November 15, 2012

PM#0382659799

Puppets bring stories to life PAGE 14

3rd World Canada tour gives voice to KI youth PAGES 12-13

Vol. 39 No. 38

Wabigoon Lake has best tasting water PAGE 11 9,300 copies distributed $1.50

November 15, 2012 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974

www.wawataynews.ca

Rangers honour First Nations veterans

NAPS officers facing extra pressure from staff shortages ‘It’s going to hurt us real bad,’ chief says of impending loss of 11 more officers Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Peter Moon/Canadian Rangers

Canadian Rangers observed Aboriginal Veterans Day during a sunrise ceremony Nov. 8 at Rinker Lake, 96 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. The 101 Rangers were joined by 24 other military personnel during the observance. The Rangers are from 21 first nations from across northern Ontario and are at Rinker Lake for a six-day search and rescue exercise. At the conclusion of the parade the Rangers placed their Poppies around the ceremonial fire. See story on the exercise on page 15.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service Sgt. Jackie George has embraced her work in the communities by helping to alleviate NAPS’ ongoing shortage of regular police officers.

“It’s very nice to get back out to the front line,” said George, who normally deals with recruitment and media relations with NAPS. “I’m not only helping the community, I’m also helping out our frontline officers by being an extra person.”

George recently filled in for three days in Eabametoong and four days this past summer in Keewaywin.

NAPS Chief of Police Claude Chum said a schedule has been set up for replacement officers to ensure the communities have two officers on duty most of the time. He said the ongoing shortage is due to officers off on stress leave, sick leave and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“It leaves our front line down,” Chum said. “So we’re actually using officers from wherever we can get them from. Jackie George is one of them, our drug unit downstairs — we send these guys up all through the summer into shortages all through the communities to help out, just for the basic coverage.”

See NAPS on page 8

Scholarship honours legacy of Charlie Hunter Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

The legacy of Charlie Hunter will live on through an annual scholarship named in his honour.

Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig Centre of Excellence in Anishinaabe Education announced on Nov. 7 that the Charlie Hunter Scholarship Fund will be awarded annually to a student who is descended from a family member that attended residential school.

Charlie Hunter was a Weenusk First Nation member who died while attending the St. Anne’s Residential School in Fort Albany. Charlie, who was 13, drowned while trying to save another boy’s life who had fallen through the ice.

Claudette Chevrier, a resolution health support worker with the Children of Shingwuak Alumni Association, said the scholarship will ensure the legacy of Charlie

lives on.

“Charlie’s brave act will never be forgotten,” she said.

Charlie’s death left many unanswered questions and years of grief for the Hunter family.

After he died, Charlie was buried in Moosonee, 515 kilometres from home, without the consent of his parents, Mike and Pauline.

For 37 years, his family sought answers into the circumstances surrounding his death, and wondered why they were never consulted about his burial arrangements.

“Over the years, my dad has tried to deal with those issues,” said Joyce Hunter, Charlie’s sister.

She said he tried getting answers from the church, Indian Affairs and police as to who was responsible for his death. He even filed an Access to Information request but got nowhere.

“Their biggest wish was to have him come home,” Joyce said.

In 2010, a frustrated and tired

100% First Nations Owned

Charlie Hunter, shown here with his father Mike Hunter, died saving a drowning boy while attending residential school in Fort Albany. Now a scholarship has been named after him.

father asked Joyce and her sister Christine to take up the fight. After the sisters faced the same obstacles as their father, the story of Charlie emerged in national media last year.

An account was set up by the National Residential School Survivors Society to raise funds to bring Charlie home and donations poured in from people across Canada.

Within two weeks, the family received enough funds to bring Charlie home. In August 2011, the body of Charlie was f lown to Peawanuck where he was laid to rest.

“I feel like my parents can stop looking south, and feel like a member of the family is home,” Joyce Hunter said.

The donations left a surplus of $4,000, and Chevrier promised the Hunter family to establish a scholarship named in honour of Charlie.

See Charlie Hunter on page 3

Charter, Cargo & Scheduled Passenger Service Reservations: 1.877.492.7292 Cargo: 1.807.928.2244 Pickle Lake 1.807.662.1119 Red Lake Charters: 1.866.982.4787

Connecting Communities • 1.877.492.7292 • www.wasaya.com

2

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Wabigoon Lake has best tasting water The best tasting water in northwestern Ontario has been awarded to Wabigoon Lake First Nation.

Water plant operator Marcel Shabaquay received the award on behalf of his community on Oct. 26.

Shabaquay said the water taste challenge trophy is on display at the Wabigoon Lake band office.

He said lots of people are now coming to the water plant to see the processes and different kinds of testing he does.

Page 6

Page 11

Diabetes organization shutting down The Northern Diabetes Health Network is getting shut down at the end of November.

The network funds and supports 50 adult diabetes programs and 34 youth diabetes programs in communities across northern Ontario.

Ontario says the funding for community programs will now go through existing LHINs, but some programmers worry that they are losing a strong advocate for diabetes programming in the north.

Page 6

Page 10

Timmins friendship centre moving Staff at the Timmins Native Friendship Centre have started preparing to move.

The Friendship Centre is taking over a former elementary school in Timmins with over 30,000 square feet of space, starting in March 2013.

The move will allow the centre to expand its daycare with an infant room and family resource centre.

It will also allow the centre to better serve the growing Aboriginal population in Timmins, according to executive director Veronica Nicholson.

Page 10

Page 9

Laptops for Fort Albany youth Students in Fort Albany have received laptops as part of the One Laptop Per Child project.

The community held a feast and program launch celebration on Nov. 7, where North of 60 actor Dakota House was on hand to help celebrate.

House said it is important that youth in remote communities have access to technology such as laptops, so that they do not fall behind their peers in more urban places.

He said there is a need for the program to expand to First Nations across Canada.

Page 9

Page 16 Participants (mid left) learn about medicine pouches in Susan Kakepetum’s workshop. Marcel Shabaquay (mid right) receives award for best tasting water in northwestern Ontario. Timmins friendship centre (top) have started preparing to move to allow for expansion. Fort Albany youth (bottom) show off new laptops.

Page 11

Lac Seul woman hosts medicine pouch teachings Susan Kakepetum of Lac Seul hosted a medicine pouch teaching workshop in Thunder Bay. The artist and heritage programmer helped participants learn about medicine pouches and make their own pouch.

She is trying to retain some of the history of being a First Nations person by passing on the knowledge of medicine pouches.

Page 16

Thank You, Airlines!

Your fast, courteous delivery of Wawatay News to our northern communities is appreciated.

1

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

3

á?§á?Šá?§á?Šá‘Œ á?Šá’‹á’§á?§á?ƒá“‡á?Ł

Community-based healing programs featured at Matawa gathering Rick Garrick Wawatay News

National Chief Shawn A-inchut Atleo stressed the need for community-based prescription drug abuse recovery programs during Matawa’s Back to Our Roots Gathering III. “I commend Matawa leadership, Elders and frontline workers for engaging their peoples in this way, supporting and empowering community-based plans to addressing their challenges,� Atleo said on the first day of the Nov. 6-8 gathering in Neskantaga. “Many traditional healing methods require the health of the lands and rivers, so it is essential that economic interests are not ahead of human interests. Our peoples come first, our Nations come first, this is fundamental. Our communities must be healthy before we can fully thrive.�

A number of land-based programs for community members addicted to prescription drugs were highlighted during the gathering, including the work being done in Neskantaga. “They kind of lost their culture and traditions,� said Neskantaga health director Rhoda Angees about the community members taking part in Neskantaga’s land-based program. “They don’t know anything about (their culture and traditions), so those things seem to be helping them more than any other thing that they’ve been doing.�

Angees said Neskantaga is also looking at developing a Suboxone treatment program to treat community members who are addicted to prescrip-

tion drugs and other opiates, noting that some community members have left the community for treatment. “We have to find out how many people are being affected in the community, but we do know a few people that are affected,� Angees said. “In the mean time we are trying to help those people ... with addictions.�

Angees said the community has a “violent past,� so her goal is to build a healthy team among her own staff so they will be able to help others. “What they learn, I want them to take to the community to teach the community,�

Angees said. “It’s a long process; they’re slowly coming along.�

Angees is also looking to develop activities for target groups in the community. “Next week we are going to start doing some youth activities,� Angees said.

Atleo also discussed Ring of Fire issues with the Matawa chiefs during the gathering and called for the Matawa communities to be fully engaged prior to development in their territory, which includes the Ring of Fire mineral exploration area. “First Nation lands hold tremendous potential, and this potential can only be fully unleashed through adequate recognition and respect of First Nation rights, treaties and the full participation of our peoples,� Atleo said. “Meaningful consultation and accommodation, and free, prior and informed consent means engaging up front and support for environmental and economic sustainability and self-suffi-

Matawa First Nations Management

L-R: Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno; Chief Proxy Jerry Echum (Ginoogaming First Nation); David Paul Achneepineskum (MFNM CEO); Chief Roger Wesley (Constance Lake First Nation); Chief Harry Papah (Eabametoong First Nation); Chiefs of Ontario, Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy; Chief Johnny Yellowhead (Nibinamik First Nation); Chief Cornelius Wabasse (Webequie First Nation); Council Member Bill Mequanawap (Neskantaga First Nation); Chief Allan Towegishig (Long Lake #58 First Nation); Council Member William Moonias (Neskantaga First Nation); Chief Peter Moonias (Neskantaga First Nation); Council Member Chris Moonias (Neskantaga First Nation); Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo; Chief Sonny Gagnon (Aroland First Nation); and Youth Tyler Sakanee (Neskantaga First Nation). ciency. This also means our fair share of any revenues generated.�

Neskantaga has been engaged in a fight to prevent a bridge being built over the Attawapiskat River and slow down the Ring of Fire development.

Grand Chief Harvey Yesno also supported Neskantaga’s efforts to protect their lands. “We stand behind the people of the community who’ve declared their land first and foremost,� Yesno said. “Treaty 9 states that the government cannot have claim to its land without consent from the First Nations. The Treaty making discussions and subsequent agreement was to share the wealth of the lands — not to surrender it.�

Charlie Hunter scholarship to be awarded in February Continued from page 1 In February, the Charlie Hunter Scholarship Fund will be awarded to both a male and female full-time student at either Algoma University or Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig. Next year, it will be awarded to a male and female from each university.

In the third year, Chevrier said they hope to include Sault College.

Chevrier said the recipi-

ents will be determined by a committee and will not be academic-based. “We didn’t pick any direct course of study or highest mark,� she said. “We wanted to keep it more open.�

Chevrier will be inviting the parents of Charlie to the gala in February to present the inaugural award.

Joyce said Charlie’s memory and legacy will move forward with the scholarship. “It will remind people that

the residential school era did happen and Charlie lived and died as part of that era,� she said.

Charlie died saving another person’s life, which is a testament to his character, Joyce added. “We really hope the people that get this scholarship will go on to do great things in the spirit of compassion and kindness in the way that Charlie gave his life,� she said.

