Blog post #14: Etiquette When Visiting Indigenous Communities

I was asked what etiquette to follow when visiting an Indigenous community. Etiquette refers to the customary practices for polite and respectful behaviour in society. We learn to say “Thank you!” and not interrupt when someone is speaking. Or offer help to someone in need. We learn etiquette very early in our lives within our family circle, between friends and in our social networks. But, does expected etiquette differ between different Indigenous cultures or between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures? The answers are yes and yes.

When visiting an Indigenous community, etiquette is an essential part of engagement. Practising proper etiquette is essential to ensure that your visit is welcome, respectful, and culturally sensitive.

I approach Indigenous etiquette with caution. It is easy to stereotype a culture using general statements and observations. Recall that my experiences and learnings come primarily from many visits to remote (fly-in) First Nations communities located across Ontario’s far north. Those communities comprise three different Nations: Ojibwe, Oji-Cree, and Cree.

Etiquette norms are common to many different cultures, but the way they are expressed may look and feel very different between communities and places. Etiquette also differs across people’s ages. A child likely displays their etiquette very differently compared to an elder.

Therefore, your etiquette experiences will likely differ from mine, depending on the community you visit, its geographic location, the nation it belongs to, and whom you engage with.

I address the topic of etiquette using the following headings: a) general advice; b) visit and meeting preparation; c) meeting; d) community events; e) culture, including traditional knowledge; and f) relationship maintenance.

A) General advice:

- Do not stereotype a culture;

- Take time to learn;

- You are a guest – come with an open mind and heart and a willingness to learn;

Photo 1: Lori Churchill (Ontario Geological Survey Community Engagement Liaison person at the time) arriving as a guest at the administration office, Fort Severn, in the homeland of Wasaho Cree Nation. The community of Fort Severn is located a few kilometres south of Hudson Bay, Ontario, Canada. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, Dec. 8, 2004.

- Be respectful. Be humble. Treat others the way you want to be treated;

- Each community is different – expect differences in etiquette between communities;

- Always ask – never assume;

- Learn to listen more than you speak. Try to understand by asking questions before offering opinions; and

- Embrace the experience.

B) Visit and meeting preparations:

- Planning: Obtain permission to visit, schedule the meeting, jointly set an agenda, and jointly develop a visit plan. Work with your community contact to explain your purpose and find a mutually convenient time for those who need or want to attend the meeting. Always have an alternate plan in case the meeting or visit must be deferred.

- Language: Choose your words carefully to avoid misunderstandings, potential conflict, and unintentionally insulting Indigenous people. For example, First Nations are not stakeholders and may not be clients. They are nations and expect to be treated as such, equal to a nation like Canada. Referring to a First Nation as a client or stakeholder is very poor etiquette, is considered an insult in some communities and is likely to trigger conflict (see Chapter A10 Nation-To-Nation Equality in my book Walking Together). Also, I discuss the risks and poor etiquette of using words like partnership or opportunity in chapters A9 Words Matter, Meanings May Differ and A11 Opportunities and Threats. Indigenous communities may have very different understandings of what these words mean and you are likely to create misunderstandings by using them. I generally avoid the use of the words partnership and opportunity.

Every community I visited encouraged us to learn a few words in their dialect (Photo 2), such as thank you, hello, it is a nice day, it is windy, how are you, my name is. Attempting to learn a few words in an Indigenous language shows respect. What’s more, when you learn another person’s language you appreciate the impact it has on you when a non-English speaker speaks to you in your language. Don’t use outdated or offensive terms, like “Indian.” However, there are exceptions, such as when referring to the Indian Act. Use “Indigenous,” “First Nations,” “Inuit,” “Métis,” or the specific Nation’s name, such as Webequie First Nation. I created my own glossary and used it regularly at meetings, feasts, and on the street while walking around.

