Bill Dennis called a Sarnia city hall mural “woke art” decrying its cost

Heather Wright/The Independent

The unveiling of a mural to celebrate the connections between Sarnia and the Indigenous nations in the area has led to a call for another investigation into comments from a City/County Councillor Bill Dennis.

Thursday, the city unveiled a mural in the lobby of city hall. It was created by Haudenosaunee artist Kennady Osborne and highlights the relationship between Sarnia-Lambton and The Council of Three Fires Confederacy; the Ojibway, Odawa, and Potawatomi people. It features three Elders, symbolizing each of the three fires, and each nation’s responsibility in the Council of the Three Fires and the centre Elder, a woman, celebrates women’s roles as respected life givers, knowledge keepers and the foundation of families.

The mural was part of Sarnia’s actions under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. It’s federal legislation which sets a national standard for reconciliation, and according to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities “fundamentally shifts how (municipalities) engage with Indigenous people, manage land use and deliver services.”

Dennis took aim at what he called “woke” art. “Do you feel that this is a smart way to spend almost $5000 of your tax dollars? This in my opinion is nothing more than virtue signalling by woke politicians who are out of touch with the vast majority of Sarnians,” he wrote on a social media post.

Aamjiwnaang First Nation Chief Janelle Nahmabin called the politician out in the post saying “A beautiful painting is woke? Because it has brown people? The race division you continuously perpetuate resolves nothing. This art reflects the history of this area. Does the presence of Aamjiwnaang bother you? Or rather, our existence? Seems like it does. It’s a shame to you that the “Indians” still exist, doesn’t it? Bill how much of tax dollars has your poor and tantrum-like behaviour caused citizens?”

Dennis shot back saying Nahmabin was “terrified” he would become the mayor and “I will fight you lock stock and barrel if you try to go after other Sarnia refineries and jobs…The first thing I will do is tear up that ridiculous UNDRIP partnership that gives us an obligation to seek your permission on our decisions on expansion, development and economic growth. I will fully educate the citizens of Sarnia on that ridiculous agreement.”

Dennis added, in response to those defending the artwork “screw calls to (the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s) action. Screw the UN. Canada is Not on Stolen Land…when I become mayor it will be taken down and replaced with a huge Canadian flag.”

The online exchange led First Nation leaders from Kettle and Stony Point, Chippewa of the Thames, Walpole Island and the Caldwell First Nation to ask the city’s Integrity Commissioner to investigate.

In a her letter, Walpole Island/Bkejwanong Chief Leela Thomas said calling the mural woke art “is deeply offensive and dismissive. Support for Indigenous art is not a political trend. It is tied to culture, identity, history, and ongoing efforts toward truth and reconciliation. Reducing it to a derogatory or trivialized term undermines its significance and disrespects Indigenous peoples and those individuals that are taking action towards reconciliation.”

She added, “Vulgar language, personal attacks, threats, and intimidation towards Indigenous leadership is unprofessional and unacceptable. Further, the UNDRIP agreement is the whole basis for how our nations and the city work together. Promising to get rid of it, shows that Mr. Dennis does not recognize our inherent, treaty, and constitutional rights. This goes beyond offensive, it is a threat to the formal relationship that we have been striving to build over the years.”

There was also support for the artwork by former Kettle and Stony Point Chief Jason Henry. “Long before there was a city called Sarnia, the lands along the St. Clair River, Point Edward, and the Lake Huron shoreline were part of a thriving Anishinaabe homeland. That is not opinion. That is history,” he wrote on social media. “Recognizing that through art is no different than preserving “stones and bones” artifacts or celebrating settler heritage, it is simply telling the full story.”

A special meeting of Sarnia council has been called for Tuesday to address the matter.

For her part, Nahmabin is disappointed Osborne’s art is in the middle of the controversy.

“It’s beautiful,” the Chief tells The Independent. “It is something that should not have been dimmed by anybody. This young Indigenous woman should have been celebrated, uplifted and her work appreciated.”

This is not the first time Dennis’ words about the leader of Aamjiwnaang leader landed on the Integrity Commissioners’ desk. In Nov. 2024, when Aamjiwnaang requested a fine paid to Lambton for pollution on their land be transfered to the First Nation, Dennis said levied charges of “environmental terrorism” against Nahmabin saying she wanted to “get rid of the Chemical Valley.”

An integrity commissioner found him in voilation of Lambton County Council’s Code of Conduct. Councillors agreed and reprimanded Dennis for his actions. They also recommended he read the Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario’s 2017 Environmental Protection Report, which details the history of Aamjiwnaang and the environmental pollution there.