Fort Albany woman regains access to funds Bank account reopened by feds after media, legal attention Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

Agnes Sutherland has regained control of her bank account.

Since 2010, the estate of the 57-year-old Fort Albany First Nation member has been in the care of the Public Guardian and Trustee for Ontario, and she could not directly access the $97,000 she received in residential school compensation.

Last week, she received a letter indicating that she is no longer under the care of the trustee

“effective immediately.�

The letter came weeks after her story appeared in local media and her lawyer, Sharon Sabourin, had an application issued at federal court to rescind the trusteeship.

Sutherland was appointed the trustee when she struggled with alcohol addiction and was admitted into a mental health unit in Timmins. A required assessment was conducted and the physician found she did not have the mental capacity to manage her property.

Sutherland recovered from

her alcoholism and was reassessed last year but was still under the trustee despite repeated requests to remove it.

Prior to her story appearing in media, Sutherland was homeless and only received $85 a week from the trustee.

Sabourin said her office received the letter stating that “due to the recent capacity assessment,� the Public Guardian and Trustee for Ontario was closing its file with Sutherland “effective immediately.�

Your journey to healing starts here. ‡ )UHH DQG &RQÀGHQWLDO ‡ KRXUV D GD\ ‡ GD\V D ZHHN ‡ 6HUYLFHV LQ (QJOLVK 2MLEZD\ 2ML &UHH DQG &UHH

Simply call in and find a caring person to talk to in confidence.

1 855 554 HEAL www.talk4healing.com

4

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 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 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 Boris Le Mouffette moves into the cottage Xavier Kataquapit UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY

I

love my wilderness retreat. It is great to be out on the land in the far north surrounded by tall pine and situated on the side of a pristine esker lake. Much of my time is passed working away at renovations and of course watching the wildlife as they go about their daily chores.

Visitors come and go and I am very familiar now with the local mouse population that scrambles around in the walls, the squirrels and chipmunks that dart here and there all day long hard at gathering supplies for winter and the beavers that spend most of their time cleaning up after me by cutting away at felled trees. There are also the moose that call across the lake, the bears that leave tracks in the sand and the wolves that howl and sing at dusk.

We are careful being this remote in the wilderness but the local animals are not much of a threat. All this said I did not expect to have to deal with Boris.

The first sign of his presence was a scrambling and scratching sound under the old log cottage. That went on for a few days and I began to notice a smell in the air on the property. We realized that a skunk or Sheekak in Cree must have gone by and left his mark. Then, one evening as we were talking to a visiting neighbour, there he was out in full view sauntering past us. The plump, black little critter with the white stripe on his back was not at all concerned with our presence. The neighbour pointed out that he had come out from under the cottage.

Our neighbour Serge referred to the skunk in French by calling him a moufette. It occurred to us that the French word for this critter seemed much more kind than the English. Serge explained that this might be the moufette that he and his family referred to as “Le Chat” d’Allain. As a joke they had decided that the wandering moufette was probably another neighbour’s pet cat.

We all got a laugh out of that.

On a more serious note we realized that somehow we had to evict this moufette from under the cottage. I began the eviction process

by sealing up all the cracks, nooks and crannies that served as entry points for the moufette after watching his daily habits. That night somehow the little guy managed to get back under our chalet. He actually moved a concrete block.

It turned out he was nocturnal which meant he slept all day and then roamed at night. His coming and going in the night awoke us and try as we might by stomping on the floor boards and banging pots and pans nothing bothered him. One night he returned in a big hurry perhaps with some other critter in chase. For some reason he resorted to spraying the side of the cottage and the smell awoke us immediately.

It took our breath away and infuriated us.

In a rage I decided to fight fire with fire and I grabbed an almost full can of bear spray. I headed out into the night and sprayed all around the cottage and under the floorboards. There was no sign of the moufette as it had walked off in the dark.

We went back into the cottage thinking we had won this war when suddenly we found we could not breath and we began to vomit. The bear spray had travelled up into the cottage interior and that forced us to head back out into the chilly autumn night gagging and gasping for breath. There was no sign of the moufette and now we had a much more serious problem on our hands as we dealt with both his stink and the presence of a very strong chemical. We ended up spending the night in the truck. We were not happy.

At about six in the morning we made our way back into the cottage and put on a roaring fire and although a terrible odour was still about we decided to try to get some sleep. Our sleep was uneasy to say the least and then about an hour after heading to bed we were wakened by a terrible sound of screeching from under the cottage.

The moufette had come back home, disturbed the soil wet with bear spray and was suffering the affects of this terrible and debilitating chemical. However, the critter did not leave and chose instead to race around under the cottage in pain for about an hour. Finally, he seemed to recover and went to sleep as did we. The next day we checked to find his doorway to the cottage and painted a sign with his new name Boris on it.

Wawatay News archives

Osnaburgh, 1981.

Health: gossip, a form of jealousy Joyce Atcheson GUEST COLUMNIST

G

ossip, idle talk or rumours about another’s private affairs…

Unless gossip rolls like water off a duck’s back, it can destroy self-confidence, erode entire communities, and create major health problems. It comes from jealousy, greed, and envy.

‘There are three things that destroy communities: drugs, alcohol and jealousy,’ said Lloyd Haarala, an Anishinabe man, when he spoke with me before conducting a sweat lodge near Ladysmith, B.C. How many times have gossip and jealousy ruffled your life; hurt or angered you?

Words of gossip deliberately attempt to humiliate, embarrass, or undercut someone. Gossipers create scandal by telling tales to anyone who will listen.

If their words or ideas find fertile ground in recipients’ ears truth is neglected. Gossip spreads like wildfire.

When I was 23 I worked as a military nurse. I was reasonably attractive, tall, slim, and the thing that made me a target, I was single. At that time being single was a job requirement.

I’d lived in small places, where everyone knew everyone, but I’d never lived in places overrun with jealousy and malice. In days I was the target of rumours.

People claimed to know what I was doing before I did!

It was the only time in my life when I dated three men in one day, informing each of them of my other commitments. I saw places, heard music, and ate good meals with men friends, no strings attached. Men outnumbered women significantly; they liked my presence.

At a social function one weekend a wife accosted me vehemently, in the women’s bathroom where other wives chatted, ‘You leave my husband alone!’

It’s a good thing I knew her name so I knew who her husband was. He was a middle-aged accountant with whom I’d spoken 10 words -- about my pay cheque.

As shocked as I was, I left the room with my head up, after glancing at her, ‘What makes you think you have such a prize that I want him?’

As the year wore on gossip webs spun through the community marking me.

Rules prompted talk: only officers are permitted in the officer’s mess unless a public function is held; all female officers must wear uniforms or dresses in the officer’s mess. So husbands were exposed to me, ‘that young,

single woman’.

I was hurt. So many lies were said about me; I was labelled a slut.

I have no idea if male officers, whose advances I’d shunned, were talking about me or if the wives were so mistrustful of their husbands that I was perceived as a threat.

Perhaps when, in innocence or naïveté, I parked a married officer’s car in my driveway over night, while he was in hospital, added to the image. He required hospitalization after drinking and I drove him with his car. He told me to use it to get home and return it when I came to work in the morning.

Innuendo made its mark on my person, but the Creator works in mysterious ways.

Later that year, although I had been tarred and feathered by the wives, they lacked a tall slim woman for their fashion show.

I was approached to model.

Snickering to myself I asked, ‘Boy that’ll be a quiet night, who will you talk about, if I’m there?’

Gossip haunted me again when I was married. I did not take my husband’s name when we married so assumptions were made. A vice president of the hospital was seen with me. The hospital, another fine place for gossip, fed the rumour. It reached my friend’s ear. She laughed and said, ‘So what! They’re married?’

‘Exactly and they were

together, I saw them having dinner! They didn’t even notice me.’

‘It’s okay; they’re married -- to each other.’

Once the staff knew we were a couple dynamics changed; they came asking me to take things to management.

‘My lines of communication are the same as yours. I’m no carrier pigeon,’ I replied.

When I was again single, working for Wawatay, gossip was once more directed at me by a woman who I met at committee meetings where the aim was to improve communications in Sioux Lookout.

It was at a time when we hoped to prompt readers to send news from the communities; we’d extend Wawatay’s outreach.

I had the opportunity to move to Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug.

Although the woman from this committee did not know me or know why I was moving, she said I’d do anything to sleep with a man.

Word got back to me through three friends. Hearing the allegations I felt pity for the gossipmonger as well as amusement when I said, ‘We learned something important about her and why she does things; I’m not sure what we learned about me.’

So back to stopping gossip and jealousy, if you are busy doing the best you can with your life you don’t have time to be jealous about someone else’s.

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

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

TRANSLATORS Vicky Angees vickya@wawatay.on.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Matthew Bradley matthewb@wawatay.on.ca

CONTRIBUTORS Xavier Kataquapit Daniel Tait Joyce Atcheson Peter Moon

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

EDITOR Shawn Bell shawnb@wawatay.on.ca WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Rick Garrick rickg@wawatay.on.ca WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Lenny Carpenter lennyc@wawatay.on.ca

SALES MANAGER James Brohm jamesb@wawatay.on.ca CIRCULATION Adelaide Anderson reception@wawatay.on.ca

Guest editorials, columnists and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of Wawatay News.

1

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

5

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

LETTERS Funerals and burials for military veterans When it comes to providing the last offering of assistance any Canadian Veteran will ever need, that being the financial assistance to cover the costs of their funeral and burial, what is the Canadian government waiting for?

The Legion first identified this issue at its 2008 national Dominion Convention. Again in 2010 it was identified to government as a high priority issue. In 2012, The Royal Canadian Legion unanimously passed a resolution at Dominion Convention and presented a statement to the Minister of Veterans Affairs calling on the government to take any and all necessary action immediately to increase the Veterans Funeral and Burial Program services.

The Royal Canadian Legion is dismayed by the inaction of this government to bring the long overdue improvements to funeral and burial benefits for Veterans and their families. Instead, it appears the government’s priorities are out of sync with the desires of not only Canada’s Veterans, but also of the public as a whole. The groundswell of public feedback to the media coverage of this issue over the past two

weeks is clear indication of this.

On the 8th of November Veterans Affairs Canada was proud to announce it is spending $3.5 million on advertising campaigns, social media and “cool prizes” to promote Remembrance Day. While it is important to keep the memory of Canada’s military service alive, this spending could not be more misplaced. If the average Canadian funeral costs $10,000.00 VAC’s advertising spend would help 350 Veterans families with proper funeral and burial costs. Let’s not even talk about the $28 million the government spent on promoting the War of 1812. Canada’s Veterans are crumbling under the weight of disrespect shown to them by the government they served to uphold. There should be no doubt that the issue of adequate funeral and burial support is an urgent issue for World War II and Korean War Veterans. The majority of these men and women are in their 90s; approximately 2000 pass on each month.

