On Aug. 28 I attended the Serpent River First Nation-Elliot Lake meeting hosted by the Haldimand Tract Good Neighbours Coalition unaware that the meeting was by invitation only.
What struck me was the very respectful relationship that exists between Mayor Rick Hamilton and Chief Isadore Day. Perhaps, for these two communities, the ability or capacity to construct such a positive working relationship is in large part due to the clarity of leadership.
If it is understood who are the leaders for each community, then the challenge to work collaboratively can be undertaken. Among Six Nations, the tensions between those who support the elected band council and those who support the Confederacy interfere with the ideal of decision making by consensus.
The other observation that I made was that the alliance between these two leaders is a politically appropriate one. While I believe that the intent of the Haldimand Tract Good Neighbours Coalition is a highly commendable effort in creativity and goodwill, it tactically is less credible since it involves a representation of developers rather than those elected to represent all the interests of the citizens of Brantford and Brant County and those who are construed to act as leaders for Six Nations.
If headway is to be made with any level of the Canadian government, given the government's historic lack of interest in addressing the issues, the momentum needs to come from the efforts of collaborative, united and recognized bodies of authority.
The pressures cannot come from organizations that appear to promote a more narrow self-interest or focus. The success of Serpent River First Nation and the city of Elliot Lake is the common objectives of quality of life for everyone. With that fundamental priority as its guiding force, all issues from any groups can be negotiated.
My last observation was the impact made by anyone who addressed the audience. To those individuals who presented their questions, information, observations and points of view in a respectful, non-accusatory manner, they succeeded well in being heard with an open mind.
To those individuals who did not, their comments served only to create an unfavourable reaction despite the fact that they may have had valid points. What the relationship in the northern communities demonstrated so very clearly is that respectful communication is the grounding keystone that will allow for the negotiations of even the most contentious issues since everyone involved in the process were consciously aware of the line in the sand governing behaviour and presentation.
Leaders from both communities here need to emulate this and choose their most patient and diplomatic spokespersons to engage in a constructive, mutually beneficial working relationship. The first step that was suggested toward this end would need to be the dismissal of the injunction and the elimination of lawyers in any joint process.
Catherine ten Hertog Brantford