Photo 2: Chief Scott Jacob (left, RIP) explains the use of syllabics to Kathy Nosich (centre; at the time, communication director of Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines) and Andrew Mcdonald (right; at the time, legal director of Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines). Photo composed by Andy Fyon, in the fly-in community of Webequie, in the homeland of Webequie First Nation, Ontario, Canada, October 21, 2004.

C) Meeting:

- Communication style: Learn the communication styles of the community you visit, such as direct or indirect answers and pausing. Some communities value direct answers. Others see indirect communication as a sign of politeness. Others see pausing before responding as a sign of thoughtfulness. Others see pausing as hesitation, uncertainty, or weakness. We must learn to listen, speak when asked or when necessary, communicate our intent and ask questions to clarify the intent of the Indigenous person.

- Elders’ role: NEVER interrupt an elder. An Elder(s) may attend the meeting and may offer advice and direction in English or in their Indigenous language. Elders (Photo 3) have the highest respect of the community. Elders may pause several times during their delivery. Many of us respond to silence with a comment. Resist that temptation. Simply observe and listen.

Photo 3: Left: Andy Fyon (director, Ontario Geological Survey) and Elder Harry Semple, at a community information session, in the school gym, Kasabonika Lake, in the homeland of Kasabonika Lake First Nation, Ontario, Canada, July 11, 2012. Photo by Lori Churchill (Ontario Geological Survey at the time).

- Spiritual or cultural ceremony: A meeting may start with a spiritual ceremony, such as a smudge or a prayer. Show respect for these ceremonies. That does not mean you have to participate in the spiritual activities if the ceremony violates your spiritual belief or affiliation. I have seen an Indigenous Grand Chief step back from an Indigenous spiritual ceremony because the ceremony did not align with his Christian beliefs, yet the Grand Chief was not chastised.

- Titles and roles: In some communities, titles are commonly used, especially at the start of engagement, as a show of respect. I always address an Elder as Elder and a Chief as Chief, until we feel comfortable with one another or I have been asked by the person to use their first name.

- Gift exchange: Discuss gift exchange etiquette, practices and protocols with the community contact person you met during the early engagement stages because the exchange of gifts is a cultural practice among all the Indigenous communities I visited. Ask about the cultural protocols associated with a gift exchange, since traditions vary between communities. Gifts are shared with visitors, especially at a first-time meeting, a community feast, or if your travel companions include very senior people, like a CEO, president, vice-president, or government minister. Gifts are sometimes given as special recognition of a visitor’s commitment to the community. The gift given to you may be a coffee cup, T-shirt, pen or small flag bearing the First Nations logo; or it could be moccasins, a hat or a leather vest, or a painting or other craft made in the community. Under exceptional circumstances, you may be gifted with an Eagle feather, which is a great honour and one that holds deep spiritual and cultural significance. If you are gifted with an Eagle feather, recognize this to be a powerful expression of trust, recognition, and respect. Graciously accept the gift and then offer the gift you brought to give to the recipient. Some of the gifts that we offered included fruit (see Chapter B5 Kids and Fruit), picture books describing Ontario, and cash to support a community function or service.

Photo 4: The honourable minister Rick Bartolucci, Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, receives a dream catcher gift from youth representatives of Kasabonika Lake First Nation, in the community of Kasabonika Lake, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Andy Fyon, May 27, 2005.

D) Community events:

- When invited, participate in community events (Photo 5), such as feasts, gatherings, or an evening of fishing. Events such as these teach you new things and the community members will respect your interest in their culture (see Chapter B8 Celebrate).

Photo 5: Tony Moonias (RIP) and Charlotte Baxter dancing a jig during an evening community social event in the remote community of Fort Hope, in the homeland of Eabametoong First Nation, Ontario, Canada. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, July19, 2005.