There are three key issues which need to be resolved: 1. The rate of $3,600 provided

by The Last Post Fund is greatly

inadequate and has not been increased since 2001; 2. The eligibility for funeral and burial benefits should be granted to low income Canadian Forces Veterans. These Veterans were prepared to lay their lives on the line for our country and deserve a dignified funeral. It is the last, and most fitting tribute we as Canadians can provide them; 3. The survivor estate exemption was reduced in 1995 from approximately $24,030 to $12,015 as part of Veterans Affairs budget reductions. So this means that a Veteran’s estate if valued at more than $12,000 would not make that person’s surviving spouse eligible for support for a dignified and respectful funeral. This amount is considerably less than the poverty level and has not been adjusted since 1995.

This issue has been on the table since 2004 and it was fully analysed in the Veterans Ombudsman’s 2009 Report (Serve with Honour, Depart with Dignity), fully supported by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs Report

2011 (Commemoration in the 21st Century), fully supported by 17 Veterans organizations that unanimously endorsed the requirement for immediate improvements in 2011 and 2012; and lastly, supported by the over 330,000 members of The Royal Canadian Legion at our 2008, 2010 and 2012 national convention as a high priority issue.

Veterans Affairs Canada seems to have some very dull scissors when it comes to “cutting the red tape” on the issue of providing the greatest, and last, benefit every Veteran deserves – a dignified and respectful funeral and burial. What more does this government need? For the men and women who so proudly, so valiantly, served this country and for those who continue to serve so we can assure them of our everlasting gratitude, The Royal Canadian Legion asks the government of Canada, “What are you waiting for?”

Lest We Forget, Gordon Moore Dominion President The Royal Canadian Legion

Re: Properly fund Nishnawbe-Aski Police, MP tells Feds (Wawatay News, Nov. 1) Editor, What gets me about the whole issue is that here, the nonnative police officers are housed, they have heat and hydro and a roof over their head. Everything is covered. The local officers who coach and show them the ropes are left struggling to get by, houses that are cold and drafty and have high hydro bills.

Bedding and house hold items are also provided for them. I was once told that this was because these non-native officers have

mortgages to pay. My response was that these officers know what they are getting into when they apply for NAPS. We have been here for 10 years now and have watched so many officers use NAPS as a leg up to get into other police services. If this is going to be done (housing) for some it should be done for all.

For those local officers who have built their homes and have their families with them. A subsidy should be applied.

Submitted online

Editor, “Housing” is provided for all officers regardless of skin color, but in all too many cases that is simply a hotel room. Besides the non-native officers having a mortgage to pay, they also have income tax, and flights home to see their families.

Submitted online Editor, Maybe the solution is to find a stronger commitment

from NAPS Board/Managers to ensure that local hiring is a priority so that the life of the nonnative officers isn’t disrupted so much and the budget isn’t spent on hotel rooms. And maybe this could allow for more overtime pay to those officers who are left to fill in gaps because even though they may not have mortgages to pay or taxes, there is always a high cost of living on many far northern reserves...

Submitted online

9 Community Events and AcƟviƟes 9 PresentaƟon Requests 9 NAPS Career quesƟons/informaƟon 9 General Inquiries/InformaƟon sharing

1-855-847-NAPS IMPORTANT – Please remember this number is not designed for emergency use. If you have an emergency please contact your local detachment or dial 1-888-310-1122.

NAPS proudly supports Crime Stoppers. If you have informaƟon relaƟng to a Crime in your community you could be eligible for a cash reward. www.facebook.com/NAPSpolice

Books With No Bounds getting more help Dear Wawatay: This is Julia and Emma from Books With No Bounds.

We LOVE the article you wrote and we are so grateful for helping us in our efforts.

We just confirmed yesteday that two school boards (the Halton Catholic School Board and Halton District School Board) are collaborating with us to raise awareness and organize book drives throughout 150 schools!!!!

We are also going into the schools to talk to the students to enhance educational experiences with Aboriginal and cultural awareness. We also want students to learn about real heroes, like Shannen Koostachin of Attawapiskat. The education coordinator, Julia Candlish, is helping us to connect with the youth co-ordinator of Chiefs Of Ontario.

Wasaya Airways in-flight magazine Sagatay asked us to write a big essay for their Winter Edition of their inflight magazinew.

We are also sending you one of several photos we were sent in the mail along

with a letter they wrote us also. We think it’s pretty amazing to see the books there on the table that we packed!! We hope one day to visit the schools! We also spoke with a principal at Martin Mckay Memorial School in one of the fly-in communities and he said he LOVED us for sending books and it will go far to help with reading and literacy skills.

We asked him what more we can do and he said he needed indoor running shoes for his students who must go barefoot, so Emma and I are doing everything we can to send him 100 pairs of shoes.

Okay we have to go to school because we missed our bus and our mom is coming to take us.

Thank you for listening because we wanted you to know.

Yours very truly, Julia and Emma Mogus Julia and Emma’s efforts can be followed by liking their Facebook page: facebook.com/bookswithnobounds

Find

“Community Policing” Helping us Help You! Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service has launched an anonymous NON EMERGENCY Toll Free Number available 24 hrs a day 7 days a week to report:

Submitted Photo

in these communities Aroland Atikokan Attawapiskat Balmertown Batchewana Bearskin Lake Beaverhouse Big Grassy Big Island Big Trout Lake Brunswick House Calstock Cat Lake Chapleau Cochrane Collins Couchiching Couchiching Deer Lake Dinorwic Dryden Ear Falls Emo Flying Post Fort Albany Fort Frances Fort Hope Fort Severn Geraldton Ginoogaming Grassy Narrows Gull Bay Hornepayne Hudson Iskatewizaagegan

Kapuskasing Kasabonika Kashechewan Keewaywin Kenora Kingfisher Lake Kocheching Lac La Croix Lac Seul, Kejick Bay Lake Nipigon Lansdowne Long Lake Mattagammi Michipicoten Migisi Sahgaigan Missanabie Mobert Moose Factory Moosonee Muskrat Dam Musselwhite Mine Naicatchewenin Naotikamegwanning Nestor Falls Nicikousemenecaning North Spirit Lake Northwest Angle #33 Northwest Angle #37 Ochiichagwe’Babigo’ Ining Ogoki Pic River Osnaburgh Pawitik Pays Plat Peawanuck

Pickle Lake Pikangikum Poplar Hill Rainy River Red Lake Red Rock Rocky Bay Sachigo Lake Sandy Lake Saugeen Sault Ste. Marie Savant Lake Seine River Shoal Lake Sioux Lookout Sioux Narrows Slate Falls Stanjikoming Stratton Summer Beaver Taykwa Tagamou Timmins Thunder Bay Wabaskang Wabigoon Wahgoshing Wapekeka Washaganish Wauzhusk Onigum Wawakapewin Weagamow Lake Webequie Whitedog Whitesand Wunnimun Lake

6

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Diabetes organization faces government axe after 20 years of serving north Province says funding being redistributed, but questions abound Shawn Bell Wawatay News

There are a lot of people running diabetes programs across northern Ontario who do not know what is going to happen when the Northern Diabetes Health Network (NDHN) closes its doors on Nov. 30.

For 20 years the NDHN has helped set up, fund, support and connect a range of diabetes programs and services across northern Ontario, from the Manitoba border through to Sudbury.

The organization was built at a time when diabetes was not the epidemic it is today, on a model that had not been seen before. Over the past two decades it has succeeded in creating a network of specialized programs and practitioners across the north for adult and children diabetes programs while raising awareness of a terrible disease that affects northerners at much higher rates than the rest of the province.

And in two weeks time, due to a provincial government decision to cut its funding, NDHN will close its five offices across northern Ontario.

“It was a shock to us when (the government) said our services would no longer be

required,” said Sue Griffis, NDHN’s CEO. “To shut down something that worked well in northern Ontario, with no notice and no transition plan… it is concerning as it took years to build and now we are being asked to take it down in pieces with no clear plan as to where the pieces will be placed if at all.”

Griffis added that she was disappointed with the lack of notice northerners were given about the government’s plan to shut down NDHN, which has been in the works since 2008.

A ministry of health spokesperson assured Wawatay that funding for diabetes programs in communities will continue.

The funding is being shifted from NDHN to the local health integrated networks (LHINs) already running health programming in northwestern and northeastern Ontario, according to David Jensen, media relations coordinator with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

The government argues its plan will “strengthen oversight of the programs” and help integrate diabetes programs with other health services.

“The ministry is committed to addressing the growing prevalence of diabetes in the province,” Jensen wrote in

an e-mail response to Wawatay News. “The ministry is introducing a transition plan that will ensure the ongoing

grams in northern Ontario are not so sure.

A number of program operators told Wawatay that they are

“To shut down something that worked well in northern Ontario, with no notice and no transition plan…it is concerning as it took years to build and now we are being asked to take it down in pieces with no clear plan as to where the pieces will be placed if at all.”

-Sue Griffis, Northern Diabetes Health Network CEO

availability of NDHN-funded programs by maintaining their current level of funding and ensuring that Ontarians including adults, children, and Aboriginal and First Nations communities, will continue to access diabetes programs without interruption.”

Jensen also said that cost savings associated with the change will be used to “enhance or expand” diabetes programs in northern Ontario, although he could give no firm estimate of how much those savings are expected to be.

Despite Ontario’s optimism that shutting down NDHN will result in cost savings and eventually an increase in diabetes programming in communities, people who run diabetes pro-

waiting to see what will happen after Nov. 30. Others were more blunt in their criticism of the decision, worried that they will lose a key advocate for northern diabetes programming and important networks with similar programs across the north.

“We’ve been funded by NDHN for 15 years, and it has always ensured that we’ve been connected with other professionals, and other programs and resources, as opposed to being sort of forgotten about because we’re so far away,” said Beth Fox, the coordinator of Weeneebayko Diabetes Health Program serving the Mushkegowuk communities of James Bay coast.

Fox added that because the LHINs are split between

northeastern and northwestern Ontario, she worries that the Weeneebayko program will lose its connection to similar programs in remote First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario.

Minnie Jeffries, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator with Weeneebayko, expressed another concern with the loss of NDHN – that the valuable Northern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (NOADI) will be lost or altered in the transition.

The Aboriginal diabetes initiative has been operating as a program within NDHN since 2007, focused on diabetes prevention education in First Nations and Metis communities across northern Ontario. Through NOADI, 350 workshops and community events have been run across the north, focused on diabetes awareness and prevention for a high-risk population.

Weeneebayko, like many community-based diabetes programs, does not have programs geared at prevention of diabetes. The program relies on NOADI to bring in speakers or conduct programs on healthy living in order to educate people in the communities who are at risk of getting diabetes.

While Jensen said that

funding for NOADI will not be affected by the decision to shut down NDHN, no one seems sure what form the organization will take once NDHN ends.

Current NOADI staff, employed through NDHN, are expecting to lose their jobs at the end of November, and people running programs in the communities, such as Jeffries, have not been given any information as to what the future of the Aboriginal diabetes initiative holds.

“We really need prevention programs,” said Jeffries. “Our focus is on educating people with diabetes, so we look to NOADI for prevention (workshops and programs) for people who do not have diabetes.”

Jensen said the ministry will work with affected partners to “consider all options and put in place a plan that will meet the needs of First Nations and Aboriginal communities in the north.”

