than 800 Cree and Ojibway in northern Ontario, the population was under the protection of a single part-time officer from the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service. The police office was staffed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. Due to severe underfunding, there was no police presence on the weekends. A 911 “after hours” call went to the town of Hearst, 50 kilometres away, meaning
effectively. Since 2002, the organization has worked in communities both at home and internationally, training citizens to think critically. Offering media training to local - ADVERTISEMENT communities is an integral part of the JHR mandate, and the community of Constance Lake embraced the assistance. The radio show format is simple: People called into the station and voiced their concerns
they accomplished together. Each project JHR takes on is tailored to the “My job is to work with our people to create community it’s working with and the resources a better environment for everyone who lives available. So while Kresnyak noted that Chief on these lands,” Chief Allen says. “Helping SPECIAL FE ATU RE: Journalists for HumanRights RightsHuman SPECIAL FEweren’t ATU SPECIAL RE: Journalists FE ATU RE: for Journalists Human FE ATU Allen and Constance Lake going to “start strengthen our police force was aSPECIAL part offor that up an army of freelancers in the north,” they work.” could certainly work with the radio equipment Devin Jones is a Toronto-based freelance writer. already available. JHR’s work in Constance Lake is supported by the First up: cleaning out expired Keurig coffee Government of Canada.
LOCAL RADIO SHOW BOOSTS POLICE UTTING PUTTING THE PUTTING THE POWER POWER THE BACK POWER BACK IN THE IN BACK THE BRINGING CANADA’S LOCAL RADIO SHOW BOOSTS POLICE PRESENCE IN FIRST NATION COMMUNITY PRESENCE IN FIRST NATION COMMUNI INDIGENOUS VOICES INTO OFRAPE ANDS HANDS OF JORDAN’S OF HANDS JORDAN’S JORDAN’S RAPE VICTIMS VICTIM RAP SPECIAL FE ATU RE: Journalists for Huma
SUPPORT JHR’S WORK
Journalists for Human Rights and the Toronto Star present
Night for Rights 2017
Oct. 5 | 6 p.m. | Mattamy Athletics Centre, Toronto Gala Tickets, $750; Gala Table $6,000
Listeners voice THE HEADLINES their concerns JHR’s IRP initiative prompting lawinfluences how First Nations and Metis people are heard and represented in enforcement to the media take action BY IRENE FLATLEY
BY DEVIN JONES
Indigenous Reporters Program (IRP) is JHR’s Canadian initiative. The program’s two goals Constance Lake had a serious issue. are to: 1) create opportunities forpolicing Indigenous peoples pursue remote careers in media and home 2) A FirsttoNation community ensure that non-Indigenous journalists are to more than 800 Cree and Ojibway in trained in best practices for reporting on northern the population was under IndigenousOntario, people, culture and issues. The mainprotection objective isoftoa strengthen the Indigenous the single part-time officer voicesthe andNishnawbe-Aski representation in Canadian media. from Police Service. Since 2014, JHR has distributed 27 scholarships The police office was staffed from 9 a.m. and arranged 23 internships, with four more to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. Due scheduled for this fall. To date, 18 of 19 JHRto intern alumni are working in the severe underfunding, there wasmedia/ no police journalismon sector – a success rate of more presence the weekends. A 911 “after than 90 per cent. All JHR trainees have been hours” call went to the town of Hearst, 50 introduced to journalism basics via Dibaajimo, kilometres away, meaning it often took an online training platform developed specifically for this program by Accenture hours for help to reach Constance Lake. Canada and Fjord, Accenture Canada’s in-house
After Party sponsored by Bruce Power. called into the station and voiced their Danny Kresnyak, a journalist working on Buy tickets at night4rights.com/tickets-1/ concerns about the issues facing the behalf of Journalists for Human Rights #Night4Rights2017 ( JHR), and Rick Allen, a community leader community. And while a variety of issues KEYNOTE SPEAKER: were raised, the lack of a full-time police now in his second term as the Constance Lt.