February 16, 2012 by Wawatay News

PM#0382659799

First trailers arrive in Attawapiskat PAGE 3

NAN youth gather to learn traditional skills PAGES 18 AND 19

Action needed to prevent HIV outbreak in northern Ontario PAGE 7

Vol. 39 #4

9,300 copies distributed $1.50

February 16, 2012 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974

www.wawataynews.ca

Downstream communities worried for Albany River

Rangers brave the cold

Chiefs raise concerns over Constance Lake hydro plans Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Photo by Angus Miles/Wawatay News

Master Corporal Jonas Beardy of Wapakeka is all bundled up, ready to head home after a Canadian Rangers exercise on Little Sachigo Lake. The exercise brought Rangers from surrounding communities, including Sachigo, Muskrat Dam, Sandy Lake, Lac Seul and Kasabonika. Beardy was the only Ranger from Wapakeka to attend. See story on page 16.

First Nations downriver from four proposed Northland Power Inc.-Constance Lake hydro projects on a tributary of the Albany River are raising concerns about potential impacts on water quantity and fish and wildlife. Chiefs from Fort Albany and Kashechewan say their communities have not been consulted or involved in the ongoing plans to build new dams on their river system, despite the effects they will eventually see downstream. “They have to involve us,” said Kashechewan Chief Jonathan Solomon. “We’re downstream here — we’re already feeling the consequences of past projects that have happened in our tributaries. No matter how small those rivers may be, that water goes towards the Albany River.”

Solomon said past projects on tributaries of the Albany River have impacted the river and his community, noting water has been diverted from the Albany River system to power hydro-electric generating stations on Lac Seul and upstream and downstream of Lake Nipigon. “What kind of impacts does it have on the fish and the wildlife?” Solomon said. “The sad part is that we have no say and are not involved. We have been negatively impacted. Why is there mercury in the fish; why are the sturgeon in a state of disappearing?” Solomon also stressed the low water levels on the Albany River over the last three summers. “Sometimes people walk across the Albany,” Solomon said. “The river may be up to their knees — that’s about it in some areas.” See Constance Lake on page 3

ᓴᐣᑲᓱᒥᑕᓇ ᑭᔑᑲ ᑲᐃᑲᐧᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᓯ ᒋᐱᒥᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᐣ ᐯᔑᐠ ᑎᐯᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐅᒋ ᑭᑫᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐁᐃᓇᑯᓂᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᔕᐧᐣ ᐯᓫ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ

ᐁᕑᓂ ᐦᐊᕑᐳᕑ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᑲᓇᐣ ᑌᑊᕑᐊ ᐊᐧᒐᐡᑯᓂᒥᐠ ᐁᐅᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᔕ ᒥᑐᓂ ᑭᐱ ᑭᒋᔭᓂᒥᓭᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑫᑕᑕᐃᐧᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑭᒪᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᑭᐅᐣᒋᒪᑲᓂᐠ ᑫᐅᐣᒋ ᐊᓂᒣᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ. ᑌᑊᕑᐊ ᐊᔕ ᓂᐦᓱᐱᓯᑦ ᑭᐱᐅᐣᒋ ᐱᒥᑲᓇᐁᐧᑕᑯᓯᐸᐣ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᑭ ᐱᒋᐳᐃᐧᓭᓂᐠ ᐅᓯᐟ, ᓂᐢᑕᑦ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᐯᔑᑯᐱᓯᑦ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᓂᔓᐱᓯᑦ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐃᐧᓂᐯᐠ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᕑᓂ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᔑᐨ ᓂᔑᐣ ᐅᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒥᐊᐧ ᑲᑭᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᐧᓂᐯᐠ ᑲᔦ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᒪᑯᔐᑭᔑᑲᓂᐠ ᐁᑭᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᔑ ᐊᐃᐧᐦᐊᓱᓇᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ, ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑌᑊᕑᐊ ᐁᐱᒥ ᓇᑕᐃᐧᐦᐊᑲᓄᐨ. ᐁᕑᓂ ᐅᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᐣ ᐅᑕᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐅᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᓂᓂᐃᐧᐨ

ᐃᒪ ᐊᐧᒐᐡᑯᓂᒥᐠ ᐁᐃᐧᐅᐣᒋ ᐊᓴᐧᐸᒪᐨ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᑲᓇᐣ, ᐊᒥ ᑲᑭᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭᒪᓇᒋᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᒪᓂᒥᒋᒣᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᑲᓄᑌᓭᐊᐧᐨ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᑲᑭ ᑲᐯᔑᐦᐃᑕᐧ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐨ ᑲᑭᐃᔑ ᑲᑫᐧᓇᑕᐃᐧᐦᐊᑲᓄᐨ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᑭᔭᓂᐱᒋᐳᐃᐧᓭᓂ ᐅᓯᐟ, ᒥᑕᐡ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑌᑊᕑᐊ ᑲᑭ ᑭᐡᑭᓯᑌᔕᐧᑲᓄᐨ. ᑭᓴᑭᒋᐦᐊᑲᓄᐸᐣ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᔕᑯᐨ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐅᑭᐅᒋ ᐱᒥ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᓂᒥᑯᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑫᐣ ᐁᑭᐊᐃᔕᐨ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐃᐧᓂᐯᐠ. ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑕᐡ ᐃᑯ ᐁᑭᒋᐊᓂᒥᓭᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᑭᓇᑭᐡᑲᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᐅᒋ ᐊᓂᒣᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᓂᔭᑲᓇ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᑭᑫᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ, ᐃᓴᐣ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑭᒪ ᐁᑭᐃᔑ ᐅᓇᒋᑫᐨ ᓴᑲᓱᒥᑕᓇ ᑭᔑᑲ ᐁᑕ ᒋᐃᐦᑯ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᓯ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐅᐱᒥᔭᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑲᐯᔑᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᐣ,

ᐅᒪᐡᑭᑭᒪᐣ ᒋᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐣ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᑲᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑲᐱᒥᑯᓇᑲᓂᐠ ᐁᑲ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑭᒪᑲᐠ ᒋᐅᒋ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ, ᐅᐱᒥᔭᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐣ ᐅᒣᑎᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ. ᐁᕑᓂ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᓂᑲᐣ ᒋᑭᐱᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ. ᑫᑕᑕᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᑯ ᑭᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂ ᐊᑲᐧᒋᐠ ᒋᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ. “ᒥᑐᓂ ᐱᑯ ᐣᑭᒐᑭᓂᑫᒥᐣ ᑫᐅᒋ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᔭᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐃᒪ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐅᒋ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᓯ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᐣᑭᐃᐧᑕᒪᑯᒥᐣ ᐁᑲ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᓇᐣᑕ ᒋᑭᐃᔑᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᔭᑭᑕᐧ,” ᐁᕑᓂ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ. “ᓂᔑᐣ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ ᐣᑕᔭᐊᐧᒥᐣ, ᐁᔭᓇ ᑲᑫᐧᔕᑯᓱᒪᑲᐧ ᒥᑐᓂ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐁᑫᐧᓇᐃᐧᓯᓭᔭᐠ.” ᒥᑕᐡ ᑲᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭ ᑭᐁᐧᐡᑲᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᐁᑭᐊᐸᒋᐦᐊᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᒋᐨ ᐁᐃᐡᑯᓇᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐅᔓᓂᔭᒥᐊᐧ,

ᐁᑭᐸᑯᓭᓂᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᑭᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐣ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᒋᑭᐅᒋᒥᑲᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᐃᔑ ᐸᑯᓭᑕᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ. ᐊᓇᓴ ᐅᑐᑌᒥᐊᐧᐣ ᐅᑕᓇᑭ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᑕᒪᑯᐊᐧᐣ ᐯᔑᑯᑎᐱᐠ ᒋᓂᐸᐊᐧᐨ

“ᒥᑐᓂ ᐱᑯ ᑭᔭᓂᒥᓀᑕᑦ, ᑫᓂᓇᐃᐧᐟ ᑕᐡ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ. “ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᓂᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᓯᐣ ᑯᑕᐠ ᐊᐃᐧᔭ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᒋᐃᔑᓇᑭᐡᑲᐠ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᓯᓭᔭᐠ.” - ᐁᕑᓂ ᐦᐊᕑᐳᕑ ᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ, ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᐅᔓᓂᔭᒥᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᓯᓂᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᑫᐅᒋ ᑎᐸᐊᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᐠᓯ ᓇᐣᑕ ᒥᓇ ᑫᑭᐅᒋ ᑭᐁᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᒐᐡᑯᓂᒥᐠ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᑲᐃᔑᓴᑲᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ

ᑲᔭᓂᑭᔐᐸᔭᓂᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑌᑊᕑᐊ ᐊᔕ ᐁᑭᑎᐱᓭᓂᐠ ᒋᐊᐣᒋᐱᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᐱᓱᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᓇᐦᐊᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ. ᑭᓇᐧᑲᐡ ᑭᐱᒧᓭᐊᐧᐠ, ᐁᕑᓂ ᐁᐱᒥᑲᐣᑎᓇᐠ ᑌᑊᕑᐊ ᑲᐃᔑᔭᐱᐨ ᑲᑎᑎᐱᓭᒪᑲᓂᐠ ᐅᑌᓴᐱᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒥᐊᐧᐣ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᐁᐱᒧᓭᐊᐧᐨ. ᑭᑭᔕᐧᔭ ᐃᐁᐧ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐱᓯᑦ ᑭᔐᐱᓯᑦ, ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᐡ ᑭᒥᑯᒥᐃᐧᓯᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑭᔕᑲᒐ ᑲᐊᐃᓇᑕᒧᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᑫᑲᐱ ᑲᔭᓂ ᑕᑯᔑᓄᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᒥᑐᓂ ᑭᐸᐊᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑭᐊᔦᑯᓯᐊᐧᐠ. ᐊᒥ ᑕᐣ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᔑᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᑲᐱᐣᑎᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᐁᑲ ᐅᒪ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐁᐧᑎ ᒋᑭᐃᔑ ᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐁᑲ ᑲᐅᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᔑᐱᐣᑎᑲᓂᑕᐧ. ᐃᓇᐱᐣ ᐸᑭᑭᓂᑲᓂᐠ 6

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FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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ᓂᓯᒋᐊᐧᓄᐠ ᓂᓂᒋᓇᑲᐧᐣ ᒋᒧᐡᑭᐱᐠ ᐊᓫᐸᓂ ᓯᐱ ᑭᐸᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ

ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᔓᓂᔭ, ᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐱᑯ ᒋᐱᒥᐃᐧᑕᒪᓱᐊᐧᐨ

ᓂᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐊᓂᒥᑭ ᐃᐡᑯᑌ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐊᓄᑭᒪᑲᐠ ᑭᐸᑲᐧᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐱᓇᑲᑲᒥ ᓯᐱᐠ ᐯᔓᐨ ᑲᐣᐢᑕᐣᐢ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐅᑐᒋ ᓇᓂᓴᓀᐣᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᑲᐅᒋᓂᓯᒋᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐊᓫᐸᓂ ᓯᐱᐠ ᑲᐊᔭᑭᐣ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ. ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐱᑕᐯᑯᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑭᔐᒋᐊᐧᓄᐠ ᐅᓂᓂᑌᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᐅᒋ ᒪᒋᑐᒋᑫᒪᑲᓂᐠ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐅᐣᒋ ᐃᐡᐱᐱᓭᓂᐠ, ᒋᒪᒋᑐᑕᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᓄᔐᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᔑᔕᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐅᒋ ᒪᒐᑲᒥᒋᑫᒪᑲᐠ ᐅᐣᒋᓂᓯᒋᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑭᐸᑲᐧᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ. “ᐊᔕ ᐣᑭᐱᓇᑭᐡᑲᒥᐣ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᐱᑌᐣᑕᑲᐧᑭᐣ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᑕᓇᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐣᑕᑭᒥᓇᓂᐠ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᑭᔐᒋᐊᐧᐣ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᒐᐧᓂᑕᐣ ᓴᐧᓫᐅᒪᐣ. ᓇᐧᕑᐟᓫᐊᐣᐟ ᐸᐅᕑ ᑭᒋᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐣᐢᑕᐣᑊ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᑭᓇᑯᒥᑐᐸᓂᐠ ᒋᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᓂᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᐸᑲᐧᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ. ᐃᐁᐧ ᐯᔑᐠ ᒋᐅᐣᒋᒪᑲᐠ 6.5 ᒣᑲᐊᐧᐟᐢ ᐃᐡᑯᑌ ᐃᒪ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐊᓂᑯᐊᓄᑭᒪᑲᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐃᐡᑯᑌᐃᐧ ᐱᒥᐸᓂᒋᑲᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᐱᒥᐱᑌᐠ. ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑕᐡ ᐃᐁᐧ ᒪᒋᑕᐃᐧᐣ ᐱᒥ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑲᑌ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᑐᒋᑫᒪᑲᐠ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐊᐦᑭᑲᐠ.

ᐅᑕᓇᑭ ᑲᓄᓇᐊᐧᐸᓂᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐃᐡᑯᓄ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᓂᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᐣ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᒋᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᐸᐣ ᔓᓂᔭᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ, ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓂᑲᓂᐡᑲᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᔭᑦ ᒥᐢᑕᐃ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᔓᓂᔭᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒪᔑ ᑕᑌᐱᓭᐃᐧᓇᑲᐧᐣ. ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐅᓇᑕᐁᐧᓂᒪᐣ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᐣ ᒋᑲᑫᐧᑭᔑᑐᓂᐨ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᐱᒥ ᐊᔭᒥᐦᐊᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐃᐁᐧᓂ ᐅᒋ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧᓂ, ᒥᓇ ᑎᐱᓇᐁᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᔭᓂ ᐱᒧᑕᒪᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯᐊᐧ. ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᓂᔑᐡ ᑌᕑᐃ ᐊᐧᐳᐢ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᓂᔭᓇᐣ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑫ ᐅᑕᔭᓇᐊᐧᓯᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯᓂ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓇᐣ ᓄᑌᓭᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᓄ ᐊᐸᒋᒋᑲᓇᐣ ᑐᑲᐣ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ, ᒪᓯᓂᐱᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧ ᐊᐸᒋᒋᑲᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ. ᐊᐧᐳᐢ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑫ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪ ᒋᐃᐧᑎᐸᐸᑕᐠ ᑲᐊᐱᒋ ᐃᐡᐸᑭᐣᑌᑭᐣ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓂᔕᐦᐃᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᓄ ᐊᐸᒋᒋᑲᓇᐣ.

First Nations education funding, control needed

Downstream concerns for Albany River dams

While a national First Nations education panel called on the government to provide more funding for education, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) says that more money is not enough. NAN wants the government to finish self-government negotiations with First Nations on education, and give control over First Nation schools to the First Nations themselves. Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose said that five communities in northern Ontario do not even have schools, and most other communities have schools that lack things like libraries, arts facilities and enough textbooks. Waboose also said that the government fails to account for the high cost of shipping supplies into remote communities when it budgets for education. Page 11

The four proposed hydro projects set for the Kabinakagami River near Constance Lake are causing concern in communities downstream on the Albany River. Chiefs from Fort Albany and Kashechewan worry about the impacts on water levels, fish and wildlife and potential pollution coming downstream from the dams. “We’re already feeling the consequences of past projects that have happened in our tributaries,” said Kashechewan Chief Jonathon Solomon. Northland Power Inc. and Constance Lake First Nation have partnered to build the four dams. Each will produce 6.5 megawatts of power that will be tied into the provincial energy grid. The project is currently undergoing environmental assessment. Page 1 and 3

ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓂᐠ ᑭᐃᔑᐊᔭᒥᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᒋᐊᒪᐧᐊᒋᐦᐃᑎᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᔑᒪᒋᓭᓂᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧᐣ

ᐊᓂᐣ

ᓂᐦᓯᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑲᐅᐣᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᒋᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑎᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐊᑲᒪᑭᐠ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑲᐱᒥᑯᓇᑲᓂᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᑭᔭᓂᒧᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᓯᓴᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ. ᒉᓫᓯ ᐁᑐᐊᐧᐟ, 16 ᑕᓱᔭᑭᐃᐧᓀ ᐊᑕᐊᐧᐱᐢᑲᐟ ᐁᐅᐣᒋᐨ, ᒥᐦᐊᐁᐧ ᐯᔑᐠ ᑲᑭᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧᑎᐸᒋᒧᐨ. ᐅᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐅᑲᐧᐱᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑭᒋᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑐᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᒋᐳᐃᐧᒋᑫᒪᑲᓂᐠ ᐱᒥᑌᓂ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯᒥᐊᐧᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐃᐧᐣ ᑎᐱᓇᐁᐧ ᑲᑭᐃᔑᓇᑭᐡᑲᐠ ᑎᒥᐣᐢ ᐁᑭᐃᔕᐨ ᐦᐊᔾ ᐢᑯᓫ ᒋᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧᐨ. ᐁᑐᐊᐧᐟ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐁᐸᑯᓭᓂᒪᐨ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᐣ ᒋᐅᔑᑕᒪᑫᐨ ᐅᐡᑭ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯᓂ ᑲᑭᓇ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐊᔭᑭᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓇᐣ ᑫᒋᓇᐨ ᑲᑭᓇ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᐢ ᐁᑲ ᒋᓇᑲᓇᐨ ᐅᐊᐧᑯᒪᑲᓇᐣ, ᐅᑐᑕᑲᓀᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐁᐱᒥᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧᐨ. ᑫᐣᑕᐧᓫ ᐊᐧᔾᐟ ᑌᒪᑲᒥ ᐁᐅᐣᒋᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᒐᐧᐣ ᐸᐧᓫ ᒉᓫᐃᑲᐧᑊ ᒥᒋᐱᑯᑎᐣ ᐁᐅᒋᐨ ᒥᐅᑯ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᑲᑭᐃᔕᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒋᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑐᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐠ ᓂᐦᓯᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᐸᑲᐣ ᑎᐸᐦᐊᑲᓂᐠ ᑲᐅᐣᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᐃᔕᐊᐧᐠ.

Students speak to UN on First Nations education Three First Nations youth from Ontario presented to the United Nations last week about education issues in First Nations communities. Chelsea Edwards, a 16-year-old from Attawapiskat, was one of the speakers. She told the UN about the diesel contamination of Attawapiskat’s school, and her own experience of having to move to Timmins to attend high school. Edwards said she wants the government to build schools in all communities so First Nation youth do not have to leave their families, traditions and culture to go to school. Kendall White of Temagami First Nation and John-Paul Chalykoff of Michipicoten First Nation were the other Ontario youth presenting to the UN. There were also three other First Nations youth from other provinces. Page 13

The Albany River, top, is the center of a growing dispute between First Nations as downstream communities want input on hydro projects on tributaries. Mishkeegogamang is dealing with bedbugs, middle left, on top of crowded houses and a general lack of housing stock. First Nations across northern Ontario met in Thunder Bay to plan a pannorthern power transmission line, similar to the one built along the James Bay coast, above left. And Chelsea Edwards of Attawapiskat, above right, took her community’s concerns over education to the United Nations.

