The Traveling Feather June 2013

MLIB JUNE 2013

The Traveling Feather

WE, THE TSE’KHENE NATION (PEOPLE OF THE ROCK) ARE PROUD PEOPLE

NO.25

June Quarterlies Making sure the Footprints we leave behind are ones our Children will be proud to walk in.

Contributors MLIB The Traveling Feather Derek Orr, Adele Chingee, Anita Vallee, Shandi Covell, Nicole Peterson, Jodie Ware, Alec Chingee, Minnie Isadore, Meaghan van Somer, Chris Kaip, Jodi Sharp, Matt Shaw, Ken Solonas, Deborah Prince, Misty Williams, Geraldine Solonas, Minnie Isadore, Alec Chingee,

McLeod Lake Indian Band address General Delivery McLeod Lake, V0J 2G0 Toll Free 1-888-822-1143

Newsletter Submissions Would you like to write something for The Traveling Feather? Please email a submission to mklijnsmit@mlib.ca

MLIB Publication No.25 The Traveling Feather is published up to 12 times a year. Members of the McLeod Lake Indian Band and readers of The Traveling Feather can submit their news and pictures at mklijnsmit@mlib.ca

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You are Invited!

To the McLeod Lake Indian Band’s 25th Education Celebration and 13th Annual General Assembly.

We are proud to be hosting this annual event for our Membership once again. During these 3 days we will come together with family and friends to celebrate the many accomplishments of our growing generations, culture and traditions. August 7th will be our annual Canoe Journey from Whiskers Bay to the Historical Site. Eve-

The McLeod Lake Indian Band Office is

ryone is welcome to join our Elders for this event; seats on the canoes are on a first come, first basis—please

open Monday - Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm.

contact Ryan Bichon to book a seat. Of course, if you have your own canoe we encourage you to bring it along!

August 8th will give Council and the Administration team an opportunity to report on the many band services, operations and pressing matters. Then, in the evening it’s our annual BINGO game, following dinner.

And to end our event we will have a fun packed day on August 9th down at our Historic Site; consisting of the education celebration, great food, various performers and speakers, boat rides, face painting for the children, drum making, dream catcher making, games, etc..

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Dates: August 7, 8 & 9, 2013 Where: McLeod Lake, BC Travel Subsidy will be based on funding availability - First Come, First Serve.

Please contact Minnie Isadore toll free at 1-888-822-1143 ext 860 or misadore@mlib.ca

Dear Members, I hope you are all well and are enjoying the Spring weather. It has been a long winter and I am looking forward to Summer. As we roll into summer there is a lot of positive news for McLeod Lake Indian Band. It is going to be another great year and I look forward to seeing many of you at our quarterly meetings on June 13-15, 2013. Invitations have been mailed out with time and locations of meetings. Meeting times will also be posted on our website (MLIB.ca).

2013 Annual General Assembly August 7-9, 2013 has been schedule for this year’s AGA and there is a tremendous amount of positive news that Chief and Council will be able to communicate to our Members. Once again we hope to get as many of our members back to community to help us celebrate all our success with our family and friends.

Sale of Summit Pipelines The sale of Summit Pipeline Services has resulted in many benefits to McLeod Lake Indian Band and our Members. The profits from the sale now put us in a position to pay off the Treaty 8 Settlement Trust, provide a dividend (payout) to our members and have funds available to construct community projects that our members have previously identified. Chief and Council will be seeking further input on reinvestment strategies from our Membership at the upcoming quarterlies.

Treaty 8 Settlement Trust Deficit On June 05, 2013 Chief and Council will be meeting with the Public Trustee, Jemison Jackson, to discuss and verify amounts owing in the Treaty 8 Trust Settlement Account. Due to Sale of Summit Pipelines, McLeod Lake Indian Band now has the money available to pay the outstanding deficit in our Treaty 8 Trust Settlement Account. Once amounts are verified, Chief and Council will provide the funds necessary to eliminate the deficit.

