Cathy Dobson/ Local Journalism Initiative

Sarnia City councillors did their best to make amends Tuesday for divisive and disrespectful comments directed to Indigenous people by Councillor Bill Dennis.

But the damage is done and the council does not have the tools to go father than demanding an apology, say several members of council.

March 18, a mural by Indigenous artist Kennady Osborne was unveiled at city hall. It is 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.” The mural highlights the relationship between Sarnia-Lambton and The Council of Three Fires Confederacy; the Ojibway, Odawa, and Potawatomi people.

On social media, Dennis took aim at what he called “woke” art. “Do you feel that this is a smart way to spend almost $5,000 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.

Aamjiwnaang First Nation Chief Janelle Nahmabin replied, in part; “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.”

Dennis replied the Chief is “terrified” of his ambitions to become mayor because he would fight what he says are Nahmabin’s plans to shut down petrochemical plants. He added if Nahmabin didn’t like his plans she could “put that in her pipe and smoke it.”

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.

Four motions from Councillor Adam Kilner were approved including that council seek input from the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Council will also send thanks to Osborne for her work on the mural and will receive an update on the progress of Sarnia’s UNDRIP committee.

Possibly most pressing is an apology from Dennis to the artist and local Indigenous communitys that council has requested within 30 days.

Dennis, who is vacationing in Florida and normally attends virtually when out of town, did not attend the council meeting. On social media, after seeing Kilner’s request for an apology, said it would not happen.

MORE TO COME…