LIVING TOGETHER IN PEACE AND HARMONY

What would an urban reserve look like in the middle of Edmonton?

Indigenous populations in Canada are growing, especially in urban areas. According to the 2016 census, half of the population of First Nations people live in the western provinces. From 2006 to 2016, the number of Indigenous people living in a metropolitan area of 30,000 or more increased by 59.7 percent.

In the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, established in 1991, Chief Georges Erasmus and Justice Renée Dussault called Canada, “A test case for a grand notion” where people with different cultures and perspectives shared resources and power. They write, “The story of Canada is the story of many such peoples, trying and failing and trying again, to live together in peace and harmony.”

Urban reserves are one such way in which to try this out. They have been around in one form or another for a few hundred years. There are currently around 120 urban reserves in existence right now in Canada. One of the first modern urban reserves was created in Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan about 30 years ago.

There are two ways they have traditionally developed. The first is a reserve based near or within a city. This type of urban reserve dates back to the 1800s. The second, also called a new urban reserve, is a sort of satellite holding by a First Nation band. One example of this would be Yellow Quill First Nation owning a small street in Saskatoon, which includes a First Nations bank.

POSTCOLONIAL spaces

Urban reserves are a modern way of envisioning postcolonial Indigenous spaces for commerce, community and recreation.

“A lot of the current research challenges that these reserves are still very much governed by colonial norms,” said Zane Davey, a graduate student from McGill University in the School of Urban Planning. Davey would like to see more when it comes to the development of urban reserves and was personally motivated to research these areas because he sees the possibility for creating new Indigenous spaces with urban reserves.

“Right now they are at the beginning stages of establishing indigeneity and decolonization within the urban space.”

Historically, a lot of the development on urban reserves was focused on commercial or industrial growth: things that are important to a community’s success. They have not had as much of a focus on housing for community members.

But the social aspect of an urban reserve is an important consideration. “I believe that it could become a space in which culture is celebrated, where there is Indigenous housing, [such as] social housing provided to members of the nation,” Davey said.

WORKING AND LIVING TOGETHER

CHIEF BILLY MORIN, the youngest chief in Enoch Cree Nation history, declined to be interviewed for this piece as he is not currently speaking about urban reserves. However, Chief Morin did an Ask Me Anything in June on this topic in conjunction with the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues.

“It takes time, it takes effort, it takes teamwork,” Morin said in his recorded presentation about the creation of urban reserves. “Earlier this spring my awesome City Councillor Sarah Hamilton made a motion that the city will develop an urban reserve strategy.

“First Nations have their own rights and rules, but they live under the auspices of the federal government,” Morin continued as he explained about the sovereignty of Indigenous people and why urban reserves are important.

The key ideas regarding urban reserves and why they benefit First Nations people include social aspects, cultural aspects, and urban planning.

“Can an urban reserve lend itself in a plot to the city that provides services to Indigenous people in a different way than the great service providers that already exist?” Morin asked regarding the question of whether urban reserves can also address homelessness in Edmonton.

Urban reserves would likely be able to bring in additional resources through the federal government that the province or the municipality would not be able to, to help battle issues such as homelessness and addiction.

WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND

Both Davey and Morin are working to address the stigma of urban reserves based on many people not understanding how they work.

“As soon as someone mentions a reserve being built in the city, settler conditioning definitely makes people think of stereotypes, rural and neglected areas,” Davey said. “People think you’re going to have reserve dogs running around.”

The business owners on an urban reserve also face stigma when people mistakenly believe that there aren’t any taxes paid on the land. This may cause people to resent the new business owners, but it is based on a misunderstanding of how fees are paid.

“TAXES [ARE] A BIG WORD for all Edmontonians and it is a big word for First Nations too,” Morin said. He was referring to the misconception many people have that First Nations people don’t pay taxes. In fact, Indigenous people do still pay income tax. But they may not pay property tax if they live on a reservation.

According to the City of Edmonton’s website, municipalities are involved in providing services to the urban reserve lands through a municipal fee- for-service agreement and may also play roles in community notification and in bylaw and land-use planning harmonization as the urban reserve is developed.

