Anti-Racist Activists Building Respectful Relations in the Social Economy of Sioux Lookout

Sioux Lookout

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 www.slfnha.com

REsolve• Since 2005• Certified, volunteer-run

conflict resolution & mediation service

Race Relations Week• Since 1994• Educational, cultural, and

social events planned around the week of March 21st

Sioux Mountain Music & Cultural Festival• Taken over from the

Blueberry Festival in 2005

• Music, Food & Arts

Multicultural Youth Centre• Since 1995• Youth-driven, occasional

programming, venue

Community Coalition for Healing and Reconciliation• Since 2009• Active participant

Active Programs

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

Methodology

Dialogue

Support

Bonding

Prevention Racis

m

Organizational Approach

Participants values on approaches to anti-racism work converge

Interrupting normalization of racism

Personal/Political Shift, “Do-Gooders,” and Identity Politics

“Old Sioux Lookout” & “New Sioux Lookout”

Demonstrates impact of advocacy in building a stronger social economy and greater community inclusivity

Personality Solidarity/Commitment is

significant

Discussion

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.”

Challenges

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.”

Progress

Sean MeadesNORDIK Institute

Algoma University1520 Queen St. EastSault Ste. Marie, ON

P6A 2G4705-949-2301 ext. 4357

sean.meades@algomau.

ca

SLARC807-737-1501info@slarc.cawww.slarc.ca

Thank you!Miigwech!

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