ᒣᐡᑭᑲᐧᑲᒪᐠ ᒪᓂᒍᔑᑲᓂ ᑲᐃᔑᓂᐸᐊᐧᐨ ᐯᑭᐡ ᑲᔦ ᑲᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐸᐯᔑᐠ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑲ ᑲᐊᔭᑭᐣ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ, ᐊᒥ ᑲᔦ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐁᔭᓂᔑᓇᑭᐡᑲᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒣᐡᑭᑲᐧᑲᒪᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᔭᓂ ᒪᓂᒍᔑᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᓂᐸᐊᐧᐨ. ᐣᑯᑕᐧᓱ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᑭᒥᑭᑲᑌᐊᐧᐣ ᐁᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑯᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑐᑲᓂ ᒪᓂᒍᔕᐠ, ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᑭ ᑭᑫᓂᒥᑕᐧᐸᐣ ᐁᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᓂᐱᓄᐠ. ᐅᐁᐧ ᑕᐡ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᐱᐳᐠ ᐅᐣᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᒪᑲᐣ ᐁᑲ ᓇᐱᐨ ᒋᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᓂᒍᔕᐠ, ᐁᓴᑭᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑌᓴᐳᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᓂᐯᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᐊᑲᐧᒋᐠ ᒋᑲᐧᐊᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᓂᒍᔕᐠ. ᔕᑯᐨ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᑲᐧᓂ ᒪᐠᑫ ᑯᕑᐁ ᐅᓂᓂᑌᑕᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐃᔑ ᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᐯᔑᐠ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ, ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᑕᐅᐣᒋ ᑭᔕᑕᐱ ᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᒪᐣᒍᔕᐠ.

Mishkeegogamang has bedbugs On top of overcrowded houses and a lack of homes, Mishkeegogamang is also now dealing with bedbugs. Six houses have been found to have the insects, after the first was discovered last summer. The winter weather is helping contain the bugs, as furniture and bedding can be taken outside to let them freeze. But Chief Connie Gray-McKay is worried that with the crowded houses, the bugs may spread quickly. Page 3

ᐃᐡᑯᑌ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᓄᑭᒪᑲᐠ ᓇᑕᐁᐧᐣᑕᑲᐧᐣ ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐃᐡᑯᑌ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᓄᑭᒪᑲᐠ ᐁᓇᑕᐁᐧᐣᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᒋᐅᒋ ᒐᑲᐱᑫᓯᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑲᑭᓇ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ. ᐊᔕ ᑕᐡ ᒋᑲᑫᐧ ᑭᔑᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ 2018 ᐊᐦᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐅᑎᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᓇᐊᐧ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑎᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᐣᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᑲᐠ ᐃᑯ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐱᒧᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑎᐯᐣᑕᑲᐧᐠ. ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᐢᑕᐣ ᐯᕑᑎ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐱ ᑭᓇᐸᐱᑫᐦᐃᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒥᐦᐃᒪ ᑫᐅᐣᒋᒪᑲᑭᐣ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓇᐣ, ᒋᐅᐣᑎᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧ ᒪᒋᑕᒪᓱᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐅᒋ ᑲᐡᑭᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᐅᔑᑕᒪᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᐅᒋᐊᓄᑭᒪᑲᓂᐠ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᑌᒥᐊᐧ ᐃᒪ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ. ᐊᑎᑲ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑐᑲᐣ ᑫᑲᐟ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᒪᒋᑕᐃᐧᓇᐣ, ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐅᑭᐅᒋ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᒋᑲᑫᐣ ᐃᐁᐧᓂ ᓂᔭᓇᐣ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒪᒋᑕᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑎᒪᑲᑭᐣ ᐱᑕᐯᑯᐠ, ᑭᔐᒋᐊᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐊᑕᐊᐧᐱᐢᑲᐟ ᑲᑭᐅᔑᑐᐊᐧᐸᐣ 270 ᑭᓫᐊᒥᑐᕑᐢ ᒋᐊᐱᒋᐊᔭᓂᑯᔭᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᑌᐃᐧᔭᑊ ᐁᐧᑎ ᒉᒥᐢ ᐯ ᓇᓀᐤ ᑭᒋᑲᒥᐠ ᓂᔭᓄᔕᐠ ᑕᓱᔭᑭ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ. ᐯᕑᑎ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᔭᓂ ᐱᒋᓂᑭᔕᐧᔭᐠ ᐊᓂᐊᓂᒪᐣ ᒋᑭᐊᐸᑕᐠ ᐱᐳᓂᒥᑲᓇ ᒋᐱᒥᔭᐊᐧᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ, ᒥᓇ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐁᔭᓄᒋ ᒣᑎᓂᑫᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᐱᒥᑌᓂ ᑲᐅᒋ ᐊᐧᑌᓂᑲᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᔭᓂᐃᐡᐸᑭᐣᑌᓂᐠ.

Electricity grid needed for North Nishnawbe Aski Nation is calling for a northern Ontario electricity grid to connect all First Nations. NAN wants the grid in place by 2018. The organization wants it to be First Nations-owned and controlled. Grand Chief Stan Beardy said the transmission project will stimulate economic growth, provide business opportunities and enable the development of renewable power in communities. In a similar project, the Five Nations Energy Inc. partnership between Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat built a 270-kilometer transmission line up the James Bay coast 15 years ago. Beardy said warming temperatures are making ice roads more difficult to keep open, and that is causing diesel electricity costs to rise. Page 15

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Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Modular homes for Attawapiskat delayed Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

Even though the James Bay winter road opened for heavy traffic on Feb. 5, only two of the 22 modular homes purchased for Attawapiskat families arrived in the community by Feb. 12 as the rest continued to sit in a Moosonee lot. The First Nation said the reason for the delay was because the lots assigned for the trailer homes had yet to be prepared due to winter building conditions. “There are a lot of variables,” Wayne Turner, executive director for the First Nation, said. “In addition we had to wait for the opening our gravel supplies, and hopefully that contractor will be hauling the gravel next week.” Mike Gull, who is charged with preparing the lots, said that the sites have to be excavated of earth and vegetation so that gravel could be put in place to support the trailers. This process takes 2-3 days per lot. He didn’t get word to begin the lot preparations until Feb. 7.

Photo by Christy Nielsen

The first two modular homes for Attawapiskat made their way up the winter road on Feb. 12, but the other 20 homes remain in Moosonee. Meanwhile in the community the lots for the homes have not yet been prepared, so it will likely be spring before residents can move in. Despite the delay, Turner said the community expects to have all 22 trailers within the community by the time the winter road closes, which historically has been mid-March. Once a trailer arrives, it could take up to four weeks for a family to move in due to the

time needed for hydro, water and sewage hookups along with inspections. But while Turner said the winter conditions are the main reason for the delay, MP Charlie Angus (NDP – TimminsJames Bay) believes the third party manager and the federal

government is the cause due to funding. In the House of Commons on Feb. 7, Angus and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AANDC) Minister John Duncan jousted over who was accountable for the delay.

Angus said that the third party manager “screwed up.” “He has been withholding the funds needed by the De Beers technical team to get the site work done in Attawapiskat,” he said. Duncan countered that the third party manager is standing by to pay once the band council submits the invoices. “We strongly encourage the chief and council to act, which will ensure speedy delivery of the homes,” he said. Word of the delay came just days after a court denied Attawapiskat’s application to remove the third party manager. The community filed a court injunction in December, challenging Duncan’s decision to appoint the manager. On Feb. 3, Judge Michael Phelan ruled that Attawapiskat’s request did not meet the legal test for an injunction without a full hearing and that the separate judicial review application to quash the appointment will still be heard on Apr. 24. In the meantime, Phelan

said that Attawapiskat “shall not be required to accept, acquiesce or acknowledge the legality of the appointment of the [third-party manager] in order to secure payment of the invoices.” He said the dismissal of the injunction request is conditional upon the government’s compliance with the order for it to pay for the homes. In a written statement issued following the ruling, the Attawapiskat chief and council said that the decision “does not affect the First Nation’s overall legal challenge of third party management,” and that at the Apr. 24 hearing, the federal court “will fully consider the lawfulness of the (Duncan)’s appointment of the third party manager.” “The court rejected Canada’s arguments that there was no serious legal issue raised by the First Nation’s complaints,” the statement continued, “and also rejected Canada’s argument that the court had no jurisdiction to grant an injunction.”

Constance Lake hydro raises concerns downriver From page 1 Solomon said a well-used shortcut to nearby Fort Albany is no longer passable during the summer. “I remember cruising in that shortcut with no problems,” Solomon said. “In the summer, all you see is gravel and rocks on that channel now. There’s no water.” Northland Power and Constance Lake are proposing to build and operate four 6.5 MW run-of-river hydro-electric generating stations, through a 50-50 partnership, along the Kabinakagami River about 30 kilometres west of Hearst. Notice of the start of an environmental assessment was filed Dec. 14, 2011 by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Each generating station will consist of an earth-fill dam with head ponds ranging from 6 to 43 hectares, a 50 or 70 metre concrete overflow spillway, a powerhouse and intake and tailrace channels. Each powerhouse will contain two pit-type turbine 3.25 MW generating units.

“These projects represent responsible use of our natural resources and will be an important source of income for Constance Lake through their longterm ownership interest,” said Northland Power CEO John Brace in an April 2010 news release. The proposed hydro project was among the contracts awarded to Northland Power by the Ontario Power Authority under the Ontario government’s Clean Energy Act’s Feed-in-Tariff program to build 216 MW of renewable green energy projects. Members of the Paquataskamik Project in Fort Albany also raised concerns about how the proposed hydro project would impede their community’s culture project, which has been conducting cultural and educational activities on the watershed for more than four years. “The water level has dropped for at least the past 15 years now,” said Meshan Sutherland, Paquataskamik Project coordinator. “Another dam on the tributaries of the main river will

obviously affect us in terms of our summer travels and we’re not sure what contaminants or pollutants will flow down in our area.” Sutherland said plans under the Paquataskamik Project to educate the youth about the land and its importance were affected by the low water levels this past summer. “We couldn’t pull it off so we just hung around the nearby community,” Sutherland said. The low water levels are also affecting the way of life for community members in Kashechewan. “Going up the river is challenging because of the rapids,” Solomon said. “The fishing is impacted because people don’t have access to their fishing site anymore because the water is just too fast and too powerful because of the rapids.” Solomon said the low water levels have also caused problems with the gathering and transportation of dry firewood from further up the Albany River for use during winter.

Map from Northland Power website

Four run of the river hydro projects are planned for the Kabinakagami River, a tributary of the Albany River. Constance Lake First Nation is a 50-50 partner on the project with Northland Power. First Nations downstream are concerned about the effects of the dams on water levels and fish and wildlife. “We can’t even do that anymore,” Solomon said. “A

lot of people just cut green wood during the wintertime

and dry them up during the summertime.”

Work begins on Mishkeegogamang faces bed bug infestation Cat Lake drug addiction issue Rick Garrick

Wawatay News

Shawn Bell Wawatay News

The coordinator of Cat Lake First Nation’s efforts to deal with prescription drug abuse in the community says meaningful work has begun. Erin Horvath of New Vision, a not-for-profit community development organization, said the Feb. 10 meeting between stakeholders was a productive start towards community healing. “We’re strategizing how to work together to support the community,” Horvath said. Cat Lake Chief Matthew Keewaykapow declared a state of emergency on Jan. 23, as drug addictions in the commu-

nity had crippled provision of essential services and compromised the community’s safety. An estimated 70 to 80 per cent of the community is addicted to prescription drugs. The Feb. 10 meeting brought Cat Lake chief and council together with representatives from both federal and provincial governments, as well as a number of other organizations. Horvath said the group is working towards the establishment of an intensive community wellness plan. She said the group is planning a week-long community session in Cat Lake sometime in March to identify what the community is looking for in terms of healing.

Mishkeegogamang’s overcrowded housing conditions have a new wrinkle: bed bugs. Bed bugs have been found in six homes since the insects were first discovered in the community last summer. Now overcrowded houses and a lack of homes for affected families have the First Nation’s chief concerned about an outbreak. “We’ve come to realize that dealing with this bed bug issue is going to be a real challenge because I now have identified five other homes that have bed bugs,” Mishkeegogamang Chief Connie Gray-McKay said. “A lot of those homes have little children; one of them has an autistic child.” Gray-McKay said bed bugs were first discovered in a house at Eric Lake, one of the reserve’s many communities. “We had the family move out,” Gray-McKay said. “Luckily

it was during the summer and we totally gutted the house.” But after the family moved back into the renovated house, so did the bed bugs. “You can either freeze them to death or you can boil them to death,” said Gray-McKay about getting rid of bed bugs. “Right now you have to freeze them to death.” Gray-McKay said everything in the house has to be removed and placed in large metal containers for two weeks before the homes are sprayed with pesticides. “If you’re in there already, you might as well do a renovation of the house as well,” GrayMcKay said. “Some houses will have to be vacated for a month,

a month and a half, depending on the severity of the renovations required.” But due to the overcrowded housing conditions in the community of about 900 band members, there are currently no available accommodations for the families from the affected homes. “Where do I put all these people that are going to have their houses renovated?” Gray-McKay said. “The other thing too is we have to contain it. The last thing I need is to have 112 houses infested with bed bugs. Then we’re going to have a real crisis.” Gray-McKay is considering using one of the community’s new modular homes, once it is connected to the hydro grid, to accommodate the affected families while their homes are sprayed and renovated. “It’s a matter of planning it properly so we are not displacing people and stressing them out,” Gray-McKay said. Gray-McKay also emphasized

the financial hardship the situation places on families who are earning low incomes. “If you are making $10 an hour or $12 an hour, how do you replace the mattresses for your family of eight,” GrayMcKay said. “We had that situation with the first family — they had to get rid of everything.” Gray-McKay said families on Ontario Works would receive assistance to replace items that had to be thrown away due to the bed bugs, but those not on Ontario Works would have to replace items on their own. “I’m not going to let families go without benefits, but at the same time, what budget do I use,” Gray-McKay said. “I don’t have a budget to deal with bed bugs. I’ll have to find it somewhere.” Gray-McKay said the community has already purchased three machines for spraying bed bugs and is currently looking at having community members trained to use the machines.

Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

From the Wawatay archives 16-5th Avenue North P.O. Box 1180 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B7 Serving the First Nations in Northern Ontario since 1974. Wawatay News is a politically independent bi-weekly newspaper published by Wawatay Native Communications Society.

ᓂᐢᑕᑦ ᑲᑭᒪᑕᓄᑲᑌᐠ 1974 ᐁᐅᒋᐊᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑭᐧᐁᑎᓄᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑕᐃᑦᔑᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ. ᑕᓱᓂᔓᐱᒥᑯᓇᑲ ᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐧᐃ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐧᐃᐣ ᐅᓇᔓᐧᐁᐧᐃ ᑲᓇᐧᐊᐸᒋᑫᐧᐃᓂᐠ ᒋᐃᔑ ᐸᐸᒥᓯᒪᑲᐠ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓂᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER David Neegan

Editorial

The Red Road of capitalism Shawn Bell EDITOR

rime Minister Stephen Harper’s state visit to China wrapped up last week, as the two countries agreed to work together to develop Canadian resources to feed hungry Chinese markets. The visit marks a strange economic partnership. Canada, of course, abides by the freemarket system where companies decide where and what to develop, as the market dictates. And China, on the other end of the spectrum, believes firmly in state-controlled development, where government-owned companies develop where and what the government tells them to develop, but still compete in the international free-market. Most economists view those two systems as the next great battle of ideas. The western world’s free-market has long been the champion, after defeating communism and spreading around the world. Now a growing number of experts argue that the China model, of state-owned companies competing in the global market, is the new great contender and that the Asian economies using this model will soon be running the world. What everyone seems to be overlooking is a new, middle ground style of development emerging in First Nations across Canada. This middle-ground capitalism does not yet have a name, or any champions in the economist world. But that has not stopped it spreading, as First Nation leaders realize it makes sense to combine some of the best things of the free-market system with the best things of the statecontrolled system. It seems it is only a matter of time before the rest of Canada, and the world, catches on. Pretty much everyone agrees that companies and big corporations are usually more efficient and effective than governmentowned companies. That is basically the argument for why communism failed – government-run companies were not innovative or efficient, and so they could not compete with private companies. In the First Nations model of development, companies are given the freedom to do their work. Whether it is building a hydro power plant, digging a mine or operating an airline, the private sector is encouraged to use its expertise to help the First Nation start and run the business. On the other side of the coin,

the free-market system often ignores the effect that industry has on local economies, local people and the environment. Corporations are encouraged to make profits above all else, often leaving devastated communities and environmental destruction behind. That is the argument for the Chinese style of development – a government can best look after local people, and the long-term future of the nation, when it plans and controls development. This is what makes the Canadian First Nations model of development so unique, and so exciting. In this model the First Nation partners with the private company – usually a 50-50 partnership, or with the First Nation keeping 51 per cent of the shares and control over the direction, scale and pace of development. That gives the local government the ability to maximize benefits for local people – whether it is in training opportunities, jobs or long-term environmental protection. These types of partnerships are springing up in First Nations all over the country. In northern Ontario, the most recent example is the Constance Lake–Northland Power partnership, where the company uses its expertise to build hydro projects, and the First Nation uses its knowledge of the local land and people to ensure that development is done for the maximum long-term benefit of the First Nation. It is a true partnership, and both sides benefit. Late last year, four Saskatchewan First Nations partnered with Saturn Minerals to form a First Nations-run mining exploration company. Here is what the partner agreement said in that case: “First Nations have a clear and defined interest in participating in and benefiting from the development of natural resources on their ancestral lands. Exploration, mining and energy entities have a clear and defined interest in participating in and benefiting from the development of the same natural resources. (The partnership) is to be a conduit through which these complimentary interests meet for mutual benefit.” The question remains: can a country like Canada enter into a similar partnership with industry, where the partners meet “for mutual benefit?” A partnership where Canada retains 51 per cent of the project’s ownership, in order to set a long-term vision for the development, while the industry partner uses its expertise to complete the project in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible? Considering how First Nations across Canada are creating this new type of development model from scratch, shouldn’t Canada be able to follow?

Wawatay News archives

Muskrat Dam, date unknown.

