February 5 2021 by Nickel Belt News

Nickel Belt News Volume 61 • Issue 5

Friday, February 5, 2021

Thompson, Manitoba

Serving the Norman Region since 1961

Misdiagnosis of fractured leg at South Indian Lake nursing station an example of anti-Indigenous racism in health care system, First Nation councillor says

Thompson Citizen photo courtesy of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak A Jan. 12 photo taken at Thompson General Hospital shows Carol Wood’s leg before she had surgery for two fractures. Her Husband Brian Wood, a band councillor for O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation (OPCN) at South Indian Lake, says nursing station staff said it didn’t appear to be broken and that they drove 300 kilometres to get a second opinion, which resulted in Carol being sent to Winnipeg for surgery. BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Having a fractured leg misdiagnosed at a federally run nursing station was

held up as an example of anti-Indigenous racism in the health care system during an online press conference Jan. 26.

Brian Wood, a band councillor for O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation (OPCN) at South Indian Lake since 2018, said his

Alcohol suspected to be a factor in head-on crash in Norway House

RCMP photo RCMP are investigating a Jan. 24 collision between a southbound car and a northbound First Nations Safety Officer pickup truck in Norway House. Norway House RCMP are investigating a head-on collision on Jan. 24 that injured two First Nations Safety Officers as well as the four occupants of the car that hit their pickup truck. Police say the First Nations Safety Officers were travelling northbound on Paupanekis Point Road around 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning when a car headed

south crossed into oncoming traffic and hit the truck, despite the driver having steered onto the shoulder in an attempt to avoid the collision. The two safety officers and the four occupants of the other vehicle were all taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. They were all treated and released.

There was blowing snow at the time of the collision, say RCMP, but the road was not icy. Alcohol is suspected as a factor contributing to the crash but police could not obtain a breath sample from the driver of the car because of his injures so a blood demand was made at the hospital. Police continue to investigate.

wife Carol injured her leg Jan. 11 when a dog ran into her and knocked her over but she was told to go home after a perfunctory assessment. “One of the nurses attended to her,” he said. “She said that the leg didn’t appear to be broken. She wasn’t even there for five minutes and she left.” Wood ended up driving his wife nearly 300 kilometres to Thompson General Hospital, much of the distance on unpaved roads, where doctors said her leg was broken. “They found out that there were two fractures in her leg and there was something wrong with her knee,” Wood said. His wife was then medevaced to Winnipeg for surgery before being transported back to Thompson, where she was still taking intravenous antibiotics two weeks later. “I find that very appalling nobody should be treated that way,” Wood said. “The nurse can’t just visually look at an injury and assume. They should have been doing a thorough assessment on the patient and making sure to diagnose it correctly.” To Dr. Barry Lavallee, CEO of Indigenous health

organization Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin, driving several hours with a broken leg amounts to torture. “It is outrageous,” he said. “It is accepted substandard care. We’re not believed when we’re in pain. It’s always about dismissal of our reality. That’s how racism functions is by dismissal. They use stereotypes as a method to ensure we don’t get care.” OPCN Chief Shirley Ducharme said members fo her First Nation often don’t want to go to the nursing station when they are sick or injured. “Our people don’t feel comfortable to go to the nursing station,” she said. “No one should be doubted when they are looking for medical attention. They should be treated with respect and compassion.” The press conference was organized by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), which represents 26 Northern Manitoba First Nations and took part in a national online conference called Addressing Anti-Indigenous Racism in Canada’s Health Care Systems Jan. 27-28. MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee said there are two health care systems in Canada – a sub-

standard one for Indigenous people and a better one for everyone else. “This is an account of an experience that many of our people face,” said Settee. “A lot of people have a story of the health care system, how they’re not treated fairly. This is happening in our world and it should not be happening.” Despite years of seeking better medical care for Indigenous people, nothing seems to improve, Settee said. “We have brought the issues forward time and time again. We have seen no change.” A Northern Regional Health Authority spokesperson told CBC that its employees must take a two-part cultural proficiency training program and that its chief Indigenous health officer is leading the development of a regional anti-racism strategy and co-leading a provincewide one. The NRHA also has process in place to deal with allegations of racism when they occur. The federal government was contacted by CBC and CTV for comment on what happened at the South Indian Lake nursing station but has not yet responded.

