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Sandy Lake using science camp to fight diabetes PAGE 11 Vol. 39 No. 27
Elders in high school connect students with culture PAGE 9
New NAN grand chief pledges to protect lands PAGE 6
9,300 copies distributed $1.50
August 30, 2012 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974
www.wawataynews.ca
Once in a lifetime
Beating the odds Pikangikum mother credits culture, family for education success Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News
“The children and youth of Pikangikum have been taking their lives at an extraordinary rate for a number of years,” reads the opening line of the summary of the Office of the Chief Coroner’s Death Review of the Youth Suicides at the Pikangikum First Nation. The report also includes a list of striking characteristics that came out as a result of the review of the deaths from 2006-2008, and it is quite depressing. “Suicides occurred largely in clusters; the youth were very young when they took their lives; none of the children had sought help from a trained professional; almost all of the children were solvent abusers; and school engagement and attendance appears to have been very limited,” were a few of the details. One of the key drivers for youth suicide, according to the report, is
lack of education opportunities. The report delves into the lack of education in Pikangikum since the school burnt down in 2007, and draws attention to the low numbers of high school graduates and post-secondary school students in the community. But Cheryl Suggashie has gone against the trend. The mother of three from Pikangikum just graduated from Algoma University with a major in Law and Justice and a minor in Political Science. As for her success, Suggashie attributes it to a few key factors: support from her family and the strength she found in her traditions and culture. “What helped me was the traditional aspects of my culture,” Suggashie said of how she succeeded in reaching her educational goals. “Culture is a key thing. I just feel that there is hope. It’s hard but you can get through it.” See Pikangikum on page 7
Submitted photo by Pauline Mickelson
Sarah Mickelson of Thunder Bay had a chance to see the Stanley Cup, and Jordan Nolan of the LA Kings, up close during the Garden River Stanley Cup parade on Aug. 20. Mickelson said the experience showed her that anyone can reach their dreams if they are willing to put in the hard work. See story on one family’s inspiring day in Garden River on page 12.
ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐃᐧᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐱᒪᐦᐅᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᐅᐣᒋ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧ ᔕᐧᐣ ᐯᓫ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᐧᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ
ᐅᑭᒪᒥᑐᓀᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᐃᐧᑭᐁᐧᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᐃᓀᑫ ᑲᐊᐃᔑᑎᑫᐧᔭᑭᐣ ᓯᐱᐊᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᒪᓇᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑲᐊᑯ ᐃᐡᐸᑲᒥᑲᐠ, ᐅᑯᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐱᒪᑲᐧᔑᐁᐧᐠ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᐁᐅᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒧᑕᐦᐅᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐧᔕᐦᐅᐠ ᐁᑭᐃᓇᐦᐅᐊᐧᐨ. ᓂᐅᔕᑊ ᐅᐱᒪᑲᐧᔑᐁᐧᐠ ᒪᒪᐤ ᑭᓂᐦᓴᐧᓱᓇᑭᓯᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᐅᐣᒋᒪᒐᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱ ᐅᐸᐅᐃᐧᐱᓯᑦ 24. ᐊᒥ ᑲᐃᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᑕᑲᐧᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᔕᐦᐅᐠ ᒥᑕᓱᑯᐣ ᑭᔭᓂᓯᓭᓂᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐃᔑᓯᐱᐊᐧᓂᐠ. ᕑᐃᒍᕑᐟ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ, ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᑲᓂᑲᓂ ᐱᒧᑐᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᒪᒐᐃᐧᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᑲᐃᐧᓂᐣ ᐃᑯ ᐁᑕ ᐁᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᑲᑫᐧ ᓇᐱᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᔭᐡ ᐅᑕᓂᑫᒥᔓᒪᐣ ᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᐱᒪᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑕᓱᔭᑭ ᑲᑭᐱᒪᐦᐅᑕᓱᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓴᓯᐱᐊᐧᓂᐠ. “ᐊᒥ ᑲᔦ ᐯᑭᐡ ᑲᐅᐣᒋ ᑐᑕᒪᐠ ᐁᐅᐣᒋ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᓯᓇᑯᑐᔭᐠ ᐁᒪᓇᒋᑐᔭᐠ ᓄᐱᐧᓇᒥᐠ ᑲᐊᐃᒪᓇᒪᑎᓇᐠ ᓂᑲᐣ ᑫᔭᓂᐸᐱᒪᑎᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᔭᓂᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ. “ᐣᑭᒋᐦᐊᒥᓇᓂᐠ ᐣᑭᐃᐧᑕᒪᑯᒥᐣ ᑭᓂᐱᒥᓇᐣ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭᑕᐸᒋᑐᔭᐠ ᐅᒪ ᑲᐊᔭᔭᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᒥᐱᑯ ᒋᐃᔑ ᑲᑫᐧᒥᒋᒥᓇᒪᑭᐸᐣ.” ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ ᐊᔕ ᐯᔑᑯᔕᐸᐧ ᑭᐃᓇᐦᐅ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᐁᐅᐣᒋᒪᒐᐨ ᐊᐧᔕᐦᐅᐠ
ᕑᐃᒍᕑᐟ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ, ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᑲᓂᑲᓂ ᐱᒧᑐᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂ.