The point of no return Xavier Kataquapit UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY

t is as cold as a ‘you know what’. That’s right: we are into a cold spell right now in Northern Ontario and even in the south. However, this winter is very warm compared to past years. The winter ice road to Attawapiskat just recently opened and it looks like it won’t last all that long. Still, minus 20 and 30 below zero days and nights are still being experienced in the far north of Ontario although that is getting more and more rare. I recall many days at minus 40 below zero when I was a boy back home up the James Bay coast. That was normal back then. It is obvious that the weather is changing up north and it is happening fast. Elders tell me that they have never seen such warm winters in their lifetimes. They worry about the affect these temperatures will have on the animals, birds and environ-

ment. From what I understand they have good reason to worry. The bulk of the world’s leading scientists and experts on weather and the environment are warning that our continued pollution of the skies with carbon dioxide is causing global warming. A very few scientists who are mainly employed by big business have been trying to convince the public that global warming does not exist to a great degree and that this warming period is a natural part of weather cycles on our planet. They argue that our pollution of the earth with fossils fuels is not the real problem behind global warming. They are paid a lot of money to put these lies forward. However, we the public are in general naive and many of us think these paid lobbyists have a point. The only real point they have is on the top of their heads. Industry has spent a lot of money trying to discredit people like Al Gore, David Suzuki and a host of prominent scientists who really do care about our planet and future generations of life on earth. Sadly, this has worked to a great degree

and some people are buying into the fact that we can allow ourselves to conduct business as usual and ignore the warnings of weather experts world wide without regard to consideration of future generations. I have read about the same type of lobbying when worldwide medical experts began to release information from research about cigarette smoking being dangerous to one’s health. The industry hired a bunch of lobbyists and their own scientists to try to discredit the findings of doctors and researchers around the world. However, it soon became obvious with so many smokers dying of lung cancer that the health warnings from our watchful doctors and specialists was right. However, incredibly the industry fought on tooth and nail at the expense of many lives. Instead of leading the brave charge to fight global warming by lowering carbon dioxide pollution, Canada has bowed to the bidding of big business by leaving the Kyoto Accord and moving ahead with fossil burning fuels as though there was no tomorrow. Aboriginal people here in Canada

consider global warming as a reality. Our Elders are very worried that we as the human race are on a crash course with nature. We are not being respectful to the air, water, plant and animal life and they say we will pay for it in the end. It is sad to think that we are in a position to make changes that will help our planet but for the almighty dollar we are ready to sell it all. The entire green, conservation and environmental movement is under attack. That is simply wrong and we should be supporting those who care for our planet and our future generations. It won’t matter how much money some rich one percenter made out of an industrial initiative if we can’t breath the air or drink the water a hundred years from now. So, I am enjoying this little cold snap this winter. I am thinking back to those past winters that were long and cold when my Elders went out onto the frozen land to hunt and fish. Things have sure changed and it looks like we are heading down a very slippery slope where we might soon find the point of no return.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER David Neegan davidn@wawatay.on.ca

ART DIRECTOR Roxann Shapwaykeesic, RGD roxys@wawatay.on.ca

TRANSLATORS Vicky Angees vickya@wawatay.on.ca

EDITOR Shawn Bell shawnb@wawatay.on.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Matthew Bradley matthewb@wawatay.on.ca

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WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Rick Garrick rickg@wawatay.on.ca REPORTER Lenny Carpenter lennyc@wawatay.on.ca INTERIM REPORTER Linda Henry

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Agnes Shakakeesic agness@wawatay.on.ca CONTRIBUTORS Xavier Kataquapit Chris Kornacki Richard Wagamese Angus Miles Guest editorials, columnists and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of Wawatay News.

Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Commentary

Pick up

On ceremony Richard Wagamese ONE NATIVE LIFE

here’s a ceremony I do for myself every morning. Once I’m awake and had a coffee and some time to feel my spirit moving, I gather my prayer articles; my smudging bowl, eagle wing fan and cedar, sage, tobacco and sweet grass. I put them in the bowl, light them and go through my home offering blessings to my wife, myself, our things and saying a quiet prayer of gratitude for all of it. It feels wonderful. These days there are fires in the woodstove now. The ambience of that feels timeless. And moving through the quiet of this small cabin in the mountains is healing and redemptive. This act of ceremony grounds me. I’m fully present in my home and in my life. I’m aware and thankful for all of it. There’s no fanfare to it, no big Native production number, just a man moving humbly through a ritual of gratitude and blessing. I can’t start my days without it. I’ve been to a lot of traditional ceremonies over the years, since I found my way back to the traditional and cultural lives of my people I’ve been blessed to travel to Sun Dances, Rain Dances, Horse Dances, sweat lodges, pipe ceremonies and Vision Quests in virtually every part of Indian country. I’ve met a lot of truly amazing and powerful people; their power directed mostly

at these locations

through the immense aura of humility they carry. It’s been a wonderful adventure and I have become more fulfilled because of it. Ceremony is the center of our traditional lives as First Nations people. When I was first introduced to it as a young man of twenty-four, I embraced it enthusiastically. There was something in the atmosphere surrounding ceremony that enchanted me and allowed me to feel included even when I felt awkward and ashamed of my lack of knowledge. In fact, I became such a staunch ceremonialist that for a long time I went to one virtually every week and I became educated in our ceremonial way. I learned a great deal of things about prayer and principles and about the virtues of living a life directed by them. I heard great and moving stories and legends. I learned about the cosmology, worldview and philosophy of my people and they shaped the man that I eventually became. I learned that with ceremony in my life, I am able to cope better with events and circumstance and I stay in balance when fate shifts and life becomes difficult or challenging. But that didn’t come automatically. A first when I was going to all of those ceremonies I felt like it was the Indian thing to do. In order to be a good Ojibway I had to be in ceremony, had to be actively pursuing my traditions and living accordingly. I had to be seen as being a ceremonial person and I had to represent that in everything I did or said. I believed that ceremony was a band aid that I could apply to any wounds the world caused.

But once things in the late 1980s things weren’t going very well. I was living in a big city and working very hard. I didn’t seem to be able to get ahead, to get beyond a hand to mouth existence. I drank too much to deal with the stress and I found myself struggling to maintain a good life. Someone I knew was hosting a sweat lodge and feast. I packed all my ceremonial things together and made the trip. The ceremony was long and hot and I felt as though I left a lot of pain there and had prayed for strength and a good heart to face my challenges. But at the feast later I didn’t feel any better. My stomach still churned with indecision and doubt. I felt shame over choosing drink to deal with my issues. I felt troubled about not representing a brave ceremonialist face in adversity. An elder friend noticed my discomfort and she took me to a quiet corner and asked me what the problem was. I told her about my troubles and how I’d come to the lodge expecting to be lifted up and out of all of it. I explained how dedicated I was and how much I believed in our healing way. She looked at me and smiled and gave me a big hug. “Ceremony doesn’t change you.” she said. “You change you. Ceremony is just the trail you learn to follow until you reach the place where that can happen.” I’ve never been able to forget those words. I quit trying to use ceremony as a band aid after that. Instead, I worked at healing me, worked at changing the way I dealt with things and ceremony became the celebration of success.

Online comments Medical system is part of the problem Re: Drug epidemic needs support: medical director I would say about 10 years ago I had a discussion with a nurse from the Toronto area, who was up in Thunder Bay visiting. She told me the story about her nephew whom had been prescribed some ‘addictive pain drugs’ like Percocets for knee pain. She told me that these drugs are normally pain

killer drugs prescribed for people who are terminal and where addiction is not a major concern. Well would you not know that I found myself in the local hospital a few months ago, and when I asked for some pain medication, Percocets was the first drug suggested, when there were a variety of other more common pain medications, that do not have this addiction problem potential.

A few years ago, a visiting physician, commented that he was surprised at the amount of painkillers like Percocets that were being prescribed. My point is that the addiction problems in this community are partly to blame on the current medical protocols and procedures with the medical system. They are part of the problem and part of the solution. Caesar J. B. Squitti

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ᓴᐣᑲᓱᒥᑕᓇ ᑭᔑᑲ ᑲᐃᑲᐧᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᓯ ᒋᐱᒥᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᐣ ᐯᔑᐠ ᑎᐯᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐅᒋ ᑭᑫᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐁᐃᓇᑯᓂᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐅᒋ ᐸᑭᑭᓂᑲᓂᐠ 1 “ᒥ ᑕ ᐡ ᑲᐊᐃᓀᐣᑕᒪᐣ, ᐁᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧᔭᐣ, ᑫᑯᐣ ᐃᔑᒪᒋᓭ ᐅᒪ,” ᐁᕑᓂ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐁ ᑭ ᐁ ᐧ ᒪ ᒥ ᑲ ᐃ ᐧ ᐨ . “ᑫ ᑯ ᓀ ᐣ ᑕ ᐡ ᐁᑲ ᐁᐅᒋ ᐅᑕᐱᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐣᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐯᐸᓄᑦ ᑲᑕᑯᓇᒪᐣ.” ᑲᐯᑭᔑᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑭᐊᔭᐊᐧᐠ ᐱᐣᒋ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᐁᕑᓂ ᐁᑭᒪᒪᒋᑭᑐᐨ ᐁᑭᑲᓄᓇᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐣ ᐃᑯ ᑲᑭᐃᓀᓂᒪᐨ ᒋᑭᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐸᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᔭᓂ ᑎᐱᑲᓂᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐣ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᒥᑲᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐨ ᐊᒥ ᑲᑭᐃᓀᐣᑕᐠ ᒋᑎᐱᑲᓂᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᐱᐣᒋ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᐊᐱᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ. ᑫᑲᐱ ᐅᑭᒥᑲᐊᐧᐣ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐃᐧ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᐅᑭᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᑕᒪᑯᐊᐧᐣ ᒋᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᐯᔑᑯᑎᐱᑲ ᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᐅᓇᑕᒪᑯᐊᐧᐣ ᒋᑭᐁᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᒐᐡᑯᓂᒥᐠ. ᐊᔕ ᑕᐡ ᐊᔭᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᑕᐊᐧᐨ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᐱᑯ ᐁᑲᑫᐧ ᓇᓇᐃᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑌᑊᕑᐊ ᓄᑯᑦ ᐁᔭᐸᒋᑐᐨ ᑲᑎᑎᓭᓂᐠ ᑌᓴᐱᐃᐧᓂ. ᐁᕑᓂ ᐅᑭᑫᐣᑕᐣ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᔭᓂᒥᓭᐊᐧᐨ ᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᔕ ᐁᔭᓂᑕᐸᓯᐡᑲᒪᑲᓂᐠ. ᔕᑯᐨ ᐃᐧᐊᔭᐣᑲᐧᒥᑕᑯᓯ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐠ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᑭᑫᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐁᐧ ᓴᐣᑲᓱᒥᑕᓇ ᑭᔑᑲ ᐁᑕ ᑲᐃᐦᑯᓭᐠ ᒋᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᓯ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᐣ.

“ᒪ ᐊ ᐧ ᐨ ᐃ ᑯ ᒪ ᒣ ᓂ ᔐ ᐣ ᑕ ᑲ ᐧ ᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐊᐃᐧᔭ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑭᐡᑲᐠ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐦᐊᕑᐳᕑ. “ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᓂᔭᑲᓇ ᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᑯᔭᑭᐸᐣ ᓴᐣᑲᓱᒥᑕᓇ ᑭᔑᑲ ᓂᑲᐣ ᒋᔭᓂᑭᔑᐱᓭᐠ ᓂᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᑲᐣ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᐣ, ᐊᔕ ᓴᑫᐣ ᐣᑕᑭᐅᓇᒋᑫᓇᐸᐣ ᑫᑐᑕᒪᐣ.” ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᑲᑭᐃᔑᓇᑭᐡᑲᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᑐᓂ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᐅᑭᐅᒋ ᐊᓂᒥᐦᐃᑯᐣ ᑌᑊᕑᐊ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᓂᐠ. “ᒥ ᑐ ᓂ ᐱ ᑯ ᑭ ᔭ ᓂ ᒥ ᓀ ᑕ ᑦ , ᑫᓂᓇᐃᐧᐟ ᑕᐡ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ. “ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᓂᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᓯᐣ ᑯᑕᐠ ᐊᐃᐧᔭ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᒋᐃᔑᓇᑭᐡᑲᐠ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᓯᓭᔭᐠ.” ᑕᐡ ᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯ ᐃᒪ ᒪ ᓯ ᓇ ᐦ ᐊ ᒪ ᑐ ᐃ ᐧ ᓂ ᐠ ᑭᐅᒋᓇᑫᐧᐱᐦᐃᑫ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑭᒪ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐃᐁᐧ ᓂᐦᓱᐱᓯᑦ ᑲᑭᐃᔑ ᐅᓇᑌᐠ ᒋᐃᔑᐱᒥ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᓯ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᐃᓇᐧᑌ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐱᒥᐊᓂᑯ ᐅᐡᑭᓭᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒋᐱᐦᐃᐣᑕᐧ ᐅᑕᑯᓯᐠ ᒋᐱᐣᑎᑫᐱᐦᐅᑎᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐱᐦᐅᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐃᓯᓭᓂᑫᐧᐣ ᐅᒪ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᑐᑲᐣ ᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐣ ᑫᐅᒋ ᐱᒥᑎᐸᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐨ. ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑭᒪ ᑲᐅᒋ ᐊᔭᒥᑕᒪᑫᐨ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᑐᒋᐱᒥᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᐊᐧᐣ ᐅᑕᑯᓯᐣ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᓂᐦᓱᐱᓯᑦ ᐅᓇᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑭᐃᔑᓂᔕᐦᐊᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᐱᒧᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ.

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

“It’s been very unfortunate...I just don’t want anybody else to have to go through this.” Ernie Harper

Ninety-day health benefits limit leaves Muskrat Dam family on the streets Shawn Bell Wawatay News

Ernie Harper and his wife Deborah of Muskrat Dam were already going through a difficult time when a government policy suddenly piled on a whole lot more trouble. Deborah had been in hospital for three months with a horrible infection in her foot, first in Sioux Lookout for a month and then another two months in Winnipeg. Ernie and their two children had spent that time away from home, including the Christmas holidays in Winnipeg in a rented apartment, while Deborah got treatment. Ernie had resigned as band councilor in Muskrat Dam to focus on his wife, and the family was spending its savings on groceries and other essential items while they lived out of hotels and apartments. To make matters worse the treatment could not stop the spread of infection, and Deborah had to have her foot amputated. She had been discharged but was still receiving outpatient care from nurses in Winnipeg. So the family was at a low

point when their troubles suddenly escalated. Unbeknownst to the Harpers, Health Canada only covers health benefits like travel and accommodation costs, medical supplies and other benefits for 90 days. Last week the family was informed that the government would no longer cover their accommodation, travel or other costs. Ernie said they had no notice. Suddenly they were out on the street. “We had exhausted all our funds, and the people at the non-insured health benefits program were telling us there was nothing they could do for us,” Ernie Harper said. “I had two kids with me, and I’m trying to convince these people that we desperately need help.” The Harpers spent the last of their money getting back to Sioux Lookout, where they hoped someone could help. But that hope quickly faded. Despite a friend who paid for a hotel room for their first night in Sioux Lookout, the Harpers had no money for food or cabs around town or even to get back to Muskrat Dam.

They left the hotel after checkout in the morning, and with Deborah needing her bandages changed headed towards the Sioux Lookout hospital. It was a long walk, Ernie pushing his wife’s wheelchair and the children walking behind. Plus it was a warm February day, so the sidewalks were icy and the roads full of slush. By the time they made it to the hospital the whole family was hungry and tired. But they found a similar reception in the hospital, being told they were not covered and they would have to go to a shelter for accommodations. “I’m thinking, because of my Aboriginal ancestry, something’s wrong here,” Ernie reflected. “Why aren’t they honouring my status card?” For the rest of the day the family hung around the hospital while Ernie called anyone he could think of to help them out. By nightfall they were resigned to camping out in the hospital waiting room. Finally Ernie reached a sympathetic ear in a friend at a native training organization. The friend got the family a hotel room and arranged for trans-

portation to Muskrat Dam. Now the Harpers are home, adjusting to their new reality of having Deborah in a wheelchair. Ernie knows that their struggles are winding down. But he wanted to warn others about the 90-day limit on non-insured health benefits program. “It’s very disappointing for a person to have to go through all this,” Harper said. “If they would have told me we only have 90 days of coverage I would have had arrangements already lined up.” Meanwhile he said the ordeal has made Deborah’s healing journey that much more difficult, both physically and mentally. “It’s been very unfortunate for her, and for us,” he said. “I just don’t want anybody else to have to go through this.” In an email response, Health Canada said the threemonth coverage period is supposed to be a transition time for clients to register and qualify for provincial coverage for housing support and social assistance. A Health Canada spokesperson said the department informs clients of the three-month rule in writing.

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Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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Northern Ontario preps for HIV outbreak Immediate action needed to avoid Saskatchewan example, says doctor Shawn Bell Wawatay News

Health officials in Saskatchewan are cautioning their counterparts in northern Ontario that swift action is needed if the region hopes to avoid an HIV outbreak similar to the one the prairie province has been struggling with for years. The warning comes as northern Ontario witnesses growing numbers of injection drug use, primarily associated with the prescription drug addiction epidemic in First Nations communities, and consequent increases in rates of Hepatitis C. Dr. Johnmark Opondo, the medical health officer with the Saskatchewan HIV provincial leadership team, told Wawatay News that in 2003 Saskatchewan was facing similar conditions to those faced by northern Ontario today. At that time in Saskatchewan injection drug use was rising sharply, especially in First Nations communities, and the province was seeing an increase in Hepatitis C cases. An explosion of HIV soon followed, and Saskatchewan

“If the risk factors are all there, all it takes is one or two HIV positive people and it can spread.” - Dr. Johnmark Opondo

has been dealing with the highest per capita rate of HIV in Canada ever since. Saskatchewan is also the only Canadian province where the majority of new HIV cases come from injection drug use. “If the risk factors are all there, all it takes is one or two HIV positive people and it can spread,” Opondo said. In northern Ontario, communities like Cat Lake First Nation are seeing huge increases in injection drug use. In Cat Lake’s case, for example, over 500 needles were turned into the community’s nursing station in December and January, an astonishing number considering Cat Lake’s population is only 500 people and there is no official needle exchange program. Claudette Chase, the medical director of Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, told Wawatay News on Feb. 2

that Cat Lake is not the only community where injection drug use is rising. Chase said the authority has witnessed a spike in Hepatitis C rates across northern Ontario. “HIV is obviously on our minds,” Chase said. “Numbers of HIV have been steadily rising in First Nations communities across Canada, moving from west to east.” The transmission of HIV in Saskatchewan may also hold lessons for northern Ontario. Although experts expected the disease to spread between the province’s three major urban areas – Regina, Prince Albert and Saskatoon – Opondo said transmission has largely happened between First Nations communities and the city they are connected to. For example, HIV rates in Saskatoon are more closely tied to the reserves around it, with transmission pathways going back and forth between

Health Canada takes oxy off drug coverage plans Shawn Bell Wawatay News

Health Canada will no longer pay for Oxycontin for patients under the NonInsured Health Benefits Program (NIHB). The federal government has removed all long-acting oxycodone drugs from the NIHBP effective February 15. The move comes as communities across northern Ontario continue to be ravaged by epidemics of oxycodone addictions. Health Canada spokesperson Stephane Shank said the government is acting on the recommendation of the NIHB drug use evaluation committee and NIHB pharmacy and therapeutics committee. “(The committees) found there was a lack of evidence to demonstrate long-acting oxycodone is any more effective than other long acting opiods,” Shank wrote in an email. “There were also concerns among the committee members about the safety of long-acting oxycodone use.” The removal of the drugs

“There is a lack of evidence to demonstrate long-acting oxycodone is any more effective than other long acting opiods.” - Stephane Shank, Health Canada

also applies to OxyNeo, a new version of oxycontin that Perdue Pharma, the drug’s manufacturer, claims is harder to abuse than OxyContin. “There is a lack of longterm clinical data to substantiate this claim,” Shank wrote. On Jan. 23 Cat Lake declared a state of emergency due to oxycontin addiction in the community. Chief Matthew Keewaykapow issued a call for help to both the federal and provincial governments, citing the fact that chief and council could no longer provide essential services or protect Cat Lake residents due to the epidemic of drug addictions. A community estimate

completed earlier this year stated that 70 – 80 per cent of residents in Cat Lake are addicted to prescription drugs. Cat Lake is just the most recent northern Ontario First Nation community to struggle with prescription drug addiction. In 2009 Nishnawbe Aski Nation declared a state of emergency over its entire territory due to prescription drugs, although leadership say the response from government has been inadequate. Both Manitoba and Prince Edward Island have already removed oxycontin from their drug coverage plans. Shank said that coverage for oxycontin will still be considered on a case-by-case basis, and coverage may be provided in “exceptional circumstances” such as cancer or palliative pain. Meanwhile the NIHB committees will continue to monitor regular release oxycodone products like Percocet. For the time being, those types of drugs will still be covered under the program.

