THUNDER BAY - Sharing a meal is a common sign of friendship, and leaders in Thunder Bay and First Nations communities want to strengthen friendships in order to build safer, healthier, and more inclusive neighbourhoods for everyone.
“The best way to start with that messaging is just to invite people in and have a meal together, show people that you care, share food,” said Lee-Ann Chevrette, coordinator of the Thunder Bay Crime Prevention Council. “I think that really goes a long way.”
On Saturday, the signatories of the Friendship Agreement hosted Together We Are Stronger, a community feast in downtown Fort William.
The feast, held at the Hub Bazaar, included free stew, bannok, and treats, but as good as the meal was, the feast was meant to serve as a way of bringing people together.
“I’m really happy to see the response here,” Chevrette said. “There are close to 50 or 60 people and we just started. I think we can all put some energy into this neighbourhood and invite people in. I am just thrilled to see the turnout here today.”
Mary Ellen Thomas, who has been contracted by the city to assist with Indigenous relations through the Friendship Agreement, said she has been listening to the people in the community who say it is important to start working together.
“Together we are stronger,” she said. “People have a lot of different perspectives and opinions. I feel that under that scope, I think we are stronger. The more we work together, the more we can make a positive impact on Thunder Bay.”
In September, 2017, the city of Thunder Bay, North Caribou Lake First Nation, Fort William First Nation, and the Thunder Bay Police Services Board, signed a Friendship Agreement to “promote mutual understanding and collaboration between all four partners and their citizens and will develop open cooperation for the benefit of community safety, education, culture, and engagement for those who reside, work, visit, and attend school in the city of Thunder Bay.”
Several other community events have been held following the signing of the agreement, including Halloween and Christmas feasts, which Thomas said were very well-received by people in the city.
“The support that came from the community is really a testament what goes on in the city,” she said. “We want to bring out the positive side of Thunder Bay.”
The feast on Saturday was about making people feel welcomed, feel safe, and having their voices heard, and Thomas said all partners in the Friendship Agreement are listening.
“I am hoping they will feel welcome in the community and we do appreciate their input when we talk and to let them know that we do listen,” she said. “We just have to lay out and move forward with a good plan in place.”
“I am hoping for people to see that there are a lot of people who care about this neighbourhood and committed to making this neighbourhood and our community in a broader sense safer for everyone,” Chevrette added. “That really starts with building relationships with one another, not only the organizations, but all of the citizens.”
According to Thomas, future events are being planned to make stronger connections throughout neighbourhoods in the city. From there, a survey will be developed to get input on how to move the plan forward.
