Moose Factory Master Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................ iii Introduction ..................................................................................................................... iv The Opportunity...................................................................................................................v The Market ........................................................................................................................ vi The Development Concept ............................................................................................. vii The Business Case ............................................................................................................. x Financial Support............................................................................................................... xi The Benefits ..................................................................................................................... xii 1. BACKGROUND & CONTEXT .............................................................. 1-1 1.1Terms of Reference ................................................................................................... 1-2 1.2 Aims and Objectives.................................................................................................. 1-5 1.3 Understanding the Issues .......................................................................................... 1-5 1.4 Planning Context and Site Description .................................................................... 1-6 2. MARKET ASSESSMENT AND DEMAND ......................................... 2-1 2.1 Market Assessment .................................................................................................. 2-2 2.2 Financial Analysis .................................................................................................. 2-19 2.3 Projection of Income & Expenses............................................................................ 2-21 3. COMMEMORATIVE INTEGRITY STATEMENT ........................... 3-1 3.1 Commemorative Intent: Reasons for the Site’s National Importance ..................... 3-2 3.2 Commemorative Integrity .........................................................................................3-9 4. A VISION FOR MOOSE FACTORY DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT 4-1 4.1 Development Proposal ............................................................................................ 4-2 4.2 Capital Costs Summary & Breakdown ................................................................... 4-14 5. INTERPRETIVE STRATEGY ............................................................... 5-1 5.1 Planning Sessions and Workshops............................................................................ 5-2 5.2 Interpretive Design Concepts ................................................................................... 5-4 5.3 Thematic Framework (Draft Only)......................................................................... 5-12 5.4 Interpretive Panel Visual/Design Concepts .......................................................... 5-41 5.5 Branding Development ......................................................................................... 5-44 Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Limited i Moose Factory Master Plan 6. ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT .......................................... 6-1 6.1 The Board ................................................................................................................. 6-2 6.2 Staff Needs ............................................................................................................... 6-3 6.3 Institutional Policies .................................................................................................. 6-5 6.6 Memorandum of Understanding .............................................................................. 6-8 7. FUNDING STRATEGY ......................................................................... 7-1 7.1 Regional Heritage Tourism Initiatives...................................................................... 7-2 7.2 Potential for Private Sector Participation .................................................................. 7-3 7.3 Fund Raising and Donations .................................................................................... 7-4 7.4 Notional Breakdown of Funding Sources ................................................................ 7-5 APPENDICES: APPENDIX A: Project Team APPENDIX B: Statement of Intent & Statement of Intent Application LIST OF ABREVIATIONS MCFN MOOSE CREE FIRST NATION MOCREBEC MOCREBEC COUNCIL OF THE CREE NATION MFTA MOOSE FACTORY TOURISM ASSOCIATION OHF ONTARIO HERITAGE FOUNDATION MFLSB MOOSE FACTORY LOCAL SERVICES BOARD ONTC ONTARIO NORTHLAND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION NWC NORTHWEST COMPANY HBC HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Limited ii Moose Factory Master Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Limited iii Moose Factory Master Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Moose Factory Master Planning Study is a unique and significant initiative focusing on one of Canada’s important sites representing a major strand in the culture, economy, exploration, and settlement of the nation. Moose Factory was designated of National Historic Significance in 1957. For the First Nations of Moose Factory Island the site has a resonance and memory that goes back in time for many, successive generations. For Northern Ontario and in fact, for Ontario as a whole, there has been a long standing interest and fascination with the Moosonee/Moose Factory communities situated on James Bay, at the Northern terminus of Ontario Northland’s Polar Bear Express. This concept of ‘Gateway - North and South’ is one which has been used to describe the strategic location of Moose Factory. Telling the story of Moose Factory from the First Nations perspective is an incredibly important development. Telling the story to Ontario, and Canada, and ultimately the world gives the Moose Factory project both a national and international resonance. Equally important is telling the story in the manner that the First Nations residents of the Island want to tell it. Moose Factory Island is an active community of over three thousand people. They are being asked to showcase their community and provide an Island wide experience for visitors. The key advisors to the project are the Islands residents themselves – young people, elders, community organizations, people who have moved away with family connections there – all those with an interest and a voice who will be listened to, and their respective ideas taken seriously as input into the Master Planning Process. A number of previous attempts have been made to initiate a program of restoration and redevelopment, but little concrete action has been undertaken to bring these plans to realization by the local community. It is clear that any attempt to restore buildings, provide interpretive displays must come from the local community. The project is being managed by the Moose Factory Tourism Association. The project is complicated by the fact that the most of the land under discussion is owned by Northwest Company who leases it to Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, who in turn has a management agreement with the Moose Factory Tourism Association. ONTC pays the Tourism Association a stipend to run the park on their behalf. To complicate matters even more the Ontario Heritage Foundation owns the Staff House along with 3 relocated historic residences. Again there is a management agreement between the OHF and the MFTA to open the Staff House to the public and to utilize parts of the house as offices for the MFTA. At the present time this arrangement is cumbersome nearly all the responsibility has been shifted to MFTA and insufficient financial compensation is available to cover basic operational needs. Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Limited iv Moose Factory Master Plan If, this management hurdle can be overcome the Moose Factory Tourism Association’s intent is to interpret the physical ruins and the story of Moose Factory Fur Trade Post and its role in shaping this Island community and the surrounding region situated on James Bay. The Moose Factory Tourism Association proposes to make Moose Factory a nature and cultural island destination. The remaining buildings and Hudson Bay involvement will serve as a jumping off point and as a vehicle to tell the story from the Cree perspective. The Cree see the Hudson Bay Post as a ‘Blip’ in their history and would like to tell the story of a people who have occupied these lands long before white settlement and railways. Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Limited was retained to prepare this master plan consisting of a site conservation strategy, historic research, archaeological assessment, interpretive plan and a business plan to meet the Moose Factory Tourism Association’s and the Historic Sites Working Group’s needs and to guide capital improvements for an Island wide interpretive strategy. As well, we have prepared contract documents and specifications for the restoration of the Blacksmith Shop and the Powder Magazine. The product of this commission includes the following four volumes: Volume 1: A MASTER PLAN FOR MOOSE FACTORY ISLAND Volume 2: HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Volume 3: ARCHITECTURAL Conservation Report Volume 4: HUDSON’S