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Council Approves First Nations Advisory Committee

Racism issues in Timmins will be the main focus of a new committee.

Timmins City Council has voted in favour of creating a First Nations Advisory Committee and Leadership Forum. This comes after two Special Investigation Unit investigations launched in February for incidents involving Timmins Police and Indigenous people, as well as the Chief Ontario Human Rights Commissioner saying that racism is normalized in Timmins.

Mayor Steve Black says with the last Census showing that over 10 per cent of the city’s population is Indigenous, creating a committee to solve racism issues is important. Black says now that council is backing this action to recognize the truth and reconciliation process, the next step is to gather all the Indigenous stake holders and create some goals for the committee.

Black says the city and new committee will be looking at adding cultural awareness to the city by:

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  1. hosting cultural sensitivity and awareness training along with truth and reconciliation training focusing on education regarding historical events, cultural differences, and treaty rights
  2. supporting the formation of a leadership forum that brings local municipal leaders and Indigenous leaders together on a regularly scheduled basis.
  3. having three flags raised at city hall on National Aboriginal Day (June 21st, 2018) including the Mattagami First Nation Flag (Timmins Traditional Territory), Nishnawbe Aski Nation Flag, and the Metis Nation of Ontario Flag.
  4. allocating $50,000 of the 2017 surplus to go to cover costs of training, costs of flag poles and go towards supporting National Aboriginal Day celebration events during the week of June 18th to 22nd.

Black says Goldcorp has also agreed to match the city’s $50,000 allocation to cover costs of training, costs of flag poles supporting National Aboriginal Day celebration events because the company believes this is a big step forward.

He says when the city went through the strategic plan, improving Indigenous relationships within the city is something that was highlighted.

Black says he has some upcoming meetings with the Grand Chief of Mushkegowuk and Chief of Fort Albany. He adds that once he gets input from those stake holders, council can start looking at appointing members to the committee.

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