Garden River First Nation and Sault Ste. Marie are among eight partnerships in Canada to embark on a two-year First Nation-municipal collaboration program between 2022-2024 that seeks to develop long-term planning for joint community economic development and land use.
The Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI) is a national project delivered jointly by CANDO (the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
“I am pleased to participate in this important initiative with Mayor (Matthew) Shoemaker and the City of Sault Ste. Marie,” said Chief Andy Rickard of Garden River First Nation in a news release. “We recognize that working together to address our economic challenges will strengthen our relationship and the regional economy and move our communities forward.”
Together, Garden River First Nation and the city recognize that long-term partnerships are anchored in a solid foundation, and the CEDI program opens the way for First Nations and neighbouring municipal communities to create economic and social advantages for all citizens, the release stated.
“I am confident that our common goals for local economic development will foster benefits that extend to many other aspects of community building, and CEDI is giving us the framework to work together to achieve strong local results”, said Shoemaker.
Communities participating in the CEDI program benefit from facilitated workshops, best practices, study tours, and peer mentorship.
This assistance helps to build capacity for joint economic development planning, build and strengthen inter-community relationships and improve the quality of life for all residents. By working together, CEDI partnerships are better able to address local challenges, with local solutions.
The foundation of our new relationship is the inclusion of our sacred ceremonies and our Inherent and Treaty Rights implied within the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850.
The land, water and air are the ancestral lands of Garden River that Chief Shingwauk exercised his territorial prerogatives in Bawaating.
A sacred Wampum Belt will be presented soon to validate this most important relationship between the two Councils.