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Reconciliation Action Plan

The Brown Homestead is within the traditional and historic territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabek, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Today, Niagara is home to many additional Indigenous peoples. We are pleased to recognize and celebrate their friendship and the continuing alliances that make it possible for us to live here.

As a cultural heritage organization rooted in colonialism with a distinct history and legacy in the Niagara Region, we commit to sharing an honest and fulsome history of Canada, including its more challenging truths. We do so with the guidance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s findings and 94 Calls to Action. We embrace our responsibility to take these policy recommendations to heart and integrate them into our daily practices.

Our team visiting the Woodland Cultural Centre in 2022.

In 2015, the Commission published 94 Calls to Action for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians to come together in a concerted effort to acknowledge and help repair the harm caused by residential schools, and move towards reconciliation. These Calls to Action reflect policy recommendations meant to aid the healing process and prevent these abuses from ever happening again.

Having reviewed the Calls to Action, we make the following commitments as the framework for our Reconciliation Action Plan. It is our hope that through our example, we can encourage other organizations to consider and adopt their own plans.

Read more about our thoughts behind this decision in our journal article from September 2022.

  1. We commit to an interpretive perspective that reflects the historical nation-to-nation relationship between settlers and Indigenous peoples. (CTA #45)

  2. We commit to integrating Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods through the original programs we offer, as well as through hosting and promoting existing programs and initiatives with suitable partner organizations. (CTA #62-63)

  3. We commit to incorporating Indigenous languages into the content that we create, where appropriate. (CTA #14)

  4. We commit to offering a space for the teaching of Indigenous languages for both adults and children alike as part of our educational programming. (CTA #10)

  5. We commit to giving extra consideration to ensuring that we deliver programs that have age-appropriate components and are accessible and appealing to young people. (CTA #66)

  6. We commit to consultation with Indigenous partners at every step in the process of any and all activities we pursue that involve Indigenous peoples, their land and resources, and their heritage, culture & language. (CTA #92)

  7. We commit to proactively offering resources and partnership opportunities developed for health-related social service organizations to those offering support to Indigenous peoples on a priority basis. (CTA #19)

  8. We commit to offering resources and partnership opportunities developed for justice-related social service organizations offering support to Indigenous peoples on a priority basis. (CTA #36)

  9. We commit to undertake collaborative projects with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists that contribute to the reconciliation process. (CTA #82-83)

  10. We commit to providing commemoration projects centering on the theme of reconciliation, both internally with our staff, volunteers and partners, as well as externally through planned events such as art exhibits and lectures. (CTA #68)

  11. We commit to ensuring that our team of staff, directors, members and volunteers understand the details of this action plan, the history that supports it, and are equally committed to implementing these actions. (CTA #57)

  12. We commit to ensuring that Indigenous peoples have equitable access to employment, volunteer and board opportunities within the organization. (CTA #7)

  13. We commit to reviewing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ensuring that our policies and practices adhere to the appropriate level of compliance as determined by the Canadian Museums Association, in collaboration with the Indigenous community. (CTA #67)

  14. We commit to reflecting the diverse cultures, languages and perspectives of Indigenous people in our regular communications channels in order to inform and educate our community on an appropriate and consistent basis. (CTA #84)

Our Fourteen Commitments