The Traveling Feather QR December 2012

MLIB DECEMBER 2012

The Traveling Feather

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

23 no.

and a happy new year

December 2012 Quarterly Meetings

McLeod Lake Indian Band address

Chief Derek Orr’s

3

Band Manager Adele Chingee

5

Geraldine Solonas - Elders Council

6

Jenine Solonas - On Reserve Council

8

Jodie Ware - Education Department

9

Deborah Prince - Land Referral Office

12

Anita Vallee - Employment and Training

14

Linda Jones - Health Department

18

Meaghan van Somer - Health Department

19

Public Works and Housing

20

Land Management

21

Miranda Grattan - Youth Worker

22

Misty Wiliams - Mount Milligan Liaison

24

Kathy Parkinson - MLIB Elders Society

27

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 submit your story to mklijnsmit@mlib.ca

MLIB Publication No.23 The Traveling Feather is published up to 10 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

Dear Members, McLeod Lake Indian Band Chief and Council look forward to the upcoming quarterly meetings on December 7th, 8th, 9th, 2012. At the next Quarterly meetings we will enjoy the opportunity to provide our Members with information on the topics below.

BC Hydro Chief and Council have met with BC Hydro Representatives on November 9, 13, and 23, 2012 to discuss the proposed Site “C” Dam. It is very clear that our Elders and our Members are opposed to this proposed project. The proposed Dam is in the Environmental Assessment stage, which is the third stage of a five stage process. Stage 4 is Procurement and the Fifth stage is Construction. It is clear that the proposed dam is supported by the Provincial Government. To help ensure the construction of the Proposed Dam the Government enacted the Clean Energy Act which basically paves the way for the construction of the Dam. Earlier this year the Provincial Government gave BC Hydro a mandate to offer benefit packages to First Nations that will be impacted by the proposed development. I will have a presentation outlining the offer from BC hydro at our upcoming quarterly meetings.

Court Decision on Blockaders - Civil Contempt On November 24, 2012 Court Justice Linda Loo found Justin Harris Chingee guilty of Civil Contempt for defying the court ordered injunction against the blockade. Justin Chingee received a 21 day suspended jail sentence, was ordered to pay a $2000 dollar fine to the Elders Tse’Khene Society, do 100 hours community service work, and make a public apology to the Band in the Prince George Citizen, Free Press and Opinion 250. In addition, the Courts allowed the McLeod Indian Band an opportunity to seek special costs to recover a portion of the $150,000 that the 12 day blockade cost the Band. Justin has six months to comply with the order, or serve 21 days in jail.

Treaty 8 Trust Deficit On November 10, 2012 Chief and Council, Board of Trustees, and Auditors Deloitte & Touché LLP all submitted letters to Catherine M. Romanko, Public Guardian and Trustee. The letters outlined current challenges with Treaty 8 Trust, and proposed a solution by the Amendment of Section 10.1 McLeod Lake Indian Band Treaty 8 Settlement Trust. As a result of the letters a meeting has been scheduled for December 10, 2012 in Vancouver with Catherine M. Romanko and Chief and Council. We hope to finally resolve this long standing issue and move forward.

Returning to Spirit On November 14-18, 2012 I attended the Returning to Spirit Workshop at the Prince George Diocese. The workshop focused on Residential School Reconciliation and provided tools to work towards self empowerment and individual responsibility. There are a lot of workshop courses out there, but I have to say this is one of the most beneficial Workshops that I have attended in a long time. If you are interested in more information on returning to Spirit, please visit their website at www.returningtospirit.org

Christmas Dividend Once again Chief and Council are Happy to be able to provide a Christmas Dividend after another successful year for our Companies. Each of our Companies has provided funds necessary for our Members to receive a $1500.00 Christmas Dividend. Thank you Duz Cho Logging, Duz Cho Construction and Summit Pipeline Services!

BC Aboriginal Business Awards On November 27, 2012 Chief and Council and a delegation of Youth and Elders attended the BC Aboriginal Awards to support Duz Cho Logging as the Company was presented with the Award for, “Community Owned Business of the Year.�

On Behalf of Chief and Council and our Membership I would like to thank Al Humphreys and the entire Crew and Staff at Duz Cho Logging for winning the Community Owned Business of the Year Award, from the BC Aboriginal Business Achievement Foundation. It is your hard work and dedication that continues to be recognized and you lead the way in the Forestry Industry.

