The Town of Devon is committed to working together with all Indigenous Peoples of Treaty Six territory and Treaty people throughout the land. We commit to genuine and meaningful engagement as well as the implementation of cultural awareness training and learning opportunities for staff, council, and residents of the Town. We recognize that reconciliation cannot happen without action, which is why we will begin to recognize and implement applicable TRC Calls to Action within the community and within our municipal governance structure.
We will continue to work with all Indigenous communities, Elders and leaders within Treaty Six territory and beyond to ensure that our engagement is transparent, inclusive, genuine, and collaborative. We recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples of Treaty Six and the inherent rights of all Indigenous Peoples. Through collaboration and meaningful relationships, we solemnly commit to working with Indigenous Peoples to help build a safer, sustainable and inclusive community for the future.
In the spirit of Treaty and true reconciliation, the Town of Devon is implementing various initiatives surrounding Indigenous Engagement, cultural awareness, and learning opportunities for all municipal leadership, town staff and residents.
Reconciliation and relationship-building doesn’t happen overnight, and only by creating long term objectives and practicing genuine intent can the town move forward in developing long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous Nations and peoples of Treaty Six and other territories.
We have begun the relationship building process with many Nations of Treaty Six territory and will continue to do so with the spirit and intent of Treaty.
Devon is also beginning to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action.
Learn more about how Devon is renewing the Treaty Six relationship here
The Town of Devon acknowledges the land we are on, Treaty Six territory, which encompasses the traditional and current lands and territories of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Stoney Nakota Sioux, Anishinaabe, and Métis peoples, who are the legal caretakers and water protectors of this land, and who have been here since time immemorial.
We also acknowledge that Devon sits within the traditional lands and territories of papastayo and maskêkosihk First Nations. We, as a community within these territories shall work to uphold our Treaty obligations to all Treaty Six peoples and continue to work together with all Nations towards a better future together.
All Town of Devon citizens are residents within Treaty Six territory and the current townsite sits within the traditional territories of maskêkosihk (Enoch Cree Nation) and papaschase First Nation, with the area having been used by many other nations and Indigenous peoples prior to Treaty and prior to the development of Devon.
The Town of Devon will continue to uphold the Truth and Reconciliation commission of Canada Calls to Action and will strive towards developing and maintaining genuine relationships and collaboration between First Nations and Métis people and communities of Treaty Six territory and all of Alberta all while acknowledging and upholding Treaty rights, the Duty to consult, and genuine reconciliation.
The Town of Devon has outlined four key areas of focus within the Indigenous Engagement Initiative which includes:
To establish effective and genuine networks and relationships with Treaty Six Nations and communities
To work collaboratively with Indigenous peoples (Leadership, Elders, and community members) and local residents to become a leader in genuine Indigenous Engagement initiatives and reconciliation.
Continue development of Indigenous cultural awareness initiatives, programs and events through education and training targeted at community and municipal leadership.
To develop and implement open dialogue within the community and surrounding Indigenous Nations. Communicate messaging relating to positive cultural and community impacts of Devon’s Indigenous Engagement initiatives.