Kenora Report Charts Path to Indigenous Reconciliation

A groundbreaking study is giving an Ontario community the tools it needs to heal centuries-old wounds and build genuine partnerships with Indigenous neighbors.

Dr. Jeffrey Denis, a McMaster University sociology professor, spent six years listening to Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and diverse community members in Kenora to understand what reconciliation truly means. The result is "Azhe-mino-gahbewewin," an Anishinaabemowin phrase meaning "stepping back to go forward in a good way."

The research team conducted 47 in-depth interviews along with sharing circles and community events starting in 2019. They worked closely with respected Elders including Jeanette Skead and Tommy Keesick, who participated in the historic Anicinabe Park occupation.

What emerged was a nuanced picture of both challenge and hope. While participants described ongoing struggles with systemic racism, poverty, and colonial trauma, they also pointed to real progress happening right now.

The Ripple Effect

Indigenous communities in the region are experiencing what Denis calls "resurgence and renewal" through powerful grassroots initiatives. Educational programs, community celebrations, land-based healing camps, and cultural events are strengthening Indigenous identity and sharing knowledge across generations.

Cross-cultural partnerships are forming, Indigenous representation is growing, and cultural visibility is increasing throughout the area. These aren't just symbolic gestures but concrete steps toward equity and mutual respect.

The report offers practical recommendations that anyone can support. Priorities include investing in Indigenous-led programs, creating purpose-built housing, supporting youth development, removing healthcare barriers, and returning land to Indigenous stewardship.

Importantly, Denis emphasizes that while reconciliation is everyone's responsibility, settlers and settler institutions who have benefited from colonization must carry the primary burden of change. The City of Kenora and Grand Council Treaty #3 have already committed to working together, and this report provides a roadmap for meaningful collaboration.

The complete report is freely available online at reconciliationkenora.ca, inviting every resident to play an active role. Denis stresses that reconciliation must be rooted in local relationships, guided by Indigenous voices, and sustained through structural change, not just symbolic acts.

The work happening in Kenora shows that honest conversations about painful truths can lead to genuine healing and partnership.