Davey said when it comes to educating the public, the city should be responsible for informing them about the economic benefit for the municipality through shared revenue. They should also be mindful of their bylaws and planning restrictions to avoid further imposing colonial notions of living spaces on the urban reserve. Davey argues that it is important to take the opportunity for urban reserves to have their own sovereignty in how they control the land they have acquired.

The fee-for-service that is paid by the First Nation in lieu of municipal taxes would pay for the costs of policing, fire, drainage, bylaw enforcement and all of the other services a city provides.

At the same time, Davey said it is important to take the opportunity for urban reserves to have their own sovereignty in how they control the land they have acquired.

lessons FROM WINNIPEG

In Winnipeg, Treaty One Territory, there is a project on the former Kapyong Barracks site in west Winnipeg, which is now Canada’s largest urban reserve. The Kapyong Master Plan speaks to the highest ideals of Indigenous city-building. They plan to use the designs from Indigenous artists and landscape architects and to promote Indigenous design.

As a part of creating their master plan, Treaty One Nation, Canada Lands Company and the City of Winnipeg worked together on a community engagement process that included neighbouring residents and businesses. They hosted a powwow at the site and gathered feedback on preliminary design and planning concepts. From that input they created a community that focused on holistic elements in urban design. There are cultural camps and education integrated with community spaces, residential areas and even stormwater management facilities.

As Edmonton partners with Enoch Cree First Nation to develop urban spaces for Indigenous people, it is a good time to imagine how the city can also help to showcase Indigenous architecture, public art, and even memorial spaces. This is a unique chance to develop Indigenous-municipal relations and showcase First Nations culture as it exists in 21st Century Canada.

An urban reserve in Edmonton is an opportunity for all of us to live together in peace and harmony.

YEG garbage cans

THE BEST MAGPIE LUNCHBOXES IN THE CORE

Upon moving to Western Canada, I was impressed by how clean the cities are. I theorized that our closeness to nature compelled Canadians to care more for the environment. However, upon closer inspection of Edmonton it would appear that nature is one of the worst litterers.

In the core my closest neighbour is the magpie. They often swoop past my head to greet me as I walk my dog. Like me, the magpie does not seem to be a fan of musicals. Instead, they would rather chatter endlessly as I walk to the Peace Park or the 124 Street Grand Market. While the magpies are not friendly with my dog, she loves the fruits of their labour, such as a discarded chicken bone. See, our community garbage cans are not actually for waste disposal, but are fine dining restaurants for the magpies.

After a hard day of keeping pigeons and seagulls out of the city and shouting at people to stay off the lawn, the unofficial mascot of Edmonton needs some carbs and there is no better place than the trash cans of our city, but what containers are the best in the core?

(Honourable Mention)
The Explore Edmonton Barrel

These containers are typically found in the trails and in some parks. They are simple barrels with a brightly coloured wrap around them and some have a yellow lid with a small opening in the middle. Now the lid can be challenging for the magpie, but there is a higher chance of finding a delicious chicken bone. These barrels are chosen by Park Services because of their large capacity. This means they do not have to be emptied as often. Barrels that have had the lid removed by entrepreneurs seeking bottle depot cash, or barrels that never had a lid to begin with are an open delicatessen for the intelligent relative of the crow, the magpie.

Jenny Hong, Director of Corporate Waste Transformation shared that one advantage of high-capacity barrels means less disruption of the turf and park lands by vehicles servicing the cans. “Receptacles with inviting openings are so much easier for picnickers and dog walkers to use.” Perhaps the magpies are just having a picnic? Hong reported, “A lid or restrictive opening is less likely to allow animals and birds to get in, but the trade-off is the human interface. Sometimes with a restrictive opening people end up disposing of their waste beside the can. Or, they find that they cannot fit everything in there from their child’s birthday party very easily.”

