The City of Markham and Eabametoong First Nation Sign Partnership Accord

Markham and Eabametoong First Nation (EFN) want to plant hope, skills, and economic opportunity in the fertile cultural ground of Eabametoong, a community of 1,500 people on-reserve.

On January 31, 2017 the City of Markham signed a historic accord – an agreement of Cultural Collaboration with Eabametoong First Nation, also known as Fort Hope. Eabametoong is an Ojibway First Nation located 360 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario and about 1,000 kilometres north of Markham. Eabametoong is accessible by air and winter road.

Through the Cultural Collaboration Agreement the communities have agreed to:

• Promote social, cultural and economic collaboration in conjunction with Canada’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2017
  
• Promote harmony and goodwill for the betterment of their residents
  
• Stimulate public awareness
  

The partnership agreement is a first of its kind between a Canadian urban municipality and a remote northern First Nation community. After fruitful discussions with Chief Elizabeth Atlookan, Councillor Louie Sugarhead, and past Grand Chief Harvey Yesno, Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Markham City Council passed a motion on May 10, 2016 given approval to proceed with the agreement. On January 18, 2017, in Eabametoong First Nation, Chief Elizabeth Atlookan formally signed the agreement on behalf of her community, and City of Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti completed the signing at the Markham Civic Centre on January 31, 2017.

This agreement stands as a tangible expression of reconciliation and an innovative way for municipalities and First Nations to work together to alleviate the inequities of indigenous life that too often lead to despair, drugs and suicide among members of the community.

Eabametoong First Nation is mainly a cash economy with limited employment opportunities. That is about to change as Markham and EFN forge a relationship that will bring some big ideas to fruition through a number of expressions of support. Together they will work to improve the lives of people of this First Nation whose goal is to develop a healthy, strong community through building its economic capacity.

As a dynamic, agile and prosperous multicultural city, Markham will collaborate with EFN and offer its innovative human, business and technology resources to respond to the community’s needs.

Eabametoong First Nation will soon have access to Markham’s online library system. Once the winter road to EFN opens up, sports and fitness equipment will be delivered for the community’s new fitness program. Markham is also offering EFN municipal management resources as well as business assistance and mentoring opportunities.

Canadians are celebrating our country’s 150th birthday this year. This is a practical way to transform the sesquicentennial vision of nation-building possibilities into reality.

More tourism and cultural visits to both Markham and Eabametoong First Nation will make important inroads on the journey to reconciliation. Grassroots meetings of hearts and minds among residents, business people and government leaders from both communities are a good starting point.

A new page on reconciliation is now being written. It contributes to the next chapter and positive story that’s unfolding in Eabametoong First Nation.

Mayor Frank Scarpitti hopes that the legacy projects and ties being forged with Eabametoong First Nation will be meaningful and endure long after Canada’s sesquicentennial celebrations are over.

This new urban-First-Nation Cultural Collaboration serves as a model for other municipalities. Now that the City of Markham has pledged to bring hope back to Eabametoong First Nation, Mayor Frank Scarpitti hopes other municipalities will develop similar relationships with other Ontario First Nation communities.

Quotes

• “We think a door is opening through our new relationship with Markham and a genuine feeling of goodwill gives us a more optimistic way of looking at our future,” says Chief Elizabeth Atlookan of Eabametoong First Nation. “This summer we will present a Cultural Tourism Showcase in Eabametoong that will welcome visitors from Markham. Our guests will gain a better understanding of our indigenous culture and values, and see firsthand how hard we have worked to address basic challenges such as health and education. The showcase will also bring our community together and give band members new business and marketing skills that I hope will translate into tourism development in our region.”
  
• “Markham is the most diverse municipality in Canada. We are inclusive and welcome people of all colours, cultures, creeds, ethnicities, genders, ages and abilities,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “In a spirit of harmony and goodwill, I am hopeful other municipalities will build friendships and support our First Nations communities in Ontario. Together Markham and Eabametoong First Nation are hopeful this model will result in positive advancements in both communities.

Chief Elizabeth Atlookan gathers with members of her community to formally sign the agreement on behalf of Eabametoong First Nation.

Mayor Frank Scarpitti gathers with members of Markham City Council to formally sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Markham.

For more information:

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti: mayorscarpitti@markham.ca or 905.475.4872
Chief Elizabeth Atlookan: Eabametoong Band Administration, 807.242.7221
Media inquiries / interview requests: Corporate Communications, media@markham.ca or 905.477.7000 ext. 7548

About Markham

Markham, a municipality with 350,000 residents centrally located in the Greater Toronto area, is home to over 400 corporate head offices and more than 1,100 high tech and life science companies. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community, enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. Markham has received the Excellence Canada Gold Award for Organizational Quality & Healthy Workplace, and multiple heritage and environmental awards.

About Eabametoong First Nation

Eabametoong First Nation, also known as Fort Hope is a proud member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Matawa Tribal Council and a signatory to Treaty 9. Located 360 kilometres north of Thunder Bay on the northern shore of Eabamet Lake along the Albany River, Eabametoong is accessible by air and winter road. The total population, according to the 2014 census, totals over 2,500 people, of which approximately 1,500 live on-reserve.