-Gen Roméo Dallaire (Ret’d), founder of presence came up repeatedly. Lake chief, joined forces to fix the problem the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative “One gentleman called in and shared a story through the power of local radio. when he was victim of such a home “Many elders in the community listen to the about Local youths learnthe technical skills as operating cameras for a weekly radio show, The Kids Wanna Know. Kresnyak says. “He barricaded radio, and at the time it was our main form of invasion,” Photo credit: Leigh Nunan CREDIT: Leigh Nunan communication,” says Chief Allen. “The radio himself in his room and called the cops, who hosted by Eabametoong radio and cable station managed to get to Constance four hours later.” format really hit home, so we just extended in Eabametoong First Nation. Developed For Chief Allen, “policing wasNunan, only one that form of community interaction and by JHR community trainer Leigh design studio. alongside youth, The Kids Wanna Know bite of thelocal apple” plaguing Constance Lake. created our own radio station.” worked with JHR to ensure that Constance Lake had 24/7 police service. CREDIT: COU •The LastNishnawbe-Aski year, IRP trainee Sam Hunter of heard gives youths ownership over the platform for Chief Rick AllenChief Rick Allen worked with JHR to ensure Other pressing issues included education Police Service it often took hours for help to reach Constance about the issues facing the community. And pods and bags of Bugles from the Peawanuck, Ont. drastically altered his diet reporting. Along with technical skills, such that Constance Lake had Lake. while a variety of issues were24/7 raised, thepolice lack of a service. bank to make space for a soundbo and mental health support, and while the the call for a stronger presence, and with Danny Kresnyak, full-time police presence came up repeatedly. microphones. And there was an op to prevent contracting type 2 diabetes. He as operating cameras and mixing boards, the a journalist working on CREDIT: OF JHR behalf of Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), “One gentleman called in COURTESY and shared a literally: the studio door was alway community was doing the best they could the help of the community, built a small adopted the traditional diet of his ancestors, participants learn interview prep, execution and Rick Allen, a community leader now in his story about when he was the victim of a home people passing by could hear the c second term as the Constance Lake chief, joined invasion,” Kresnyak says. “He barricaded himself and perhaps engage. consisting primarily of fresh andallowing fish and radio commentary prowess. The forcesradio to fix the show problem through the power of in his room and called the cops, who managed to For Chief Allen, “policing was with the resources they had, those resources station where officers couldmeat sleep, local radio. get to Constance four hours later.” of the apple” plaguing Constance sought from the land and water around him. involves a once weekly planning session on “Many elders in the community listen to the pressing issues included educatio simply weren’t enough. for a 24/7 police presence. YOU TO OUR SPONSORS and at the time it was our main THANK form of health support, and while the com The results were positive. Hunter used his JHR Tuesdays before airing on Fridays.radio, “My job is to work with our communication,” says Chief Allen. “The radio doing the best they could with th and Kresnyak were focused JHR’s mission is to empower journalists people to create a better format really hit home, so we just extended that they had, those resources simply training to write about the experience. His to • Chief Truth Allen and Reconciliation Commissioner form of community interaction and created our enough. environment for everyone SPONSORS article human was published Wawatay News and Murray Sinclair retweeted an excellent story on strengthening a community that often cover rights by stories objectively and own radio station.” Chief Allen and Kresnyak wer who lives on these lands. The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service heard on strengthening a community th posted on the Peawanuck website, which hehas by JHR traineeby Gail Gallagher, published in presence, and with the help Helping strengthen our the call– for and a stronger neglected by their government – felt neglected their government effectively. Since 2002, the organization of the community, built a small station where everyone realize that with a little police force was a part has his fellow JHR trainees launched. Hunter’s Wawatay News on Aug. 15, 2017. The story officersacould sleep, allowing for a 24/7 police community of Constance Lake c BY DEVIN JONES helping everyone realize that with little worked in communities homeworked and with of that work.” Chiefboth RickatAllen JHR to ensure that Lake had COURTESY OF presence. about JHR change. story highlighted a ‘made-in-community’ emphasized the need forConstance a better inquiry into an24/7 police service. CREDIT: Constance Lake had a serious policing issue. A JHR’s mission is to empower journalists Chief Allen speaks warmly of training and maximizing the little resources internationally, training