A plan to keep the Bay

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(DALE CUMMINGS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

The idea of creating some kind of aboriginal centre of excellence, a place to showcase and study the art, history and culture of Canada's First Nations, has been around for a long time.

For whatever reason, however, it's one of those good ideas that never took off. It was once thought that Main Street could be the location for such a centre, possibly around Thunderbird House. Then it was The Forks, where land was set aside for such a purpose, but so far nothing much has happened.

Now, however, it looks like Lloyd Axworthy may pull yet another rabbit out of his hat if he is able to secure agreements with a variety of partners to convert two floors of the downtown Bay store into an indigenous studies program for the University of Winnipeg.

If fully realized, it would be a national centre where people from across Canada and around the world could come to study and conduct research on aboriginal issues. It could also showcase aboriginal culture and possibly even offer space for artists.

The city's aboriginal community faces many challenges, but it also offers much in the way of opportunity. Aboriginal culture is a popular, even fashionable, subject today, particularly in Europe, where various organized groups are fascinated with all things native.

The proposal is still in the planning stage, but the idea seems sound and consistent with the U of W's goal of consolidating its programs around the downtown campus, which aims to be accessible to the entire community and the local neighbourhood in particular.

The U of W has been interested in occupying space in the Bay for many years, but it wasn't a realistic possibility until the retail chain offered the university two floors at a bargain (reportedly for free).

The Bay apparently wanted to make a contribution to Winnipeg, where it opened its first department store and where its national headquarters was once located, but it also saw a business opportunity if the U of W was able to attract thousands of students and visitors to the downtown store.

It also seems fitting somehow that First Nations would be coming to the rescue of the Bay. The relationship between aboriginals and the Hudson's Bay Co. goes all the way back to the founding of the company in 1670. It was not always an equal or fair relationship, but aboriginals could claim many benefits. In return for their furs, trappers got metal tools, clothing and other goods. Aboriginals could have survived without the Bay, but it's unlikely the company would have succeeded without its army of native trappers and hunters.

On a symbolic level, at least, the historic bond would be renewed if Mr. Axworthy is able to find enough partners and enough funding to pull if off.

To its credit, the Bay has remained committed to downtown Winnipeg, the last of the old department stores in the city. There is probably a limit to the firm's patience, however, particularly at a time when the interests of stockholders can take precedence over community concerns.

An indigenous studies program is a worthy and noble goal in itself, but it also offers the hope of drawing the Bay into the orbit of the university and, hopefully, preventing the kind of gaping hole that opened when Eaton's closed its doors for good.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 24, 2010 A10