Markham signs partnership accord with Eabametoong First Nation

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 31, 2017
Tim Kelly

The City of Markham says it is breaking new ground and forging a path to "reconciliation" with a cultural collaboration agreement with Eabametoong First Nation.

Mayor Frank Scarpitti signed off on the deal at Markham Civic Centre on Tuesday, agreeing to promote social, cultural and economic collaboration with the First Nation of 1,500 people located hundreds of kilometres north of Thunder Bay.

The agreement between the radically different localities was sparked by a visit from band Chief Elizabeth Atlookan, Coun. Louise Sugarhead and past grand chief Harvey Yesno last May. At that time Markham council signed a motion to proceed with an agreement. On Jan. 18, Atlookan signed the deal in Eabametoong First Nation and Scarpitti completed the process Wednesday.

Among the benefits for the first nation will be access to Markham's online library system for Eabametoong students to use, the delivery of sports and fitness equipment to the first nation and the use of Markham's municipal management resources.
There are also plans to offer Markham residents ecotourism trips to Eabametoong First Nation starting this June.

"We believe this is the first accord of its kind between a Canadian municipality and a northern First Nation community," said Scarpitti.

The mayor mentioned that many of the services taken for granted by Markham residents like fresh drinking water, medical services and high school education aren't available in Eabametoong.

"They have to boil water each and every time they want to drink it ... they have to be medevaced out to hospitals ... and the band's students have to leave to complete secondary school in Thunder Bay," he pointed out.

"We don't understand unemployment until you see the unemployment on First Nations communities," said Scarpitti.

As to what's in the deal for Markham, Scarpitti said in a later interview: "Truth and reconciliation can't happen unless we understand each other. I think we want to demonstrate we do want to build bridges. We want to help where we can help and where we can't help at least guide them if we through the knowledge that we have. It's an opportunity to strengthen both communities."