Haudenosaunee Development Institute

Headquartered in Six Nations of the Grand River, the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) was established in 2007 by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) to manage and regulate land development within Haudenosaunee territories. These territories are defined but not limited to the Haldimand Proclamation and the 1701 Treaty Area. The HDI’s primary mission is to ensure that all development aligns with the cultural and environmental values of the Haudenosaunee people, which includes the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations. Operating under the guidance of the HCCC, the HDI manages a regulatory framework designed to protect sacred Haudenosaunee sites along with all natural habitats located in Haudenosaunee territories. This framework includes the Haudenosaunee Green Plan and the Haudenosaunee Development Protocol, which outline specific guidelines for responsible and sustainable development. The HDI works with developers to ensure that projects respect the land, particularly sites of cultural significance and ecosystems vital to the community's way of life. The HDI’s goals focus on preserving access to traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering areas, protecting endangered species, safeguarding wetlands, and maintaining the health of watersheds. They aim to ensure that any development contributes positively to the environment and local communities, often requiring developers to adopt green practices and minimize ecological disruption before breaking ground. By upholding these values, the Haudenosaunee Development Institute ensures that all new developments undertaken on Haudenosaunee land respect their heritage and sustain the well-being of both the people and the land for future generations.