Kenora's new Indigenous relations adviser aims to build bridges between municipality and First Nations

A northwestern Ontario city has hired its first Indigenous relations adviser, with the goal of improving the relationship between the municipality and First Nation communities.

The City of Kenora has appointed Ed Mandamin, a member of Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation, also known as Shoal Lake, and Pelican Clan.

The author, advocate and residential school survivor said the position involves sitting on committees and informing senior staff and city council about Indigenous issues and perspectives.

He's hopeful the city can foster better opportunities for Indigenous people — particularly youth.

"Kenora is a place to live, it's a place to get a job, it's a place to raise a family," Mandamin said. "If you're First Nation, that should mean something. Having Kenora as a home, they should say that with pride."

Nearly a quarter of Kenora's population is Indigenous, according to the 2021 census.

Mandamin said the relationship between the city and First Nations people has been strained for decades.

"A lot of the racism and lack of understanding — all that accumulated to where we are today," Mandamin said. "We want to [address] those issues, discuss them and come up with solutions."

With direction from Grand Council Treaty #3, Kenora city council created the Indigenous relations adviser position in 2022.

"Since that time, we've been working with various recruitment efforts to ensure that we had the best candidate and the right fit to do this work," said Heather Pihulak, the city's director of corporate services. 

Mandamin's work will help guide the city's strategy for truth and reconciliation while also decolonizing the municipality from within, she explained.

"We have a lot of work to do just within our own house with gaining cultural awareness with our own staff and really educating everybody in the organization, which will ultimately strengthen the city's capacity to work with Indigenous organizations, businesses and the various communities," Pihulak said.

Mandamin's appointment is timely, he said. Last year was the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 3 and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Anicinabe Park Occupation, when dozens of young First Nations people in Kenora protested for better living conditions, education, and access to land.

Mandamin said he plans to create an advisory council of grandmothers and grandfathers who can help guide him to addressing these long-standing issues.