Redekop wins Two Row Alliance Award for work with Indigenous community

Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop won the Two Row Alliance Award on September 18 for his work with the town’s Indigenous community, including efforts to improve local access to health care.

The Niagara Academy for Indigenous Relations presented the award at its seventh annual Indigenous Niagara Outstanding Achievement Awards at Niagara College’s Niagara-on-the-Lake campus.

The academy chose Redekop for “[engaging] closely with the Indigenous community” and taking part in initiatives to improve local access to primary and urgent care, according to a news release.

Redekop has led the town’s plan to turn the Douglas Memorial Hospital site into a health-care hub offering Indigenous health services alongside urgent and primary care.

The town wants to keep health care at Douglas Memorial after Niagara Health opens the South Niagara Hospital in Niagara Falls in 2028.

The Two Row Alliance Award is meant to honour a person who has supported Indigenous communities in Niagara and built respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Redekop was one of six people the academy honoured this year, alongside the Indian Defense League of America, which received a special award in its 100th year of advocating for Indigenous treaty rights to cross the Canada-U.S. border.

Jennifer Brant, an academy board member who co-hosted the ceremony, said the academy’s process followed traditional structures in which community members came together to identify the contributions of award winners.

Brant said she received an award from the academy in a previous year and called recognition from her Indigenous peers a high honour.

“In today’s society many awards begin with self-nomination, something that challenges Indigenous teachings about humility,” said Brant.

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