April 3, 2014 Volume 41 Number 7 by Wawatay News

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Vol. 41 No. 7

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April 3, 2014 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974

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Matawa signs agreement

Submitted by Matawa First Nations

Ginoogaming First Nation Chief Celia Echum signs the regional framework agreement while Ontario’s Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle (left) looks on. Echum and the eight other Matawa First Nations chiefs reached an agreement with the province that allows the two parties to move forward with a negotiation process on a community-based regional approach to development in the Ring of Fire. See story on page 3.

ᕑᐁ ᐅᑭᐊᓂᒧᑕᐣ ᒋᒥᓄᓭᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐣ ᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑫᒥᓄᓭᐊᐧᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᕑᐃᐠ ᑲᕑᐃᐠ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ

ᑫᑌ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᐸᐧᑊ ᕑᐁ ᐅᑭᔭᓂᒧᑕᐣ ᐁᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᒋᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᑎᐸᐸᒥᑎᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐃᓀᑫ ᒋᐃᓇᑫᑲᐸᐃᐧᒪᑲᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑎᓇᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐦᑭᑲᐠ ᑲᐅᐣᒋᒪᓂᔓᓂᔭᐊᐧᑌᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑎᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᑭᓯᐃᐧᐱᓯᑦ 17-18 ᐁᐧᑎ ᑕᐣᑐᕑ ᐯ. “ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑭᐱᑐᑕᒧᐠ ᐃᑭᐧᐁᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑦᐸᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐱᑯ ᑲᐃᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭᐱᒥᓂᔕᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑎᔑᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᒪᐊᐧᑐᓇᐊᐧᐣ ᑫᐊᓄᓇᐊᐧᐨ, ᑐᑲᐣ ᑲᐅᓇᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᑕᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ, ᐅᑕᔭᒥᑕᒪᑫᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ, ᒋᐅᓇᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᑕᒪᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒋᒪᒪᐃᐧᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᐅᔑᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐁᑭᐅᓇᐡᑭᓇᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐯᐸᓄᐊᐧᔑᐠ,” ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᒪᑕᐊᐧ ᑲᐅᐣᒋ ᐱᒥᓂᑲᓂ ᐊᔭᒥᑕᒪᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᕑᐃᐳᕑᐊᓫ ᑲᑭᐱᔑᑕᑭᐧᐨ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ. “ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᑭᐊᔭᐊᐧᓄᐣ 2,000 ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐁᐡᑲᑦ ᑭᐊᔭᐊᐧᓄᐣ 3,000 ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ 4,000 ᑭᑕᓱᐸᐸᑭᑭᓂᑲᓀᔭᐊᐧᐣ, ᒥᑕᐡ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᑭᔭᓂᔑᓂᔕᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐸᐣᐟ ᐊᐸᓱᐠ ᐁᑭᑐᐊᐧᐨ ‘ᒥᐅᓄ ᓂᑐᓇᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ, ᒪᑎ ᐱᓇᑫᐧᐁᐧᔑᑐᐠ ᓂᔓᐱᒥᑯᓇᑲ

ᑭᔭᓂᓯᓭᐠ.’” ᕑᐁ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐃᒪ ᒪᑕᐊᐧ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᐊᔭᑭᐣ ᑭᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐅᑲᐸᑭᑎᓇᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᑐᑕᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ. “ᓂᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᒥᐣ ᑫᒋᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᑯ ᒋᐱᓇᑭᐡᑲᑯᔭᐠ ᑫᑯᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᑲᑫᐧ ᒪᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ, ᓂᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᒥᐣ ᑲᔦ ᑫᒋᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᐱᒥᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᐱᐸᔕᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᐱᐊᐧᐃᐧᑕᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᑯᓀᐣ ᐃᓂᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑ ᐅᓇᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᒋᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᓇᑫᐧᐁᐧᔑᑐᐊᐧᐨ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᕑᐁ. “ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᑕᐃᐧᓇᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᒋᔭᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᔭᐡ ᐅᑭᑫᑕᒪᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ, ᒋᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᒋᐦᐊᐃᐧᐡᑲᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ, ᒋᐊᔭᑭᓀ ᐊᔭᒥᐦᐊᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐸᐸᐊᐃᓇᐱᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᓂᐠ ᒋᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ‘ᒧᔕᐦᐅᒪ ᐯᑲᐧᐨ ᐣᑫᑌᓂᑲᐧᐦᐊᑲᓂᓇᐣ, ᒧᔕᐦᐅᒪ ᐊᐦᑭᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐅᐣᒋ ᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐃᒪ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᔕ ᒥᔑᓇᐧ ᑭᒋᒥᑕᓱᒥᑕᓇ ᑕᓱᔭᑭ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᐅᓄᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᑲᑲᑭᑫᐣᑕᒪᑭᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᓂᔑᐱᒥᒋᐊᐧᐠ ᓂᐱ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐣᑎ ᐁᓂᔕᒪᑲᐠ ᓂᐱ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐣᑎ ᐁᔑᑭᓄᔐᑲᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᑐᒋᑫᒪᑲᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑᒪᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑫᑯᐣ. ᓂᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᒥᐣ ᑕᐡ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑭᒋᓀᑕᑭᐣ ᐅᓄᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑭᑫᑕᒪᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᐊᔑᑎᓂᑕᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ

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ᑲᐃᐧᐃᐊᓂᔑ ᐅᓇᐸᒋᑌᐠ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ.’” ᑫᕑᐁ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑯᑕᑭᓂ ᐅᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᐣ ᐁᑲ ᑲᓇᐦᐁᑕᒥᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᑕᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᔭᓂᔑ ᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐅᑕᐸᓂᒥᑲᓇᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐅᐡᑭᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᑫᐃᐧ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑᒪᑕᓄᑲᑌᐠ ᒋᐃᓇᒧᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐣ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐱᒋᐳᐃᐧᒋᑫᒪᑲᐠ ᐊᐱ ᐊᓂᒧᓇᐦᐃᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ. “ᐊᓂᐣ ᑕᐡ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑫᐃᓯᓭᐠ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᑲᐱᒥᓄᐁᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᐃᓯᓭᐠ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᑲᑭᒥᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑲᓱᑭᐸᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑫᑯᐣ ᑲᔕᐸᐧᔑᑲᐃᐧᐠ ᐊᓂ ᓂᐣᑲᐧᑲᒥᑭᑕᒪᑲᐠ ᒋᔭᓂᓇᔑᑲᐃᐧᐠ ᑲᓂᔑᓯᐱᐊᐧᐠ ᓇᐣᑕ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᕑᐁ. “ᐊᐣᑎ ᑕᐡ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐁᓂᔕᒪᑲᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑫᑯᓀᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑕᑲᐧ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑫᑯᐣ ᑲᔕᐸᐧᔑᑲᐃᐧᐠ. ᑫᑯᓀᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᐃᐁᐧ, ᑫᑯᓀᐣ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑲᐃᒋᑲᑌᐠ. ᐱᒋᐳᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᓇ ᐃᐁᐧ, ᒧᕑᑯᕑᐃ ᓇᐦ ᐃᒪ ᑕᑲᐧᐣ ᑲᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᐊᐧᐠ ᐱᒋᐳᐃᐧᐣ.” ᕑᐁ ᐅᑭᔭᓂᒧᑕᐣ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᑫᑯᐣ ᑲᔕᐸᐧᔑᑲᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᒪᐡᑯᐨ ᐅᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᒪᒋᑐᑕᑯᓇᐊᐧ ᑭᓄᔐᐠ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃ ᑲᐃᔑᑕᑲᐧᑭᐣ ᓯᐱᐣ ᒥᓇ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ. “ᐊᓂᐣ ᑕᐡ ᑫᑐᒋᑫᒪᑲᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᑭᓄᔐᑲᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐅᐣᑕᒋᐦᐅᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᔕ ᒥᔑᓇᐧ ᑭᒋᒥᑕᓱᒥᑕᓇ ᑕᓱᔭᑭ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᕑᐁ. “ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᐃᓯᓭᐸᐣ ᒋᔑᔕᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᐊᐣᑕᐃᐧ ᓂᔑᐊᐧᓇᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ.”

ᕑᐁ ᐅᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᐣ ᐅᑯᐁᐧᓂᐊᐠ ᒪᑕᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑲᐸᑭᑎᓇᓯᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᑲ ᒋᐱᓯᐢᑫᓂᒥᑕᐧ. “ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐃᓯᓭᓂ ᒋᐊᔑᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᐸᐸᒥᓯᐃᐧᓂᐠ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᕑᐁ. “ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᐸᑭᑎᓂᑕᐧ ᑲᐃᔑᐸᐸᒥᓯᓇᓂᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᓇᐣᑕ ᒋᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᒪᒥᑐᓀᑕᒪᐣ ᐁᐃᐧᒥᑲᓇᑫᔭᐣ ᒋᐃᓇᒧᐠ ᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᑲᓂᐠ, ᑭᐸᑯᓭᓂᒥᑯᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᑭᓇᓇᑲᑕᐁᐧᑕᒣᐠ ᑫᑯᓀᐣ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᑫᑭᐅᔑᑕᒪᐃᐧᔑᔦᑭᐸᐣ. ᐊᓂᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑫ ᑫᑯᐣ ᐅᓄᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᓂᑕᔭᓯᒥᐣ. ᐱᒥᓭᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑭᑐᒋᐱᑕᑯᔑᓇᐊᐧ, ᓂᓇᐃᐧᐟ ᐃᐧᐣ ᐱᐳᓂᒥᑲᓇᐠ ᓂᑐᒋᐱᒥᔭᒥᐣ, 14 ᑕᓱᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᓂᐱᒥᐱᓱᒥᐣ ᐁᐧᐱᑫᐧ ᐁᐅᐣᒋᒪᒋᐱᓱᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᐧᑎ ᑕᐣᑐᕑ ᐯ ᐁᐱᓱᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᓂᐅᐱᓯᑦ ᐁᑕ ᐯᔑᑯᐊᐦᑭᐠ ᐃᓯᓭ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒋᑭᑐᑕᒪᐣ.” ᕑᐁ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐃᒪ ᒪᒪᐤ ᑫᐅᐣᒋᒥᓄᓭᐊᐧᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᐃᔑᓇᑯᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᒪᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᑲᓇᐣ ᒋᒥᓇᐧᔑᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑫᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᑕᑲᐧᑭᐣ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒋᐊᓂᑌᐱᓂᑲᑌᑭᐣ. “ᐊᓂᐣ ᑕᐡ ᑫᑭᑐᑕᒪᑭᐸᐣ ᑫᑭᐅᐣᒋᒪᓂᐱᑐᔭᑭᐸᐣ ᑫᒋᓇᐨ (ᒪᑕᐊᐧ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓇᐣ) ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᑫᓄᒋᑭᑕᒋᑐᐊᐧᐸᐣ, ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐱ ᑭᐊᔭᒪᑲᓂᑭᐣ,”ᐃᑭᑐ ᕑᐁ. “ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᑭᑐᑕᒪᑭᐸᐣ ᒋᑭ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧᐸᐣ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ. ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᑫᒋᓇᐁᐧᑕᒪᑭᐸᐣ