McLeod Lake Indian Band Owned Companies It has been another great year for our Companies. On December 7th, 8th and 9th I will provide our Membership with an update on current events, financial information and strategic plans.

In conclusion, I wish you all safe travels and I look forward to seeing you all at the upcoming quarterly meetings on December 7th, 8th, 9th, 2012 for an update on these topics and more. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call me at 250-981-1332.

Sincerely,

r r O k e r e D Chief

McLeod

Lake Indian Band

General Delivery, McLeod Lake, BC V0J 2G0 Main Office (250) 750-4415 Fax: (250) 750-4420 It’s that time of year again and want to take this time to extend a “Merry Christmas and a Happy Safe New Year” to all members and their families.

Since the new HR/Office Manager came on board, my responsibilities have changed significantly. My main focus to work closely with Chief and Council in Policy Development, strategic goals and fiscal management and working with Industry and Government as MLIB relationship grows.

For a few months now, we’ve been meeting with BC Hydro for discussions and potential negotiations for the Site C Project. As you recall, BC Hydro did a presentation and provided a project update to MLIB members back in the Spring Quarterly Meetings. We understand this project of special interest to the member’s; an update will be forth coming.

Aboriginal Affairs has completed their review of our fiscal audit and forwarded their final review and comments to MLIB. MLIB is very happy to report we received another “unqualified audit” for the 2011-12 Fiscal Year. I want to thank all Chief and Council and Administration staff for their hard work throughout the fiscal year and being diligent with their respectful budgets. All of this is reflected with the positive results of MLIB’s fiscal audit. “Way to go Team”.

We will be starting our strategic planning again for the next fiscal year. We’re very excited to explore the new ideas for upcoming projects. Of course some projects which did not get completed will continue on to the next phase or stage.

On a more personal level, I attended the “Return to Spirit” program in November 2012. I strongly recommend members to attend this worthwhile healing program. For myself, I found the program very healing and positive in order for me to forward in my life. I’ve learned skills to dealing with issues and learned positive ways to resolving conflicts and letting things go and to have peace within my life. Also, my family was blessed with beautiful Calli Raven Carty my first grand baby girl, born on October 18th. I truly am blessed and have so much to live for and to teach my granddaughter.

Again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

e e g n i h C e Adel

Dan a che' a. (Hello, how are you.)

Sas che. (I am fine)

The last Quarterly Report was done for the Band’s Annual General Meeting this past August.

One of the biggest issues MLIB administration deals with is the non-payment of rent on an ongoing basis by certain individuals who live on the Reserve. Tenants, who are usually Band members, have their views on why this is happening. In the past there was a lack of enforcing the payment of rent by administration; some individuals believe it is their right as a First Nations person to not have to pay for the house they are renting; and, others have gotten behind in their rent for whatever reason in the past. My belief is that the Band has to come to terms with this situation and deal with it once and for all. Once that is dealt with that should be a turning point for the Housing department.

The Band Council wishes to ensure that each and every business/company that decides to do business in our Traditional Territory meets with the Council prior to beginning any work. I believe the odd company has failed to do this and the Council must keep on top of this.

Considering the amount of these companies, MLIB must create a process to ensure this is done.

This process begins with the Council negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with these businesses, in which funding is provided to negotiate the MOU’s. Should further agreements be required with any of them, this has to be a separate agreement. To date, the Council has not had any problems with this process and the businesses sometimes are very eager to complete the MOU in order for them to begin their work. Since August Council has met with Xtrata, TECK, Anglo American, Hillsborough, Colonial Coal, Cadero and HD Mines. Please note that we do have a lawyer, Albert Peeling, assisting the Band with all agreements and we thank him for his dedication and hard work on behalf of MLIB. Besides these above mentioned meetings, the Council continues to negotiate with the Oil & Gas Commission to renew the Agreement which ended in 2011. This agreement funds the Land Referral office annually with some of the funding going towards the Council honoraria also annually.

As related to the membership in my monthly report, the Council formed a negotiating committee to begin meetings with the province on their Site C project. We do understand that the Band membership is not in favour of this project as the government wishes to install another hydro dam in the area of Taylor. We know how their WAC Bennett Dam negatively affected our people in the past with next to NO benefits for our people. This project will be making changes to our traditional territorial lands and the environment, but should the project go ahead we, the Band, must be able to have benefits for our people of today and our future generations, in place.

