Re-situating indigenous planning in the city

Abstract

The Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study conducted by the Environics Institute in 2010 found that the majority of Aboriginal respondents consider the city home and enjoy living in their city, in spite of the persistence of overt and systemic racism. Findings like these have prompted a shift from a focus on Indigenous "urbanization" to Indigenous "urbanism", or put another way, the participation in and enjoyment of an urban life.

Some cities, Edmonton for example, have developed ambitious policy approaches with Aboriginal communities. Others like Brandon, have excluded the words "Aboriginal", "First Nation", and "Metis" entirely from the official community plan. Calgary and other cities, are trying to advance ambitious initiatives with Aboriginal communities in the city. Unfortunately they are having trouble adjusting the aperture from last century's preoccupation with fixing what is "lacking" in the Aboriginal community, to a more vital exploration of Aboriginality as an existing civic strength, and a focus for expanded possibilities through planning.