ᒋᑭᔭᓂ ᐅᔓᓂᔭᒥᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᑫᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᒥᓄᓭᐊᐧᑫᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑎᐯᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ, ᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐱᑯ ᒋᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᐱᒪᒋᐦᐃᑎᓱᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑎᐯᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ.” ᕑᐁ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑭᔭᓂ ᐊᓂᒧᑕᐣ ᑲᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᑲᐠ ᒋᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐸᐣ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧ ᐸᑫᐧᓇᒪᑫᐃᐧ ᔓᓂᔭ. “ᒥᐦᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᑭᐊᔭᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐣᑎ ᑫᐅᐣᒋᐱᒥ ᔓᓂᔭᑫᐊᐧᐨ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᕑᐁ. “ᒥᐦᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᑭᐱᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐨ, ᓇᑐᑕᐃᐧᔑᓇᑦ, ᐊᔕ ᓂᒥᓇᐧᑲᑌᐣᑕᒥᐣ ᑲᐯᐦᐃ ᑲᒧᒋᐊᐯᓂᒧᑕᐊᐧᔭᐠ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪ, ᒥᓇ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐊᐧᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᔭᐠ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᓂᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᓯᒥᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒋᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᓂᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ. ᑫᓂᓇᐃᐧᐟ ᓂᐃᐧᑐᑕᒥᐣ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᐱᒥᐅᑎᓯᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ, ᑌᐯᐧ ᐱᑯ ᑲᐅᐣᒋᐅᑎᓯᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓂᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᑭᐊᐧᐸᑕᒥᐣ ᐁᐱᑕᑯᔑᓄᒪᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᑭᓇᐃᐧᐟ ᑫᑭᑐᑕᒪᑭᐸᐣ ᑕᐱᑕ ᒋᐅᒋ ᑌᐱᓇᒪᓱᔭᑭᐸᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᒥᓄᓭᐊᐧᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓂᑲᐠ ᐁᑲ ᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑕᔑᒧᒋᐱᒥᔭᒪᑲᐠ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑕᐱᐡᑯᐨ ᑲᔭᓂᒪᒋᐁᐧᐸᓯᐠ ᒋᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ.” ᕑᐁ ᐅᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᓇᐸᐣ ᐅᑕᓂᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᒥᑭᓯᐃᐱᓯᑦ 18 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᓂᐠ: ᑕᑲᐧᐣ ᑫᑭᔭᓄᒋ ᒪᒋᐱᒧᓴᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᑕᐡ ᐁᔑᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᒋᒥᓄᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒥᑎᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑐᐃᐧᓂᐠ.

With over 15 years experience, Wasaya Airways is equipped to transport numerous goods such as food, lumber, gas & diesel fuel, boats, motors, snowmachines, medical and ofÀce supplies. 1.807.928.2244 Pickle Lake | 1.807.662.1119 Red Lake

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Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

THIS WEEK

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

WAWATAY NEWS... ᒣᒣᑫᐧᔑᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᒪᓂᒍᔑᐊᐧᓂ ᐅᓂᐯᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ

ᒪᑕᐊᐧ ᑭᒪᓯᓇᐦᐅᑎᓱᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑐᐃᐧ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒪᑕᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᓇᑯᒥᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᑭᐅᐣᒋᒥᓄᓭᑭᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐃᐃᒪ ᑲᐃᐧᔭᓂ ᐊᓄᑲᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑭᒋᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᑲᓂ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᐁᐧ ᓇᑯᒥᑐᐃᐧ ᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑐᐃᐧ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᐊᒥ ᐁᑫᓇᐠ ᐁᑐᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐃᒪ ᒪᒪᐤ ᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᓇᑯᒥᑎᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑭᑕᑲᐧᐱᐊᐧᐨ ᐱᒥᔭᓂᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᑭᒪᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐸᐣ ᓂᐱᓄᐠ 2013 ᑲᑭᑲᑫᐧᑌᐧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᒪᑕᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒋᐃᔑᒋᑲᓄᐊᐧᓂᐠ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᑫᐃᔑ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑫᒪᑲᐠ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑐᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᑭᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᓂᔑᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᔭᓂ ᒪᒋᐃᐧᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᐧᐊᓂᔑ ᐅᓇᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧ ᐃᓀᑕᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᔦ ᒋᐊᔑᑎᓂᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑫᓂᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᒪᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᑲᓂ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ. ᐅᐁᐧ ᓇᑯᒥᑐᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᐣᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᓭᓂ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᓂᔑᒪᒪᐃᐧ ᐅᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᑲᓂ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑫᓄᒋᓭᑭᐣ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓇᐣ, ᑭᓇᑲᐧᐡ ᒋᐱᒥᑲᓇᐁᐧᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᔑᓇᑯᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᐱᒥ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ, ᐊᐦᑭᑲᐠ ᑲᐅᐣᒋᒪᓂᔓᓂᔭᐊᐧᑌᐠ ᐸᑫᐧᓇᒪᑫᐃᐧᐣ, ᔓᓂᔭᑫᐃᐧ ᒪᒋᑕᐃᐧ ᐊᓱᐡᑲᒪᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ, ᒥᓇ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐣ ᑭᒋᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧ ᒪᒋᑕᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑫᓂᒪᑕᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ.

Matawa First Nations signed a framework agreement that establishes the negotiation process with the province for the Ring of Fire (top); Equinox, a teenage Cree superhero from Moose Factory, was unveiled by DC Comics (left): and Taylor-Ann Chiesel was chief for a day in Lac Seul (bottom).

Matawa signs framework agreement with province Matawa First Nations and Ontario reached a landmark agreement that will ensure First Nation communities benefit from the proposed Ring of Fire development. The regional framework agreement is a first step in a historic, community-based negotiation process, which began in July 2013 at the request of Matawa-member First Nations. The framework agreement allows the two parties to move forward with a negotiation process on a community-based regional approach to development in the Ring of Fire. The agreement ensures First Nations and Ontario can work together to advance Ring of Fire opportunities, including regional long-term environmental monitoring and enhanced participation in environmental assessment processes, resource revenue sharing, economic supports, regional and community infrastructure.