First Nations and Saskatoon. The same is seen in Regina and Prince Albert, where HIV spreads between the cities and the surrounding communities, rather than from city to city. That has AIDS activists in Thunder Bay alarmed. Bob Manson, AIDS Thunder Bay’s education outreach officer, calls it a “perfect storm” of risk factors for an HIV outbreak in both Thunder Bay and northern communities. “We know there is an injection drug use problem (in Thunder Bay), with sharing of needles, from the high Hep C rates. And we know there is

a lot of unprotected sex going on from the STI outbreaks that we’ve seen in the city,” Manson said. “So far the HIV rate in Thunder Bay has been relatively stable, but we know it’s a perfect storm of risk factors here.” Manson said it is imperative that education programs get ramped up, as recent surveys show many people still do not know how HIV is transmitted. He also wants to see needle exchange programs set up across the North to try and stem the rising Hepatitis C infections caused by sharing of needles.

Opondo agreed that needle exchange programs are vital. Drug addictions are so powerful, he said, that even knowledge of the risk of infection will not stop an addict from using dirty needles if no clean needles are available. Saskatchewan started its provincial HIV strategy in 2010. One element of that strategy Opondo highlighted was having teams of health care providers travelling to reserve communities to do regular HIV and Hepatitis C testing. Opondo said the travelling teams have allowed the province to catch the diseases in early stages and start treatment right away. He also said the teams provide an important public education role, because testing for HIV in a small communities brings the issue to the public’s attention in a graphic way.

PARTICIPATE Fisheries Management Zone 5 Management Plan The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Fisheries Management Zone 5 Advisory Council invite you to participate in the preparation of a fisheries management plan for Fisheries Management Zone 5 (FMZ-5). The FMZ-5 management plan will establish fisheries objectives, recommend recreational fisheries regulations and set broad management direction for the fisheries within Zone 5.

The MNR, in cooperation with the FMZ-5 Advisory Council, are working together to develop a range of fisheries management objectives and actions, which will be specific to managing sustainable fisheries within the unique ecological and social features of FMZ-5. The MNR and the Advisory Council invite you to participate in the review of the new Background Information Document from February 6, 2012 to March 21, 2012. The draft report is available for review at the MNR District Offices in Fort Frances, Atikokan, Kenora, Dryden and Ignace. Public input and comments are welcome and can be submitted by mailing the MNR contact person below or by posting comments on the Environmental Registry website at ontario.ca/ebr (EBR registry number 011-5477). Further opportunities for involvement of the development of this FMZ-5 Fisheries Management Plan will include a Review of the Draft Plan and Inspection of the Final Plan. For more information or to add your name to the mailing list, please contact: Brian Jackson — Project Coordinator Ministry of Natural Resources 108 Saturn Avenue Atikokan, ON P0T 1C0 tel: 807-597-5008 fax: 807-597-6185 e-mail: brian.w.jackson@ontario.ca

Bob Burns FMZ-5 Advisory Council Chair P.O. Box 1344 Atikokan, ON P0T 1C0 tel: 807-929-2153 e-mail: spiritofquetico@xplornet.ca

Personal information and comments for this project are collected under the authority of the Public Lands Act and the Fisheries Act. Any personal information will be protected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and may be used by the MNR to provide notification of future resource management initiatives. A summary of public comments collected will become part of the record of communication and may be shared with the general public. Renseignements en français : Sylvie Gilbart, 807-934-2256.

Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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New Award for Ontario’s Aboriginal Artists and Arts Leaders!

Nominations for The Ontario Arts Council Aboriginal Arts Award are now open.

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Child poverty education program in jeopardy

This new annual award honours an Aboriginal artist’s or arts leader’s distinguished career and outstanding achievements in Ontario. The $7,500 Ontario Arts Council Aboriginal Arts Award also provides the winner with the opportunity to select a promising new Aboriginal artist who will receive a separate $2,500. Any Ontario resident may nominate! DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: APRIL 2, 2012 For more information, call Carolyn Gloude at 416-969-7423 or 1-800-387-0058 ext. 7423 (toll-free) or email cgloude@arts.on.ca or go to www.arts.on.ca and click on Awards and Fellowships for details. Pour plus de détails, contactez Luciana Pierre au 416-969-7400 / sans frais 1-800-387-0058 poste 7400 / lpierre@arts.on.ca / visitez le site www.arts.on.ca et cliquez sur Prix et bourses.

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IT’S ON! THE LITTLE BANDS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT SIOUX LOOKOUT MEMORIAL ARENA

CATCH ALL THE ACTION! LIVE ON WAWATAY RADIO

photo by Linda Henry/Wawatay News

Nathaniel Moses (in regalia) shows students at Our Lady of Charity school in Thunder Bay the power of the drum. Moses hopes more funding can be found for the Biwaase’aa Program that helps students deal with the effects of poverty.

Linda Henry Wawatay News

A popular program that fights child poverty while bringing Aboriginal teaching into Thunder Bay schools is in jeopardy, as its funding runs out at the end of March. The Biwaase’aa Program has operated in seven Thunder Bay elementary schools since 2004. It places an Aboriginal Youth Worker into each school and provides a nutritional lunch, after-school program and literacy skills in the schools, while working one-on-one with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students alike. The “main purpose of the program is to work towards child poverty in the elementary schools,” said program manager Paul Frances. “It is a year round program, following the school calendar.” The program also hosts “feasts and showcases pow wow gatherings,” said youth worker Nathaniel Moses. “This gives the students an opportunity to learn about some of our Aboriginal practices, to promote our First Nations pride,” said Moses. “Being a person who works directly in a school as an

Aboriginal person, I am given a role model incentives for our students that I’m actually here for all kinds/walks of life,” “When we talk to them (the students), we talk about our history and our pride,” Moses added. As for the nutritional program, it is provided so the children can have a “full belly to have a good mind as they come to school,” Moses explained. All children need good nutrition to maintain good grades. It is one of Maslow’s basic level of needs. The program is geared towards all students, “not just Natives, but non-Native as well,” added Moses. Up to 35 to 40 students use the program regularly. Each day they come to school and are provided with a snack, lunch and extra help with schoolwork. The funding currently comes from the Urban Aboriginal Strategy, which is a federal funding source. Other sources of funding include The United Way and the provincial government. “We are not sure what is going to happen after March,” said Frances. “Right now we are looking to try to keep the program going from April to June.

The main focus now is to try to find the funds.” Frances added that the program is trying to bring together its many partners to find funding. “We held a Stakeholders Forum back in November, we brought in a lot of our partners/stakeholdes to sustain the program,” said Frances. “We have partnered with Frontier College to deliver our afterschool program. It involves adults/parents to come in for literacy lessons.” Special Education teacher Lucy Goldberg said the loss of funding would be unfortunate for Our Lady of Charity school, as the program helps build compassion and tolerance for other people and cultures. “I think its important we have that to continue in our school, here at Our Lady of Charity,” Goldberg said. “Getting to know about other people’s culture is important for building compassion, tolerance for one another.” “We are a community together, individuals come together,” she added. “We try to integrate all our children’s needs and bring them into their culture. It doesn’t matter what ethinicity they are, we promote spirituality.”

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Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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Arresting the legacy of residential school Rick Garrick Wawatay News

photo by Rick Garrick

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Women’s Council member Jackie Fletcher spoke about the affects of residential school on the children of former residential school students during the Arrest the Legacy From Residential Schools to Prisons circle, held Feb. 2-3 in Thunder Bay.

Questions were raised Feb. 2-3 after an Arrest the Legacy circle in Thunder Bay heard 145 of 150 people in the Kenora Jail about a year ago were Aboriginal. “A hundred were male, and of those 100, 95 per cent were Aboriginal male,” said Jackie Fletcher, a member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Women’s Council, quoting numbers brought up by former NAN deputy grand chief Alvin Fiddler during the Arrest the Legacy From Residential Schools to Prisons circle. “The other 50 were women, and of the 50 women, they were all Aboriginal women. That totally blew me away — I’m talking about overrepresentation.” Although she knew there was Aboriginal overrepresentation in the prison system, Fletcher found the statistics Fiddler discovered during a visit to the Kenora Jail to be “just phenomenal.”

The Arrest the Legacy circle was held by the Native Women’s Association of Canada at the Thunder Bay Metis Community Centre to encourage discussion about and to gain an understanding of the impact of the Canadian legal system on Aboriginal women and girls, including direct and intergenerational survivors of the residential school system. “People don’t know how they are affecting other generations,” Fletcher said. “The residential school survivor knows something went on, they don’t know how to verbalize it, they don’t know how to look at it in their mind as to how it is affecting the next generation.” Fletcher said her sister lost her language due to residential school, even though she had always said nothing happened to her during residential school. “She was separated from her family for nine years,” Fletcher said. “She lost the bonding that happened, the parenting, all those things.” Instead of learning good par-

enting skills, Fletcher said residential school students learned how to punish their children. “You shamed your kids, you hit them, you beat them,” Fletcher said. “We need to change what has happened to us — we don’t need to carry that on. We need to stop it.” Fletcher plans to take the information she learned during the circle back home to her community, to an upcoming NAN Women’s Council meeting in March and to the Shingwauk Indian Residential School reunion in July. Fiona Cook, research and policy officer with NWAC, noted the concerns expressed about over-incarceration of Aboriginal women and girls in the prison system during the circle. “Even after the Gladue ruling, the Supreme Court ruling in 1999, that was supposed to make over-incarceration less of a problem, it’s actually become more of a problem,” Cook said. “Over one third of those spots (in federal prisons) are taken

up by Aboriginal women and with the situation of girls, it is 44 per cent right now of Aboriginal girls (who) make up the youth custody across the country.” The Gladue ruling called for judges to take into account the social and economic conditions facing Aboriginals and the effects of residential schools when making court decisions. Cook said the circle brought together Aboriginal and nonaboriginal people, including those who have worked with Aboriginal women and girls in conflict with the law, crown prosecutors, police, youth service workers and Elders. “It was really a mix of people and an opportunity to hear from each other’s perspectives,” Cook said. “And to build bridges, because you can’t really make a difference in the community if you don’t build bridges.” A pre-conference day was also held Feb. 1 for Aboriginal women and girls who have been in custody, criminalized or in conflict with the law.

Tough on crime bill means more Aboriginals in jail Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

Attempts to reduce high Aboriginal prison population rates could be thwarted by the passing of the Conservative’s tough-on-crime legislation, says the head of an Aboriginal legal service organization. The Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation (NALSC, also known as NAN Legal) has been providing the people within the NAN territory with legal, paralegal, public education and law reform services since 1990. One of its programs is the restorative justice program, which diverts an offender’s case from the court system into the program where the offence is dealt with at a community level that is culturally relevant. The passing of Bill C-10, however, will eliminate the ability of judges to impose conditional sentences for different offences, which could drastically alter the effectiveness and overall goal of the restorative justice program. “The passing of the bill is the most draconian measure imaginable,” NASLC CEO Celina Reitberger said. “It means that there will guaranteed be more Aboriginal people in jail.” In 2010-11, Aboriginal offenders represented 18.5 per cent of the total federal offender population while Aboriginal adults only represented 3 per cent of the Canadian adult population. However, that number appears to be higher in northern Ontario. Statistics provided by Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services show that Aboriginals represent up to 92 per cent of the population in correctional institutions or jails, a number that has grown over the past three years. At the Monteith Correctional Centre, which serves the Timmins and James Bay region, male inmates who identified themselves as Aboriginal in March 2009 accounted for 51.3 per cent of the prison population. In 2011, the number grew to 59.7 per cent. Aboriginal male inmates at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre accounted for 51.1 per

cent in 2009 and grew to 52.3 per cent in 2011. At the Fort Frances Jail, 35.7 per cent of the male inmates identified themselves as Aboriginal in 2009. By 2011, the number grew to 73.7 per cent. At the Kenora Jail, in a district that contains about 30 First Nation communities, 85 per cent of the prison population were Aboriginal males in March 2011 while 100 per cent of the female population were Aboriginal.

“...85 per cent of the prison population were Aboriginal males in March 2011 while 100 per cent of the female population were Aboriginal.” Reitberger said her organization has expanded its restorative justice program over past

few years. Last year, the program handled over 400 cases that were diverted from the court system. However, she believes the program has the potential to do more. “We’re not doing enough of them,” Reitberger said. In another effort to curb the amount of charges laid against Aboriginal people, NASLC entered into an agreement last year with Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, which serves

many of the First Nation communities in northern Ontario. The agreement establishes a protocol where, “in cases that are considered doable, the police can divert them to our program before they lay the charges, before they do the paperwork,” Reitberger said. Reitberger criticized the federal government’s attempt to take a tougher stance on crime. “It’s just so wrong headed that I can’t believe it,” Reitberger said.

“They tried it in the United States and it didn’t work, so now we, north of the border, are emulating what they did, knowing that it doesn’t work.” “My real fear is that in their frenzy to look tough on crime, Aboriginal people are going to be caught in the net.” “I hope that they’re not going to be so tough on crime that they decide to do away with the Aboriginal Justice Strategy, ie. funding of restorative justice programs,” Reitberger said.

The Future Matters! Starting in February 2012, Statistics Canada will be conducting the Aboriginal Peoples Survey with First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit across Canada. You may be invited to participate on a voluntary basis. Your participation will help provide a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges that lead to success in education and employment. Your information will help support the efforts of Aboriginal communities, organizations and governments as they work towards making improvements in the well-being of Aboriginal peoples. Take part, complete the survey and help make a better future!

Aboriginal Peoples Survey Education and Employment

For more information, call 1-800-263-1136 or go to www.statcan.gc.ca/aps

Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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Deep Geologic Repository Joint Review Panel

Public Notice Panel Orientation Session and Comment Period on Environmental Impact Statement and Licence Application for Deep Geologic Repository Project On February 3, 2012, the Joint Review Panel for the Deep Geologic Repository Project for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste (DGR) announced the start of the maximum six-month public comment period on the adequacy of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and documents in support of the application for a Licence to Prepare Site and Construct, submitted by Ontario Power Generation. The Panel also announced that it has scheduled an initial Panel orientation session for the review to be held on February 21, 2012 in Ottawa. Public Comment Period Preliminary instructions for participation in the public review and comment period are now available. The comment period is an opportunity for everyone to provide their views to the Panel on whether the EIS and licence application documents adequately address the requirements set out in the EIS Guidelines issued to the proponent by the federal government. The public is also invited to make recommendations to the Panel on additional information that should be provided by the proponent. The EIS and licence application documents are intended to examine the potential environmental effects of all phases of the project and address all requirements for the Licence to Prepare Site and Construct the DGR. The documents are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at www.ceaa.gc.ca , reference number 06-05-17520 and through the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Web site at www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca. Please forward submissions in either official language to the Joint Review Panel by mail, email or fax to the attention of either or both Panel Co-Managers on or before August 3, 2012. Documents submitted or generated as part of the review will be posted on the online Registry for this project. Debra Myles, Panel Co-Manager c/o Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency 160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor Ottawa ON K1A 0H3 Tel.: 613-957-0626 or 1-866-582-1884 Email: DGR.Review@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Kelly McGee, Panel Co-Manager c/o Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission PO Box 1046, Station B – 280 Slater Street, Ottawa ON K1P 5S9 Tel.: 613-947-3710 Fax: 613-995-5086 Email: OPG-DRG@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

To be kept informed of the panel review process and ongoing activities, send an email to DGR.Review@ceaa-acee.gc.ca to be added to the interested parties distribution list. Panel Orientation Session The Joint Review Panel invites the public to attend or observe an initial Panel orientation session where information will be provided to the Panel as it begins its work. Although the public will not have an opportunity to ask questions during the session, follow-up questions may be sent to the Panel for its consideration. The Panel orientation session will be held in Ottawa and webcast live via the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Web site at www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca . Transcripts of the proceedings will be posted on the online Registry. The Joint Review Panel has directed Ontario Power Generation to make a presentation at the orientation session focussed on the organization of the environmental impact statement and licence application documents submission. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will make a presentation regarding its mandate and responsibilities with respect to the project. The expert federal authorities, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada and Natural Resources Canada, will address their departmental mandates and areas of expertise in relation to the project. The Panel orientation session will be held: Tuesday February 21, 2012 Date Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Public Hearing Room Location 14th Floor, 280 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario 9:00 a.m. Time About the Project The DGR is a proposal by Ontario Power Generation to prepare a site, and construct and operate a facility for the long-term management of low and intermediate level radioactive waste at the Bruce Nuclear site, within the Municipality of Kincardine, Ontario. Low level radioactive waste consists of industrial items that have become contaminated during routine clean up and maintenance activities at nuclear generating stations. Intermediate level radioactive waste consists primarily of used nuclear reactor components, ion-exchange resins, and filters used to purify reactor systems. Used nuclear fuel will not be stored or managed in the DGR.

Immediate funding increases needed for reserve schools, says national panel Shawn Bell Wawatay News

A national First Nations education panel is calling on the federal government to increase funding for First Nations schools immediately to attempt to deal with serious gaps between education success rates of First Nation and nonAboriginal students in Canada. The panel’s report, released Feb. 8 in Ottawa, also calls for the creation of a national First Nation education commission and regional education boards. “Our government recognizes that education is crucial to improving the quality of life for First Nations,” said Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister John Duncan in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring Aboriginals can prosper in Canada and take advantage of the opportunities that exist.” The report recommends the creation of a new First Nation Education Act within the next 18 months. According to the report, the act would ensure the rights of First Nation children to “quality education” and to cultural lessons and language. The report also wants teachers in First Nation schools to receive equal pay to what teachers in province-run schools earn. Included in the panel’s recommendations was a call for a national commission on education. The commission would resemble education ministries in provinces, the report said. The panel also called for regional First Nation education organizations set up across the country, resembling school boards and operating under the

proposed education commission. The panel was created in June 2011 by the federal government in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). It was chaired by Scott Haldane, president of YMCA Canada. George Lafond, a First Nation consultant, and Caroline Krause, a former faculty associate with the education department at University of British Columbia, also sat on the panel.

“Our government recognizes that education is crucial.” – Minister John Duncan

Despite AFN’s involvement many regional First Nations rejected the national panel, including Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) and Chiefs of Ontario (COO). Between them NAN and COO represent 88 First Nations in Ontario. NAN Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose said the national panel’s mandate failed to include reviews of pre-school and post-secondary education, and did not address the funding gap between native and nonnative students. “The National Panel is a flawed and deficient process established without input from First Nations,” Waboose said. Besides increased funding, NAN is calling for a completion of self-governance negotiations on education, so as to take control over how and what is taught in schools in NAN communities.

