Hiawatha First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Township of Selwyn, Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, County of Peterborough and Peterborough and Kawarthas Economic Development, ON

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This video explores the impact of building positive relationships, demonstrated at their ceremonial signing of “Ezhi-Wiijikiwendiyang” or Friendship Accord, which articulates the spirit of their partnership and their commitment to work together moving forward, for the well-being of our communities. “Ezhi-Wiijikiwendiyang” translated from Anishanaabemowin roughly to ‘how we are friends.’

Given the participatory approach to the feasibility study of including other First Nations and the inclusive approach Sioux Lookout took towards developing its own 2020 economic development strategy, stronger partnerships have been created in the region resulting in the creation of a regional business hub in Sioux Lookout for surrounding First Nations and a labour market group. This initiative is co-chaired by Lac Seul and Sioux Lookout, both of whom are now working jointly with mining, construction and health sector stakeholders. Next steps for the partnership include creating economically sustainable communities by having Economic Development Zones, rather than urban reserves, in Sioux Lookout.

Short Video Clips

CHOPs - CEDI EXPLAINER - November 2019

CHOPs - CEDI HISTORY - November 2019 - YT ENG

Unique Features of this Partnership

This partnership has taken a regional approach to First Nation-municipal collaboration, bringing two First Nations, two townships, a regional government, and an economic development corporation together. These partners participated in CEDI between 2017-2020.

Areas of Collaboration – Joint CED Themes

  • Established a Planning and Consultation Working Group. Currently co-developing tools to support consultation processes that responds to the Duty to Consult
  • Established a Regional Economic Development Working Group. Hosting a regional economic development forum in the Greater Peterborough Area.
  • Established an Indigenous Tourism Working Group to explore regional tourism collaboration opportunities.
  • Education and Awareness: focussing on Treaty education and youth engagement about the importance of reconciliation.

Accomplishments

  • Established a Planning and Consultation Working Group. Co-developed a GIS tool to support consultation processes that responds to the Duty to Consult

  • Established a Regional Economic Development Working Group. Hosted a regional economic development workshop to identify joint community economic development initiatives; two initiatives were selected: mapping Indigenous tourism in the greater Peterborough area for promotion and developing a plan to integrate business incubators in Selwyn, Curve Lake, and at Peterborough the Kawarthas Economic Development.

  • Established an Indigenous Tourism Working Group to explore regional tourism collaboration opportunities. The group joined together with the Regional Economic Development Working Group to form one group focusing on Indigenous Tourism and Community Economic Development.

  • Education and Awareness: focussing on Treaty education and youth engagement about the importance of reconciliation.

Why Work Together?

“In regards to economic development, I’d like to see more partnerships. We are in a beautiful area and I believe we can partner on quite a few items and make that successful for the First Nation and the townships. Those partnerships would be beneficial to everyone. It also creates the opportunity of knowing First Nations aren’t against development; what we are against is coming in and being told what is happening or just coming through our territory with no engagement process. When you work with First Nations it is about Free Prior and Informed Consent and Permissions. And that needs to happen. And that relationship needs to happen.”

- Chief Laurie Carr, Hiawatha First Nation

“In my 21 years in municipal work, this CEDI partnership was among the most important and satisfying projects I have been a part of because of the importance of the relationships with Curve Lake and Hiawatha.”

- Mary Smith, former Mayor of Selwyn Township

“The process has been really helpful in building understanding between our communities. We now understand the reasons for one another’s positions. We will still disagree from time to time, but now we have the relationships to help us navigate that and find a solution that works best for all of us.”

- Iain Mudd, Manager of Planning, County of Peterborough

Next Steps

This partnership graduated from the CEDI program and plan to continue to work collaboratively to develop and implement their identified joint economic development initiatives and to honor and live up to the Ezhi-Wiijikiwendiyang (Friendship Accord). Their areas of interest for the coming year, include:

  • Identifying regional economic development and Indigenous tourism opportunities with all governments in Greater Peterborough Area
  • Developing a plan to integrate business incubators in Selwyn, Curve Lake, and Peterborough the Kawarthas Economic Development.
  • Continued government-to-government relationship building

Merissa Lawrence
Senior Program Officer - CEDI - Cando

Over the course of three years, the Treaty 20 – Peterborough County CEDI partnership consisting of six partners: two First Nations, two townships, a County, and an economic development corporation has accomplished a lot together. Since this partnership has recently graduated, the CEDI team celebrates their accomplishments together and is pleased to share more information on one of their joint community economic development initiatives, an online GIS consultation tool.

Through a collaborative approach, this partnership’s Planning and Consultation Working Group, composed of staff from Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, Hiawatha First Nation, Township of Selwyn, Curve Lake First Nation and the County of Peterborough, developed an idea for an online GIS consultation tool to assist local planners in determining consultation triggers for Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations.

The goal of the tool is not only to heighten and clearly demonstrate when consultation is required for Planning Act applications, but to also assist with the review capacity of staff of Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations by vetting those applications that do not require consultation.

The need for change in the consultation process was first identified by Julie Kapyrka, Consultation Liaison at Curve Lake First Nation. She shared grievances at the first CEDI Joint Workshop about how the First Nations were not on the County’s Official Plan Technical Advisory Committee and that the Planning Act stated that First Nations were to be consulted only if development was within 1 km of a First Nation. The First Nations wanted to be consulted and engaged on all development within the Treaty 20 area, as all the community partners are within the boundaries of Treaty 20.

Read the story here: http://www.edo.ca/news/cedi-community-graduates