Case study
City of Montréal’s Service de la culture
A partnership based on mutual respect and shared values
From January 2021 to June 2022, Mikana supported the City of Montréal’s Service de la culture in an initiative aimed at strengthening decolonization and promoting respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. This work was part of a program to raise awareness and train employees to improve their interactions with Indigenous communities.
The main objectives were to:
Sensitize employees to the realities of Indigenous Peoples.
Develop decolonization skills and greater respect for Indigenous rights.
Promote safe and respectful cultural practices.
Build concrete tools to improve collaboration with Indigenous creators.
Awareness-Building
Collaboration
Decolonization
Native art
Support Services by Mikana
Training and Awareness
City of Montreal
Training and Education on Indigenous Realities
As part of this initiative, 72 people were trained in the basics of the realities of Indigenous Peoples. Furthermore, 29 people deepened their knowledge on various specialized topics, such as project development and mentoring, territory, communication and collaboration, offering services with the Montréal Indigenous Community Network, and cultural safety.
Tangible results and a sustainable initiative
Mikana’s support has enabled the City of Montréal’s Service de la culture to make significant progress in terms of awareness, training and collaboration with Indigenous communities. Tangible results, such as the fact sheet and the deployment of projects in collaboration with several Indigenous organizations, testify to the lasting impact of this initiative.
Establishing a community of practice
A community of practice was established, including representatives from each sector of the Service de la culture. This community has served as a platform for:
Exchanging ideas.
Sharing experiences.
Developing joint strategies.
One of the tangible results of this support was the creation of a fact sheet to guide collaboration with Indigenous creators. This document presents practical advice and best practices to ensure respectful and fruitful interactions.
Projects specifically aimed at Indigenous creators were also developed. These aim to integrate and promote Indigenous art and cultures in the city’s public art initiatives, recognizing and celebrating the contribution of Indigenous artists.
People trained
Training sessions
Thematic workshops
Consultations
Download our cultural collaboration fact sheet
From January 2021 to June 2022, Mikana collaborated with the City of Montréal’s Service de la Culture to redefine their programs and initiatives for Indigenous creators. This project has given rise to a community of practice within the Service, enabling the sharing of experiences and the development of bonds of trust between Indigenous Peoples and the cultural institutions.
This document is packed with best practices for collaboration, valuing Indigenous cultures, developing cultural projects, and much more.
Forging lasting ties with Indigenous communities
As a public cultural institution, the Service de la culture is committed to supporting the narrative sovereignty of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. Thanks to Mikana, we’ve explored new avenues of collaboration. These meetings, based on exchange and respect, demonstrated the importance of forging and maintaining compassionate relationships, imbued with sensitivity and humility. It is through this learning process that the City hopes to establish a relationship of trust and reciprocity with Montréal’s Indigenous community.
Learn more
Another concrete example of our work
Relationship between Collège Ahuntsic & Mikana
Since 2018, Mikana has been collaborating with Collège Ahuntsic on indigenization, raising community awareness of Indigenous realities while co-developing workshops and educational resources.
Together, we can make a difference.
