Dream comes true for Fort William First Nation Elder
By Rick Garrick
FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION — Fort William Elder Rita Fenton recalled how in 2012, she first dreamt about The Healing Place, which is located near Anemki Wajiw, during its grand opening celebration on Nov. 5 in Fort William.
“I had forgotten about this dream until about six months ago,” Elder Fenton says. “What really got me [about this property] was this beautiful mountain, Anemki Wajiw — how blessed can I be that the Creator brought me to this beautiful place?”
Elder Fenton says she and a group of women who had been fundraising for the teepee recently received a $5,000 donation from the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust that enabled them to purchase the teepee, which is now located on the property beside the house.
“A lot of people have come together to bring this place to where it is today, and I’m so grateful for all the helpers,” Elder Fenton says. “The Healing Place, it’s not only my dream but a dream for everyone. It is a place where healing will be the centrepiece, a place where sacred fires will be lit and sacred circles will be formed and a place where, for some, the healing journey starts.”
Fort William Councillor Michele Solomon says there is a need for more places like The Healing Place, noting that she recently toured a new 50-bed addition at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre.
“This (The Healing Place) is where we need to be focusing our efforts — we need more places like this so we can keep our people from ending up in those correctional facilities,” Solomon says. “Those (correctional) places that were built cost millions of dollars, and what did it take for this place to come together — it took a lot of commitment from Rita Fenton and the people that have helped her along the way. I see Jeordi Pierre is here and he too has made a commitment of his life to have a healing place for our people, and that’s where I wholeheartedly believe we need to put our money, put our effort, and where we need to come together for the betterment and healing of our people.”
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says it was important to help celebrate the work that was done to open The Healing Place.
“This is our way of life, this is who we are,” Mamakwa says. “It’s about going back to who we are as Indigenous people, as the First Nations people, as (Anishinaabe), as Oji-Crees, as Crees. This is the path to healing, it’s about land back, relearning your language is land back, doing these types of ceremonies is land back to me.”
Thunder Bay Acting Mayor Kristen Oliver says the amount of people who came out for the grand opening is a testament to the importance of The Healing Place.
“It came to you as a dream and I think that is such a testament to you and your cornerstone in leadership in trying to make your community a better place,” Oliver says. “When we have people just wanting to make a better place for the people around them in support, I can’t thank you enough for that. I appreciate everything you’ve done and I just want you to know we are here to support you in any way that we can. When we have a community that cares for one another, that’s when we’ll see changes and that’s when we’re going to enhance and make a healthier community.”
Alvin Fiddler, health transformation lead at Nishnawbe Aski Nation and former Grand Chief, says he wanted to acknowledge Elder Fenton for her work and her vision.
“It’s happening, it’s so great to see this day, especially now when our people need healing more than ever,” Fiddler says.