By: Fred Groves, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter

The County of Essex is being urged to do a better job with its Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan.

Early in September, members of county council and administration met in a closed-door education session with Dillion Consulting and its partners, Indigevisor Inc.

On August 25, Alana Vigna of Dillon sent a letter to the county stating, “the County’s first ever Strategic Plan (2023) recognized the need to build stronger relationships with Indigenous communities and groups and that the County has largely not taken steps to advance the applicable Calls to Action that were recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”

Recommendations from the consultant to the county include guidance on how to best build relationships and develop a County-specific Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan tailored to the county’s unique needs, challenges and opportunities.

This includes policy development, community engagement, employment practices, service delivery and awareness campaigns.

“We are going through the process to educate ourselves on how we can better incorporate Truth and Reconciliation,” says Essex County CAO Sandra Zwiers.

The consultants also suggested improving relationships with Indigenous communities and leaders and addressing systemic barriers in the county’s policies, practices and procedures.

“We are always open to learning new things and improving ourselves,” added Zwiers.

She noted that the consultants are the experts but said she feels the county is doing good work when it comes to Truth and Reconciliation.

In January, the Town of Tecumseh unveiled a bronze statue of Chief Tecumseh, after whom the town was named.

Two years prior, local wood carver and artist Fred Zavadil had offered his plaster carving of the chief, which was later turned into a statue.

“We are thrilled to be adding a significant legacy piece to the Town’s art collection thanks to the generosity of the artist Mr. Fred Zavadil,” said Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara in a press release.

The County of Essex and local municipalities have an Indigenous Land Acknowledgement that is read prior to the commencement of public meetings and says –

‘We acknowledge the land of which the County of Essex is located is the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations comprised of the Ojibway, Odawa and Potawatomie Peoples. We specifically recognize Caldwell First Nation and other First Nations which have provided significant historical and contemporary contributions to this region. We also value the contributions of all Original Peoples of Turtle Island, who have been living and working on this land from time immemorial.’