Your law firm has an office or offices on Indigenous traditional territory. As you advance your reconciliation goals, you will want to engage with the local Indigenous community, which could include the urban indigenous population and/or the neighbouring First Nation, Inuit or Métis community/communities.
In many midsize and large urban centres in Canada, you will find a Friendship Centre. Locate the Friendship Centre in your community and reach out to them. Each Friendship Centre is different, but they were established to be a hub for program and service delivery for First Nations, Inuit and Métis living in urban centres. They provide culturally appropriate services, which can include cultural and spiritual guidance, health, housing and employment support. Friendship Centres help Indigenous people transitioning to urban living. Reach out to your local Friendship Centre for advice on protocols, access to Elders and cultural information. Use this map to locate the Friendship Centre closest to you.
Use this list as a guide with examples of protocols across Canada.
Yukon
Source: Government of Yukon
- Yukon First Nation Cultural Orientation and Protocols Toolkit
- Carcross Tagish First Nation Orientation & Protocols (not available)
- Champagne and Aishihik First Nation Orientation & Protocols
- Kluane First Nation Orientation & Protocols
- Kwanlin Dün First Nation Orientation & Protocols
- Liard First Nation Orientation & Protocols
- Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation Orientation & Protocols
- First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun Orientation & Protocols
- Ross River Dena Council Orientation & Protocols
- Selkirk First Nation Orientation & Protocols
- Ta'an Kwäch'än Council Orientation & Protocols (not available)
- Teslin Tlingit Council Orientation & Protocols
- Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation Orientation & Protocols
- Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Orientation & Protocols
British Columbia
Source: First Nations Health Authority--BC Elders Guide
Source: Justice Institute of British Columbia—Elder Protocols & Guidelines
Alberta
Source: University of Alberta
Saskatchewan
Source: Saskatchewan Rivers Public Rivers Division
Manitoba
Source: University of Winnipeg
Ontario
Source: University of Ottawa
- Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers
- Titles and Protocols for Elders of Various Nations in the Ottawa Area - Page 12
- Haudenosaunee (Mohawk) - Page 14
- Inuit - Page 15
Quebec
Source: University of Concordia
Newfoundland & Labrador
Source: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Non-site Specific
- First Nation Elder Protocol Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.
- Guidelines for Working with First Nation, Métis and Inuit Elders and Knowledge Keepers Carleton University (ON)
- Interviewing Elders National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)
- Elder Protocol Handbook Queen’s University (ON)
- Indigenous Education – Cultural Protocols Calgary Board of Education (AB)
- Elder Protocol The Alberta Teachers Association (AB)
- Elders Protocol for Schools Northwest Catholic District School Board (ON)
- On-Screen Protocols & Pathways: A Media Production Guide to Working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts and Stories imagineNATIVE
- Anishinaabe Waadiziwin: Protocols for Working with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers (Elders, Métis Senators, Others) at Laurentian University Laurentian University (ON)
- Protocols for Traditional Gatherings and Ceremonies University College of the North (MB)
- Michi Saagiig Protocol Guide Book Trent University (ON)
- First Nations & Métis Elders (kēhtē-ayak) Regina Catholic Schools (SK)
- Respecting Protocols BCcampus Open Publishing (BC)
- Cultural Protocol University of Calgary (AB)