ᑎᓯ ᑲᐧᒥᐠᐢ ᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᓇᐣ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᑲᐅᔑᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᓄᑯᒥᑫ ᐅᑭᐅᐡᑭ ᐅᑕᐱᓇᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᓴᓇᑭᓯᐨ, ᐁᑭᐧᓇᐧᐠᐢ, 16 ᑕᓱᔭᑭᐃᐧᓀ ᒧᐢ ᐸᐠᑐᕑᐃ ᐁᐅᐣᒋᐨ. ᐁᑭᐧᓇᐧᐠᐢ ᐅᑕᓇᐣ ᒪᐡᑲᐃᐧᓯᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐁᐅᒋᒪᑲᓂᑭᐣ ᐊᐦᑭᑲᐠ ᑲᔭᓂᐊᔭᐣᒋᐁᐧᐸᓂᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐁᑲ ᑲᐅᐣᑕᒥᐦᐃᑯᐨ ᑲᐸᐸᒥᓯ ᐊᐧᐃᐧᒋᑕᐧᐨ ᐅᒪᐡᑲᐃᐧᓯᐃᐧᐣ, ᐊᒥ ᐁᔑᓂᑲᓱᐨ ᒥᔭᐱᐣ ᐃᒪ ᒧᐢ ᐸᐠᑐᕑᐃ. ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᑭᐅᐡᑭᐦᐊᑲᓄᐨ ᑲᓴᓇᑭᓯᐨ ᑕᓂᔑᐊᔑᑎᓂᑲᑌ ᑲᐃᐧᐅᐡᑭᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑫᓂᔑᓇᑲᐧᑭᐣ ᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᓇᐣ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᓂᐢᑕᑦ ᐃᐁᐧ ᐊᐧᐸᐣᒋᑲᐣ ᑕᑭᔑᒋᑲᑌ ᓂᑭᐱᓯᑦ 23 ᐃᓇᑭᓱᐨ. ᐁᑭᐧᓇᐧᐠᐢ ᐅᑲᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᐣ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐣ ᓂᓴᐧᓱ ᑲᓴᓇᑭᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑ ᐊᔭᓂᑫ ᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᓇᐣ, ᐸᐸᑲᐣ ᐃᑯ ᑕᐊᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᓄᐣ ᑫᐊᐃᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ. ᑲᓇᑕ ᑲᐅᒋᐨ ᐅᒪᓯᓂᐱᐦᐃᑫ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑎᐸᒋᒧᐱᐦᐃᑫ ᒉᑊ ᓫᐃᒪᔪᕑ ᑭᐃᔕ ᒧᓱᓂᐠ ᒥᓇ ᒧᐢ ᐸᐠᑐᕑᐃ ᐁᓂᓇᓇᑐᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐁᐧᓀᐣ ᑫᑭᑲᐡᑭᑐᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᒋᑭᑐᑕᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᑲᑲᑫᒋᒪᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑲᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ.

North Spirit Lake dealing with bedbug problem North Spirit Lake member Donna Rae has been living with a bedbug infestation for the last four years. With limited resources on the reserve to combat the infestation, Rae and her six children have to cope with daily bites from the bedbugs. “I am tired of being itchy every night, my daughter has sensitive skin. Me and her are getting the worst bites,” Rae said. The clinic gives Rae and her children lotions and antihistamines to help with the itchiness. Rae is not the only resident in the community suffering from the bugs. Several community members are dealing with infestations. Rae said she was informed by the band that she and her family could relocate to a new house, but not until next year.

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ᓂᔭᓇᐣ ᑲᐊᐱᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᐅᑭᒪᑲᓂᑲᓱᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐠ

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ᐅᐡᑭᓂᑭᑫᐧ ᐅᒪᐡᑭᑯ ᑭᐅᑕᐱᓇᑲᓄ ᑐᑲᐣ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᒋᓴᓇᑭᓯᐨ

ᒣᒣᑫᐧᔑᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐨ ᑕᐧᓇ ᕑᐁ ᐊᔕ ᓂᐅᐊᐦᑭ ᑲᐃᔑᑲᐯᔑᐨ ᒪᓂᒍᔑᐊᐧᓂ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᓇᐱᐨ ᐅᑕᔭᓯᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᐸᒋᒋᑲᓇᐣ ᑫᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᓇᑲᓇᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑲᐊᓂᒥᓭᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᔑᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᒪᓂᒍᔑᐊᐧᓂᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᕑᐁ ᒥᓇ ᐁᓂᑯᑕᐧᓱᓂᐨ ᐅᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒪᐣ ᑕᓱᑎᐱᑲ ᐅᒪᒪᑯᒥᑯᐊᐧᐣ ᒪᓂᒍᔕᐣ. “ᓂᒥᓇᐧᑲᑌᑕᐣ ᑕᓱᑎᐱᑲ ᐁᑭᓇᑭᓯᔭᐣ, ᓂᑕᓂᐢ ᑲᔦ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᑫᐊᐧᔕᑫ, ᓂᓇᐃᐧᐟ ᑕᐡ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᑯ ᓂᑭᒋᒪᒪᑯᒥᑯᒥᐣ ᒪᐣᒍᔕᐠ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᕑᐁ. ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᐅᐣᒋᒥᓇᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᑐᒥᓂᓇᑲᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑫᒥᓭᐧᐸᓂᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᓇᑭᓯᐊᐧᐨ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᓀᑕ ᕑᐁ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᑲᐃᓯᓭᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᓂᐠ ᑲᒪᓂᒍᔑᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐅᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ. ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐠ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐃᒪ ᑲᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᒥ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᐣ ᐁᓯᓭᐊᐧᐨ. ᕑᐁ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᑭᐃᐧᑕᒪᑯᐸᓂᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑲᓂᑲᓂᑕᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᒋᐊᐣᒋᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐡᑭ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ, ᐸᓂᒪ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᐊᐦᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑕᐃᓯᓭᓂ. “ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑕᐅᐣᒋ ᐳᓂᓭᓯᐣ ᑲᒪᓂᒍᔑᐊᐧᐠ,” ᕑᐁ ᐃᑭᑐ.

