Title of Event:

Name of Organisation:

Date and time of the session:

Land Management in Local Communities: Opportunities and Challenges for First Nation-Municipal Government Relations

Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)

Tuesday, June 20 2006, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Key Highlights

1. Estimated no of participants: 90
2. Stakeholder group representation at the event: First Nations and municipal government representatives attended the event. Professionals, NGO's and consultants linked to municipal government and aboriginal organizations also attended.
3. What were the expected objectives: The objectives of the session were, first, to promote to municipal governments and First Nations who do not have much experience in working together, the benefits associated with municipal-Aboriginal partnerships and to enhance the knowledge of participants with respect to strategies in establishing relationships and partnerships, based on the experiences and lessons learned as shared by other participants
4. What did the networking event achieve: Participants were able to discuss the value of building relationships between municipal governments and First Nations from the perspective of potential social, economic and environmental outcomes. Participants, particularly from outside Canada, learned about the institutional context in which First Nations in Canada operate, and what the benefits and challenges are, particularly around new land related legislation. Participants learned from other municipal and First Nation leaders who spoke at the session what, from their experience, were the challenges and opportunities involved in establishing and maintaining a positive relationships. Session organizers learned of additional examples where First Nations and municipal governments worked together, and have documented this for future work planned by the FCM facilitated Land Management Project. All participants received contact information for the Land Management Projects, as well as work produced by the project to date.

2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUFIII?

The issues discussed at this event were most closely linked to the theme of Sustainable Cities: Land, Housing and Infrastructure for All - Inclusion - The right to the city

Land related issues, as discussed at the session, represent an important avenue for municipalities and First Nations to work together. Joint initiatives in infrastructure are also an important way that aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities can work together to pool resources and, through this, provide critical services for all community members in the most efficient way possible. In so doing, First Nations and municipal governments can develop new relationships and partnerships based on respect and understanding for each other's jurisdiction and process, and a common understanding of issues of mutual concern. Broader outcomes around social inclusion can be achieved in the community (non-aboriginal and aboriginal) as a whole.

3. What were the main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues? What new ideas have been generated as a result of the discussion?

Main points raised during the session included how to overcome historic divisions to work pragmatically, how to recognize and work in the context of cultural differences and how to initially spark a dialogue between elected officials, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, when they have historically no background in doing so.

New ideas generated as a result of the speakers and discussion at this event include how the Canadian oriented lessons in municipal-aboriginal relationship building can be applied in a meaningful way to contexts outside Canada.

4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality?

Understanding how other communities have successfully initiated partnerships in order to similarly achieve the positive outcomes that are possible when municipal-aboriginal partnerships are undertaken was the ultimate goal of the session. Participants initiated the first steps of this process by networking with other participants, particularly with the speakers, who have the first hand experience, to set this is motion. The Land Management Project has a website and readily available network of contacts to further facilitate pairing participants with other people in this field who may be able to provide relevant insight. This follow-up will happen on an ongoing basis to turn this ultimate objective into reality in as much as is possible.