Kenora's new Indigenous relations adviser aims to build bridges between municipality and First Nations

A northwestern Ontario city has hired its first Indigenous relations adviser, with the goal of improving the relationship between the municipality and First Nation communities.

The City of Kenora has appointed Ed Mandamin, a member of Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation, also known as Shoal Lake, and Pelican Clan.

The author, advocate and residential school survivor said the position involves sitting on committees and informing senior staff and city council about Indigenous issues and perspectives.

He's hopeful the city can foster better opportunities for Indigenous people — particularly youth.

"Kenora is a place to live, it's a place to get a job, it's a place to raise a family," Mandamin said. "If you're First Nation, that should mean something. Having Kenora as a home, they should say that with pride."

Nearly a quarter of Kenora's population is Indigenous, according to the 2021 census.

Mandamin said the relationship between the city and First Nations people has been strained for decades.

"A lot of the racism and lack of understanding — all that accumulated to where we are today," Mandamin said. "We want to [address] those issues, discuss them and come up with solutions."

'We have a lot of work to do'

With direction from Grand Council Treaty #3, Kenora city council created the Indigenous relations adviser position in 2022.

"Since that time, we've been working with various recruitment efforts to ensure that we had the best candidate and the right fit to do this work," said Heather Pihulak, the city's director of corporate services.

Mandamin's work will help guide the city's strategy for truth and reconciliation while also decolonizing the municipality from within, she explained.

"We have a lot of work to do just within our own house with gaining cultural awareness with our own staff and really educating everybody in the organization, which will ultimately strengthen the city's capacity to work with Indigenous organizations, businesses and the various communities," Pihulak said.

Louis Cameron, centre, and the Ojibway Warrior Society occupy the Anicinabe Park in Kenora in this July 1974 file photo. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the park's occupation by young First Nations activists. (Canadian Press)

Mandamin's appointment is timely, he said. Last year was the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 3 and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Anicinabe Park Occupation, when dozens of young First Nations people in Kenora protested for better living conditions, education, and access to land.

Mandamin said he plans to create an advisory council of grandmothers and grandfathers who can help guide him to addressing these long-standing issues.

"There's lots of that truth [that] has to come out still. We still haven't even scratched the surface yet," he said. "Hopefully with this position here, we could start bringing people together and having those uncomfortable discussions.

"Although they may be uncomfortable, they are very necessary."

Addressing homelessness, addiction issues

Work has been underway for several months to develop a new community safety and well-being strategy in Kenora, prompted by escalating concerns around homelessness and addictions.

A recent community meeting called by Coun. Lisa Moncrief saw tenants of a social housing building share concerns about drug use in and around the building, confrontations with intoxicated people and fears about discarded needles in the neighbourhood.

The city is hosting its first town hall meeting on June 13 as councillors look to improve public engagement.

Mandamin said it's important to remember that a disproportionate number of people without permanent housing are Indigenous.

His brother, who was experiencing homelessness, was found dead on a golf course outside Kenora in the 1980s.

"I have a deep connection to wanting to help out and making sure that my brother's death is not in vain," Mandamin said.

In Winnipeg, Mandamin worked with Main Street Project, a community health centre that takes a harm reduction and housing-first approach — something he'd like to see replicated in Kenora.

"I know what it feels like and I know the hopelessness, and without having anybody to throw you a lifeline could be really, really detrimental."

Not just checking off a box

When the city first approached Grand Council Treaty #3 about the Indigenous relations adviser position, Dan Morriseau admitted he was skeptical. The political adviser from Couchiching First Nation said he's seen many municipalities attempt to create roles like these over the years, but they lacked sincerity.

"If the position basically just serves to check a box, I'm of the belief that it will fail almost immediately. If this person is just tokenized and the position is just given lip service, it's not going to work," Morriseau said.

To be effective, Morriseau said, Indigenous people must be treated as partners and their perspectives must be taken seriously.

Mandamin says he wants to help create better opportunities for Indigenous youth so they see the city as a safe space to work and raise their families. (Hayley Schwartz)

"Many municipalities flounder with this. They don't understand how to engage with First Nations because in many municipalities, especially in northern Ontario, there's not a lot of diversity," he said.

While that's starting to change, he said, it's important for municipalities to show humility and acknowledge the need for cultural understanding to inform their decision-making. In Kenora's case, he feels confident this work has been introduced in a good way.

"Creating that space, that's crucially important to moving forward — and when municipalities don't do that, it really stifles progress, it hinders innovation and it creates a stagnation," Morriseau said.

"Will this position solve everything? Probably not. But it is a good start."