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Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Self-governance on education needed: NAN

Waboose says increased funding not enough

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Shawn Bell Wawatay News

Citing a range of problems with the current First Nations education system, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) is calling on increased funding and decreased federal government control for education in Aboriginal communities. Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose presented NAN’s report on the challenges and needs in education on Feb. 7, outlining a range of problems faced in communities of northwestern Ontario. “The majority of Canadians have never seen what passes for a school in most of our communities,” Waboose said. “They would be shocked if they did. What needs to be stressed is that we don’t even have the basics.” Waboose pointed out that five communities in northern Ontario do not even have schools. Meanwhile the communities that do have schools nearly always lack things that southern students take for granted, such as libraries, arts facilities and adequate amounts of textbooks and other supplies. NAN’s report was released one day before a national First Nations education panel report, commissioned by the federal government in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations. While NAN’s concerns were similar to those expressed by the national panel, NAN did not endorse the national panel. Waboose called it a “flawed and deficient process, established without input from First Nations.” The problem with education in NAN communities boils down to two main issues, Waboose said. The first is the chronic underfunding of First Nations schools by the federal government, which has led to the infrastructure gaps between First Nations and other communities. The second is the fact that while First Nations call for self-governance on education,

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NAN Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose presented the First Nation’s call for increased self-governance on education. the federal government has a vested interest in keeping the status quo. NAN has been working on negotiations over self-governance of education since 1997. The new report questions the government’s commitment to that process.

“The majority of Canadians have never seen what passes as a school in our communities.” “One key to effective implementation of education selfgovernance is to remove Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC) as the responsible department for such negotiations,” the report states. “There is an inherent conflict of interest for INAC in such negotiations given the impact on reduction of federal staff and control currently exercised by INAC.” The solution to the problems does not stop at self-governance, however. Any self-governance model’s funding would largely come from the federal

government, and as Waboose noted, the current funding regime is inadequate to meet the needs of students in the communities. The deputy grand chief said that funding levels for First Nations schools should be, at the very least, equal to those in province-run schools. Current NAN estimates state that First Nations on-reserve students receive about $8,000 per year in funding, while provincialschool students received more than $13,000 in government funding per year. On top of that Waboose said the government fails to take into account the high cost of shipping materials into fly-in communities, and the effect that has on education. For example the NAN report compares the price of two cases of paper between Thunder Bay and Fort Severn. In Thunder Bay the total cost is $115.17. In Fort Severn, when you consider the cost of shipping, the cost is $351.17. “You can’t just apply the same formula you’d use in the south,” Waboose said. “Transporting textbooks, for example, half of the cost of the textbooks is the cost of shipping.”

Wawatay Radio Network is broadcast on 89.9 FM in Sioux Lookout and 106.7 FM in Timmins to 38 community-based affiliated radio stations. WRN is also distributed nationally on Bell TV Channel 962.

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FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

‘It’s so important that mainstream society learns about Native people.’ - Norma Kejick, Northern Nishnawbe Education Council executive director

Re-educating Canadians Bringing real-life First Nations issues into schools across the country Shawn Bell Wawatay News

Connie Walker, from the Okanese First Nation in Saskatchewan, was in high school before she encountered Aboriginal people in her school’s history classes. Yet even then the image of First Nations being taught to her and her classmates was a static picture from the 17 th and 18 th centuries, of Plains Cree people hunting buffalo and living in teepees. She could not recognize herself, her family or her community in those lessons. Since then Walker has gone on to a successful journalism career at CBC, featured on programs like The National and Street Cents. But it’s her latest project, producing the documentary 8th Fire about the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Canada today, that has her thinking of re-educating Canada on the reality of being a First Nation person. “I don’t remember anything about First Nations history until I was in Grade 10 native studies class,” Walker says. “Even then it was a very archaic view of what it meant to be First Nation.” Walker notes that things are changing on the education front, as shifting demographics mean more First Nations children are entering schools across Canada. She also points to increased efforts by schools and education departments across the country to include First Nation history and worldviews into textbooks and lesson plans. Yet she was still struck during her research for 8th Fire by how little the general Canadian public knows about Native people. “We’re just not taught,” she says. “And I think that has to be the first step.” Working for the children Norma Kejick of the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council (NNEC) knows just what Walker means. The education director says her organization has done its part in bringing Aboriginal culture, language and teachings into the three schools it is responsible for in northern Ontario. Yet the challenge remains in getting those kinds of teachings, plus additional resources, into all Ontario schools and at an earlier age, she says. “The history of First Nations people should be taught in elementary schools,” Kejick says. “I think it is so important that mainstream society learns about native people early in life. That would eliminate a lot of the racism and ignorance that people have towards native people.” In NNEC-run schools, students encounter a range of traditional teachings in the classroom. There are Ojibwe and Oji-Cree language courses, First Nation literacy lesson plans that encorporate native writers and artists, resident Elders in the schools and cultural workshops such as drumming, drum-making and other crafting lessons. Kejick said NNEC knows how

While times are changing, the majority of Canadian school children still have their first exposure to Native people through elementary school textbooks, like the images above, that show First Nations from centuries ago in a way very few Native people today can identify with. Some schools, however, are taking the lead on bringing Aboriginal teachings, worldviews and lessons into the classroom. At Dennis Franklin Cromarty high school in Thunder Bay and the two other Northern Nishnawbe Education Council (NNEC) schools, students are taught traditional skills like the preparation of deer hides, left. Traditional languages and cultures are also emphasized. Norma Kejick, the executive director of NNEC, says from what she has seen other school boards across Ontario have a long way to go towards bringing an accurate depiction of First Nations people into schools. Wawatay file photo

important it is for the students – many who have come from northern reserves to attend high school in larger urban environments – to keep up with the lessons and teachings they would have received from their parents and grandparents in their home community. Yet when she attends workshops and meetings with other school boards across the province, Kejick realizes how little of the things NNEC includes in school are found in other Ontario schools. “When I listen to what a lot of other school boards are doing, native issues are not even in the schools except for in Grade 11 or 12 native study courses,” she says. Provincial education ministries hear the message While programs like the one operated by the NNEC work in specific regions with high First Nation populations, broader initiatives covering all Canadian schoolchildren fall under provincial jurisdiction. And like all province-run programming, some jurisdictions do better than others when it comes to incorporating Aboriginal issues, history and worldviews in school curriculum. Many researchers over the past decade point to Saskatchewan as a leader in the field. The province was the first to actively look into misrepresentation of Aboriginal people in

school curriculums in the early 1980s, and the first to set up a First Nations and Metis education advisory committee in 1984. Since then Saskatchewan has released of a number of reports and action plans, and cites “major achievements” in identifying the unique needs of Metis and First Nation children and in getting teachers to embrace lesson plans and other curriculum that include Aboriginal perspectives.

across the province. In 2011 Ontario established a Minster’s advisory council on First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education, to help the province implement its Aboriginal education policy framework from 2007. Ontario has also been working over the past two years to revamp its school curriculum, making social studies, history and geography and native studies classes more inclusive of Aboriginal perspectives.

“I don’t remember anything about First Nations history until I was in grade 10 Native studies class.” - Connie Walker Manitoba also has taken strides towards implementing more Aboriginal history and cultural issues into schools. Last year the province became the first in Canada to test run a pilot lesson plan on Residential Schools. Four schools ran Residential School lesson plans as part of Grade 9 social studies and Grade 11 history during the fall 2011 term. An analysis of those programs is being done now, and if everything went well the province will expand the Residential School lessons into all schools to start the fall 2012 school year. Ontario is slightly behind its two western neighbours, although work has started

Yet in all three provinces high school native studies courses remain electives, and school boards retain the ability to choose whether they want to provide the classes to students. In Saskatchewan the provincial First Nation and Metis Education Provincial Advisory Committee, in a recent report, cited that lack of mandatory native study classes as a major problem. The urban Aboriginal In Canada’s biggest city, First Nations people are few and far between. Yet some native people do live there, coming either from nations that have lived

in southern Ontario for time immemorial, or from Indian bands far to the north, drawn to Toronto by the promise of the big city life. For both of those reasons – the scarcity of Aboriginal people in the city, and the few who do call Toronto home – Cindilee Ecker-Flagg’s work as manager of the Aboriginal Education Outreach Program (AEOP) has taken on increased importance. The program works to bring current First Nations issues and Aboriginal history into elementary and high school classes, providing students – many with little to no knowledge of First Nations people – with real-life experiences of native people, culture and teachings. In the past decade, EckerFlagg says the reception from students and teachers towards the program’s lessons has shifted dramatically. Ten years ago, she says, AEOP instructors were met with ignorance and indifference. Now students and staff have become receptive to the lessons her program teaches. “The students and even the staff were often not prepared for the information we were sharing,” she says of the program’s work a decade ago. “They were not aware of it, so they had a lot more struggles dealing with stereotypes and perspectives of who we are.” Ecker-Flagg attributes the positive change to the fact that more Aboriginal people are making their voices heard, and

also the increase in appropriate media representation of First Nations people and issues. She also credits the schools and school boards for bringing in programs like hers and working to provide modern textbooks and lesson plans that reflect more accurately the realities of First Nations people. “A lot of the materials and textbooks that have been in the schools previously have not been very supportive,” Ecker-Flagg said. “You’re seeing a shift with the schools that they’re bringing in that more current textbooks, current Aboriginal scholars and people who are from Aboriginal Nations that can speak to these things directly.” Connie Walker also now calls Toronto home. She says that people in the city often mistake her for Filippina or Spanish. But even with so few native people living in Toronto, all around her she sees the attitudes towards First Nations shifting in a positive way, however slowly – even in the CBC where a decade ago there were only a handful of Aboriginal employees, and now there are dozens. “The end goal is being better neighbours,” Walker says. “That means respecting each other. And in order for us (as First Nations) to be celebrated for our communities and our culture and our people, we need to have a lot of education and awareness about the different kinds of peoples and communities.”

Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Attawapiskat youth tells UN of inequalities in education

Submitted photo

Chelsea Edwards, 16, of Attawapiskat stands next to a quote found in the lobby at the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland. A spokesperson for Shannen’s Dream, Edwards told a UN committee about the inequalities facing First Nations youth in education on Feb. 6.

Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

Sixteen-year-old Chelsea Edwards of Attawapiskat First Nation updated her Facebook from halfway around the world on Feb. 6. “History is made,” she wrote from Geneva, Switzerland. “Watch out Harper and Duncan, you’re both out of excuses now that they’ve heard our voices.” Edwards was among six First Nations youth ambassadors who traveled overseas to speak to the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child about the inequalities fac-

ing Aboriginal youth in Canada. A spokesperson for Shannen’s Dream – a campaign pushing for “safe and comfy” schools for all First Nations across Canada – Edwards told the UN committee about the inequalities in education facing her people. She told the committee about the diesel contamination of the J.R. Nakogee Elementary School in her community and its closure 12 years ago; her experience in attending classes in portables that were cold, infested with mice and had toxic smells; the Canadian government’s repeated and broken

promises of a new school; and that 47 First Nations are in need of educational facilities, not including renovations. She also told them about 15-year-old Shannen Koostachin, Edwards’ friend who initiated the biggest letterwriting campaign in Canada to urge the federal government to build Attawapiskat a new school, and about her untimely death in 2010 and the campaign named in her honour. The meetings were closed and private, and each youth ambassador was given two minutes to talk about their issue related to child welfare, health care or education, followed by a lengthy question and answer period. Edwards could sense the shock in the committee members following her presentation. “I swear we’ve made one of the members of the committee tear up,” Edwards wrote on her Facebook following the meeting. Edwards said she wasn’t nervous prior to the meeting, despite the international stage. “Because they’re just regular people, just like us,” she said. With their voices heard, Edwards hopes the UN will urge the Canadian government to fulfill its responsibilities to the First Nations people in education by building schools. “So that First Nation youth can be in an environment they’ve grown up in, “ Edwards said, “instead of going away from their families, their traditions and culture.” This is what Edwards has

experienced after doing her first year of high school in Attawapiskat with its substandard curriculum and facilities. She moved to Cochrane then to Timmins to attend high school while her family stayed behind. In a display of dedication to her education, when a tired and jetlagged Edwards returned to Timmins on the morning of Feb. 9, she attended her afternoon classes and hit the books that evening. Edwards appreciates the opportunity to speak to the UN about her people’s issues. “I felt very fortunate that my own voice gets to be heard this way, but I know that I was representing a lot of First Nations youth in Canada so I’m pretty proud of all of us (ambassadors) for taking advantage of this opportunity.” Edwards received praise from First Nations leaders for

her display of leadership. “Chelsea is the voice and spirit of our youth who has been fortunate enough to share her story with the United Nations and how all our First Nations youth been affected by basic human rights inequalities,” Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy said in a press release. “More of our youth need to be heard on the international stage. Our youth are facing daily challenges in the remote north, but opportunities like this allow them to share their hopes and dreams for a brighter future with the world.” Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence also praised Edwards. “Chelsea is the ideal youth to take the torch for the Shannen’s Dream as she is a role model herself and left her home community to pursue her educational dreams,” she said. “I am very proud of her.”

Edwards is taking the expectations of being a role model and leader in stride. “It gets kind of pressuring at times,” she said, “but I just do the best that I can and do what pleases me and be proud as an individual. “At one point, someone had to tell me that I had to remember to be me: be Chelsea. And to accept mistakes and if people are watching, let them watch. That’s how they learn.” The five other youth ambassadors are: Kendall White, 17, of Temagami First Nation in Ontario; John-Paul Chalykoff, 24, of Michipicoten First Nation in Ontario; Madelynn Slade, 22, of the Michel Cree in Alberta; Helen Knott, 24, of Prophet River First Nations in British Columbia; and Collin Starblanket, 15, of Star Blanket First Nation in Saskatchewan.

Getting youth ready for Ring of Fire Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Aboriginal youth now have another way to get involved in the mining industry — OshkiPimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute’s L2M: Learning 2 Mine project. “We are trying to get NAN youth ready for the Ring of Fire,” said Gordon Kakegamic, OshkiPimache-O-Win’s e-learning coordinator. “There are so many different development activities happening out there, the Musselwhite Mine, the Victor Mine, the Northgate Minerals Mine, and so many opportunities for Aboriginal youth.” Kakegamic has heard plenty of interest from community members about careers in the mining industry. “Some of them just want to jump into the technical stream,” Kakegamic said. “They want to learn how to use equipment, and I tell them you have to start with the fundamental knowledge and skills.” Kakegamic said the L2M youth web portal, which will likely be launched in late 2012, provides features for youth engagement, mining literacy, career guidance and recruitment to get Aboriginal youth into technical mining training programs across Ontario. The L2M also includes an Essential Skills Online program that provides students with the fundamental knowledge and skills to apply for employment and training programs in the mining industry. “Aboriginal people are Canada’s youngest population and a very fast growing population,” said Kellie Leitch, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, during a Feb. 4 announcement at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win in Thunder Bay. “It is therefore in all of our interests to see Aboriginal people educated, skilled and employed.” Leitch said $700,000 was being provided for the L2M project from the federal govern-

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Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute Rosie Mosquito speaks with Kellie Leitch, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and Maxim Jean-Louis, president and CEO of Contact North, during the Feb. 4 announcement of $700,000 for Oshki’s L2M: Learning 2 Mine project. ment’s Skills and Partnership Fund, which was launched in July 2010 with a federal investment of $210 million over five years to encourage partnerships between Aboriginal organizations and the government, business and community organizations creating opportunities for Aboriginal people. “By working with partners such as (Oshki-Pimache-OWin), we are ensuring that Aboriginal Canadians can take full advantage of economic opportunities, whether it be in local areas here or elsewhere in Canada,” Leitch said. Oshki-Pimache-O-Win’s L2M project will provide about 100 Aboriginal youth with the mining literacy and essential skills development, training and work experience needed to work in the mining industry. “We will be able to provide knowledge and skills for our young people who so desperately need it,” said Rosie Mosquito, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win’s executive director. “We have the highest suicide rate in the territory because of hopelessness because there are no opportunities, there are no jobs and we have an extraordinarily high rate of prescription drug abuse and other concerns that impact on our young people and our communities at large.”

Oshki-Pimache-O-Win was established by the NAN chiefs in 1996 to provide increased access to and success in accredited post-secondary education for their community members as well as other learners. Grand Chief Stan Beardy said the L2M project will provide an opportunity for Nishnawbe Aski Nation youth to get mining industry jobs in their homeland, noting that many youth cannot currently access training to get into the mining industry. “There is tremendous potential for wealth creation within our territory — we have diamonds, gold, platinum, chromite, everything the world wants, Canada wants and Ontario wants,” Beardy said. “In many cases we have major resource development activities adjacent to our reserves, our communities and yet my people, especially my young people, cannot participate. Why is that? It’s because they don’t have the skills necessary to do the job.” In addition to providing training, Beardy said the L2M project will provide them with confidence in their future. “It will be a boost in their confidence to know that what they learn here is relevant and in demand today,” Beardy said. “It’s a big step forward for our people on the ground and it’s a start.”

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A group of eight Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities are working together to pursue affordable electricity for community members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a huge step forward we are taking as a collective to resolve the systemic problem of underfunding and fuel shortages that plague our communities every year,â&#x20AC;? said Wawakapewin Chief Joshua Frogg during a Feb. 8 press conference at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are thankful for the opportunity to show our First Nations are committed to working together to resolve these issues.â&#x20AC;? Frogg signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) along with representatives from Eabametoong, Muskrat Dam, Nibinamik, North Spirit Lake, Poplar Hill, Weenusk and Wunnumin Lake to work cooperatively to pursue long and shortterm goals to provide affordable electricity in their communities. The eight communities are currently served by independent power authorities. The MOU calls for a meeting with the federal government to resolve emergency diesel shortfall issues, explore alternative renewable energy options and negotiate bulk fuel purchasing agreements and other agreements to provide affordable electricity to the communities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a real challenge for our communities to live under these conditions,â&#x20AC;? Frogg said, noting his community does not have an airport and does not receive subsidies for their diesel-powered electricity generation plant as other First Nation

emergencies at times.â&#x20AC;? Amos Martin, band administrator in Wunnumin Lake, said his community does not know if they will be able to use their winter road this year to transport diesel fuel for the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electricity generation plant or other uses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even this morning I was talking to my wife and she told me the power was out,â&#x20AC;? Martin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That means the school is not open, (nor) the nursing station.â&#x20AC;? Martin said any repairs to the electricity generation plant require outside help as there are no qualified people in the community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Neighbouring communities Kingfisher and Kasabonika are provided with electrical services by Hydro One Communities,â&#x20AC;? Martin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The existing (electricity) rate structure in Wunnumin has been in place for about 10 years. Since that time, the price of fuel, which drives the cost of providing electricity to the community, has increased by 225 per cent, from $0.40 a litre to $1.30 per litre in 2011. And this does not include transportation costs.â&#x20AC;? Martin said the community is currently looking into alternative ways to bring fuel into the community, noting the power authority uses about 900,000 litres of fuel per year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sixty per cent of the electricity is consumed by residential customers, who provide 26 per cent of revenue,â&#x20AC;? Martin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Institutional customers provide 41 per cent of revenue while consuming 16 per cent of the power.â&#x20AC;? Martin said most community members are on low incomes and most jobs in the community are seasonal.

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Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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Photo courtesy of Five Nations Energy

Photo by Rick Garrick

Frank McKay, CEO of Windigo First Nations Tribal Council, speaks to the NAN energy conference in Thunder Bay.

The Five Nations Energy power line, seen above, was built 15 years ago to connect Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat to the Ontario power grid. Nishnawbe Aski Nation is now calling for a similar First Nations-owned and operated line to connect all communities in Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s north.