(Honourable Mention)
The Black Steel Bars Basket

As far as my creative corvid neighbour is concerned, a garbage can is a garbage can. Technically, these baskets are maintained by businesses and retailers and are not the responsibility of the city. Some have an ashtray on the top, others have an inner ring great for perching magpies in search of dinner. The vertical steel bars that are designed to deter graffiti allow the birds that are flightless to make their way up from the ground. Since these cans are located in high traffic areas, they attract the rougher, more fearless magpies. Plus, the cans in the retail areas have a higher percentage of uneaten convenience store hotdogs, leftover Timbits, or day-old baked goods.

Hong reminds us, “The cans reflect the buildings we’ve built or parks we’ve developed at a specific time.” For example, the recently renamed Unity Square likely has these large capacity, black steel bar baskets so that they do not have to empty them more than once a week. The recent Brewery District has cans that reflect the thinking of today where they have prioritized sorting garbage and recycling.

Blue or Black Plastic Can

The city has been using these familiar large cans on our sidewalks and LRT stations. Blue cans are maintained by Transit Services and the black by Waste Services. The large opening makes them an excellent restaurant for our feathered friends. The cans are open 24/7, always have a table, and seemingly never run out of chicken wings. However it can be a gamble for the magpie. ETS and Waste Services regularly empty these receptacles.

In the last decade, these plastic cans brought some cohesion for Waste Services. Consistency made the containers easy to recognize and the important inviting openings encouraged their use. The larger capacity meant it was less likely to overflow like the concrete artifacts they replaced. However, change is around the corner.

Runner-up! Silver Cans of Revitalized Jasper Avenue

The small footprint of these cans mean they may fill quickly, so the birds will have to make reservations for a meal before the cans are serviced. The intelligent, impish magpie that prefers to hop can also use the grooved design to climb the side. The top of the can has a smooth, wide ring for surveying the menu and enjoying appetizers.

These new cans are a departure from the familiar black and blue plastic cans. Neighbourhood revivals and other special projects like Imagine Jasper Avenue are creating beneficial, inviting public spaces. There is an effort being made to match the benches, planters, and the trash receptacles. Hong shared, “Now in the downtown we have a new streetscape manual that is emphasizing consistency, but also trying to balance it with the character of that stretch of Jasper Avenue or The Quarters.”

Our best in the core magpie lunchbox is an 80’s brutalist landmark in the city, the old aggregate concrete garbage cans. While the slender metal insert of these receptacles allow for easy and frequent servicing, they still overflow quickly. The mix of concrete and pebbles give an excellent perching option for grip and comfort as the ravenous, raven- adjacent rooster looks for that discarded french fry.

Why are we feeding the magpies?

Why is there no lid or flap to seal away the waste?

Hong put it this way: “Part of the reason the city does not have cans with lids and flaps is the yuck factor. Knowing that there is debris and gunk coating the flap, even more so during COVID, people do not want to touch the flaps.” Hong went on to explain that some may have physical limitations to push a flap open and that isn’t an inclusive design. Hong added that many inquire about the lack of bear bins in our city. Again, with the pandemic, accessibility issues, and a less-inviting opening, these receptacles are not practical. The City of Calgary has told Hong they have replaced most of their bear bins.

The city is enhancing public recycling opportunities by introducing the three stream system to places like Fort Edmonton, Churchill Square, public pools, and the City Hall fountain area.

Created with research and engagement with municipalities in Ontario and BC, Hong stated the new cans, made locally, include recycling, food scraps, and garbage. The city wants to evaluate the performance of this system and continue to improve it. Unfortunately for the magpies, the new cans have a canopy over the top to protect the contents from rain and snow.

The next time the fretful feathered foe swoops from tree to signpost stalking your morning walk, tell the magpie many of their favourite restaurants are about to close. Park Services will continue to use some barrels, but they will be wrapped in coloured designs matching the new cans and grouped in threes. Hong’s final take on our unofficial city mascot is worth repeating.

“Yes, there may be some troublesome birds that pick some bones off and throw them onto the ground, but the fact that there are these readily acceptable receptacles that keep our streets clean, that keep pet waste off yards and parks spaces. That is a great way to mitigate environmental and human and animal health risks.”