Walking Together: Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in Brantford
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The City of Brantford is seeking community input to help inform ongoing Indigenous relations and reconciliation efforts within the City of Brantford and neighbouring Indigenous Nations. In partnership with Fluid Consulting, an Indigenous-owned firm rooted in Six Nations of the Grand River, the City will be hosting public engagement sessions to create space for learning, dialogue and meaningful participation
The first open house is set to take place on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Doug Snooks Eagle Place Community Centre (333 Erie Ave) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Attendees are welcome to drop in and learn more about the project, ask questions and share their perspectives on Indigenous relations and reconciliation in Brantford. Follow this project page to be notified when more open houses become available.
Survey
Please complete a short survey to share your feedback and help inform the City's ongoing Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation efforts.
Background
In recent years, the City of Brantford has taken important steps to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to strengthening Indigenous relations through advocacy, partnerships and collaborative initiatives supported across programs and services. Notable highlights include:
In May 2022, Council unanimously supported a motion calling on federal and provincial governments and the Anglican Church to release all records related to the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School to the Survivors’ Secretariat. Council also advanced a Notice of Motion on prosperity and partnership with Indigenous Nations, calling on Ontario and Canada to resume negotiations to settle the Six Nations of the Grand River’s longstanding land claims and urging the province to explore mechanisms for revenue sharing that benefit First Nations.
In June 2025, City Council approved a Housing Subsidy Pilot Project with Brantford Native Housing to support a per-unit subsidy model to expedite the construction of non-profit affordable housing with the development of 18 new affordable housing units by Brantford Native Housing at 247-253 West Street. For over a decade, the City of Brantford has worked closely with Brantford Native Housing to provide safe, secure and affordable rental homes for Indigenous individuals and families living in the City of Brantford.
In January 2026, as part of a grant awarded through the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund, the City of Brantford received approval for an Indigenous Housing Advisor to provide Indigenous led housing supports to strengthen Indigenous cultural safety across the community housing system and enhance capacity to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed services.
Since 2019, the City has incorporated Indigenous-led EarlyON programs and services into its EarlyON Centres. Gahwajiya:de’ Detenatgwa’ta (also known as Family Gatherings) provides culturally grounded programming for parents/caregivers and children that reflects Haudenosaunee culture, incorporates Mohawk and Cayuga languages and offers respectful, nurturing environments that support positive relationships through belonging, well‑being, engagement and cultural connection.
The City's Planning Department continues to prioritize strengthened relationships with First Nations communities by taking steps to support meaningful engagement and broaden understanding in land development. The City has collaborated with Six Nations of the Grand River Lands and Resources staff and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation staff to develop a consultation framework for evaluating planning applications beyond the Grand River Notification Agreement, including early engagement through development pre‑consultations and facilitated discussions on non‑statutory Block Plan applications.
In 2023, the City implemented a comprehensive and mandatory Indigenous Competency Training Program for all City staff, elected officials and advisory committee members. This training provides a foundational understanding of Indigenous history, treaties and current issues, and supports the City’s commitment to meaningful, informed and respectful engagement with Indigenous communities.
The City continues to expand Indigenous‑led learning opportunities through its ongoing partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus. In January 2025, the partners launched a free, self‑paced Introduction to Indigenous Matters online course, which provides community members with foundational knowledge about Indigenous history, culture, land, language, identity, and contemporary experiences.
The City of Brantford continues to recognize, promote and support Indigenous days of significance in the community, such as National Indigenous Peoples Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Sisters in Spirit and the Moose Hide Campaign.
The City of Brantford is seeking community input to help inform ongoing Indigenous relations and reconciliation efforts within the City of Brantford and neighbouring Indigenous Nations. In partnership with Fluid Consulting, an Indigenous-owned firm rooted in Six Nations of the Grand River, the City will be hosting public engagement sessions to create space for learning, dialogue and meaningful participation
The first open house is set to take place on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Doug Snooks Eagle Place Community Centre (333 Erie Ave) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Attendees are welcome to drop in and learn more about the project, ask questions and share their perspectives on Indigenous relations and reconciliation in Brantford. Follow this project page to be notified when more open houses become available.
Survey
Please complete a short survey to share your feedback and help inform the City's ongoing Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation efforts.
Background
In recent years, the City of Brantford has taken important steps to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to strengthening Indigenous relations through advocacy, partnerships and collaborative initiatives supported across programs and services. Notable highlights include:
In May 2022, Council unanimously supported a motion calling on federal and provincial governments and the Anglican Church to release all records related to the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School to the Survivors’ Secretariat. Council also advanced a Notice of Motion on prosperity and partnership with Indigenous Nations, calling on Ontario and Canada to resume negotiations to settle the Six Nations of the Grand River’s longstanding land claims and urging the province to explore mechanisms for revenue sharing that benefit First Nations.
In June 2025, City Council approved a Housing Subsidy Pilot Project with Brantford Native Housing to support a per-unit subsidy model to expedite the construction of non-profit affordable housing with the development of 18 new affordable housing units by Brantford Native Housing at 247-253 West Street. For over a decade, the City of Brantford has worked closely with Brantford Native Housing to provide safe, secure and affordable rental homes for Indigenous individuals and families living in the City of Brantford.
In January 2026, as part of a grant awarded through the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund, the City of Brantford received approval for an Indigenous Housing Advisor to provide Indigenous led housing supports to strengthen Indigenous cultural safety across the community housing system and enhance capacity to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed services.
Since 2019, the City has incorporated Indigenous-led EarlyON programs and services into its EarlyON Centres. Gahwajiya:de’ Detenatgwa’ta (also known as Family Gatherings) provides culturally grounded programming for parents/caregivers and children that reflects Haudenosaunee culture, incorporates Mohawk and Cayuga languages and offers respectful, nurturing environments that support positive relationships through belonging, well‑being, engagement and cultural connection.
The City's Planning Department continues to prioritize strengthened relationships with First Nations communities by taking steps to support meaningful engagement and broaden understanding in land development. The City has collaborated with Six Nations of the Grand River Lands and Resources staff and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation staff to develop a consultation framework for evaluating planning applications beyond the Grand River Notification Agreement, including early engagement through development pre‑consultations and facilitated discussions on non‑statutory Block Plan applications.
In 2023, the City implemented a comprehensive and mandatory Indigenous Competency Training Program for all City staff, elected officials and advisory committee members. This training provides a foundational understanding of Indigenous history, treaties and current issues, and supports the City’s commitment to meaningful, informed and respectful engagement with Indigenous communities.
The City continues to expand Indigenous‑led learning opportunities through its ongoing partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus. In January 2025, the partners launched a free, self‑paced Introduction to Indigenous Matters online course, which provides community members with foundational knowledge about Indigenous history, culture, land, language, identity, and contemporary experiences.
The City of Brantford continues to recognize, promote and support Indigenous days of significance in the community, such as National Indigenous Peoples Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Sisters in Spirit and the Moose Hide Campaign.