ᐁᐃᔕᐨ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᐱᑯ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐁᐱᒋ ᒪᒪᑲᑌᐣᑕᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᑐᑕᒥᓂᐸᐣ ᐅᑕᓂᑫᒥᔓᒪᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑲᑭᐱᒪᐦᐅᓂᐸᐣ ᐁᑭᔭᐱᒋ ᑯᓯᑲᐧᐦᐅᑕᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐱᒪᐦᐅᑕᓱᓂᐊᐧ. ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᒥᓇ ᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᔑᓇᑐᐣ ᑲᔭᓂᔑ ᐅᓂᑲᒥᐊᐧᑭᐣ, ᐊᑎᐟ ᒥᓇ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᓂᓯᑕᐃᐧᓇᑲᐧᓄᐣ ᑭᒋᑭᓇᐧᑲᐡ ᑲᑭᐱᒥᐊᐸᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᒥᔑᓇᑐᐣ ᑫᑌᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᔑ ᑲᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᔭᑭᐣ ᑲᔭᓂᔑᓴᓯᐱᐊᐧᐠ, ᐊᔑᐨ ᒥᓇ ᓂᐣᑲᐧᐦᐊᑲᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᑌᑭᐣ ᐯᑭᐡ
ᑲᔦ ᒋᔭᓂᐊᔭᒥᒋᑫᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐱᒥᔭᐊᐧᐨ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ. ᐊᔕ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒥᑕᓱᔭᑭ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᐅᐣᒋᐱᒥᐊᓂᒥᐃᐧᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᑫᐧ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐣ ᐁᓇᓇᑲᐡᑲᐊᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐸᐱᔕᓂᐨ. ᓄᑯᒥᑫ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᔭᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑭᔕᑯᑕᑯᓇᐊᐧᐸᓂᐣ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒋᓂᑲᑌᑐᓂᐨ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ 22,000 ᐦᐁᐠᑐᕑᐢ ᐃᒪ ᐊᐦᑭᐠ ᐁᑲ ᒋᑕᔑᓇᓇᑕᐊᐧᓯᓂᐊᐧᑌᓂᐠ.
