The Walpole Island First Nation has maintained a strong community-based decision making approach sustaining its cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of the environment, while interacting effectively with the non-indigenous population. The First Nation has worked to educate its non-Aboriginal neighbours on the impact of pollution and development on the community. The First Nation's general approach is to seek sharing of ideas and greater co-operation on projects.

The Heritage Centre's goals support the efforts of Walpole Island's Council and community:

•   to preserve and restore the Walpole Island First Nation's natural and   cultural heritage;
•   to restore the rights, and improve the capacity to manage and
    govern the Walpole Island First Nation and its traditional
    homelands, fairly, effectively, and efficiently; and
•   to promote the sustainable development of Walpole Island into
    the next century.

In 1995, the Walpole Island First Nation received the "We the Peoples: 50 Communities Award" from the Friends of the United Nations for its exemplary record in environmental research and sustainable development. Walpole Island was chosen as one of only 50 recipients cited world-wide for its ability to take Native culture and to combine it with Western science and North American "modern ways".

The Centre is effective because it has clear goals and objectives, is structured to fit its functions, is linked to the community and administration for direction and feedback, creates and fosters a better understanding of the relationship between science and traditional knowledge, and has established and maintains key partnerships by working well with neighbours.

Walpole Island, traditionally called Bkejwanong, (meaning "where the waters divide"), has had a direct relationship with its surrounding environment throughout time. Surrounded by water, the community relies on the St. Clair River for food and for its economic survival. Because of its physical location, which is down river from Sarnia's Chemical Valley (a petro-chemical complex in southwestern Ontario), Walpole Island has been subject to the effects of both water and airborne pollution for several decades. Land and water rights and environmental issues are long-time community issues.

The Centre had its origins back in 1973, when a four year project to research land claims and Aboriginal and treaty rights produced such a wealth of information that it made sense for the community to establish a historical research centre. The research centre evolved over the years to respond to the needs of the community and Council.

In 1983, the Centre's research expanded to include environmental research and resource management. In 1988, the Centre published a history book entitled "Walpole Island Soul of Indian Territory" which has sold its second print run. Based on the good work of the research centre, the Walpole Island First Nation recognized that research is a key to addressing community issues. In 1989, the Walpole Island Heritage Centre was officially established.

The Centre produces expert knowledge from traditional and scientific sources to serve the community. From documenting historical knowledge for land claim purposes, to developing manuals for environmental waste-management. The Centre has adapted and enhanced its focus to be positioned to provide the knowledge and expertise required for current issues facing First Nation communities.

Community-based research is now the fundamental focus for Dean Jacobs, Executive Director of the Heritage Centre. The distinguishing element of the type of research performed, is that it is culturally relevant, and in language that is "user-friendly".

One reason for the Centre's effectiveness is that its work is guided by clear objectives. As stated in the Walpole Island Heritage Centre's Organizational Plan, the objectives of the Centre include the following:

1. Conduct research on the environment, cultural heritage, and First Nation management and governance (self-government);
2. Based on this research, advise Council and the community on preservation, management, and development options for the Walpole Island First Nation;
3. On direction of Council and the community, monitor both internal and external activities that affect the environment, cultural heritage and management of the Walpole Island First Nation;
4. Communicate to Council and the community information concerning its research and development work, including findings, policy options, and evaluations of these policy options;
5. Support the advocacy efforts of Council in promoting measures to preserve, manage and develop the Walpole Island First Nation;
6. Meet the preceding objectives in the most cost-effective and efficient way through the proper management of the Centre's human, financial, and information resources.

A second reason why the Centre works well is that its organizational structure fits its objectives. This structure consists of the following divisions:

•   The Research and Development Division is the group in the   Centre that does research and monitoring.
•   The Communications Division is responsible for transmitting the
    findings of the Research and Development Division to Council, the
    community and external players where appropriate.
•   The Advocacy Support Division promotes the work of the
    Research and Development Division, and assists the Chief and
    Council in their advocacy efforts on behalf of the community.
•   The function of the Secretariat/Administration is to provide
    sound management for the Centre.

The Centre works in a way that keeps it linked to the community and Council for identifying issues and moving research results to recommendations and action. When an issue or potential project is identified within the community by Chief and Council, and it falls within the mandate of the Walpole Island Heritage Centre:

•   The issue is taken on by the Centre for a first-look (preliminary)
    analysis. An examination, including historical research and assembly
    of experts/technicians for team analysis, results in a review of the
    issue with options and recommendations for more complete
    research on the issue.
•   The next stage is a Standing Committee review of the Centre's
    recommendations. The Committee is comprised of three Councillors
    and five Community members, acting as a link between the
    Heritage Centre, Chief and Council and the community.
•   Once the Committee has reviewed the Centre's work, the options
    are then presented to Chief and Council for feedback and direction
    on how/whether to proceed.
•   Recommendations are carried out (if approved by Chief and
    Council).
•   Research results and recommendations are then taken to Chief and
    Council and the community.

Through this multi-tiered review, risk is shared and greater ownership over issues is possible. The community shares information about the issues, and in a co-operative fashion, assures greater control over projects throughout the process. In this way, community validation is possible which strengthens the consultative process.

