Indigenous people

Commitment to reconciliation

We acknowledge that we have much work to do to progress our commitment to reconciliation. We are committed to building respectful relationships with First Nation, Inuit and Métis people in Ontario, through trust and transparency, in order to provide services for a better shared future.

The Ombudsman seeks to engage with the Indigenous peoples recognized under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and raise awareness of all aspects of Ombudsman Ontario’s work.

From the complaints and concerns we handle, the Ombudsman can identify emerging issues and propose changes to improve the relationship between Indigenous people and Ontario public sector agencies, and ensure Indigenous peoples’ equal access to opportunities within those agencies.

In addition to helping Indigenous individuals, the Ombudsman aspires to assist in informing nation-to-nation and government-to-government discussions.

As part of this commitment, we will:

• Respect and affirm the rich culture and history of Indigenous peoples in all that we do
• Seek to be an effective agent of change in addressing the systemic issues we uncover
• Provide educational opportunities for our staff to help them learn more about Canada's history and the harms that have been inflicted on Indigenous peoples
• Continue to integrate The Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Calls to Justice from National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls into our work.

Indigenous Services Plan

We are creating an Indigenous Services Plan, aimed at advancing our commitments to reconciliation, including integrating Indigenous practices and perspectives into daily operations and policy development. The plan will support our awareness in the delivery of culturally responsive and safe services which better serve and are more accessible to Indigenous people living in Ontario.

As part of this plan, we are:

• Working with an Indigenous Liaison Advisory Consultant
• Preparing to hire an internal Indigenous Services Coordinator
• Working with our internal Indigenous Circle, a team of Ombudsman Ontario staff who incorporate some cultural practices into their work, such as smudging and the guidance of Elders and Knowledge Keepers
• Conducting outreach, with the Indigenous Circle, to Indigenous child and family well-being agencies, Aboriginal Health Access Centres and Indigenous Friendship Centres
• Meeting with Indigenous leaders, communities and organizations to hear their concerns
• Continually assessing our practices to better meet the needs of Indigenous communities
• Ensuring our staff learn history, including through the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and from the Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves
• Training our staff in culturally safe interview practices
• Supporting our staff in culturally safe interview processes
• Participating in events across Ontario to listen and speak with Indigenous people, including attending pow wows, Elder gatherings, and the annual Chiefs of Ontario conference

Our next steps will include:

• Creating an internal Indigenous Services Tool Kit to ensure Ombudsman Ontario adheres to culturally safe and effective procedures in its services to Indigenous people
• Increasing visits to Indigenous communities to listen and identify shared priorities
• Reviewing what systemic internal changes we can make to further our commitment to reconciliation
• Exploring how we can incorporate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People into our work

Connecting with you

• Contact us to meet with our team, or request a presentation or other materials.
• See the list of our upcoming and recent outreach events.

Acknowledgment of territory

Ombudsman Ontario acknowledges that the lands we work on are the traditional territories of more than 130 First Nations, each with distinct cultures, languages, and histories that long predate the establishment of the province of Ontario. These lands are also home to longstanding political confederacies, such as the Three Fires Confederacy and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, whose treaties and relationships shape the dynamic history of this province.

We recognize the more than 40 treaties in Ontario, including but not limited to Treaty 3, Treaty 9, the Robinson Superior and Huron Treaties, and the Williams Treaties. These agreements – sacred commitments between Indigenous Nations and the Crown – continue to carry legal and moral responsibilities. We acknowledge that Indigenous peoples who have stewarded these lands for millennia have been subjected to dispossession and colonial injustices, and we remain committed to supporting efforts to address both historic and ongoing harms.

Since the inception of the Office of the Ombudsman, we have had the privilege of engaging with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Ontario. We are grateful for these relationships and recognize that trust must be continuously earned through meaningful action.

Ombudsman Ontario is committed to fostering respectful and transparent relationships with Indigenous communities. Through ongoing dialogue, accountability, and service, we strive to contribute to reconciliation and a more just and equitable future for all.