Through the Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Accord Initiative, the Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Aff airs Committee (EAUAC) and the City of Edmonton initiated the Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Dialogue Process in 2005. The Dialogue process is supported by the Government of Canada (Western Economic Diversifi cation), the Province of Alberta (Aboriginal Aff airs and Northern Development) and the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund (EHTF). It is directed by the Accord Initiative Steering Committee, guided by the Accord Initiative Elders Circle and supported by people working for the City (both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal). Community members also participated in the formation and design of the Dialogue process.
From July 2005 to early December 2005, the Dialogue process engaged over 1800 people from across the Aboriginal communities. The purpose of the Dialogue process was to create opportunities for participants to share their perspectives on the key issues facing Urban Aboriginal people while also sparking their imaginations around “what could be” in terms of new ways of working together. One of the key goals was to explore interest in the development of a principle-based agreement — an “Accord” — establishing a renewed relationship based on trust and mutual respect between the City of Edmonton and First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Non-Status people living in Edmonton.