Above photo: A rendering of plans for the Clan Mothers Healing Village’s Knowledge Center. Image courtesy Clan Mothers Healing Village.
A self-government village development in Canada shows how traditional ecological knowledge can shape urban planning.
We gather around the dinner table as one of the participants starts a smudge ceremony. Among us are three women who transitioned out of the sex trade more than 20 years ago. They carry the deep scars of their pasts, including Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which shapes how they navigate our meetings.
They only speak with those they trust. Their triggers — such as needing to sit where they can see everything — are reminders of how trauma shapes their lives. We know these conversations will touch on their past, but only at a pace they set. To rush would mean losing their trust.
We’re here to meet the Lived Experience Council for the Clan Mothers Healing Village, an Indigenous-led development in Manitoba that engages and supports women and two-spirit individuals who have survived trafficking and sexual violence.
These survivors, many in the process of transitioning out of the sex trade, encounter immense barriers — challenges compounded by historical injustices neglected by conventional urban planning. Under the guidance of Indigenous Elders from Turtle Island, we aim to establish a self-governed, land-based village that draws upon ancestral wisdom to meet these survivors’ needs.
To reach true equity, we must go beyond providing equal opportunities: We must also work toward rectifying decades of injustice by integrating Indigenous communities’ wisdom and sovereignty in every step of the planning process.
The Clan Mothers Healing Village is one of many groundbreaking examples of how Indigenous-led environmental planning can help build more inclusive, just and sustainable communities. By honoring Indigenous communities’ wisdom and sovereignty in every step of the process, urban planning can promote equity, reconciliation and healing.
Rooted in Indigenous values
Indigenous matrilineal values, economic reconciliation and land reclamation are at the heart of the healing village’s development.
The Clan Mothers lead the process, ensuring that everything from design to execution reflects Indigenous principles. The physical layout of the village promotes accessibility and safety, both psychological and physical. It celebrates Indigenous culture and a deep connection to the land.
The village will be built upon land that was returned to the Clan Mothers by a church organization, which previously ran a youth camp on the site. The village will rely on green energy and responsible resource use while offering social enterprises to promote financial independence and partnerships that build skills and career readiness.
Central to the project is a trauma-informed engagement process. The Elders’ Council, Lived Experience Experts and social enterprise experts are all involved in the planning and design of the village, working alongside survivors participating in skills development programs. Engagements are guided by Indigenous women and informed by principles of trauma care, ensuring that the pace and structure of conversations are sensitive to the needs of survivors.
This approach involves various engagement strategies: surveys, focus groups, one-on-one conversations and gatherings on the land. By honoring lived experiences and creating safe spaces for dialogue, the Clan Mothers Healing Village ensures that marginalized voices are heard and respected.
Municipal relations and allyships
One key challenge in realizing this vision was securing permissions from the Rural Municipality of Alexander, the Manitoba town where the village is located.
Municipal authorities had to understand the vision for the village, and the Clan Mothers worked diligently to address their concerns related to safety, programming and land use. The two groups came from different worldviews, and careful consideration was required to build understanding. Over time, trust grew through ongoing dialogue, and municipal officials were invited to ceremonies on the land to understand the Clan Mothers’ vision better.
The Clan Mothers have also built strategic partnerships with various professional service providers, including land use planners, environmental experts, architects, designers, construction companies and tradespeople. These partnerships allow for the exchange of knowledge and skills, helping to create economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples.
All partners are required to spend time on the land, to build a personal connection to the project. The aim is to ensure that all involved work in harmony with both the land and the people who will soon call the village home.
A blueprint for urban equity
The Clan Mothers Healing Village serves as a model for how municipalities and urban planners can work in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations to foster equity, sustainability and reconciliation.
For municipalities seeking to build more inclusive and respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples, we leave you with three considerations:
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Anti-oppression and reconciliation strategies: Municipalities can create comprehensive reconciliation strategies that go beyond token engagement, incorporating Indigenous laws, engagement practices and economic partnerships. This requires deep collaboration with Indigenous leaders and communities to ensure that municipal practices reflect Indigenous priorities.
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Adapting municipal laws: Municipal laws often conflict with Indigenous legal frameworks and customs. Building awareness and respect for Indigenous laws — such as the Manito Aki Inakonigaawin (the Great Earth Law), which guides how the Anishinaabeg people approach land use — can foster better collaboration and create more respectful and equitable development processes.
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Developing trauma-informed engagement: Municipalities should understand the diverse backgrounds and needs of their constituents, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents. A trauma-informed engagement strategy, rooted in principles of safety, trust, empowerment, agency and collaboration, is essential for bringing marginalized voices into the planning process and ensuring that their needs are addressed.
By engaging with Indigenous-led projects like Clan Mothers Healing Village, municipalities can develop a deeper understanding of compassionate and effective urban planning. Establishing partnerships with Indigenous organizations, academic institutions and Indigenous advisory boards, as well as fostering continuous professional development for planners and designers, will support this crucial shift in thinking.