ᒥᐦᐃᒪ ᐊᐱᐣ ᓇᑫ ᑲᑭᔭᓄᒋᐃᓯᓭᓂᑭᐸᐣ ᑭ ᒋ ᓇ ᒣ ᑯ ᓯ ᐱ ᐃ ᐧ ᓂ ᓂ ᐊ ᐧ ᐠ ᑲᑭᓇᑲᑕᑯᓯᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐁᑲ ᑲᑭᓇᑕᐁᐧᓂᒪᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᒋᐱᔕᓂᐨ ᑲᐧᐟᐢ ᓫᐁᐠ ᕑᐃᓴᐧᕑᓯᐢ ᑲᑦᐸᓂ ᒋᐱᐯᑲᐧᑕᐦᐃᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐃᐧᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑲ ᓂᑲᐣ ᑲᑭᐱᐅᐣᒋᐃᐧᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧᐸᐣ. ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᓂᑲᑌᑐᐨ ᐁᑲ ᐃᒪ ᑫᐃᔑ ᓇᓇᑕᐊᐧᓯᓂᐊᐧᑌᓂᐠ, ᐊᐱᑕ ᐱᑯ ᐁᑕ ᐃᑯᓭᓂ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᑲᐃᐦᑯᑎᐯᐣᑕᐠ ᑲᐃᑯ ᐃᐡᐸᑲᒥᑲᐠ ᒪᒪᐤ 13,000 ᑲᑲᑫ ᑭᓫᐊᒥᑐᕑᐢ ᑲᐃᑲᐧᓂᐠ. ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱ 2011 ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᐅᑭᐅᑕᐱᓇᓇᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑲᑭᐅᓇᓯᓇᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᒋᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᐦᑭ, ᐅᓇᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑲᐧᔭᐣᑕᑌᐠ ᒋᒪᓇᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑲᑭᓇ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂ ᐅᑕᑭᑦ ᐁᑲ ᒋᐱᑕᓇᓄᑭᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐠ. ᔕᑯᐨ ᑭᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᒥᐱᑯ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐁᑐᑕᐠ ᐁᑲ ᐁᐱᓯᐢᑫᑕᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᐣᑕᒥᓂᐨ ᒋᔑᐱᒧᑕᒪᓱᓂᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᓂᐣ. “ᑭ ᒋ ᓇ ᒣ ᑯ ᓯ ᐱ ᐃ ᐧ ᓂ ᓂ ᐊ ᐧ ᐠ ᐅᑭᐱᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᐊᐦᑭ ᐁᑭᐱᒥᓂᔕᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᑕᐧᓂ ᒪᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᑲᑭᐸᑭᑎᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐧᐃᐣ. “ᒥᐡ ᐊᔕ ᐁᑲᓄᓇᔭᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᒋᑭᒋᓀᑕᐠ ᐣᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᐁᒪᐧᔦ
ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᑲᓇᑕᐠ ᐊᐦᑭ ᐊᓂ ᓂᔑᐊᐧᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐅᓄᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᔓᓂᔭᐊᐧᓯᓂᑫᐃᐧ ᑲᑦᐸᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐱᐊᐧᑲᐡᑲᑯᔭᐠ.” ᐁᑲᐧ ᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ ᐃᑭᑐ, ᑲᐱᒪᐦᐅᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᓄᑯᑦ ᑲᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑭᐅᐣᒋᒪᒋᑐᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᓇᑯᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐁᔑᑲᐡᑭᑐᐨ ᒋᔭᐸᒋᑐᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᑦ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐃᑯ ᐅᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᒪᐣ ᑲᐯᐦᐃ ᑲᑭᐱᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑲᔦ ᐁᐅᐣᒋ ᐊᓂᑫ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᐃᐧᐣᑕᐧ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᑲᔭᐡ ᑭᑫᐣᑕᒪᐃᐧᓇᐣ. “ᐣᑭᒪᒪᒋᐃᐧᓇᐠ ᐣᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒪᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐅᒪ ᑲᐱᒪᐦᐅᔭᐣ, ᐣᑭᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᒪ ᑲᐃᓇᐦᐅᓇᑌᐠ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ. “ᐁᑭᒋᓀᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᔭᓂᐊᐧᐸᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᔭᓂᐃᓇᐦᐅᓇᑌᓂᐠ ᑐᑲᐣ ᑭᒥᔓᒥᓇᐸᓂᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᑫᐧ ᐱᒪᒋᐦᐃᑎᓱᐊᐧᐨ, ᐁᐱᒪᐦᐅᑕᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑭᐱᑭᐁᐧᐦᐅᑕᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ.” “ᑕᐱᓇᑲ ᒥᐁᑕ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐁᐊᔭᔭᐠ, ᑭᑕᑭᒥᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑭᓂᐱᒥᓇᐣ,” ᑭᔭᓂᑭᑐ. “ᐁᑭᒋᓀᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᒋᒥᒋᒥᓇᒪᐠ ᒋᑭᔭᓂ ᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐊᐦᑭᓂ ᐁᐧᑎ ᓂᑲᐣ ᑫᔭᓂᐱᒪᑎᓯᐊᐧᐨ.” ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ ᑭᔭᓂᑭᑐ ᐁᒪᒥᑎᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒥᓇᐧᐊ ᒋᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᓇᐦᐅᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᔕᐦᐅᐠ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᓂᐱᓂᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐁᐧᓀᐣ ᐃᐧᐱᑕᑭᐧᐨ ᑭᔭᒥᑯ ᒋᑭᐱᔕᐸᐣ.
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