Thessalon First Nation Bio Centre: An Example of Economic Development Initiatives On-reserve

By Paige Sillaby, 1st year MDP student

Entrance to Ojibway community of Thessalon First Nation

The past couple of months, I have worked with Thessalon First Nation (TFN) on strategic planning for the diversification of their First Nation-owned Bio Centre. The Bio Centre is a huge community asset that has the capacity to produce plants and trees and can house several agricultural/forestry ventures simultaneously. Modern equipment and facilities include: a 6000 square foot refrigeration building, 17 climate controlled greenhouse, 42 ha (100 acres) of property in total, and on-site lab equipment/ instruments just to name a few. However, only three of the 17 greenhouses are being used, and the Bio Centre is operating at a deficit.

 “There is pressure for increased economic opportunity, services, housing and amenities to help accommodate a greater proportion of the Band membership in the future” -Thessalon First Nation Community Plan

While I worked in various areas in the TFN economic development office, my main focus has been a diversification event, referred to as the TFN Bio Centre showcase. The showcase is intended to display information about different businesses so that TFN members may explore the Bio Centre’s potential and bring in partners, potential investors, funders and vendors. It is crucial to TFN members that business ventures align with their community values.

“Thessalon First Nation Bio Centre has the potential to be developed with the right partnerships. Economic viability and sustainability for our Bio Centre has always been our goal.” -Chief Alfred Bisaillon

 

TFN Bio Centre greenhouse facilities

There have been numerous pre-feasibility and feasibility studies conducted on potential TFN Bio Centre business ventures. However, the Bio Centre remains largely underutilized. This is because of the overarching barriers towards economic development on reserve. Some barriers that are specific to the Bio Centre include; unequal access to tree seedling markets, exclusion from local contracts, issues of capacity for business ventures but also the ‘procurement.’ Procurement meaning the process for getting contracts and addressing; why is the Bio Centre being excluded?

During my placement with TFN, I learned about the role of the Ministry of Nation Resources and the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (MAA). The Federal government has a fiduciary duty to work in the best interest of Aboriginal peoples as is stated in the Sustainable Forestry License (SFL) set out in paragraph 20.1.  These obligations require Ontario and SFL holders to “work cooperatively with the Crown and the local Aboriginal communities’ in order to identify and implement ways of achieving a more equal participation by Aboriginal communities.”

There are political advocacy groups aligned within the First Nations community to assist them in government processes, for example, the Union of Ontario Indians: Anishinabek Nation (UOI). I was able to attend one of the leadership table meetings between the UOI and MAA. At the meeting it was echoed among the regional chiefs, that government policies are crucial for allowing Aboriginal peoples to be competitive and equal participants in natural resource markets.

While potential business ventures for TFN Bio Centre remains a working project, I wish the TFN economic department all the best in the planning of their showcase event on September 22, 2016.

History of Algoma University: Remembering the legacy of Shingwauk ‘Indian’ Residential School

By Paige Sillaby, 1st year MDP student

Shingwauk Hall, formerly the Shingwauk Indian Residential School

For my 1st MDP field placement I am working with Thessalon First Nation (TFN) and the NORDIK Institute at Algoma University (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario). 

Our collaborative project looks at diversification potential for the TFN Bio Centre. The Bio Centre is a green house facility that is currently underutilized. The First Nation is actively exploring options to develop this asset, including for a wild food storage and processing distribution hub. I have divided my time between  Algoma and TFN (approximately 1 hour east of the Sault).

One aspect of the placement that I am interested in exploring is the history of Algoma University. Three days out of the week I work out of the 5th floor of Shingwauk Hall. This is the main building on campus, and also the remaining structure of the Shingwauk Residential School building. In 1971, Algoma was seeking opportunity for growth thus moving into the former Shingwauk Residential School building, one year after the residential school closed its doors. Shingwauk and Spanish Indian Residential School, another school 2 hours away, took children from North Shore communities in Ontario and across Turtle Island.

Since being on campus, I have been able to go on a residential school tour. On this tour, I learnt that my office was the boys living quarters (although some people say it was the girls). And while the building has been renovated, there are still areas of the original building that remain, such as little cupboards found in hallways and stairwells that the children would hide in to keep safe. The reason for keeping these spaces was something that the survivors of the school wanted to keep on site. I think that it would be powerful to see these images, but I would not feel comfortable taking these images and sharing them… knowing what they were used for. I believe that some of these children’s spirits remain at the school.

Monument at the front of Algoma University for the children that never returned home

Another area that was kept on the campus grounds is the graveyard which is located at the back of the university. I tried to visit this site, but there are a lot of unmarked graves on campus. Another story that was told to me on the tour, talked about the water ways. The school faces onto Lake Huron. Residential school survivors explain that the water way was how they got dropped off at the school, and they would run to the water at night hoping to return home. There are bushes there now but years ago there was a clear path to the water.

A view from Shingwauk looking towards Lake Huron

It seems clear to me that Algoma and the city of Sault Ste. Marie have a long history with the Aboriginal peoples of the north shore of Lake Huron. Both Batchewana First Nation and Garden River First Nation are within a 10-minute drive. Members of local First Nations have told me that they won't enter the school. I wonder if it is ethical, if it is right to preserve the residential school, as it transforms into a growing Ontario University. This is a question I will struggle with for the remainder of my placement.

For additional information, please see the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (SRSC) website: http://shingwauk.org/srsc/node/8