- Food etiquette: When offered, sample local foods. I declined the offer of a watermelon slice made by a camp cook from Selkirk First Nation (Yukon). I justified my decision to myself, knowing how expensive watermelon was and that they only had a limited quantity. The Elder took me aside and told me I had insulted the cook. Indigenous etiquette may be driven by factors that seem foreign to us. If you have dietary issues, mention them and decline the food – that is not poor etiquette. Wait, observe or follow the lead of others around you before eating in case a ceremony is performed first, including food offerings to spirits or ancestors, a prayer offered by an Elder, a speech or two, and a welcome. In all communities I visited, Elders were served first, followed by guests. During a feast, offer to help serve Elders and community members (Photo 6). After the feast, offer to help clean up.

Photo 6: Deputy Minister, Sue Herbert (centre of row on right, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines at the time) with Chief Charlie Okeese (RIP; back left) and Ida Yesno (back right) serve cake to members of Eabametoong First Nation during a feast to recognize the visit by the deputy minister to the remote community of Fort Hope, in the homeland of Eabametoong First Nation. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, October 22, 2004.

E) Culture, including traditional knowledge:

- Sacred and special spaces: What’s considered sacred or special land may vary among Indigenous communities, but all have sacred or special lands (see Chapter C23 A Happy Place with Snakes and Little People; Photo 7). Always disclose the geographic areas you hope to visit, ask for permission to access those lands and, if access is granted, ask if there are conditions that apply. In my experience, non-Indigenous people are not likely to recognize sacred or special lands. Some communities restrict access to sacred and special lands, especially for people from outside the community. If access is granted, there may be ceremonial protocols or conditions to your access. If you choose to access without permission, be aware that this is considered poor etiquette and may have legal implications if you infringe upon a treaty or Indigenous right.

Photo 7: Norm Baxter (left), Chief Eli Moonias (centre with back to camera), and Lori Churchill (Ontario Geological Survey Indigenous Liason person at the time) stand on part of the rock area, which is designated as a special site, located in the Albany Rivey, in the homeland of Marten Falls First Nation, Ontario, Canada. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, July 26, 2002.

- Traditional knowledge: Traditional knowledge is generally guarded by a knowledge keeper who may keep the knowledge to themselves. You have to earn the right to learn about local traditional knowledge. Having earned the right to learn about the knowledge does NOT give you the right to use it.

- Eye contact: Until you get to know a community, be aware of eye contact. In some communities, eye contact is expected and failure to establish eye contact is considered submissive or weak. In others, especially for Elders, eye contact may be employed minimally or considered impolite.

- Greeting etiquette: The practice of shaking hands is very common. In some communities, handshakes are discouraged between different genders. In others, handshakes are just not necessary. I learned to be very careful about extending a hug. Unless initiated by the Indigenous person, don’t hug, especially if you are male and the person you might hug is female. This is likely standard practice in your organization and not unique to Indigenous communities.

- Photos and recordings: ALWAYS ask permission to compose a photo and ALWAYS disclose where the photo will appear, why you want to compose it, and how it will be used. Even if you see someone else composing photos, ask permission, because that other person may have earned the right to compose photos – you have not. Some communities are very protective of their oral traditions, ceremonial events, and ceremonial items such as an Eagle feather, a pipe, regalia, or a smudge ceremony. Composing photographs of these items and ceremonies is considered poor etiquette and perhaps offensive. Also, some people are shy for many reasons and don’t want their picture composed. Some people, typically, but not exclusively, Elders, equate the act of taking their photo with violating spiritual norms. In Chapter B9 A Photo is So Much More Than a Photo, I discuss in detail the composition of photos in a community.

Photo 8: As a visitor, be respectful where and when you compose photographs. Always ask permission. I was invited to attend this deeply emotional community event where seven trees were planted at Peewannakang, a special site to recognize the pain and suffering and deaths experienced by residential school attendees. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, Winisk Lake area, in the homeland of the Webequie First Nations, August 23, 2012.

F) Relationship maintenance: Maintain and build the relationship by leaving a good impression. When your meeting or visit with that First Nation is finished, thank your hosts, the leaders, and anyone who attended and shared knowledge or spent time with you. Maintain the relationship by remaining in touch or follow up with a gesture of appreciation.

April 22, 2025