Engaging Elders & Cultural Protocols

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

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

Quebec

Source: University of Concordia

Newfoundland & Labrador

Source: Memorial University of Newfoundland

Non-site Specific