Sense of optimism follows election: Fiddler

THUNDER BAY -- New hosts met new guests in the political sphere when Nishnawbe-Aski Nation welcomed local leaders at its open house on Friday.

The Open Doors meeting the treaty organization held over the lunch hour was designed to encourage relationship-building with community organizations throughout Thunder Bay but the nature of recent political change gave the event's title increased significance.     

NAN's leadership slate was wiped clean  in August when first-time Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler was elected alongside three new deputy chiefs. Fiddler won on a campaign of increasing transparency and returning NAN to the roots in its 49 member communities.

Then this week, both Thunder Bay ridings elected Liberal MPs in the federal election, who also ran on public engagement campaigns behind a national promise to improve federal relations with First Nations.

At the beginning of their mandates, both First Nations and federal representatives were hopeful about the potential that lies ahead.

"There's a sense of optimism after the election on Monday that finally, we can begin to re-establish that relationship between First nations and the federal government, a relationship that has been adversarial for the last 10 years," Fiddler said.

Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has committed to meeting with First Nations leaders early and often. Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox told the crowd those relationships begin locally.

"I'm happy with the new government because I want to see a stronger relationship with our First Nations and our non-First Nations people," he said.

"It's no secret that racism has been an issue here in Thunder Bay. I think building relationships is extremely important and I think we can do that."

Before he was elected, Fox was both a legal and institutional colleague of the newly-elected Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Don Rusnak. Rusnak's experience working for Grand Council Treaty 3 combined with his legal work means many relationships have already been built for the riding's first Anishinaabe MP. 

"I think there's going to be a conversation there and that's what First Nations people have wanted all along," Rusnak said. "The Conservative government under (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper has been a closed house. I think people have begun to see the openness of Mr. Trudeau's new government and that's going to continue throughout our relationships with all people in this country."

Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu also stressed personal relationships as the key to organizational relationships.          

"There are so many opportunities to strengthen education on First Nations communities, for example -- a commitment to clean drinking water in First nations communities," Hajdu said.

"My entire campaign was about highlighting the aspects of that infrastructure spending and making sure people have the foundations for healthy living so their communities and their children can thrive and go on to do good things in turn for their children."