Sault Ste. Marie Learning Circle

June 18th, 2009 Notes

Algoma University
11 am to 1 pm

Regrets: Karen B., Carol Ha., Gayle B.,

Brought forth Carol E.’s request that we open with a smudge; everyone was okay with that – (for future reference, request has to go to AU’s physical resource to ensure safety)

  • Interesting to note that the sage jumped out of the smudge bowl - seriously! Much like the rocks in the centre of the circle jumped out Christine’s arms at the first circle!

  • Also interesting to note is that Carol shared some significance about the medicine and indicated that she finds it opens up the process---this being said, during the first go-around, much energy and dialogue emerged such that the group has a second vision for a project: working towards having a monument or piece of architecture in bawating/SSM that is reflective of Indigenous presence.

The go-around also confirmed existing agenda items and identified new ones:

  1. The main item on the agenda was carried out by Derek and Natalie who presented their work of the past month on the Environmental scan (See copy of this draft/working document will be included in hard copy of notes in the UAED binder);

  2. Question – Still trying to better understand who the players are in this group?

  3. Update on proposal submission

Environmental Scan

Reviewed the document and the questions that Natalie and Derek had for the group around structure, organization, method;

Reviewing the questions (6) which covered urban boundaries; defining Aboriginal Economic Development; who are the Aboriginal groups to be included, communication strategy (i.e. will it be published); range of services to be included (i.e. solely Aboriginal centered or all services?); how do we research Ab. Businesses?

  • Discussed ‘names’ given to groups—who’s who? (i.e. Indian vs. Ojibway vs. Anishinaabek); region/geography – where/what are the borders for various groups of people, suggested it would be useful to have a map as a visual references (Carolyn He. said she would bring this in; Christine raised the point that ‘maps’ are helpful but limited because they do not include Indigenous place names, natural boundaries or borders known/utilized by Indigenous groups, do not reflect treaty territories); start with identifying a group of people to interview and snowball out from there in terms of who

  • Re: inclusion of local First Nation (Batchewana and Blue Heron Industrial Park)- discussed ‘urban reserves’ and ‘urban reserves’ – yes to include them and their businesses; yes to include Soo Tribe (Carol later stated that Soo Tribe considers itself to be an urban Aboriginal group)

  • Find out for certain about publishing the document, what will be done with this data/knowledge; have to inform people what the purpose is, what will be done with it; (possibly tie this to a vision statement, mission statement; refer to main question group generated in LC#1)

  • Suggest to identify first who Urban Aboriginal people are and then find out from them what Urban Aboriginal Economic Development is; keep it from the ground up, organic, with the community people;

  • SWOT – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats is a framework for assessing/defining/determining urban Aboriginal Economic Development and/or an e-dev project;

  • In terms of meeting with people, what do we do about invitations if they want to attend? (did we answer this?)

  • Including non-Native agencies in the data collection – still to be answered.

  • Questions regarding Aboriginal businesses prompted a broader discussion around economic development; also, prompted suggestion that economic development was inclusive of but not limited to discussion of business development;

The group re-focused back on the original intent of the Environmental Scan on UAED—to address the need of knowing who urban Aboriginal people are before being able to identify UA ec-dev or potential projects.

  • Talked of doing interviews, focus groups with urban Aboriginal people, letting them share who they are (including those in the group) as well as including perspectives from non-Indigenous people (there has to be a better way to name people who are not Indigenous to the area or Canada);

  • Spent some time discussing the roots of the Learning Circle and who is involved.

In the spirit of beginning to have the group members themselves engage in the question – who are urban Aboriginal people, we will come back to the next group ready to continue this discussion;

  • Christine will do a short presentation of her research to the group;

  • Eric will present more information on local history regarding how an Anishinaabek gravesite was unearthed when the beer store on Great Northern Rd. was being built;

  • Carol E. will bring back some potential contacts for the project in Sault Michigan and perhaps some additional reflections/observations on the question

  • Likely be some discussion from Carolyn He. regarding maps she brings in;

  • Of course, any other results that people would like to share about their reflections.

 

Proposal was submitted and awaiting a response.

Next meeting: July 16, 2009.