LITTLE BONE RESERVE — Possibilities abound at Little Bone Reserve thanks to the opening of a long-anticipated community centre.
The Chief Little Bone Community Centre opened on July 19 in the small community of the Zagime Anishinabek (formerly Sakimay First Nation). The centre will provide a gathering place for cultural and recreational events.
“The people of Little Bone now have a centre in their community that allows them to organize for the future and determine where they want to go,” said Zagime Chief Lynn Acoose.
“This centre is a way for them to build momentum towards defining their self-determination in the community,” she said.
The 6,500-square-foot facility includes a kitchen, multi-purpose room, and outdoor recreation space.
The centre will be available to community members for events such as weddings, meetings, and cultural gatherings.
The centre is not just about much-needed infrastructure it symbolizes so much more for the communities of Zagime.
“Little Bones was forced to illegally surrender their land many years ago, around 1903,” said Acoose. “Since they lost their land they’ve had very little in the way of community development and have never had a community centre. They’ve been asking for this for many years.”
Repeatedly they applied for funding from Infrastructure Canada, with no success, because Indigenous Services Canada does not recognize Little Bone as a distinct community, said Acoose.
But if there is a will there is a way.
They were able to complete the centre thanks to trust money, as well as settlement funds from their Treaty Land Entitlement claim.
“A lot of tears were shed at the grand opening,” said Acoose. “It was a really joyful celebration. They're looking forward to determining the type of programming they want to deliver from there.”
However, there is already a long list of services planned for the new space. This is to include after-school programs, child immunization and foot-care clinics, dietician services, first aid/safety and other training.
Previously, services in Little Bone such as immunizations had to be delivered in people’s homes, leading to inconsistencies in accessing services, said Acoose.
Community members are also looking forward to culture-centred activities and teachings, with plans to establish a farmers market, beading class, and basket weaving class.
“We want the community to guide it so there’s a sense of ownership. We want the vision of this place to come from the community,” said Acoose.
The Chief Little Bone Community Centre is located at the junction of Highway 9 and Marsh Road.