He said that in the meantime, the ministry will operate NOADI. Yet with only two weeks until NDHN closes its doors for good, details of how and when the government expects to create its plan for NOADI have not yet been released to the public or the community-based program operators.

WE UNLOCK • FORMER EMPLOYER PENSION PLANS • LOCKED IN RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

FUNDS WILL BE DEPOSITED DIRECTLY INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT *BC Registered funds do not qualify. Not available in Q.C.

1

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

7

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Chiefs want province to cut support for ‘racist, radical’ industry groups Shawn Bell Wawatay News

A junior mining company that called First Nations “hostile third-party governments” has raised the ire of indigenous leaders across Ontario.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and Wahgoshig First Nation called on the Ontario government to withdraw its support of “racist and radical” industry representatives during a press conference in Sudbury Nov. 7.

The chiefs targeted Mining United, a group of junior exploration companies, and the Ontario Prospectors Association (OPA).

“Representatives of this radical association of junior mining groups has waged a racist media campaign against the Wahgoshig First Nation, who are taking a legal and principled position to defend their Treaty and Aboriginal rights, as well as ensuring that Ontario meets its obligations on ‘the duty to consult’ in good faith,” said NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno in a press release. “The Province of Ontario and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines continue to send a misguided message to First Nations by supporting this group.”

At the heart of the controversy is the land dispute between Solid Gold Resources and Wahgoshig.

The dispute has come before the courts since the company started an exploration program on Wahgoshig’s traditional lands in 2011 without the First Nation’s knowledge or support. While the first judge to hear the case ruled in favour of Wahgoshig, Solid Gold is expected to bring it before an appeals court in

the coming months.

Fanning the controversy, Solid Gold CEO Darryl Stretch issued a press release on Oct. 22 saying that Ontario’s new mining act is handing control of natural resources to “hostile thirdparty governments” in the form of First Nations.

“It is my opinion that Canadians must do everything possible to stop this ill-conceived race-based initiative,” Stretch said in the release.

Stretch predicted that the new mining act will result in an “overf low” of First Nations versus industry conf licts coming before the courts.

“It is plain that Ontario has proven itself incapable of non-biased action to protect Canada’s sovereignty and Solid Gold’s statutory right to access and to explore its recorded mineral claims without interference,” the company’s press release states.

Stretch was expected to present his views to the 2012 Ontario Exploration and Geoscience Symposium in Sudbury November 6 and 7.

Stretch is not the only junior mining executive speaking out against First Nations’ desire for consultation before exploration. A lawyer for Miners United, a group of an estimated 60 junior mining executives, told the Globe and Mail in March that “a revolt is taking place” among mining companies fed up with having to pay First Nations to access land.

First Nations leaders also took issue with comments made by Garry Clarke, executive directory of the OPA, who told the Globe and Mail that some people in the industry were “happy” with

DISCONNECTED PHONE?

National Teleconnect Home Phone Service

No One Refused!

Low Monthly Rate!

Refer a Friend and Get a FREE Month of Service.

Calling Features and Unlimited Long Distance Available.

Call National Teleconnect Today!

1-866-443-4408

www.nationalteleconnect.com

Solid Gold’s hard-line stance on consultation.

“I do not believe that reasonable Ontarians and responsible mining industry members support the activities and statements made by these representatives. It just makes it that much more difficult to have a positive working relationship,” said Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy in a statement.

The chiefs are calling on

“The Province of Ontario and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines continue to send a misguided message to First Nations by supporting this radical association of junior mining groups.”

-NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno

Ontario to withdraw its public support of the OPA and to remove Clarke as an advisor

to the province’s department of Northern Development and Mines.

Osisko Files Notice of Project Status with MNDM As part of the formal closure planning process with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM), Osisko filed a Notice of Project Status on October 30, 2012. The Notice provides a brief outline of our preliminary plan for the closure phase, as summarized below. Water quality will be monitored throughout the closure phase and treated as needed.

Tailings Management Facility t Physically stabilize the surface to prevent erosion and dust generation t Re-vegetate the tailings surface directly t The tailings dams will remain in place as permanent structures Waste Rock Pile t Grade the top surface of the waste rock pile to help with storm water runoff and reduce infiltration t The waste rock pile is expected to be physically stable and is not expected to generate acidic runoff t The waste rock pile will not need a soil cover or vegetation Open Pits t Build a safety fence if the pit walls are deemed unstable t Stop pumping and allow the open pits to slowly fill with water from rain, snow and run off t The pits will naturally overflow after about 70 years t Create cuts in the rock to direct the pit overflow into the Marmion Reservoir The Notice and supporting information is available online at: www.osisko.com/en/properties/ hammond-reef/enviromental.html We invite you to read more about the planned closure phase for the Project and welcome your feedback. We will continue to update you about the closure phase of the Hammond Reef Gold Project and plan to have an Open House on this topic in the coming months.

OSISKO HAMMOND REEF GOLD LTD. Head Office: 1100, av. des Canadiens-de-Montréal Suite 300, P.O. Box 211 Montreal, Qc, H3B 2S2

Regional Office: 101, Goodwin Street, P.O. Box 2020 Atikokan, ON P0T 1C0

Contact: Alexandra Drapack Director Sustainable Development Hammond Reef Project

www.osisko.com

adrapack@osisko.com

8

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Stress leave, sick leave and post tramautic stress has Nishnawbe-Aski Police facing officer shortfall Continued from page 1 Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus recently raised the issue in a letter to Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, noting that NAPS officers do not receive the same support as municipal police or the Ontario Provincial Police.

“NAPS officers are working under conditions that can only be described as Third World,” Agnus said in the letter. “We are seeing upwards of 20 percent of the officers being off at any time because of leave or stress. This is the kind of levels you’d see in combat. We have officers going into violent situations without back up. They are lacking proper housing and many detachments are substandard.”

Chum is concerned about the upcoming elimination of 11 positions in March 2013, when the Police Officer Retention Fund ends.

“This is a big issue for us because we’ve come ahead so far with these 11 positions,” Chum said. “We’ve got the K-9, we’ve got our recruitment, our community service, our drug (unit) and we’ve got our front line peo-

ple. It’s going to hurt us real bad to lose those 11 positions.”

“We don’t know what direction Canada is going right now in regards to the First Nations Policing Program in Canada. We haven’t heard direction at all as to what Canada is doing.”

-NAPS Police Chief Claude Chum

Chum said NAPS is currently providing police services through a one-year extension of their tripartite funding agreement with the federal and provincial governments.

“It comes to an end on March 31, (2013),” Chum said. “We don’t know what direction Canada is going right now in regards to the First Nations Policing Program in Canada. We haven’t heard direction at all as to what Canada is doing.”

Although the federal and

provincial governments have invested in some NAPS infrastructure after the Kashechewan police detachment fire that claimed the lives of two First Nation prisoners, Chum said there are still a number of substandard NAPS detachments that need to be replaced.

Chum also stressed the need for about 30 additional police officers so communities have an officer on duty at all times.

“We have one and two and three-man detachments,” Chum said. “We still need to get more resources in there with these people so there is an officer in the community all the time when they leave on rest days.”

Chum added that NAPS police officers have not had a pay increase since 2009.

“First Nations policing needs some kind of legislation behind it,” Chum said, noting that other police services operate under provincial or federal legislation.

“That way we will have standards we will have to meet and governments will have an onus on them to provide proper funding so we can meet those standards.”

NAPS Police Chief Claude Chum says First Nations policing needs “some kind of legislation behind it.”

A Public Safety Canada spokesman, Jean Paul Duval, said in an e-mail comment

that the federal government committed during the Oct. 31 meeting of federal, pro-

vincial and territorial ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety to provide further information on the future direction and funding of the First Nations Policing Program as soon as it becomes available.

As for the Police Officer Retention Fund, Duval said Ontario was provided with a one-time payment of $156 million in 2008 for the program, and the withdrawal and distribution of funds for the program is the responsibility of each province and territory.

Meanwhile George and other NAPS officers asked to fill in are making the most of their time in the communities.

“I was able to offer my services to a female victim of a crime in terms of having a female officer take a statement from her,” George said about her Oct. 18-20 assignment in Eabametoong. “Also, I was able to assist the other officers in the later evening hours in the apprehending of a potentially dangerous person. Once we arrested him, I escorted him out of the community.”

NAPS launches new general inquiry line #230422

Rick Garrick

johnnymacs.ca jmtc@drytel.net Special programs for your community’s needs.

807 937-5870

INSULATED HOT CUP SPECIAL *BUY 5 CASES* GET 1 FREE * 3 SIZES TO CHOOSE FROM* - 12/16/20 oz. CUPS - 12/16 oz. CUPS 1000/CASE - 20 oz. CUPS 500/CASE - ONE LID FITS ALL 3 SIZES 1000/CS CHOOSE INSULATED CUPS TO AVOID DOUBLE CUPPING, OR CUP SLEEVES! COFFEE, FILTERS, STIR STIX AND MORE AVAILABLE!

TOLL FRE L L A C FREE TOLL FREE OLLCALL

CALL T

3Y0 9 3 5 6 4 0 LT E 0 V O 1-8 BAZAAR & N 1-800-465-3930 30

0 465 39

SQUIER ST

BAZAAR & NOVELTY BAZAAR & NOVELTY 612 SQUIER ST 612 SQUIER ST, THUNDER BAY, ON THUNDER BAY, ON345-3033 P7B 4A8 FAX: 807 FAX: 807-345-3033

www.bazaarandnovelty.ca

Wawatay News

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service has launched an anonymous toll-free general inquiry phone number for Nishnawbe Aski Nation community members.

“The new general information line — 1-855-847-NAPS — is a general information line for NAN citizens to call for events and activities, presentation requests, NAPS career questions and information and also general inquiries,” said NAPS Const. Chris Carson. “It is not designed to get rid of Crime Stoppers or discourage people from calling Crime Stoppers in any way.”

In emergency situations, community members should still call 1-888-310-1122.

To leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers, call 1-800-222-8477 or leave a web tip at www.thunderbaydistrictcrimestoppers.

“That (Crime Stoppers) number is very effective,” said NAPS Sgt. Jackie George, noting the anonymity of people who call Crime Stoppers is protected. “All the police services in the area have made successful drug and other types of arrests through the tips that Crime Stoppers has received.”

The local Crime Stoppers coordinator, Ontario Provincial

Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

NAPS Constable Chris Carson, OPP constable Jason Disher and NAPS Sargeant Jackie George have helped launched a new annonymous inquiry line for NAPS. Police Const. Jason Disher, said any Crime Stoppers tips provided from the NAPS communities are passed on t0 NAPS for investigation.

“They remain totally anonymous,” Disher said. “There is no call display and there is no call tracing. For the people that are calling Crime Stoppers, we want them to know that there is no way that anybody is going to find out who they are.”

