Community leaders will sit down with the goal of developing the city's UNDRIP Implementation Plan.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) summit is on Thursday, May 29 at the Lambton College Event Centre.
City Council Representative Brian White said the event will feature an overview of the UNDRIP, the working group, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, alongside the opportunity for small group discussion.
"The UNDRIP Working Group has been looking to have a work plan to make recommendations to city council in regards to policy and ongoing relation with our First Nation communities and Indigenous residents within the city of Sarnia," said White.
He said he's looking forward to a robust conversation.
"Organizations like police, social service agencies, health care and the like who have direct interactions with Indigenous folks on a regular basis are able to participate in this conversation," said White. "We feel incredibly important that anyone who has those valued relations and interactions with Indigenous folks are not only there to share their experiences and give feedback, but also to participate in the learning."
White said some of the priorities they've heard over the years include language, the actual relationship themselves and the idea of consultation and respecting our first nation neighbours.
"What we're really hearing now is that a lot of the decisions that the city makes does have an impact on our neighbouring communities, as well as Indigenous members within the community. It's important for us to understand how the city's decisions and the way that we conduct our business impacts those folks."
The local UNDRIP Working Group formed in 2018.