Young Cree woman introduced as new superhero DC Comics recently unveiled a new superhero, Equinox, a 16-year-old Cree from Moose Factory. Equinox has powers connected to the Earth that change with the seasons. When she’s not busy being a superhero, she is Miiyahbin of Moose Factory. The new superhero is part of an upcoming Justice League United series, with the first comic to be released on April 23. Equinox will join seven other superheroes in the series, which will split its time between Canada and space, contrasting small town life with epic space adventures. Canadian artist and writer Jeff Lemire spent time in Moosonee and Moose Factory to research for the character and got feedback on his ideas from residents.

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ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓂᐠ

ᐯᔑᑯᑭᔑᑲ

ᑌᓫᐅᕑ ᐊᐣ ᒋᓱ ᐅᑭᐅᑕᐱᓂᑯᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᒋᐃᐡᑯᓄᒪᐨ 5 ᐊᑯᓇᐠ 8 ᑲᐊᐱᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᐠ ᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᓂᐃᐧᐨ ᐯᔑᑯᑭᔑᑲ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᔭᓂᒪᒋᑕᐨ ᐅᑐᑭᒪᑲᓂ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ, ᑌᓫᐅᕑ ᐊᐣ ᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇ ᒋᑭᔐᐸ ᐊᐧᐃᐧᑕᑭᐣ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯᐠ. ᑌᓫᐅᕑ ᐊᐣ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐅᑭᐸᐸᒥᐃᐧᒋᐃᐧᑯᐣ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐣ ᑭᓫᐃᐳᕑᐟ ᐳᓫ ᐃᒪ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐠ ᐸᐸᑲᐣ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐯᔑᐠ ᐃᒪ ᒥᔑᓇᐧᔦᐠ ᑲᐃᔕᐨ ᐅᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑐᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᑲᓂᒪᒋᑕᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᓂᑭᔑᑲᓂᐠ, ᐳᓫ ᐅᑭᐊᔭᒥᐦᐊᐣ ᑌᓫᐅᕑ ᐊᐣ ᑲᑕᔑ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐣ ᒪᔭᑦ ᐁᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂᐠ ᐅᑎᓇᓄᐃᐧᐣ, ᒥᓇ ᐅᐸᐸᒥᓯᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᐅᑭᒪᑲᓂᐃᐧᐨ. ᐊᒥ ᐁᑫᐧᓇᐠ ᐁᑭᑐᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑲᑭᐅᑭᒪᑲᓂᑲᓱᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐠ. ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᑫᐧᐸᑭᓇᑐᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑭᐅᓇᑐᐣ ᓂᔭᓇᐣ ᑲᐊᐱᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᐦᐃᐁᐧᐨ ᐢᑎᐱᐣ ᑲᐧᕑᐸᓂᐠ, ᐃᐁᐧᓂ ᑲᑭᐅᒋᑐᑕᐠ “ᒋᐃᐡᑯᓄᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᑭᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒥᓇᓂᐠ ᒋᐅᒋ ᓂᓯᑕᐁᐧᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᓇᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᓂᑲᓂᑕᒪᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᑭᒋᑫᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ.” ᑲᑭᑲᑫᐧᑕᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓂᐠ ᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᑌᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᔑᑌᐯᐧᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᑭᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓄᐊᐸᐣ ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐠ. ᐊᐱ ᑲᓂᑲᐧᔭᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑐᓇᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ, ᐱᓇᒪ ᑭᐊᐧᐃᐧᑕᒪᐊᐧᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᐣ ᒪᔭᑦ ᐁᔑᐸᐸᒥᓯᒪᑲᑭᐣ ᓂᐦᓯᐣ ᑲᐊᔭᑭᐣ ᑕᓇᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐠ, ᐊᔑᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐁᐧᒥᑎᑯᔑᐃᐧᑎᑲᐧᓂᐠ, ᑭᒋᐠ ᐯ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐧᔾᐟ ᐱᐡ ᐯ.

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Wawatay News

APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Matawa signs framework agreement with Ontario Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

Matawa First Nations and Ontario have signed a framework agreement that the two parties say will ensure the First Nation communities benefit from the proposed Ring of Fire development. The framework agreement allows the two parties to move forward with a negotiation process on a community-based regional approach to development in the Ring of Fire. The agreement ensures First Nations and Ontario can work together to advance Ring of Fire opportunities, including regional long-term environmental monitoring and enhanced participation in environmental assessment processes, resource revenue sharing, economic supports, regional and community infrastructure. The provinces said the regional framework agreement is a first step in a historic, community-based negotiation process, which began in July 2013 at the request of all nine Matawa First Nations, which includes Aroland, Constance Lake, Eabometoong, Ginoogaming, Marten Falls, Neskantaga, Nibimamik, Long Lake #58 and Webequie.

Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse called the agreement a “special and significant event.” “The negotiations under this framework will complement the essential direct negotiations Webequie is having with the Province of Ontario on a range of issues related to the Ring of Fire,” he said in a media release issued by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM). “Success in both of these negotiations will chart a course for a different future for all of us. It is now time for the real work to begin and we look forward to working with Ontario and our fellow First Nations.” Marten Falls Chief Elijah K. Moonias said he has seen many “framework type processes come and go,” including MOUs, but many did not go anywhere. “I am optimistic that this regional framework allows us to be more involved in development and the decision-making that is going to happen,” he said in the same media release. “I am assured the regional framework will enhance and not supersede our communitybased MOU signed in September 2012. We are working to set the course to move our First Nations away from dependence so that we can capture the

Submitted by Matawa First Nations

Marten Falls Chief Elijah Moonias examines the recently announced framework agreement with Ontario. maximum benefits and move towards community wellness and increase ambition for our people.” Nibinamik Chief Johnny Yellowhead said the agreement is “not about selling our land, but sharing our land.” “Nibinamik First Nation understands the importance of balance between economic development that is required to ensure community growth and productivity and the need to sustain cultural values and beliefs particularly as related to the land,” he said.

