As part of the CEDI program pilot phase (2013-2016), the Stronger Together approach was developed in collaboration with participating First Nation-municipal partnerships, creating a community-informed four-stage approach to First Nation-municipal partnership development and collaborative planning. The process is designed to strengthen the relationships among the communities through an ongoing cycle of convening, listening and uniting. The circle and braid hold the framework in place and represent how the weaving together of different communities makes them healthier, more resilient and stronger together.
The four stages of the Stronger Together approach are briefly outlined below.
Stage A: Connect: First Nations and municipalities meet, begin to engage in learning with and from each other, challenge assumptions and expand understanding, identify shared community development priorities, and commit to establishing a partnership.
Stage B: Vision: First Nations and municipalities continue to engage in shared learning, identify shared values and vision, engage their communities, and collaboratively define community economic development priorities.
Stage C: Decide: First Nations and municipalities decide on a joint community economic development initiative to work on together, develop a strategic plan and work plans as required, identify funding as required and set up a governance structure to manage implementation.
Stage D: Act: First Nations and municipalities work together to implement the joint community economic development initiative work plan, engage community members, stakeholders, and funders, create partnership agreements as directed by the partnership and joint initiative, and plan for partnership resiliency.
As the diagram illustrates, communities connect and reconnect in a fluid way as new staff members and elected officials join the process, and as the partnership overcomes challenges and works towards shared opportunities. They move through the cycle of (re)connecting, visioning, deciding, and acting multiple times as their relationship strengthens and as their joint initiatives advance. As this relationship becomes a partnership, different projects and priorities emerge.
Many municipalities and First Nations want to collaborate but do not know where to start. There may be big differences in the communities’ legal rights, economic conditions, demographics, cultures, and how they govern themselves.
The Stronger Together Toolkit offers step-by-step suggestions on how to bridge differences so partners can find new ways to work together for mutual prosperity.
This brochure provides a quick reference to the Toolkit and joint economic development. Download, share or print it and talk about it with colleagues, council or a neighbouring community to begin a discussion on First Nation-municipal collaboration.
