Far North Friday #8: Most Important Meeting

First experiences are always important. They can set the context for a mundane or even confrontational engagement to a transformational experience. They can set the tone for the rest of your life.

Bearskin Lake First Nation is located about 1420 km (880 miles) northwest of Toronto, in northern Ontario (Photo 1).

In a previous post, I shared some reflections about my first visit to a fly-in First Nation Community in the homeland of Bearskin Lake First Nation, located in northwestern Ontario (Photo 1). I had no expectations going in to the meeting Chief Raymond Beardy, John Kam (John Kamenawatamin) and other band councilors. It was a “discovery” meeting. Everything was new to me. Little did I know that the meeting would have such a profound impact on me.

Why was this the most important meeting of my career? It was a respectful listening and information sharing meeting. There was no display of anger. There was humour and laughter as well as serious discussion. I recall commenting to John Kam that his notes were written in syllabics. I had never seen syllabic writing. I forget John’s exact response, but it was something like “that ensures you can’t read what I am writing”, followed by table laughter - including me.

I left with a realization that:

1. there was much that I did not understand about First Nation people;

2. meaningful participation is important;

3. mutual respect and understanding comes from genuine listening and engagement;

4. mutual awareness comes from visiting, seeing, and learning first hand about the First Nation reality; and

5. first impressions are really important.

I left the meeting with a profound respect for the Anishinaabe people and their right, in a culturally appropriate way, to participate, influence, and yes, even control, activities that affect their lives. That respect grew over time as I learned about the historic relationships between First Nation and settler people following European arrival in North America. The meeting opened a door to a new and exciting world. It was my motivation to continue to “go north” to learn.

The meeting could have gone so easily in the opposite direction, with quite different results. But, with the guidance of the Bearskin Lake First Nation leadership, it was a motivational meeting that opened more questions begging for answers.

I was compelled to express my gratitude to Chief Raymond Beardy (Photo 2) and John Kam. That took time. Over the next 14 years, I crossed paths with John Kam at conferences. I shared my thanks with him and always asked “where is Chief Raymond?” The last time I met John Kam was at a Toronto meeting of the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association (CAMA). I asked my question, John turned and said, “there he is”. I was stunned - no, dumbfounded. After 14 years of waiting, I was finally able to express my gratitude and give thanks to Chief Raymond, in person - all in the hall of a Toronto hotel.

Yes, first impressions ARE important. They can set the tone for the rest of your life. Miigwetch “peace keeper” Rubina Moskotaywenene, Nishnawbe Aski Police Officer Allan Legro, John Kam, community members, and Raymond Beardy. You all had an important influence on my life and career.

I could not have anticipated just how important that first meeting was. To this day, I consider the meetings in Bearskin Lake with: the First Nation band members on the street, in the hotel, outside the radio station; the political leadership; the peacekeeper; and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Officer to have been the most important of my life.

Andy Fyon, Aug 25, 2020 (Facebook post, March 13, 2020); Jan 3/23