KO students find rural culture in the South PAGE 10 and 11 Vol. 37 #23
‘The sky is moving’ warn Inuit PAGE 12
Former broadcaster battles diabetes PAGE B1 9,300 copies distributed $1.50
November 12, 2010 www.wawataynews.ca
Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974
Problems in Eabametoong have been building James Thom Wawatay News
“At times I feel on edge.” Myrna Slipperjack, a teacher currently on sick leave in Eabametoong, said that’s how she feels when she’s walking alone in her community. A rampant prescription drug abuse problem has prompted violence, a rash of arson and two cases of murder this year. Chief and council reacted by declaring a state of emergency Oct. 22. “My greatest fear is that we lose another community member,” Slipperjack said during a community gathering Nov. 4 when Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. of Canada David Johnston, and Ruth Ann Onley, wife of the Lt.-Gov. of Ontario David Onley, visited the community. Another community member, who asked to remain anonymous, also expressed concern about safety in the community. “Sometimes I don’t feel safe at night, even in my own home,” the woman said. “I get scared when I go to bed thinking ‘What if … ?’” Community members have a variety of ideas about what the root cause of the violence is. “I think there is a major issue with parenting in our community,” the anonymous woman said. “The kids are out all night when they should be at home.” Slipperjack agrees. “There is a lack of parenting,” she said. “The younger generation of parents, they are too busy doing their own stuff to take care of their kids.” If no one is looking out for the youth, they are more likely to find trouble, she said. That could mean bullying, trying drugs or setting fire out of boredom. “I think we need more involvement in the community,” said Tammy Atlookan, Healthy Babies coordinator in Eabametoong. “We should be helping each other out more. We all need to socialize and volunteer more.” Sid O’Kees, a social worker in the community, thinks drug abuse is the most pertinent issue in his community, but he doesn’t think it is any worse than other communities. “There are drug issues everywhere,” he said, adding he has had no issues with safety and security in Eabametoong, with the exception of having some gas stolen from his vehicle occasionally. “I feel safe,” he said. “I think the real issues with the violence is personal quarrels.” Regardless of why it is happening, the violence is very real and concerning to former chief Corny Nate. see NOT page 3
James Thom/Wawatay News
Sharon Johnston, left, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston, Ruth Ann Onley, wife of the Lt.-Gov. of Ontario David Onley, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy view the charred remains of the former home of Rev. Charlie Shawinimash, which was fire bombed around 2 a.m. several weeks ago in Eabametoong. Shawinimash, who also serves as a justice of the peace in the community, was able to vacate the home with his grandchildren. No one was injured in the fire which was deliberately set.
ᐊᐸᒪᑐᐠ ᒪᒋᓭᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᔭᓂᐱᒥ ᓇᐣᑭᐦᐅᒪᑲᓄᐣ ᒉᒥᐢ ᑕᐧᑦ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ
ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᐊᑯ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᓂᓴᓯᐣᑌᑕᑦ. ᒥᕑᓇ ᓯᐱᕑᒐᐠ, ᐅᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑭᐱᒋ ᐅᑕᓄᑭᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᔭᑯᓯᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐊᐸᒪᑐᐠ. ᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᒥ ᐁᓀᐣᑕᐠ ᐊᑯ ᑲᐯᔑᑯ ᐸᐸᒧᓭᐨ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᑭᐊᓂᐅᑦᐯᐧᓭ ᑲᐊᐧᓂᐊᐸᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐣ ᐱᓂᐡ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐁᑭᔭᓂ ᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᒪᓀᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ, ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᓂᔕᐧ ᐁᑭᓂᐸᑕᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐅᐱᒪᐊᒧᐃᐧᐱᓯᑦ 22 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᐨ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐅᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᓇᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐅᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᐁᑭᒋᔭᓂᒥᓭᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ. ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᓂᐣᑯᑕᐣ ᑯᑕᐠ ᐊᐃᐧᔭ ᒋᐊᐧᓂᐦᐊᔭᐠ ᓂᒋᑕᔑᑫᒪᑲᓂᓇᐣ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᓯᐱᕑᒐᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᒪᒪᐃᐧ ᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑐᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑲᐡᑲᑎᓄᐱᓯᑦ 4 ᐊᐱ ᔐᕑᐊᐣ ᒐᐧᐣᓴᐣ, ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑫᐧ ᐅᑕᓄᑭᓇᑲᓇᐣ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᑲᓇᐣ ᑌᐱᐟ ᒐᐧᐣᓴᐣ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᕑᐅᐟ ᐊᐣ ᐊᐣᓫᐃ, ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᑲᓇᐣ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑎᐸᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᑭᒪ ᑌᐱᐟ ᐊᐣᓫᐃ, ᐁᑭᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧ ᑭᐅᑌᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐸᒪᑐᐠ. ᑯᑕᐠ ᐊᐸᒪᑐᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐨ, ᑭᑲᑫᐧᑌᐧ ᐁᑲ ᒋᐃᐧᐣᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᐃᐧᓱᐃᐧᐣ, ᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑭᐊᓂᒧᑕᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᐧᐸᐣᑕᐠ ᐊᔭᑲᐧᒥᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᓂᐠ. ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᐊᑯ ᓂᑯᑕᐨ ᑲᑎᐱᑲᐠ, ᑭᔭᒥᑯ ᑲᔦ ᐱᐣᑎᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᑕᔭᐣ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐃᑫᐧ. ᒪᐊᐧᐨ
ᐊᑯ ᓂᓭᑭᐢ ᑲᔭᓂᑲᐃᐧᔑᒧᔭᐣ, ᐁᐃᓀᐣᑕᒪᐣ, ᑲᓂᑲᐊᐱᐣ ᑫᐃᓯᓭᑫᐧᐣ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᔑᓇᐧᔦᐠ ᐅᑎᔑᐊᐧᐸᑕᐣᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᐣᑎ ᑲᐅᒋᓭᒪᑲᓂᑭᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᔭᒪᑲᐠ ᒪᓀᐣᒋᑫᐧᐃᐣ. ᓂᐣ ᐃᐧᐣ ᐣᑎᓀᑕᐣ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᐁᔭᓂᒪᒋᓭᐠ ᐅᓂᑭᐦᐃᑯᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᓇᓂᐠ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐃᑫᐧ. ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ ᓂᐸᑲᒥᑭᓯᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᔕ ᒋᑭᓴᑲᑭᓂᑕᐧᐸᐣ. ᓯᐱᕑᒐᐠ ᐅᑌᐯᐧᑕᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᑭᑐᓂᐨ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᔕ ᒋᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᑲᓄᑕᐊᐧᓱᐃᐧᐣ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ. ᐅᑯᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑎ ᑲᔭᓂᐅᐡᑲᑎᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᓂᑭᐦᐃᑯᒪᐠ, ᐅᓴᑦ ᐁᐅᐣᑕᒥᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᔑᒪᒥᓀᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᑭᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᓂᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒥᐊᐧᐣ. ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐁᑲ ᓇᑲᑕᐊᐧᐸᒪᐨ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐣ, ᒥᐱᑯ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐁᔭᓂ ᓇᓇᑐᓇᒪᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᐅᒋ ᒪᒋᓀᐣᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐁᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᒪᓀᓂᒥᑐᐊᐧᐨ, ᐁᐊᐧᓂᔭᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐣ ᓇᐣᑕ ᐁᓴᑲᐦᐊᐁᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑫᐧᓇᐃᐧᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ. ᐊᒥ ᓂᐣ ᐁᓀᐣᑕᒪᐣ ᐊᐧᐊᔑᒣ ᒋᑭᐸᐸᒥᓯᔭᑭᐸᐣ ᑭᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᓇᓂᐠ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᑕᒥ ᐊᐟᓫᐅᑲᐣ, ᐅᐡᑭᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᑲᓂᑲᓂᔭᓄᑲᑕᐠ ᐊᐸᒪᑐᐠ. ᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒋᑭᑲᑫᐧ ᐊᐧᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑎᔭᑭᐸᐣ. ᑲᑭᓇ ᑲᑕᓯᔭᐠ ᒋᐊᐧᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑎᔭᐠ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐊᓄᑭᑕᒪᑫᔭᐠ. ᓯᐟ ᐅᑭᐢ, ᑲᔭᓄᑭᑕᒪᑫᐨ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ, ᐅᑎᓀᐣᑕᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᒋᒪᒋᓭᐦᐃᐁᐧᒪᑲᐠ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ, ᔕᑯᐨ
