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

Gdo Akiiminaan Ganawendandann Symposium: Part 2

By Jessica Numminen, 2nd year MDP Student

At the Symposium Gdo Akiiminaan Ganawendandann (Taking Care of our Land) hosted by the Anishinaabe Initiatives Division and the Department of Geography & Geology at Algoma University, a research poster entitled: Northern Governance Innovation and Development for Socially Resilient Boreal Communities was presented.  It highlighted an emerging community-university partnership to develop a community-based research project with the Missanabie Cree First Nation. The research project is being led by Ryan Bullock, a former resident of the Sault and now professor in Environmental Studies at The University of Winnipeg. Below is a photograph of the poster that was on display at the conference. 

This project is in its beginning phase. Partners are collaborating to generate preliminary research questions from the Missanabie Cree membership and to determine research priorities, one of which could be exploring non-timber forest products. My placement was a a five-week placement to work on this project and other initiatives at the Missanabie Cree First Nations office. For the duration of my placement Janet Esquimau, Community Economic Development Officer MCFN and project partner Gayle Broad, Director of the NORDIK INSTITUTE at Algoma University, were my mentors and supervisors.

I would like to thank Chief Jason Gauthier and all the MCFN staff, elders and community members for their warm welcome and for this opportunity to work together. I am grateful for the time she spent at MCFN and the different things I learned day to day during my placement! Kinanâskomitin ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑯᒥᑎᐣ Migwetch.

Jessica Numminen (L) and Janet Esquimau (R) along the Chippewa River

Gdo Akiiminaan Ganawendandann Symposium: Part 1

By Jessica Numminen, 2nd year MDP Student

The Anishinaabe Initiatives Division and the Department of Geography & Geology at Algoma University hosted the Symposium Gdo Akiiminaan Ganawendandann (Taking Care of our Land) from May 5th – 6th, 2015 in Sault Ste. Marie. During the opening proceedings organizers of the conference recognized that a conversation with the MCFN Chief Jason Gauthier about the Missanabie Cree new land base was the catalyst for the development of the conference and the hope that it is just the beginning of many more conferences in the coming years.

We were taken on a bus tour of Batchewana First Nation with Chief Dean Sayers who shared his knowledge, teachings and rich history of the lands. He explained the success of community economic development and the well-being of their territory is tied to the assertion of their jurisdiction and sovereignty over these lands. 

Chief Dean Sayers (L) and Jessica Numminen (R) along the Chippewa River

During the two-day conference there were a total of 23 presenters, which included 4 keynote speakers, poster presentations and presentations from Elders, knowledge holders, the grassroots practitioners, academics, and students. These presentations covered a diversity of topics that highlighted challenges, successes and the ongoing work of what land stewardship is and can be. 

Some highlights were:

• The Coalition for Algoma Passenger Rail Train (CAPT) and the ongoing work and partnerships i.e. with Missanabie Cree First Nation. 
• How GIS is being used by Wahnapitae First Nation to strengthen their land use plans that addresses land use and resource management including ways to engage youth from the community to get them involved and out on the land. 
• The Serpent River First Nation is developing their own Environmental Review Process for any development within their territory. 
• Elder Raymond Owl, in his presentation Working Together to Stop Land Management Practices Harming Our Health, Home and Future Forests, pointed out in order to create change we must not just listen to Elders we must take the advice and do something.  
• Deborah McGregor during her talk on Anishinaabe Knowledge Traditions: Governance, Treaties and Environmental Justices pointed out that elders and knowledge holders just don’t have knowledge, they also teach us how to understand Anishinabeg knowledge based on the Anishinabeg natural law and its systems.

The conference focused on what is happening in Aboriginal communities in Northern Ontario and it  offered a great opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and teachings and innovative approaches to community development.