Working Circle Committee

Award Recipients

2025 Alyssa Donais

2024 Roy Napish Sr.

2023 Sherry Paquin

The Ogimaapiness Leonard Sky “Building Bridges” Award, sponsored by the Working Circle, recognizes an individual, business, or organization who has demonstrated leadership in enhancing diversity, respect, harmony, equality, and humility for others. They have gone above and beyond everyday efforts to promote attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours that recognize the importance of human dignity and self-esteem and the equality of all peoples.

The Ogimaapiness Leonard Sky "Building Bridges" Award was conceived in 2015 to honour Leonard Sky, a long-time teacher and Elder in the Dryden Area. His Aboriginal Heritage and Language courses at Dryden High School opened many students’ eyes to their shared history, increased their pride in their culture and language and began building bridges and better understanding in Dryden and surrounding area.

The Award is presented Annually following a Call for Nominations in the spring.  The Working Circle Committee reviews the Nominations submitted and selects an individual, business, or organization to receive the Award, which is presented at the Dryden High School Pow Wow that is usually held in June.

Those Nominations not selected will be forwarded to the following year for re-consideration.

The Working Circle is hoping to foster positive relationships with Indigenous peoples in Dryden and neighbouring communities. We want Dryden to demonstrate and be seen as an inclusive community that is welcoming to all. In terms of a timeline, The Working Circle expect to see some early and significant changes and successes that demonstrate our commitment to the goals outlined in our mandate. 

There really is no end goal whereby we say mission accomplished. Results will be measured by continued and sustained improvements in community life for Indigenous and Metis residents through employment, education, cultural celebration, leadership, entrepreneurship and most importantly the fight against racism. Our hope is the Working Circle is carried forward by future City Councils.

The Working Circle Terms of Reference.

1. Grand Council Treaty 3
2. Honouring 150 Years of the Signing of Treaty #3
3. National Indigenous History Month
4. National Indigenous Peoples Day
5. Dryden Native Friendship Centre

Formal Land Acknowledgement Statement (For Use at Large City Events and Special Ceremonies:)

"I would like to acknowledge we are meeting on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe and Métis people of Treaty Three. The Anishinaabe are the original caretakers of this land and called this place Paawidigong, meaning place of the rapids which is now known as Dryden. This land is important to the people of Migisi Sahgaigan (Eagle Lake First Nation),  Waabigonii Zaaga’igan (Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation) as well as the Métis people of the area and the residents of Dryden."

Standard Land Acknowledgement (For use during normal City business:)

"I would like to begin by acknowledging with respect, that we are in Treaty Three Territory and that the land on which we are gathered is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe and Métis People."

April 26th, 2021: The City of Dryden issued a media release regarding the adoptions of Boozhoo Avenue and Memorial Avenue, officially replacing Colonization Avenue North and South. You can download the entire release here:

City to Rename Colonization Ave. 

Boozhoo Avenue:

Replacing Colonization Ave. N, Boozhoo, an Ojibwe word meaning Welcome (Greetings, Hello), will be highly visible to

travelling along Highway 17 through Dryden. Boozhoo recognizes Dryden's indigenous population. Additionally, Boozhoo Avenue services a growing industrial and commercial development zone where there is great potential for growth. 

Memorial Avenue:

Replacing Colonization Ave. S, Memorial Avenue pays tribute to those community members who have passed and how we came together to make a historic and positive change for Dryden. This also pays tribute to first responders, police and volunteers who have dedicated their lives to providing emergency services. It also pays tribute to the Indigenous ancestors who are and were caretakers of this area, its beauty and its promise. Furthermore, Memorial recognizes the past tragedies of the residential schools and of murdered and missing Indigenous women in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation. 

The Ojibwe word for Memorial is Miwendaagoziwaat. The decision was made by the Working Circle to use the English version as the meaning is the same. 

City of Dryden Council received a presentation from Working Circle Co-Chairs Cheryl Edwards and Shayne MacKinnon on April 12th. To review the presentation, please follow the link below.

Recommended Names Presentation - April 12/2021

Please Note: All public submissions are reviewed by the Working Circle Committee. Any submissions containing inappropriate terms or phrases and/or profanity will not be considered. If you have any questions regarding your submission, please contact the Working Circle directly at

WorkingCircle@dryden.ca

Results

Lloyd Napish - August 25th, 2020 - Colonization Avenue

Lloyd Napish - January 6th, 2021 - Colonization Avenue Part 2

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Resident Resources

Estimated Municipal Signage Costs