Background

On November 4, 2011, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities hosted a one-day workshop in Lac Seul First Nation to share information with participants on the First Nations-Municipal Community Infrastructure Partnership Program.

In attendance were representatives from the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, Lac Seul First Nation, Slate Falls First Nation and FCM. The discussion centered on relationship building, partnership dynamics, current challenges that the communities are facing and opportunities to work collaboratively to address these challenges. A detailed discussion around communication and Friendship Agreements occupied much of the afternoon session.

Friendship Accord Group Photo

One of the action items identified at the end of the day-long session was the development of a Friendship Accord that all three communities would sign on National Aboriginal Day, June 21, 2012.

Since the original signing of the Friendship Accord, the First Nation communities of Slate Falls, Cat Lake, Lac Seul and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug have also become signatories to the Accord. 

Sioux Lookout continues to support relationship building and reconciliation initiatives, through the First Nation Municipal Community Business Hub, the Innovation Station and via the Municipal Truth and Reconciliation Committee. Please see some of the Committee's early achievements in the attached booklet First Annual Report of the Mayor's Committee on Truth and Reconcilliation.