Canada/Aboriginal Relations: City of Ottawa team expands
The City of Ottawa's First Nations, Métis and Inuit Relations team has grown to three people, including two Aboriginal women. The City is committed to honouring existing relationships that have been built through pre-existing collaborations with Aboriginal partners, in order to better define priorities and make room for new actions as well.
Lindsey Kirby-McGregor, an Anishnabeg woman from the Whitefish River First Nation community on Manitoulin Island, was appointed manager of the service in March.
We now have three staff members, our team has grown," says Kirby-McGregor at the outset. I feel more like we're building something.
She is now working with Heather Norris, an Aboriginal woman with roots in the Pikwakanagan (Golden Lake) community, who is the Aboriginal Relations Specialist, and Dana Martino, who works in Equity and Diversity Coordination and Aboriginal Relations.
They are looking for greater collaboration with the Anishinabeg Aboriginal communities, as well as Ottawa's urban communities.
An internal consultation mechanism
The main challenge now is to know what role each department on the City's organizational chart plays with Aboriginal partners. For example, what does the City of Ottawa's Arts and Culture Department do with Aboriginal communities and organizations?
"There are departments that do not have an established connection with Aboriginal communities and they consult with us directly. Currently, we are establishing an internal consultation mechanism as a result."
- A quote from Lindsey Kirby-McGregor, Manager of Aboriginal Relations for the City of Ottawa
We need to know what the challenges are and what each other's goals and priorities are in order to gradually put the pieces in place," says Kirby-McGregor.
These women are trying not to work in silos as different departments within the City continue to partner with First Nations, Métis and Inuit, but we will be on top of it," said Kirby-McGregor.
We're building a new department dedicated to Aboriginal issues and it's also a bridge between Aboriginal communities and the City of Ottawa," she adds.
Creating a circle of sharing
Our mission is gradually taking hold. We are where we need to be," said Aboriginal Relations Specialist Heather Norris.
One of her roles is to develop a sharing circle with the goal of bringing City of Ottawa employees together.
Through this project, Heather Norris wants to nurture the City's commitment to Aboriginal communities and organizations from a cultural perspective at the City of Ottawa.
"The Sharing Circle is about changing the way City employees look at things to add another perspective.
- A quote from Heather Norris, Aboriginal Relations Specialist at the City of Ottawa
This is how we can build and maintain relationships that are rooted in reconciliation, by developing that other perspective," says Heather Norris.
Listening to Aboriginal directions and issues
The City of Ottawa continues to work with the 94 calls to action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and has been doing so for over a decade.
Lindsey McGregor explains that their team works with reconciliation, governance and Aboriginal self-determination in mind.
Communities are expressing their visions," she says. We share the reality of their issues," she says.
Lindsey Kirby-McGregor explains that they also have a presence at meetings organized by the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition, including the Aboriginal Women's Safety Table and the Aboriginal Municipal Connections Network.
"The Municipal Aboriginal Connections Network brings together stakeholders working to develop relationships with Aboriginal people in municipalities across Canada.
- A quote from Lindsey Kirby-McGregor, Manager of Aboriginal Relations for the City of Ottawa
Leadership and the City of Ottawa
When it comes to leadership between the City and the communities, the new team is certainly building its foundation," says Lindsey Kirby-McGregor.
Our team had the opportunity to meet with Chiefs Wendy Jocko, Savannah McGregor and Dylan Whiteduck, as well as elders from the communities of Kitigan Zibi and Pikwakanagan," said Kirby-McGregor.
These chiefs from the communities of Pikwakanagan, Kitigan Zibi and the Anishinabeg Tribal Council are aware of the implementation of this new service and a communication procedure will also be created with the mayor and the councillors, concludes Ms. Kirby-McGregor.
The Mayor of the City of Ottawa declined to be interviewed by CBC about the new service, saying he was busy with the City Council budget process.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
