In a council first, London city councillors will be meeting face-to-face with their counterparts from Oneida Nation of the Thames.
The inaugural council-to-council meeting will take place at the Oneida Community Centre at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The joint council meeting aims to build a stronger working relationship between the two communities.
"The City of London, and members of council are deeply committed to truth and reconciliation and fostering meaningful dialogue with Indigenous partners, including Oneida Nation of the Thames,” said London Mayor Josh Morgan. “This inaugural council to council meeting signifies a pivotal step towards building enduring relationships and open channels of communication, and transforming intentions into meaningful outcomes.”
Items on the meeting agenda include shared environmental concerns, housing initiatives for Oneida Nation members living in London, and collaboration on a requested change to the Municipal Act. The full agenda can be found at London.ca.
"By working together with openness, mutual respect, and a shared sense of purpose, we can overcome challenges and build stronger, prosperous communities," said Oneida Nation of the Thames Chief Todd Cornelius.
The council-to-council meeting will be live streamed on YouTube.