The new NAPS toll-free gen-

Information Recovery Advisory Service Randy Suggashie, Owner 805 May St. N., Thunder Bay, Ontario Phone: 807 622-8107 Cell: 807 630-2043

www.wawataynews.ca

Carson said community members can use the new general inquiry line to call for extra police services at community events and activities, such as gatherings, elections or tournaments, to ask NAPS to set up presentations on different topics, such as drug issues, to ask NAPS to provide more information on how to become a NAPS officer and to make other general inquiries.

For Fast, Efficient Service

Will gather information for First Nations & other Native organizations.

P.O. Box 1457, Sioux Lookout, ON, P8T 1B9 Phone: 807 737-1991 Fax: 807 737-2728 Email: siouxper@siouxperautoparts.ca

“To come together, to explore, to understand and to learn.”

Ken Schultz, Manager/Owner

info.recoveryadvisoryservice@gmail.com

Get the news online!

eral inquiry phone number was launched after requests from NAN chiefs for a way for community members to contact NAPS in non-emergency situations.

“They want a number to call for many various reasons,” George said. “So (NAPS Chief of Police Claude Chum) has provided this toll-free number that people can call and leave a voice mail and get more information.”

1

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

9

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ Get the news online!

www.wawataynews.ca SIOUX LOOKOUT FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITY Client Services Department HOUSEKEEPER Full Time Employment Internal/External Posting Location: Sioux Lookout, Ontario

Under the direction of the Team Leader (Housekeeping), the Housekeeper is responsible to keep the Hostel and Administration offices at a high standard of cleanliness.

QUALIFICATIONS • Minimum Grade 12 or GED; • Experience in a hospitality field an asset; • Ability to lift 20+ lbs; • Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills; • Possess excellent team building and networking skills; • Familiarity with computers, including databases.

Submitted photo

Students in Fort Albany have been provided with personal laptops through the One Laptop Per Child program. The program was launched with a celebration featuring North of 60 actor Dakota House. House said getting youth in First Nations connected to technology is “imperative” in the modern world.

North of 60 actor helps bring laptops to Fort Albany One Laptop Per Child pilot program in 14 First Nations Shawn Bell Wawatay News

Actor Dakota House, well known from his time on the TV series North of 60, was in Fort Albany last week helping to launch the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program in the community.

Fort Albany is one of 14 First Nations across the country involved in the pilot project testing the OLPC program in Canada. As part of the program, every student in the community gets their own mini-laptop.

“With the technology going so fast, within six years if these kids aren’t connected and don’t have that education behind this technology, they will be so far behind there will be no chance of them catching up,” House said to Wawatay after his trip to Fort Albany.

“The way that things are going all over the world, it’s all geared towards technology, computers and being connected. So these kids are learning it at a very young age, and that’s imperative.”

Last year Attawapiskat and Eabametoong First Nations joined the OLPC program. The pilot project finishes at the end of this school year, at which time the not-for-profit Belinda Stronach Foundation will have to decide whether to continue

expanding it across Canada.

OLPC was created to provide

to launch the program and welcome House. He had previ-

“With the technology going so fast, within six years if these kids aren’t connected and don’t have that education behind this technology, they will be so far behind there will be no chance of them catching up.”

-Dakota House

computers for children in some of the least developed countries on the planet. Uruguay became the first country to implement the program when its government purchased 100,000 computers in 2007.

Since then laptops have been given to students in schools across the world, from Afghanistan to India, Rwanda to Peru.

Jennifer Martino of the Belinda Stronach Foundation said that having House advocate for the program is “invaluable” in getting attention for OLPC both inside communities and across mainstream Canada.

“It’s incredibly powerful,” Martino said. “Dakota has such a wonderful relationship with each of these communities.

When we get off the plane the first thing is hugs all around.

So we are really honoured to have him on board as an ambassador.”

In Fort Albany, a community feast was held on Nov. 7

ously been to Fort Albany with his own youth outreach program, Going Miles, so the feast was somewhat of a reunion for the former actor.

The new laptops were never far from the conversation during his visit. He said that seeing how well received the laptops are in the school was “just amazing.”

“When we went into the gymnasium and all the kids are sitting around and they’ve got their laptops open and their taking pictures and making videos, and then you look at some of them and they’re already chatting with each other on the computers,” House said.

“There are so many capabilities that these little computers have. It gives (the students) the chance to advance on their math, their spelling and their reading.”

House, who was born in Manning, Alberta and now

lives in Edmonton, said he sees a need for this type of program to expand into First Nations across the country.

“In some of our isolated communities we don’t even have computers. The education they are getting right now, if they’re not connected to technology, when they do leave their community to go into mainstream society to further their education, they’re going to be so far behind at that point that it’ll be like going to Mars,” House said.

KNOWLEDGE & ABILITY • Ability to communicate in one or more of the First Nations dialects of the Sioux Lookout Zone will be an asset; • Experience and understanding of Native cultural issues, the geographic realities and social conditions within remote Northern First Nation communities; • Innovative problem solving and decision making skills; • Excellent time management and organizational skills, as well as the ability to work independently; • Must be willing to do shift work; • Must be willing and able to relocate to Sioux Lookout.

Please send cover letter, resume, three most recent employment references and an up-to-date Criminal Reference Check with a Vulnerable Persons Sector Check to: Human Resource Department Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority P.O. Box 1300, 61 Queen Street Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B8 Phone: (807) 737-1802 Fax: (807) 737-2969 Email: Human.Resources@slfnha.com Closing Date: November 23, 2012 at 4:30 p.m.

No resume’s received after that time will be accepted 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

Need a new car, truck or SUV? p l ! e h n a c e W # Good credit, bad credit or no credit

WINTER ROAD READY LGP Plows 807 472 7357

Snow Cats

www.lochlomondequipmentsales.com

Get the news online! www.wawa-

taynews.ca

Canadian Aboriginal Auto Sales

TOLL FREE EBUILDING IN CREDIT R 1-866-999-2499

Jack Eshelman Ph: (204) 334-0979

Fx: (204) 224-1813 Email: eshelman@mymts.net

10

Wawatay News

EgZ"EV^Y AdXVa IZaZe]dcZ HZgk^XZ

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

Timmins Friendship Centre relocating Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

6 CZ^\]Wdjg]ddY 8dccZXi^dc

&"-++"(.&"',%%

E^caZhh egZ"eV^Y adc\ Y^hiVcXZ hiVgi^c\ Vi dcan ) XZcih eZg b^cjiZ#

$45.99 Bdci]an hZgk^XZ (.#..

IgVch[Zg ndjg XjggZci cjbWZg ;G:: CZl cjbWZg VXi^kVi^dc [ZZ (.#..

Jca^b^iZY adc\ Y^hiVcXZ Dcan '%#%% CD H:8JG>IN 9:EDH>I# (% G:;:GG6A 9>H8DJCI ID 8DCC:8I 6 ;G>:C9# L: 688:EI 86H= A>C@ E6NB:CIH 6I 6AA <G:6I CDGI=:GC HIDG:H

á?§á?&#x160;á?§á?&#x160;á&#x2018;&#x152; á?&#x160;á&#x2019;&#x2039;á&#x2019;§á?§á?&#x192;á&#x201C;&#x2021;á?Ł

The Timmins Native Friendship Centre (TNFC) will be able to provide all its services under one roof when it moves to a new building in March 2013.

The TNFC is moving to a former elementary school located at the corner of Cedar Street South and Kirby Avenue. The two-storey building will feature a space of 30,000 square feet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 18,000 square feet more than its current two locations combined.

TNFC executive director Veronica Nicholson said the centre has always been looking to acquire another location with more space. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the primary reasons

is that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at two locations right now and it was either look to be under one roof or open another site,â&#x20AC;? she said.

The current facility, which opened in 1993, is located on Spruce Street South and has about 10,000 square feet. The organization also has another smaller site â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with about 2,000 square feet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where it provides four more programs.

The new site was an elementary school that closed down due to declining enrollment numbers. TNFC submitted a letter of interest to acquire the building. With office space becoming more cramped, Nicholson said the decision was a no-brainer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a question of to do it or not to do it,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We

Moving Forward Together:

Exploring Aboriginal/Non-Aboriginal Business Ventures Kakiinaa Maajiitawinun Chiwiitanookiimitiiyung Date: Thursday, November 29th, 2012 Cost: $20 (includes lunch and HST) Time: 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Travelodge Airlane, Barcelona Room Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Commerceâ&#x20AC;? resides in every Northwestern Ontario community including the many Aboriginal communities. Critical to our economyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prosperous development is the awareness by aboriginal enterprises of business opportunities with non-aboriginal partners â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and vice-versa. Join us on for a luncheon workshop focused on the concept of aboriginal and private sector partnerships.

Learn about mutual opportunities and an overview of partnership structuring.

Opportunity Forum - We will provide any participants who have a partnership opportunity the option to make a 5 minute descriptive presentation inviting interested parties to connect afterwards. Please contact the Innovation Centre in advance to reserve your time slot.

Speakers

Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News

The Timmins Native Friendship Centre will be moving to a new location in March 2013. Executive director Veronica Nicholson said the move will allow them to provide all their services under one roof. itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so accessible,â&#x20AC;? Nicholson had to do it.â&#x20AC;?

The additional space will said.

Last year, TNFC served allow the expansion of services, including the Oppekehawaso 18,000 clients through its 22 Wekamik Daycare. The day- programs in areas such as educare was developed in partner- cation, employment and trainship with the Cochrane District ing, and family and youth support. While the Social Services 2006 Census Admin Board puts the Timand opened in â&#x20AC;&#x153;It allows us to expand mins Aborigi2006. our daycare with an nal populaâ&#x20AC;&#x153;With our move, it allows infant room and family tion at 3,200, the Ontario us to expand resource centre.â&#x20AC;?

Federation of our daycare with an infant -Veronica Nicholson Indian Frendroom and famExecutive director ship Centres puts the figure ily resource at 14,000. centre,â&#x20AC;? NichNicholson said the new locaolson said.

The location of the new site tion will allow the organization to better serve the growing was also an important factor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really going to be cen- Aboriginal population. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still trally located and because we are a community-based friend- a lot of gaps to address and if ship centre and it was impor- we could be a good partner to tant for community members to address those gaps, this gives us be on this side of town because a good opportunity,â&#x20AC;? she said.

alls First Natio F e t n Sla

48 Lakeview Road Slate Falls, ON P0V 3C0 Tel: 807-737-5700 Tel/Fax: 1-888-431-5617

Notice to Slate Falls Nation Members

Colleen Martin, General Manager of Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund, will discuss the potential, trends and economic impacts of aboriginal/non aboriginal partnerships. She will share NADFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience how partnerships are becoming the norm for doing business in the Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s north so it is crucial to become familiar with the concept.