Anglo American Co-operation and Benefits Agreement On May 17, 2013 Chief and Council received confirmation that Anglo American that approved and signed our Co-operation and Benefits Agreement. The agreement outlines commitments and opportunities with Anglo American’s Trend Mine which is already in operation, as well as the proposed Roman Mine that will eventually be located adjacent to the Trend Mine. Environmental Responsibility, Revenues, Contracts, Jobs, Training and Economic Development Funds are all components of our signed agreement. Revenues received from these mines will flow into The McLeod Lake Indian Band’s Lands and Minerals Trust which was started in 2011.

As mentioned in a previous update, the Agreement is for an initial period of one year which will allow MLIB to receive funds from the mines while we address outstanding issues with Anglo American, particularly the issues of support for further mining and the adjustment of the revenue sharing rate for inflation. The Agreement sets an important precedent for revenue sharing with respect to coal mining in our territory. We also thank Anglo American for their caribou protection program.

Treaty 8 Boundary Litigation On May 22, 2013 Chief and Council met with legal counsel, Gary Nelson to discuss the Treaty 8 Boundary litigation. The Western Boundary Litigation was begun by some of the First Nations in BC who signed Treaty 8, seeking a declaration that the arctic pacific divide is the boundary of Treaty 8 territory. McLeod Lake Indian Band has always asserted that was the boundary, but the Province says the boundary runs through the Pine Pass. We became a party to the litigation in order to protect our treaty rights. The case is now getting ready for trial in court.

Treaty 8 Tribal Association On May 16, 2013 I met with the Treaty 8 Tribal Association. The meeting was to discuss the First Nations Health Transfer and Cumulative Impacts over the Treat 8 Territory. A number of issues were identified and the group is going to meet again on June 18, 2013 to discuss some of the major projects within Treaty 8 Territory. It was a great meeting as representatives from all BC signatories of Treaty 8 (Blueberry River First Nation, Doig River First Nation, Fort Nelson First Nation, Halfway River First Nation, Prophet River First Nation, Saulteau First Nations, West Moberly First Nations and McLeod Lake Indian Band )were in attendance.

Returning To Spirit On May 27-31, 2013 I attended the second part of the Returning to Spirit Program.

Returning to Spirit focuses on Residential School Traumas for Aboriginal peoples who attended and survived. The second week of the program was focused reconciliation which included both Survivors and Church representatives. The first week I attended was only for First Nations. I would recommend this program for any of our members who attended Residential School, or any of their family. The 5 day program was very beneficial, by providing knowledge, healing and reconciliation. If you are interested in this program please our Health Department.

In closing, I hope to see as many of our members at the AGA. It has been another great year for McLeod Lake Indian Band. Our Companies are operating effectively and efficiently providing record revenue and profit. The sale of Summit Pipelines has put us in a position to reconcile monies owed in the Treaty 8 Trust Settlement Account. This is significant considering the debt we had in 2008. Furthermore, because of our strong financial situation we are able to provide our members with a distribution, have funds to construct many of the community projects and enter the New Year DEBT FREE!! This is truly amazing and would like to thank our staff, Managers, Band Manager, Advisors, Chief and Council and everyone else who has made this possible.

Safe Travels to all of you on your way to the AGA! Mussi Cho,

r r O k e r e D f e i h C

I’m happy to report MLIB is on track with its current budget and strategic goals. This summer department managers will see the completion of the cultural camp and boat launch. We are currently reviewing other possible projects in light of the new funds available to MLIB. We have to follow the proper processes internally in order for projects to be approved by a quorum of Chief and Council.

The successful consultant and Working Group will be starting the Election and Membership Code Amendment projects this week. As reported in an earlier Quarterly meeting, both of these codes are outdated and certain sections need to be redefined. The amendment process will include input from the membership and will take us right into September with a Referendum Vote. During the amendment process there will be community meetings for input and the Working Group will be making one on one contact with membership. We will post information concerning ongoing activities and proposed meetings with respect to the amendment process. I am happy to report that MLIB was successful in accessing external funds to help subsidize the cost of amending the Codes.

For the past few months the planning committees have been busy meeting regularly for the MLIB AGA on August 7-9th and the Carp Lake Camping and Fishing on July 5-7th in Carp Lake.