Page Page B-2 4 • News

Nickel Belt Nickel BeltNews News••www.thompsoncitizen.net www.thompsoncitizen.net

Friday, February Friday, March 5, 16,2021 2018

Health care support worker graduates ready to help alleviate pandemic-related burdens on health care system Thirteen students have graduated from the health care support worker micro-credential program at University College of the North (UCN). Offered in several northern communities through a partnership with the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) and the Northern Manitoba Sector Council, the health care support worker micro-credential program was designed by Red River College, which shared the curriculum with UCN and Assiniboine Community College. Graduates are equipped with the skills to support members of patient care teams with activities such as mobility, feeding and bathing, cleaning and maintenance of equipment as directed, stocking supplies and assisting with activities or observation of patients in need of constant care, including those who may wander. “Taking the health care Friday, March 2, 2018

support worker training is my best opportunity to start working in the health care field,” said program graduate Kanwaljeet Gill in a UCN press release. “I am very grateful to UCN and hospital management staff for creating this short period training opportunity.” Offering the program can help alleviate stresses on a health care system overburdened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, said UCN Dean of Health Dr. Vicki Zeran. “It’s important that UCN helps in any way possible during these trying times,” Zeran said. CEO Helga Bryant said the NRHA looks forward to working with recent and future graduates at a time when their skills are greatly needed in northern communities. “We are very fortunate that UCN was able to provide this timely, specific training,” Bryant said.

Spiritual Thoughts

educentr.dumont@gmail.com Sister Andrea Dumont

Nickel Belt News photo courtesy of University College of the North Thirteen students, including these ones from Thompson, have graduated from University College of the North’s health care support worker micro-credential program. Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net Page 9

Parliament RCMP seeking driver after fatal Government increasingly out of touch back in session