Don Wing, Senior VP Ontario, Dowland Contracting Ltd., will speak from a private sector perspective, on the extensive experience Dowland has had in partnering with aboriginal organizations and communities. He will share the lessons learned in developing successful SDUWQHUVKLSV LQFOXGLQJ ERWK WKH EHQHÂżFLDO DVSHFWV DQG SLWIDOOV WR EH DYRLGHG Bob Dickson, CEO, Attawapiskat Resources Inc., will represent the aboriginal perspective of what the right partnerships can mean to aboriginal entrepreneurs and the capacity building and economic results that they can provide. Attawpiskat First Nation and some of its community members have successfully partnered with a number of non-aboriginal companies DQG %RE ZLOO VSHDN WR WKH SURFHVVHV WKH\ GHSOR\HG LQ FKRRVLQJ WKH ULJKW SDUWQHUV WKH EHQHÂżWV achieved through their successful partnerships and any pitfalls encountered.

Ted Scollie, Lawyer, Erickson and Partners, will provide an overview of the different types of partnerships structures possible and/or commonly utilized from his perspective as a lawyer specializing in Aboriginal/First Nations Corporate and Commercial Law.

VISIT WWW.NWOINNOVATION.CA TO REGISTER Proudly Supported by:

Slate Falls Nation Chief and Council Election 2012 Nomination Meeting Date: Friday October 26, 2012 Location: Bimaychikamah School Gym Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Public Candidate Forum Date: Friday November 23, 2012 Location: Bimaychikamah School Gym Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Election Day Date: Friday November 30, 2012 Location: Slate Falls Band Office Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm If you are a member of Slate Falls First Nation, you are entitled to a vote providing you are 18 years of age as of November 30, 2012. If you have any questions regarding the election please call Brenda Roundhead at 807 737-5700

1

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

11

Wabigoon Lake has best tasting water Rick Garrick Wawatay News

First Nations water is proving to be among the best tasting waters in northwestern Ontario.

Wabigoon Lake won the 18th Annual Water Taste Challenge on Oct. 26 at the 58th Annual Northwestern Ontario Water and Wastewater Conference and Dalles (Ochiichagwe’babigo’ining Ojibway Nation) won last year.

“I’m getting lots of people coming down to the water plant so I can show them the processes and what kind of testing I do here.”

-Marcel Shabaquay Wabigoon Lake

“I was actually kind of shocked — it took me about two or three seconds — did they just say Wabigoon Lake,” said Marcel Shabaquay, Wabigoon Lake’s water plant operator. “It’s definitely nice to know that our water is up there with all these municipalities.”

Terrace Bay won the water taste challenge four times since 2003, Thunder Bay twice with Loch Lomond water, and Marathon and Vermilion Bay once each. “(The water) was judged on taste, colour, chlorine residual and clarity of the water,” Shabaquay said. “Ours was one of the better tasting waters.”

Shabaquay said the water taste challenge trophy is on display at the Wabigoon Lake band office.

“Lots of people keep coming up to me and saying, Marcel, you

guys got the best tasting water in northwestern Ontario,” Shabaquay said. “It’s a really good feeling. And I’m getting lots of people coming down to the water plant so I can show them the processes and what kind of testing I do here.”

Shabaquay toured the Bare Point water treatment plant in Thunder Bay during the conference, noting that Bare Point has “a lot of operators” compared to his water plant, which used to have only one operator but now has two.

“They have a very nice water plant compared to my water treatment plant,” Shabaquay said. “It is humungous. They’ve got four or five lift stations.”

Paul Otis, technical services officer with Bimose Tribal Council, is proud of the two First Nation wins, noting the water taste challenge had previously allowed only municipal water treatment plants to enter until last year.

“Last year, not only did we win with the Dalles First Nation,” Otis said, “we took three of the top five for the first time ever entering the challenge.”

Otis said the water samples are judged using a system where the judges do not know where the different water samples are from.

“It’s always been the finale,” Otis said. “It’s something that everyone takes great pride in.”

Otis said the two wins show that First Nations are able to produce good water with limited infrastructure and resources.

“We’re working with one or two man crews with limited equipment, with limited money, with limited capital infrastructure and assets,” Otis said. “But we are still able to do not too bad, so we’re proud of that.”

POSTPONEMENT NOTICE To Registered Members of Mishkeegogamang First Nation The Ratification Vote scheduled for Wednesday, November 14th, 2012 at Mishkeegogamang Missabay Community School is POSTPONED. This will enable further community consultation with all Mishkeegogamang First Nation Community Members on the Settlement Agreement.

Future developments in the process will be provided to all Mishkeegogamang First Nation Members as it becomes available.

Please contact Elizabeth Redsky, Chief Ratification Officer to ensure your updated mailing address is received for your participation.

Phone: 1-807-733-9903 Email or comments: eredsky@hotmail.com Contacts: Elizabeth Redsky, Chief Ratification Officer

Submitted photo

Marcel Shabaquay receives prizes on behalf of Wabigoon Lake for finishing first in the 18th annual Water Taste Challenge on Oct. 26. The water plant operator was shocked and honoured to win the challenge during the 58th Annual Northwestern Ontario Water and Wastewater Conference. The water was judged on taste, colour, chlorine residual and clarity of the water.

12

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Executive Director Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) has an exciting opportunity for an Executive Director.

Located in Thunder Bay and reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for providing leadership in strategic management and administration for NADF. Working with NADF staff, the Executive Director will oversee and coordinate all areas of management and operation, including budgets, annual processes and work plans, and human and other resources, to ensure the effective day-today operations of the corporation.

The Executive Director is recognized as a strong leader and has demonstrated his/her ability to build the profile of an organization; has a proven track record of maintaining and fostering strong relationships with all internal and external stakeholders; and is seen as a credible and reliable professional.

Qualifications: • A post-secondary degree or diploma in business or at least 5 years of equivalent management experience.

• Demonstrated excellent leadership and motivational capabilities with a commitment to continuous improvement, frontline leadership and teamwork principles are required.

• Extensive experience in a business or economic development environment serving Aboriginal people.

• Demonstrated skills in program and strategic planning, service delivery and public relations.

• Strong problem identification and problem solving skills.

• Knowledge of and commitment to the mandate of and services provided by NADF. • Knowledge of the people, culture, and history of Nishnawbe Aski Nation; in-depth knowledge of the economic climate and business development priorities of the First Nations in Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN).

• Excellent customer relations, interpersonal and communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation), and the ability to plan, organize and prioritize and delegate work effectively.

• Ability to speak Cree, Oji-Cree, or Ojibway would be an asset.

• Must be willing to travel extensively.

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To review a complete job description, please visit our website at www.nadf.org.

Qualified applicants may forward their information by 4:30 p.m. on the closing date to: Mari Bishop, CA, Finance Manager, NADF 200 Anemki Place Fort William First Nation, ON P7J 1L6 Fax: (807) 623-3746 Email: mbishop@nadf.org CLOSING TIME/DATE: 4:30 PM (EDT) Thursday, November 29, 2012

Submitted photo

Third World Canada: tales from KI Youth Six youth from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug are currently on an Ontario tour, showing the film 3rd World Canada about suicide in the community and talking to audiences about living conditions in a remote First Nation.

Elton Beardy is one of the youth on the tour. Before he left for the kickoff event in Toronto, Wawatay sat down with Beardy to talk about the tour and his message for the people of Ontario.

Elton Beardy (EB): The tour is for a film called 3rd World Canada, and it deals with the issue of suicides in First Nations communities, particularly my community KI, and the issues of one family and how suicide has affected the children and the community.

The tour is about raising awareness of all these issues that First Nations peoples face in our communities, and hoping to create dialogue with Canadians. It is for Aboriginal peoples to talk with non-Aboriginal peoples and educate them to hopefully create change, to be able to work through reconciliation, and work through hope, so that we can create a better future for ourselves.

Wawatay (WWT): At what point did you decide to be involved in this tour, and why did you make that decision?

EB: Initially I didn’t know what the film was. I was just here in Thunder Bay and a friend told me there was going to be a film screening about my community. What drew me to it, it was about a girl that I knew, who I grew up with. She was my cousin. It was my relatives in the film, and of course my community.

Supporting the Success of Aboriginal Business

WWT: For you personally, what message are you bringing with you to people in the south?

EB: The message I really want to give them is that there is still hope for change. And that in relations between the First peoples with non First Nations, there can still be harmony. That what happened in the past we can move forward from. And no matter where we are at, if we can educate ourselves about each other, about what we face on a daily basis, then we can create dialogue with each other and come to a common understanding and a common goal for positive change. Not only for us, but for our children. It’s important that we think about the next generations to come.

That was in September 2010. We went to Lakehead University where the screening was being held, and watched the film. I didn’t know what to expect. It was packed. And the way the community responded to it at the end of the film, through what I saw, the emotions and what people said, as well as what the presenters spoke about, it really sparked a want for change for myself personally, but also for my community. And Andree (the filmmaker) really appreciated that, after I spoke to say why this film matters to me. She had me attend the Ottawa premiere in December, where I participated as a community member along with our drum group over there, and I got to speak at these events. That afternoon we sat around her kitchen table in her apartment in Ottawa and we talked about this tour, about what this tour will be and what we hoped it will do. Initially it was just a fun idea that we talked about over coffee, and I never thought it would take off like it has. So I’m excited, I’m excited to go.

A lot of our traditional teachings stress that though we sit in separate pieces of the medicine wheel, we’re all united in that circle. That everyone is welcomed and accepted in that circle.

That you have to do everything you can to help each other to walk in a good way. I want these people to know that this way is still there, the way for us is still there. It will take a lot of work, but it is still possible.

For me it was at the drum that I’ve gotten to know myself, that I’ve gotten to know what it’s like to walk in a good way, to speak in a good way, to sing in a good way.

For me it was at the drum that I’ve gotten to know myself, that I’ve gotten to know what it’s like to walk in a good way, to speak in a good way, to sing in a good way. And a lot of what our people, our youth in particular, don’t know is what this drum can do for them. Our community is predominantly Christian, and a lot of them don’t understand what this way of life means. So this drum speaks on our behalf, to bring not only other Canadians but its own people in a call to understand, in a call for changes in the community. That’s what this drum means coming on the tour with us. It’s a huge step. The weight of responsibility that we have as carriers, as singers, as speakers with this drum with us is a lot more than what we can imagine it to be. That is why we have to do this in a good way.

-Elton Beardy

While all responses will be appreciated and handled in strictest confidence, only those candidates being considered for an interview will be contacted.

As well for me it was really healing and encouraging to have our drum group there with us, the first drum in over a century.

And seeing all of my old friends, some of my family members there, and hearing the positive response we got from our community members about how they feel about the experiences in the film, it really changed me. Looking back I can definitely say that this film could change things for the better, and perhaps act as a catalyst for change in people as well. Not just as nations, but as individuals.

WWT: What did you see in that Ottawa premiere from the audience that convinced you that tour could accomplish what you want it to accomplish?

EB: I saw a lot that evening. It was an amazing experience, a life-changing experience. I feel that week was where things changed for me personally, just through what I saw there. We had about 600 people there, well over what we were expecting.

When I looked there out in the audience, you could see how it affected them.

WWT: When I was talking to Andree about the tour, she brought up how powerful it was to have the community drum there. You mentioned it earlier. What does it mean to you and to your community to have the drum with you on the tour?

EB: It means a lot more than what we as people can perceive.

That drum not only represents the voices of our community members, but it also represents the spirits of our ancestors and the creator. It is important that we let people know it represents a lot more than just a community, but life itself.