The other six chiefs also expressed excitement and hope in reaching the agreement. Michael Gravelle, minister of the MNDM, said the regional framework agreement is a “landmark achievement in community and regional discussions.” “I am proud that our collaborative work with Matawamember First Nations continues to progress,” he said. “Together, we are moving forward on realizing the Ring of Fire’s potential and making important advancements on regional, environ-

mental, and economic developments.” Noront Resources Ltd. also praised the signing of the agreement. Noront’s president and CEO Alan Coutts said the company is “encouraged” by the agreement reached by Matawa and Ontario. “We’ve always felt that having the right conversations is essential for progress in the Ring of Fire, and we expect that development will now be able move ahead in a timely fashion,” Coutts said in a media release.

Noront has invested $150 million in its Eagle’s Nest nickel, copper platinum and palladium deposit located within the Ring of Fire. Noront recently completed a coordinated federal and provincial Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Assessment Report for the project and submitted a draft copy for comments to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. According to Ontario, the Ring of Fire has mineral potential of $60 billion and includes the largest deposit of chromite ever discovered in North America. Chromite is a key ingredient of stainless steel.The Ring of Fire also holds the potential for significant production of nickel, copper and platinum. In November 2013, Ontario announced that it would lead the creation of a development corporation to bring together private and public partners, including key mining companies, First Nations, and the provincial and federal governments, to lead strategic infrastructure development for the Ring of Fire region. An official celebration of the agreement will take place at a later date.

Cree teenaged superhero from Moose Factory unveiled by DC Comics Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

A First Nations superhero was officially announced as one of several characters in a new series by DC Comics. DC Comics recently unveiled Equinox, who is a 16-year-old Cree from Moose Factory. Equinox has powers connected to the Earth that change with the seasons. When she’s not busy being a superhero, she is Miiyahbin of Moose Factory. Equinox will join seven other superheroes in the series, which will split its time between Canada and space, contrasting small town life with epic space adventures. The isolated James Bay

communities of Moose Factory and Moosonee take the spotlight in the forthcoming Justice League Canada, a five-issue story arc written by comic artist Jeff Lemire for the comic series Justice League United. The stories, featuring artwork by Mike McKone, debut in April. The new superhero is part of an upcoming Justice League United series, with the first comic to be released on April 23. Canadian artist and writer Jeff Lemire spent time in Moosonee and Moose Factory to research for the character and got feedback on his ideas from residents. Lemire drew from the many teens he met during his visits, including Miyapin Cheechoo.

Lemire said he was inspired by the story of Shannen Koostachin, a 15-yearold Cree activist who led efforts to lobby for funding for First Nations education. Kooostachin died in a car crash in 2010 shortly before her 16th birthday, and a youth education movement, Shannen’s Dream, was established in her memory. Justice League United was originally rumored to be called Justice League Canada. Now, “Justice League Canada” is being used as the name of the debut story arc where Equinox will first appear. The series will split its time between Canada and space, contrasting small town life with epic space adventures.

APTN to air series on indigenous history of the Americas Rick Garrick Wawatay News

The indigenous history of the Americas before Columbus will be featured in an upcoming Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s miniseries — 1491: A New History of the Americas. “It’s a great idea because there’s been so much back and forth about what was and what wasn’t (here),” said Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, vice provost (Aboriginal Initiatives) at Lakehead University. “There’s this perception in the Canadian population’s mind that there was nothing here, that there were these savages running through the bush, barely surviving and kind of primitive and not having any kind of gov-

ernance structures, laws or trade routes.” Wesley-Esquimaux said many of the newcomers actually marvelled at the cities

and irrigation systems in the Americas when they first arrived, according to their writings. “A lot of this literature comes out of journals and entries and books and writings of people who were making initial contact and were marvelling at the cities,” Wesley-Esquimaux said. “They had things set up that were very sophisticated and very marvellous.” Although the indigenous peoples had built civilizations throughout the Americas before contact with Europeans, Wesley-Esquimaux said entire villages died from diseases brought over by the Europeans. “People died in entire villages before any (European) person ever saw them,” Wes-

ley-Esquimaux said. “They were dead before they even got there. So it looked like ... empty land.” Wesley-Esquimaux said that the population of the Americas has been estimated from low numbers up to 112 million by anthropologists. “A lot of people believe those numbers were that high based on the trade routes,” Wesley-Esquimaux said. “They found parrot feathers in the arctic because they came on trade routes.” Wesley-Esquimaux said the indigenous peoples used waterways as trade routes. “The waterways helped people transverse the entire continent very quickly, very rapidly,” Wesley-Esquimaux said. “So people got around.” Wesley-Esquimaux

believes the APTN series will be “very controversial.” “Even here in Thunder Bay, there were people here, according to anthropological record, living in this territory and this region for over 11,000 years,” Wesley-Esquimaux said. “Other people have been here 350 years.” The docudrama series is based on 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, a New York Times best-selling book by Charles C. Mann. Filming is scheduled to begin this fall in locations throughout North, Central and South America. “The opportunity to direct the dramatic scenes in this series that will bring to life stories of our collective history, is both an honour and a creative challenge,” said Lisa

Jackson, the series drama director. “My co-director Barbara Hager and I share a vision that this series must portray the history of indigenous people in an accurate, authentic and respectful way.” Featuring an all-indigenous cast of actors, scholars and cultural leaders interpreting the history of their respective nations, the series aims to highlight stories of indigenous ingenuity in agriculture, astronomy, architecture, governance, medicine, technology, science, trade and art. It covers a timeline that dates as far back as 40,000 years ago through to 1491. See SERIES on Page 21

Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Getting her read on 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 James Brohm

Commentary Swans On The Move

Submitted by Gina Neekan

Two-year-old Paige Neekan of Mishkeegogamang gets her news fix in the March 20, 2014 issue of Wawatay News..

