Elliot Lake has joined neighbouring communities Serpent River First Nation (SRFN) and Mississauga First Nation (MFN) with a signed five-year agreement for joint operation of the popular Mississaugi Provincial Park in a ceremony this morning.
The ceremony was held at the invitation of MFN at its cultural centre with leaders from the three communities, Elliot Lake Acting Mayor Andrew Wannan, MFN chief Bob Chiblow and SRFN chief Brent Bissaillion joined by provincial minister of Environment, Parks and Conservation David Piccini.
It’s the first joint agreement signed by several municipalities to operate one of the province’s provincial parks and according to Piccini has drawn interest from other Ontario communities potentially interested in similar joint ventures.
Chief Chiblow welcomed those assembled at the ceremony making his comments following a pipe ceremony which is a tradition.
“When we’re doing this signing that we’re doing here I think it’s more than management of a piece of land our First Nations communities have been managing our land for time immemorial so this isn’t something being bestowed on us what this is is establishing our ability to work together with our neighbours… that’s what this agreement is,” the chief said. “When you talk about reconciliation that’s re-establishing relationships and set the base for future relationships.”
“In the future, you’ll see a lot of things coming out with us working together.”
Piccini said he is excited about the process started by the joint venture.
“This is an opportunity to learn, to explore the outdoors and I’m incredibly grateful to do things your way,” the minister said. “I’m excited about the incredible work that’s gone on here.”
Former Elliot Lake councillor Ed Pearce who has worked for the past seven years when talks started to bring about an agreement for joint management of the park was clearly emotional in his comments thanking all the people he has worked with helping to make the agreement a reality.
He recalled briefly in 2012 when the park located about 20 kilometres north of Elliot was almost closed.
“I think this is a wonderful occasion,” Wannan said. “I think it’s tremendous for our region. I think there’s a lot of cooperation that I’ve seen going on. The park has always been important to our community.”
“I think we have started something…I look forward to working together as equals,” he added.
SRFN chief Bissaillion said the municipalities have worked hard and will continue to work together for the benefit of all the communities.
“We will acknowledge that we can’t go back and fix the past, but there are ways that we can continue to improve the future,” he said. “We have a new standard that we’ll conduct ourselves in the future.”
The ceremony also saw the unveiling of a new crest for the park emphasizing elements of the joint venture and nature.
Original story: Lindsay Kelly, Northern Ontario Business
Serpent River First Nation, Mississauga First Nation and the City of Elliot Lake have entered into an agreement to jointly operate Mississagi Provincial Park.
Announced by the province on Jan. 31, the agreement means that all three parties — together operating as the Mississagi Park Foundation — will enjoy the economic benefits of the park’s operation, including employment and related tourism activities.
“Years of hard work and determination have resulted in the formation of the Mississagi Park Foundation, an effort that will allow all three communities to continue to provide recreational activities within this unique landscape both now and for the next Seven Generations,” Mississauga First Nation Chief Bob Chiblow said in a government news release.
“We will ensure all those who visit the park will not only experience its great beauty but will also gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the Anishinaabe culture when they leave.”
Located 25 kilometres north of Elliot Lake, within Robinson Huron Treaty territory and the traditional territory of the Anishinaabek, Mississagi Provincial Park encompasses more than 2,100 acres (4,900 hectares) of wilderness.
According to the province, it’s classified as a Natural Environment Park because of its “significant, preserved natural features, such as its rolling hills, forests, lakes, and streams.”
Within the park, visitors can paddle lakes, hike trails, and explore abandoned copper mines and logging camps from the area’s industrial past.
More than 19,000 people visited the park in 2021.
Ontario Parks currently has four other operating agreements with Indigenous communities, including Beausoleuil First Nation to operate Springwater Provincial Park, Moose Cree First Nation to operate Tidewater Provincial Park, Curve Lake First Nation to operate the visitor centre at Petroglyphs Provincial Park, and Lac La Croix to operate park entry stations and maintenance of canoe portages at Quetico Provincial Park.