citizens to think solution to a problem that plagues the north. incident in Thunder Bay where - Chief Rick Allan First Nation remote community home to more antoIndigenous cover human rights stories objectively and with Kresnyak and JHR, and is p 800 issues Cree and Ojibway in northern Ontario, effectively. Since 2002, the organization they accomplished together. it often took hours for help toworker reach Constance aboutthanthe facing the hitch community. And podshas and bags of Bugles from the local food Red Cross personal support lead woman died athe trailer was thrown they had, theafter critically. Offering media training to local the population wascommunity under protection ofof a Constance worked in communities both at home and Each project JHR takes on is tailored to the “My job is to work with our pe Lake. while a variety of issues were raised, the lack of a bank to make space for a soundboard and single part-time offi cer from the Nishnawbe-Aski internationally, training citizens to think community it’s working with and the resources a better environment for everyon trainer Felicia Danesi has since incorporated at herPolice from a passing truck. What this means: Service.bring about change.critically. Offering media training to local available. So while Kresnyak noted that Chief on these lands,” Chief Allen says Lake could communities is an integral part of theon JHR Danny Kresnyak, a journalist working full-time police presence came up repeatedly. microphones. And there was an open-door policy, The policewho office was staffed from 9 a.m. to communities is an integral part of the JHR Allen and Constance Lake weren’t going to “start strengthen our police force was a Hunter’s story into her curriculum, using it as a the trainee, hadn’t considered journalism 9 p.m.,Jones Monday through Friday. Due toin severe mandate, and community ofliterally: Constance Lake an army ofdoor freelancers in the north,” they work.” is was a contributing Toronto-based freelance mandate, and the care community of Constance behalf for of Journalists for Human Rights gentleman called and shared a the theup studio was always open so model personal and nutrition to(JHR), future asDevin a“One career, is there now the underfunding, no police presence on directly embracedto the assistance. could certainly work with the radio equipment Devin Jones is a Toronto-based fr the weekends. A 911 “after hours” call wentvictim to Thearadio show format is simple: People passing alreadyby available. JHR’s work in Constance Lake is sup and Rick Allen, a community leader now in his story about when he was the of home people could hear the conversation writer. JHR’s work in Constance Lake was Lake embraced the assistance. support workers based in remote First Nations national conversation onaway, racial violence the town of Hearst, 50 kilometres meaning called intoin the station and voiced their concerns First up: cleaning out expired Keurig coffee Government of Canada. second term as the Constance Lake chief, joined Thunder invasion,”Bay. Kresnyak says. barricaded himself and perhaps engage. communities. JHR’s work “He in Constance Lake is supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The radio show format is simple: People forces to fix the problem through the power of in his room and called the cops, who managed to For Chief Allen, “policing was only one bite
Listeners voice their concerns prompting law enforcement to take action
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• The Kids Wanna Know is a weekly radio show supported by the Government of Canada. SUPPORT JHR’S WO local radio. get to Constance four hours later.” of the apple” plaguing Constance Lake. 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KEYNOTE SPEAKER by familyChief members. by familywere members. Lt.-Gen Roméo Dallaire (Ret’d) own radio station.” Allen and Kresnyak focusedthe Roméo Dallaire Child Soldi Jordanians, including the Jordanians, late King including The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service heard on strengthening a community that Hussein’s often felt the late Kin Local youths learn technical skills such as operating sister, neglected were horrifi ed by sister, Mussa’s were revelations. horrifi ed by Mussa’s reve the call for a stronger presence, and with the help by their government andKnow. helping cameras for a weekly radio show, The Kids–Wanna Photo credit: Leigh Nunan CREDIT: Leigh Nunan Princess Basmarealize urged the Princess media Basma to keep urged up the media to k of the community, built a small station where everyone that with a little training, the hosted by Eabametoong radio and cable station Eabametoong First Nation. 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