The provincial elections of 2013 will probably have an effect on the future of this project.

The Council continues be involved in certain issues that must be reviewed on a continuous basis such as: Band Manager Review and work scope; the creation of the Human Resources department; Band communications including to the general public; and, review of policies such as the Band’s employee policies, Council policies and Codes that govern the Band’s membership. Most important is that the governing policies, regulations, By-Laws and Codes must be legal in every aspect and compatible with each other.

The Council also continues relationship building with neighbouring communities such as Mackenzie, Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge; First Nations in and outside of our Traditional Territory; First Nation organizations who provide funding or programs for the benefit of our membership, such as PGNAETA, First Nations Health Authority, ASEP, CNC Mackenzie; and others such as the Mackenzie RCMP Detachment and Provincial Fish & Wildlife, including the Fish & Wildlife Compensation (Peace Region) program.

Most recently Chief Orr, I and three staff members attended the first set of the program Returning to Spirit which is hosted at the former Prince George College site. There are two 5-day sets to this program. The program teaches you that you are responsible for yourself and your actions, which affect those around you (even future generations), especially your family and those you work with. Whatever negative events that happened to you in the past needs to be dealt with so that you take positive action willingly to move ahead to make your life better for yourself, your families and those you come into contact with. The program makes you think of where you are at and where you could be emotionally and in spirit. What I saw happen to the participants when they did their homework was inspiring and one needs to keep that up once they have left the program. This is something I believe would work for our Band members, if they choose to take the program. It would work much quicker than a treatment program for some people and one must take the time and commit to be in the 5-day program without missing any time at all. If you wish more information on this program, you may google the program based in Prince George.

With this report, I am wishing each of our Band members, their families and the people we work with a blessed, happy, safe and healthy Christmas season. If possible, read Psalm 91 on a daily basis asking for that to cover yourself, your family and your property.

s a n o l o S e n Geraldi

October 2012 Council Report for October 2012 Oc t 1 – Special Chief and Council Oct 2 – Cultural Awareness at Mount Milligan, with Georginia Chingee, Cheyenne Inyallie and Councillor Fred Inyallie Jr. Oct 4 – JIC mtg/Special Chief and Council meeting in McLeod Lake Oct 5 – Health Hub meeting, Fort St. John BC Oct 8 – Thanksgiving Day Oct 12 – OGC mtg. McLeod Lake Oct 16 – Cultural Awareness at Mount Milligan, with Kathy Parkinson (elder coordinator) and Eugene Isadore Oct 23- travel day to Vancouver Oct 24 – Governance Training, Richmond BC with three other Councillors Oct 29 – Special Chief and Council, McLeod Lake Oct 30 – Agreements working day, McLeod Lake Oct 31 – CKD mtg, McLeod Lake, Halloween lunch as well October has been a busy month for reports and creating new power point for my cultural awareness program, also, I was able to show some of the children how to make dry meat and what to do after its finished. A four point bull was a nice touch to the smoke house this year. I have included a picture to share.

Winter is not leaving now and this is fine with me, the members are busy working on the wood delivery so keeping busy and motivated is good for the soul.

Hope everyones Halloween was great!

I wanted to share this quote a First Nations Leader told everyone at a course I was at “ Free your Heart of Hate” so little words but so much meaning.

Mussi Cho!

s a n o l o S e Jenin

e r a W e i d Jo

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE, Thank you to everyone who participated!!!!! The food was excellent Congrats to: Woooo Hooooo Way to go everyone.......and Mussi Cho from the Daycare/ Head Start Children for all the Halloween treats  Jodi, Georgina, Brenda and Charlene

Best Dressed: Anita Vallee Best Dish – Destiny Bear Best Decorated Office – Misty Williams

Danachea, from Land Referral Office…

I am Dene - Carrier… my Great Grandfather was Edward Solonas , from Fort Franklin , Northwest Territories, first husband to Monique, Carrier from Pinche; they both settled in McLeod Lake to live. My Grandmother Anne was born in McLeod Lake, and then my mother Doris was third last to be born in Prince George; I was born in Prince George, raised on Vancouver Island from the age of nine, and my Dad took me home to McLeod Lake whenever he got the chance. I am a McLeod Lake Indian Band member from birth, as are my children. I want to introduce myself, to those who don’t already know, as the Manager for the Land Referral Office (LRO) in Chetwynd.