Both events have been successful with attendance growing each time. We are also planning for Aboriginal Day Celebrations in Mackenzie, BC. MLIB will be involved with the celebrations along with Duz Cho Logging. If you’re in the area, please join us for any of these or other events. Information about any planned activity or MLIB event is generally posted on the Website and at the MLIB offices.

MLIB management is preparing to gather more information about the First Nations Financial Transparency Act. This Act, passed by the Government of Canada without much consultation with First Nations, will force First Nations organizations to post Financial Statements publicly.

This Act will come into effect after April 1, 2014. We have a bit of time to get informed and familiarize ourselves and to see what the implications are for MLIB. We are coming down to the crunch for the Health Transfer to the First Nation Health Authority for BC First Nations. Our team has been attending information sessions facilitated by the Health Authority to the progress of the Transfer. The target date for the transfer is October 2013. As you recall, this information was communicated to the band membership at the last Quarterly Meeting.

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

For myself, personally, I have completed the second part of the Return to Spirit (RTS) program just recently. I have found the information from the program very helpful to my well-being in order for me to move forward. Being stuck in one’s past is not a healthy way of life. I elected to make positive changes for myself and for my family by participating in this program.

Although I completed the program I will always continue on a path of healing for myself. As I said, this program is very positive and I encourage anyone who went to Residential school or if you didn’t go but felt the effects from family attending, to take this worthwhile program.

MLIB has allocated funds to enable members to attend the program. We could also bring Return to Spirit into our community if there was sufficient interest in that.

I will close off my report by sharing a positive message for your consideration. I found this information in a magazine.

“7 Days of Inspiration – Take one day and feel great all week.

Day 1 – You do something important every day!

Day 2 – A heart filled with hope is bigger and larger.

Day 3- Wherever you go, happiness follows.

Day 4- Let your dreams lead the way!

Day 5 – You’re one of the best kinds of wonderful!

Day 6 – You deserve all the good things in life!

Day 7 – Plan. Prepare. Expect. Experience!

(Author unknown - Magazine)”

e l e d A Thanks to everyone who e e g n i h C helped cleaning up!!

Thanks to everyone who helped cleaning up!!

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

! !

June!7,!2013! !

ATTENTION!ALL!BAND!MEMBERS:! !

PLEASE!BE!ADVISED!THAT!IF!YOU!ARE!INTERESTED! IN!APPLYING!FOR!EMPLOYMENT!WITH! MT.!MILLIGAN!MINE! THEY!WILL!NO!LONGER!BE!ACCEPTING! APPLICATIONS!OR!RESUMES!VIA!EMAIL,!FAX!OR! PAPER.!ALL!SUBMISSIONS!FOR!EMPLOYMENT!MUST! BE!MADE!VIA!THE!WEB!SITE.!

Thanks to everyone who helped cleaning up!! http://mtmilligan.com/careers/! !

!

Employment!&!Training! !

A!BIG!CONGRATULATION!TO!BRIAN!RIVARD! Brian!completed!the!“Minerals!Processor”!Program!on!!

WOW!

May!10,!2013!

Brian!lives!in!Fort!St.!James!with!his!family!and!has!successfully! completed!the!minerals!processing!course!offered!by!CNC.!

This!course!is!the!most!modern!training!you!can!receive!in!mill! processing!in!the!mining!industry.! !

Good!Luck!with!all!your!future!Endeavours!!!

Hot$Topics$

Points$of$$Interest$

Safety!and!Security!Audio!Training!

Please!secure!your!seat!by!June!14,!2013!

Where:!MLIB!hall!

When:!June!20,!2013!at!11!am!

This!training!is!for!people!who!work!the!front!line!or!work! with!customers!or!clients!

Adult!Basic!Education!

If!you!are!interested!in!upgrading!your!education….!Please! enquire!with!us!about!what!type!of!support!is!available.!!

Congratulations!to!Kevin!Findlay!in!completing! his!first!level!of!training!in!becoming!an! electrician.!

!

Congratulations!to!all!the!band!members!whom! have!completed!the!Environmental!Technician!