Columnists

Sherridon Road car wreck

health critic Don Davies to call for initiatives to ensure Out of t o u c h . cause of the shutdown We have real issues here in e d u c a t i o n , h o u s i n g , vaccine access northern Pas, had died injuries causing bodily harm, poverty and unemploythe only way to de- of the rail line, while Theour north and of across Can- 9paired BYThat’s ERIC WESTHAVER 2018 NickelinBelt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net Page in the crash. and Indigenous commun- FLINscribe countsSelfi of operation of the federal govern- many people across our sustained ada. What is frustrating twoment. es and photo FLON REMINDER s ities. There has been some Oct.degree 5, Cranberry Por-we a conveyance a blood ops simplywith don’t cut it. ment after the disconnect north face the challenge On is the to which Cranberry Portage RCMP initial progress but there is arebetween RCMP obtained an arrest alcohol concentration equal I As MP for our region JustinforTrudeau’s of putting food on their tage are being given platitudes on the lookout a drivconcern now that the vac- er wanted for the driver to or 80 mg% amover going to becausing fi ghting eight-day trip to charges India and table every day, Justin warrant with very little realduring change. on several kelly.bindle.mla.offi ce@gmail.com Ashton.N@parl.gc.ca cine rollout isn’t rolling after accident, whogovernment Manitoba bodily harm, operation of a for what really matters. what is happening federal a fatal accident onon thethe Trudeau took a celeb- theThe ce: out fast enough. We have Sherridon have conveyance impaired, ground here at home. rity chef with him on an RCMP should be identified focussingasonConstituency I will be while fiOffi ghting to bring Road last summer. Unitoperation 3-40 supported the call for an Aaron Campbell. RCMPwe of Crescent a conveyance While people the kind of issues thisMoak increasingly out of On Aug. the 9, RCMP from of eight-day trip that was Jesse Niki Ashton with a blood alcohol emergency debate on this theChurchill the man six feet face here in asthe north touch facingdesky- for most of the time noth- described Thompson, MBgovernment R8N 2B7 con- to Cranberryare Portage Out of t o u c htachment . rocketing causewere offood the prices shutdown Wemore have real issues here intallin e dterms u c a t 185 i oof npounds , healthcare, h owith u s i n gcentration , 204-677-2066 key issue. and about than a junket. account.equal to or over called to thebe- ing Kelly Bindle of the rail line, while poverty and unemployThat’s the only waywe to de-Sherridon our north and across CanLike many Canadians, brown eyes and black hair and 80 mg% and operation of a Road for a report the to federal people rollover, across our ada. What is frustratingsaid ment. and photoconveyance while prohibited. he maySelfi be inesthe Swan werescribe shocked see thegovernat- of a many single-vehicle ops simply don’t disconnect north the challenge is the degree to which weRiver or Winnipeg areas. cut it. Anyone with information tackment on theafter U.S.the Capitol by about nine face kilometres from RCMPplatitudes photo As MPsaid for Campbell our region on I Campbell's whereabouts of putting between food onthetheir are being given between Justin Trudeau’s RCMP right-wing extremists. We the intersection Campbell eight-day trip to India androadtable every 10. day, JustinJesewith very little real change.facesam going to be charfi ghtingare asked to call the Cranberry are continuing to speak out several criminal and Highway When Ashton.N@parl.gc.ca Trudeau took a celeb-a Jan. what operation really matters. what is happening on thepolice The government 27 federal Manitoba RCMP ges, for including of a Portage RCMP detachment on the threat of racist and arrived at the scene, As Parliament resumes right-wing groundextremism here at and home.theyrity chef with him on annews should focussing I will bewhile fighting to bringat 204-472-4040 or contact releasebedetailing the onconveyance impaired discovered that a vehicle Our to the care On theof son this week, need to sitting out government’s message is clear.re- thetogether While theimprove people that the kind of issues wecausing thisexpenditures. increasingly death, operationout of Crime Stoppers anonymously need to tackle it head on. ofwitheight-day four peopletrip inside – awasincident. cently announced provlives of Manitobans. latter issue, we have been explain to northernn We need to continue to Churchill are for most of the time noth- According face here in news the renortha conveyance touch government to the with a blood toat 1-800-222-8477 or at maniThroughout the facing sessionsky-32-year-old man from Swan incial federal joint Many more such collabclear in opposing the fed- ers why they support make this and minority Parliarocketing food prices be-River ing more than a junket. terms of healthcare, account. lease,infive days ce@gmail.com after the acci- alcohol my focus will be on raising concentration equal tobacrimestoppers.com. identified as the driver, kelly.bindle.mla.offi orative projects will uneral government’s reduc- Prime Minister Justin funding agreement of ment work for Canadians. The accused has not been issues of concern to our re- a 15-year-old girl from Flin dent, RCMP were informed to or over 80 mg% causing Trudeau’s decision to $63 million to bring highfold in the future, arising tion to annual increases Constituency Offi ce: In this parliamentary ses- gion. The events of recent Flon and a pair of 33-year-old that one of the passengers, death, two counts of operation tried in court on any of the speed from federal-provincial in health spending - a cut annual increases in Unit 3-40 Moak Crescent sion, the Internet NDP willaccess focus to months have highlighted men, one from The Pas and the 33-year-old man from of a conveyance while im- aforementioned charges. reduction that will cost health-care transfers to of northern, in areas such on residents COVID response and theagreements impacts of inequality, another from Pukatawagan Thompson, MB R8N 2B7 rural and remote Manias housing, early learning Manitoba more than $2 our province. looking ahead to the post- poor housing, limited ac- – had gone into a ditch and 204-677-2066 toba communities will and child care, workforce billion over 10 years, and Our Manitoba govKelly Bindle COVID changes we need to cess to health care and in- rolled. All four people were lift as limits, alter prospects development, Indigenous at a time when our resi- ernment will continue make Canadians. social supports in taken to hospital. ment’s re- and together to improve theadequate care expenditures. On the dents’ son this week, need transform lives. This initiatives and infrastruchealth needs areto working in partnership A major priority has to be our region. "Alcohol was suspected not well-served by a fed- which approach nced prov- islives of Manitobans. latter this issue, we have has been increasing. explain to northern- with Ottawa, while conjust one example of ture investments. But our faster access to the vaccine must do better for and officers began an im35-year-old man andfed- ers been absolutely necessary why theyprovinsupport tinuing to take action to deral joint more Many more collab- Canada clear in opposing the than 150 such projects government’s responsibil- eral government policy or A Manitoba’s for people. I joined with our in regions like ours. paired investigation," reads a 31-year-old woman kelly.bindle.mla.offi ce@gmail.com thegovernment’s federal carbonreductax, cial orative will un- ity is to represent the best approach, we will speak are eral Prime Minister eement of which ourprojects provincial govLiberals, who Justin held protect Manitoba’s inwere arrested when Nelfor them. Office: federal tax chan- a Trudeau’s decisiononto terests and to make our bring high- ernment fold in the future, arising interests of Manitobans. up tion tobusiness annual increases Constituency and the federal town-hall meeting House RCMP seized key Crescent issues for songes and federal healtht access to government from federal-provincial in health spending - a health cut annual increases have worked So when Manitobans are UnitThree care in Thomp-in province stronger. 3-40 Moak cocaine while executing Nisokapawino Forestry Management Corporation northern, agreements in areas such reduction that will acost health-care transfers to Thompson, MB R8N 2B7 search warrant more Jan. 30. ote Mani- as housing, early learning invites you to participate in a virtual (Zoom) Manitoba than $2 our province. 204-677-2066 Assisted by the Mani-and Community Information Meeting nities will and child care, workforce billion over 10 years, Our Manitoba govKelly Bindle to discuss the proposed tobaatNorth District r prospects development, Indigenous a time whenCrime our resi- ernment will continue June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2023 Enforcement Support lives. This initiatives and infrastrucdents’ health needs are working in partnership Two-Year Forest Management Operating the Emergency Renot well-served by a fedwhichPlan this approach hasTeam, xample of ture investments. But our increasing. with Ottawa, while confor Nisokapawino Forestry Management Corporation Team and Police eral government policy or been absolutely necessarysponseManitoba’s projects in government’s responsibil- and provintinuing to take action to Canadian Kraft Paper Industries Ltd. Services, incial gov- ity is to represent the best approach, we will speak are the federal carbon tax,Dogcial Liberals,officers who held protect Manitoba’s inRCMP photo a residence on on terests business tax chan-searched Date federal Time the federal Community interests of Manitobans. up for them. a town-hall meeting and to make our Thompson RCMP Nelson House RCMP seized about 58 grams of cocaine around Three key issues February for ges and federal health-Primrose ave worked Pimicikamak So when Manitobans are Lake) health Drive care in Thomp- province Cree Nation (Cross 8 7:00 p.m. gunsstronger. when they executed a search warrant at a 6:20 a.m. Saturday mor- and pelletDrug Tip Line Nelson River Forest Section (Thompson, Wabowden February 11 7:00 p.m. Primrose Drive residence Jan. 30. ning. The search yielded and cash. on April 21 and Nelson approximately 58 grams of Meeting links are available upon request by phone (204) 623-8545, The people arrested House RCMP continue to cocaine, cannabis, pellet email NFMC@niso.ca or on the CKP website at www.canadiankraftpaper.com guns, drug paraphernalia are due to appear in court investigate.

