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Sisters in Spirit honoured at vigil PAGE 3
The bow hunter returns PAGE 12
Vol. 40 No. 39
Pelican Falls’ Terry Fox Run PAGE 19 8000 copies distributed
October 10, 2013 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974
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Grassy Narrows students complete epic canoe journey Wawatay News Staff Students from Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation (Grassy Narrows) completed an epic 127 km canoe trip in September and the only excuse from a student was being unable to sleep at night because of his friend’s “Sasquatch sounds.” The seven-day canoe trip route which took six days from Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation to Wabaseemoong (Whitedog Reserve) was planned and chaperoned by Grassy Narrows teachers Milo Richards, an outdoor education teacher and Debby Ropp, a school councillor and teacher. The trip was part of an outdoor education class, which was locally developed, and based on Ontario ministry of education curriculum expectations approved for Healthy Active Living Education at the Grade 10 level. “The class provides a challenge to the individual student to discover new personal limits,” said Richards. “This is achieved through the acquisition of outdoor recreation skills, while providing an opportunity to develop an ecological awareness of our natural environment and make meaningful cultural connections to Anishinabe life.” Each of the courses focuses on seasonal activities that reflect the time of the year, said Richards. For example, canoe tripping at the beginning and end of each year, trapping in the winter, fish net setting in winter, fall and spring, wild ricing in the fall, camping in winter and summer, wilderness safety year round, and the big canoe in the fall and spring. “The canoe trip route from Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation to Wabaseemoong seemed like an opportunity to connect youth from the two communities,” he said. And the best part of the trip according to the students were the campfires, the historical significance and the actual paddling. “I enjoyed singing some good old pow wow songs with the class around the fire,” said student Jimi Fobister. “I was encouraged to go because of my interest in seeing where my ancestors were living. I got used to the bush food, so the day I got home I cooked myself a storm of pancakes and sausages.” Student Paul Tayler agreed. “The best moments on trip were when we would make each other laugh around the campfire, and I loved looking at the stars in the night sky, its amazing feeling,” he said. However the lowest part was summed up by Keenan Wesley. “You were probably thinking I was going to say paddling, but nope! It’s actually when I have to go to sleep. Sleeping with a bunch of guys who have been in the bush for days on end and smell awful is really hard, especially when of those guys makes sasquatch sounds all night!”
Milo Richards/Special to Wawatay News
The seven-day canoe trip route which took six days from Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation to Wabaseemoong (Whitedog Reserve) was planned and chaperoned by Grassy Narrows teachers Milo Richards, an outdoor education teacher and Debby Ropp (centre), with students Paul Taylor, Jeremy Fobister, Jimi Fobister, Darwin Fobister, Sharice Bruce, Nellie Mckay, Austin Wesley, Keenan Wesley and Isaiah Kejick.
All-weather roads under consideration: chiefs Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Discussions about all-weather roads and winter roads are ramping up across Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory. “We’ve had tons of resolutions regarding winter roads over the years, 20-30 years,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit during the Sept. 27 Winter Roads and All-Weather Roads First Nations Forum in Thunder Bay. “But recently, in the past three or four years, First Nations are now starting to talk all-weather roads because of the difficulties they are encountering due to shorter seasons caused by climate change, warmer weather and thinner ice.” Louttit said the changing conditions are putting winter-road workers’ lives at risk as well as increasing costs for construction. “We had two deaths last year in northwestern Ontario,” Louttit said. “It’s hard to predict the weather, but in order for the winter roads to be viable, we need cold weather and thicker ice.” Louttit said NAN is looking at developing a NAN-wide strategy on the transportation issue, noting the changing weather conditions and upcoming resource industry transportation requirements need to be considered. “If the Ring of Fire (mineral development area) is going to be developed, First Nations need to be involved, not
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only the Matawa First Nations, but all NAN First Nations need to be involved in the regional infrastructure, whether it’s roads, energy, hydro or whatever, that’s being planned to accommodate not only the resource sector but the First Nations access to all-weather roads and the highway system,” Louttit said. Louttit said any resource roads built in NAN traditional territory need to accommodate access for neighbouring First Nation communities. “It’s only in the interest of all the parties, the industry, the governments and the First Nations, to accommodate everybody,” Louttit said. “If Ontario puts money into the construction of the road, then it has to be accessible to the public and the First Nations.” Shibogama’s Margaret Kenequanash said the Shibogama communities are working to realign their winter roads away from lakes and onto land, adding that Wunnumin Lake is currently planning to realign their winter road over higher esker ridges to avoid lakes. “I haven’t heard about an all-season road but there may have been discussions,” said the Shibogama executive director. “Right now we transport a lot of fuel, housing materials and a lot of bulk (supplies) to the communities. The concern is that when we have a short winter road season, then that affects the overall community in terms of being able to deliver all of their equipment on the winter roads to the
communities, so it costs higher.” ager, said his community is planning to Kenequanash said a social-impact use the Asheweig Winter Road, which study would have to be conducted has already been realigned over land in before any all-season roads were con- a number of areas, this winter. structed into the “Also, we’re Shibogama comtrying to make munities. a road towards “Once an allBearskin Lake as season road (was well, that would built), anybody go around our big could access lake,” Nanokeesic that road so that said, noting that would definitely Chief Donny Morcreate some conris has been aimcerns among our ing for an all-land people,” Kenroute to Bearskin. equanash said. “This year we fin“So there needs ished that clearto be some assessing up to the joinment done on the ing winter road whole situation.” on the west side Kenequanash of the lake here.” said the ShiboNanokeesic gama commusaid the communities are at a NAN Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit nity is looking to crossroads in terms have both routes of development in ready for this wintheir area. ter so they have more options to bring “The government and industry are in supplies. looking to develop our homelands and “We didn’t have much use of the people should come together and work winter road (this past winter) in terms together on these issues rather than of hauling material or fuel or anything have somebody else take it over,” Ken- like that,” Nanokeesic said. “This year equanash said. “Our people need to be there was quite a bit of damage to the fully engaged in terms of what goes on winter road on the first fleet — after in our homelands.” that it wasn’t much of a use. Large Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug’s boulders and various conditions halted Peter Nanokeesic, public works man- delivery.”
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