The activities of the Walpole Island Heritage Centre have evolved over the years from primarily concentrating on land claim and historic research to its now widely recognized and acclaimed work on environmental research and sustainable development. Some of the results/outcomes of the efforts of the Centre are listed below:

•   About 3 years ago, the community under the Global Action Plan
    (GAP), initiated a project that encouraged the start up of eco-teams
    to examine the use of resources and educate people on ways to
    reduce waste. A bi-weekly recycling project was the result of the
    eco-teams' work.
•   The Walpole Island community has worked with industries in Sarnia
    as well as the U.S. trying to teach them to be more responsible
    corporate citizens. The industries have gone from avoiding dealing
    with the concerns of the First Nation to including the First Nation in
    their decision-making processes. Because of this determined effort,
    the polluted state of the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair have been   improved significantly.
•   Recently, Dow Chemical agreed to work co-operatively with the
    Walpole Island community to stop industrial spills in the St. Clair
    River. A river separation project (a process to eliminate spills and
    treat/eliminate harmful discharges) is scheduled for completion in
    the year 2000.
•   Walpole Island has an air quality monitoring station which provides
    valuable information not only to the First Nation but to the
    surrounding municipalities as well.
•   The Centre has hosted several workshops and meetings: to explore
    the impacts of the recently enacted Canadian Environmental
    Assessment Act on Aboriginal communities; to discuss
    environmental and development issues and to foster collaboration
    on projects between First Nation communities and universities; and
    to present Walpole Island's model of environmental leadership.
    These workshops have been well attended by First Nation
    representatives, business executives, government officials, and
    academics. Walpole Island is now being invited to present/speak at
    events hosted by other players.
•   Another example of co-operative efforts to link Aboriginal knowledge
    and science resulted from the study on the effects of toxins on
    ducks and muskrats in the Walpole Island territory which the Centre
    worked on with the Great Lakes Institute, University of Windsor. The
    study confirmed that migratory ducks had lower levels of
    contaminants than local ducks.
•   The Centre has published a discussion paper entitled "Future of
    Sustainable Development: Walpole Island First Nation" which
    describes how sustainable development can improve Walpole
    Island's community. The principles described within the paper can be
    applied to the rebuilding of any economically or environmentally
    weak business.

Some of the other projects that the Centre has been/is currently involved with:

•   Children of Walpole Island First Nation plant wild flower seeds for
    study: eventually, the wild flower seeds go to market;
•   The community monitors the use of pesticides and is experimenting
    with no-tillage and low-tillage crops which inflict less stress on the
    land, and use less gas and chemicals;
•   Approximately 22 acres of prime land have been planted with corn
    and transformed into a wildlife and bird sanctuary for migrating
    waterfowl. The sanctuary is also used for traditional teaching with
    First Nation elders passing their knowledge on to younger members
    of the community;
•   Modern technology has been teamed with the teachings of elders in
    a project aimed at collecting and recording traditional knowledge
    about the medicinal properties of native plants and health
    treatments;
•   Walpole Island First Nation was recognized for helping to develop
    the GREEN project, in co-operation with the University of Michigan,
    which teaches community students from kindergarten through high
    school how to test water quality of rivers and streams, and then
    share this information with other students all over the world by
    computer;
•   Environmentally sensitive areas are being mapped with a focus on
    protecting rare and traditionally used plants; local representatives sit
    on advisory panels dealing with wide-ranging issues that affect the
    local environment, and there has been significant political
    involvement in helping develop government policies and regulations
    on hunting, fishing, the environment, and pollution;
•   The Centre has produced one book, six videos (two of which have
    been released nationally), and twenty-four research papers (twenty
    more are currently in progress), it has held conferences and joint
    conferences, produced an environmental waste management
    manual and an environmental audit model for use by other First
    Nations, and published regular newsletters;
•   The Centre acts as a source of knowledge for other First Nations in
    Ontario and across Canada as a "consulting agency" on matters of
    common concern and interest;
•   The Centre has established a special collections library and a
    repository for oral and written information on the history of Walpole
    Island and its neighbours.

Funding is provided on a project by project basis, with minimal multi-year funding, and no annualized funding. This has been the motivation for the Walpole Island Heritage Centre to adopt a flexible organization, bringing in skills and technical expertise on a project basis to provide a custom fit for each specific need. The spillover effect from this approach has been capacity-building within the community. Many technical skills have been learned by First Nation members, and have enhanced the resources available at the community level.

Another key benefit for the Walpole Island community is the increased awareness of the community as a whole. Dean Jacobs refers to this as a "marketing benefit", which again reinforces the integration of traditional ways with North American "modern ways".

During its years of service to the community, the Walpole Island Heritage Centre has learned several lessons that help it serve the community better.

The Centre has adopted a simple but effective approach to raise community awareness about specific projects and issues. The Centre actively recruits summer students from within the community. The students bring home news and information about current issues to challenge their family members' awareness of issues facing them. The students also gain valuable skills through direct hands-on experiences. This is an investment in the future for the community.

Teamwork is another critical success factor for the Walpole Island Heritage Centre. Each project involves building a team to find a custom solution. In the words of Dean Jacobs, "The team gets larger and larger until it encompasses the community. By working co-operatively, we get a lot further than individually."

The team concept adopted by the Centre includes co-ordination with other First Nations, and networking with other levels of government. In fact, the Walpole Island Heritage Centre has an accumulation of over forty years of staff knowledge and working experience with First Nation community issues and First Nation governments. This wealth of experience and associated continuity is an important success factor. Moreover, the calibre of the Centre's staff has been particularly valuable in allowing it to provide effective training to others. Because of this, it has been possible to develop contacts with various levels of governments and to mobilize resources necessary to carry out the work of the organization.

The Walpole Island heritage Centre measures its successes one step at a time. Patience has been and remains an important attribute of the organization. Growth is measured in increments. This patience can be linked to the extensive involvement of elders in the work of the Centre.

Community support is prevalent in all activities of the Walpole Island Heritage Centre. The Centre has been able to provide research that helps the community and to promote a "trial and error" approach to testing creative ideas and solutions. These ideas are nurtured in a supportive community environment. The Walpole Island Heritage Centre's research approach helps Walpole Island First Nation determine its own direction.