City of Markham commits to reconciliation with First Nations community

The municipality has usually looked far afield to link with other cities, but this year decided to look closer to home. The Eabametoong First Nation and Markham have signed a cross-cultural agreement.

Thestar.com
March 7, 2017
By Noor Javed

A unique partnership forged between the city of Markham and a remote First Nations community in northern Ontario is hoping to serve as a model of how urban municipalities can take part in the reconciliation process.

The city of Markham has long looked globally to build and foster economic and cultural ties with cities in China and Europe. But this year, community leaders decided to look a little closer to home.

Earlier this year, after months of discussion, the city signed a cross-cultural agreement with the Eabametoong First Nation, also known as Fort Hope, a remote residential community of 1500, some 300 km north of Thunder Bay, which is only accessible by air and winter roads for six weeks of the year.

The agreement - believe to be the first of its kind between an urban municipality in the GTA and a remote northern First Nation community - hopes to promote an exchange of culture, skills, and economic opportunities between the two communities.

But there is broader goal too, said Frank Scarpitti, the mayor of Markham. The goal is that the collaboration will “plant hope” in the small community some 1,000 km north of the city, and at the same time teach local residents of Markham, where more than half are immigrants, about the history and realities facing First Nations communities.

“The light kind of came on, we do this internationally all the time,” said Scarpitti. “Why don’t we do here at home, with two communities that could mutually benefit from each other,” he said.

The agreement began with an introduction by community member Ken Caplan, who suggested the idea to Scarpitti and arranged for band council members of Fort Hope to visit the city. Last summer, Chief Elizabeth Atlookan, Councillor Louie Sugarhead, and past Grand Chief Harvey Yesno from the Eabametoong First Nation made the trek down to Markham and toured the recreation facilities and infrastructure plants.

“It was a good experience for us to see what they have there,” said Sugarhead, in an interview from Eabametoong First Nation. “And the mayor talked about the possibility of us working together,” he said.

The community, like many remote reserves has its share of challenges. In Eabametoong they include: ongoing boil water advisory, a drug crisis among youth, no local high school forcing youths to travel to Thunder Bay to attend high school, and limited economic opportunities.

It’s been eye-opening for Markham residents, said Scarpitti.

“I hope that as a community we will have a better understanding of the challenges that First Nation’s communities face,” said Scarpitti. “All of these factors have a huge impact on quality of life, and they trigger health and wellness issues. So if we can somehow improve the situation through assistance, or advice ... we hope to have a positive influence and create a better quality of life for them.”

Plans are already in effect to do just that: Markham is opening its online library system to the students at the local elementary school Eabametoong First Nation. Once the winter roads open up, sports and fitness equipment will be delivered for the community’s new fitness program. And recently, Markham’s Chinese community raised $55,000 to the First Nation’s community. The cheque was delivered to the community at the opening of their new community centre.

Down the road, plans are in place for Markham councillors and residents to visit the reserve in the summer to see the community’s “first cultural showcase.” And student winners from a local art competition in Eabametoong could win a trip to Markham in April “along with some elders” with the artwork being showcased at city hall.

The hope is that this will be the start of an ongoing relationship.

“We have much to offer people down south, such as our relationship to the land, and all the natural resources around us,” said band council member Charlie OKeese. “And we hope that this relationship will bring economic opportunities for us, and give us an opportunity to learn from our neighbours down south,” he said.