A CHRONOLOGY OF THE RAT PORTAGE AND COMMON GROUND

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL

 

1730's to 1870's


JULY 1823

1883  

MAY 26, 2004,  

MAY 2004 to SEPTEMBER 2005,

SEPTEMBER 8, 2005,

SEPTEMBER 9, 2005,
Here's the pic of two grey white guys that the press ran:
 

Here's what the Rat Portage "partnership" news conference actually looked like:

        Rory, John and Colin

From left to right: John Henry Jr. Councillor, Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining First Nation, Len Compton, Councillor, City of Kenora, Joe Pete Seymour, Councillor, Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining First Nation, Cuyler Cotton, Researcher, Adolphus Cameron, Grand Council of Treaty #3, Ted Szajewski, Councillor, City of Kenora, Rory McMillan, Councillor, City of Kenora, (partially hidden), Colin Wasacase, Councillor, City of Kenora. (Absent with regrets, Pat Seymour, Waushusk Onigum First Nation.)

SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2005:

MARCH 9-10, 2006:

Ground gained in common legacy lands discussion

By Miner and News Staff, Thursday March 16, 2006

After closed door talks late last week focused on building consensus on common legacy lands, city staff are looking forward to sitting down again with their counterparts from Grand Council Treaty 3.
“Over two intensive days, we all gained a much deeper understanding of both the land and of each other,” said Mayor Dave Canfield in a prepared statement released Wednesday.
Grand Chief Arnold Gardner agreed. “This is the foundation of a true partnership.”

The ogichidaa hoped to involve elders in a common vision for land, and shared the mayor’s sense of optimism.
Both sides have been working on the Common Land, Common Ground initiative since the fall of 2000. Lately, this has come to include discussions on the development of the Tunnel Island heritage project.
On March 9 and 10, the parties met to develop strategic directions for the handling of the historic lands in which they share a common interest.
With the closure of the Abitibi mill and the discovery of the historic Rat Portage, which joined continental trade routes dating back thousands of years, there is new room for movement on the creation of a tourist destination that would emphasize the aboriginal and non-aboriginal aspects of the community.

November, 2006
Abitibi transfers Tunnel Island to Common Ground Working Group

By Reg Clayton, Miner and News, Thursday November 09, 2006

The Common Ground initiative envisioned for Tunnel Island/Rat Portage is suddenly very much a ‘go’ project.
In a surprising development, city officials announced Wednesday that Abitibi Consolidated has agreed to transfer more than 120 hectares (300 acres) of company owned property on the island to the Common Ground Working Group.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by city, First Nations and Abitibi officials, the land will be held in trust by the city for two years while the working group establishes a legal entity and a management structure to assume ownership of the land. No development will occur while city and First Nations working group representatives consider future possibilities for the historic, archeological and culturally significant site.
After signing the historic agreement at a special council meeting Wednesday, Treaty 3 Ogichidaa Arnold Gardner said the first order of business is consultations between First Nation elders and the working group. Ojibway elders are expected to visit archeological sites on the island Friday.
“What was done today is a beginning, now the work begins with the community and the First Nations,” the grand chief said. “The challenges are going to be making sure that whatever development is going to be there is for the benefit of all the communities. There’s a lot of work, a lot of ideas, we have to put it all together.”

Gardner noted that in addition to city and Treaty 3 representatives, delegates from three area First Nations will continue to be at the forefront of future involvements representing the original Rat Portage band: Wauzhusk Onigum, Ochiichagwe’ Babigo’ Ining and Obashkaandagaang Bay.
Mayor Dave Canfield is optimistic the working group will establish the management entity and assume responsibility for the property sooner rather than later. He referred to the spirit of co-operation that has prevailed since the current initiative was presented at a series of workshops in March. Tunnel Island was also the focus of a previous proposal completed by the Forest Capital Planning Group in 1999.
“To bring this together this quickly, we know where we want to go from here,” Canfield said.
He noted a “window of opportunity” opened as Abitibi is interested in establishing an independent entity utilizing the two Kenora generating stations and six other hydroelectric dams it owns in the province to sell electricity on the provincial grid.
“The decision was made to proceed (with the land transfer) now rather than over the next two to four years. A lot of people worked hard to make it happen,” Canfield said.
The mayor noted that in signing the Memorandum of Understanding, the city is not waiving any rights to future claims in negotiations with Abitibi.
Rather than pursuing severances from the city for the Norman Dam and Kenora generating stations, Abitibi retains property it already owns while gifting parcels of land located north and south of the Winnipeg River to Common Ground.
“Abitibi is proud to contribute to this historic and ground-breaking partnership between the City of Kenora and the Treaty 3 Nation,” stated company spokesman Denis Leclerc in a news release. “Recognition that we are all part of the same community is important for the development of a shared vision for the future.”
As it was the final meeting of the current term of city council, councillors were effusive in their praise for all involved in achieving the agreement. Special mention was made of contributions by: Cuyler Cotton for his historic research into the Rat Portage of John Bigsby; Adolphus Cameron, Treaty 3 representative to the working group, Treaty 3 Grand Chief Arnold Gardner, Coun. Rory McMillan, Jeff Port and Jennifer Rasmussen, city representatives on the working group.