I moved my little family to Chetwynd at the beginning of October 2012, and basically hit the floor running at LRO. The learning curve for this department is a steep one... I do, however, love the challenge and find the people I work with, Debbie and Eran, pleasant and knowledgeable. Ryan Bichon is my immediate Supervisor, and we are currently working forward on a strategic plan for LRO. I have had two months on this side of the mountains from McLeod Lake Indian Band, and discover every day something new I didn’t know about our traditional land. For instance, it supports some of the world’s most unique ecosystems including forests, wildlife, wetlands, river systems and lakes. It is a common sentiment, spoken through our elders and members, that the conservation and sustainability of our territory’s natural resources are vital to our people and their way of life and future well being.

As Industry and Resource development continue to grow, and more companies submit applications for wind projects, mining projects, waste management projects, so on and so forth… never more than now is McLeod Lake Indian Band required to be ever vigilant and active in managing land and water resources in our territory. This can be partly accomplished by capacity building within our community to help us identify the potential for environment impacts of resource development, and then we have to develop environmental protection and monitoring plans for every project in our territory. In making these plans… Land referral office has to work collaboratively with our elders and our community members so that they can make informed decisions about their land and water resources.

There are many projects being proposed in our territory. Currently there is the Dehua, Chinese, and they are proposing no less than five mines, two of which are underground mines. There is the re-opening proposal from Teck Resources Inc for the Quintette mine south of Tumbler Ridge.

We also have applications for Mining operations from Anglo American, Xstrata, and Cardero, in total there are approximately 14 mines being proposed in our territory. Added to this are the wind project applications, no less than approximately 10 Wind Companies, as well as the Site C Proposal from BC Hydro; LRO is a busy place, with responsibility to respond with our concerns and recommendations in the face of the ever growing number of applications, as well as make a priority the requests for consultations with Environmental Groups working for Industry, to discuss our treaty rights in our territory and how those rights will be protected.

I am now beginning to understand the relationship between our province and the proponents (companies submitting applications for resource development), and our section 35 treaty right to hunt and fish in our traditional territory. It’s been a long road, and looks to be an even longer one… as we move in the direction of provincial and federal legislation that would preserve and protect, for instance, what is left of the critical caribou and vegetation habitat from destruction and ultimately obliteration.

Currently we have only mitigation guidelines, and regulations for industrial activities, and Governments say they are working on the implementation and enforcement of compliance. This is disturbing, and makes it very clear that we, MLIB, will have to take up the slack and ensure that we are doing everything we can as we are stewards of this land… I’ve heard said we do not inherit the land; we borrow it from our children. I’m also very proud of the sentiment that MLIB is ‘Making sure the Footprints we leave behind, are Ones our Children will be Proud to walk in’.

My vision for this department is that we will have more community involvement in the process of environmental assessments being done in our territory; more employment opportunities in environmental protection capacities for members to work in our territory. There are many opportunities to advocate our stewardship in our territory, to clearly out line our responsibility to protect these lands for ourselves and our future generation… and I am extremely grateful to be a part of the team that can help make that happen.

Mussi Cho!

e c n i r P h a Debor

Danache’a’ All my fellow band members, well it seems like another month has come and goes and Christmas is fast approaching.

Helped with bannock making at Morfee School, as it was culture day for the school.

Went to Mackenzie to go to the Job Options Celebrations at CNC , we had 2 band members (Julie Cooper, Helen Isadore) and another person from the reserve (Keith Cooper) who completed the 6 week program and I wish them luck in the future.

Had Grant Williams come to the office in regards to our benefits package, was very well session.

Returning to Spirit - Personal Development - Prince George This workshop has given me an insight of myself, of what I can be and want to be, it’s made me more self-awareness and to be more confident, it was just nice to let go of some stuff and try to make my life more positive and be aware of my actions. When you forgive people that you hurt and do a completion with them, you’ll find it a lot easier to go on with your life and move forward. It was also good to see some old friends from Residential School and to see us go through this together, just makes it better to know that we can leave residential school behind.

