a “What We Heard” update and community validation to confirm that recommendations reflects the teachings, priorities, and cautions that have been shared.

This plan will not replace Nation-to-Nation relationships. It is meant to guide the City’s responsibilities and commitments within its own systems.

Our Commitments to Safety and Data

Sessions will be trauma-informed and Indigenous-led with clear consent and the option to pause or step away.

Referral pathways to supports will be available where needed.

Data will be managed under a Research & Data Governance Plan that respects Indigenous data sovereignty and protects confidentiality.

Our Engagement Methods

One-On-One Interviews with City of Brantford Council & Senior Leadership
Seek guidance from local Indigenous Leadership on how best to engage their staff and members who access municipal services in Brantford
Survey of City of Brantford Staff
Survey of Indigenous Indiviuduals and Indigenous Organizations
Open House Focus Group(s) open to General Public
Focus Group(s) open to Indigenous Residents and Indigenous Organizations
What We Heard Reports sent to participants for validation