Education is the key to bridging the gap between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people a local leader says.
Wendy Landry is the president of the Thunder Bay Metis Council. Speaking at the Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Relations in Thunder Bay: Our Shared Future lecture Tuesday, Landry said the best way to share a positive future is to understand the past. Although the full faculty lounge at Lakehead University featured mostly politicians and academics who know their history, getting everyone together is a starting point she said.
“We need to make a bigger forum. We need to make the history of Aboriginal people known to non-Aborignal people on an bigger forum in a way that is in a controlled environment so that people can understand from each stage to the next as to how the Canadian relations with Aboriginal people occurred, how history happened and why we have some of those effects on Aboriginal people today and then bridge those relationships through understanding,” she said.
A complete understanding of that relationship, not just bits and pieces, would go a long way to help make the city racist free Landry said.
“Try to make our city a city that is open to all races and all peoples and how we can go forward and be happy,” she said.
One of the ways forward for Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins has been the declaration of understanding he signed with the city of Thunder Bay last October. Having a common voice will help address social issues but can also attract economic activity, especially with the mining sector Collins said.
“If we’re not on the same path and not on the same journey there’s not going to be much success for municipalities or our communities,” he said. ““We’re only divided by a river Why can’t we work as partners.”
Mayor Keith Hobbs said the way First Nations people are treated in Ontario is a national disgrace. Seeing first-hand the problems that plague Northern communities, Hobbs said it’s unacceptable.
“We’re a third world country in a lot of respects,” he said.
And as for racism, it’s still prevalent in the city he said.
“Racism is ugly in this city.”
That issue needs to be tackled head-on by people whenever they see it he said.
