March 1, 2012

Page 1

PM#0382659799

Feature interview with Metis author Joseph Boyden PAGE 11

Ice road worries as warm winter continues PAGE 3

Vol. 39 #5

Sandy Lake upsets defending efending champs at Little Bandss PAGE 18 9,300 9 300 copies d distributed istributed $1 $1.50 5

March 1, 2012 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974

www.wawataynews.ca

Tragically Hip rock the Coast

Looking for the big one on Sachigo Lake

Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

Over 500 people from the James Bay coast turned up to see the Tragically Hip perform in Fort Albany First Nation on Feb. 16. The Canadian rock band and award-winning author Joseph Boyden were in Fort Albany First Nation to take part in the Great Moon Gathering that focuses on both traditional and contemporary Photo by Chris Kataquapit/ Aboriginal education. Special to Wawatay News Like most northern communities, teachers who are con- Gord Downie and his band tracted to teach in the Mush- packed the Fort Albany school kegowuk communities are often gymnasium for a show. non-Aboriginal, straight from university or college, with little think he enjoyed the bush.” knowledge of the local tradiIn visiting Fort Albany at the tions and culture. time, Downie knew the TragiThrough its workshops cally Hip should visit. Then and discussions, organizer about three months ago, he was Edwund Metatwabin said the asked if he wanted to go back Great Moon Gathering is way by Boyden. for the community to share “So I said write the boys (the its traditional knowledge and band) a letter and he did, and culture with the educators. within an hour the guys said, “If we can give ‘Let’s do it,’ them the tools, if and here we we can be kind to are,” Downie “The event was our teachers, and said. “I had magical.” care for them and been talking to - Metis author watch for them, the boys about Joseph Boyden they in turn can (the James Bay pass on these area), so they things to our children,” Meta- kind of jumped at it.” tawabin said. The Tragically Hip performed Boyden was a teacher in the in the Peetabeck Academy gymJames Bay area, as he taught nasium to a standing room only at the Northern College satel- crowd. lite campus in Moosonee. His Local acts opened the show, two acclaimed novels, Three including a high school band Day Road and Through Black performing Knocking on HeavSpruce, feature Cree people as en’s Door with Downie as guest the main characters and take vocalist. place in the region. “The kids really liked that,” Metatawabin contacted Boy- Metatawabin said. “They were den and asked if he could be a really flying and their spirits keynote speaker in the confer- were really high.” ence. He also asked him if he John Kataquapit performed could get in touch with Gord two Cree songs followed by Jon Downie, lead singer of the Trag- Kapashesit of Moose Cree First ically Hip. Nation and a duet of Shannon Downie had already been up Moon and Sheila Gruner, who to the James Bay area with Boy- are both from Algoma Univerden a few times. sity and involved in the commu“I had a wonderful time,” nity’s Paquataskamik Project. he said of his earlier trips. “I Then the Hip took the stage. brought my son with me and I See Great Moon on page 10

Photo by Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News

North Caribou Lake’s Annie Williams ice fishes the old-fashioned way by using a simple line and stick. Williams was taking part in the Sachigo Lake First Nation Ice Fishing Derby on Feb. 25. See page 12 for story and photos.

ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᓯᓫᐃᐳᕑᒐᐠ ᑲᑫᐧᐃᔑᐱᒪᑎᓯ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᑲᐊᐧᑕᐠ ᒋᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂᐠ ᓫᐁᓂ ᑲᕑᐱᐣᑐᕑ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐊᐱ ᑲᐃᐡᑲᐧ ᑭᔕᑌᓭᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑭ ᑭᐁᐧ ᐊᐧᑌᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᐧᐢᑌᓂᑲᓇᐣ, ᐊᒥ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑲᑭᓂᐸᐃᐧᐨ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᓯᓫᐃᐳᕑᒐᐠ ᐁ ᑭ ᐊ ᓴ ᒥ ᑲ ᐸ ᐃ ᐧ ᑕ ᐊ ᐧ ᐨ ᐁᐅᑲᐧᐱᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᒪᒪᐃᐧᐡᑲᐊᐧᐨ ᑌᑎᐸᐦᐃ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐁᑭᐅᐣᓭᐊᐧᐨ. “ᐊ ᒥ ᐁ ᑫ ᐧ ᓇ ᐠ ᐁ ᑭ ᑌ ᐯ ᐧ ᔭ ᐣ ᑫᑯᐣ ᑲᐃᑭᑐᔭᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᑲ ᐣᑲᑭᐅᒋᑲᐡᑭᑐᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒋᑐᑕᒪᐣ ᓂᑭᐃᓀᑕᓇᐸᐣ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ 23 ᐁᑕᓱᔭᑭᐃᐧᓀᐨ ᐁᑭᔭᓂᒧᑕᐠ ᑲᑭᐃᐡᑲᐧ ᑲ ᓇ ᐊ ᐧ ᐸ ᑕ ᒧ ᐊ ᐧ ᐨ ᑲᑭᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒪᑲᓄᐨ. “ᒪ ᐊ ᐧ ᐨ ᐊᑯ ᐣᑭᓇᓀᐯᐃᐧᐢ, ᒥᓇ ᐣᑭᐃᔑᓇᑯᑐᐣ ᐣᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑭ ᑭᐸᐦᐅᑎᓱᔭᐣ.” ᐊᒋᓇ ᑭᑭᐱᒋ, ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑭᔭᓂ ᒪᒋᐊᔭᒥ, ᐁᑭᓂᓂᐣᑭᐁᐧᐨ. “ᓂᒪᒪᑲᑌᑕᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᔭᓂᔑᐊᐧᐸᑕᒪᐣ ᒋᔭᓂᔑᓇᐧᑲᐠ ᐣᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ, ᐃᐁᐧ ᐅᑎ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᔭᓂᒪᑭᐣ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᐁᑭᐱᓇᓇᑭᐣᑲᒪᓂᐣ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᑲ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᓀᑕᒪᐣ ᒥᓄᑫᑯᐣ ᒋᐅᑎᓯᑯᔭᐣ.”

ᐊᒥ ᐁᑲᐧ

ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᒪᐣ ᒋᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑭᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ: ᐅᐡᑭᓂᑭᑫᐧ ᑲᑭᐱᔭᓂᒥᐦᐃᑯᐨ ᑲᑌᓂᒥᑯᐨ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᒪᓯᓇᑌᓯᒋᑲᑌᐸᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᓂᑲᐣ ᐅᐣᒋ ᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑐᐃᐧᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑭᔐᐱᓯᑦ 9 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᐨ ᐁᐧᑎ ᑕᐣᑐᕑ ᐯ. 34 ᑕᓱᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᓀᐢ ᒪᓯᓇᑌᓭ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᑭᐅᔑᑐᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᑭᒪᓯᓇᑌᓯᑐᓇᐊᐧ ᑕᐣᑐᕑᐢᑐᐣ ᐅᒪᓯᓇᑌᓯᒋᑫᐠ, ᐅᑭᑎᐸᑐᑕᓇᐊᐧ

ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᑲᐱᒥᐊᓂᒥᐦᐃᑯᐨ ᑲᑎᐯᓂᒥᑯᐨ ᐅᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭ ᓇᓇᑐᓇᐨ ᒋᐃᐧᒋᐦᐊᑲᓄᐨ. ᐸᐸᑭ ᑭᐊᔭᑲᐃᐧ ᐱᒥᑕᑎᐸᒋᒧ ᒥᓇ ᑭᐱᒥ ᒪᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒪ ᑲᐱᒥᑎᐸᒋᒧᐨ, ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᐅᑭᐊᐧᐃᐧᐣᑕᐣ ᑲᑭᐊᐃᐣᑐᑕᑯᐨ ᑲᑎᐯᓂᒥᑯᐨ ᐅᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᓯᓴᐦᐃᑯᐨ, ᓂᐦᓯᐣ ᐅᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒪᐣ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐁᑎᐯᓂᒥᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐊᐸᒪᑐᐠ. ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᑲᓄᑫ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᓂᐢᑕᑦ ᐁᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᐠ ᐅᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒥᑯᐃᐧᐣ. “ᐣᑭᒪᐤ,” ᑭᐃᓇᒋᒧ. “ᐁᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒥᑎᓱᔭᐣ ᑭᔭᓂᒪᐣ.” ᑲ ᑭ ᑲ ᓇ ᐊ ᐸ ᐧ ᑕ ᐠ ᐅᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒥᑯᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᒥᐦᐃᒪ ᑲᑭᐅᒋ ᓂᓯᑕᐁᐧᑕᐠ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂᐠ ᐅᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐁᓯᓴᐦᐃᑯᐨ ᑲᑎᐯᓂᒥᑯᐨ ᐅᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᐣ. “ᐣᑭᐅᓀᑕᓇᐸᐣ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᐱᒧᑐᔭᐣ ᐣᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒪᓭᓯᐠ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒋᑭᐅᒋᓯᓭᔭᐣ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑫᑲᐟ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᓯᓭᓂᐠ ᒋᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒪᑲᓄᐨ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ. ᐊᐱ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑕᓄᑭᐠ

ᑲᐃᔕᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ 2010 ᑲᔭᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑲᑭ ᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢᐅᐣ ᒋᑎᐸᑐᑕᒥᓂᐨ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᓂ, ᑲᐧᐣᑕ ᑭᐃᐃᑭᑐ. “ᑲᐧᐣᑕ ᐱᑯ ᐣᑭᐊᐃᓇᒋᒧᑕᐊᐧᐠ,” ᐃᑭᑐ. “ᐊᒥ ᑲᑭᐃᓀᑕᒪᐣ, ᐊᐣᑕᐡ ᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑕᐨ ᐁᐅᒋ ᑲᑫᐧᑭᐊᐧᓂᒧᔭᐣ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᑲᐃᔑᑭᐁᐧ ᑲᓄᓇᑲᐧ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐣᑭᐃᐧᑕᒪᐊᐧᐠ, ᐁᐦᐊ, ᓂᐊᐧᓂᐊᐸᒋᑐᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐣ, ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑕᐡ ᐣᑭᐊᓄᓂᑯᐠ ᒋᑎᐸᒋᒧᔭᐣ.” ᐊᐱ ᑲᐅᐡᑭᓭᐠ 2011, ᑭᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᑲᓄ ᒋᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒪᑲᓄᐨ, ᑭᓇᑯᒧ ᑕᐡ. “ᐣᑭᑲᐧᐡᑯᓇᑕᐣ, ᐣᑭᑭᒧᒋ ᒥᓴᐁᐧᐣᑕᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐁᐃᐧᑐᑕᒪᐣ, ᐁᐃᐧ ᑲᑫᐧᐃᐧᒋᐦᐊᑲᐧ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ. ᒥᔑᓄᐱᓯᑦ ᐅᑭᐱᒥ ᒪ ᒪ ᓯ ᓇ ᑌ ᔑ ᒪ ᐊ ᐧ ᐣ , ᐅᒪᓯᓇᑌᓯᒋᑫᐊᓄᑭᐠ ᑭᐊᐃᔕᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐸᒪᑐᐠ ᐁᑭᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢᐅᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᑲᐯᔑᓂᐨ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐅᑭᔭᓂ ᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒪᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᔭᓂᔕᐨ ᑲᐃᔑᐸᓱᐣᑕᐧ ᐁᐧᑎ ᑎᕑᐊᔾᑎᐣ ᐁᒪᐧᔦ ᐊᓂᔕᐨ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᑕᐣᑐᕑ ᐯ ᑲᔭᑭᓯᑲᐧᓂᐠ.

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ᐃᓇᐱᐣ ᐸᑭᑭᓂᑲᓂᐠ 10

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Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

INSIDE WAWATAY NEWS

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

THIS ISSUE...

ᐱᑕᐯᑯᐠ ᑭᐃᔕᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᓂᑲᒧᐠ

ᑭᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᑌ ᐅᑎᓀᐣᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᑲᑭᓴᑭᑌᐠ ᓀᐣᑲᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧᑲᒥᐠ

ᐅᑯᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐸᐸᒥᓂᑲᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐊᐦᑭᐠ ᐅᑭᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᐊᐧᐣ ᐅᑎᐸᒋᒧᐣ ᒍᓴᑊ ᐸᐧᔾᑎᐣ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐱᑕᐯᑯᐠ ᑲᑭᒣᑕᐁᐧ ᐃᔑᒋᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ. ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ 500 ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᑭᐃᔕᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐱᑕᐯᑯᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯ ᒣᑕᐁᐧᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᑲᑭᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧ ᓇᑐᑕᐊᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᓂᑲᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᓂᑲᒧᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑭᔐᐱᓯᑦ 16 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᐨ. ᐸᐧᔾᑎᐣ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᑭᒪᒥᓀᐧᑕᑲᐧᐣ. ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᒪᔭᑦ ᑲᓂᑲᒧᐨ ᑲᐧᕑᐟ ᑕᐅᓂ ᐅᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᐊᐧᐣ ᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᐁᑭᒪᒥᓀᐧᑕᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᑭᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ, ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᔦ ᑲᑭᐸᐸᒥᔭᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑯᓯᓴᐣ ᓄᐱᒥᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐁᐧᑎ ᒉᒥᐢ ᐯ ᑲᑭᑲᐧᐡᑫᐧᐱᓀᐊᐧᐨ. ᐅᐁᐧ ᒪᐊᒋᐦᐃᑐᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᔑᒋᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑭᐅᒋ ᑐᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐁᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᓂᑲᓂᑕᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᐊᐧᐸᑕᐦᐊᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᒪᐡᑭᑯᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐅᐣᑕᑲᓀᓯᐃᐧᐣ. ᑲᐱᒥ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐣᑎ ᐱᑯ ᒥᓯᑌᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐱᐅᐣᑐᓭᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐱᒥ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ.

ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑲᑌ ᑲᑭᓴᑭᑌᐠ ᓀᐣᑲᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧᑲᒥᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᑎᓀᐣᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᑭᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᑌᐠ. ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᔑᒪᑲᓂᔑᐃᐧ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑕᓄᑲᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᓇᓇᑲᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐱ ᑲᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐃᐡᑯᑌᐃᐧᑭᒪ ᐁᑭᐃᔑᐊᐧᐸᑕᐠ ᐁᑭ ᑲᑫᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᑌᐠ. ᑭᔐᐱᓯᑦ 21 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᐨ ᐃᐁᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᑭ ᑭᐸᐦᐃᑲᑌᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᐠ ᐁᐧᓴ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᑲᑭᐃᓇᐸᑌᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭᓴᑭᑌᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᑌᐃᐧᔭᑊ ᐃᒪ ᑭᓯᓯᑲᓂᑲᒥᑯᐠ. ᓀᐣᑲᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᐊᑕᑦ ᐱᐟᓫᐊᕑ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐠ ᑲᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᑕᐁᐧᐦᐃᑫᐠ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᑭ ᑭᒋᐊᓄᑭᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᑫᐧ ᐊᑕᐁᐧᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯᐊᐧ. ᐊᔕ ᐅᑭᑲᓄᓇᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᐣ ᒋᐱᑲᓯᓂᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᑭᐁᐧ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓂᐠ. Arson suspected in Sandy Lake school fire A fire that has closed Sandy Lake’s Thomas Fiddler Memorial School is being investigated as an arson. Nishnawbe-Aski Police Services took on the investigation after the Ontario Fire Marshall determined that arson may have been the cause of the fire. The school has been closed since Feb. 21 due to smoke damage throughout the school and electrical damage in the boiler room. Sandy Lake First Nation Chief Adam Fiddler commended the community’s volunteer fire department for putting their lives on the line to save the school. The community is now working with the federal government to get the school cleaned up and ready for classes.

Tragically Hip rock Fort Albany Famous Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip joined bestselling author Joseph Boyden in Fort Albany for the Great Moon Festival. Over 500 people packed into Fort Albany’s school gym to watch the band play on Feb. 16. Boyden said the event was magical. Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie told Wawatay News that he really enjoyed his time in the community, especially taking his son into the bush and onto James Bay for some ice fishing. The Great Moon Gathering was a chance for community leaders to educate teachers about Mushkegowuk Cree lifestyles and culture. Teachers often come to the region from other places in Canada.

