Curve Lake First Nation among those who signed Friendship Accord
By Sam Laskaris
KEENE – Representatives from six different partners clearly had their eyes on the future when they converged to sign a Friendship Accord.
The signing was held on Nov. 2 at the Lang Pioneer Village in Keene, located about a 20-minute drive southeast of Peterborough.
The Joint Friendship Accord, which includes Curve Lake First Nation, is called Ezhi-Wiijikiwendiyang. A close translation for this term in the Anishinaabemowin is ‘How we are friends.’
Others in the partnership are the County of Peterborough, Selwyn Township, Township of Otonabee South-Monaghan, Hiawatha First Nation, and the Board of the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.
The purpose of the Accord is to demonstrate that the six partners will work together to strengthen, honour and enhance their relationships, whether those be historical, economic, political, cultural or social.
By signing the Accord, the partners also agreed to collaborate in various ventures, including regional economic development and tourism efforts.
“I think it’s a recognition of our inherent rights and our desire to work together,” said Emily Whetung, who was elected chief of Curve Lake First Nation this past July.
Chief Whetung believes having a half dozen partners sign the Friendship Accord will indeed be beneficial.
“I’m hoping it leads to a greater cultural understanding on all sides,” she added.
Keith Knott, former chief of Curve Lake First Nation who was appointed to the Order of Canada earlier this year, was also in attendance of the signing.
“This accord is a modern-day accord,” he said. “It’s not like a treaty. This is a step forward for us.”
Knott believes it is vital for all partners to focus on the future.
“We must start looking forward – seeing where the horizon is and seeing what is beyond the horizon,” he said.
This thinking includes working well with others on various ventures.
“If there’s a project out there, how can we work together to make it a reality,” Knott said.
The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, was among the dignitaries who attended the signing.
“Just like friendship, it will undoubtedly evolve,” she said of the Joint Accord.
Dowdeswell added she believes similar accords, with a large number of partners, can be duplicated throughout Ontario.
“There’s no question it can be built elsewhere all across this province,” she said.
The signing of the Friendship Accord was held in partnership with the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). The event was also part of the First Nation – Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI).
“This partnership definitely demonstrates how to be good friends,” said Tanya Tourangeau, the CEDI program coordinator.
Tourangeau added that the partners are keen to show large collaborative efforts are possible.
“They wanted to set an example for everybody else,” she said.
CEDI program officer, Josh Regnier, added having a large number of partners, from various levels of government, join forces to sign the Friendship Accord carries additional weight.
“It shows a regional approach has just that much more oomph,” he said.
Others who attended the Friendship Accord signing included Anishinabek Nation Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief James Marsden; Hiawatha First Nation Chief Laurie Carr; MP Phillip Lawrence, who represents Northumberland-Peterborough South; and MPPs Dave Smith (Peterborough-Kawartha) and David Piccini (Northumberland-Peterborough South).