Xavier Kataquapit UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY

flock of great white tundra swans fly overhead. These Wah-pee-soo, (Cree for swan) are easy to spot with a large body and long neck. They are majestic as they move through the air under the power of their great wings. In the north it is rare for us to spot these beautiful and graceful birds during the spring migration. I am amazed as I watch this group of birds landing on a farmer’s field here in southern Ontario. They join a greater flock of hundreds of other tundra swans as they noisily gather and collect the waste corn from last fall. It is early spring on the north shore of Lake Erie near Long Point, Ont., and much of the snow has melted. However, with the arrival of these large birds, the ground looks snow covered with so many white plumed swans waddling on the farm fields. The sight of so many white birds covering up the land with their plumage reminds me of what my dad and many Elders described up north during the spring goose hunt. Back in earlier times snow geese were so numerous in the north that when they arrived in the spring along the James Bay coast, these birds covered the land to make it look like winter again. The sight of so many swans here these days is strange to me. On the James Bay coast, I remember spending my time on the land with my family during the spring goose hunt in late April and early May. It was normal for us to sit and watch hundreds of Canada geese and snow geese fly over our blinds on their way north. At the height of the migration, on some special days when the sun shone warm on the land and there was no sign of coming cold weather, thousands of geese would line the horizon as they followed the shoreline of James Bay on their way to northern nesting sites. During these hunting trips on the land, it was rare to see swans. To most hunters they were an unusual bird that few people preferred to hunt. They didn’t taste the same as geese and it seemed almost sacrilegious to kill them due to the fact they were so rare. We had plenty of geese to feed our families so to most hunters, swans were too unusual to add to a catch of geese. When I first saw Wah-peesoo during my time here near

Long Point, I thought it was odd to see a flock of these birds flying in a group. I have only ever spotted them in pairs as swans are famous for being monogamous birds that stick to their partners for life. In the springtime, Long Point becomes a very important destination for bird watchers and day tourists. I didn’t discover until this year that Long Point is actually one of the most important staging areas for migrating tundra swans in North America. These majestic birds leave North Carolina in February to fly north to their eventual nesting areas in the summer in the northern Prairie provinces of Canada. Once these great birds start their trip, they are capable of flying a total distance of roughly 1,000 to 1,450 kilometres in a short period. Their first stop and half way point from North Carolina is along the coast of Lake Erie and one of their most important meetings areas at Long Point. They have a stopover here for up to two weeks as they replenish themselves with meals on the rich farm lands that holds waste grains and wetlands full of nutrient rich food. They fly as a group as they move north and at one of the more important gathering spots at Long Point and the north shore of Lake Erie, thousands of these birds gather here in one of the most amazing displays of animal migrations in the world. Once they have replenished themselves for the next half of their trip, they migrate a further 1,500 kilometers northwest to the northern parts of the Prairie provinces to their nesting grounds. As they find their personal areas, they will eventually disperse to their own territories and fly in smaller groups or as pairs. As they move further away from the Great Lakes, they no longer fly as large groups of migrating birds. On their traditional flight north they stop in favourite places to nest. Some travel to the coast of Hudson Bay and a few make it alongside migrating flocks of Canada geese to James Bay. These many Wah-pee-soo have made the last few days so exciting for me. They have reminded me of the magical bond that exists between we Cree and birds like the goose, swan and eagle. Tonight I drove on a road that wound through hundreds of these Wah-pee-soo and I honked my horn in rapid bursts to let them know I was around. Passing motorists must have wondered at my honking but I like to think that the great white swans all around me took it as a gentle greeting from this crazy Cree of the James Bay lowlands. www.underthenorthernsky.com

Grassy Narrows Trappers Track Equality of Justice Charles Wagamese Special to Wawatay News

he non-native people symbolize justice as a woman. There are statues of her gracing courthouses throughout the world. The Supreme Court of Canada features one done in black stone. She is pretty ominous looking in that thick cloak, with that big sword handle sticking out. The scales she is famous for carrying are not visible and this one in Ottawa, unlike most other versions, is not blindfolded. Grassy Narrows trappers have been tracking her for over a decade. Perhaps they can help her find her way again as she appears to be lost. She has even desperately turned to creating clear cuts to find her way out. What is she looking for, that caused her to be wandering our indigenous lands? The Elders of Grassy once asked Canadians, “Where did you get your authority?” They side stepped the question completely and said they have no mandate to talk treaty. On what basis are they even here then? The basis is those scales of justice the lady carries. Those were fashioned from a doctrine Europeans made up called Discovery. When they landed here they right away told their kings, “Those aren’t even human beings over there. They therefore possess

no inherent capacity to occupy land.” They then said, “Well they aren’t even Christians.” Now they say, “Prove to us you use the land exactly as your grandfathers did.” Our grandfathers whose life Canada flooded, polluted, clearcut and whose children they ripped away to further weaken his holistic hold on himself.… A Doctrine of a Superiority is what those scales are all about…That is what causes Canadians to behave as they do… The unexamined meaning of, ‘Indianess’ in St Catherine’s Milling, the “subject to existing interest’” in Section 109, the optimisms expressed in Section 35 might have tipped the scales in true reconciliation’s favour. Canadians however seem content with using their racialized economic, political, legal, and moral thumb to skew the balance in their unconscionable favour. That sword Canadian law carries has already critically wounded Grassy lands. By the time that so called highest court decides anything the trappers entire land base will be naked ruin. Beginning in April 2014, having foisted their flimflam of consultation; feller bunchers will roll again in Grassy’s home land, driven by that symbol of Canadian justice herself… That sword has already been sharpened in the arrest of over 30 Grassy Narrows defenders of the land and their nonnative allies… is never far from

