The City of London recognizes that colonialism has had devastating impacts on the Indigenous people of Turtle Island (North America), causing a ripple effect across generations.
All levels of government across Turtle Island have been called upon by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address historical injustices and trauma experienced by Indigenous people, and to advance the process of reconciliation through 94 Calls to Action.
"When I was a teenager, a child welfare agency took me from my parents and placed me in foster care, where I was later asked by someone from a local educational institution to share my culture. This was infuriating because, throughout my life, I was punished for speaking my language, and now I was expected to recall everything for their benefit—it still angers me"
On May 13 2025, City Council approved the 2025-2035 ReconciliAction Plan, which will help guide the City of London’s actions over the next decade towards truth, justice, and reconciliation by supporting the implementation of the Calls to Action.
With Council’s approval of the Plan, an implementation strategy outlining key metrics and performance indicators is now being developed.
Read the 2025-2035 ReconciliAction Plan
ReconciliAction Plan Strategies and Actions
The Plan commits the City of London to implementing 155 actions over the next decade, working alongside the Indigenous community to address the lasting impacts of colonialism, and build greater equity across municipal programs and services.
Key strategies and actions include enhancing access to essential services such as housing, transportation, and social services, increasing Indigenous representation in all levels of municipal decision-making, strengthening intergovernmental relations with First Nations, and fostering collaboration between the City of London and Indigenous organizations.
"The City needs to do more than token outreach; there’s frustration with being excluded from the planning table on Indigenous housing projects. The Indigenous community feels that their expertise is overlooked and their contributions undervalued, especially when non-Indigenous organizations are involved in projects. There is a need for the City to be genuinely committed to Indigenous-led housing solutions"
While the ReconciliAction Plan primarily addresses gaps in services within the Corporation of the City of London, the Indigenous community also provided 10 key recommendations from community-based and public sector organizations. These recommendations include integrating Indigenous studies in schools, improving food access and barriers to transportation through partnerships with Indigenous organizations, expanding culturally safe spaces for Indigenous families, and promoting accurate representation and safer spaces for Indigenous voices in media.
A Collaborative Approach
The ReconciliAction Plan was shaped through guidance rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems including the Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace, and the Lūnaapéewak worldview. Indigenous community members contributed their perspectives through focus groups and an anonymous survey, offering valuable input on their experiences with City services, feelings of safety, and ways the City can better respond to the needs of local and urban Indigenous communities.
The City of London recognizes the work required to facilitate reconciliation both within City Hall, and outside our doors, and are committed to implementing the strategies and actions of the ReconciliAction Plan over the next decade.
"Establishing an Indigenous community center led by Indigenous people, offering cultural programs like lacrosse and drumming, would provide a safe, welcoming space for Indigenous children and families to connect with their culture"
With Council’s approval of the Plan, an implementation strategy outlining key metrics and performance indicators is now being developed to ensure transparency and accountability.
Indigenous History and Presence in the London Region
The lands now known as Southwestern Ontario have been home to Indigenous Nations for generations. Along the Thames River — or Deshkan Ziibi (“Antlered River” in Anishinaabemowin) — these Nations built thriving communities rooted in kinship, stewardship, and a deep, reciprocal relationship with the land through harvesting, farming, hunting, and fishing.
One of the oldest treaties tied to this territory is the Dish with One Spoon agreement — known as (G/N)doo-Naaganinaa in Anishinaabemowin and Swatokwat by the On^yota'á:ka (Oneida). This agreement established a law of mutual responsibility to share resources peacefully: all parties eat from one shared dish using a single spoon, taking only what is needed and ensuring the dish is never emptied. This concept predates 1701, and was formally acknowledged during the Great Peace of Montreal.
Another foundational treaty, the 1701 Beaver Hunting Grounds Treaty (or Nanfan Treaty), recognized the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s right to hunt across vast territory including parts of present-day Southwestern Ontario. These lands were placed under British Crown protection, affirming Haudenosaunee hunting and sustenance rights. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy then included Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca and now includes Tuscarora.
Several treaties helped shape the region and its colonial history, including the McKee Purchase (1790), the London Township Treaty (1796), the Sombra Township Treaty (1796), the Longwoods Treaty (1822), and the Huron Tract Treaty (1827). These agreements were made between the British Crown and various Anishinaabeg Nations, including the ancestors of the Chippewa, Odawa, and Potawatomi people of Southwestern Ontario. One additional treaty, Treaty 35, was signed between representatives of the British Crown and the Huron-Wendat.
Through their historical presence, treaty-making, and experiences of displacement, three distinct Indigenous Nations had established communities near present-day London by the late 18th and early 19th centuries:
- In 1760, Chippewa family groups were relocated by the Indian Agent, leading to the formation of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (Deshkan Ziibing), located about 25 km southwest of present-day London.
- The Munsee Delaware Nation (Nalahii Lūnaapéewak) resettled in the area in 1783 after being forcibly displaced from their ancestral homelands in what is now New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
- In 1840, the Oneida Nation of the Thames (On^yota'á:ka) undertook a purposeful relocation from their Oneida homelands in what is now from New York State, purchasing land along the Thames River to re-establish their community—making Oneida Nation of the Thames a settlement rather than a reserve, a unique distinction in Canada.
Each of these Nations— Chippewas of the Thames, Munsee Delaware, and Oneida — each have distinct identities, languages, histories, and governance systems. Their communities continue to thrive today, upholding rich cultural traditions while facing modern challenges and opportunities.
In addition, London is home to a diverse urban Indigenous population from many Nations across Turtle Island. Indigenous peoples continue to shape the city’s cultural, social, educational, and economic life, contributing to a shared future grounded in respect, recognition, and reconciliation.