Program.! !

Congratulations!to!all!the!preschool!children! who!are!graduating!from!PreZschool!!and!!are! heading!to!Kindergarten.! !

“Way!to!go”!to!all!you!who!are!still!in!school!!!!! ! ! !Contact$Information$ !

Education!Department!ReZstructuring!

Misty!Williams!–!mwilliams@mlib.ca!

We!are!currently!in!the!process!of!restructuring!our!department! and!creating!a!more!stream!line!process!for!applications.!In!the! near!future!we!will!implement!a!new!policy!and!procedure! manual!for!members!to!read.!The!will!let!you!know!what!is! available!for!funding!and!support.!We!will!also!be!creating!new! application!forms!and!putting!them!online!for!easier!access.! !

Anita!Vallee!–!avallee@milb.ca! ! !

(250)!750Z4415! !

You!can!also!text!to!778Z582Z0117!for!any! educational!enquiries!you!may!have.!

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you May$2013$Employment/Education/Training$ stop opening presents and listen.

!

Housing(&(Public(Works( June(3,(2013(( Our(team(consists(of(a:( (Public(Works(Manager(–(George(McDonald( ( ( ((((((((((( (Housing(Manager(–(Boris(Boyko( ( ( ( (Housing(&(Public(Works(Maintenance(WorkerE(Paul(James(McNabbETylee( ( ( ( (Housing(&(Public(Works(Assistant(–(Jolene(Solonas( ( Our( team( maintains( the( Housing,( repairs( &( maintenance,( reserve( roads,( main( buildings( and( utilities( such( as( septic,( water,(street(lighting,(etc.(( ( We(have(recently(hired(on(Keith(Cooper(and(Seraphine(Solonas(on(an(as(needed(basis(for(casual(labour(to(help(us(keep( up(with(the(regular,(everyday(repairs(and(maintenance.( !

Boris(has(his(small(water,(small(waste(water(system(and(Distribution(1(certificates(and(is(now(qualified(to(maintain(the( water(systems.(PJ(is(studying(to(get(all(of(his(certificates(and(will(be(the(backup.(( ( We(are(currently(funded(through(AANDC(for(our(water(system(and(a(new(requirement(is(that(our(water(system(needs(to( be(chlorinated.(It(is(our(choice(of(whether(or(not(we(wish(to(do(this(but(if(we(choose(not(to(chlorinate,(we(will(lose(our( funding( from( AANDC( and( we( will( then( have( to( fund( our( water( system( ourselves( and( we( would( then( be( liable( for( contamination.( ( There(has(been(some(damage(on(IR(5(with(the(water(system(due(to(the(last(cold(snap(of(the(season(and(that(has(been( repaired(recently.( ( New(street(lighting(will(be(installed(along(the(Carp(Lake(road,(1(km(before(the(reserve(where(it(has(been(lacking.( !

The(summer(crew(has(started(up(and(is(going(full(gear(now.(I(would(like(to(take(this(chance(to(thank(the(summer(crew( and(Minnie(Isadore(for(the(reserve(cleanup!(This(year(was(a(big(cleanup(of(yards(and(public(areas.(Minnie(coordinated( with(the(summer(crew,(Land(Management(and(the(Public(Works(department(to(pick(up(all(garbage(and(recyclables(from( all(households(and(public(areas,(which(was(quite(a(bit.(( ( We(have(approximately(four(houses(to(be(rented(soon(and(two(more(that(need(major(repairs(before(they(can(be(rented.( We(have(a(waiting(list(of(applicants(and(I(would(like(to(remind(all(that(if(you(would(like(to(rent(on(reserve,(you(have(to( resubmit(an(application(each(year(to(keep(your(name(on(the(list.(( ( Repairs(and(maintenance(with(the(on(reserve(housing(is(endless(and(the(criteria(for(starts(with(health(and(safety(is(first,( housing(endurance(as(second(and(last(would(be(cosmetics.( ( Additional(projects(that(are(underway(are;(new(fire(hall,(smoke(house,(boat(launch,(cemetery,(public(works(building(and( delivery(of(natural(gas(to(the(reserve.( ( Mussi(Cho,( ( Jolene(Solonas( Housing(&(Public(Works(Assistant( Tel:(250E750E4415(ext.(871( Fax:(250E750E4420( Email:(jsolonas@mlib.ca( ( (

