Letter to Community

January 26, 2010

Dear Rama First Nation Members,

During the past week, a number of stories in the Orillia Packet & Times relating to Rama First Nation community issues have been published. A number of you have contacted us expressing your concerns about the Packet and other outside media as a forum for community issues. When contacted for comment by the newspaper, Chief and Council declined primarily because we believe that our community business does not belong in the public press. It attracts the kind of negativity that has plagued First Nations for decades.

As you know, the public does not understand how our community operates and believe we should operate as a municipality.

Rama First Nation Chief and Council are responsible for a significant scope of administration. They include all the services provided by a municipal government plus Health and Social Services, Education, Housing and Business Development to name a few. We also deal with all levels of external government including First Nations governments and related treaties. As part of our accountability and transparency to you, our members, we provide updates through regular community meetings, including unaudited and audited financial reports.

Over the years, Rama leadership has completed a number of visioning initiatives in consultation with you, our membership, both on and off-reserve. The most recent ten-year visioning consultation was completed in 2005-2006. Your vision established health, education, language and culture, economic development and diversification to be among the community’s key priorities in our strategic planning process.

No government – First Nation or otherwise – and no matter how accountable, will be able to satisfy all of its constituents all of the time in spite of opportunities for community employment; investment in education; housing; and the like. Rama First Nation is no exception. Indeed, on an ongoing basis, information that has been the subject of editorializing by the Orillia Packet & Times has been made available by Rama First Nation leadership to our community members.

With so many positive developments and opportunities in Rama First Nation, it is unfortunate to see a negative focus on our community. We have so many good stories to share.

In calls over the past few days, many of you have voiced support for Chief and Council’s decision to continue to focus on our accountability to you. Miigwech for letting us know how you feel. We appreciate your continued support as Rama First Nation begins an exciting new decade of growth and accomplishment.

Chief and Council