AMP Consultation and Timeline
Indigenous Communities Engagement and Consultation
The County of Simcoe is covered by several Treaties related to the period of land cessions in Southern Ontario, beginning in the last half of the eighteenth century and ending with the 1923 Williams Treaties. The Treaties are between the Crown and the seven Williams Treaties Nations, which include: Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation, and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. Treaty No. 5, Treaty No. 16, Treaty No. 18, Treaty No. 20, the Williams Treaties, and the John Collins Purchase are described and shown in Section 11 of the AMP document.
Simcoe County is the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat Nation, the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (within and west of the Nottawasaga River watershed) and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (Humber Watershed). Simcoe County is also within the traditional harvesting territory of the Georgian Bay Traditional Territory Métis and is the home of the historic Métis community in Penetanguishene.
Beginning in November, 2017, the County and Archaeological Services Inc. (ASI) contacted various Indigenous communities with known or suspected rights or interest in Simcoe County to advise them of the initiation of the AMP Project and to obtain their initial comments on a draft AMP Terms of Reference.
The list of rights-bearing Indigenous communities contacted is included in Appendix A to the AMP Terms of Reference. The County and ASI has had on-going dialogue with many of the Indigenous communities since the commencement of the Project. Furthermore, the County and ASI have met with many of the identified Indigenous communities in February and March of 2018, to provide information relating to the Project and to obtain their input into the development of the AMP, including information regarding First Nation cultural ties, traditional territories and historic knowledge of Simcoe County. The County is committed to continuing the discussion we have started with the Indigenous communities regarding the AMP Project, including the development of the archaeological potential mapping and policies that will conserve and protect this area’s rich cultural heritage and archaeological features and sites. Additional meetings with Indigenous communities were held in November and December 2018, and October 2019.
Study Process and Timeline
Indigenous community engagement and consultation: On-going throughout project
Steering Committee meetings were held on January 29, 2018, June 27, 2018, and December 12, 2018.
County and ASI staff met with representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (now Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries), Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (now Ministry of Indigenous Affairs) and Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Public Open Houses: Spring open houses were held on May 31, 2018 and June 4-6, 2018. Fall open houses were held November 5-8, 2018.
A meeting with the planners from the County’s 16 member municipalities was held on August 14, 2018.
The County presented the AMP project to the BILD Simcoe Chapter membership on February 8, 2019.
County Planning Staff met with the Town of Midland’s Indigenous Relations Committee in February 2019 to provide a presentation on the AMP project and to answer any questions they had.
The final draft AMP document dated October 2019 was presented to Committee of the Whole on November 12, 2019 and was endorsed by County Council on December 4, 2019.