Youth Department

Summer Programming “INSPIRING MCLEOD LAKE YOUTH TO DEVELOP POSITIVE IDENTITIES BY EMPHASIZING THEIR STRENGTHS AND PROVIDING EXPERIENCES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY DECISION MAKING AND PRIDE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING WHICH FOSTERS RESILIENCY AND INDEOENDENCE, AND ALLOWS MCLEOD LAKE YOUTH TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD.”

Jije inza “time of the berries”

July 2013

Prince George.

ing Youth Activities at or around the Band Hall, from 10 AM-2 PM.

The Youth Department wanted to ensure that our membership is well informed about what summer programming we have planned, thus far.

There will be more things added, though unfortunately, we will not have set dates until mid-June.

July 5-7 is the annual Carp Lake Campout with Mackenzie RCMP, so pack up your families and head on out for a weekend of family fun!

On July 9, some of our older Youth will be participating in a Parade introducing our Elders at the Elders Gathering in

We have an outdoor soccer camp planned for July 11, and require preregistration so please advise us if you would like your child(ren) to participate!

July 15-19 brings us the Mad Science Camp. I know a lot of our youth look forward to these engaging, educational science camps! We require pre-registration for it as well, so please contact the Youth Department for waivers and registration forms.

Breakdown: 



Above: Annabelle and Desiree having some fun!

(Mad Science Camp 2012) Below: Learning about Static Electricity.

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July 23-25 and July 30August 1 we will be hold

Sas tsudle inza “time of bear fat” August brings us AGA, which is always a busy and exciting time of year!

Youth Day will be August 8, and will be held down at the Historical Site August 12-16 we are pleased to have Actua (Science Alive) out for another awesome Science Camp! Pre-registration is required so please contact the Youth Department for waivers and registration forms.

For the remainder of the

summer dates, we are awaiting approval on a few other exciting activities, and we will keep you posted!

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please contact us.

August 2013 Shandi Covell scovell@mlib.ca 250-750-4415 After Hours: 250-997-7920 Roberta Valiquette Rvaliquette@mlib.ca 250-750-4415 After Hours: 250-997-7920 Nicole Peterson npeterson@mlib.ca 250-750-4415 After Hours: 250-997-1471

Georgina Chingee showing some of our youth and the Actua crew how to skin a beaver. (2012 Actua Camp)





July 5-7: Carp Lake Campout July 9: Elders Gathering opens in Prince George July 11: one day soccer camp with Ken Edzerza July 15-19: Mad Science Camp August 7-9: AGA, with August 8th being Youth Day August 12-16: Actua (Science Alive) Science Camp

April 2013

Supply Post Western Canada Edition · www.supplypost.com

Page 1

Front Page Story

A Blueprint For Positive Change “It’s an honourable challenge to achieve the right balance between growth and development, while maintaining the positive traditions of the past.”

Duz Cho Construction, a key supplier of road construction, site preparation and reclamation services to the mining and oil & gas industries, provides a legacy of success for its people. By Ronald Mullins

T

he history of many Canadian, First Nations’ communities is one of unique cultures and traditions. But accompanying these traditions have been a number of challenges.

Fortunately, for an evergrowing number of these special peoples, this is changing.

One of the communities where positive change is certainly evident is the Village of McLeod Lake, located north of the city of Prince George, British Co-

lumbia. It is here that the McLeod Lake Indian Band, a small but vibrant community whose people are part of the TseK’ehne, or People of the Rocks, call home.

Today the McLeod Lake Indian Band is led by Chief Derek Orr, a proud, young, energetic man. “Our people have had their challenges over the years but it is my duty to help them overcome and be leaders,” stated Orr. “We were a nomadic tribe of hunters

“Today, our responsibility is to protect these same lands while benefiting from its bountiful natural resources.”

