On Thursday, October 15th, 2020, members of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory attended a conference hosted by SILTA (Secure Indigenous Land Tenure Association) and the Tenure Facility group, coordinated by Marie McGregor Pitawanakwat, and held at the South Bay Centre, in Dooganing (South Bay), Wiikwemkoong.

Based out of Sweden, this is from the Tenure Facility website:

Mission:

"The International Land and Forest Tenure Facility is a non-profit organization that provides grants to secure the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to their lands and forests, thereby strengthening their communities and reducing global climate change and poverty in forest areas in the world."

History:

"The Tenure Facility is a result of deep consultations with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, other financial mechanisms and civil society since 2012. The organization was launched in 2014 by the Rights and Resources Group (RRG), the coordinating mechanism of the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). A multi- stakeholder Advisory Group guided the initial pilot phase from 2014-2017. During this phase, six pilot projects demonstrated the effectiveness of strategically deployed funds to foster coordination between civil society and government in order to implement reforms and remove bottlenecks to secure the rights and livelihoods of communities. In addition, the pilots provided lessons to fine-tune working modalities of the new mechanism."

Elders spoke for 2 hours, mostly in Anishnawbemowin, about the land and history of Wiikwemkoong.  The objectives of the conference was to explore models of secure indigenous land tenure from around the world, and also to discuss how to apply land tenure models for Anishnaabe land use and ownership.  Hosted by Marie McGregor Pitawanakwat, we also hear from elders Phyllis Williams, Raymond Jackson, Jacob Wemigwans, Margaret Jackson, Mary Elizabeth Wemigwans, and Terry Debassige.  

Nahaaw, miigwetch!