Collaboration with First Nations
Representatives from several local municipalities and Indigenous groups are looking forward to spending more time together after spending time getting to know each other during a recent workshop aiming to foster future collaborations.
Representatives of Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Peterborough County, Selwyn Township, OtonabeeSouth Monaghan Township, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development and Sustainable Peterborough came together on Feb. 15 and 16.
The objective was to learn more about each other and how to collaborate moving forward. The workshop included presentations from each organization to provide background and ways to work together, organizers stated in a press release issued Tuesday.
The effort was a part of the Community Economic Development Initiative program jointly co-ordinated through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as well as Cano, a national, membership-based non-profit organization that supports economic development in indigenous communities.
The initiative aims to support municipal and indigenous neighbours and implement joint community economic development initiatives.
Another goal is to educate and provide awareness to the purpose and role of the First Nations consultation protocol when it comes to development within the Treaty 20 area, which includes Peterborough.
This will enhance the working relationship between municipalities and First Nations communities as they learn to better support, collaborate and work with one another on future projects, organizers said.
Over the next three years, the two local First Nations and municipalities will continue to attend workshops in which they will begin to collaborate on a project of shared interest.
The project has yet to be determined, but all parties involved are excited to move forward and make a difference in their communities and in the county, organizers stated.
NOTE: For more information on the Community Economic Development Initiative, visit: https://fcm.ca/home/programs/community-economicdevelopment-initiative.htm.