The Government of Ontario’s Bill 5 — dubbed the “Protecting Ontario by Unleashing its Economy Act”— isn’t just a reckless step toward unchecked development. It’s a sweeping attack on Haudenosaunee rights, environmental protections, and democratic governance in Ontario. For the Haudenosaunee, it signals a dangerous regression — one where colonialism is repackaged as “economic growth,” and where […]
On May 5th, 2025, as we mark Red Dress Day across Turtle Island, we are confronted with the painful reality that consent remains unequally applied in Canada—both for Indigenous women and for Indigenous nations. The hanging red dresses that will adorn trees, buildings, and clothing today symbolize more than just the thousands of Missing and […]
Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, recognizes and affirms the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Bill 5, the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act,” directly violates these constitutional protections by disregarding the Two Row Wampum principle of non-interference and the Silver Covenant Chain agreements that establish peace, friendship, […]
The Haudenosaunee Development Institute is calling the bill an ‘unconstitutional rebranding of colonialism and a Trump-style blueprint for dispossession.
April 25, 2025, Haudenosaunee Territory – The Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act (Bill 5), introduced last week by the Ford government, constitutes a sweeping assault on constitutionally protected Indigenous rights by circumventing the obligation to consult Indigenous nations and eliminating pathways for legal recourse. This undoing of decades of progress in Indigenous reconciliation […]
In celebration of Earth Day, HDI’s environmental monitoring program is giving away free trees to the community! Our goal is to provide more balance and green space in the environment and ensure that future generations have sustainable air quality. Come with your family and friends this Friday to pick up a tree and make a […]
Canadian court rules that Free, Prior and Informed Consent does not constitute consent in land development but instead a “right to a robust process.” The Federal Court’s recent ruling in Kebaowek First Nation v. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, 2025 FC 319, underscores ongoing systemic discrimination within Canada’s legal framework regarding Indigenous rights. The decision affirms that […]
The investigation of an Indigenous burial site discovered in Riverdale more than a year ago has been stalled by a breakdown in communication between the City of Toronto and a First Nation.
