City to honour former Batchewana chief Dean Sayers

Former Batchewana First Nations Chief Dean Sayers will be named Monday as recipient of the city's 2024 Municipal Heritage Award.

The award is presented by the City of Sault Ste. Marie to recognize contributions to the preservation, restoration and enhancement of the Sault's heritage resources.

Here's the recommendation drafted by the city's municipal heritage committee:

Municipal Heritage Award

Dean Sayers served as chief of Batchewana First Nation for nearly two decades, and is from the Crane Clan, specifically linked to the blue heron in the central Great Lakes region.

His journey as a leader has been driven by an unwavering commitment to the progress and wellbeing of the original Peoples of these lands.

Dean has been dedicated to advancing the interests of Indigenous communities and fiercely advocating for their rights.

Dean has been a consistent participant in regional leadership spaces, such as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), where he has contributed his experience and insights to the broader Indigenous community.

Dean has made significant contributions to heritage through his involvement in the development and creation of the ‘Voices from the Gathering Place’ project, which is a rich historical resource about Sault Ste. Marie that includes video resources of Anishinaabe elders and knowledge-keepers sharing history and culture through oral tradition.

Dean’s contributions have also lent themselves to a permanent installation that is part of Parks Canada’s Visitor Centre at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site, which details significant oral history and the impacts on Batchewana First Nation as well as the Historic Sault Ste. Marie Metis People.