To establish and maintain a key position in the heavyconstruction industry, requires reliable equipment and proactive business relationships with heavy equipment suppliers.

and gathers living off the abundance of the land, and today our responsibility is to protect these same lands while benefiting from its bountiful natural resources.”

Now in his second term as Chief, Orr grew up on the ‘tough’ streets of Prince George, but early on he was determined to make a difference in the lives of his TseK’ehne people. As a young adult, Orr enrolled in college, obtaining a degree in business management. Following graduation, he headed home and in 2008 was elected Band Chief. Chief Orr’s goal was to further develop the business of the McLeod Lake Indian Band into a significant economic force within their traditional territorial lands.

McLeod Lake is located within the confines of the Rocky Mountain Trench and is on the doorstep to the mineral, energy and natural resource rich northeast region of the province.

It is within this region that the pro-active McLeod Lake Indian Band established Duz Cho Logging in 1988, a company capable of harvesting over one-million cubic meters of timber annually. The success of Duz Cho Logging was followed by the creation in 2003 of Duz Cho Construction, with head offices in nearby Chetwynd, and the purchase of Summit Pipeline Services in 2004.

Wind. Coal. Copper. Gas. Duz Cho Construction is a key supplier of road construction, site preparation and reclamation services to several significant mines in the region. Additionally, they are an integral player in site preparation, site decommissioning and site reclamation for the regional oil and gas industry.

With the development of the area’s wind-energy, Duz Cho has been instrumental in road construction and infrastructure development as well as site preparation for this burgeoning industry. Their first windenergy project, the 48 tower, 144 megawatt Dokie Ridge Wind Farm, was fully operational in 2011. This past fall saw them wrap up work on the 79 tower, 156 megawatt Capital Power Corporation’s Tumbler Ridge Quality Wind Energy project. They have recently begun preliminary site surveys and preparation on the proposed 100 tower, Dokie Ridge II Wind Farm.

On the Tumbler Ridge Quality Wind-Energy site alone, Duz Cho was responsible for over 22 kilometers of 12 meter wide roads, tower site excavation, foundation work, and crane pad construction, as well as back filling and all site and area reclamation.

Here the company’s fleet of Volvo excavators, articulated haulers, motor graders and skid steers were instrumental in achieving on-time, on-budget completion.

Coal mining in this part of the world is a very robust industry with production averaging in excess of 35 million tons per year.

“Mining in this area is a 24 hour, 365 day a year job and a number of the area’s major mining companies are counting on us to be there when they need us,” states Wade Caven, Divisional Manager, Duz Cho North East Mining Division.

Staying with the mining theme, Chris Leatherdale, Divisional Manager, North West Mining Division, is heading up Duz Cho’s involvement at one of the province’s newest copper/gold mines, the 1.6 billion dollar Thompson Creek Metals’ Mount Milligan project. Leatherdale is leading the 120 man Duz Cho team in the construction of the mine’s massive tailings storage facility, which involves moving up to 20 million cubic meters of mother-earth. To get the job done, they are utilizing up to 45 pieces of Volvo Construction Equipment iron including 700, 460 and 330 series excavators and a fleet of 35 and 40 ton ar-

ticulated haulers.

Just to the northwest of the nearby community of Tumbler Ridge, Duz Cho is working on site reclamation for Talisman Energy.

Here, a combination of Volvo EC380D tracked excavators and Volvo A35D and A40F articulated haulers are restoring depleted natural gas-well sites back to their original rugged mountain condition.

Production. Performance.

Challenge.

Establishing and maintaining a key position in the heavy-construction industry requires reliable equipment and pro-active business relationships with heavy equipment suppliers. Jim Humphreys, Duz Cho Construction’s General Manager, was very straightforward, “We are very satisfied with the support provided by Volvo Construction Equipment and Great West Equipment. We have had a longterm, valuable relationship with Tim Martin, Dillon Healy and the Great West team, and in my opinion nobody can touch Volvo for production and performance.”

