Celebrating five decades of steady growth of community businesses
WIIKWEMKOONG—For over half a century, Endaadmaagehjik (or the Wiikwemkoong Development Commission [WDC] as it was known for most of its existence) has been building economic capacity on Manitoulin and the organization now has a host of companies under its wing.
From its humble beginnings in 1970 as a vision of Ogimaa John Wakegijig baa and band councillors Arthur Jacko baa, Antoine Gabow baa, Henry Hill baa, Onezime Bebamikawe baa and Henry Peltier baa, and despite the loss of three of the proponents in a tragic accident in 1971, the project came to fruition in 1973 under the hand of Ogimaa Wakegijig’s son Ron baa, who also became chief of WUT. The first board of directors were the eight band councillors of the day.
Following a hiatus of five years, WDC was reconstituted by Ogimaa Wakegijig and, thanks to the steady management of general manager Clayton Shawana baa, the organization rose phoenix-like to meet the community’s economic needs and has never looked back (well, except for honouring its founders and staff over the years).
The Expositor was recently invited on a tour of the organization and its many progenies and sat down with WDC general manager Mary Lynn Odjig to talk history, the present and future plans for development of the Island’s largest community.
“I can’t believe it,” said Ms. Odjig. “It just seemed like a little while ago we celebrated the 35th.”
In fact, this is actually the organization’s 51st year as of Monday, September 9. “We’re going to celebrate again—the board especially,” said Ms. Odjig. “We couldn’t do it last year—our actual 50th—because we were too busy, so it’s still the 50th year.”
The staff at Endaadmaagehjik planned the celebrations which were aimed at the Wiikwemkoong community members, she said. “They wanted to make sure it was a community event, so we didn’t employ a lot of people, dignitaries or anybody, we just kept it focused on local.”
The result, said Ms. Odjig, was a fun event focused on community members. “So that’s where we had the kids’ fun room, bingo for the elders (they really enjoyed that) and then the music.” It provided a great opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the band entities, businesses and enterprises like Rainbow Ridge and Wiky Tourism.”
That list of enterprises is considerable. They include Wii-n’ guch-tood Labour Market Services (28 years old), Rainbow Ridge Golf Course (22 years old), FirstTel (21 years old), Wiikwemkoong Tourism (16 years old), Your Dollar Store (10 years old), and Point Grondine Park (eight years old).
Ms. Odjig explains that the WDC is also mandated to provide training needs of the community and delivers a number of training programs.
“Our mandate is to create employment and generate our own source revenue through economic development,” she said. Plans are in play to build a training centre to be located in one of the buildings that will soon be replaced (a school and the current nursing home).
Other developments include a strip mall (since expanded with plans in play for even more) and wood pellet distribution and supply business.
“The one big project right now is the wood pellet manufacturing plant in Nairn Centre,” noted Ms. Odjig. Former WDC business development advisor Nicki Manitowabi was in charge of the project before she moved to become WUT financial policy advisor. “When she went, she asked the band if she could take the wood pellet manufacturing file with her,” said Ms. Odjig. “So, she’s still working on it. I’m so happy because she has so much information she’s holding in her head.” Ms. Odjig noted that, although the business plan was a huge tome, Ms. Manitowabi has the details pretty much in her head. “She understands everything,” said Ms. Odjig. “I had other files, like the industrial park and Point Grondine, so I couldn’t handle that as well.”
“We were looking for property all over the place including the Highway 536 corridor up north, where the forest is.”
The beauty of the Nairn Centre property is not only the access to wood “waste” nearby, but also the close proximity of the highway and rail service—even water.
“It was the perfect location,” she said. “The property was owned by Ted Bell (T-Bell). “The band purchased it.”
WDC was contemplating building a new hotel on property beside WUT, “it was sort of the priority, then the wind farm came up. So, they decided to put it into wind.”
But the so-called Halliday property is still there and goes all the way to Clover Valley Road, and the current thinking is to build market rent accommodations on the site.
“Accommodations are really needed on the Island,” said Ms. Odjig. “There is a lot of land there and so, we’re looking at market-based housing such as condos of some kind—we’re looking at a model. There’s a need for housing even on our First Nations and a lot of employed people here that would be willing to live in Manitowaning. It’s not that far away. That’s the next big thing we are going to be starting to work on.”
“The band is actually providing mortgages to band members to build their own, purchase a house, or renovate their house,” noted Ms. Odjig. WDC administers the Home Ownership Investment Fund program on behalf of the band.
Another major ongoing project is the Point Grondine Eco Park.
Wiikwemkoong Tourism manager Luke Wassegijig is currently spending a great deal of his time on that site. Ms. Odjig noted that it is important to maintain a presence on that land to ensure those resources are not being accessed without permission from WUT.
Like just about everyone else, WDC’s plans were heavily impacted by COVID and the concurrent jump in construction costs.
“That’s been a really challenge, to build, because of COVID—the pricing was crazy,” she said. “I had the building going in phases, so the trail system is in, half of the campgrounds are in. We have one cabin we’re leasing and then we have the administration building and the gate host. We couldn’t build a building, so we’re using a trailer right now. So, we’re still building in phases.”
The park shows great promise as the demand has been strong.
“Killarney is full up all the time,” said Ms. Odjig. “They have to turn people away.” In order to ensure the band’s workers do not have to travel the considerable amount of distance to the park and back, WDC is renting an apartment “for our guys to stay and then go up to the park every day. It’s a real big challenge, but the reason why we’re out there is chief and council wanted a presence.”
“So those are the three big projects—but we are still doing other projects.
Ms. Odjig introduced The Expositor to the staff at WDC before heading out on a tour of the businesses and projects WDC have put in place and are working on.
First off is Wiikwemkoong Tourism where a vibrant crew of dedicated individuals have been assisting visitors arriving by bus, both land and cruise ship tours, in learning about WUT and what it has to offer.
Then it’s on to FirstTel, the home of Wiky TV5 and a host of telecommunication services that are offered to consumers all over Ontario. Manager Joe Corbiere explains that the band has installed fibre optic lines up to the water tower (and subdivision) on the hills above the village of Wikwemikong and points proudly to a series of cell towers that serve the community. “We are a reseller of Bell service,” he notes. FirstTel is unique in that it has a customer service representative fluent in Anshinaabemowin.
Rainbow Ridge Golf Course in neighbouring Manitowaning is one of the most successful undertakings of the WDC and this year the 18-hole golf course is seeing one of its best years ever. Fabled Wiikwemkoong elder Scotty Fisher baa was one of the driving forces in the course’s initial founding.
Currently, WDC operates as a property manager overseeing commercial leases for two 9,000 square-foot strip malls housing 15 business tenants and in 2022 WDC constructed a wood pellet distribution centre—currently supply wood pellets for heat to seven community buildings and 107 residential homes.
One of the most popular stops in Wiikwemkoong for both residents and visitors is Your Dollar Store With More—well stocked and serviced by helpful friendly staff, the store is seeing a rapid growth in its customer base.
Current WDC board members include: Adam Kaboni, Jean Oshkabewisens, Kerry Assiniwe, Lloyd McGregor and Lawrence Enosse—while the previous board members read like a virtual who’s who of the movers and shakers in the community.
“We have an amazing and dedicated staff,” notes Ms. Odjig, adding that they take immense pride helping to build the economic wellbeing of WUT.
