Review, Repair, Release are three calls to government to address the inaccuracy and inaccessibility of the Ontario Archaeological Sites Database (OASD)

Toronto, ON – The Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) will appear at the Ontario Archaeological Society (OAS) Symposium on October 24 to call for urgent reforms to the province’s flawed archaeological records system.

HDI will present “Review, Repair, Release”, a three-pronged proposal to address serious inaccuracies in the Ontario Archaeological Sites Database (OASD), improve accountability, and ensure that Onkwehón:we (Indigenous) Nations have access to information about their own cultural heritage.

The provincial database contains archaeological records for sites that are Onkwehón:we in origin but has long been plagued by inaccurate and incomplete information. In some cases, archaeological sites have been recorded in the database that are hundreds of metres away from their actual locations.

These errors can leave important Onkwehón:we cultural and burial sites vulnerable to destruction, trigger unnecessary archaeological investigations, delay development, and impose substantial financial burdens on unsuspecting property owners. As the Province moves to accelerate archaeological report approvals without addressing systemic issues in the OASD, accurate records, transparent review and timely access to information become even more important.

“This is a system that is failing everyone,” said HDI delegate Aaron Detlor. “The Haudenosaunee are denied access to information about our own heritage, archaeologists are forced to rely on inaccurate records, and homeowners can find themselves facing enormous costs because of information that should have been identified long before they purchased their property.”

HDI’s proposal calls upon the Ontario government to:

• REVIEW the mechanisms that allow archaeological reports to be accepted despite inaccurate information or failures to meet Onkwehón:we engagement requirements.
• REPAIR the Ontario Archaeological Sites database by correcting inaccurate site locations, incomplete records, and other errors that compromise archaeological protection and land-use decisions.
• RELEASE archaeological records through responsible, controlled access to Onkwehón:we Nations, allowing them to review information concerning their cultural heritage and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lands.

The need for reform has become more urgent due to new provincial legislation, such as Bill 5, The Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, which allows exemptions from certain heritage protections in designated Special Economic Zones. This means that decisions about applying archaeological protections may increasingly depend upon a database whose accuracy is already in question.

HDI will be joined by homeowners who have experienced firsthand the consequences of Ontario’s flawed archaeological regulatory system. Their experience raises broader questions about why homeowners bear the costs of protecting archaeological heritage when the provincial government and planning authorities are responsible for identifying and managing these risks.

“The protection of our ancestors and cultural heritage is not negotiable,” said Detlor. “But homeowners should not be financially devastated by the failures of the provincial system. We are offering practical solutions that protect archaeological sites, respect Haudenosaunee jurisdiction, and provide greater clarity and fairness for everyone.”

HDI will outline their proposal and join affected homeowners in discussing the need for reform during the Ontario Archaeological Society Symposium on October 24.

Media Availability
Location: St. Lawrence Hall, 157 King St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1G9 – East Hall
Date: Saturday, October 24th 2026
Time: 3:00-3:30

Media Contact:
Name: Katia Galati
Email: katia@hdito.com