The Wolastoq Declaration on Indigenous Evaluation: Honouring, Protecting, and Mobilizing Indigenous Knowledge

A Historic Gathering by the Wolastoq River

​On May 8, 2024, as the waters of the Wolastoq River flowed gently past Ekpahak (Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada), a significant milestone in Indigenous evaluation was achieved. In conjunction with the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) Conference 2024, a diverse group of global Indigenous evaluators and allies gathered to craft the Wolastoq Declaration on Indigenous Evaluation. This living document is a collective commitment to honouring Indigenous rights, protecting knowledge sovereignty, and mobilizing traditional paradigms in evaluation. The Declaration was developed through dialogue, ceremony, and reflection, deeply rooted in the cultural significance of place and the relationships formed during the Indigenous Evaluation Gathering.

Honouring the Land and the River ​

The Wolastoq River—meaning “the beautiful and bountiful river” in the Maliseet language—has sustained the Wolastoqiyik (People of the Beautiful River) for generations. This sacred waterway, central to their identity and survival, served as the spiritual and physical grounding for the gathering. Participants honoured the river and the land and their stewards, acknowledging the Wabanaki Confederacy and the deep histories embedded in the territory. ​The Indigenous Evaluation Gathering before the CES Conference was more than an academic event—it was an embodied experience of Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Participants engaged in discussions about self-determination in evaluation, the need to decolonize methodologies, and the importance of ethical and culturally responsive approaches. ​Following these immersive experiences, a final debriefing session was held after the CES Conference. Here, reflections were gathered, and the seeds of the Wolastoq Declaration were planted.

The Wolastoq Declaration: A Commitment to Indigenous Evaluation

The Wolastoq Declaration on Indigenous Evaluation is not just a statement of principles—it is a call to action. It affirms that evaluation should serve Indigenous Peoples on their own terms, grounded in their knowledge systems, worldviews, and values. The Declaration is a powerful tool for:

• Advocacy – Raising awareness about the importance of Indigenous-led evaluation at local, national, and international levels.
• Policy Influence – Informing governments, funders, and institutions about the ethical and cultural responsibilities of evaluating Indigenous programs and initiatives.  
• Capacity Building – Strengthening the skills and networks of Indigenous evaluators by providing a guiding framework for Indigenous evaluation.
• Community Empowerment – Ensuring that evaluation processes honour Indigenous ways of knowing, fostering reciprocity, respect, and relational accountability.

The Wolastoq Declaration is a living document, designed to evolve through continued collaboration among Indigenous peoples and allies. It invites all those committed to ethical, meaningful, and culturally responsive Indigenous evaluation to join in its implementation.

​As we move forward, the question remains: How can we, as evaluators, policymakers, and community members, ensure that Indigenous voices are not just included, but centred in evaluation? The journey does not end here. It continues on the land, by the rivers, in the ceremonies, and through the relationships we nurture.

 Let us honour. Let us protect. Let us mobilize.