New Duchesnay Creek Bridge smudged for ribbon cutting

By Kelly Anne Smith

NIPISSING FIRST NATION – Nipissing First Nation Elder Evelyn Mcleod smudged the new Duchesnay Creek Bridge while Nipissing First Nation Councillor Joan Mcleod Shabogesic walked quickly across the new bridge to be able to look down at Duchesnay Creek flowing into Lake Nipissing.

“I had to see the water,” she said.

Nipissing First Nation Giima (Chief) Scott Mcleod cut the ribbon with the Miller Group president Francois Vachon to mark the completion of the new Duchesnay Creek Bridge. Nipissing First Nation has a controlling interest in this first joint venture.

In his speech, Giima Mcleod said he was grateful to the province and the minister of economic development, job creation and trade Vic Fedeli for Nipissing First Nation to participate in the local economy. He added that First Nations have been historically shut out of opportunities to participate in infrastructure projects such as the bridge.

“This new approach to creating opportunities for skills development and job creation procurement while building much-needed infrastructure was groundbreaking.”

Francois Vachon called the bridge a masterpiece that was a little late getting finished because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. He said the project was done safely with no lost time incidents.

Former Nipissing First Nation Chief Marianna Couchie looked on as did Nipissing First Nation Councillors Jane Commanda, June Commanda, Joan Mcleod Shabogesic, Rick Stevens and Daniel Stevens.

Big applause was given as Giima McLeod thanked the workers.

“I want to say a huge miigwech to all the workers that have dedicated all the hours and all the hard work to make this full project possible…I worked construction most of my life so a huge thank you to you guys.”

Giima McLeod clarified what being historic means for his community.

“This creek here, this Duchesnay Creek has been crossed for thousands of years by our people. When we look at the bridge being historic, it’s historic in a colonized way, meaning it’s only 150 years old. But our people have been crossing this creek for millennia,” he said. “As we move forward in this new partnership of doing things and being more inclusive, this represents not a metaphorical but a literal bridge-building between our communities.”

Nipissing First Nation Councillor Jane Commanda was proud to see the bridge’s name in Anishinaabemowin.

“When I saw that I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a really big bonus.’ I didn’t know that was going to be there. I like it. I like it a lot.”

Commanda explained the bridge’s name in Anishinaabemowin, Ebiindgesing Ziibiins.

“Mouth of the creek. It’s not a literal translation. It is a descriptive sentence telling others that this is the place.”

The new bridge has reopened traffic from Duchesnay to North Bay but taking Hwy 17B from Couchie Memorial Drive to Hwy 17 will not be an option in September. Commanda says the hill in the road will be levelled out as there used to be a train track under it.

Commanda ensures that Nipissing First Nation continues to offer a shuttle for transportation into North Bay.