April 12, 2007:

City, Treaty 3 gifted Old Fort Island by Abitibi

By Mike Aiken, Miner and News, Thursday April 12, 2007

It was a historic day at the Dalles First Nation community centre Wednesday. Kenora Mayor Len Compton joined Treaty 3 Grand Chief Arnold Gardner and Abitibi vice-president Thor Thorgrimson in signing an agreement that paved the way for the transfer 70 acres of land on Old Fort Island.
“I am honoured to be present, as we take our first formal steps together down the shared path of our Common Ground,” said the mayor.

“Today demonstrates how accepting and respecting our differences makes us unique,” noted the grand chief.
The Common Land, Common Ground process began more than six years ago, following the tragic death of two First Nations residents in Kenora. What began with discussions between former mayor Dave Canfield and former grand chief Leon Jourdain has grown to involve workshops and seminars, as well as projects of common interest.
It continued last November, when the three parties agreed on a process for the transfer of more than 300 acres on neighbouring  Tunnel Island

May 11, 2007
The Spring Feast was held on Common Ground.  Three drums were present. Their voices had not been heard at this place for a very long time.
Anishinaabe and non-Anishinaabe participated in honouring Mother Earth. What more can be said?  It was very, very, very good.



THE BROWN SHADED AREAS ARE CURRENTLY DEDICATED TO THE 'COMMON GROUND' PARTNERSHIP

THIS MAP SHOWS THE INTERSECTION OF THE MAIN WATER AND LAND ROUTES OF CANADA
THE HISTORIC WINNIPEG RIVER IS CROSSED BY THE CPR/TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY CORRIDOR AT PRESENT DAY KENORA
 May, 2007 - the City of Kenora proposes an amendment to a regional economic development initiative at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference.  Kenora's amendment requires that NOMA's effort at economic development lobbying must include First Nations Treaty organizations as full partners.  The motion is resoundingly passed by the municipalities.
 
 
June, 2007 - The Ogichiidaa of the Grand Council in Treaty #3 and the Mayor of Kenora march together from "Common Ground" on the National Aboriginal Day of Action.  They sign a joint declaration founded on a Treaty based relationship and call on the senior levels of governement to respect the Treaty and address land claims.

September, 2007 - Representatives from the Common Ground Stewardship Group are invited by Ontario Municipal Affairs and the Northern Ontario Municipal Association to present at a their annual conference.  The topic relates to building relationships with First Nations.
 
Fall, Winter and Spring, 2007-08  - The Common Ground Stewardhship group is encouraged to apply for funding by the Province of Ontario.  The funding is ultimately refused.
 
December 2008 - The City of Kenora Council unanimously refuses to pay it's membership allocation to NOMA because NOMA's "Common Voice" lobbying initiative has failed to engage First Nation's Treaty Organizations as full partners in their process.  Kenora cites the partnership principles of Common Land, Common Ground in taking their stand.  Alone, the City of Kenora is ejected from membership in the Northwestern Ontario Munipal Association.
 
Spring and Summer 2008 - The Common Ground Stewardship Group busies itself working on a legal/corporate structure that respects and reflects the nature of the partnership.  Reid Thompson, former Executive Director of Treaty #3 and articling law student is engaged (pro-bono) on this task thanks to the generosity of  the law firm of David Gibson and Associates.
May 2008 - The Grand Chiefs of both NAN and Treaty #3 reject participation in NOMA's "Common Voice", but the proponents go ahead without First Nation parntership.
Spring - 2008 - The annual spring feast is held and it was good.
 
 
June 2008 - Diane Kelly, the newly elected Ogichiidaa and Mayor Len Compton again march together from Common Ground to an assembly on Kenora's waterfront on the National Day of Action.  The leaders continue the commitment of respect between the Anishinaabeg and the City by signing a renewed declaration.
Here's the text of their declaration:
 

Joint Proclamation on Renewed Treaty based Relations

We are people living under the treaty signed on October 3rd, 1873

We are peoples with distinct cultures and languages and who co-exist within a shared land and territory.

We are people who accept and respect our distinct differences and share in the celebration of the beauty of those differences.

We are people who are rediscovering the true spirit and intent of the treaty of October 3rd, 1873

On this National Day of Action,  we reaffirm the spirit and intent of our treaty and do solemnly undertake to: 

·    Continue to rebuild our relations with one another

·     Restore our political, economic and cultural partnerships

·     Continue to re-educate and recreate awareness of our commonalities

As our ancestors spoke so eloquently in terms to benefit future generations - our purpose in this proclamation is meant to give renewed strength and life to their spirit and intent.  For as long as the sun shines, the rivers flow and the grass grows.

 Updated: August 26, 2008
October 3, 2008 will mark the 135th aniversary of the signing of Treaty #3: -the commitment to our partnership for sharing this land.  
It's a long path together.  It seems there will be lots more events to come!!