One of my biggest challenges was FEAR; they gave me the tools to produce a new understanding of fear and what it takes to move forward, also to experience a new sense of possibilities for the future. I would like to take this further in the spring time. I also like to say that I see life in a different light now, and if you have a beef with someone, confront them and if they don’t agree with what you have to say, then just walk away, and how they deal with it is their problem, it is no longer your beef. So, the purpose of this workshop is to empower you with you, you with life and you with others.

Nov. 21 & 22/12 - Workshop of “Effective Hiring Process” in Vancouver This workshop will help greatly with my job as I will be involved in interviews in the future: These are some of the things they will look for in an interview: Perseverance-does not give up when faced with adversity and challenge, Communication-Able to break down complex concepts and present them in a consistent and understandable manner, Interpersonal skillsdemonstrates ability to work with groups of people or individuals in a respectful manner, Decision making and Judgment-makes sound judgments based on a cause and effect approach , Assessment, and Professional responsibilities- reflects on leadership and devise ways for self-improvement on an ongoing basis.

Aboriginal Business Awards - Vancouver First of all I would like to thank MLIB for giving me the chance to be a part of this big event, it was well organized and we had a lot of fun, there was about 18 of us in total, I was given the chaperone job, to keep an eye on the elders and to help them when needed, we had youth in the group and they were very well behaved. Chief Derek Orr and Al Humphreys did an excellent job on the speech part, they showed a video on Duz Cho logging operations, which was well received, congratulations to all who received awards.

I pretty well was kept busy with a few walk-ins and resumes and working on a database for Band Members to keep track of all your tickets. Helping out in the Receptionist area sometimes and helping the Elder’s coordinator with small projects, other than that I love my job and love the constant learning that comes with the territory, been keeping in touch with Marvin George (PGNAETA) finishing up on Claims 1 and 2, and trying to get filing up to date and putting everything on database, so if someone is looking for certain someone to a job, we can just look it up thru the database.

I just would like to remind Band members, that when you come in to request for safety tickets, you have to have a letter of employment from a employer, stating that that you have a job ready to go to when you’re done your training, you cannot just go and take a safety course just for the sake of a course, it is now mandatory to have that letter of employment first, and the PGNAETA dollars that we receive is for on reserve only, unless otherwise stated by my boss. Right now I am working with Misty Williams on trying to get some training on reserve through ASP (Aboriginal Skills Program)we have been working closely with Michelle Gunter to set things up, so we encourage band members, to come in and look at some of the posters and come in and see me or Misty Williams, there is lots to do, just have to motivate yourself and think big…….

I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope your holidays will be with family and friends and for everyone to be safe throughout the festive season.

In Friendship, EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING COORDINATOR

e e l l a V a t i An

! !

!

Taylor,!Emma!and!

Annabelle!experimenting! with!static!electricity.!

Working!as!a!whole.!

!

The!McLeod!Lake!Indian!Band! youth!had!a!BLAST!at!the!Red!Hot! Robots!Camp!this!summer!! “Detective!Reflective�,!

Jared,!Taylor!and!Jasmin! building!gears.!

Congratulations to Duz Cho Logging The!building!of!the!real! robots!commences.! for receiving the Community owned Business of the Year award

Group!games!!

Health – Linda Jones Another month has flown by and we are fast approaching Christmas. I want to take this time to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. Although the office is closed for a two week period, the health team will be in the office to assist band members between 10:00 and 2:00 during the shutdown except on statutory holidays and weekends.

In the New Year I will be offering an anger group to staff and band members. It will be a six week group exploring anger and the safe and healthy expression of this misunderstood and sometimes frightening emotion. I look forward to seeing people there and learning together.

Mussi Cho ……… Linda

s e n o J a d n i L

H EAD START DE CEMBE R 2 01 2

Meh tun tun chi 2012 Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1 2

Preschool 3

Preschool 4

Preschool 5

9 Preschool 10 Preschool 11 No School 12 16 Preschool 17 Preschool 18 Preschool 19 23

24

30

31

25

26

6

7

8

13 Elders Tea 14

15

Pride 20

21

22

27

28

29

Return to Spirit Workshop The Return to Spirit Workshop is offered by the Prince George Diocese and is held at the Domano retreat. It is a five day workshop intended to address the healing needs of individuals who experienced residential school. It is not about revisiting what happened to people as a result of colonization and residential school experiences, but rather, is about moving beyond the past and stepping into the future in a positive way.

