Native Council of P.E.I. upset with Mi’kmaq building proposal

The Mi’kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I. (MCPEI) will be taking its proposal to build on the Charlottetown waterfront to the Mi’kmaq people.

That is, if Charlottetown city council approves its request for a zoning change that allows MCPEI to include a retail and car rental component.

A public meeting was held at City Hall on Tuesday night, the public’s first chance to have its say about the proposed building at 8 Stan MacPherson Way (formerly part of Hillsborough Street).

The confederacy is asking to rezone the property from port zone to waterfront zone and to amend it in order to permit a car rental office for a maximum of 15 vehicles.

“If we’re successful (with the rezoning request) the next step for the First Nations governments . . . they will direct us to undertake community engagement,’’ said Don MacKenzie, executive director of MCPEI.

MacKenzie is referring to the fact the MCPEI is owned and directed by the Abegweit and Lennox Island First Nations.

“Our Mi’kmaq community members, off and on reserve will seek feedback and input before moving forward.’’

Only after council approval and consultation with the Mi’kmaq community would the building proceed.

The Native Council of P.E.I. (NCPEI) isn’t happy with the proposal. Specifically, it spoke out Wednesday that MCPEI should have gone to the aboriginal community first, not the City of Charlottetown, before a proposal was even put together.

Second, NCPEI says the confederacy only talks about consulting with the Abegweit and Lennox Island First Nations communities when there are numerous off-reserve members being ignored.

“Although others claim to represent the needs and interests of off-reserve members, the NCPEI believes that they do not, in fact, represent all of the interests of the collective off-reserve indigenous peoples residing on traditional Mi’kmaq territory on P.E.I., including those Mi’kmaq who are heirs to the original Mi’kmaq inhabitants,’’ said Chief Lisa Cooper, president of NCPEI.

There are some basic pillars at play with the proposal. The building itself would be owned by the First Nations so rather than the confederacy paying rent to the private sector it would be paying rent to itself, resulting in an economic development component.

“Hopefully, it will generate some aboriginal employment. It will be a true aboriginal friendship centre (where) proper services can be provided to the off-reserve aboriginal community,’’ MacKenzie said.

Then there is the cultural component. With thousands of cruise ship passengers getting off just yards away, one of the first things they would see would be authentic Mi’kmaq crafts and products.

“That would be an excellent gateway into the land of the Mi’kmaq who have been here for 10,000 years. The first thing these tourists are going to see is cultural displays from the indigenous people, and we’d be very excited about that.

“It represents not only opportunity for Mi’kmaq craftspeople but exposure of the culture. The Mi’kmaq think it’s fantastic, but I think the city and the province should embrace it as well because it’s an excellent message to send to those visiting.’’

The confederacy also wants the building to be tasteful and fit nicely with the neighbourhood.

MacKenzie said the design of the building would be in keeping with natural materials, such as Island stone and cedar and wood products found in P.E.I.

The proposed building is three storeys of roughly 8,000 square feet per floor.