Call for change 21

Action Area 3: Infrastructure and Service Delivery Focus Area A: Expanding Cultural Spaces

Work with the City of St. John’s to Indigenize place names.

Last Updated September 18, 2024

Early Steps Taken

The Joint Coordinating Committee on Indigenous Rights between First Voice and the City of St. John’s has included this Call for Change within its scope of work. First Voice is working on a plan to support Indigenous language learning, access, and use in St. John’s. (See Call for Change 4 for more information.)

City of St. John’s & First Light: Knowledge shared during Indigenize Downtown Community Feast

Attendees expressed that it is a priority to decolonize the place name where the residential school survivors monument is placed. (See Call for Change 24.)

Action Area 3: Infrastructure and Service Delivery

We envision a city that reflects the histories and cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador and one where members of the urban Indigenous community are able to access essential services free of discrimination. To realize this vision, we call on all residents of St. John’s to help advance change in the following ways:

Focus Area A: Expanding Cultural Spaces

CultureGovernment

Labour UnionsMunicipalitiesOffice of the Premier

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Partly Achieved

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CultureGovernmentLanguagePublic Spaces

City of St. John's

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Early Steps Taken

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CultureGovernmentLanguagePublic Spaces

Office of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation

Last Updated

September 19, 2024

No Progress Identified

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GovernmentPublic Spaces

City of St. John's

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Early Steps Taken

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Public Spaces

City of St. John's

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Early Steps Taken

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Health

Department of Health and Community ServicesNewfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS)

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Early Steps Taken

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EducationPublic Policy

Department of Education

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Work Underway

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Focus Area B: Systemic Discrimination

EducationGovernmentHealthJusticeThe Professions

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Early Steps Taken

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CulturePublic Policy

First Light

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Early Steps Taken

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GovernmentPublic Policy

City of St. John'sFirst LightFirst Voice Partners

Last Updated

September 19, 2024

Work Underway

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Public Policy

Department of Justice and Public Safety

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Early Steps Taken

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Government

City of St. John's

Last Updated

September 21, 2024

Early Steps Taken

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BusinessCultureLanguage

Office of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation

Last Updated

September 18, 2024

Early Steps Taken

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Work with the City of St. John’s to Indigenize place names.

Action Area 3: Infrastructure and Service Delivery

Focus Area A: Expanding Cultural Spaces

Work with all levels of government to ensure that National Indigenous Peoples' Day is recognized as an official and statutory holiday.

Work with the City of St. John’s to Indigenize place names.

Work with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to reclaim Indigenous place names.

Promote and support formal Indigenous stewardship of public green spaces in the City of St. John’s, such as parks and gardens.

Establish a highly visible monument in the City of St. John’s to honour the survivors of residential schools and those who never made it home to their families.

Promote and support the availability of Indigenous healing practices and other appropriate cultural programming within the healthcare system.

Decolonize policies and regulations in early childhood education to ensure access to culturally appropriate programming. This must include expanded access to land-based programming for Indigenous children.

Focus Area B: Systemic Discrimination

Promote and support the establishment of full-time, paid Indigenous advisory positions in essential areas such as health, law, education, engineering, and government services.

Promote and support efforts to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and other colonialist concepts such as terra nullius.

Ensure the full implementation of the City of St. John's commitments under Council’s 2020 Declaration in Support of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Ensure that municipal and provincial policymaking is shaped and informed by appropriate demographic data.

Promote and support urban Indigenous participation on critical governance and advisory boards.

Promote and support the expansion of interpretation services that are used locally to include Mi’kmaw, Innu-aimun, and Inuktitut.

Action Area 3: Infrastructure and Service Delivery

Focus Area A: Expanding Cultural Spaces

Decolonize the City of St. John’s municipal plan and all related processes, procedures, and policies, including the heritage bylaw.

Work with all levels of government to ensure that National Indigenous Peoples' Day is recognized as an official and statutory holiday.

Work with the City of St. John’s to Indigenize place names.

Work with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to reclaim Indigenous place names.

Promote and support formal Indigenous stewardship of public green spaces in the City of St. John’s, such as parks and gardens.

Establish a highly visible monument in the City of St. John’s to honour the survivors of residential schools and those who never made it home to their families.

Promote and support the availability of Indigenous healing practices and other appropriate cultural programming within the healthcare system.

Decolonize policies and regulations in early childhood education to ensure access to culturally appropriate programming. This must include expanded access to land-based programming for Indigenous children.

Focus Area B: Systemic Discrimination

Promote and support the establishment of full-time, paid Indigenous advisory positions in essential areas such as health, law, education, engineering, and government services.

Promote and support efforts to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and other colonialist concepts such as terra nullius.

Ensure the full implementation of the City of St. John's commitments under Council’s 2020 Declaration in Support of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Ensure that municipal and provincial policymaking is shaped and informed by appropriate demographic data.

Promote and support urban Indigenous participation on critical governance and advisory boards.

Promote and support the expansion of interpretation services that are used locally to include Mi’kmaw, Innu-aimun, and Inuktitut.

Work with healthcare providers and community organizations to ensure that urban Indigenous people are able to access services related to mental health, addictions, and recovery free of discrimination.

Promote and support the full participation of Indigenous businesses, including social enterprises, in government procurement processes at both the municipal and provincial levels.