WWT: I’d like to get your thoughts on the fact that on this tour it is youth voices being brought out. What does that signify to have the youth voices representing the community?

See WE CANNOT AFFORD on page 13

Wawatay News

EB: It represents a time of change. It represents a new season.

It’s an important time for us as nations, as indigenous peoples of North America that now our children, our youth will be the ones who take the future of our peoples, the future of our traditions, the future of our culture, our language, our faith forward. And it’s an important time not only for us but for all youth around the world, where we have to choose for ourselves where we go.

Services

Cosco Technology Call Garett Cosco for all your tech needs including computer repair and satellite installation. 807-738-TECH (8324) www.coscotech.ca

Place your classified ad with us.

1-800-243-9059

Pay full price for the first week and

HALF PRICE

for all following weeks!*

WRN is broadcast on 89.9 FM in Sioux Lookout and 106.7 FM in Timmins and to many communitybased affiliated radio stations.

WRN is also distributed nationally on Bell TV Channel 962.

CLASS IN

$ HIGHWAY FUEL H ‡‡ E C ECONOMY

WITH AUTOMATIC W T R TRANSMISSION

/FordCanada CANADA IN

CANADA’S BEST-SELLING SMALL UTILITY***

LEASE FOR ONLY

FOR ONLY

298 @1.99%

$

*

APR

36MONTHS

OFFER INCLUDES $750*** WINTER SAFETY PACKAGE CASH ALTERNATIVE AND EXCLUDES TAXES.

@FordCanada

27009_G_R1_SYRMAFEscapeEdge_8.5x11.5.indd 1

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

THE ALL-NEW

2013 ESCAPE SE FWD 1.6L ECOBOOST

GET

1,000 ®

BEST NEW SUV/CUV

6.0L/100km 47MPG HWY^^ 9.1L/100km 31MPG CITY ^^

††

IN LOYALTY & CONQUEST CUSTOMER CASH

For Qualifying Customers. tom mers m On new SUV/CUV mod models

PLUS GET A

WITH $3,968 DOWN PAYMENT.

***

On select new 2012 and 2013 models (If $750 Winter Safety Package Cash Alternative is not applied)

/FordCanada

$

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

“Will we let these sparks fade, or will we let it burn? Will our voices cry out in unison, or will they fade?”

EB: Speaking as a native person living in an urban environment, it’s important that we teach youth about these traditions. The issue of suicide, when somebody takes their life, it affects the entire community. That pain will be with everybody, not only the family but the entire community. It will always be there. And if we do not bring forward reminders that there is a path for them to heal, they will wander. They will not understand. That pain will affect them in more ways than we can realize. And that creates a cycle.

A lot of what we do does matter. A lot of what we have to do for each other relies on the strength of our youth, on the strength of our children, so that they are able to learn to live in a good way. Not only for themselves but for all people around the world, for all colours, all nations, all cultures. It is not only for ourselves that we do these things, but it is for others. That is how it is in our traditions. It is for others that we do things.

And it must be sustainable for seven generations, for our chilWe cannot afford to take our children for granted, to take this opportunity for granted. We cannot to just let them go. As I said before it’s a time to choose where we go, what we do and how our lifetimes will be spent. And what we’ll leave our children. And this goes for everybody. It’s important. Not only this tour, but what we do afterwards will be the most important.

Will we let these sparks fade, or will we let it burn? Will our voices cry out in unison, or will they fade? What I want people to ask themselves is, what do you choose?

AP W S YOURRIDE EVENT THIS FALL, FALL IN LOVE WITH A FORD.

HURRY, IT ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH

“I drive a Honda and I would swap my ride.”

YOUR ONTARIO FORD DEALERS OFFER LOW LEASE FINANCING ON 2013 ESCAPE & EDGE MODELS

Afra A.

THE WELL-EQUIPPED

2013 EDGE SEL FWD

(UNDER $35,000)

IIIHS TOP SAFETY PICK S

*Must be the same ad in following weeks to get the special pricing. Cannot be combined with any other offers. All pricing is subject to HST.

7.2L/100km 39MPG HWY^^ 11.1L/100km 25MPG CITY ^^

Sport model shown

LEASE FOR ONLY

GET

FOR ONLY

338 @0%

*

APR

36MONTHS

OFFER INCLUDES $750*** WINTER SAFETY PACKAGE CASH ALTERNATIVE AND EXCLUDES TAXES.

FALL IN LOVE WITH A FORD AND SWAP YOUR RIDE. VISIT ONTARIOFORD.CA OR YOUR ONTARIO FORD STORE FOR DETAILS. VIEW OUR SWAPISODES ONLINE AT FORD.BLOG.CA/SWAPISODES

$

1,000

††

IN LOYALTY & CONQUEST CUSTOMER CA ASH CASH

For Qualifying Customers.

On new SUV/CUV mode models

PLUS GET A

WITH $3,948 DOWN PAYMENT.

***

On select new 2012 and 2013 models (If $750 Winter Safety Package Cash Alternative is not applied)

Our advertised prices include Freight, Air Tax, PPSA and the Stewardship Ontario Environmental Fee. Add dealer administration and registration fees of up to $799, fuel fill charge of up to $120 and applicable taxes, then drive away.

ontarioford.ca

Vehicle(s) may be shown with optional equipment. Dealer may sell or lease for less. Limited time offers. Offers may be cancelled at any time without notice. See your Ford Dealer for complete details or call the Ford Customer Relationship Centre at 1-800-565-3673. ††Offer only valid from November 1, 2012 to November 30, 2012 (the “Program Period”) to Canadian resident customers who own or are currently leasing (during the Program Period) certain Ford Pickup Truck, Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), Cross-Over Utility Vehicle (CUV) or Minivan models (each a “Qualifying Loyalty Model”), or certain competitive pickup truck, SUV, CUV or Minivan models (each a “Qualifying Conquest Model”) and purchase, lease, or factory order (during the Program Period) a new 2012/2013 Ford truck (excluding Raptor), SUV or CUV (each an “Eligible Vehicle”). Some eligibility restrictions apply on Qualifying Loyalty and Conquest Models and Eligible Vehicles – see dealer for full offer criteria. Qualifying customers will receive $1,000 (the “Incentive”) towards the purchase or lease of the Eligible Vehicle, which must be delivered and/or factory-ordered from your participating Ford dealer during the Program Period. Limit one (1) Incentive per Eligible Vehicle sale, up to a maximum of two (2) separate Eligible Vehicle sales if valid proof is provided that the customer is the owner/lessee of two (2) separate Qualifying Conquest/Loyalty Models. Each customer will be required to provide proof of ownership/registration of the applicable Qualifying Conquest/Loyalty Model and the ownership/registration address must match the address on the new Buyer’s Agreement or Lease Agreement for the Eligible Vehicle sale. Offer is transferable only to persons living in the same household as the eligible customer. This offer is subject to vehicle availability and may be cancelled at any time without notice. This offer can be used in conjunction with most retail consumer offers made available by Ford of Canada at the time of factory-order or delivery (but not both). This offer is not combinable with CPA, GPC, Daily Rental Allowances. Taxes payable before Incentive is deducted. Dealer may sell or lease for less. See dealer for details.***Receive a winter safety package which includes: four (4) winter tires, four (4) steel rims (2012 Escape receives alloy wheels), and four (4) tire pressure monitoring sensors when you purchase or lease any new 2012/2013 Ford Fiesta, Focus (excluding BEV & ST), Fusion (excluding HEV), Escape, Edge (excluding Sport) or Explorer on or before Nov 30/12. Customers choosing to opt out of the winter safety package will qualify for $750 in customer cash. This offer is not applicable to any Fleet (other than small fleets with an eligible FIN) or Government customers and not combinable with CPA, GPC, CFIP or Daily Rental Allowances. Some conditions apply. See Dealer for details. Vehicle handling characteristics, tire load index and speed rating may not be the same as factory supplied all-season tires. Winter tires are meant to be operated during winter conditions and may require a higher cold inflation pressure than all-season tires. Consult your Ford of Canada dealer for details including applicable warranty coverage. *Lease a new [2013] [Escape SE FWD 1.6L Ecoboost/Edge SEL FWD] and get [1.99%/0%] APR for [36] months on approved credit (OAC) from Ford Credit. Not all buyers will qualify for the lowest APR payment. Example: [$23,861/$29,531] (Cash Purchase Price) with [$3,968/$3,948] down payment or equivalent trade-in, monthly payment is [$298/$338] total lease obligation is [$14,696/$16,116] optional buyout is [$14,290/$17,366] cost of leasing is [$1,133/$0] or [1.99%/0%] APR. Offers include [$750] in Winter Safety Package Cash Alternative. Vehicles shown are 2013 Escape Titanium for $38,429 and 2013 Edge AWD Sport for $44,429. Offers include $750 Winter Safety Package Cash Alternative. Taxes payable on full amount of lease financing price after any manufacturer rebate is deducted. Additional payments required for security deposit, NSF fees (where applicable), excess wear and tear, and late fees. Some conditions and mileage restrictions apply. A charge of 16 cents per km over mileage restrictions applies. Offers include freight, air tax, PPSA, Stewardship Ontario Environmental Fee but exclude administration and registration fees of up to $799, fuel fill charge of up to $120 and all applicable taxes. Taxes payable on full amount of lease financing price after any price adjustment is deducted. ^^Estimated fuel consumption ratings for the 2013 [Escape FWD 1.6L GTDI-I4 6 Speed Auto/Edge FWD 3.5L-V6 6 Speed SST]. Model shown is Edge AWD Sport 3.7L-V6 6 Speed SST]: [12.1L/100km city and 8.7L/100km hwy]. Fuel consumption ratings based on Transport Canada-approved test methods. Actual fuel consumption will vary based on road conditions, vehicle loading and driving habits. ‡‡Class is Small Utility versus 2012/2013 competitors. Estimated fuel consumption ratings for the 2013 Escape FWD 1.6L GTDI I-4 6-Speed Automatic: 9.1L/100 km city and 6.0L/100 km hwy. Fuel consumption ratings based on Environment Canada approved test methods. Actual fuel consumption will vary based on road conditions, vehicle loading and driving habits. **Based on 2011 and YTD September 2012 R. L. Polk vehicle registrations data for Canada in the Large Premium Utility, Large Traditional Utility, Large Utility, Medium Premium Utility, Medium Utility, Small Premium Utility, and Small Utility segments.©2012 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.

1 13

‘We cannot afford to take our children for granted’

From page 12

dren and their children thereafter.

WWT: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Available in most new Ford vehicles with 6-month pre-paid subscription

11/8/12 2:18 PM

14

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Chad Solomon, creator of Rabbit and Bear Paws, during his stop at Thunder Bay’s Ecole Gron Morgan.

Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

Rabbit and Bear Paws tour northwest Rick Garrick Wawatay News

First Nation puppets, accompanied by lots of laughter, were on stage during a recent Rabbit and Bear Paws tour through northwestern Ontario and Manitoba.