As First Nations’ face the challenge to provide a legacy of change for their peoples, perhaps Chief Derek Orr sums up the blueprint he has established for the McLeod Lake Indian Band best. “It’s an honourable challenge to achieve the right balance between growth and development, while maintaining the positive traditions of the past.” To date, these TseK’ehne people, under the guidance of Orr, have certainly achieved that. b

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

Good day:

It has been just over two months since the last Quarterly meetings. Time flies by quickly as that seems such a short time ago. My monthly reports, which are on our Band website at www.mlib.ca covers the day to day activities that I am involved in as a Band Councillor. I understand that this Band website is currently under construction.

The Council continues to meet monthly with the government regarding an Economic Benefits Agreement. I understand the EBA includes the EBA proper which is a general revenue sharing agreement for the territory, a strategic engagement agreement which is about consultations generally on a government to government basis, a regional coal economic and community development agreement which provides mineral tax revenue sharing for coal, and the oil and gas agreement which MLIB already has. There may be other agreements later but those are the key components for now.

At this time there needs to be an upgrade of our water system on the main Reserve community in order to provide clean safe water for our members who choose to live there.

Briefly, this would include moving to a different water source and having two wells as well a process to chlorinate the new water sources. AANDC (formerly INAC) is willing to pay for the upgrade to the tune of approximately four million dollars and only if chlorination is part of the system. Chlorination is a huge issue for any town/community, especially when that was never part of our water provision in the past, and we are in the process of having community meetings at this time. Personally I hate the hate the taste of chlorinated water, and know that I must now learn more about the pros and cons of this process in order to make a good (informed) decision on this matter.

Now that the Liberals are back in, we, MLIB Council, believe that the government(Liberals) will make every effort to push through the LNG(liquid natural gas) pipelines proposed by TransCanada (Coastal Gas Link and Prince Rupert Gas Transmission); Apache/Chevron (Pacific Trails) and, Spectra Energy. Premier Christy Clarke has publicly stated that they have the LNG bringing in millions of dollars as part of the balancing of their provincial budget without any acknowledgement that in order to do that they must consult with the First Nations’ on whose traditional territory which such proposed pipelines pass through, let alone that how they get the gas out of the ground (fracking) is a huge issue for First Nations as well as the cumulative effects of such projects when we are the stewards of our lands.

Time is fast approaching for the precedent setting transfer of ALL First Nations Health Services over to the provincial First Nations Health Authority in October of this year. Simply put, the current First Nations Inuit Health Branch offices and other such service providers will be switched over to be administered by the First Nations Health Authority offices and provide the same services. MLIB will continue to provide the same health services we currently provide, but in the future we will have input as to what community based health planning of services we consider best for our members. As part of this, MLIB has also joined the HUB based out of Fort St. John, BC. For more information on this, please google “First Nations Health Authority” where you will also access job opportunities in this area throughout British Columbia.

The Band Council is also having more meetings with the Treaty 8 Tribal Association and also with Kwadacha and Tsay Keh to discuss common issues we have regarding Site C and the proposed pipelines, and, we have recently been invited to meet with the North West BC First Nations at the end of this month in Prince Rupert to discuss the vast amount of economic development in the North West and North East of BC and how we can work together as stewards of our land and in the protection of our treaty/aboriginal rights.

I attended the second set of the Return To Spirit workshops and found that beneficial in learning how to better communicate; that blaming has no value; that people have their own opinions (which I may agree or disagree with); that I cannot change the past (what is is); and, I am responsible for myself and to make what changes I want for myself. I believe this would be a great tool for both First Nations and non-First Nations to attend to get a better understanding of Indian Residential School issues, which is part of our First Nations’ history.

Blessings to all… Reminder to read Psalm 91 whenever possible (safeguards you and your family).

Geraldine Solonas On-Reserve Band Councillor

n o s r e t e P e l o c i N

NOTES

Stay connected! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Get your updates on band business, events and news.

WWW.MLIB.CA

More Horoscopes on Page 18

The Traveling Feather is published up to 12 times a year for and by members of The McLeod Lake Indian Band. The next issue of The Traveling Feather will be available just before the 2013 AGA. Thank you for attending one of the June Quarterly Meetings.