Page 3

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ᐊᐟᓫᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᔭᓂᒧᑕᐣ ᒪᒪᓂᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᔕᐧᐣ ᐊᐟᓫᐃᔪ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᓇᐱᐨ ᑲᐅᓴᒥᓄᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᐸᐦᐅᑕᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᐱᑯ ᑕᔭᓂᐊᓂᒥᓭ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐃᑭᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐡ ᑲᐧᐣᓱᕑᐱᑎᑊᐢ ᑲᐃᓂᑕᐧ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓂ ᐱᒧᐃᐧᒋᑫᐠ ᔕᐳᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᔭᓂᒪᑌᓂᐠ ᒪᒪᓂᐃᐧ ᐅᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᓂ. ᐊᐟᓫᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᓇᓂᐳᒪᐣ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᐣ ᐁᑲ ᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᐱᓯᐢᑫᓂᒪᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᐊᔑᑎᓂᑕᐧ ᑫᐃᔑᒧᐊᐧᑫᐧᐣ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐅᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᓂ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑲ ᑲᑭᐅᒋ ᓂᑲᓂ ᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᑲᓄᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐅᒋ. ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪ ᐅᑭᔕᐳᓇᐣ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᐣ Bill C-10 ᒪᑯᔐᑭᔑᑲᓂᐱᓯᒧᐣ. ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐅᐱᒥᔭᓂᒧᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑯᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᐠ ᑲᔕᐳᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᓂ. ᐊᐟᓫᐃᔪ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑭᔭᓂᑭᑐ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᑯ ᐁᑕ ᑕᐃᓯᓭᐊᐧ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒥᔑᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᔭᓂᑭᐸᐦᐅᐣᑕᐧ, ᐊᐣᒋᑯ ᑲᔦ ᑕᔭᓂᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᒪᒪᐃᐧ ᐅᑭᐧᓄᐦᐃᑎᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐸᐸᒥ ᒪᓀᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᒋᔭᓂ ᒪᓀᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᔭᑭᐣ. Atleo speaks out on crime bill Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo says that the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in prison will get worse once the Conservatives pass their tough on crime bill. Atleo also denounced the federal government for ignoring Aboriginal input on the bill, and failing to consult Aboriginal people on it. Bill C-10 was passed by the government in December. It is currently being debated in the Senate. Atleo said the bill will end up not only putting more Aboriginal people in prison, but also lead to an increase in gang and criminal activity in First Nation communities. Page 3

The artwork of Ahmoo Angecomb was on display in Sioux Lookout (middle left). AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo (above left) spoke out against the federal “tough on crime” bill. The Tragically Hip (above right) rocked Fort Albany. And the annual Little Bands tournament (top) brought 36 teams to Sioux Lookout.

ᐊᐣᒋᑯᓀᑊ ᑲᑭᐱᐊᐃᓇᓄᑭᐨ ᑕᐊᒋᑲᑌᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᒋᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᑌᓂᑭᐣ ᑭᐊᒋᑲᑌᐊᐧᐣ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᐊᐧᐸᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ 30 ᑕᓱᔭᑭᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐊᓄᑲᑕᐠ ᐅᒪᓯᓂᐱᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐣᐠ ᑲᐅᐣᒋᐨ ᐊᒧ ᐊᐣᒋᑯᓀᑊ. ᐊᐱ ᑲᑭᑕᐃᐧᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᒋᐱᐊᐧᐸᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᓇᐱᐨ ᑭᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᔕᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐃᔑᑲᐁᐧᓂᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᒪᓯᓂᐱᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐊᒥ ᐁᑫᐧᓇᐠ ᐁᑭᐊᐱᒋ ᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᐃᔕᐊᐧᐨ. ᐊᐣᒋᑯᓀᑊ ᐃᑭᑐ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᐁᑭᓇᓇᑯᒧᐨ ᑕᐱᐣ ᑲᑭᐱᔕᐊᐧᐨ. ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐅᒪᓯᓂᐱᐦᐃᑫ ᑭᓂᐳᐃᐧᓭᐸᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ 2010 ᑲᔭᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ, ᔕᑯᐨ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐅᑭᑲᐡᑭᑐᐣ ᒋᒪᓯᓂᐱᐦᐃᑫᐨ. Angeconeb’s storied career on display An exhibit reflecting on the 30-year career of Lac Seul artist Ahmoo Angeconeb is currently on in Sioux Lookout. The exhibit’s opening night drew the largest crowd that the A-Frame Gallery had ever seen to an openinig. Angeconeb said he was honoured by the turnout. The famous artist suffered a stroke in 2010, but that has not stopped him from continuing to make art. Page 16

ᓀᑯᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᐱᒪᑫᐧᐸᐦᐃᑫᐠ ᑭ ᑭᒋᓴᓇᑭᓯᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᒪᑫᐧᐸᐦᐃᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᒥ ᐊᔕ ᓂᐅᐱᐳᐣ, ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐣᐠ ᐁᒪᐃᐧᓀᐦᐅᑎᐊᐧᐨ ᓀᐣᑲᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐃᒪ Midget A ᐃ ᐡ ᑲ ᐧ ᔭ ᐨ ᑲᑭᔭᓂ ᓴᓴᑭᒋᐁᐧᐸᐦᐅᑎᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᒪᑯᐁᐧᐸᐦᐃᑫᐊᐧᐨ. ᔕᑯᐨ ᐊᒥ ᐁᑫᐧᓇᐠ ᓀᐣᑲᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᐁᑭᐸᑭᓇᑫᐊᐧᐨ. ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐣᐠ ᑭᐸᑭᓇᐊᐧᐊᐧᐠ, 10 – 1 ᑭᐃᔑᐁᐧᐸᐊᐧᐊᐧᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐃᑭᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐸᐣᑕᑦ ᑲᐃᔑᐱᒪᑕᐦᐁᐊᐧᐨ, ᑲᓴᐸᓇᑲ ᐅᑭᐸᑭᓇᐊᐧᐊᐧᐣ ᐊᒋᑯᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᓀᐣᑲᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᑭᐸᑭᓇᑫᐊᐧᐠ ᐱᐃᐧ ᑲᐃᔑᐱᒪᑕᐦᐁᐊᐧᐨ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᑌᐠ ᓂᑲᐣ ᑭᐃᓯᓭᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐊᑕᐧᑦ. ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐊᑲᔐᔑᐊᐧᐨ - ᓇᐧᐱᐢ ᑲᑭᐸᑭᓇᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᓀᐣᑲᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᑭᐅᐣᒋᐊᐧᐠ. ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ 400 ᑭᑕᓯᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐱᒪᑫᐧᐸᐦᐃᑫᐠ ᐃᒪ 36 ᑲᑭᑕᓴᐧᓀᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᓱᔭᑭ ᑲᐱᒪᒪᐃᐧᐡᑲᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᑲᐱᑯᒋᐦᐃᑎᐊᐧᐨ.

Sandy Lake shines at Little Bands For the fourth straight year, Lac Seul and Sandy Lake met in the Midget A finals of the Little Bands hockey tournament. But for the first time, Sandy Lake prevailed. Lac Seul’s streak came to an end in a tough way, as they lost 10-1. In the Bantam division, Kasabonika Lake beat Sachigo Lake to take the title. Sandy Lake also won the peewee division, and Lac Seul came in first in Atom. The youngest group – novice – was also won by Sandy Lake. Over 400 players on 36 teams competed in the annual tournament in Sioux Lookout. Page 18

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Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

3

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Ice road worries as warm weather continues KI running low on fuel; Muskrat Dam getting only half truck loads Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Chief Donny Morris’s worries about running out of fuel due to poor winter road conditions are over, for now. “We should be getting fuel trucks later on today,” Morris said on Feb. 21, noting the community was down to a couple of inches of fuel. “They left last night.” Although Morris is relieved at the moment, he is still concerned about whether his community will receive the 2.1 million litres of fuel required for the upcoming year before the winter roads shut down for the year. “When you look at this week and three or four weeks in March, it’s a tight schedule where I’m trying to coordinate all travel with all the communities for housing sup-

Submitted photo

A grader fell through the ice on a river between KI and Bearskin Lake. Warm weather has caused delays in ice road construction across northern Ontario. Some chiefs worry their communities will not have time to fill supply needs this winter. plies too,” Morris said. “It’s going to be a lot of grabbing,

trying to get your gas and your fuel. It’s up to the suppli-

ers how they are going to balance everything out.”

Arson suspected at Sandy Lake school fire School remains closed due to fire, smoke and water damage

Morris first raised his concerns Feb. 17 after the community lost a winter road groomer through the ice. “One of our groomers got to the side too much and went through the ice,” Morris said. “Fortunately, our driver Leo made it out.” The groomer went through the ice on a bay on the mouth of a river about half way between KI and Bearskin Lake. “At this date (Feb. 17), nothing has come into our community because of the warm weather,” Morris said. “Turn around season is fast approaching, so I don’t know how much of a road we will have to haul our gas, fuel and housing materials.” Morris said the weather conditions have been too warm this winter to haul in supplies over the winter road. “You can’t drag at night to

‘Outstanding’ DFC principal Lenny Carpenter

Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Nishnawbe-Aski Police is investigating the fire that closed Sandy Lake’s Thomas Fiddler Memorial School. Indications from the Ontario Fire Marshall’s investigation are that the fire was caused by arson. The school has been closed since Feb. 21 due to extensive fire, smoke and water damage from the fire. “The fire was contained but it was right near the heating system, the boiler room,” said Sandy Lake Chief Adam Fiddler. “There was smoke damage throughout the whole school, so the school has to be closed. Although the fire was contained in a small area, there was heavy damage to the wiring, the electrical system, so the power had to be shut off to the whole building.” Fiddler said the wiring has to be repaired and inspected

before power can be turned back on. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done, but at this point the fire marshall is expected in this afternoon (Feb. 22),” Fiddler said. “The building has been sealed; there is an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.” Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service said an initial investigation indicated the fire originated in the area of the school’s storage/ supply room. There were no reports of injuries during the fire at the elementary school, which accommodates 386 students in 23 classes from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Once the fire marshall completes his investigation and releases the building, Fiddler said the community is planning to bring in engineers and other experts to assess the electrical and heating systems and the structural integrity of the building.

“Apparently the fire burned right through the walls right to the steel beams,” Fiddler said.

“We do require emergency capital assistance to get the building repaired as soon as possible.” - Sandy Lake Chief Adam Fiddler

“So we want to make sure it is 100 per cent safe before we allow students back in.” Fiddler commended the community fire fighters for putting their lives on the line to save the school. “They pretty much saved the school,” Fiddler said. “I commend them for that but the reality is the whole school is shut down at this point.” Fiddler said the community’s secondary school is currently filled to capacity, so there isn’t

enough room there to accommodate the elementary students. “The (Sandy Lake) Board of Education is looking at options at this point, but that will be based on how long it will be before students can get back in (their elementary school),” Fiddler said. “We don’t have any other big facilities to accommodate (students) at this point.” Fiddler has already discussed the issue with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Kenora MP Greg Rickford, noting the priority is to get students back in school so they don’t miss too many classes. “We’re pushing for emergency assistance to get the building back in operation,” Fiddler said. “We do require emergency capital assistance to get the building repaired as soon as possible. From the look of pictures I’ve seen, it’s going to be a big job.”

harden the road because it doesn’t freeze at night,” Morris said. Muskrat Dam was also concerned on Feb. 17 about the lack of ice on Magiss Lake, which is a 14-kilometre long lake located about half way along the winter road between Weagamow and Muskrat Dam. “We haven’t had ice build up because of the warm weather,” said Muskrat Dam Chief Gordon Beardy. “We plowed it 110 feet wide about a week-and-a-half ago, but there hasn’t been enough cold weather.” Beardy said the winter road crew has been flooding certain areas on Magiss Lake where there is only 24 inches of ice. “We’re only getting half loads,” Beardy said. “We need to do full loads. We need to get moving here.”

Wawatay News

Dennis Franklin Cromarty (DFC) High School Principal Jon Kakegamic has been named one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals for 2012. The Learning Partnership, a national charitable organization dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada, named Kakegamic as one of 41 principals who have had a positive impact in their communities. The principals were recognized at a gala event in Toronto on Feb. 27. While Kakagamic said he was honoured to be receiving the award, he deflected credit to others at DFC. “It reflects on DFC as a whole – the staff and students,” he said. “I just happen to be the principal.” Kakegamic was previously a teacher at DFC for four years, vice-principal for two-and-a-half before taking up his current post three years ago. He said his main goals are the

students and keeping them in school. “I try to get them involved and make them proud of themselves and their home communities,” he said. His biggest challenge in his role is trying to change the perception of DFC, he said. “Trying to let the stakeholders (parents) know what we’re about,” he said. Canada’s Outstanding Principals program is in its eighth year. As part of their award, the recipients will participate in a weeklong leadership training program from Feb. 27 to Mar. 2 at the University of Toronto’s Joseph L. Rotman School of Management. Participants share ideas and best practices, and enhance their leadership skills so they can make an even stronger impact on their students, schools and communities. Principals are nominated by their peers, school staff and community members. Nominations are reviewed and chosen by a committee.

National chief fears crime bill to cause another lost generation Rick Garrick Wawatay News

National Chief Shawn A-inchut Atleo believes overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the prison system will get worse under the federal government’s Bill C-10. “First Nations have not been, we have not been, I have not been involved or engaged on this bill and I am very concerned about its implications,” Atleo said during the Assembly of First Nation’s National Justice Forum, held Feb. 21-23 in Vancouver. “The issue of justice really impacts all of us as First Nations, wherever you come from.” Atleo said the 500 missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls from across Canada points to deep systemic issues, noting First Nation treaty rights and jurisdiction have yet to be honoured and recognized in Canada. “The underlying reasons have yet to addressed as to why and

how our people end up interacting with the criminal justice system,” Atleo said. “Everything from the fallout from the residential schools to the Indian Act to the deep poverty to the lack of supports in our communities for health, child welfare, education and poverty are some examples of the deep roots causes that we have to get to.” Atleo said many people at the Justice Forum said the passing of Bill C-10, in many respects, is like repeating the residential school era all over again. “We’re losing our people from their homes and putting them into institutions,” Atleo said. “It clearly will lead to increasingly, disproportionately impacting of First Nations people in this country.” Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, was passed by the House of Commons on Dec. 5, 2011 and is currently on referral to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs after passing Second Reading in the Senate

AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo, left, says the new Conservative crime bill will result in more Aboriginal people ending up behind bars, and more crime in communities in the long run. on Dec. 16, 2011. “Canadians gave us a strong mandate to crack down on child sexual offenders and on dangerous drug dealers who sell drugs to children and we are one step closer to achieving this with the passage of Bill C-10 in the House of Commons,” said Rob Nicholson, minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on Dec. 5. Bill C-10 reintroduces reforms from nine bills dealt

with separately during the 3rd session of the 40th Parliament. Atleo said concerns were raised during the Justice Forum that increased incarceration rates will lead directly to increased gang membership and increased criminal activity. “The meetings we are having are about action that is required,” Atleo said, adding there has been enough study on the issue. “There has to be greater inclusion of First Nations

in the justice system as a whole, including lawyers and judges and jurists, and First Nations have to be properly engaged with the preventative side.” Atleo said governments need to honour the treaty relationship, inherent rights and the obligation to provide basic supports for First Nations people. “It’s those underlying root causes that are not being addressed and people here are fearing that if we do not see real

change now, that we are going to lose another generation,” Atleo said. “There is a great sense of anger and mistrust on the part of the mainstream system, and that is a very powerful sentiment that has been shared, including the deep grief of those who have been directly impacted, the families who have been impacted.” Atleo said the situation indicates there is still a deep misunderstanding between First Nations and the rest of Canada, which is different from the ancestors’ original treaty understanding of First Nations being full partners with the rest of Canada. “It tells us that we have drifted apart, but that vision of the ancestors is still alive,” Atleo said. “I hear that in the delegates saying we need to return back to a place that fulfills that vision of real partnership where treaties are implemented, where there is real respect and real recognition.”