“Yesterday I was in Big Grassy doing two different puppet shows for them there,” said Chad Solomon, creator of Rabbit and Bear Paws and a Henvey Inlet band member, after a Nov. 7 performance at Ecole Gron Morgan in Thunder Bay. “Before I set up for the powwow in Winnipeg, I was at two different schools, one in East Selkirk and one in Grand Beach.”

Solomon usually does a num-

ber of puppet performances during his tours, including a retelling of the Anishinabe creation story featuring his Nanabazhoo and the Animals puppets and an anti-bullying program featuring his Rabbit and Bear Paws puppets.

“I get the kids themselves to do improv puppeteering to act out that example of when they had seen someone getting bullied,” Solomon said, noting he usually asks two students from the audience to portray the bully and bullied using his puppets.

“And the improvisation of that storytelling is where the humour really comes in.”

While the students are usually nervous at first to

perform with the puppet, Solomon said they are also excited about using the puppets.

“As a kid, my parents always got me the tools to be able to use to become the artist and puppeteer I am today,” Solomon said. “I find it is very important for people to have hands-on experience with the tools themselves to fully learn about the art form and about the issues of bullying.”

Solomon delivered his puppet shows at six elementary schools during a Nov. 7-8 tour in Thunder Bay, including the anti-bullying puppet show he performed at Ecole Gron Morgan.

“I developed the program on

anti-bullying that uses the sharing circles and another tradi-

I developed the program on antibullying that uses the sharing circles and another traditional tool, the talking stick – Chad Solomon

tional tool, the talking stick, for kids to work at the issue of bullying using humour and puppetry,” Solomon said.

Ecole Gron Morgan vice principal Darren Lentz said the puppet show was a “great opportu-

Border Travel

No one knows travel better!

Member of the Transat network

Authorized Wasaya Agency

Experience in Northern Travel

Call for a quote today!

Toll Free 24 Hours: 1 800 463-5303 For Sale

30 th

Ann iver sary

2005 Chev. Venture MiniVan – $7,495 includes safety 2005 Ford F-150 Supercab – $15,495 includes safety 2005 Chev. Malibu 4 cyl, Auto – $7,995 Low Mileage

nity for kids” to see a different venue for talking about culture, traditions and bullying.

“Bullying is a serious issue,” Lentz said. “We don’t want to see it in schools, we don’t want to see it in our life and (Solomon) has a unique way to present that to kids, a different way than they’ve seen before, with puppets, which is really cool.”

Lentz was impressed with the way Solomon presented the idea that not all bullies are bigger than their victims by having a student perform with the smaller Rabbit puppet as a bully against another student with the larger Bear Paws puppet.

“I love how he interacts with the kids and gets them working

together with him,” Lentz said.

“It’s not just them sitting there and being inactive. I think that’s important, especially for elementary students.”

Solomon credited his family, including his grandfather, Elder Art Solomon, for providing a strong influence in his work.

“My grandparents, my mishomis and my nokomis, gave me a lot of great understanding as a kid of how to live a healthy and positive lifestyle,” Solomon said. “It is because of their teachings and of my family that inspired me to do the work that I do today with the audiences of various ages.”

Solomon’s work is available at www.rabbitandbearpaws.com.

(New Location) 53 York Street, Box 3010 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1J8

Michael T. George

737-4643 or 738-0047 Toll Free 1-877-337-4643 or Fax 1-866-891-2550 Auto Repair, Heavy Equipment Repair Welding & Fabricating, MTO Safety Inspections Praxair Distributor

Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services

Access to Justice Serving Nishnawbe-Aski Nation since 1990

C a l l To m s D e l i v e r y i n D r y d e n : ( 8 0 7 ) 2 2 3 - 6 11 2 86 S. Cumberland St Thunder Bay, ON P7B 2V3 1-800-465-5581 807-622-1413 www.nanlegal.on.ca

• Legal-Aid • Community-Based Justice • Alternative to Child Welfare • Victim Witness Assistance

1

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

15

Over 100 Rangers complete search and rescue training Peter Moon Canadian Rangers

The largest number of Canadian Rangers ever to gather in northern Ontario have completed a five-day search and rescue training exercise.

“We had a record 101 Canadian Rangers from 21 communities participate in Exercise Ranger Tracker,” said Captain Mark Rittwage, officer commanding the Canadian Rangers in northern Ontario. “It was a great collective training exercise. It was highly successful.

“It is the largest gathering of Rangers we have ever had in northern Ontario. And to the best of my knowledge this is the largest gathering of Rangers for any reason anywhere in Canada.”

The exercise took place at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources forward fire attack base at Rinker Lake, 96 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. It included instruction in first aid, dealing with mass casualties, setting up a search and rescue command post, warming people who have gone through ice, day and night navigation, and other skills needed by Rangers in emergencies.

A total of 71 Rangers took two days of instruction before completing a written examination and receiving their military first aid certificates. The other 30 Rangers were already qualified.

A highlight of the exercise was a sunrise ceremony on November 8, Aboriginal Veterans Day. The Rangers, with military and community flags flying, paraded at the edge of the lake and formed a giant circle around a fire, where Master Corporal Stanley Stephens, a Constance Lake Elder, addressed them. “This is an important day today,” he said. ”We thank our veterans with all our hearts.”

The annual Ranger Tracker exercises are the culmination of a year of training for the Rangers. “They confirm that they have what it takes to respond to an emergency situation,” Rittwage said.

“You can see the confidence that exudes from them. They know what they are doing.

They feel good going back to their communities. If they get a call for search and rescue or for just basic first aid they are going to be able to respond in a timely manner and be able to help.”

Sergeant Freeman Ningewance, commander of the Lac Seul Ranger patrol, said he will take many new skills back to his patrol members. “It was a good experience for me,” he said. “It was pretty awesome.

I learned a lot of new things I didn’t know. I know the area around Lac Seul, but here I had to learn to navigate in an area I didn’t know, using GPS, a map and a compass. I learned how to warm someone who had gone into cold water and how to recover an ATV from a river.

“People who didn’t come, they missed a lot of activities and a chance to meet a lot of good people for the first time.

They missed out big time. It was a huge experience for me.”

The Rangers’ enthusiasm to learn new things impressed Warrant Officer Barry Borton, the exercise’s training coordinator. “The competi-

tion between teams at the end of the exercise was great,” he said. “Rangers from different communities had to work together. They were tested on 10 sites.

“The night navigation was voluntary but every team participated. They wanted the extra points that went with it.

They all wanted to have their names on that big silver trophy for the winning team.

“They had been out in rain and sleet all day and they were soaking wet. But they all volunteered to go out again after supper on the night navigation exercise.

The competitive edge they displayed was impressive and the level of leadership was phenomenal.”

The trophy for the best of the 11 teams was won by a 10-member team composed

of Rangers from Neskantaga, Peawanuck, and Constance Lake. It was led by Master Corporal Pamela Chookomoolin of Peawanuck.

A number of Rangers received specialized instruction from two Ontario Provincial Police search and rescue experts in how to set up a search command post to enable Rangers and the OPP to work together. “The OPP and the Rangers work together on searches and the OPP have high respect for the Rangers and their abilities,” Borton said. “To have the OPP come out to train the Rangers, that’s a big thing.”

(Sergeant Peter Moon is the public affairs ranger for 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group at Canadian Forces Base Borden.)

Peter Moon/Canadian Rangers

The trophy for the best of the 11 teams was won by a 10-member team composed of Rangers from Neskantaga, Peawanuck, and Constance Lake. It was led by Master Corporal Pamela Chookomoolin of Peawanuck.

North Star Air Ltd 1-800-285-8618 Nakina Air Service Ltd 1-800-797-4424

16

Wawatay News

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Aboriginal Artworks Group of Northern Ontario (AAGNO)

Presents The 11th Annual Aboriginal Fine Arts & Crafts Christmas Gift Show & Sale “The largest gathering of Aboriginal Artisans of Northern Ontario” December 4th – December 8th , 2012 at Victoriaville Center, Thunder Bay, Ontario Come one, come all to see Authentic Aboriginal Fine Artworks of our Northern Ontario’s talented Aboriginal people’s creations. Great People, Great gift idea’s, Great prices, over 160 artisans participating.

Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

ON SALE Tamarack Birds Original Native Paintings Native Apparel Native Jewellery Leather Works

Beadwork Wood Carvings Handmade Snowshoes Christmas Ornaments Birchbark Artworks

And much, much more!

TIME \Tuesday, Dec. 4 Wednesday, Dec. 5 Thursday, Dec. 6 Friday, Dec. 7 Saturday, Dec. 8

10:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Come and enjoy yourselves and meet the artisans at this festive season

Merry Christmas Contact: John Ferris, Coordinator 807 939-7525 Email: jferus@hotmail.com

Jayden Krieger and his sister Karissa learn how to make medicine pouches at Susan Kakepetum’s Nov. 3 workshop.

Medicine pouch teachings help keep traditions alive Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Lac Seul’s Susan Kakepetum recently shared her medicine pouch teachings with youth and adults at the Lake Superior Art Gallery in Thunder Bay. “We carry the medicine pouches with us so we can have our medicines close to us,” said the Lac Seul artist and heritage programmer during her Nov. 3 Community Arts and Heritage Education Project workshop. “We try to carry it close to our body so that if in a rush or panic we need to have them, then they are close to us.”

A stone is also carried in the pouch for rubbing, Kakepetum said, as a grounding method.

“Today we use them as first aid kits; the old version was the medicines of the ground,” Kakepetum said, explaining that people used to carry the traditional medicines with them because they were not always readily available wherever they travelled.

“Up north you won’t find cedar, so you bring cedar from this area. And you won’t find sweetgrass way up north, so you bring it from the west.”

Kakepetum showed the

workshop participants how to make the medicine pouches out of moosehide and deerhide.

“The process for making the moosehide and deerhide is to soak the hide and scrape them,” Kakepetum said.

“The process for making the moosehide and deerhide is to soak the hide and scrape them...and then use the brain of the animal on the hide. That makes it soft.”

– Susan Kakepetum

“And then use the brain of the animal on the hide. That makes it soft.”

Kakepetum said the pieces of hide are punched with leather punches and stitched together with strips of sinew.

“Before we would use the bones to poke holes,” Kakepetum said.

Once the pouches are stitched together, feathers and beads are attached as

decorations.

Kakepetum said she is looking to “retain some of our history and some of our methods of carrying our sacred items” by passing on her medicine pouch teachings.

She was taught by her mother as a child how to do beadwork and sew clothing and has since been making traditional crafts with her mother over the past 20 years.

CAHEP executive director Pam Cain said the workshop is part of the Grand Others project, which aims to bring together Grand-Others friends, relatives and neighbours to learn more about each other and to create together.

“We’re promoting people partaking in traditional crafts and learning about our local cultures,” Cain said.

“We’ve had good attendance and (the Grand Others project) is sort of developing a following. As we do each one, we get more people involved and more people aware of what is going on.”

The next two CAHEP workshops are both by James Wilkinson, who is presenting song creation workshops on Dec. 1 and 8.