Hydro grid needed across northern Ontario Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is calling for all 49 communities to be connected to the Ontario power grid by 2018. The NAN chiefs are looking for a northern electricity transmission system to be owned and operated by NAN regional utilities, with the planning, construction and eventual ownership of the system to be in the hands of First Nations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have serious issues regarding sustainable and affordable electrical energy in our communities,â&#x20AC;? said Grand Chief Stan Beardy.

Did you know? Wawatay News Online is updated throughout the day as the news happens.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;While we are making strides in planning for the future of generation and transmission, we must deal on a daily basis with our current needs and challenges. 2018 is a reasonable timeline to complete the power grid expansion and connect all NAN communities to the transmission system.â&#x20AC;? Beardy said the transmission project will stimulate economic growth, provide for business opportunities and enable the development of renewable power generation within the communities. Five Nations Energy Inc., a nonprofit corporation owned equally by Attawapis-

kat Power Corp., Fort Albany Power Corp. and Kashechewan Power Corporation, was developed about 15 years ago to build a 270-kilometre transmission line to serve the three James Bay communities. Prior to construction of the transmission line, electricity was supplied by diesel generation plants, which had numerous limitations and eventually led to constrained growth in the communities by 1997. Since the transmission line began operating, the three communities have experienced increased reliability, reduced environmental

impacts and increased economic development, such as new residential subdivisions, new schools and recreational facilities. The chiefs called for the northern Ontario electricity transmission line during the NAN Chiefs Energy Conference, held Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay, as warmer winter weather conditions are making it more difficult to transport diesel fuel into the communities to power electricity generation plants. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The temperature, when it normally should be about -30 or -40 (Celcius), is -5 and has been for a number

of days now,â&#x20AC;? said former Muskrat Dam chief Frank Beardy, quoting a chief who had called during the lunch hour on the second day of the conference. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ice is not getting any thicker. As a matter of fact, he was saying they went ice fishing last weekend and from what they were able to gather, the ice was thinner one inch than it was about two weeks ago. So rather than getting thicker, the ice was getting thinner.â&#x20AC;? NAN communities with diesel-powered generation plants are currently transporting about eight million litres of diesel fuel each year,

Mamow Obiki-Ahwahsoowin â&#x20AC;&#x153;Help care for our children, Help care for our future.â&#x20AC;? RR' ,=( )k )& â&#x20AC;&#x153; )F( q[; AA[ )WR}A) =9 )qqN[W#, )F( q[; FA[ )9R# =WAWN[&â&#x20AC;?

Tikinagan Child & Family Services has a great need for foster homes. We are looking for dedicated people who are able to provide a home and meet the needs of a child in care. There are a number of different types of Foster Homes, which can be specific to meet a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs.

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Specialized Foster Homes: For children that would require more care and attention.

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Regular Foster Homes: Short or Long term placements for children. Emergency Foster Homes: For children on an emergency basis.

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Tikinagan Child & Family Services is committed to keeping our Children within our Communities, but we need your help in order to make this happen.

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Please contact us today if you are interested or need more information regarding how you can be a part of helping a child.

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Stay informed. www.wawataynew.ca

at an annual estimated cost of about $9 million, to provide electricity for water and sewage treatment plants, schools, homes, businesses and other buildings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know the problems at the community level, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if the public or the industry knows or cares,â&#x20AC;? said Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The winter road activities are getting shorter and shorter, so that is going be more difficult in a couple of years.â&#x20AC;? If the communities are unable to transport diesel fuel in over the winter roads, they will have to fly it in at a significantly higher cost.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a shared responsibility of a community to raise a childâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;A=[ =A[ )0N?& =9q< )W[W# FA[ )WR}# )q$ â&#x20AC;? Tikinagan Child and Family Services 5=[A& )q$ N[ 5+&F< )W# )F( ) )[& Residential Services P.O. Box 627 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B1

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Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

The group of Canadian Rangers included members from six communities: Sachigo Lake, Muskrat Dam, Kasabonika Lake, Sandy Lake, Wapekeka and Lac Seul.

Photos by Angus Miles/Wawatay News

Three-day journey brings Rangers to Sachigo Angus Miles Wawatay News

Canadian Rangers from across northwestern Ontario converged on Little Sachigo Lake in January, in some cases travelling for three days just to get there. The joint exercise featured Rangers from six different patrols, including the host community Sachigo Lake. Travel began on Jan. 14 with patrols arriving in Little Sachigo on Jan. 17. Lac Seul’s route had them spending a night in Red Lake, before getting held up the following night in North Spirit Lake due to a snowstorm. They then joined the Sandy Lake Rangers the next day as they passed through the community before heading on to Muskrat Dam. From the other direction came Rangers from Kasabonika Lake, who spent a night in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug where they joined up with Wapekeka Rangers. The group moved on to Bearskin Lake for a night and the next day joined

Ricky Brisket from Lac Seul helps pack up the camp as the Rangers prepare to head back to their home communities.

the other patrols in Muskrat Dam. The two groups had one more delay in Muskrat Dam, holding them there for another night. On Jan. 17 the patrols from Lac Seul, Sandy lake, Muskrat Dam, Wapekeka and Kasabonika arrived in Sachigo Lake, joined up with the Sachigo patrol and continued north to Little Sachigo where a campsite had been prepped for the exercise. The two nights that were spent in Little Sachigo were cold with temperatures dipping down to -40 Celcius during the night. On Jan. 18 Brigadier General Fred Lewis, Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Morley Armstrong, Chief Warrant Officer Larry King and Area Chief Warrant Officer Stan Stapleford spent a night with the Rangers. On Jan. 19 all patrols pulled out of Little Sachigo to spend the night in Sachigo Lake before starting their journey back to the their respective communities. A gathering and feast was held in the Sachigo Lake gymnasium to send the Rangers on their way home.

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The Rangers got in some fishing on Little Sachigo Lake.

Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Traditional dancers teach and inspire Linda Henry Wawatay News

All the invited dancers: grass, men’s traditional, shawl, jingle and women traditional were dressed and ready. Those in charge – an emcee, an arena director, several youth workers, teachers and some on-lookers – were getting prepared as well. Three contemporary drums sat in the centre, much like times of old. They came in single file. The children of Our Lady of Charity Roman Catholic School were the honoured guests of the humble gathering. Children in the school were given an afternoon to enjoy the culture and some traditional practices of the First Nations people. The children had also benefited earlier from a nutritional lunch put on by the Biwaase’aa Program, a program “dedicated to the delivery of culturally appropriate in-school, after school and nutritionally program for our children, since 2004.” Emcee Kelvin Redsky announced to those present

what transpires at the beginning of every powwow. The host drum began a grand entry song, followed by the flag song, and then finally the Veteran’s song. An Elder said a prayer for everyone. When the initial dancing was completed, Redsky continued by welcoming the students and everyone else. An array of different dance styles were going to be showcased and the children were asked to join in during the intertribal dancing. It so happened that various, different kinds of dancers were showcased, including those of the shawl - a dance where young females mimic a butterfly in flight. The young women high-step, swirl and move to a fast beat of a drum. It is often said, they dance like their feet never touch the ground. Another’s women’s dance is the jingle. This type of dance is said to be done for healing. Finally, there were the traditional dancers, who are said to be the matrons of all dance. Most are dressed in buckskin and move slow, their feet never

leaving the ground. In the men’s category were the grass and traditional dancers. The grass dancer is said to mimic a blade of grass blowing in the wind. Last but not least in this afternoon’s showcase were the “warriors” of the nation. They wear a bustle made of eagle feathers on their backs. They too mimic something – they are either on a hunt or in battle with the enemy. In-between showcase dances were the inter-tribals. This was when the children were asked to join in. The arena was often full during these times. There were huge smiles on the faces of the children and much laughter. The afternoon came to an end too quickly, but hopefully the program will be able to host another gathering as its funding is coming to an end.

photo by Linda Henry

Paul Francis, left, and Nathaniel Moses speak to students at Our Lady of Charity school in Thunder Bay prior to a powwow in the school’s gymnasium.

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Dances included dancers of the shawl - who mimic a butterfly in flight. Another woman’s dance is the jingle dance, done for healing.

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Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

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Tikinagan Child & Family Services

Photos by Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News

TOP: Thomas Fiddler of Sandy Lake (right) gives instruction to Kashechewan’s Bethanie Wesley while (from left) Lyonel Soffa of Webequie, Chrisshaun Kakegumick of Sandy Lake, Cameron Mamakwa of Kasabonika Lake, and Lawrence Morris of Big Trout Lake work on their hand drums. BOTTOM: Thomas Fiddler shows fellow Sandy Lake member Chrisshaun Kakegumick how to thread the hide in making a hand drum. Many youth took part in a drummaking workshop during the Oshkaatisak Niigaan Oji Gathering on Feb. 9.

Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin Everyone working together to raise our children

Tikinagan board recruits youth representatives

ikinagan Child and Family Services is looking for youths to help guide our agency in its support of children, families and communities. Two youths, one male and one female, are needed to serve as youth representatives to Tikinagan’s Board. “Tikinagan strives to provide services in a manner that best serves all families,”

“The perspectives of youth and young parents are needed.”

Harvey Kakegamic, Tikinagan board chairperson, said in announcing the youth roles. “The perspectives of youth and young parents are needed. The appointment of Tikinagan youth representatives will provide direct participation by youth with the board of directors.” During a two-year term, youth representatives will provide input on Tikinagan policies and procedures, participate in meetings and committee work, and attend the agency’s annual chiefs assembly. The chiefs of this region passed a resolution allowing Tikinagan’s Board to appoint two youth representatives. A youth representative must be 18 to 25 years old,

a member and resident of a First Nation served by Tikinagan, and able to travel to meetings without an escort. Travel costs will be covered and honorariums paid for participation in Tikinagan meetings or events. Youth interested in serving as a Tikinagan youth representative are asked to submit the following by 4:30 p.m., Monday, April 30: • a resume; • a 250-500 words essay expressing their interest in serving as a youth representative to Tikinagan’s board of directors; • a letter of recommendation from their chief and council.

If you are a young adult interested in contributing to services for children and families please consider this important opportunity. Application packages can be sent by e-mail, fax or mail to: Selection Committee Tikinagan Child & Family Services Box 627 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B1 Fax: 807-737-543 Email: info@tikinagan.org

www.tikinagan.org Photos from the 2011 Tikinagan Stronger Youth for a Stronger Tomorrow Conference.

Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Youth learn of living treaties during gathering ‘Awesome’ conference teaches rights and empowerment Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Keewaywin’s Julian Mamakeesic was impressed with this years’ Oshkaatisak Niigaan Oji Gathering for Nishnawbe Aski Nation youth. “It was awesome,” Mamakeesic said. “I found out about my rights, education and getting community tools going.” Mamakeesic said the keynote presentation by Doris Slipperjack, the subject of a short documentary on prescription drug addictions, was the most interesting event during the gathering, which was held Feb. 7-9 at the Best Western Nor’Wester Hotel and Conference Centre outside of Thunder Bay. “I found that was pretty inspiring, how she is a recovering addict,” Mamakeesic said. “So many people can relate to that.” Mamakeesic also found the youth engagement workshop by Laura Calmwind to be very informative. “She told her story about different rights,” Mamakeesic said. “She also taught us about the treaty — there was a written treaty and a spirit and intent kind of treaty that our ancestors had. It was pretty cool to learn that we never really surrendered our land, we kind of shared it.” The gathering started off with a morning of icebreaker sessions led by Stan Wesley, who originally created and played the Bunnuck character on Wawatay TV back in the 1990s. “When things weren’t good enough (many years ago) they were called nuck,” Wesley said. “When I was a kid they started calling things that weren’t good enough bunnuck. It was a big time rundown.” Wesley said his biggest Bunnuck fan was in attendance at the gathering, pointing out Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “He pronounces (my name) as bannock,” Wesley said. “He says bannock.” Beardy said he had always called Bunnuck bannock because he thought he had named himself after the popular food. “Many changes have happened to us as First Nations people,” Beardy said. “For the last 10,000 years there have been two principles that have guided our people. One is our special relationship with the Creator, and that is why this morning at the start of this session our Elder offered a prayer of acknowledgement to the Creator.” Beardy said the second principle is the special relationship First Nations people have with the land, which has sustained them in the past, continues to sustain them today and will sustain them in the future. “So it becomes very important as young people ... you are the future,” Beardy said. “It becomes very important for you to understand who you are, where you came from and your past.” Beardy said it is important for First Nations youth to make every effort to understand who they are and what they are. “Without a past, it’s very difficult if not impossible to go forward and be successful,” Beardy said. In addition to Slipperjack’s keynote presentation, the gath-

“It becomes very important for you to understand who you are.” -NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy

ering also featured a sweat lodge, a movie night and a performance by two-time Juno Award winner Derek Miller. “NAN recognizes that our youth are the future of our generation,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit. “More than ever, NAN youth are engaging in community initiatives, becoming better

educated, and branching out into rewarding First Nation job opportunities. But there are also many challenges facing our youth. We hope this gathering further nurtures First Nation cultural opportunities for our youth, while also developing strategies to help our youth overcome the more difficult issues facing them.” Presentations on healthy needs, gang prevention, youth in First Nations governance, youth empowerment and economic development and a career fair on health and opportunities related to the Ring of Fire also took place during the gathering.

photo by Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

Oshkaatisak (Young People’s) Council member Doris Slipperjack, bottom centre, delivered a keynote presentation on prescription drug addictions during the Oshkaatisak Niigaan Oji Gathering, held Feb. 7-9 in Thunder Bay.

NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT OF DRAFT TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR PROVINCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (Cliffs) recently initiated a provincial and federal Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Cliffs Chromite Project. The provincial EA will assess the following three components of the Project: 1) The Mine Site located near McFaulds Lake; 2) An Ore Processing Facility, co-located at the Mine Site; and 3) An Integrated Transportation System (ITS) to transport product/supplies and workers to and from the Mine Site. The forth component of the Project, a Ferrochrome Production Facility (FPF), will be assessed as part of the federal EA, and is not subject to the provincial EA process. As part of the planning process for the provincial EA and as required by the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, a draft Terms of Reference has been prepared by Cliffs. If approved, the Terms of Reference will serve as a framework for the preparation and review of the provincial EA. Community members, government agencies and other interested persons are encouraged to actively participate in the provincial EA planning process by reviewing the draft Terms of Reference and submitting comments and questions to the following Cliffs personnel: Arthur Moore, District Manager - Aboriginal Relations 1159 Alloy Drive, Ste. 200, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6M8 Phone: 807-768-3012, Fax: 807-346-0778 Arthur.Moore@CliffsNR.com

Providing your comments on the draft Terms of Reference helps Cliffs to identify issues early in the planning process, and allows gaps to be corrected before the final Terms of Reference is submitted to the regulators for formal review. Any comments on the draft Terms of Reference must be submitted to Cliffs by March 17, 2012. Upcoming Open Houses Over the next couple of months, Cliffs is organizing Open Houses in many communities to present and hear your feedback on the draft Terms of Reference. When dates are finalized, Open Houses will be advertised in local newspapers and/or on local radio stations, and through our Project website. Notice of the Open Houses will also be posted in Band Offices where newspaper advertisements may not be possible.

Documents Available for Review Copies of the draft Terms of Reference are available for review and comment electronically on the Project website at www.cliffsnaturalresources.com. Paper copies are available for review at the following locations during regular business hours: Ministry of the Environment Approvals Branch Floor 12A 2 St. Clair Ave West Toronto, M4V 1L5 Ministry of the Environment Thunder Bay District Office Suite 331, 435 James St South, Thunder Bay P7E 6S7 Ministry of the Environment Sudbury District Office 199 Larch Street - Suite 1201 Sudbury P3E 5P9

Valley East Public Library 4100 Elmview Drive, Hanmer P3P 1J7 Capreol Citizen Service Centre & Library 1-9 Morin Street, Capreol P0M 1H0 Brodie Resource Library 216 South Brodie Street, Thunder Bay P7E 1C2

Ministry of the Environment Timmins District Office Ontario Govt. Complex Hwy 101 East South Porcupine, P0N 1H0

Waverley Resource Library 285 Red River Road, Thunder Bay P7B 1A9

Greenstone Municipal Office 1800 Main Street Geraldton, P0T 1M0

Elsie Dugard Centennial Library 405 Second St West, Geraldton P0T 1M0

Thunder Bay Municipal Office 500 Donald Street East, 3rd floor Thunder Bay P7C 5K4

Greenstone Public Library Longlac Branch 110 Kenogami, Longlac P0T 2A0

City of Greater Sudbury Municipal Office 200 Brady St. Sudbury, P3A 5P3

Beardmore Ward Office 78 Pearl Street Beardmore P0T 1G0

Timmins City Hall 220 Algonquin Blvd. East Timmins, P4N 1B3

Nakina Ward Office 200 Centre Avenue Nakina P0T 2H0

Timmins Public Library 320 Second Avenue Timmins, P4N 8A4

Main Public Library Mackenzie Branch 74 MacKenzie Street,

A copy of the draft Terms of Reference has been mailed to the communities listed below. If you would like a copy of the draft Terms of Reference please contact Arthur Moore (please see adjacent contact information).

Aroland First Nation - Marten Falls First Nation Wahnapitae First Nation - Webequie First Nation Attawapiskat First Nation - Eabametoong First Nation Fort Albany First Nation - Ginoogaming First Nation Long Lake First Nation #58 - Neskantanga First Nation Whitefish River First Nation - Constance Lake First Nation - Kashechewan First Nation -Nibinamik First Nation - Red Sky Métis Independent Nation – Temagami First Nation - Anishnawbek (Whitefish Lake) First Nation - Matawa Tribal Council - Mushkegowuk Council - Métis Nation of Ontario

Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, unless otherwise stated in the submission, any personal information such as name, address, telephone number and property location included in a submission will become part of the public record files for this matter and will be released, if requested, to any person.