The workshop ran from November 14th to 18th 2012 in Prince George and was attended by several McLeod Lake members. It has received some very positive feedback from the members who attended. People have experienced it as personally empowering, allowing for a sense of personal possibility and leading to increased confidence. McLeod Lake Indian Band would like to encourage all band members to take the time to attend this worthwhile program. The next offering is March 4th to 8th, 2013. McLeod Lake Indian Band is also looking into holding this workshop on reserve in the future.

Please see Linda Jones at the band office (or call (250) 750-4415) or Meaghan Van Somer (1(250)851-5172) to sign up for the Prince George offering or to show interest in attending locally and for more information.

r e m o S n a v Meaghan

Public Works & Housing Report

November 26, 2012

Work is shi)ing to indoors as the cold weather is upon us. Two new wood/electric furnaces have been installed. All houses have been winterized; doors are weather stripped and windows fixed.

All water and plumbing issues have been taken care of. The chimneys have been cleaned and inspected.

The fire exBnguishers have been inspected and replaced. Wired in smoke alarms with baCery backup are being installed to replace hardwired smoke detectors.

Roofs and aEcs have been repaired and reinsulated and this is ongoing. We will be starBng on repairs and replacing flooring due to water damage.

It has been brought to our aCenBon that there is much needed work on the off reserve band owned and band member owned houses, which includes roof and structure repairs, hot water and plumbing repairs, etc. We would like the go ahead to get these projects underway as it is geEng well into the winter season; these requests are Bme sensiBve and most are health and safety issues.

Public buildings, access roads, and homes are kept clear of snow and sanded as needed. There are currently no concerns with the water systems. We have recently flushed the hydrants as a precauBon to circulate the water in the reservoir. The replacement of the approved sepBc systems is completed, and the landscaping will be finished in the spring.

We are working on updaBng and raBfying the On Reserve Housing Policy and this will be finalized soon.

Just a couple of reminders 1) Please submit all housing complaints in wriBng to the PW & Housing Assistant, i.e.: repairs, damage, tenant misconduct, etc.

2) Please come in to review and sign the rental agreements for 2012/2013 fiscal year, if you have not already done so.

Your Bme and consideraBon is greatly appreciated!

o k y o B s i r s a Bo n o l o S e Jolen d l a n o D c George M

Monday, November-26-12

Hello Everyone,

This report is to let you all know what the Land Management Team has been doing. We have been very busy with mail outs to all the members and we had two community meetings. They went very well. The meetings were about what we have been working on in the last few months and we also got a lot of good feedback about the Cemetery and the Store Location. Also the Boat Launch and Culture Camp. So for you people who have not gave any feedback you still can.

At this time the staff of the Land Management would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Please have a safe holiday.

Mussi Cho,

e e g n i h C c Ale e r o d a s I e i n Min

November 21, 2012 As many of you already know, I am expecting a baby at the end of 2012. As a result, I am leaving my positions as Youth Worker (PGNFC) and Community Support Worker (MLIB) for my maternity/paternity leave.

I would like to let everyone know how I have truly enjoyed the time that I have been working in the community, and I look forward to returning after completing my leave, which should be in December 2013!

I still hope to join the Youth and Elders for the upcoming Christmas parties. Many organizations have been very supportive of these activities, including ConocoPhillips Canada and the Prince George Native Friendship Centre who has provided a hall and catering for the Prince George event. We thank each organization that has generously contributed in order to help make this a memorable holiday season to MLIB Youth and Elders!

Some of our Youth have shown a lot of commitment and determination in the completion of the Youth program’s swimming lessons, and we will be celebrating this success along with their families in December.

Several community members completed the Returning to Spirit Workshop in Prince George this month. They have reported their experience at the workshop as having been very positive and liberating. There is a second registration for the same workshop in March 2013. For any Band members that are interested in attending, please contact the MLIB Health Team to request more information and/or registration.

I would like to extend a huge thank you out to all the staff of McLeod Lake Indian Band and all the community members who have been so thoughtful and kind towards me and my baby. I have appreciated your warmth and consideration towards us so much and look forward to announcing his birth to you – hopefully sooner rather than later!

I will visit often and look forward to returning.

