Region seeks outside advice to form Indigenous reconciliation action plan

The Region of Waterloo and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) are looking for outside help to guide Indigenous reconciliation efforts.

Both the region and the GRCA are working to create an Indigenous reconciliation action plan to "address distinct needs arising from historic harm and systemic barriers still faced by Indigenous Peoples in Waterloo Region."

They've put out a request for a private-sector consultant.

Together the governments and GRCA have put out a request for proposals, asking for qualified candidates to make their pitch as to why they are best qualified to guide the reconciliation efforts.

"For the region to say, 'Hey, we need some help, and we need someone to lead us through this process and to guide us,' to me, that was huge," said Tammy Webster, chair of the board at Anishnabeg Outreach in Kitchener. 

Webster said they will need to find "someone who has been in the region for a while, someone who knows the nuances, someone who can reach out to various groups, someone with an extensive knowledge of the Indigenous history."

Anishnabeg Outreach CEO Stephen Jackson said that person will need to "build bridges, and who can also lead and direct through conflict."

No budget set

At this point, no budget has been set out for what this consultation may cost, according to Waterloo Regional Chair Karen Redman.

"That's still a work in progress," she said, suggesting that it could be a large undertaking. "There are many partners — Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, the four townships and GRCA as well as the Region."

This was the right time to take the next step forward, Redman said. 

"There have been some issues locally that have come up, we've certainly heard from some of our area municipalities that they're very interested in getting training, and it makes sense as we go forward that we get expertise from the Indigenous community so that we can move forward in collaboration and cooperation."

Jackson said he gives Redman "full kudos" for the move.

"50 per cent of our homeless population [in our region] are Indigenous, 75 per cent of our children in care are Indigenous," said Jackson. 

He hopes Redman's intent is to push Indigenous issues forward.

"I'm optimistic," Webster said. "You have to start somewhere. It might be awkward. It might be misspoken, or something like that, but it's a start."