Wawatay News

Weagamow photographer James Benson has been finding inner peace and healing while taking photos for community members across Nishnawbe Aski Nation and beyond. photo by Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

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A former participant at Nishnawbe Aski Nation youth gatherings is now leading the way for other youth with Rez Nation Photography. “Photography has been our means of finding inner healing, inner peace for ourselves,” said Weagamow’s James Benson during the Oshkaatisak Niigaan Oji Gathering, held Feb. 7-9 in Thunder Bay. “We do a lot of (photography) for our own healing.” Benson initially started up Rez Nation Photography with Webequie’s Kerina Wabasse about two years ago while working with K-Net. They have since added myknet and Face-

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Vehicle(s) may be shown with optional equipment. Dealer may sell or lease for less. Limited time offers. Offers may be cancelled at any time without notice. See your Ford Dealer for complete details or call the Ford Customer Relationship Centre at 1-800-565-3673. †††©2012 Sirius Canada Inc. “SIRIUS”, the SIRIUS dog logo, channel names and logos are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. and are used under license. *Purchase a new 2012 [F-150 STX Regular Cab 4x2/ F-150 STX Super Cab 4x2/F-150 Super Cab XL 4x4] for [$21,999/ $23,730/$28,999] after Total Manufacturer Rebate of [$6,500/$7,500/$7,500] deducted. Vehicle shown is a 2012 F-150 Super Cab XLT 4X4 With MSRP of $37,399. Taxes payable on full amount of purchase price after Manufacturer Rebate has been deducted. Offers include freight, air tax, PPSA and Stewardship Ontario Environmental Fee but exclude administration and registration fees of up to $799, fuel fill charge of up to $120 and all applicable taxes. All prices are based on Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. Delivery Allowances can be used in conjunction with most retail consumer offers made available by Ford of Canada at either the time of factory order or delivery, but not both. Delivery Allowances are not combinable with any fleet consumer incentives. **Lease a new 2012 [F-150 STX Super Cab 4x2] and get [6.99%] APR for 48 months on approved credit (OAC) from Ford Credit. Not all buyers will qualify for the lowest APR payment. Example: $23,730 (Cash Purchase Price) with $0 down payment or equivalent trade-in, monthly payment is $399, total lease obligation is $19,152 optional buyout is $9,221.71 cost of leasing is $4,643 or 6.99% APR. Taxes payable on full amount of lease financing price after any manufacturer rebate is deducted. Additional payments required for security deposit, NSF fees (where applicable), excess wear and tear, and late fees. Some conditions and mileage restrictions of 80,000km over 48 months apply. A charge of 16 cents per km over mileage restrictions applies. Offer includes freight, air tax, PPSA, Stewardship Ontario Environmental Fee but excludes administration and registration fees of up to $799, fuel fill charge of up to $120 and all applicable taxes. ††From Feb. 1, 2012 to Apr. 2, 2012, receive $500/$750/ $1,000/ $1,750/ $2,000/$2,500/ $3,000/ $3,500/ $4,000/ $4,500/$5,000/ $5,500/ $6,500/ $7,500 in Manufacturer Rebates with the purchase or lease of a new 2012 Flex SE, E-Series/Explorer (excluding Base)/ Fusion S, Taurus SE, Escape I4 Manual, Transit Connect (excluding Electric)/ Mustang Value Leader/ F-350 to F-550 Chassis Cabs/Edge (excluding SE)/Flex (excluding SE)/ Mustang V6 (excluding Value Leader)/ Fusion (excluding S), Taurus (excluding SE), Expedition/ Mustang GT/ Escape and Hybrid (excluding I4 Manual)/Escape V6, F-250 to F-450 gas engine (excluding Chassis Cabs)/ F-150 Regular Cab (excluding XL 4x2)/F-150 Super Cab and Super Crew, F-250 to F-450 diesel engine (excluding Chassis Cabs) - all Raptor, GT500, BOSS302, and Medium Truck models excluded. This offer can be used in conjunction with most retail consumer offers made available by Ford of Canada at either the time of factory order or delivery, but not both. Manufacturer Rebates are not combinable with any fleet consumer incentives. ‡Offer valid from February 1, 2012 to April 15, 2012 (the “Program Period”). Receive CAD$1,000 towards select Ford Custom truck accessories, excluding factory-installed accessories/options (“Accessories”), with the purchase or lease of a new 2011/2012 Ford F-150 (excluding Raptor), Ranger or Super Duty delivered or factory ordered during the Program Period (the “Offer”). Offer is subject to vehicle and Accessory availability. Offer is not redeemable for cash and can only be applied towards eligible Accessories. Any unused portions of the Offer are forfeited. Total Accessories may exceed CAD$1,000. Only one (1) Offer may be applied toward the purchase or lease of an eligible vehicle. This Offer can be used in conjunction with most retail consumer offers made available by Ford of Canada at the time of factory order or delivery, but not both. This Offer is not combinable with CPA, GPC, Daily Rental Allowances, the Commercial Upfit Program, or the Commercial Fleet Incentive Program (CFIP). Limited time offer. Offer may be cancelled at any time without notice. Some conditions apply. Offer available to residents of Canada only. See Dealer for details. ^Êstimated fuel consumption ratings for the [2012] [F-150 4X2 3.7L –V6 6 speed SST/F-150 4x4 3.7L V6- 6 speed SST]. Fuel consumption ratings based on Transport Canada-approved test methods. Actual fuel consumption will vary based on road conditions, vehicle loading and driving habits. ***F-150: Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs. GVWR, non-hybrid. Estimated fuel consumption ratings for the 2012 F-150 4X2 3.7L V6 SST: 12.7L/100km city and 8.9L/100km hwy based on Transport Canada approved test methods. Actual fuel consumption will vary based on road conditions, vehicle loading and driving habits. Super Duty: Based on Ford drive-cycle tests of comparably equipped 2011 Ford and 2010/2011 competitive models. Class is Full-Size Pickups over 8,500 lbs. GVWR. ‡‡F-150: When properly equipped. Max. towing of 11,300 lbs with 3.5L EcoBoost and 6.2L 2 valve 4X2 V8 engines. Max. payload of 3,120 lbs with 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engines. Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs GVWR, non-hybrid. Super Duty: Max. conventional towing capability of 17,500 lbs. on F-350 and max. 5th Wheel towing capability of 24,500 lbs. On F-450 when properly equipped. Max. payload capability of 7,110 lbs. on F-350 when properly equipped. Class is Full-Size Pickups over 8,500 lbs. GVWR vs. 2011/2012 competitors. ±F-Series is the best-selling pickup truck in Canada for 46 years in a row based on Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association statistical sales report, December 2011. ©2012 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.

20 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Youth following path in photography pictures — it doesn’t matter if it’s just a little smile, I just take it.”

“It puts your mind at ease. It’s just you and your camera.” - Kerina Wabasse

Sometimes people will even ask Wabasse to e-mail them their photos so they can share them with their family and friends who live far away. Wabasse recalled a trip to Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug this past June where she photographed a wedding. “I asked them what they wanted so I could move around

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and see what kind of pictures I could take from over the crowd or from the crowd,” Wabasse said. Wabasse has also been taking photographs of a number of walkathons over the past couple of years. “It was quite interesting — I got to walk with the people from my community and other communities that travelled from other places to fundraise and show that they cared about our community and what we were going through the last couple of years,” Wabasse said. “I was just trying to get how tough they can be while walking through the cold or the smiles they just throw at you when they see you.” Wabasse enjoyed being out on the land with her camera. “It puts your mind at ease,” Wabasse said. “It’s just you and your camera.” Benson has been learning photography techniques from Adrienne Fox and Nadya Kwandibens, who have been taking photographs for many years. “I’m learning their techniques,” Benson said. “We’re following in that direction.” Benson has even travelled as far as Edmonton for a photography assignment. “Photo sessions usually take about an hour to an hour and a half,” Benson said. “We take our time trying to get good shots.” The group usually asks their clients to pay their way to the community along with accommodations and meals for the assignment. “I usually meet with the bride and groom first to see what exactly they want,” Benson said. “From there we work things out on how we are going to do the pictures. They pretty much tell me to follow what I feel in my heart.” Benson usually shoots photography with his iPhone blasting music. “The fast beat, the dance beat, kind of gives that sense, that flow,” Benson said. “It allows that person we are photographing to just do whatever they want. It creates a good picture.”

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Receptionist GENERAL Wahsa Distance Education Centre provides accredited secondary courses to First Nation communities by radio and correspondence. The Receptionist provides accurate and timely support services, duties include, but are not limited to, guest reception at Wahsa, supplying materials, inventory, ordering supplies and assisting with Washa Express. The Receptionist will be a self-motivated individual with excellent communication, data -processing, interpersonal and organizational skills who performs his or her duties accurately and efficiently with minimal supervision. The Receptionist must have the ability to multi-task and to work unassisted as well as in collaboration with others. The Receptionist will be sensitive to First Nations culture and traditions. QUALIFICATIONS • Grade 12 • Clerical and reception and/or secretarial experience • Excellent communication skills, fluency in written and oral English • Fluency in Oji-Cree, Cree or Ojibwe required • Computer literacy, proven experience with Word Perfect and/or Word and general computer applications • A cooperative attitude when working with First Nations, students, public and staff LOCATION: Sioux Lookout, Ontario HOURS: 36.25 hours per week (8:25 am to 4:40 pm. Monday through Friday SALARY: Grid B; level commensurate with education and experience CLOSING: Friday, February 17, 2012 by 4:00 p.m. NNEC requires a vulnerable person check to be completed for all staff at time of hiring Only those persons selected for an interview will be contacted Submit your resume, covering letter and written permission for NNEC to contact two employment references to: Acting Personnel Officer at NNEC Box 1419, Sioux Lookout, Ontario, P8T 1B9 Fax: 807 582-3865 humanresources@nnec.on.ca

KEEWAYTINOOK OKIMAKANAK (Northern Chiefs Tribal Council)

JOB POSTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EDUCATION ADVISOR Under approved policies and procedures and reporting to the KO Director of Operations, the Education Advisor will perform duties related to Local Education Advisory Services for the KO First Nations. Duties and Responsibilities include, but not limited to: • To provide advisory and assistance to the Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nations • Participate in reviews of services with the Education Authority at the local level in order that the Education Authority is able to evaluate and develop plans for the future • Evaluation of school staff and curriculum taught in cooperation with the Education Authority and/or Chief and Council • Help communities identify their priorities with regard to the provision of educational services in the community • To develop training programs or workshops to assist those Education Authorities function as a board with responsibilities and priorities. • To assist and provide advice to the Education Authorities to meet their mandate as established and all other education related matters • To provide reports as requested on all assigned duties. Qualifications required: • Combination of education and experience will be considered • Knowledge of First Nation in Treaty 5 and 9 • Experience in working with boards and/or communities • Good working knowledge of computers • Good writing skills focusing on board policies, proposals and curriculum • An understanding of INAC funding • Ability to travel extensively Please submit your resumé and 3 written references by 4:30 pm on February 23, 2012 to: Hiring Committee Keewaytinook Okimakanak PO Box 340 Balmertown, ON P0V 1C0 Fax: 807-735-1383 E-Mail: hiring@knet.ca

For more information please contact: Acting Personnel Officer, Bev Mattinas 807 582-3245 www.nnec.on.ca

Opportunity at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine Heart and Stroke Foundation Chair in Aboriginal and Rural Health The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), in partnership with The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF), is inviting exceptional clinical scholars to apply for the new position of Heart and Stroke Foundation Chair in Aboriginal and Rural Health at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. The Faculty appointment will be at NOSM and an affiliated health services provider. The Chair appointment will be situated anywhere in Northern Ontario for a five year term and renewable.

Environment The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is the first medical school to open in Canada in over 35 years. Since its official opening in 2005, the School has developed and delivered a distinctive model of distributed, community-engaged, and socially accountable medical education and research. NOSM has campuses at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and Laurentian University in Sudbury, with teaching and research sites across Northern Ontario. NOSM is a made-in-the-North solution that is attracting attention from around the world for its innovative model. In just five years, NOSM has become a world leader in community-engaged medical education and research, while staying true to its social accountability mandate of contributing to improving the health of the people and communities of Northern Ontario.

Responsibilities The role of the Chair is to: Focus on the field of Cardio and Cerebrovascular Disease (CCVD) in Aboriginal and Rural Communities, addressing scientific uncertainty and scientific advancement;

Lead activities promoting knowledge transfer and exchange through initiatives such as provincial (and potentially national) meetings and forums;

Integrate with other Aboriginal and Rural Research Units in Ontario and across Canada to establish virtual collaborative research networks;

Support efforts to establish mentorship/networking vehicles within Ontario (and potentially Canada), as a means of building capacity in CCVD population health research; and, undertake the responsibilities of a faculty member of NOSM with a reduced workload in the areas of teaching and service;

Undertake externally-funded innovative research; and,

Establish and nurture a collaborative research relationship with Aboriginal organizations in Ontario. Devote at least 75% of time to heart or stroke research in Aboriginal or rural populations. The remainder of the time will be an opportunity for patient care and clinical teaching.

The Chair shall provide leadership and promote a shared vision across a large geographic area with diverse user populations and have the ability to work consultatively and collaboratively with students, faculty, university and hospital administrators, government officials, Aboriginal Organizations, and the public.

Qualifications The candidate must hold an MD, be eligible for a licence to practice medicine in Ontario, and must satisfy the criteria for appointment to the Associate or Professor rank. The successful candidate will have a full-time position at NOSM at the time of taking up the Chair or have an offer of a full-time appointment at NOSM. NOSM will consider applications from candidates at different career stages. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience with research in Aboriginal and/or rural health. French/Aboriginal language skills would be an asset.

Innovative Education and Research for a Healthier North.

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

CONSTANCE LAKE FIRST NATION

NORTHERN NISHNAWBE EDUCATION COUNCIL Northern Nishnawbe Education Council is a not for profit educational organization. Under the direction of the Sioux Lookout Area Chiefs, NNEC delivers secondary and post secondary education programs and services for First Nations people. NNEC requires a Receptionist for Wahsa Distance Education Learning Centre.

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

www.nosm.ca

For more information, please visit: www.nosm.ca

Application Procedure Review of applications will begin March 19, 2012 and will continue until the position is filled. A letter of application accompanied by a current curriculum vitae, the names and contact information for three references should be sent to: Phelps Talent and Executive Search 401 Bay Street, Suite 1400 Toronto, ON M5H 2Y4 138 South May Street, Suite 5 Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1B3 Email: nosm@phelpsgroup.ca Fax: 416-364-5643

Contact Information Should you want to learn more about this unique leadership opportunity, please call Dr. Greg Ross, NOSM Associate Dean, Research at 705-662-7218. NOSM is committed to equity in employment and encourage applications from all qualiﬁed applicants, including women, aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities and persons with disabilities. While all responses will be appreciated and handled in strictest conﬁdence, only those being considered for interviews will be acknowledged.

OVERVIEW Under the supervision of the Chief and Council, the Executive Director is responsible for the successful management, development, coordination, supervision, implementation, and evaluation of all financial, administrative, and personnel operations of Constance Lake First Nation. This is a fulltime permanent position. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: • Masters Degree in public administration, business administration or equivalent • 5 years or more senior management experience in core areas such as capital, health, economic development, education, social development and finance • Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and procedures related to program delivery • Experience in First Nations funding and reporting requirements • Possess effective leadership capabilities, and excellent oral and communication skills • Exceptional knowledge and proficiency with all computer programs • Experience and knowledge of financial accounting principles, practices and procedures • Knowledge of social and economic issues facing First Nations • Ability to manage First Nation resources including people, material assets and money • Ability to clearly define and communicate vision and direction to community and staff • Ability to motivate others, foster teamwork and manage time of self, teams and staff • Superior ability to handle conflict and demonstrate sound judgment and integrity • Possess a valid driver’s license & criminal record check required. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Overall management of all operations, programs services, personnel and finances of the First Nation under the direction of Chief and Council. • Develop and implement appropriate financial, administrative, personnel and human resource policies and procedures. • Review the effectiveness of the administrative/ financial operations, plans, policies, procedures and coordinates the implementation of appropriate revisions where necessary. • Attend all Chief and Council meetings and provide updates, reports and recommendations as required on a regular basis • Develop, manage and monitor all budgets, spending and capital assets of the First Nation • Ensure that all reporting is completed accurately and on schedule along with all funding applications and contractual obligations are met. • Provide guidance, support and coordination to all departments and program managers • Represent the First Nation in the public and to outside agencies and governments • Demonstrate professionalism, tact and diplomacy at all times. A full and comprehensive Job Description is available upon request. Please submit your resume, cover letter and 3 references either by mail, fax, in-person at the CLFN Band Office or by email to: Mrs. Monica John-George, Executive Assistant Constance Lake First Nation P.O. Box 4000 Constance Lake, Ontario P0L 1B0 Fax: 705-463-2222 Email: monica.john-george@clfn.on.ca DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. While we appreciate all applicants, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. May be extended until a successful applicant is chosen

Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Celebrating winter Mushkiki brings traditional activities to Thunder Bay children and adults alike Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Traditional teachings and dog sled rides were two of the many activities at Anishnawbe Mushkiki’s Feb. 11 Family Fun Day at Fort William Historical Park near

Thunder Bay. “We’re sharing and telling different stories about Anishinabe ways,” said Ryan Gustafson, a youth outreach worker with BIWAASE’AA, formerly known as the Neighbourhood Capacity Building Project in Thunder Bay. “And one of the things

we brought in for show and tell is Dark Cloud, our drum.” Gustafson said it is important to pass on the traditional teachings because many teachings are being lost. “A lot of the kids really enjoyed this, and the parents and grandparents.”

Photos by Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

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ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

A fond ᐁᑭᑕᑭᐣᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ farewell ᓫᐃᐣᑕ ᐦᐁᐣᕑᐃ

ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ

Linda Henry Wawatay News

I have been to a few traditional Anishnawbe final funeral rites and ceremonies. Most funerals hold much pomp and ceremony. A traditional Anishnabe one is no different. Within this article, I will not mention any names, nor will I say that any one ceremony is better than the other. All races of the human family hold their dearly departed in high regard and want to wish them a fond farewell. Preparations are made as soon of the passing of the individual. Yes, there is much grieving in the process. It goes with any passing of a loved one. In some cases, the person’s most comfortable clothing is worn, unlike a formal threepiece suit. A ribbon shirt and a beautiful handmade ribbon skirt for women, the finest in children’s clothing and for men, a favorite ribbon shirt, a pair of leather pants, socks and moccasins. Most moccasins are beaded . Sometimes the person’s favorite jewels are added. Quite often a coffin is handpicked by the family. The body of the loved one is layed on a bed of cedar, turned upside down. Sometimes the lid is not used, but a covering is used in its place. Perhaps a birch bark piece or a make shift head covering. A hole is drilled at the head of the coffin whereby the spirit can escape. A conductor has usually been given tobacco, gift offerings and yes, sometimes even money to perform the last funeral rites. Most conductors are very gifted and strong in Anishnabe spirituality. It is told to those who have gathered for the final rites that the spirit has come forward to be with the mourners, the people who loved this person. The ceremony is usually done on the fourth day of the person’s passing. Prior to the day of the ceremony, friends and family gather around in a hall or large dwelling to visit the spirit of the dearly departed. They eat snacks and play card games or other games to pay homage to the person who is still believed to be around. On the day of the actual ceremony, members of the family are seated at the front of the gathering. During the ceremony mirrors are covered, no red clothing is worn, children and pregnant women are not allowed to look at the body, and the forehead is marked with black smudge/ash. Sage is lit throughout the whole ceremony. It is one of the sacred medicines often used for healing. Its odor is strong and very pleasing to the sense of smell. For further passage, the spirit of the person is given items with which to take on their “journey” to the next world. A tin can is placed ever so gently around the neck of the loved one using a cloth or small rope. A tea bag is also placed therein so the spirit can have a drink while making their long trek to the next world. Sugar is added for the tea. Added also are three matches, a personal feather and their colors, usually ribbons they’ve worn all their lives. Last but not least, tobacco. People are often asked to say a few words about the per-

son. Most times, people would rather not. Next, it is feast time for all present. It is officially their last meal to share with the dearly departed. The meal quite often consists of blueberries and wild rice, two of the main staples of the Anishnabe people. Once the feast is finished, a parting song is sung on a traditional drum. Those gathered round are given the opportunity to say a final farewell to the loved one. The song lasts throughout the whole time people are saying their last goodbyes. Then the body that held the spirit is taken for burial. At the grave site, the traveling song is most often sung. People return and feast, once again. It is a very beautiful ceremony. A time honored one.