4

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 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

Commentary Feeling disconnected from culture Lenny Carpenter WAWATAY NEWS

I

was in Attawapiskat a couple weeks ago and was watching some kids playing hockey in a backyard rink when one of them fell. “Gah jish-stuck,” he said. Hearing that Cree expression brought a smile to my face. It reminded me of my youth growing up in Moosonee, where I used that expression extensively. It also reminded me of how much I miss being in the James Bay area and how disconnected I feel from my culture. This was reinforced when I approached some local teenagers to take photos. I spoke to them in English, and I suppose after hearing how well I spoke it, one told the others in Cree that I probably don’t speak the language. “A-pii-sheesh, pokoo,” I said, Cree for “a little bit.” They broke out in laughter, likely surprised I understood. My roots are strong in the region. My grandfather grew up in Attawapiskat and moved to Moosonee, where he met my grandmother, who was from Fort Albany, and they had eight children, my dad among them. My mom is from Fort Albany and was visiting a relative in Moosonee when she met my dad. My dad was an avid bushman, trapper and hunter, and he would take me out with him to check his traps, and our entire family – including my mom and two sisters – would go out to the camp to goose hunt in the spring and moose hunt in the fall. And while I never grew to speak it fluently, I heard the Cree language all around me, from my parents, grandparents and other relatives. Then when I was 14, we moved to Timmins. The ground I walked on turned from muskeg and dirt roads to concrete sidewalks. It was a struggle due to school, work or finances to visit home and to go on the goose or moose hunt with my dad. Then more than two years ago, I moved to Thunder Bay, further from my home territory and where I know few Crees. I haven’t been hunting since I’ve moved here due to school and usually go only as far as Timmins to visit family. While the Native population in this city is high and there are programs and events that help to keep in touch with the Native culture, it’s not quite the same. And while there are many cultural similarities between the Ojbways, Oji-Cree and Cree people, there are nuances that differentiate the people. When

I was visiting an Oji-Cree community for work, I was in a home surrounded by a family. Someone asked if I spoke the language. “Uhhh,” I hesitated. “A-piisheesh, pokoo.” I guess that word didn’t exist in the Oji-Cree language, as an Elder looked up and said, “Ohhhhh, Omushkego.” Then she made a comment, and everyone laughed, pointing out the other Crees in company. It was teasing in a loving way that all Native people do, and while I laughed along and appreciated the Native humour, it illustrated to me how we’re different. A friend of mine shares the same sentiment. She moved to North Bay eight years ago to go to university. A Cree from Taykwa Tagamou First Nation, she’s also in Ojibway territory and finds herself missing home. “I miss the north, the smell of skidoos, the smell of my grandmas room when she is beading, and the mysterious northern lights...” she said. She’s thinking about quitting her job and moving back north. When I told another friend here in Thunder Bay who’s from Peawanuck that I was going to Attawapiskat, she expressed envy. “I wish I could walk in the northeast again,” she said. “There’s something about walking on your homelands and hearing your language being spoken - it feels like completeness.” I knew what she meant as I walked around the community. I saw the ski-doos driving around and smelled the firewood stacks and smoke that permeated the reserve. And I took in the Cree chatter I heard in the gymnasium, Northern store and community hall that was followed by laughter. Damn, I thought. I missed this. Then I reluctantly got on the plane and came back to Thunder Bay. I’m urbanized now, one of the so-called concrete Indians. There’s no doubt about that. In two years, I’ll have spent more than half my life living in the city. I only came upon that realization now in writing this. It scares me because I don’t see myself moving back north in the short or mid-term, mostly due to lack of work in the field I want to work in. So I’m worried now, about whether I’ll ever be able to speak Cree fluently, about how my dad’s hunting camp will be maintained, about how I can keep in touch with my culture. I’m going on the goose hunt in April. I look forward to that, to being on the land my ancestors lived on over the centuries, to taking part in a traditional activity with my dad, brother and uncles. That’ll help me to reconnect, for the time being at least.

Submitted photo by Harvey Kakegamic

Sandy Lake Chiefs hockey team in the late 1970s. Back: (left to right) Ken M. Meekis, Clovis Meekis, Harvey Kakegamic, Abe Kakepetum, Dennis Linklater, Moyen Keno, Max Kakepetum, Carl Kakegamic, Marcus Day. Front: (left to right) Martin Kakegamic, Walter Kakegamic, Nick Day (goal) and Bill Mamakeesic.

Working the Carnival in the “old days” Richard Wagamese ONE NATIVE LIFE

T

here’s charm to a fire first thing in the morning. I generally rise well before first light and now that the first snow has appeared on the mountaintop across the lake there’s a need for a good fire to chase away the morning chill. Sitting there, watching the flicker of the flames throw shadows around the room is comforting. It’s easy to get reflective and I allow myself that gift. There’s nothing moving when I get up. Silence rules. Some days I swear I can hear the rustle of the trees when the first light breaks and it takes me back to an amazing array of memory. But then, after fifty-five years on the planet there’s a fair bit to look back on. I’ve been busy lately, writing, preparing to lecture for a term at the University of Victoria and trying my hand at visual art. It makes me think about all the work and all the jobs I’ve

done in my time. One of the first jobs I ever had was on a carnival. I was sixteen and I had left my adopted home and found my way to the streets and the carnival came along just when I needed the work. I worked the small roller coaster for a while but I eventually became a Ferris wheel worker or a wheelman as they said on the show. In those days there were still some of the old groundmounted wheels around. Nowadays Ferris wheels are trailer mounted and hydraulic so that they go up with the push of a button. But in those days we built them from the ground up. It started with a slab of foundry steel that weighed three hundred pounds. Above that were the twin towers and the hub, all cast from the same steel. It was hard, heavy work but worth it. Something in me loved the feeling of putting all my strength into getting something done. There was a reward in that and I enjoyed the feeling of tiredness when the ride was finally up. I loved the feeling of giving people a sense of fun and adventure and the traveling from town to town eased the discomfort I felt at not really having a

home to go to. The carnie had become my home. When the show was over we worked long into the night to tear down the ride. There was always a gang of us, local teenagers and eager men from town and we had great fun competing against other ride gangs to see who could get their trailers loaded first. It was fun to heft huge heavy pieces of steel around fast and all the joking, teasing and laughing made it all so much more special. But I think what I loved the most was the road. Late at night, tired from the effort of getting the wheel packed up and the long days running the ride for people, I’d sink into the seat of the old Mack truck and fall asleep to the feel of the road humming beneath us. When I’d wake it would be early morning and the sun would be rising above a new landscape. We’d pull into the next town and the sleepy feel of it was always special. The feel of all those possible lives. We’d mark out the new lot and get to work again. Setting up a carnival lot was an awesome display of community. People helped each other. When our ride was up we moved down the line

and pitched in to get others up too. It really was my first introduction to tribalism, that coming together for a common purpose. When it was all set I would climb up and stand on the main hub of the wheel. I would stand and there and smoke and look around at the town, the fields beyond it and the carnival lot below. See, my life was in transit then. The carnival was my home but I yearned for more. I wanted permanence. Standing on the hub of that wheel looking out across the land I could almost feel myself slowly growing older and the idea, the hope of finding a place to set my feet down and was distant, nebulous and impossible then. That was years ago. It was the early 70s and I was a teenager. Since then I’ve gone through a lot of jobs, lived in a hundred towns and watched a ton of dreams sprout, grow and fade. I’ve found my way to a gamut of experience that shaped me, formed me and allowed me the grace in the end to become who I was created to be. I found home in a vee of mountains overlooking a lake. But it’s everywhere – when you find the truth of you, you’re home wherever you go.

CONTACT US Sioux Lookout Office Hours: 8:30-5:00 CST Phone: ....................737-2951 Toll Free: .....1-800-243-9059 Fax: ...............(807) 737-3224 .............. (807) 737-2263

Thunder Bay Office Hours: 8:30-4:30 EST Phone: ...................344-3022 Toll Free: ..... 1-888-575-2349 Fax: ...............(807) 344-3182

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER David Neegan davidn@wawatay.on.ca EDITOR Shawn Bell shawnb@wawatay.on.ca WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Rick Garrick rickg@wawatay.on.ca Lenny Carpenter lennyc@wawatay.on.ca Linda Henry

ART DIRECTOR Roxann Shapwaykeesic, RGD roxys@wawatay.on.ca GRAPHIC DESIGNER Matthew Bradley matthewb@wawatay.on.ca SALES MANAGER James Brohm jamesb@wawatay.on.ca CIRCULATION Adelaide Anderson reception@wawatay.on.ca

TRANSLATORS Vicky Angees vickya@wawatay.on.ca Agnes Shakakeesic agness@wawatay.on.ca CONTRIBUTORS Xavier Kataquapit Chris Kornacki Richard Wagamese Christopher Kataquapit Peter Moon Brent Wesley Guest editorials, columnists and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of Wawatay News.

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

5

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

On a dark and dangerous road Xavier Kataquapit UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY

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sure am a lucky guy. Most of the time I take my life and all that I enjoy for granted but every once in a while I pause to think of so much I have to be grateful for. Stopping to remember to feel gratitude has helped keep me grounded and positive. The other day I came across a car off the road in the middle of a blizzard. Since I have a big four-wheel-drive truck it seemed right to stop and see if I could help out. What I came across was a teenager who had driven off the road in his first ever winter accident. It reminded me of my own experiences driving on the icy roads back north up the James Bay coast. This kid had managed to plow his new little car into a farm field but was lucky enough to miss a nearby telephone pole or things would have been very different. There was very little damage to his car although even a small amount of denting and scratching on the new plastic cars can still be expensive. Luckily, I had a tow rope with me in the truck so I hooked up to his car and put my old truck into bull low four wheel drive. Well, that little car slipped out of the snow filled field and in a few minutes both driver and car were back on the road. The car was a little worse for wear and the driver very enthusiastic about his thanking me. He was however very worried about the reaction from his parents when he returned home.

After helping this fellow out I drove on into the storm to make my way home. As I drove I thought about all those early days when I first started driving the family trucks, tractors, four wheelers and of course snow machines. I recalled so many accidents as I careened around Attawapiskat at break neck speeds with friends packed in vehicles or hanging off them. I remembered what it was like back then to think I was invincible. I thought back about my teen life before I sobered up and just how lost and out of control I was. Every day was a struggle for me. I was depressed and full of anxiety most of the time and once I started really drinking I headed down a very slippery slope where it seemed impossible to get my life back. Booze and drugs were part of life in my small remote First Nation and I grew up with the tragedy that this life brings all around me. Even though I often promised myself I would never drink or do drugs somehow I just ended up in the same boat as most others in the community. When I was drinking and driving vehicles or snow machines I was a danger to myself but more importantly to others in the community. The problem was that back in those days just about everybody thought this was normal. After a bender and joy rides we would wake up the next day and have a good laugh at the scene from the night before or at least what we could remember of it. Sadly, every once in a while someone died as a result of being out on the land in a vehicle while intoxicated. Sometimes when things go wrong at minus 40 below zero they go

very, very wrong. I recall waking up in a jail cell one morning after a night out on the winter road on a snow machine. I had been part of a group returning from Moosonee with some booze and we were drinking on the ride back to Attawapiskat. I don’t remember much from that ride except that at one point I was racing as fast as I could on my machine in the dark and freezing cold when suddenly I rear ended the sled in front of me and actually flew over that snowmobile and landed far ahead in soft snow. Lucky for me I was cushioned by the snow, thick layers of clothes on and managed to land in a way that I was not badly hurt. I was not wearing a helmet so if I had hit my head on anything at all at those speeds I would have been killed. I woke up in a jail cell back in town the next morning. I could not remember much but I felt so depressed at my state and I was deeply embarrassed. These were dark days indeed. Then out of the blue I met my friend Mike who was sober and I was introduced to a life without alcohol or drugs. My life had been in a downward spin and I had just about lost all hope when somehow our paths crossed and I decided my life was worth living. There was a lot to deal with and with the support of my cousin Ron and some good friends from Alcoholics Anonymous I learned about my disease of alcoholism. To this day I am still a student and in recovery.....I always will be. One day long ago someone stopped for me on a dark and dangerous road, I am reminded it is always good to pass that favour on.

Having fun and playing safe Brenda Polar ONWA Health Policy Analyst

March Break is a time for playing sports and games, getting outdoors, socializing, and learning new things. Planned activities are a great way to spend time during the March Break because they provide a safe and supervised environment for your child. Many organizations and groups will be providing fun and educational activities for children and youth at little to no cost. At ONWA, we are running free workshops on March 15 and March 16 for youth ages 13-29. The workshops will build self awareness and identity through a series of fun activities (Call Jessica, 625-

8584 or Collin, 625-8570 for more information). While March Break is a time of fun and excitement it is important for parents and caregivers to make safety apart of their child’s March Break. Here are some tips to ensure the March Break remains fun-filled: • Monitor and discuss Internet usage with your child. These discussions may involve setting guidelines, keeping the computer in an open area and talking to them about the dangers of giving out personal information. • Ensure that a safety plan is in place for your child to help them know what to do in emergency situations. Talk to him/ her about whom and how to ask for help in cases of emergency.

• Sometimes March Break is difficult for us as parents and caregivers because we must find childcare. It is important to take precautions when hiring a babysitter. Check references, talk to your child about their new babysitter and pay attention for any changes in your child’s behaviour. • Although much fun can be had outdoors it can also pose dangers for children. Ensure children are supervised at all times around water, and know not to play near railroads and busy traffic. Check your child’s snow gear for loose strings and scarves that could get stuck when playing. On behalf of ONWA, wishing everyone a happy and safe March Break!

