The federal government has upped its total financial commitment to a facility expected to house the first ever First Nations organized and run research library in the country.
On Friday, the federal government announced $5.1 million in additional funding for the Anishinabek Discovery Centre, bringing the total contribution to $10.2 million.
A major component of the Truth and Reconciliation commission's recommendations is the preservation of education and culture.
Sault Ste. Marie MP Terry Sheehan said the discovery centre means more than just an olive branch between the country and the local First Nations communities.
"The Anishinabek Discovery Centre is going to house archives, going to be a chief’s library," said Sheehan.
"It's going to have government documents preserved for all time for people to study, to educate and discuss."
The local First Nation communities believe it will be a gathering place for those looking to learn about the First Nations people.
"I feel like people from everywhere are going to come here and look at this," said Doreen Pine Lasage, a Garden River First Nation elder.
"I'm hoping to be able to see it myself because I'll be 81 next month. I just think it's going to be great. My children and my grandchildren will all be a part of that."
"There is a significant gap in the education, so the discovery centre is where we're going to have the opportunity to do a lot of quality research and do some good archiving, so for students that want to pursue that particular avenue the Anishinabek Discovery Centre is going to be the place to come," explained said Darrell Boissoneau, Shingwauk Education Trust president.
The centre is planned to be a 19,179 square foot building located near Algoma University’s campus.
It will provide a home base for the Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig; a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in Anishinaabe studies available through Algoma University.
Additional, the centre will be home to a National Chiefs Library which would be the first ever First Nations organized and run research library in Canada.
"It's going to be a huge reflection of what we have in Sault Ste. Marie," said Boissoneau.
"Going from a residential school to an Anishinabek Discovery Centre and it's still a continuation of Chief Shingwauk's vision, but more in a modern term."
The discovery centre will have an economic impact on the region as well.
Throughout the construction phase 165 jobs will be created and officials said 10 to 15 full time employees will be hired at the centre.
The project is scheduled to be completed by September 2018