MP Report

MLA Report

overnment increasingly out of touch MP Report

Standing up to protect Manitoba’s best interests MLA Report

anding up to protect Manitoba’sNelson best interests House RCMP arrest two people MLA Report

after seizing cocaine, pellet guns and cash

204-677-6995

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Friday, February 5, 2021

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Just inMB time to celebrate To the Wolf upperKixen left of Orion SPACE umgrah00@myumanitoba.ca International Women’s DayThompson on Sunday, March 4 Nelson Rd, MB15! are the Gemini Twins conFor more information contact Amanda Nash: Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Center sisting8, of the bright stars 431-800-5040 | amanda.nash@heartandstroke.ca 2020 SWIMMING POOL, hotSunday, tub etc., ac- March OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE 500-500011 | 11:30-1:30pm Wednesday March For more information contact Amanda Nash: - 4 pm Letkemann - Thompson, Manitoba called Pollux (yellowish) cessories and2parts auction. For moreTheatre sq ft available. Cameron/Hoe building 4 Nelson Rd, Thompson MB 431-800-5040 | amanda.nash@heartandstroke.ca Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Center $10 per ticket - Tickets available at Scotiabank details on this auction please see www. 83 Churchill Drive. Contact Joe Aniceto. and Castor (blue) located 33 (Age 18+ only. Limited tickets available at the door) 4 Nelson Rd, Thompson MB billklassen.com Bill Klassen Auctions and 51 ly respectively from 204-679-0490 Neil Cameron 306For moreorinformation contact Amanda Nash: Ltd. Cell 204-325-6230. 477-5668. For 20-tfn-nb more information contact Amanda Nash: us. Use binoculars to locate 431-800-5040 | amanda.nash@heartandstroke.ca Serving 24 Manitoba HRS province-wide 25 years! Ph: for (204) 746-2223