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at these locations Aroland First Nation Band Office Atikokan Native Friendship Centre Attawapiskat Northern Store Balmertown Diane’s Gas Bar Balmertown Keewaytinook Okimakanak Batchewana First Nation Band Office Bearskin Lake Co-op Store Bearskin Lake Northern Store Beaverhouse First Nation Band Office Big Grassy First Nation Band Office Big Island First Nation Band Office Big Trout Lake Education Authority Big Trout Lake Sam’s Store Big Trout Lake Tasona Store Brunswick House First Nation Band Office Calstock A & J General Store Calstock Band Office Cat Lake First Nation Band Office Cat Lake Northern Store Chapleau Cree First Nation Band Office Chapleau Value Mart Cochrane Ininew Friendship Centre Collins Post Office Couchiching First Nation Band Office Couchiching First Nation Gas Bar Curve Lake Rosie’s Variety Deer Lake Northern Store Dinorwic Naumans General Store Dryden A & W Restaurant Dryden Beaver Lake Camp Dryden Greyhound Bus Depot Dryden McDonalds Restaurant Dryden Northwest Metis Nation of Ontario Dryden Robins Donut’s Ear Falls Kahooters Kabins & RV Park Emo J & D Junction Flying Post First Nation Band Office Fort Albany Band Office Fort Albany Northern Store Fort Frances Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre Fort Frances Sunset Country Metis Fort Frances United Native Friendship Centre Fort Hope Corny’s Variety Store Fort Hope First Nation Band Office Fort Hope John C. Yesno Education Centre Fort Severn Northern Store Geraldton Thunder Bird Friendship Centre Ginoogaming First Nation Band Office Gogama Mattagammi Confectionary & Game Grassy Narrows J.B. Store Gull Bay Band Office Hornepayne First Nation Band Office Hornepayne G & L Variety Store Hudson East Side Convenience & Cafe Iskatewizaagegan Independent First Nation Band Office Kapuskasing Indian Friendship Centre

Kasabonika Chief Simeon McKay Education Centre Kasabonika First Nation Band Office Kashechewan First Nation Band Office Kashechewan Francine J. Wesley Secondary School Kashechewan Northern Store Keewaywin First Nation Band Office Keewaywin Northern Store Kenora Bimose Tribal Council Office Kenora Chiefs Advisory Office Kenora Migisi Treatment Centre Kenora Ne-Chee Friendship Centre Kenora Sunset Strip Enterprise Kingfisher Lake Omahamo Hotel Complex Kingfisher Lake Omahamo Store Kocheching First Nation Band Office Lac La Croix First Nation Band Office Lake Nipigon Ojibway First Nation Band Office Lansdowne House Co-op Store Lansdowne House Northern Store Long Lake First Nation Band Office Michipicoten First Nation Band Office Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation Band Office Mishkeegogamang First Nation Band Office Mishkeegogamang Laureen’s Grocery & Gas Missanabie Cree First Nation Band Office Moose Factory Echo Lodge Restaurant Moose Factory GG’s Corner & Gift Store Moose Factory Northern Store Moose Factory Weeneebayko General Hospital Moosonee Air Creebec Counter Moosonee Native Friendship Centre Moosonee Northern Store Moosonee Ontario Northland Railway Moosonee Polar Bear Lodge Moosonee Tempo Variety Moosonee Two Bay Enterprises Muskrat Dam Community Store Muskrat Dam First Nation Musselwhite Mine Naicatchewenin First Nation Band Office Namaygoosisagon Band Office Nestor Falls C & C Motel Nicikousemenecaning First Nation Band Office North Spirit Lake Cameron Store North Spirit Lake First Nation Band Office Northwest Angle First Nation Band Office Ochiichagwe’babigo’ining First Nation Band Office Ogoki Trappers Store Ojibways of Pic River Nation Band Office Onegaming Gas & Convenience Onegaming Public Library Pawitik Store

Pawitik Whitefish Bay Band Office Pays Plat First Nation Band Office Peawanuck First Nation Band Office Pic Mobert First Nation Band Office Pickle Lake Frontier Foods Pickle Lake Winston Motor Hotel Pikangikum Education Authority Pikangikum First Nation Band Office Pikangikum Northern Store Poplar Hill First Nation Band Office Poplar Hill Northern Store Rainy River First Nation Band Office Red Lake Indian Friendship Centre Red Lake Video Plus Red Lake Wasaya Airways Counter Red Rock First Nation Band Office Rocky Bay First Nation Band Office Sachigo Lake Co-op Store Sachigo Lake First Nation Sandy Lake A-Dow-Gamick Sandy Lake Education Authority Sandy Lake First Nation Band Office Sandy Lake Northern Store Saugeen First Nation Band Office Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre Savant Lake Ennis Grocery Store Seine River First Nation Band Office Shoal Lake First Nation Band Office Sioux Narrows Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawang Slate Falls Nation Band Office Stanjikoming First Nation Band Office Stratton Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah- Nung Historical Centre Summer Beaver Nibinamik Community Store Taykwa Tagamou Nation Band Office Timmins Air Creebec Counter Timmins Indian Friendship Centre Timmins Wawatay Native Communication Society Wabaskang First Nation Band Office Wabigoon First Nation Band Office Wabigoon Green Achers of Wabigoon Wabigoon Lake Community Store Wahgoshing First Nation Band Office Wapekeka Community Store Washaganish First Nation Band Office Wauzhusk Onigum First Nation Band Office Weagamow Lake Northern Store Weagamow Lake Onatamakay Community Store Webequie Northern Store Whitedog Kent Store Whitesand First Nation Band Office Wunnimun Lake General Store Wunnimun Lake Ken-Na-Wach Radio Wunnimun Lake Northern Store

Landmark Inn Metis Nation of Ontario Native People of Thunder Bay Development Corporation Negahneewin College of Indigenous Studies Quality Market, Centennial Square Redwood Park Opportunities Centre Seven Generations Education Institute Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre Wawatay Native Communications Society

Wequedong Lodge 1 Wequedong Lodge 3 Westfort Foods Fort William First Nation Band Office Fort William First Nation Bannon’s Gas Bar Fort William First Nation K & A Variety Fort William First Nation THP Variety and Gas Bar

Thunder Bay Outlets Central News Chapman’s Gas Bar Confederation College Satellite Office, 510 Victoria Ave. East Dennis F. Cromarty High School Hulls Family Bookstore John Howard Society of Thunder Bay & District Ka-Na-Chi-Hih Treatment Centre Lakehead University Aboriginal Awareness Centre

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Lamplighter Motel Mascotto’s Marine Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre Northern Store Pelican Falls First Nation High School Pharmasave Queen Elizabeth District High School Robin’s Donuts Sacred Heart School Shibogama Tribal Council Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Sioux Lookout Public Library

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If you run a business and would like to distribute Wawatay News, Please call 1-800-243-9059.

6

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Regional plan needed for Ring of Fire: Liberal critic Shawn Bell Wawatay News

The federal Liberal critic for Aboriginal Affairs is cautioning that communities in northern Ontario could see environmental and health effects like those seen in Alberta’s oilsands region if regional planning and environmental assessments for the Ring of Fire are not done properly. Dr. Carolyn Bennett was in Thunder Bay on Feb. 20 to meet with Matawa First Nations. Following those meetings, Bennett said the current approach of doing individual environmental assessments for each Ring of Fire project is flawed. “It could be done in a much more coherent way,” Bennett said. “We should not be mak-

ing the mistake of the oilsands, where everything is done in a very piecemeal way.” Bennett’s comments come as documents obtained by CBC through an access-to-information request show that an Ontario manager with Environment Canada expressed similar concerns last year, before the environmental assessment process began. In a letter to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) in the fall of 2011, Rob Dobos recommended a regional environmental assessment process that would take into account the large number of projects expected to move forward in the region. Dobos called for a process “that considers the interconnectivity and the cumulative impact of currently proposed

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and anticipated future developments within and connecting to the Ring of Fire,” according to CBC. Cliffs Resources’ proposed chromite mine and Noront Resources’ Eagles Nest project are both undergoing separate environmental assessment processes. Matawa First Nations filed a judicial review of the Cliffs environmental assessment in November 2011, calling on the courts to implement a Joint Review Panel assessment instead of the “comprehensive study” that is underway. A decision in the case may take up to 18 months. Matawa has encouraged the federal government to act before the court decides. In November Matawa’s lawyer in the case, Judith Rae, told Wawatay News that the federal environment minister can step in at any time and order a Joint Review Panel of the project. “The hope is that we start

the right process as soon as possible,” Rae said. “Let’s not waste all this time and money.” Meanwhile Bennett, who took on the role of Aboriginal Affairs critic after the 2011

election, also highlighted what she called the federal government’s disjointed approach to its responsibility in the Ring of Fire. She said that Environment Canada

and Health Canada are not included on the federal Ring of Fire coordinating committee, something that needs to be remedied for the government to adequately plan a regional approach to development. Bennett noted that establishing effective monitoring regimes will also be crucial for northern Ontario to avoid some of the pitfalls that Alberta’s oilsands have seen. “Monitoring cannot be an afterthought,” she said. “You put those types of things in up front, and the communities have to be involved in that.” Cliffs Natural Resources states on its website that it hopes to start production on the mine in 2015. A decision on where to locate the associated processing plant has not yet been made. Sudbury, Greenstone and Thunder Bay are vying for the facility.

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Meegwetch to all those who provided donations to our Annual Winter Pow Wow here at Lac Seul First Nation Lac Seul First Nation Kenawind Development Corp. Lac Seul Casino Rama Fund Social Services Elaine Pace New Kowloon Restaurant Sioux Lottery Wawatay Native Communications Society Roy Lane Cheers Fifth Avenue Club Johnny’s Fresh Market Northern Rexall Drugstore (By CIBC) Chicken Chef Carleson Wagonlit Travel Home Hardware McDairmid Lumber Robin’s Donuts Mascotto’s Bloomin’ Wild Flowers Sunset Inn Best Western Inn Forest Inn East End Cafe’ Hudson Auto Our apologies to those we may have missed, thanks just the same!

To Advertise with WAWATAY call us at 1-800-243-9059

Ontario should run First Nation schools: Drummond Shawn Bell Wawatay News

The federal government should be providing Ontario with money to run First Nation schools in the province, say the authors of Ontario’s Drummond report. Citing the high cost of poor education outcomes in First Nations communities in terms of social services and health care, the report calls for sweeping changes to on-reserve education in the province. Paramount in the recommendations is a call to increase federal funding of First Nations education to the level of provincially-funded schools. “It is commonly noted that federal funding falls well short of parity with provincial education spending on a per-student basis,” the report states. “The intolerable delays from the federal government to increase per-student funding for onreserve education to close the

gap with provincial funding levels must end.” The call for increased funding echoes a federal First Nations education report released in February. But the Drummond report is calling for bigger changes to First Nations education. Its authors also want Ontario to administer education on reserves, using federal money. “The federal government (should) consider transferring this funding to the province, which is better equipped to provide expertise for K–12 capital renewal and construction,” the report states. The call for provincial administration of First Nation schools in Ontario conflicts with the recommendation of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), found in a recent report commissioned by the First Nation. NAN wants to see the federal government provide funding directly to First Nation organi-

zations to administer schools in its territory. When asked what he thought of Ontario administering First Nation schools in the province, NAN deputy grand chief Terry Waboose said he doubted if the results would be any better. “We’re willing to work with the province on ways of recognizing our control over our own students, but (if Ontario was in charge) it would be just another government,” Waboose said. The Drummond report also calls for organization of First Nations schools into boards similar to district education councils in the provincial system, in order to increase efficiencies in First Nation schools. It states that the current funding model, what it calls the “one-school, stand-alone model,” does not allow for economies of scale in providing education services. As an example, the report states that

individual schools may not be able to provide services such as speech therapy and counselling that would normally be shared among a number of schools. As motivation for making changes to First Nations education, the report cites a study by the Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) that found the benefit for Canada’s real economic output of increased Aboriginal education success is up to $180 billion by 2026. The CSLS study also found that governments would spend $77 billion less on health care, social services and the justice system if the success rates of Aboriginal students can be raised to meet those of nonAboriginal students. The Drummond report was commissioned by the provincial government to find savings and inefficiencies, as Ontario tries to deal with a projected $30 billion deficit by 2017-2018.

Lakehead Supports Aboriginal Learners Lakehead University is committed to helping Aboriginal peoples further their educational aspirations. Aboriginal programs at Lakehead offer academic, research, and cultural support services tailored to Aboriginal needs. Office of Aboriginal Initiatives aboriginalinitiatives.lakeheadu.ca 1-807-766-7219 or toll free 1-888-558-3388

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Wawatay News

7

á?§á?Šá?§á?Šá‘Œ á?Šá’‹á’§á?§á?ƒá“‡á?Ł

MARCH 1, 2012

Shannen’s Dream closer to reality

Special Feature!

Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

Shannen’s Dream took a big step towards being realized. A motion calling for the federal government to improve education on First Nations reserves was passed unanimously in the House of Commons on Feb. 27. The motion calls for increased funding of on-reserve schools at least to the level of provincial run schools. While the passing of the motion implies that funding will soon increase for First Nations education, Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan did not commit to increased funding following the vote. “Our government is already investing heavily in education infrastructure, including building over 30 new schools, new additions to 22 other First Nations schools and over 200 other important projects,� Duncan said in a written statement. “We made education a top priority in the Canada-First Nations Joint Action Plan and the recent Crown-First Nations gathering in January. We will continue on our path ensuring support for training, skills development and education for First Nations.� Motion 202 was first introduced by NDP MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) in September 2010 and then reintroduced in October 2011, following the last federal election. The motion calls for the government to “declare that all First Nation children have an equal right to high quality culturallyrelevant education� and “implement policies to make the First Nation education system, at a minimum, of equal quality to provincial school systems.� The motion was nicknamed in honour of Shannen Koostachin, a 15-year-old Attawapiskat youth who initiated the biggest letter writing campaign in Canada urging the federal government to build a new school in her community.

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She died tragically in a car accident in 2010. Shannen’s Dream is a campaign named in her honour and aims at ensuring that all First Nations in Canada have “safe and comfy� schools. The motion was debated in the House of Commons on Feb. 17, with several MP’s who support the motion highlighting the statistics and reports showing that educational standards and facilities in First Nations communities are drastically below those off reserve. “This was never a priority until children made it a priority,� Angus said. “That is what makes today’s motion different.� Angus noted that Shannen was recently selected by CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos as one of five teenage girls in history who made in difference alongside Joan of Arc, Anne Frank and Mary Shelley. “Shannen did not want to make history,� he said. “She did not set out to be a hero. She wanted to be on a volleyball team. She wanted to have a locker. She wanted to write notes in the classroom. She had a dream that she could have what she called ‘a comfy school.’�

NAN Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose applauded the passing of the motion named after Shannen. “Countless people have been inspired by this remarkable young leader, whose dream of attending what she called a ‘real school’ led her from this remote Cree community all the way to Ottawa to fight for a better education, and a better future for her fellow students,� Waboose, who holds the NAN education portfolio, said in a press release, “It is fitting that a motion supporting the rights of First Nations to quality education is named in honour of Shannen, who through her all-too short life has left a lasting legacy from her fight against the federal government for something every other Canadian child has the right to – a quality education.� The vote for the motion came just weeks after Shannen’s Dream spokesperson Chelsea Edwards, a 16-yearold from Attawapiskat, and five First Nations youth ambassadors spoke to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child about the inequalities facing Aboriginal youth in Canada.

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8

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Building skills, connections at housing conference Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

More than 200 delegates took part in the 10th Annual First Nations Northern Housing Conference, which took place Feb. 14-16 in Thunder Bay. Dale Suganaqueb of Webequie First Nation said he was impressed with this year’s conference. “I’ve been coming here for past three years and it’s growing every year,” he said. The event has grown substantially since a handful of participants from the Shibogama Tribal Council communities gathered in a boardroom in Sioux Lookout in March 1999 for the original sessions. In February 2003, a group of First Nation tribal coun-

cils in northern Ontario came together to launch the inaugural conference. “It’s grown to over 200 (participants),” said Michael McKay, a member of the conference’s organizing committee. “It’s a huge success and housing is very important to our First Nations.” McKay said the conference grew out of a need to improve housing in First Nations communities. “Our goal is to capacity build for the delegates,” McKay said. “Whatever they learn from here, they take it back to the community and they apply it.” McKay said the conference focuses on two things: the construction of houses, and the administrative side. “We have sessions that have housing policies, and another

Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News

Participants take a look at a HRV ventilation unit during a workshop. session was housing as a business,” he said. “(The delegates) can go to either one and focus on that.” There were also workshops on topics such as basic home

maintenance, developing effective community strategies for housing, reading blueprints and electrical code updates. Some of the workshops were hands-on, a feature which Sug-

anaqueb said was his favourite aspect. “The highlight was the building competition,” he said. McKay said the builder’s competition and tradeshow is one of the main attractions. “We have five stations and delegates build whatever the session,” he said. Sessions included framing the wall, installing outlets and insulating a wall. The results were judged by celebrity guest Jon Eakes of HGTV fame. McKay added that the conference also allows the delegates to network. Joshua Baughman, communications director for Universal Manufactured Homes Constructs – which builds modular homes and industrial trailers – called the conference an “eye

opening” experience. “The conference has been absolutely fantastic,” he said. “It’s really well done and well organized.” Baughman said his company is looking to expand into First Nations communities. “One of the largest opportunities is building larger-scale structures that can be used forprofit for the communities,” he said “These would include apartment buildings, Elder housing complexes, things like that.” He said the conference allowed him to gain insight into the changing needs of First Nations. “It’s certainly eye-opening in terms of how we can approach First Nations on a more one-onone level,” he said.

Using economies of scale to solve housing problems Shawn Bell Wawatay News

Purchasing building supplies in bulk, setting up a central rent collection company for First Nations across the North and working on a pan-northern approach to heating homes on reserves are just a few of the ideas being considered to address the massive housing problem in Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) communities. With over 5,000 new homes needed immediately across NAN communities, and the housing shortfall growing each year as populations in First Nations continue to rise, NAN’s deputy chief Les Loutit knows the status quo is nowhere near good enough.

Les Louttit Loutit presented NAN’s proposed solution to the First Nations Northern Housing Conference on February 16. The proposal focuses on economies of scale. NAN wants to use its position as a regional organization to coordinate and implement regional solutions for all of its First Nations.