ᑲᔦ ᐅᑎᓀᐣᑕᐣ ᐁᑲ ᐃᐧᓀᑕᐊᐧ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐁᔑᔭᓂᒥᓭᐊᐧᐨ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᔭᓂᒥᓭᑭᐣ. ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐊᔭᒪᑲᐣ ᒪᒋᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᐣ, ᐃᑭᑐ, ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᑯ ᓇᐣᑕ ᒋᐃᔑ ᑲᑭᑫᐣᑕᑭᐸᐣ ᒋᑕᑲᐧᓂᐠ ᒪᓀᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑭᒧᑎᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᐃᐧᓂᑯ ᔕᑯᐨ ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᐊᑯ ᑭᐅᒋᑲᑭᒧᑕᒪᐊᐧᑲᓄ ᑲᐢ ᐅᑐᑕᐸᓂᐠ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᓇᐣᑕ ᐣᑎᔑᑯᑕᒋᓯᐣ, ᐃᑭᑐ. ᐊᒥᐃᐧᐣ ᓂᐣ ᐁᓀᐣᑕᒪᐣ ᐃᒪ ᒪᔭᑦ ᐁᐅᐣᒋᒪᑲᐠ ᒪᓀᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᒪᒋᑲᑲᓄᓂᑎᓇᓄᐊᐧᐠ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᐃᐧᐣ ᓇᐣᑕ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᐃᓭᐁᐧᐸᐠ, ᑌᐯᐧ ᐱᑯ ᐃᔑᐁᐧᐸᐣ ᒪᓀᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑕᓀᐣᑕᒥᐦᐃᑯᐣ ᑫᑌᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᑲᐧᕑᓂ ᓀᐟ. ᐅᑎᔑᐊᐧᐸᐣᑕᐣ ᐃᑯ ᐁᔭᓂᐱᒥ ᓇᐣᑭᐦᐅᒪᑲᓂᐠ ᐊᑯᓇᐠ ᒥᑕᓱᔭᑭ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ. ᓀᐟ, 11 ᑕᓱᐱᐳᐣ ᑭᐱᐅᑭᒪᑲᓂᐃᐧ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᑭᔭᓂᐱᒥ ᓇᐣᑭᐦᐅᒪᑲᐣ ᐃᑯ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑲᔭᓂᑕᑕᑯᐃᐧᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐣ ᑲᐧᐣᑕ ᑲᐃᓇᐸᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᐊᑎᑲ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᒐᑭᓭᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐣ, ᒥᐱᑯ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐁᒐᑭᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐯᑭᔑᑲ ᐁᓂᐸᐊᐧᐨ, ᐃᑭᑐ. ᐅᐣᑕᒪᐱᓀᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᒋᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᓂᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒥᐊᐧ. ᐃᑭᑐ ᒥᓇ ᐃᑭᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᑫᐣᑕᑯᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᓯᓭᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᒋᐦᐊᐃᐧᐊᐧᐨ. ᑲᐊᐱᑕᐊᐧᑎᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒥᐊᐧ, ᓇᐣᑕ ᑯᑕᐧᓱ ᐱᓂᐡ ᓂᔓᔕᑊ ᑲᑕᓱᔭᑭᐃᐧᓀᓂᐨ ᒥᐅᑯ ᑲᓂᐸᑲᒥᑭᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐯᑎᐱᐠ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᓀᐟ.
ᒥᑕᐡ ᐅᑯ ᑲᔭᓂ ᒪᓀᐣᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐡ ᐁᔭᓂᑫᐧᓇᐃᐧᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᒐᒋᑭᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᓀᐟ. ᐅᓄᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐃᓯᓭᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᐱᒥᐊᓂᒥᐦᐃᐁᐧᒪᑲᑭᐣ ᐣᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᓂᐣ ᓄᑯᑦ ᐸᐢᑲᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᐁᐧᐸᐠ, ᐃᑭᑐ. ᐊᔕ ᐱᑯ ᓇᐣᑕ ᒥᑕᓱᐱᐳᐣ ᐅᐣᒋᐱᒥᓇᐣᑭᐦᐅᒪᑲᓄᐣ. ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᑲᔦ ᐊᓂᐃᔑᐁᐧᐸᐣ ᐁᒥᑲᓂᑕᐧ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ, ᐁᐊᐸᑕᑭᐣ ᐸᑲᒪᑲᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐁᐅᒋᑲᑫᐧᑕᒋᐦᐃᑎᓇᓄᐊᐧᐠ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᓀᐟ. ᐊᑎᐟ ᑲᔦ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᐃᐧᒪᓀᓂᒥᑎᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᒥᑲᑎᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐊᑯ ᐁᒪᒋᐃᐧᓂᑕᐧ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᐱᒥᓭᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᐃᐡᑲᐧ ᐸᔑᐸᐦᐅᑎᐊᐧᐨ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᓀᐟ. ᑭᒋᐦᐊᐠ ᑭᐱᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒋᔭᓂᐃᔑᐁᐧᐸᐠ ᒪᓀᓂᒥᑎᐃᐧᐣ, ᐱᓂᐡ ᑲᔦ ᒋᔭᓂ ᓇᓂᓯᑎᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᑫᑲᐱ ᑌᐯᐧ ᑲᑭᐃᔑᐁᐧᐸᐣ ᓂᐱᓄᐠ. ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᔑᒪᑲᓂᔑᐃᐧ ᐃᓇᐱᐣ ᐸᑭᑭᓂᑲᓂᐠ 3 TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Send your comments to: editor@wawatay.on.ca or send to: Wawatay News 16-5th Avenue North P.O. Box 1180 Sioux Lookout ON P8T 1B7