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decisions of Hydro as well decisions that Hydro continues to make today. South Indian Lake was once the third-largest whitefish fishery in North America, but declined by 90 per cent following construction of the CRD. Following two decades of hard work by O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, fish stocks startFriday, March 6, 2020 ed to increase, until once again unilateral decisions made by Hydro and Manitoba with respect to the augmented flow program once again decimated the fishing industry. Now, without public review and under the cover of a pandemic, with time running out under The Water Power Act regulations, it looks like the Pallister government is going to quickly issue the final licence for the Churchill River Diversion over the objections of Indigenous communities and peoples, so Manitoba Hydro can apply for yet another 50year licence. The final licence for the Churchill River Diversion project should not be grant-

ed at this time, particularly with the Augmented Flow Program, but even without it, until: 1. The fundamental and constitutional obligations to consult and accommodate impacted Indigenous communities are satisfied; 2. A full assessment, importantly including traditional ecological knowledge, on the cumulative effects of past hydroelectric dams in Northern Manitoba and the potential future ecological impact that the construction of more dams and their future decommissioning would have on the entire watershed is completed; and, 3. The Churchill River Diversion project be forced to become compliant with not only The Water Power Act, but additionally with more modern legislation such as The Environment Act that was not in force at the time, with such a review to include an independent public citizens led review process. James Beddome is the leader of the Green Party of Manitoba.

Evening Orion beacon The Hunter

ake time to focus on you! www.mcna.com

Friday, February 5, 2021

The YWCA is offering this fun, lighthearted event to celebrate the women in our lives who deserve an afternoon of laughter and fun! We are also launching the #sheinspiresme campaign again this year!

The clouds also produce the greenhouse effect, trapping the solar energy and locking it in. This keeps the day and night side a toasty 400 degrees Celsius and is so hot you could cook a large pizza in nineseconds. It is safe to say human astronauts will never visit the Venusian surface. However, in 1970 the Russians launched Venera 7 and became the first of its kind to land on another planet. The craft only lasted about 50 minutes but opened the door to the planet’s hidden secrets. Today, X-ray images pierce these clouds to reveal its landscape and volcanoes that still seem to beautiful open star cluster beaerupting. catalogued as M35 near the Venus along with Mercury areright termed inferior planetsabout foot. Appearing as the theysize reside of inside the fullearth’s moon, the orbit. It takes only 224adays cluster containing couple of for Venus to circle the sun hundred stars is some 2,800 and takes on different phasaway. Above the Twins is es ly when viewed through a the constellation Auriga the telescope, much like we see Charioteer. brightorstar is with the moonThe as more less sunlight illuminates named Capella and its resided surface. March 1, Venus 42 ly On away. There are three will only illuminated open starbe clusters located in the by 62 per cent. It reaches southern part of the constellaits farthest point from the tion. Appearing in a somewhat sun on March 24 and then curved from left to to right begins to line move lower the catalogue numbers thebares horizon. Over the next few weeks, the and planet will They M37, M36 M38. position between are allitself in the 4,200 the to 4,500 sun earth. ly and range fromFollowing us meaning the this progression through a starlight from these clusters telescope, you will notice around the time the Great theleft planet growing in size in Egypt as Pyramids it moves closer to uswere but built. The in winter sky is also shrinking illumination. Onwhere April 3we it will findbe thelocated fainter and in less the Pleiades Cluster andMilky dense edge of the onWay the night of May 21 andside of Galaxy on the left 22, teams up with Mercury Orion. Opposed to the heavy low in the northwest sky but concentration of hundreds of will be a thin four per cent lit millions crescent.of distant stars signifying of the galaxy Knownthe as centre “The Backyard Astronomer,” Gary Boyle in the constellation Sagittarius is seen an astronomy educator, in the night sky from in guest speaker andJune monththe south from to Octoly columnist for the Royber, dark skies are required to al Astronomical Society see the winter portion of our of Canada. He has been galaxy. on more than interviewed Focusing now the main 50 Canadian radioonstations and local Ottawa TV. pattern of stars, the hunter is In outlined recognition his stars publicfor his by oftwo outreach in astronomy, shoulders, two for the his feet International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow

and three in a row for his belt. From the belt, look for the imaginary sword hanging down with a fuzzy-looking object in it. Welcome to an emission nebula called for obvious reasons, the Great Orion Nebula or simply M42. This stellar nursery is slowly collapsing and condensing pockets of gas and dust in the nebula to eventually form a couple thousand stars. The belt stars from left to right are named Alnitak 817 ly, Alnilam 1,976 ly and Mintaka 916 ly while the nebula itself is around 1,500 ly away. Embrace the night sky for all it has to offer, no matter what time of year. Till next time, clear skies. Known as “The Backyard Astronomer,” Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He has been interviewed on more than 50 Canadian radio stations and local Ottawa TV. In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Twitter: @ astroeducator or his website: www.wondersofastronomy. com.