The idea marks a shift away from current practices of having individual First Nation communities deal with their own housing needs. “It’s all about using economies of scale and scope to provide cost savings on building houses,” Loutit said. Loutit noted that most First Nations do not have the capital funds to purchase housing materials in bulk. In many cases they are building only a few homes per year, and paying much higher prices to do so than if they were building an entire subdivision. NAN’s proposal plans to remedy those high costs by grouping together the purchasing needs of as many communities as possible. As Loutit explained, instead

of a community buying 10,000 feet of two-by-six boards to meet its needs, NAN may be able to buy 50,000 or 100,000 feet for a number of communities, and negotiate a much lower price in doing so. Loutit also noted that there may be an opportunity to open a First Nation warehouse to store the bulk orders of supplies, cutting out the wholesalers and retailers. “When we extend this across the Nation, we start to maximize our ability to reduce costs and the benefits go right back to the communities,” Loutit said. Besides using economies of scale to lower the cost of purchasing building materials, NAN also plans to set up a central

rent-collection agency to service communities across the NAN territory. The premise of the central agency is the same: using economies of scale to lower costs. Currently, Loutit explained, each community has to collect rent for housing on reserve from band members. Often those rents are paid through government social service agencies, for people without jobs who find it hard to make rent or mortgage payments. The result has been a huge workload on individual First Nations, with minimal success. “A lot of communities have gotten behind on rental payments,” Loutit said. “Many First Nations are using capital dollars to recoup on rental arrears. That

would be eliminated with this new model.” NAN is also looking at other business models in relation to housing, including creating local home heating solutions in communities and manufacturing certain housing components such as doors and tresses at a centralized NAN-run facility. “This is all going to be built on a business model, where we will reinvest excess funds from cost savings to earn income that First Nations can use to renovate or build more housing,” Loutit said. NAN expects a feasibility study on the proposal to be completed in early March. The feasibility study will be brought to the next NAN chiefs gathering for consideration of the entire territory.

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Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

9

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GATHERING OF MATAWA COMMUNITIES SPRING CONFERENCE March 20-22 / Valhalla Inn / Thunder Bay, ON Come join us in Thunder Bay for the Gathering of Matawa Communities Spring Conference. ...working together for future generations DATE: LOCATION: ACCOMMODATIONS:

March 20-22, 2012 Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay Valhalla with all meals included

WE ARE SEEKING REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH COMMUNITY FROM THE FOLLOWING GROUPS: Chief and Council, Elders, Matawa Board of Directors, Health, Education, Community Communication Liaison Officers, Economic Development, Youth Council Members.

WHY WE ARE GATHERING:

TUESDAY MARCH 20 MORNING LUNCH AFTERNOON

Chiefs’ vision and presentations Break out Workshops to begin the development of the Action Plan

WEDNESDAY MARCH 21 MORNING LUNCH AFTERNOON

Participants gather to discuss findings Individual Departments and Groups develop their roles in the Action Plan Gathering of Communities Feast - 5pm to 8pm

We are coming together to build an action plan to ensure our communities will achieve the full benefit from sustainable resource development and at the same time protect our land for future generations.

EVENING

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING:

THURSDAY MARCH 22

We will be meeting in small and large groups sharing our expertise and ideas to meet the coming challenges and opportunities ahead of Matawa communities. We will integrate the resources of Matawa First Nations Management advisory services with the wealth of knowledge from our First Nation community members into a clear path to a healthy and prosperous future.

MORNING LUNCH

Working together for the future generations End of the Conference

To register and book your travel and accommodations please contact Sabrina at ssutherland@matawa.on.ca for more information about the conference contact Bonnie Moore at 807- 344-4575 Or email bmoore@matawa.on.ca

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10

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

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opg.com February 2012

MOVING TO CLEANER FUELS THUNDER BAY GS CONVERSION PROJECT Phasing out coal While OPG continues to phase out the use of coal to produce electricity by 2014, work is underway to convert its Thunder Bay Generating Station (GS) from coal to natural gas. The station is located in the City of Thunder Bay, next to the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority’s Mission Island Marsh.

maintain local jobs, continue to provide economic benefits to the region and ensure electricity is available to power future economic growth. Engineering work on station modifications is underway and the applications for environmental approvals are being prepared. OPG’s plan is to have Thunder Bay GS supplying electricity fuelled by natural gas by late 2014.

What is the “conversion” project? Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan calls for the conversion of Thunder Bay GS from coal to natural gas. This will allow for the continued use of a facility owned by the people of Ontario. With the cost of natural gas projected to stay relatively low for the foreseeable future, conversion to natural gas is recognized as the lowest cost option for Thunder Bay GS. The conversion will cost less than building a new natural gas-fuelled generating station. The use of natural gas will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 45 per cent per unit of (produced) energy compared to coal. Plant modifications will maintain the possibility of adding biomass in the future. The converted plant will continue to help meet peak electricity demands in northwestern Ontario and serve to “back up” OPG’s hydroelectric generating stations during low water periods. The production flexibility provided by the converted units is important in enabling increased intermittent, renewable electricity generation like wind and solar. Conversion of Thunder Bay GS will also help

Natural gas pipeline Construction of a natural gas pipeline is required for the conversion of Thunder Bay GS. Union Gas is responsible for all aspects of supplying natural gas as fuel for electricity production at the station including route selection and pipeline construction.

Looking ahead OPG will be holding a public information session on the project in the months ahead. This session will be advertised in the local media.

For more information on the Thunder Bay GS Conversion Project, visit www.opg.com; email conversion@opg.com or call Chris Fralick, Northwest Thermal Plant Manager, at 807-625-6400.

Photos by Chris Kataquapit/Special to Wawatay News

More than 500 people from the James Bay area crammed into the Peetabeck Academy gymnasium on Feb. 16 to watch the Tragically Hip perform as part of the Great Moon Gathering.

Fort Albany’s Great Moon Gathering packs the house From page 1 “The concert was awesome,” Metatawabin said. “Everyone was jumping up and down and screaming.” “It was very emotional and real,” Downie said. He recalled hearing many goose calls from the audience over the course of their set. “I found it very comforting.” Prior to the concert, Downie and the band walked out into James Bay to go ice fishing with some local residents. “I was thinking, maybe I’m the first of my ancestors to stand in that spot, which I sort of declared, which I never really done – but that doesn’t make

me a heck of guy,” Downie said. “Anyway, it was a really beautiful experience, which is what we needed to do: to just be outside because we were always rehearsing so it felt really good.” The band was well received by the community. “We’ve been treated like royalty,” Downie said, adding that locals prepared moose stew as a pre-show meal. “It was very hearty and good.” Metatawabin called the Great Moon Gathering a success. “Everything went well and everyone had a great time,” he said. Boyden said he and the band had a great time up in Fort

Albany. “The event was magical,” he said. “The people were so warm and receptive. The band absolutely loved it. And Karen Metatawabin made them all moosehide hats and beaver hats as gifts, so they just absolutely loved it.” Boyden said he was glad to have the opportunity to go up to the community to dispel the negative press the region receive. “I’m a fighter for the people, and I’ll always do that,” he said. “I’ll try to correct the misunderstandings that many people have, and always show the beauty of the people as well.”

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

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ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Education, literature and love of the Mushkegowuk Cree Bestselling Metis author opens up after Great Moon Gathering Canadian author Joseph Boyden recently visited Fort Albany First Nation with the Tragically Hip to take part the annual Great Moon Gathering, a conference for educators. Originally from southern Ontario, Boyden taught at the Northern College’s Moosonee campus in the late 90s and traveled to the northern communities. He went on to write a collection of short stories and two novels that feature Mushkegowuk Cree as the main characters. His first novel, Three Day Road, won several awards while his second, Through Black Spruce, won the Giller Prize in 2008 for Best Canadian Novel. Speaking from his home in New Orleans, Boyden talked to Lenny Carpenter about how he and the Tragically Hip got involved in the conference, his passion for writing about the Mushkegowuk Cree, and how he wanted to the dispel the negative press that arose out of the Attawapiskat housing crisis. He also gave some details about his upcoming novel, which is to be the last of a trilogy featuring the Cree characters.

Photo submitted by Joseph Boyden

Metis author Joseph Boyden tries to return to the James Bay coast every season for fishing, hunting or paddling. He was recently in Fort Albany to give a keynote address as part of Great Moon Gathering.

Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

Wawatay: Both yourself and the Tragically Hip were involved in the Great Moon Gathering in Fort Albany. Can you tell us how that came about and what the experience was like? Boyden: Just before Christmas, Ed Metatawabin contacted me – I’ve known Ed for years – and said, ‘Hey, do you want to be the keynote speaker for the Great Moon Gathering’ and I said, ‘I’d love to, it’s been such a long time since I’ve been up to Fort Albany.’ And then he says, ‘Oh, you have a friend named Gord Downie (of the Tragically Hip), right?’ And I said ‘Ah, this the real reason you’re asking, isn’t it?’ (laughs) And he said, ‘Maybe he’ll want to play a couple of songs.’ Gord loves James Bay. I brought him up fishing a number of times and introduced him to the people, and he just loves the people. And I called him and he said, ‘You know what? The band and I are recording a new album. I’ll ask them, maybe they’ll wanna come up because I’ve been wanting to get them up.’ So I write a letter to the band, and they all enthusiastically agreed and said, ‘That’s a great idea. Let’s go as a stripped down version of the band. Normally, we travel with 10,000 pounds of equipment. We’re gonna go with 700 pounds of equipment and do a show for the community and bring our producer Gavin Brown.’ And the event was magical. I think it was just a beautiful time. The people were so warm and receptive. The band absolutely loved it. And Karen Metatawabin made them all moosehide hats and beaver hats as gifts, so they just absolutely loved it. Wawatay: What else did you do in your time there? Boyden: Well, in my keynote address, I obviously had to deal with all the stuff going on with Attawapiskat and all the negative stuff that came

out that I see in the press. I was like, ‘Wait a second, these aren’t all the people I know and write about. These aren’t the people I love being represented so wrongly.’ So I wanted to try to correct the mistruth that I see flying around, so that’s what I tried to do in my keynote. It was very warmly received as well, which was nice. Wawatay: Why did you feel it was important to take part in the gathering? Boyden: As you know, I write about the Cree and people in Mushkegowuk have given me so much creatively, and my best friends remain people from James Bay and so I wanted to give back a little bit in my own small way to the people. To show the people up in Fort Albany, Kash, Attawapiskat and Moose Factory that Canadians actually love you all up there and there’s a lot of people who ‘get it,’ who know you’re powerful people and strong people, and I wanted to try to show that. Wawatay: So you were a teacher up there and have gone on to write two novels and a collection of short stories based on the Cree people of the James Bay. What was it about the people that made you want to write about them? Boyden: I was fascinated when I first moved up to James Bay, just the rich culture and history that I found there immediately. And then there’s the people, the warmth of every community I went to, the people opened up their arms to me in their homes. I was just blown away by that. I’m a mixed blood. I’m Ojibwe, Scottish and Irish background, so the Cree are kind of like my cousins, but so many of them became great friends, and the stories that I found were too good to keep to myself. They drove my writing passion. Wawatay: This is a part of the country very few people know about or experience. What impact do you think literature can have in bringing the people and places in this region to other Canadians and people around the world? Boyden: I’ve felt like I discovered a gold mine and I realized quickly, Oh my gosh, no one has

written about the Cree of Mushkegowuk before and how lucky am I as a writer to have this incredibly rich territory to mine creatively. And I thought, you know what? There’s such good universal stories. I write very specifically about the Cree, but the story is so universal. There’s the hardship, but there’s also the beauty of the land. There’s the beauty of the people. There’s the misunderstanding that always goes on, so I try to correct that in my writing, to show people that are tough and resilient and very strong, and that are human. Wawatay: You wrote two novels that were highly acclaimed. Through Black Spruce won the Giller prize for Best Canadian Novel. Why do you think it was so popular across the country? Boyden: What I’ve really been happy about is showing Canadians a part of their country that they never knew about. And so I was so enthusiastic about writing that, and I think that’s what came through in the writing, and I think other Canadians are excited about this idea, that there’s a land within Canada that’s kind of undiscovered in some ways by so many people. And again, the stories – while specifically about the Cree people – they end up being universal. The stories of overcoming tough times, of fighting things like addiction. I’m not afraid to write about that kind of stuff because that’s reality sometimes. But again, there’s the beauty as well. I think that’s what people responded to. Wawatay: You mentioned Attawapiskat earlier and the negative press that it received. When you see those types of things in the media, what do you think needs to be done in terms of solutions? Boyden: The most important thing is always education, and that’s why I was excited to come up to an education conference. I think education is vital because education is power for the people. And I also think very specifically that the Cree should get a fair share of the resources that are taken from your country. You should be in charge of that and have fair access to profits from those resources. It’s an unbelievable shame and irony that some of the richest diamond pipes

in the world are being discovered and dug right up in Attawapiskat country and yet the community is faced with a crisis. There’s something really, really wrong there, that Attawapiskat and the other reserves are not getting the fair share of your resources and the profits from your resources. We all know that – well, most people don’t know but I think the Cree people know – that this whole housing crisis in Attawapiskat originally started because De Beers overflowed the sewage system in Attawapiskat, which caused the problem to begin with. And it’s just so unfair that these homes are destroyed and no one’s picking up the cost. People are blaming the victim and it makes me so angry, and it made the Hip angry too. So these are the mistruths I wanted to dispell. Wawatay: You mention your new novel. To my understanding, you’re working on the last of a trilogy about the Swampy Cree people of James Bay. Can you give us an idea of what that will be about and how it relates to the previous novels? Boyden: Yeah, the first novel is historical (Three Day Road, set during WWI), and second one was contemporary, and so there’s a big gap in time that’s missing. The third novel plans to look at that middle ground in the 20th century over the course of 40-50 years. In the first two novels, there’s two characters talking to each other, and in this novel it’ll be the same thing. This time a very old man speaking to his young granddaughter. It’s actually his niece but he’s speaking with her and she’s speaking with him, so that’s how I’m going to fill in that in-between time. Wawatay: Is there anything you wanted to add about your trip to Fort Albany or the people of James Bay? Boyden: Again, it was a magical trip. I think everyone involved just loved it – community members as well as the band, myself and my wife, who came up. I’m a fighter for the people, and I’ll always do that. I’ll try to correct the misunderstandings that many people have, and always show the beauty of the people as well.

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Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Participants aim for new truck in Sachigo Lake fishing derby Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

More than 250 people gathered on Sachigo Lake on Feb. 25 to take part in one of the biggest fishing derbies on northwestern Ontario. All participants dropped their lines into a randomly drawn fishing hole as part of the 9th Annual Sachigo Lake First Nation Ice Fishing Derby, where the first prize was a brand new 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. When a horn sounded at noon to signal the start of the derby, hundreds lined up to draw a number that determined their fishing hole, which were pre-drilled the day before. By 2 p.m., Alvin Beardy of Sachigo Lake had yet to catch anything. This is nothing new to the recent Lakehead University grad and store-owner. In taking part in the last seven derbies, he has never caught a fish. “Just a few nibbles here and there,” he said. “But that keeps me going. It keeps my hopes high.” For Beardy, the biggest challenge in taking part in the derby is patience. “And the stress of getting the big one,” he adds with a laugh. Beardy said that while he tries to prepare every year by buying new lines or lures, he loves that anything could happen. Like last year, when the

grand-prize winning fish was caught within the last 10 minutes of the derby. “There’s a chance for everybody,” he said. “That’s how I look it at. Fish don’t go to one specific spot or lure.” To help pass the time, Beardy talks to the people around him, which he believes is part of the derby experience. It’s a sentiment shared by Sachigo Lake Chief Titus Tait, who also brought his line and reel to the derby. “It’s a get-together,” he said. “I think one of the things we enjoy as Native peoples is that we do things together. We do that, and it benefits the community as a whole.” The derby also drew in visitors from other parts of the province. Igor Matic drove for 14 hours from Thunder Bay the previous day to ice fish for the first time. The Macedonia-born 21-yearold grew up in Mississauga, Ont. and had never been anywhere north of Thunder Bay, where he attends college. “I gotta say, this is nothing like I’ve seen before, that’s for sure,” he said. “I’ve never been on a frozen lake before, so it’s kinda blowing my mind right now.” Matic was enticed to attend the derby by his friend and classmate, who is from Sachigo Lake. The friend advised him to dress warm, as temperatures

could drop to -40 and -50 in the community. Sitting next to his fishing hole, Matic had three layers beneath his snow suit and three pairs of socks. “I’ve never beeb in this climate here, that’s for sure,” he said. “Made sure to bundle up.” Matic’s classmate Jordan Bowes loves taking part in the derby. The 20-year-old from Kingston, Ont. took part in last year’s derby and loved the experience. “It’s a fun trip,” he said. “Just 14 hours with your buddies (on the drive) and taking part in the community event. It’s awesome.” When 3 p.m. rolled around, optimism rang through the three lanes of fishing holes. “One hour left,” one participant said. “No worries, no worries.” To help keep warm and full, participants could buy hot chocolate, coffee, hot dogs and bannock and chili. The items were sold by Grade 8 students at Martin McKay Memorial School, who were fundraising for a class trip to Toronto. The horn sounded again at 4 p.m. to signal the end of the derby. The derby had prizes for each of the top 10 winners, which was determined by the total weight of their catch. Flora Beardy of Muskrat Dam

photos by Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News

TOP : More than 250 people gathered on Sachigo Lake to take part in the 9th Annual Sachigo Lake First Nation Ice Fishing Derby on Feb. 25. ABOVE: A young ice fisher is among the first to pick at a fishing hole. Participants randomly drew a number that determined their fishing hole out of 300 pre-drilled holes. took home the third prize, a 2003 Kia Sorento, with a total weight of 32 pounds. Eli Pivnick, a teacher in Sachigo, took the second prize, a 2004 GMC Jimmy 4X4. His catch totaled 32.4 pounds.