Mussi Cho!

n a t t a r G a Mirand Youth Worker (PGNFC) Community Support Worker (MLIB)

Whodu’Ih Koh Head Start Preschool And Elders Christmas Tea

December 14th, 11:00 am Elders House Elders Please join us in celebrating the Christmas season

Tea and coffee, Snacks, Christmas songs by our preschoolers and a special suprise 

FIRST NATION EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION LIAISON

Dear Members: Employment and Education has been busy with requests for assistance with education and employment application.

• 40 resumes have been sent to the Mt. Milligan Mine • 55 resumes have been sent to other organizations • Bus tickets for confirmed employment have been

issued • Living support for interim education assistance issued

There will be opportunities in the New Year for assistance with certification and college level training.

In February there will be a tour of the Colleges in the North.

CNC and UNBC will be the schools visited over a three day period in Mackenzie and Prince George. If you are interested in this opportunity please contact me at the Band Hall.

In this department we assist with employment application, career planning and education planning. Also we assist with searching for funding sources so that you may achieve your desired goals. Should you require assistance with updating your resume or making the perfect cover letter contact us and we would be happy to assist.

Miranda Grattan

The mining sector is very busy and looking for skilled workers to apply for positions. There are always educational opportunities to enhance your skills to become employable in this sector. In January 2013, CNC in Fort Saint James will be offering a Minerals Processing Operator program. This training would allow you to apply for a position in the SAG mill at the Mt. Milligan mine. It is the most modern training you can receive in Canada and would open many opportunities to those who have an interest in working at the mine. If you are interested in learning about this program contact me and I will get you the information you require.

In the New Year we will be offering an “Essential Skills & Natural Resources Access Program” please contact me if you would like your name to be added to an interest list.

An interest list for Driver’s training has been started and it looks like there is an interest, so don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of this training. Contact the office to have your name added if you are interested.

Wishing you all a Safe and Happy Holiday!

s m a i l l i W Misty

The McLeod Lake Elders are in search of a NEW logo for their Society!

Requirements: Design must be done by a McLeod Lake Indian Band member, all ages are welcome The logo must include an Eagle Entry Deadline: January 4th, 2013 Please send your entries to Kathy Parkinson by email, snail mail or hand into the Receptionist at the MLIB Band Hall.

Email: kparkinson@mlib.ca Snail Mail: Elders Society, General Delivery McLeod Lake, BC, V0J 2G0 1st Prize $500 2nd Prize $250 3rd Prize $100

Special Thank-you to Duz Cho Logging for funding this contest!

McLeod Lake Tse’khene Elders Society

The McLeod Lake Elders would like to send a HUGE Mussi Cho to Duz Cho Logging for their generous donation of $5000 to the Elders Program.

A portion of this funding will be used for a contest to design a logo for the Elders Society- Please see the flyer for more details.

On September 25th we took a trip to McIntyre Lake as this is the potential location for the 2013 Cultural Camp. The hike into the location took about 20 minutes, and there are discussions with the Lands Department about how to make the access a little easier for the Elders. The land and view was stunning!!

Keep posted for more details to come in the New Year.

The MLTE Society is now in good standing order with the necessary paperwork being filed, and during the November meeting we were able to finalize the directors of the Society for the next two years. Mussi Cho to the Elders who stepped forward to be directors of the Society, they are as follows:

Akai, Mabeline Chingee, Albert Chingee, Georgina Cooper, Juliana (Secretary/Treasurer) Patsey, Eveline Solonas, Wilfred (Vice-President) Tylee, Josephine (President)

** A special meeting will be held in January 2013 to discuss the Constitution & By-laws regarding number of directors required.

The meeting will be held in McLeod Lake and we need as many members of the Society to be attendance, date and time to be decided.

Huy’ch’qa (Thank-you in Hul’qum’inum)

n o s n i k r a P Kathy

Acknowledgement I want to acknowledge and congratulate the Mackenzie RCMP Detachment on receiving awards from top officials from the RCMP North District. Both Sgt Sydney Lecky, Detachment Commander and the Mackenzie Detachment each received an award. The awards were for a continued and outstanding effort to maintain a high level of police service to the community at large while working to achieve a community based settlement among the Tse’khene people of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in the context of ongoing RCMP-First Nations relations both regionally and province wide.

Both MLIB and the Mackenzie RCMP strive to continue building on the positive relationship for the betterment of the community.

Adele Chingee

Notes

MLIB Chief & Council would like to thank you for attenting one of the Quarterly Meetings! We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.