• 14. WHEREAS AMO and OFIFC are partnering on a variety of initiatives to improve collaboration and information sharing amongst our membership, not limited to the work of the AMO-OFIFC Indigenous Relations Working Group and the AMO-OFIFC Memorandum of Understanding signed on date; AND

• 15. WHEREAS this declaration is a living document that municipal governments and Friendship Centres can sign onto or use as a framework for the development of local or regional declarations that can be addended to this declaration;

THAT SIGNATORY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS RECOGNIZE:

• 16. THAT Indigenous people reside and build community and resilience in municipalities across Ontario;

• 17. THE value of Indigenous knowledge and expertise to design, plan, implement, and evaluate public policy and programs that impact the wellbeing of Indigenous people is paramount;

• 18. THE responsibility taken up by Indigenous Friendship Centres to meet Indigenous community need;

• 19. THE value of building relationships and partnerships with Friendship Centres to improve the quality of life of Indigenous people in their municipality; AND

• 20 . THAT the exchange of information and skills within and between municipal governments and related associations contribute to improved understanding in the area of Indigenous relations.

THAT SIGNATORY ONTARIO INDIGENOUS FRIENDSHIP CENTRES RECOGNIZE:

• 21. THAT they are and have been leaders in urban Indigenous community development and in reflecting and responding to the needs of Indigenous people in municipalities for over half a century;

• 22. THAT they are engaged in local and regional affairs and that they contribute to municipal life and that they lead the Indigenous social, community, economic, and cultural development of municipalities across Ontario;

• 23. THE responsibility taken up by municipal governments to meet and serve Indigenous communities;

• 24. THAT municipal governments provide essential services that Friendship Centre community members rely on to thrive;

• 25. THAT municipal governments are leaders in Ontario in meeting community needs through local programs, services and community development, be they in human and social services, public safety or public works/infrastructure, and are integral to community well-being and the social determinants of health;

• 26. THAT the development and maintenance of good relationships and partnerships w i th municipal governments is essential to achieving long-term positive impact on Indigenous communities; AND

• 27. THAT Friendship Centres acknowledge that they operate in a municipal landscape and rely on municipal governments.