He was barely beaten out for the grand prize, a 2012 Dodge Ram. The prize went to Jackie Nanokeesic of Muskrat Dam, with a catch totaling 32.5 pounds. Wes Barkman, one of the

organizers, called the derby a success, as number of participants at least equaled to that of previous years. “It went pretty good,” he said. “Everyone had fun, and that’s the main thing.”

photos by Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News

LEFT: Brett McKay, 9, of Bearskin Lake First Nation gets help from his mother in unhooking his catch. The young ice fisher previously won prizes in other derbies, including a truck last year in Muskrat Dam. ABOVE: A determined ice fisher uses a simple line and stick in hopes of landing the prize-winning fish. In the end, it was Jackie Nanokeesic of Muskrat Dam who took home the brand-new 2012 Dodge Ram truck.

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

13

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Cordial talk with reelected Chief Klyne of Seine River

Kookums tell youth of hardships

Linda Henry

Wawatay News

Wawatay News

Most of the youth at recent Kookum and Youth circles in Sioux Lookout had no idea of the hardships their grandmothers faced. Those stories were brought home to the young women during the workshops on Feb. 14-16, where Kookums told the younger generation of their experiences with residential schools. Those present were students from the Equay-Wuk (Women’s) Group, students who traveled from Dennis Franklin Cromarty high school, two Elders, Emily Gregg and Juliet Blackhawk, and several other interested youth from the North who wanted to learn more about residential schools and the legacy. The Kookums imparted their knowledge of the hardships they endured, and their strength and resiliency, while Sam Acheepineskum, Nishnawbe Aski Nation residential school coordinator, gave a historical overview of the beginning of the schools up to the Truth and Reconciliation process. The event was quite an eyeopener for young participants. Most of them had no idea some of the history of atrocities done to those who are now elderly grandmothers and great-grandmothers. A form of interaction came between the two different age categories when kookums were asked to tell a story of an experience they had while either attending school or going away from home for school. The organization also showed two films, the Long Journey

Newly reelected Seine River First Nation Chief Earl Klyne readily chats about his community and what his band members want to see in their future. The second-term chief is busy these days, as Seine River has business deals of over $360 million in the works. Those deals include two companies moving into the community that will bring an estimated 300 jobs, and an industrial park just getting off the ground. As for his election platform Klyne said “I promised nothing, and I said nothing.” What is in the works for his community? “We have a lot going on,” he said. Klyne first talked about contamination of his First Nation’s area, documented during phase one of Seine River’s environmental contaminate program. “The Environmental contaminate program showed a lot of contamination in our area from previous mining, and also from previous testing by the US military in our background, which Canada agreed to,” Klyne said. The Treaty #3 First Nation is also involved with the International Joint Committee on water control in its watershed, while working with Ontario’s ministry of natural resources on sturgeon population studies. Besides environmental remediation and protection, Seine River has moved forward on a number of business projects. “We are in the process of

photo by Linda Henry/Wawatay News

Seine River Chief Earl Klyne, right, with his biggest supporter, wife Dorothy Friday. building an industrial park,” Klyne said. “Two businesses are coming in that will create about 300 hundred jobs.” Seine River is also working on co-managing the forestry industry in its area, and controlling the licensing of the forest. The chief also talked about an upcoming energy project involving the community, although he did not go into details. And like many other First Nations across northwestern Ontario, Klyne’s community has mining activity in its backyard.

“An MOU is currently in place for mining agreements,” Klyne said. “We are looking at the sum of 360 million dollars for that project.” “The elders gave us a lot of direction with the future,” Klyne added, noting that he takes his cue from them. While Klyne did not attend the recent federal governmentFirst Nations summit in Ottawa, he said that the Prime Minister needs to do a better job of following up on talk with First Nations leaders. “Harper has to work with

First Nations,” Klyne said. “He has been saying the same things for the last couple of years.” Klyne has the power of a good woman behind him. She is Dorothy Friday. “There is a lot of waiting, I have to be here, I have to listen and be very patient,” she said of being the chief’s wife. Klyne is joined on Seine River’s council by John Kabatay, Tyrone Tennisoe, Carrie Boshkaykin, Tom Johnson, Roger Spencer, Dave Spencer and Norman Girard. Election day was Jan. 18, 2012.

Linda Henry

Home and the The Life You Want. Long Journey Home features women who went to St. Anne’s Residential School, along the James Bay coast, from Webequie. They told of a lengthy airplane ride to the school. One lady remembered vividly how she sat at the very end of the plane and could not even see out the window. She said she fell asleep during the ride. Others talked of the abuses, not being able to speak the language, being banned from speaking to younger siblings, the loneliness, the endless chores, going hungry and not getting the right medical attention. The women traveled the same route to be at the workshops as when they went to the school initially. This time however, the women were given some form of healing and honoured in the vicinity. A sacred fire was lit for them, and a ceremony was conducted in order for them to continue on their healing journey. The second film, entitled The Life You Want, featured Doris Slipperjack, who struggled with prescription drug addiction. The film follows her from Eabametoong to Rat Portage’s Treatment Center, Migisi near Kenora. Doris talked of her struggle for sobriety, single parenthood, peer pressure and daily struggles within her community. Both films were strong in content and their purpose was to bring out issues regarding women’s struggles and how some surpass them. The conference was simultaneously translated into Oji-Cree and will be broadcast on Wawatay Radio at a later date.

INT ERES T E D IN INTERESTED I N A CAREER CARE E R IN I N POLICING? PO L I C I N G ?

NAPS NA PS BOUND 2012 May 8 t h -9 t h 2 2012 012 The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is looking for thirty-five (35) applicants between the ages of 18-25 years from the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation and surrounding area. This two day experience will allow “Bounders” an experience in First Nation Policing and will show potential candidates what it takes to become a Police Officer.

Participating members will get a chance to: • Take part in Physical Training exercises with ERT and K-9 • Practical hands on Police training exercises • Leadership and Self Confidence Skills – DRILL Exercises

• Recruiting and Information sessions (Q&A sessions) • Traditional Teachings

This event will be held in Thunder Bay with no cost for successful candidates. Applications can be obtained and submitted online at naps.ca For further information, please contact: Sgt. Jackie George Recruiting/Media Relations (807) 346-6593 Nishnawbe-Aski Police Headquarters

Naps Bound – where else can you take a plane to work? PATHWAY TO POLICING www.naps.ca

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Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᓯᓫᐃᐳᕑᒐᐠ ᑲᑫᐧᐃᔑᐱᒪᑎᓯ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᑲᐊᐧᑕᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐅᒋ ᐸᑭᑭᓂᑲᓂᐠ 1 ᑲᑭᐃᔑᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᒪᓯᓇᑌᓯᒋᑲᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᒪᐣ ᒋᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑭᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᑭᐅᐣᒋᒪᑲᓂ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᐅᑎᐸᒋᒥᑯᐃᐧᐣ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐣᑎ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᐁᑭᐅᒋ ᑭᑫᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ. ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᐱᓯᑦ, ᑭᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᑲᓄ ᒋᑎᐸᒋᒧᐨ ᓯᐱᓯ ᓇᑐᑕᒧᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐊᐱᑕᐃᐧ ᐊᐧᑲᓭ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑯᑕᐠ ᐸᑲᐣ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᓂ ᑭᐱᐅᒋ ᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᑲᓄ ᒋᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒪᑲᓄᐨ. ᓄᑯᒥᑫ ᑕᐡ ᑭᐃᔕᐸᓂᐠ ᐊᐸᒪᑐᐠ ᐁᑭᐊᑕᐃᐧ ᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢᐅᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑭᔐᐱᓯᒧᐣ 10 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᓂᐨ. ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐠ ᐊᐃᔭᐧᐠ ᐅᑭᐱᑲᑲᓄᓇᐊᐧᐣ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢᐅᐣ. “ᒥᔑᐣ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᐣᑭᐱᓇᓇᓯᑲᑯᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐣᑭᐱ ᒪᒪᓯᓇᐦᐊᒪᑯᐠ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᑲᐅᒋ ᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᐠ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ. “ᐃᑭᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑎ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐅᐡᑭ ᐅᒪᒪᒥᒪᐃᐧᐊᐧᐨ. ᐣᑭᐃᐧᑕᒪᑯᐠ ᐁᑭᐅᒋ ᒋᑭᐡᑲᒪᐊᐧᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑭᐅᒋ ᒥᓀᐧᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲ ᐃᐧᓀᑕᐊᐧ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐁᐃᓯᓭᐊᐧᐨ.” ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐱᑯ ᐅᐣᒋ ᓇᓂᓯᑕᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧᑲᓄ. ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐁᐱᐦᐅᐸᐣ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᐱᒥᓭᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᐁᐃᔕᐸᐣ ᐊᒋᑯᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ, ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᐅᑭ ᒥᐧᑫᐣᑕᐣ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐣ ᐁᑲᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒥᑯᐨ.

“ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ

ᐃᑯ

ᐣᑕᓄᑲᑕᐣ, ” ᑭᐃᓇᒋᒧ. “ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐃᑯ ᑲᑭᐃᑭᑐᔭᐸᐣ ᑲᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒥᑯᔭᐣ, ᑲᐃᐧᓂᐣ ᐃᐧᑲ ᑕᐅᐣᒋ ᐃᐡᑲᐧᓭᓯᓄᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒋᒪᒥᑲᑕᒪᐣ, ᒥᑕᐡ ᐃᑯ ᑫᐃᔑ ᐱᒥᒪᒥᑲᒪᑕᐣ ᐸᓂᒪ ᐱᑯ ᑭᐃᐡᑲᐧᓭᐠ ᐣᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ.” ᐊᒥ ᐁᑲᐧ

“ᑫᑲᐱ ᑕᐡ ᑭᒋᔭᐦᐊ ᐣᑭᐱᐅᒋ ᓇᓯᑲᐠ, ᐁᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒥᔑᐨ, ᐁᐃᓂᔑᐨ, ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ, ᐅ ᑭᓂᒋᑲ.” ᐃᑭᑐ ᐁᑭᐁᐧᑲᓄᓂᑫᐨ. “ᐣᑭᐃᐧᑕᒪᐠ ᐁᑭᐊᐧᐸᒥᔑᐨ ᑲᑭᒪᓯᓇᑌᓭᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐣᑭᔕᐁᐧᓂᒥᐠ.” ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᒉᐣᐁᐧᕑᐃ ᐱᓯᑦ, ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ

ᑭᒪᒪᑲᑌᑕᑦ ᑲᑭᐱᒪᓯᓇᐦᐊᒪᑯᐨ ᑭᒋᔭᐦᐊᐣ ᐁᐧᑎ ᓀᐣᑲᐱᐦᐊᓄᐠ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᑲᐃᓇᓯᓇᐦᐊᒪᑯᐨ ᐁᑭᓄᐣᑕᐊᐧᐨ ᓯᐱᓯ ᓇᑐᑕᒧᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᑭᑕᑎᐸᒋᒧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᒥᑐᓂ ᐱᑯ ᐁᑭ ᑭᒋᓀᑕᐣᑕᒥᐦᐃᑯᐨ ᑌᐯᐧᐃᐧᓂᐠ, ᓱᑭᑌᐦᐁᐃᐧᓂᐠ

ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭᑕᐁᐧᑕᒧᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᑭᐃᔑᐸᑭᑎᓂᑎᓱᐨ ᒋᑎᐸᒋᒥᑎᓱᐨ ᒥᐱᑯ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᐃᔑ ᐅᐣᒋᑲᐊᐧᐱᐨ. ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑭᐃᑯᐣ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑲᐃᑭᑐᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐸᑭᓇᑫᑕᒪᑫ ᒧᔕᐠ ᐁᐊᐧᓂᐊᐸᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᑭᐃᓀᐣᑕᐣ ᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᑌᐯᐧ ᐱᑯ ᐁᐸᑭᓇᑫᑕᒪᑫᐨ. “ᑲᑲᑫᐧ ᐸᑭᓇᑕᒪᐣ ᑲᑎᐯᓂᒥᑯᔭᐣ ᑭᑕᓂᒥᓭᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᐡᑲᒪᑫᔭᐣ ᑭᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐊᒥᐦᐃᐁᐧ ᓂᐣ ᐁᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᒪᐣ

ᐁᐸᑭᓇᑫᑕᒪᑫᔭᐣ,” ᑭᐃᓇᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫ. ᐊᐱ ᐁᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᑲᓄᐨ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐃᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒥᑎᓱᑫᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᑯᐨ ᑭᒋᔭᐦᐊᐣ, ᔐᒪᐠ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ. ᑭᑭᐱᑐᐁᐧᓭ ᐁᓇᓇᑲᑕᐁᐧᐣᑕᐠ. “ᓇᑫᐱᑯ, ᐊᒥᑲᓇᐦᐃ,” ᑭᔭᓂᑭᑐ. “ᐣᑲᑫᐧᐃᐧᒋᐦᐊᐠ ᐃᑯ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᐱᒪᒋᐦᐃᑎᓱᐊᐧᐨ.” ᑲᑭᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒪᑲᓄᐨ ᐊᒥᐦᐃᒪ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᑭᑫᐣᑕᐠ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ, ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᐱᑯ ᐅᑕᓄᑲᑕᐣ ᐁᐃᐧ ᑲᑫᐧᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᐨ. ᑲᑫᐧ ᔕᑯᓱᒥᐁᐧ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᒋᑭᒪᒋᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓯᐃᐧ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂ, ᒥᓇ ᓄᑯᒥᑫ ᑭᒪᑕᓄᑭ ᒋᑕᑭᐧᐨ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᐊᐱᑕᒪᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ, ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓯᐃᐧ ᐊᐱᑕᑫᐃᐧᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐃᔕ ᑲᐱᐅᐣᒋ ᐊᐣᑐᒪᑲᓄᐨ ᒋᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧ ᑕᑎᐸᒋᒧᐨ ᑲᑕᔑ ᐅᑯᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑎᓇᓂᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐣᑎ ᑌᑎᐸᐦᐃ. “ᑲᑭᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒥᑯᔭᐣ ᐣᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐣ ᒋᐅᑦᐱᑲᐸᐃᐧᔭᐣ, ᐁᑲ ᑫᑯᐣ ᒋᑲᑐᔭᐣ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᑲᑭᐊᔭᒥᐦᐊᐨ ᐃᐧᒋᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᓂᑲᐣ ᐅᐣᒋ ᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑐᐃᐧᓂᐠ. “ᐣᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐣ ᒋᑫᐧᑭᓭᐦᐃᑎᓱᔭᐣ. ᐣᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐣ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᐃᔑ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᒪᐣ ᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ. ᐣᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐣ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᒋᑫᔭᐣ. ᐣᑐᒋᒥᓀᐧᑕᐣ ᑕᐡ ᐁᑲ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᒥᐣᒋᒪᐱᓱᔭᐣ.” ᐊᐱ ᑲᑭᐃᐡᑲᐧ ᑭᔑᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᒪᓯᓇᑌᓯᒋᑲᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᒪᐣ

ᒋᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑭᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᐃᐧᐣᒋᑫᒪᑲᐣ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᐁᑭᑭᐁᐧ ᐸᐣᑭᔑᐣᐠ ᓂᐦᓱᑯᐣ ᑲᐃᐡᑲᐧᑭᐁᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᐱᐅᐣᒋ ᓴᑲᐦᐊᐠ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ. ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᑭᐃᓇᒋᒧ ᐅᒪ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐃᐡᑲᐧᔭᐨ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᑭᐊᐸᒋᑐᐸᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᔭᓂ ᒪᑕᑭᓱᓂᐨ ᒪᑯᔐᑭᔑᑲᓂᐱᓯᒧᐣ. ᑭᐃᐧᐣᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᑲ ᑫᑯᐣ ᐁᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᑫᑭᐅᒋ ᐊᓂᑯ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐠ ᑲᐃᐡᑲᐧ ᑭᔑᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᐁᓇᓂᓴᓀᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᑭᐁᐧᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐊᓂᐡ ᑲᑎᐯᓂᒥᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᓂ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ 80 ᐱᕑᓭᐣᐟ ᐁᐊᔭᒪᑲᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐠ. ᔕᑯᐨ ᑕᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᐅᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᐊᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᒋᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐣ ᓄᑯᒥᑫ ᐁᑭᐅᑕᐱᓇᐠ ᑲᐱᒥ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐦᐃᑕᐧ, ᐃᐁᐧ ᒪᐡᑭᑭ ᐁᑲ ᒋᐅᒋ ᓇᑕᐁᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑎᐯᓂᒥᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᐸᑲᒋᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑐᑲᐣ ᑭᒋ ᐃᐧᓴᑫᑕᒧᒪᐡᑭᑭᐣ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᐊᒥ ᐁᑫᐧᓇᐠ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᓀᐧᐡ ᐁᑲ ᐁᔭᐸᒋᑐᐨ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᑫᐃᐧᓂ ᐊᑯᓇᐠ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᑭᑲᑫᐧ ᐳᓂᑐᐸᐣ. “ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐃᑯ ᐣᑕᓄᑲᑕᐣ,” ᑭᐃᓇᒋᒧ. “ᑐᑲᐣ ᐃᑯ ᑲᑭᐃᑭᑐᔭᐸᐣ ᑲᒪᓯᓇᑌᔑᒥᑯᔭᐣ, ᑲᐃᐧᓂᐣ ᐃᐧᑲ ᑕᐅᐣᒋ ᐃᐡᑲᐧᓭᓯᓄᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒋᒪᒥᑲᑕᒪᐣ, ᒥᑕᐡ ᐃᑯ ᑫᐃᔑ ᐱᒥᒪᒥᑲᒪᑕᐣ ᐸᓂᒪ ᐱᑯ ᑭᐃᐡᑲᐧᓭᐠ ᐣᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ.”

Sculpting snow at Pelican carnival Snow sculpting was part of the Sioux Lookout Pelican Falls high school winter carnival last month. Each house had to come up with its own design. What do you think - Elmo or the green monster?

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Photos by Linda Henry/Wawatay News

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NOTICE To All KASABONIKA LAKE FIRST NATION members living off-reserve, the BAND GENERAL ELECTION IS SLATED FOR MARCH 23, 2012. THE ELECTION will be held at the BAND OFFICE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU MAY CALL THE CHIEF AND COUNCIL AT (807) 535-2547.

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

15

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Leading the life she wants Doris Slipperjack continues fight against oxy addiction Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

After the film credits ran and the lights came on, Doris Slipperjack stepped to the podium and spoke before a group of youth gathered from across northern Ontario. “That’s the first time I’ve ever been honest and truthful, and I never thought I could do anything like that,” the 23-year-old said about the film. “I used to be shy, and I shut myself out from the world.” She pauses then continues, her voice starting to quiver. “I’m surprised something like this can happen to me, especially with all the hardships that I’ve been through. I never thought good things can happen to me.” The Life You Want: A Young Woman’s Struggle Through Addiction was screened at the Oshkaatisak Niigaan Oji Gathering on Feb. 9 in Thunder Bay. The 34-minute documentary, produced by the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) and filmed by Thunderstone Pictures, chronicles Doris’ struggle with prescription drug addiction and her attempt to seek treatment. In a series of interviews and candid moments, Doris is unflinchingly honest in talking about her addiction and how it affects her, her three children, and how widespread the drug addiction problem is in her community of Eabametoong First Nation.

Photo by Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News

Doris Slipperjack speaks before youth during the Oshkaatisak Niigaan Oji Gathering on Feb. 9 in Thunder Bay. The 23-year-old from Eabametoong First Nation talked about how filming and screening the 34-minute documentary The Life You Want: A Young Woman’s Struggle Through Addiction impacted her life. Doris still remembers watching the documentary for the first time. “I cried,” she told Wawatay News. “Hard to believe that was me.” Watching it brought home the reality of her life and struggle with addiction. “I planned to have to good life and I can’t believe that’s what happened to me,” she said. Doris’ involvement with the project almost never came to be. When SLFNHA representatives came into the community in late-2010 and interviewed Doris on camera about drug addiction, she denied it.

“I just started feeding them B.S.,” she said. “Then I thought, why do I have to lie? So I called them back and said, Yeah, I do drugs, and we did the interview again.” Then in early 2011, she was contacted about the documentary, and she agreed to do it. “I jumped at it, because it’s secretly what I wanted to do – to help people,” she said. The documentary was filmed over several months, as the film crew visited the community and captured Doris in her home, and then followed her as she went to detox in Dryden before attending a treatment centre in Thunder Bay in the spring.

The release of The Life You Want has given Doris a lot of attention from both media and the general public. In January, she was interviewed on CBC’s national radio program The Current in a segment that lasted 30 minutes. Then she was contacted by the British Broadcasting Corporation to do another video production. A BBC film crew recently followed Doris as she traveled back to her community on Feb. 10. Members of the public also contacted Doris. “A lot of people are coming up to me or sending me messages on Facebook,” she

said. “Especially young mothers. They say how much I’ve inspired them and that it feels good to know that they’re not alone.” She gets recognized in public. While waiting for a flight to Sachigo Lake at the Sioux Lookout airport, Doris had the feeling that people nearby were watching her. “Then an old man came up to me, staring at me, and said ‘Doris? Oh, it is you!” she recalled. “He said he saw the film and gave me a hug.” In January, Doris was surprised to receive a letter from an elderly man in Victoria, B.C.. The writer said he heard Doris on The Current and was so “struck by the honesty, courage, and intelligence” she conveyed that he was moved to tears. He wrote that the term ‘hero’ is often wrongly applied, but felt Doris was a ‘true hero.’ “Your determination to overcome your addiction and to be a shining light in your community are indeed heroic in my opinion,” he wrote. When Doris was asked if she felt like she was hero, she immediately replied no. Then she paused to think. “I don’t know, kind of,” she said. “I’m just trying to help people save themselves.” The documentary sparked something in Doris, as she’s now working harder than ever to help others. She has been pushing her community to start a youth council, and recently became

a member of the Oshkaatisak Council, the youth council for NAN. And she’s accepted many invitations to speak at conferences and gatherings across the region to share her story with others. “This film helped me to open up, to be honest,” Doris told the youth at the Oshkaatisak Niigaan Oji Gathering. “It actually helped change me. It helped change the way I see life. It helped change the way I do things. I kind of feel like I’ve been set free.” The end of The Life You Want indicated that Doris relapsed three days after returning home from treatment. Doris told Wawatay the last time she abused drugs was in early December. The documentary highlighted that there is no after care program in the community, and Doris had indicated the dangers of returning home where drug addiction has overtaken over 80 per cent of the community. But Doris told the youth she recently went on a Suboxone program, a drug that replaces the physical effects of narcotics such as oxycodone, and that this is the longest time she’s been off using prescription drugs since she first tried to quit. “I’m still working on it,” she said to the youth. “Like I said (in the film), it’s a never ending battle, and I’m willing to fight this battle until my time is up.”

Leaving addiction behind Pic River youth takes charge of his future Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

When Michael Tyance was 16 years old, he tried prescription drugs and was immediately hooked. “It’s just the euphoria that you get from it,” Tyance said. “It felt just right, I wanted to keep on taking it.” The Pic River First Nation member, who grew up in Marathon and Red Lake, became a drug addict. He was using drugs “pretty much all the time.” His mother Ella Linklater was unaware of his drug use, but knew he was changing. “He was getting into trouble, like breaking and entering,” she said. When his run-ins with the law became too much, Tyance moved in with his brother in Thunder Bay until he was kicked out. “So I had to live out in the streets, and find any place to sleep,” the 20-year-old recalls. After living without a home for three months, Tyance realized he needed to change. “I was tired of living the life that I was living. I was sick of it. So the time came when I decided to seek help and turn my life around.” He went to the Norwestern Health Unit, who recommended he go to the Leading Thunderbird Lodge, a youth treatment centre located in Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask. Founded in 2007, Leading

Submitted photo

Pic River’s Michael Tyance at work at the Twisted Wire Ranch in Qu’Appelle, Sask. The 20-year-old struggled with addiction and lived on the streets of Thunder Bay before he sought treatment. Thunderbird Lodge offers a 12-week treatment program, which includes one-on-one and group therapy sessions to go with its clinical and educational programs. On average, about 60 to 75 per cent of clients graduate. Karen Main, executive director of the lodge, estimates about 200 youths have received treatment. Originally, it took both female and male clients but now focuses on males between the ages of 12 and 17. “What I really liked about it was the cultural program and the horse program at Twisted Wire Ranch,” Tyance said, adding that he never saw a horse before the program. After going in for a second intake, Tyance graduated from

the program and has lived clean since. Although Linklater never spoke with Tyance much since he moved out, she traveled recently to Qu’Appelle to reunite with her son. “I’m really proud of him for coming out and admitting that he had a problem and dealing with it,” she said, adding that he is a role model for his other siblings. “I’m glad he’s been helping himself.” Tyance now works at the Twisted Wire Ranch after being invited by the owners to work and live with them, and to go back to school. “Life right now is really good,” Tyance said. “It’s a lot better. I very much appreciate life right now.”

PUBLIC NOTICE All band members of Sandy Lake First Nation A General Band Election has been called for the offices of Chief, Deputy Chief and eight Councillors of Sandy Lake First Nation to be held on Friday, March 30, 2012. Toll-free phone-in voting will be permitted for off-reserve band members at 1-866-450-8399. Number only operational on Election Day Friday, March 30, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For further information on procedures contact Frankie Crowe or Monias Fiddler (807) 774-3421.

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Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Honouring the history of Ahmoo Angeconeb Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Police Constable The Dryden Police Service is looking for dynamic, innovative and forward thinking people that will help ensure public safety for the City of Dryden. Therefore, we are accepting applications with the intention of creating a pool of qualified applicants as potential candidates for the position of Basic Recruit /4th Class Police Constable. Application packages and instructions have been posted on the Dryden Police Service website. Applicants are advised to go to: www.dryden.ca – City Services – Dryden Police Service Employment Opportunity. Here one can locate an application package that includes the required forms, resume instructions, physical fitness standards, Police Services Act mandatory requirements and other relevant information. The closing date is Friday, March 9th 2012 and applications must be received no later than 4:00pm (Central Time).

“Honoured.” That’s how Lac Seul artist Ahmoo Angeconeb feels about the 30-year retrospective of his artwork currently on exhibit at the A-frame Gallery in Sioux Lookout. “Opening night was really great,” Angeconeb said. “There were over 60 people that attended the opening. That was the largest number the A-frame Gallery ever got to an opening. They were really impressed with the artwork.” A wide variety of Angeconeb’s drawings, serigraphs, linocut prints and etchings from over the past 30 years were featured in The Degrees of Abstraction: The Art of Allen Ahmoo Angeconeb, which opened Jan. 30 and is scheduled to run until March 30. “A lot of different people had different favourite pieces,” Angeconeb said. “There was no one particular piece that everyone was in favour of.” Angeconeb’s favourite piece was the pencil drawing from 2004, Untitled #2. “It’s a turquoise and white pencil drawing on black paper,” Angeconeb said. “It shows a man in the middle and four caribou surrounding it. It’s a self portrait of myself being surrounded by four caribou.” Although Angeconeb has had some health issues over the past few years, including a stroke in 2010 that affected his

Tikinagan Child & Family Services Founded by our Chiefs and Elders, Tikinagan continues to focus services and staff positions in the First Nations we serve. We believe our role is to be there in the communities, mentoring young parents, supporting families and protecting children. Our work is guided by the Tikinagan service model – Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin (Everyone working together to raise our children). We invite applications for the following jobs, which are open until filled unless a closing date is indicated: Bearskin Lake – Prevention Services Co-ordinator, Secretary/Receptionist Big Trout Lake – Residential Counsellor (male), Family Services Worker, Maintenance Worker, Child Care Worker, Residential Counsellor (female, term to July 5, 2012), Traditional Life Skills Educator (male), Kitchen Cook (part-time), Residential Care Worker Cat Lake – Maintenance Worker, Secretary/Receptionist, Residential Counsellor (male), Prevention Services Co-ordinator, Family Services Worker (term to Aug. 30, 2012) Deer Lake – Prevention Services Co-ordinator, Family Services Worker Fort Hope – Family Services Worker, Direct Services Supervisor (Child Care), Prevention Services Co-ordinator Fort Severn – Child Care Worker Kasabonika – Child Care Worker, Secretary/Receptionist, Family Services Worker Keewaywin – Child Care Worker Kingfisher Lake – Family Services Worker, Secretary/Receptionist Lac Seul – Family Services Worker Marten Falls – Prevention Services Co-ordinator Mishkeegogamang – Child Care Worker Muskrat Dam – Direct Services Supervisor, Maintenance/Janitor (part-time) Neskantaga – Prevention Services Co-ordinator North Spirit Lake – Prevention Services Co-ordinator Pikangikum – Intake/Investigation Worker Poplar Hill – Prevention Services Co-ordinator Sachigo Lake – Residential Care Worker, Child Care Worker Sioux Lookout – Casual Relief Workers, Residential Care Worker (term to July 2012), Network Support Technician (one year term), Family Services Worker (Kasabonika unit) Slate Falls – Prevention Services Co-ordinator Summer Beaver – Prevention Services Co-ordinator Thunder Bay – Family Services Worker (serving Fort Hope) Wapekeka – Child Care Worker, Direct Services Supervisor Webequie – Prevention Services Co-ordinator For more information about these jobs, you can: * Visit our website, www.tikinagan .org, under “New Jobs” * E-mail hr@tikinagan.org to request details * Call Christina Davis, human resources secretary, at: (807) 737-3466 ext. 2249 or toll-free 1-800-465-3624

www.tikinagan.org

left arm and leg and a lower right leg amputation last fall, he attended the Feb. 9 opening reception at the A-frame Gallery along with his family and Lance Hildebrand, who curated the retrospective. “With drawing, it doesn’t affect me because I’m righthanded,” Angeconeb said about the stroke. “But with my left hand and left arm being paralyzed, I can’t carve as much.” His right foot and lower leg were amputated due to an ulcer infection stemming from diabetes. “So I’m in a wheelchair,” Angeconeb said, noting he hopes to get an artificial limb this spring. “It really slows down my travel.” His future plans include the creation of gold-coloured pencil drawings on black paper and wood block prints. “I have a show at the moment in Minneapolis,” Angeconeb said. “It opened Jan. 20 and it just finished.” Although Angeconeb started drawing at the age of five on his mother’s wall in the Lac Seul community of Whitefish Bay, it wasn’t until he was 13 years old that he discovered Norval Morrisseau, learned about oil paint and was taught professional art lessons by a teacher from Ireland. Angeconeb first studied at York University in Toronto for one year when he was 22, then continued his studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.B. and completed his studies

