THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay is making some major changing in how relationships and inclusion with Indigenous peoples are managed
City Manager Norm Gale is pleased to announce that Regina Mandamin has been hired as the Corporation’s new Manager of Indigenous Relations and Inclusion.
Ms. Mandamin is a member of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Traditional Territory on Manitoulin Island. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Regina comes to the organization with a breadth of federal, provincial, and First Nations public service experience. She will manage the City’s Aboriginal Liaison Office staffed by Ann Magiskan as the Aboriginal Liaison and Annette Pateman as the Aboriginal Liaison Strategy Coordinator (acting).
She most recently served as Senior Policy Advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Indigenous Health Policy Unit in Toronto, where she worked with First Nations and federal partners supporting First Nations health transformation. Prior to that, she worked with the Chiefs of Ontario in a variety of roles as Senior Research Advisor, focusing on heritage and burial sites matters.
Before moving to Toronto in 2015, she worked in the National Capital Region as Policy Analyst with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service’s Industrial Relations Advisory Service, specializing in Indigenous labour relations. She attended law school at the University of Ottawa and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Canadian Studies) from Carleton University.
“Ms. Mandamin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position,” said Gale. “As a further commitment to improving our relations with, and service to, the Indigenous community in Thunder Bay, we are thrilled that Regina can bring her vast experience to the Corporation.”
Creating and filling this position was a key, first-year goal for the City after signing the Thunder Bay Anti-Racism and Inclusion Accord in June 2018 along with ten other major employers. The Accord brings organizations and businesses together to work collaboratively in addressing racism in the city.
Ms. Mandamin will facilitate and lead this work, including a review of systemic racism within the Corporation and any recommendations for change.
Her responsibilities will include facilitation of the development of a city-wide Anti-Racism Resource Guide for local organizations in collaboration with the Accord member organizations, and lead a review of the Corporation’s Aboriginal Liaison Office.
