A case study of respectful relations, anti- racist solidarity, and the social economy

Transitional economy: Railway, Military old economic drivers Health, political, educational services new economic drivers 28.18% aboriginal identity population Service centre for 29 First Nations, 27,000 people pop. 5,183 Northwestern Ontario, Treaty 3 Map courtesy of Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority

 Literature Review  22 semi-structured interviews ◦ Arranged by community-based researcher ◦ Mixed in terms of race, age (20s-80s), gender, and involvement with the organization  SLARC archival research ◦ Collected by the community-based researcher

Dialogue Support Bonding Prevention

 Participants values on approaches to anti-racism work converge  The distinction between “bonding” and “bridging” forms of social capital falls apart where SLARC has created space for cross-cultural relationship building  “Social capital” is too vague to accurately reflect SLARC’s impact  Demonstrates the impact of advocacy in building a stronger social economy and greater community inclusivity  Bonds of solidarity – commitment – is most significant.

Racism and denial of racism: Racist responses to surveys from 2000: “SLARC has failed to educate the bums of Front St. on what’s been happening over 10 years” ; “drunk Indians […] think they own the town.” Constant financial shortfall: “I think funding agencies have to start recognizing this is part of where we live, and there is racism and there is discrimination, and if there’s a program that’s working you should keep funding it, consistently, because it’s for the betterment of everybody.”

 Meno-Ya-Win Health Centre ◦ 4 party agreement between Ontario, Canada, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and Town of Sioux Lookout  Downtown redevelopment that will provide new location for Multicultural Youth Centre and SLARC offices  Discussions on the creation of an urban reserve  Increasing Nishnawbe presence in local civil society/decision making bodies  Increasing number of bilingual signs  Bonds of solidarity: ◦ “I think that sense of commitment, there’s people who’ve been there from the beginning and are still involved, and I tip my hat to them because it’s jolly hard work, exhausting work at times, and yet they’re not willing to give up.”

Sean Meades NORDIK Institute Algoma University 1520 Queen St. East Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2G ext SLARC