Exciting Health Care Opportunities Traditional Healing, Medicines, Foods & Supports Program Manager – Full time Reporting to the VP Health Services, the Traditional Program Manager oversees the development and implementation of the Traditional Healing, Foods, Medicines and Supports Program. Qualifications: • Post-secondary degree or equivalent in the health care/health policy/public administration field or appropriate disciplines. • A Minimum of 5 years work experience. • Experience in program design, planning and implementation; familiarity with project management tools and techniques. • Demonstrated ability in issues management, problem solving and decision making. • Demonstrated leadership and management skills • Extensive overall awareness of traditional Anishinabe values, customs and ideology of the First Nations in the Sioux Lookout area. • Acceptance and knowledge of a wide range of personal beliefs and concepts of traditions and spirituality including traditional ceremonies. • Excellent understanding and knowledge of cross-cultural issues. • Demonstrated excellent written and oral English skills. • Ability to speak and write Cree, Oji-Cree or Ojibway is a very strong asset. • Ability to develop creative ways to address new program requirements. • Perform other related duties as may be required and/or assigned. • Proficiency with computers and programs such as Excel, Ormed, etc. Responsibilities: • Oversee all aspects of Program Development, Implementation and ongoing • evaluation. • Initiate and ensure consultation with stakeholders as required. • Liaise with other Health Centre Departments, stakeholders and patients to ensure program implementation across Meno Ya Win. • Develop and maintain a Program Work Plan outlining program goals, objectives, and timelines. • Complete activities as indicated in the Work Plan. • Financial and budgetary responsibilities • Accountable for acquisition, management and evaluation of staff. • Oversee the Elders Council and Gatherings. • Collaborate in the development of a cross cultural safety program Salary:

The salary range for this position will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Closing Date: Resume with cover letter must be submitted to Human Resources by 4:00pm, March 5, 2012 Submit Resume to: Human Resources — Competition #TRP 03/11 Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Box 909, Sioux Lookout, ON, P8T 1B4 Fax (807)737-6263 Email: humanresources@slmhc.on.ca Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted, we thank all others for their interest. The successful candidate will be required to provide a criminal records check.

photo by Laurel Wood/Special to Wawatay News

Lac Seul artist Ahmoo Angeconeb talks about his work during the opening of The Degrees of Abstraction: The Art of Allen Ahmoo Angeconeb, which opened on Jan. 30 at the A-frame Gallery in Sioux Lookout and runs until March 30. with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts at Lakehead University in 1989. His artwork has since been featured extensively throughout North America and Europe, including solo exhibitions in Paris, France; Cologne, Berlin and Munich, Germany; Basel and Zurich, Switzerland; Monaco; Santa Fe, NM; Toronto; Montreal; Halifax;

London, Ont. and Vancouver. Angeconeb’s artwork is held in numerous public and private collections around the world and he frequently lectures on Native art and has acted for the Ontario Arts Council as a consultant and juror for Native art. He has also been an artist in residence to the Saami (Laplanders) in northern Scandinavia.

SIOUX LOOKOUT FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITY Finance Department PAYROLL CLERK Internal/External Posting Full Time Position Location: Sioux Lookout, Ontario The Payroll Clerk is responsible for the Payroll and related duties in the Finance Office. The incumbent must have an understanding of accounting concepts, working knowledge of ACCPAC as well as an understanding of the payroll process. QUALIFICATIONS • Minimum Grade 12; • Diploma/Certificate in a Finance or Business program preferred; • Minimum two years of payroll experience; • Experience in data entry a definite asset; • Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills; • Possess excellent interpersonal skills, organizational and planning skills; • Must be willing and able to work as part of a team; • Must be able to work independently in a high paced environment. KNOWLEDGE & ABILITY • Knowledge of Microsoft Office; • Working knowledge of AccPac accounting software; • Must have experience and understanding of Native culture, and of the geographic realities and social conditions within remote First Nation Communities; • Ability to speak one of the First Nations dialects within the Sioux Lookout Zone an asset; • Must be willing to relocate and live in Sioux Lookout. Please send cover letter, resume, three most recent employment references and an up-to-date Criminal Reference Check: Human Resources Department Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority 61 Queen Street, P.O. Box 1300 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B8 Phone: (807) 737-1802 Fax: (807) 737-2969 Email: Human.Resources@slfnha.com Closing Date: March 14, 2012 The Health Authority wishes to thank all applicants in advance. However, only those granted an interview will be contacted. For additional information regarding the Health Authority, please visit our Web-site at www.slfnha.com

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

Rangers a hit at Winterlude Sergeant Peter Moon Special to Wawatay News

Five Canadian Rangers from Ontario’s North were a great success with visitors to a Canadian Forces exhibit during the annual Winterlude celebration in Ottawa. “Their tipi and their equipment is a big attraction for visitors to our site,” said Captain Leonardo Finelli, the army officer running the military exhibit. “A lot of people don’t know who the Canadian Rangers are and that they are part of the Canadian Forces. This gives them a chance to meet Rangers and find out what they do. The Rangers make people understand what a big country Canada is and how valuable they are in the North.” The Ranger exhibit featured a tipi, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, freighter canoe, and other equipment and was a major attraction in Jacques Cartier Park, located in Gatineau, Que., across the Ottawa River from the Parliament buildings in Ottawa. Ranger Denise Patrick of Peawanuck said the first thing people did when they walked into the tipi was look up in awe at its height. “And then they’d ask how come there’s a hole at the top and I’d explain that it’s to let the smoke from a fire get out. Lots of them think we live in igloos or tipis and I’d explain to them that in northern Ontario we live in houses with running water and that we have electricity and televisions. People don’t know much about how we live up North.” The Rangers’ snowmobile, ATV and freighter canoe were hugely popular with young visitors to the site. A large chain saw used to cut through lake and river ice prompted a lot of questions from people who thought trees in northern Ontario must be extra large to need such a long cutting edge. They were surprised when they found out how thick ice can be in the North. “Lots of people thought we’re park rangers and lots have never heard about the Canadian Rangers,” said Master Corporal Kim Cheena of Moose Factory. “We explain that we are members of the Canadian Forces, that we’re from way up North, and that we do search and rescue and evacuations. Many of them are French speaking and I’d talk a little big of

17

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Healing takes living in Indian Horse INDIAN HORSE By Richard Wagamese Douglas and McIntyre Printing 188 pages; $21.95 Reviewed by Joyce Atcheson Special to Wawatay News

Photo by Sergeant Peter Moon/Canadian Rangers

From left, Ranger Denise Patrick of Peawanuck, Master Corporal Kim Cheena of Moose Factory, and Sergeant Richard Wesley take a break from talking with the public at Winterlude to try the children's army assault course, which began with push ups. Cree to them. That really surprised them.” It is the seventh year Canadian Rangers from northern Ontario have been a major part of the Canadian Forces display at Winterlude. Other rangers at the exhibit were Sergeant Richard Wesley of Kashechewan and Master Corporals Jacob Anderson

of Kasabonika Lake and Paul Sagutch of Eabametoong. A sixth, Ranger Leeanne Capay of Lac Seul, was only able to stay for part of the festival. (Sergeant Peter Moon is the public affairs ranger for the 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group at Canadian Forces Base Borden.)

Cuddled in her arms to avoid the biting cold, 7-year-old Saul Indian Horse felt her leave and cried, as he burrowed into her embrace. Hours later he was ripped from his frozen grandmother’s arms by Zhaunagush and after two days travel arrived at residential school. Befriended by a priest Indian Horse discovers a game that gives him simple and powerful joy and reveals a gift from his grandfather: vision. He sees what is to happen and how to play hockey. Indian Horse hides a pair of over-sized skates in the snow and after stuffing the toes he teaches himself to skate. Soon he stashes a discarded stick and using horse turds as pucks he

practices, developing his skill on the blades, his speed, and dynamite wrist shots at the goal corners. Through vision he knows what he has to do, but Indian Horse is no fighter. He just loves the game, the cleanness, the joy, the excitement, the stick handling, the team work. Hockey keeps Indian Horse

sane for a number of years and gives him a career until racism pushes him to where he never wanted to go -- he becomes a raging redskin losing his joy in the game. He drops out, turns to the bottle and his life goes to the pits like many others who have been to residential school. Recovery is up and down eventually bringing him back to what he loves and to life. Richard Wagamese is a master storyteller, who blends the throb of life with spiritual links to the land, hard work, and culture to find success, His words take you into the soul of Indian Horse, to experience his pain, his growing resentments, his depression, and his fear which has to be faced if he is to regain the joy of life. This book is meant for youth, adults, and elders, to be shared, to be lived, and to be treasured for the clear message of hope and the need to go the distance.

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18

Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Sandy Lake exacts revenge Brent Wesley Special to Wawatay News

It wasn’t even close. Four quick goals early in the first period. It would have been enough. In a fourth attempt to defeat Lac Seul in midget A-side finals at the Little Bands Native Youth Hockey Tournament, Sandy Lake finally did good. The team skated to an easy 10-1 rout of Lac Seul to claim top spot. The excitement was evident for the Sandy Lake players as they celebrated each goal with unbridled, youthful enthusiasm. Lac Seul had eased past all their opponents in the six-day tournament in Sioux Lookout. But Sandy Lake came to play right from the start, leaving Lac Seul wondering what went wrong. It was the fourth straight time the two communities met in the midget final, but this time around, Sandy Lake proved to be too much, putting together a solid team effort, backed by strong goaltending. The annual tournament featured over 400 players from 36 teams from First Nations in the Sioux Lookout area. In bantam A-side action, Kasabonika beat Sachigo Lake, while Sandy Lake also won A-side championships in the peewee and novice division. Lac Seul won the atom A-side championship.

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photos by Brent Wesley/ Special to Wawatay News

LEFT TOP: The Kasabonika Eagles are A-side bantam champions of the 2012 Little Bands Native Youth Hockey Tournament in Sioux Lookout. Kasabonika defeated Sachigo 4-1. LEFT BOTTOM: Sandy Lake celebrates their 10-1 victory over Lac Seul in midget A-side final action Feb. 19 in Sioux Lookout during the Little Bands Native Youth Hockey Tournament.

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Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

19

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

sgdn This Week: Selecting a Site for Canada’s National Used Fuel Repository

Cette semaine : Choisir un site pour le dépôt national de combustible irradié du Canada

Canada's plan involves the construction of a national repository for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. Used nuclear fuel is a by-product from the generation of electricity in nuclear power plants. The plan 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. In implementing Canada’s plan, an important decision is where to locate this national repository and centre of expertise.

Q. A.

Q. A.

Q. A.

Q. A.

Q. A. Q. A.

Le plan canadien comprend la construction d’un dépôt national de gestion à long terme du combustible nucléaire irradié. Le combustible nucléaire irradié est un résidu résultant de la production d’électricité par les centrales nucléaires. Le plan 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 de collaboration nationale et internationale. Dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre du plan canadien, une décision importante concernera l’endroit où seront construits le dépôt national et le centre d’expertise.

How will a site be selected? The NWMO is leading a site selection process to identify an informed and willing host community for the national repository and centre of expertise required by Canada’s plan. This site selection process was developed over a two-year period in dialogue with Canadians, and reflects their ideas, experience and best advice on what an open, transparent and fair process for making this decision would include. The process also builds upon the best knowledge and experience within Canada and internationally.

Q. R.

When will a decision on a site be made? The site selection process will require between seven and 10 years of study to identify a preferred site for Canada’s plan. No decision will be made before these studies have been completed and the project has been the subject of formal regulatory review and environmental assessment.

Q. R.

What are the goals of the site selection process? The site selection process will ensure: any community that is selected to host the facility is both informed about the project and willing to host it; any site that is selected to host this facility will safely contain and isolate used nuclear fuel for a very long period of time in an appropriate geological formation, and that there is an acceptable way of transporting used fuel to the site; surrounding communities affected by the project and the transportation of used fuel are involved in planning how the project will be implemented; First Nations, Métis and Inuit potentially affected by the implementation of this project are involved in learning, assessment and planning of the project.

Q. R.

What factors will be considered? Any potential community and site will be assessed against a number of factors, both technical and social in nature. First and foremost, the preferred site will be one that can safely contain and isolate used nuclear fuel, protecting humans and the environment over the very long term. Secondly, locating the facility in the community must help foster the well-being, or quality of life, of the local community and region in which it is implemented. Through the site selection process, the community and site will be assessed in a series of steps, with each step designed to evaluate the site in greater detail than the step before. A community will proceed from one step to the next only if it chooses to do so and if the work to assess the suitability of the site supports it. Ultimately, a compelling demonstration of willingness will be required, involving residents of the community, in order to host this project.

Q. R.

Are some communities being targeted? No. Only communities that are interested in the project, and express this interest by contacting the NWMO, will be considered. Can communities leave the process at any time? Yes. A community that enters the site selection process can leave the process at any time up until signing a formal agreement many years in the future.

Q. R. Q. R.

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. For more information about the site selection process or other NWMO activities, please visit: Pour en savoir plus sur le processus de sélection d’un site ou sur les autres activités de la SGDN, veuillez visiter :

Comment choisira-t-on un site? La SGDN est chargée de mettre en œuvre un processus de sélection d’un site servant à identifier une collectivité informée qui consentira à accueillir le dépôt national et le centre d’expertise essentiels au plan adopté par le Canada. Ce processus de sélection d’un site a été élaboré au cours de deux années de dialogue avec les Canadiens et reflète leurs idées, leur expérience et leurs conseils judicieux sur les éléments que devrait inclure un processus décisionnel ouvert, transparent et équitable. Ce processus s’appuie aussi sur les meilleures connaissances et l’expérience la plus probante au Canada et dans le monde. Quand prendra-t-on la décision sur un site? Le processus de sélection d’un site nécessitera sept à 10 années au cours desquelles plusieurs études seront menées afin d’identifier un site de prédilection pour le plan canadien. Aucune décision ne sera prise avant que ces études aient été réalisées et que le projet ait été soumis à un examen réglementaire et à une évaluation environnementale en bonne et due forme. Quels sont les objectifs du processus de sélection d’un site? Les objectifs du processus de sélection d’un site consistent à veiller à ce que : toute collectivité qui accueillera l’installation le fasse en toute connaissance de cause et de manière volontaire; le site choisi pour accueillir l’installation permette de confiner et d’isoler le combustible nucléaire irradié pour une très longue période au sein d’une formation géologique appropriée et qu’il y ait une méthode acceptable pour transporter le combustible irradié jusqu’au site; les collectivités voisines touchées par le projet et le transport du combustible irradié participent à la planification de la mise en œuvre du projet; les membres des Premières nations, les Métis et les Inuits potentiellement touchés par la mise en œuvre du projet soient renseignés sur le projet et qu’ils participent à son évaluation et à sa planification. Quels facteurs seront pris en compte? Toute collectivité candidate et tout site potentiel seront évalués en fonction d’un certain nombre de facteurs, de nature tant technique que sociale. En premier lieu, le site choisi devra pouvoir confiner et isoler le combustible nucléaire irradié et ainsi protéger la population et l’environnement à très long terme. Deuxièmement, le projet doit favoriser le bien-être, ou la qualité de vie, de la collectivité locale et de la région au sein desquelles il est mis en œuvre. Dans le cadre du processus de sélection d’un site, la collectivité et le site seront évalués suivant une série d’étapes, chacune plus détaillée que la précédente. Les collectivités ne procéderont à une étape subséquente du processus que si elles le souhaitent et si les études réalisées pour évaluer leur aptitude sont favorables. Au bout du processus, la collectivité candidate privilégiée devra démontrer de façon convaincante que ses résidents consentent à accueillir le projet. A-t-on établi au préalable une liste de collectivités potentielles? Non. Seules les collectivités qui sont intéressées par le projet et qui expriment cet intérêt en communiquant avec la SGDN sont considérées. Les collectivités peuvent-elles se retirer du processus en tout temps? Oui. Toute collectivité participant au processus de sélection d’un site pourra se retirer en tout temps jusqu’au moment où elle aura signé un accord officiel, ce qui ne se fera que dans plusieurs années.

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.

www.nwmo.ca

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Wawatay News

MARCH 1, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

51%

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