ᑲᐃᔑ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯᐃᐧ ᐃᔑᒋᑫᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᓇᐦᐃᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᐊᑯ ᐣᑭᐃᔕ. ᑫᑲᐟ ᐃᑯ ᑲᑭᓇ ᐅᓇᐦᐃᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᐅᑐᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᑌᑕᓇᐊᐧ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᓇᐣᑕ ᒋᐃᔑᐸᑲᓂᓭᐠ ᐸᑲᐣ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐣ ᓇᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᑐᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᒪ ᑲᐃᐧᑎᐸᒋᒧᔭᐣ, ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐣᑲᐃᐧᑕᓯᐣ ᐃᐧᓱᐃᐧᓇᐣ, ᒥᓇ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐣᑲᐃᑭᑐᓯᐣ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᔦᐠ ᐁᑕ ᓇᐦᐃᓂᑫᐃᐧ ᐃᔑᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᐁᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᐊᐱᐨ ᐃᐧᐣ ᑯᑕᐠ. ᐊᓂᓂᑯ ᑲᑭᓇ ᑲᐅᐣᑕᑲᓀᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᑎᐯᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᓴᑭᐦᐊᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᓇᑲᓂᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᒥᓇ ᒪᒋᐨ ᐅᑎᓀᓂᒪᐊᐧᐣ ᐁᐃᐧᓄᓴᐧᐸᒪᐊᐧᐨ. ᔐᒪᐠ ᐃᑯ ᐊᓂᑲᐧᔭᐣᒋᓇᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᐸᐨ ᑲᐃᐡᑲᐧᐱᒪᑎᓯᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭ. ᐁᐦᐊ, ᑌᐯᐧ ᑲᔦ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᒥᐣᒋᓇᐁᐧᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᑲᐧᐣ, ᐅᐣᒋᑕᐱᑯ ᑭᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑲᓇᑲᓂᐁᐧᐨ ᑲᓴᑭᐦᐊᑲᓂᐃᐧᐨ. ᐊᑎᐟ ᒥᓇ ᐃᔑᒋᑫᐊᐧᐠ, ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᑲᑭᓇᑲᑕᑭᐨ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᒥᐧᓀᐣᑕᐠ ᑲᑭ ᑭᑭᐡᑲᐠ ᑭᑭᐡᑲᒧᑎᓇᑲᓂᐃᐧ, ᑲᐃᐧᓂᐣ ᐃᐁᐧᓂ ᑲᓂᐦᓱᔭᐠ ᒥᔑᐁᐧᐡᑭᑲᐣ. ᓭᓂᐸᓂ ᐸᑲᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᒥᓇᐧᔑᐠ ᑲᑭᒧᒋᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌᐠ

ᐃᑫᐧᐊᐧᑯᐟ ᐃᑫᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᑭᐡᑲᒧᓇᐊᐧᐠ, ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᔦ ᒥᓇᐧᐱᓇᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᓇᐯᐊᐧᐠ, ᑲᑭᒥᓀᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᓭᓂᐸᓂ ᐸᑲᐧᓂ ᐳᒋᐡᑲᒧᓇᐊᐧᐠ, ᐸᐡᑫᐧᑭᓂᑕᐢ, ᐊᔑᑲᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐸᐡᑫᐧᑭᓀᑭᓯᐣ. ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᒥᓇ ᐁᒥᑭᓯᑲᐧᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᐸᐡᑫᐧᑭᓀᑭᓯᓂᐊᐧ. ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᑲᔦ ᑭᑭᐡᑲᒧᓇᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑭᓂᑕ ᑭᑭᐡᑲᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐡᑫᐧᐱᓱᓂ. ᐊᐧᑯᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑐᓀᐣᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᑫᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂᐠ ᒋᐸᐃᒥᑎᑯᐊᐧᔑᓂ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐱᔑᒧᓂᑲᑌᓂ ᑭᔑᑲᐣᑕᑯᐣ ᐁᐊᐧᓂᔑᔑᒥᑕᐧ. ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᐸᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᒋᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ, ᔕᑯᐨ ᐅᒧᒋᑲᐡᑭᑭᓇᓇᐊᐧ. ᒪᐡᑯᐨ ᐃᐧᑲᐧᓯᓂ ᓇᐣᑕ ᑫᑯᓂ ᒋᐊᑲᐧᓇᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᐢᑎᑲᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᐣᑫᐧᔑᐣᐠ. ᐅᐸᑯᓀᐳᑐᓇᐊᐧ ᒥᑎᑯᐊᐧᔑᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐃᔑᑫᐧᔑᐣᐠ ᐁᐃᓇᐧᑌᐠ ᐅᑕᒐᑲᐧᐣ ᒋᐅᒋ ᒪᒐᓂᐨ. ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐅᓇᐦᐃᓂᑫ ᑭᒥᓇᑲᓄ ᓇᓭᒪᐣ, ᒥᑭᐁᐧᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᔓᓂᔭᐣ ᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᓇᐦᐃᓂᑫᐨ. ᐊᑎᐟ ᐅᓇᐦᐃᓂᑫᐠ ᒥᓂᑯᐃᐧᓯᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᒪᐡᑲᐃᐧᓯᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐊᒐᑯᐃᐧᑌᐯᐧᑕᒧᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ. ᐃᑭᑐᓇᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑕᓯᐣ ᐃᑭᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑭᐃᔕᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑲᑕᔑ ᓇᐦᐃᓂᑲᓂᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐊᒐᐠ ᐁᐱᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᒥᐣᒋᓇᐁᐧᓯᓂᐨ, ᑲᑭᓴᑭᐦᐊᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᓇᑲᓂᑯᐊᐧᐨ. ᐁᒪᐧᔦ ᐊᓂᐊᐧᐸᓂᐠ ᒋᔭᓂ

ᐅᒪᒐᐃᐧᐣ

ᓇᐦᐃᓂᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ, ᐅᑐᑌᒥᒪᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐧᑯᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᒪᒪᐃᐧᐡᑲᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᒋᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᓇᐣᑕ ᐱᑯ ᑲᐃᔑᒥᔕᓂᐠ ᑫᐃᔑᒪᒪᐃᐧᐡᑲᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭᐅᑲᒪᐊᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᐳᓂᐱᒪᑎᓯᓂᐨ ᑲᑭᓴᑭᐦᐊᐊᐧᐨ. ᐃᐧᓯᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐊᓂᓂᑯ ᐃᔑᒋᑫᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᒣᑕᐁᐊᐧᐨ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐁᑌᐦᐊᒣᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᐅᒋ ᑭᑕᑭᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᑲᑕᓀᓂᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᐃᐧᒋᐃᐧᑯᐊᐧᐨ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑫᒋᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᔭᓂ ᓇᐦᐃᓂᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ, ᐊᐧᑯᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᓂᑲᐣ ᐊᐱᐦᐊᑲᓂᐃᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑕᔑ ᐅᑯᐡᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᐱᒥ ᐊᔭᒥᐦᐊᓂᐊᐧᐠ, ᐊᐧᐸᒧᓇᐱᑯᐣ ᑭᐱᑭᓂᑲᑌᐊᐧᐣ, ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᔦ ᒋᐸᑭᑎᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᒋᑭᑭᐡᑭᑲᑌᐠ ᑫᑯᐣ ᑲᒥᐢᑫᐧᑲᐠ, ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭᑭᐡᑲᐊᐧᐊᐧᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑫᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐸᑭᑎᓂᑕᐧ ᒋᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᔭᐃᐧᓂ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᐢᑲᑎᑯᐣᐠ ᑭᒪᑲᑌᐃᐧᐱᐦᐃᑲᑌᓂ ᐊᑲᔐᔑᓂ. ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᑌ ᐸᐡᑯᑌᒪᐡᑯᐡ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᓇᐦᐃᓂᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ. ᒥᐦᐅᐁᐧ ᐯᔑᐠ ᑲᐊᐸᑕᐠ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒋᒪᐡᑭᑭ ᑲᓇᑕᐃᐧᐦᐅᐊᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ. ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᐡᑲᐃᐧᒪᑌ ᒥᓇ ᒥᓄᒪᑌ. ᑲ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ, ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᑲᑭᐃᐡᑲᐧᐱᒪᑎᓯᐨ ᒥᓇᑲᓂᐃᐧ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᒋᑭᑭᐨ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒋᑕᑯᐃᐧᓂᑯᐨ ᑯᑕᐠ ᐊᐦᑭᐠ. ᓯᑕᐊᐧᐨ ᑌᑎᐸ ᑲᐡᑭᑫᐧᐱᓇᑲᓂᐃᐧ ᐱᔕᑲᓀᔭᐱᓂ ᐁᓴᑲᐱᑌᓂ ᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᓯᓂ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐯᔑᐠ ᑎ ᐃᔑᐊᒋᑲᑌᓂ ᑫᒥᓂᑲᐧᑕᐠ ᐊᐧᓴ

ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᔭᓂᔕᐨ ᑯᑕᐠ ᐊᐦᑭᐠ. ᔓᑲᐣ ᑲᔦ ᐸᐣᑭ ᑭᐊᔑᑎᓂᒪᐊᐧᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᓂᐦᓯᐣ ᒪᒋᓴᐣ, ᐅᒥᑲᐧᓂᒪᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᐦᐅᓇᐣ, ᓭᓂᐸᓇᐣ ᑲᑭᐱ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᐦᐅᐊᐧᑫᐨ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐁᐱᒪᑎᓯᐨ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐃᐡᑲᐧᔭᐨ ᓇᓭᒪᐣ. ᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᐸᑭ ᒋᑎᐸᒋᒪᐊᐧᐨ. ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᓇᐣᑕ ᐃᐧᐃᑭᑐᓯᐊᐧᐠ. ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑕᐡ, ᐊᓂᒪᑯᔐᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ. ᒥᐦᐅᐁᐧ ᐁᐃᓇᐧᑌᐠ ᒪᒋᐨ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐁᐃᐧᒋᐃᐧᓯᓂᒪᑲᓂᐃᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᐃᐡᑲᐧᐱᒪᑎᓯᐨ. ᐃᐁᐧᓂ ᑕᐡ ᐅᒪᑯᔕᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᔕᐊᐧᐡᑯᒥᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒪᓄᒥᓇᐣ, ᒥᐅᓄ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᒋᓀᐣᑕᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂ ᐁᒥᒋᐨ. ᐊᐱ ᐃᐡᑲᐧᒪᑯᔐᐊᐧᐨ, ᒪᒋᐦᐊᒪᓱᓇᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᒪᒐᐃᐧᓂᑲᒧᐣ ᐯᑭᐡ ᐁᔭᐸᑎᓯᐨ ᒪᑌᐧᐦᐃᑲᐣ. ᑕᓯᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑲᑭᓂᑲᐧᓂᑲᐸᐃᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᒥ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐁᑕᐃᐧᓇᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᒪᒋᐨ ᑲᓴᑭᐦᐊᐊᐧᐨ. ᒋᐊᔭᒥᐦᐊᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᐱᑯ ᑲᐯᐦᐃ ᐁᔑᐱᒥ ᓂᑲᒧᐨ ᐸᓂᒪ ᑲᑭᓇ ᐊᐃᐧᔭ ᑭᑭᔑᑐᐨ ᐅᓄᓴᐊᐧᐱᐃᐧᐣ. ᐃᐁᐧ ᒥᔭᐤ ᑲᑭᐊᔭᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐊᒐᐠ ᒪᒋᐃᐧᒋᑲᑌ ᐁᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧ ᓂᐣᑲᐧᐦᐃᑲᑌᐠ. ᐃᒪ ᑕᐡ ᓂᐣᑲᐦᐊᑲᓂᐠ, ᓂᑲᒧᐣ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᒪᒋᐦᐊᒪᓱᓇᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐱᒥᔭᐃᐧ ᓂᑲᒧᐣ. ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑕᐡ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑭᐁᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᐁᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧ ᒪᑯᔐᐊᐧᐨ. ᑌᐯᐧ ᑭᒥᓄᓇᑲᐧᐣ ᓇᐦᐃᓂᑫᐃᐧᐣ. ᐁᑭᑕᑭᐣᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᒪᒐᐃᐧᐣ.

Located in Kenora, Ontario

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Wawatay News

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

sgdn This Week: What Is Canada’s Plan?

Q. A.

What is Canada’s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel? Canada's plan involves the construction of a national repository for the long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel, which is a waste product from the generation of electricity in nuclear power plants. It also involves the development of a used fuel transportation system and construction of a centre of expertise that will be a hub for national and international collaboration. Canada’s plan is called Adaptive Phased Management.

Cette semaine : Quel est le plan du Canada?

Q. R.

The plan requires that used nuclear fuel be contained and isolated in a deep geological repository in a suitable rock formation. Used fuel will be safely and securely contained and isolated from people and the environment in the repository using a multiple-barrier system. This approach is the culmination of more than 30 years of research, development and demonstration of technologies and techniques in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Deep geological repositories have been constructed and are operating around the world for various types of radioactive wastes.

Suivant ce plan, le combustible nucléaire irradié doit être confiné et isolé dans un dépôt géologique en profondeur, au sein d’une formation géologique propice. Dans ce dépôt, le combustible irradié sera confiné et isolé, de manière sûre et sécuritaire, de la population et de l’environnement au moyen d’un système à barrières multiples. Cette approche représente l’aboutissement de plus de 30 années de recherche, de développement et de démonstration technologiques et techniques au Canada, aux États-Unis, en Suisse, en Suède, en France, au RoyaumeUni et ailleurs. Des dépôts géologiques en profondeur ont été construits et sont exploités de par le monde pour divers types de déchets radioactifs.

A fundamental tenet of Canada’s plan is the incorporation of learning and knowledge at each step, to guide a process of phased decision-making. The plan builds in flexibility to adjust the plan if needed.

Un principe fondamental du plan canadien veut que l’apprentissage et les nouvelles connaissances soient incorporés à chaque étape afin de guider le processus de décision progressif. Le plan est flexible et pourra être ajusté au besoin.

The plan will be implemented over several decades. Over this period of time, we may experience changes in the values and preferences of Canadian society, and advancements in knowledge and technologies. Adaptive Phased Management is designed to be flexible to ensure new learning and social priorities are incorporated in Canada’s plan and to allow this plan to adapt to other changes we may encounter along the way.

Le plan sera mis en oeuvre sur plusieurs décennies. Au cours de cette période, les valeurs et préférences de la société canadienne et les avancées scientifiques et techniques pourraient changer. La Gestion adaptative progressive est flexible et les nouvelles connaissances et priorités sociales pourront être incorporées au plan canadien, lequel pourra aussi être adapté à d’autres changements éventuels.

The site selection process that is currently underway is designed to ensure that any community that is selected to host this high-technology, national infrastructure facility is both informed about the project and willing to host it. The siting process is also designed to ensure that surrounding communities, and First Nations, Métis and Inuit who will potentially be affected by the implementation of this project, are involved in project assessment and planning.

Q. A.

Le processus de sélection d’un site en cours est conçu pour s’assurer que la collectivité choisie pour l’établissement de cette installation d’infrastructure nationale de haute technologie sera bien renseignée sur le projet et qu’elle consentira à en être l’hôte. Le processus de sélection d’un site est également conçu pour faire en sorte que les collectivités voisines, et les membres des Premières nations, les Métis et les Inuits qui seront potentiellement touchés par la mise en œuvre de ce projet, participent à l’évaluation et à la planification du projet.

How was this plan developed? The design of Adaptive Phased Management emerged through a three-year study and dialogue with Canadians about a range of management options (2002–2005). The study engaged thousands of citizens, specialists and Aboriginal peoples in every province and territory. The plan was selected as Canada’s plan by the Government of Canada in 2007.

Q. R.

Comment ce plan a-t-il été élaboré?

Q. R.

Pourquoi ce plan est-il nécessaire?

Why is this plan needed? For decades Canadians have been using electricity generated by nuclear power reactors in Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec. When used nuclear fuel is removed from a reactor, it remains a potential health risk for many hundreds of thousands of years and must be safely isolated from people and the environment, essentially indefinitely. Today Canada’s used nuclear fuel is safely stored on an interim basis at licensed facilities located where it is produced. Like many other countries with nuclear power programs, Canada is planning for the future. Ensuring the long-term, safe and secure management of used nuclear fuel is an important responsibility we, as Canadians, share.

Quel est le plan du Canada pour la gestion à long terme du combustible nucléaire irradié? Le plan canadien comprend la construction d’un dépôt national pour la gestion à long terme du combustible nucléaire irradié canadien, un déchet résultant de la production d’électricité par les centrales nucléaires. Il comprend également la mise au point d’un système de transport du combustible irradié et la construction d’un centre d’expertise qui deviendra un carrefour national et international de collaboration. Le plan du Canada s’appelle la Gestion adaptative progressive.

La conception de la Gestion adaptative progressive est l’aboutissement de trois années d’étude et de dialogue avec les Canadiens sur un éventail d’approches de gestion (2002 à 2005). Des milliers de citoyens, spécialistes et Autochtones issus de chaque province et territoire ont participé à l’étude. Le gouvernement du Canada a choisi ce plan pour le Canada en 2007.

Depuis des décennies, les Canadiens utilisent l’électricité produite par des centrales nucléaires situées en Ontario, au Nouveau-Brunswick et au Québec. Après que le combustible nucléaire irradié a été retiré d’un réacteur, il continue de présenter un risque pour la santé pendant plusieurs centaines de milliers d’années et doit être isolé de manière sûre de la population et de l’environnement pour une durée essentiellement indéfinie. Actuellement, le combustible nucléaire irradié canadien est provisoirement stocké en toute sécurité dans des installations autorisées situées sur les lieux où il est produit. Comme plusieurs autres pays producteurs d’énergie nucléaire, le Canada prépare l’avenir. La gestion sûre et sécuritaire à long terme du combustible nucléaire irradié est une responsabilité importante que partagent tous les Canadiens.

Jo-Ann Facella is the Director of Social Research and Dialogue at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization. She has worked for prominent public opinion firms (Gallup Canada and Goldfarb Consultants) and as Senior Advisor at Ontario Power Generation before joining the NWMO in 2002. Over the past 20 years, her work has focused on public involvement in policy making, and in particular, societal needs and expectations concerning the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. Ms. Facella has a master’s degree in Political Science.

“Ask the NWMO” is an advertising feature published regularly in this and other community newspapers to respond to readers’ questions about Canada’s plan for managing used nuclear fuel over the long term and its implementation. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization welcomes your questions. Please forward your questions to askthenwmo@nwmo.ca.

Jo-Ann Facella est directrice de la recherche sociale et du dialogue à la Société de gestion des déchets nucléaires. Elle a travaillé pour les sociétés renommées de recherche sur l’opinion publique (Gallup Canada et Goldfarb Consultants) ainsi qu’à titre de conseillère principale pour Ontario Power Generation avant de se joindre à l’équipe de la SGDN en 2002. Au cours des 20 dernières années, ses travaux ont porté sur la participation publique aux décisions politiques et, en particulier, sur les besoins et les attentes de la société concernant la gestion à long terme du combustible nucléaire irradié. Mme Facella détient une maîtrise en sciences politiques.

« Demandez-le à la SGDN » est un encadré publicitaire qui paraîtra régulièrement dans ce journal et dans d’autres journaux de la collectivité pour répondre aux questions que se posent les lecteurs sur le plan canadien de gestion à long terme du combustible nucléaire irradié et de sa mise en oeuvre. La Société de gestion des déchets nucléaires attend vos questions. Veuillez envoyer vos questions à demandez@nwmo.ca.