sight… A plaque outside that bunker styled Supreme Court building tells how the judges themselves once asked to have their cloaks changed. Those judicial robes used to be made out of the felt that covers pool tables. When lighter material became available, when circumstances changed so people could see differently, it just made human sense to improve upon a previous condition. Having had opportunity to work alongside a former Supreme Court judge, it hurt to see him twisting around an odious legal history to make it appear more palatable to more enlightened human relations standards. To me, we indigenous need to take that Doctrine of Superiority to the international court. To see if it was ever valid and if it is valid today. We understand that that racialized superiority doctrine, as applied, is already embedded there, but has the doctrine itself ever been directly challenged…as a doctrine? Trappers have a tradition of leaving cabin doors unlocked, with firewood chopped and some food in the cupboard –just in case someone needs those things some time to survive. Shoon and JB, the surviving plaintiffs of this now Supreme Court bound legal action, would probably invite a lost lady in for tea. ‘The personification of the divine righteousness of law,” might warm herself and tell us her story. She was cast as the symbol

of justice in the ancient human worlds across the ocean. She appeared as a Celtic goddess, then as Egyptian versions named Maat and Isis. She got this Latin name Justicius, as we now know her as, by the Greeks and Romans. Even while she was being figuratively honoured, females themselves were legally excluded from owning property – within those very societies who laid the basis of Euro-Canadian law today. Sound familiar? Today woman doing the same work as men are still only paid 71 cents for every dollar a male makes and single moms are the poorest people in this country. What started in misogyny has spilled over into racism… into this environmental injustice to all beings breathing. Maybe that female justice woman needs to be reintroduced to Mother Earth – who wears natural law so beautifully the entire Creation is her statue. Perhaps together they can free us from these male made cloaks of fear of both the feminine and other cultures with their own pigmentation. That statute in Ottawa needs to come back to life; she needs to walk into that court room with those trappers. Until she does so, that Doctrine of Superiority and that earth destroying misogyny sentences us to a prison we need to find freedom from already.

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR Lenny Carpenter lennyc@wawatay.on.ca WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Rick Garrick rickg@wawatay.on.ca WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Stephanie Wesley stephaniew@wawatay.on.ca ART DIRECTOR Roxann Shapwaykeesic, RGD roxys@wawatay.on.ca GRAPHIC DESIGNER Matthew Bradley matthewb@wawatay.on.ca

SALES MANAGER James Brohm jamesb@wawatay.on.ca SALES REPRESENTATIVE Tom Scura toms@wawatay.on.ca CIRCULATION Grant Keesic grantk@wawatay.on.ca TRANSLATORS Vicky Angees vickya@wawatay.on.ca CONTRIBUTORS Peter Globensky Crystallee Mouland

Xavier Kataquapit Charles Wagamese Roxann Shapwaykeesic Jamie Bananish Bryan Phelan Eugene Capay Trina Roache Guest editorials, columnists and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of Wawatay News.

Wawatay News

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

APRIL 3, 2014

The D’s of Dodgeball Roxann Shapwaykeesic ART DIRECTOR

ith the alarm set extra early, the captain of the Dodgemauls wakes up an hour and 15 minutes late. The ghost alarm would only go off from Monday to Friday, not the Saturday morning she needed it to. The team ‘walk out’ was scheduled for March 22, 9:10 a.m. Giving her 25 minutes to shower, change, and get the last minute supplies for the team waiting for her at the Lowrey’s Sports Dome. All is well. We are simultaneously looking for last minute players to man a full team. Last minute dropouts can’t be avoided. For four consecutive years a core team has fundraised and participated in the United Way Dodgeball Tournament. This was the third year I took on the team captain role. As I sat in my car, driving and rushing and thinking, and planning, I wondered what in zulu I was doing with myself. The next day, when I was barely able to move, I wondered again. It occurred to me the D’s of Dodgeball were nearly the same as the D’s of life. Dodgeball is not for the faint of heart. It’s war. Man vs. man and man vs. himself. The first D is Dedication. The New Year rolls around and in the -50 degree weather you wonder how life could proceed outside the heated walls of work and home. But there it is, the much anticipated e-mail finally arrives. Registration time has presented itself. That means a team must be made, pledges must be hunted, registration money must be gathered, release forms, thank you notes, waivers of all sorts signed and distributed. You dedicate yourself to this cause. A cause you believe in, and hey, it’s fun too. That is if you think going around taking peoples money is fun. Put on your biggest smile and get excited, that’s the best way to get pledges. I per-

photo courtesy of eye4nature fotography

Tony McGuire of THEY Media, (hidden) Preme Palosaari, recording artist, Herman Hanshke of Safeguard Business Systems, Daniel Juenke, (hidden) Shawn Bell, student, Roxy Shapwaykeesic of Wawatay News, Saturn Magashazi of Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School give a high-five after a successful bout of dodgeball. The team made semi-finals where they were taken out in the last best-of-give game. The 7th Annual GenNext Dodgeball Tournament was held March 22nd at the Lowreys’s Sports Dome in Thunder Bay. The zombie themed team raised over $800 for the event.

Shawn Bell, former editor of Wawatay News, holds the ball during a match at the 7th Annual GenNext Dodgeball Tournament for the United Way. Team veterans Saturn Magashazi and team sponsor Tony McGuire of THEY MEDIA watch in queue.

sonally try to reach a higher goal every year. Get happy about it, because fundraising isn’t always easy. Your friends will be happy they stopped by to visit you too with $20 less in their pocket. The only thing better than giving is getting, and then giving again to a charitable cause. Put yourself out there and go get ‘em! The next D is Diversity. From year to year a team comes together and for one day they give it their all. This year we had a great core of players who are seasoned veterans. These people have such different backgrounds and for one day we stand side by side in the court. We have computer sciences background, media specialists, performers, a law student, athletes, parents, and a graphic designer. Then there’s the other 24 teams who joined. Hundreds of grown adults throwing balls at each other like a bunch of grade school kids, having fun and taking names.

The runners leap forward and then: utter chaos. Balls are flying everywhere, whistles going, people getting pelted, people running in every direction, yelling and cheering and laughing fill the entire day. And when it’s all said and done and you limp away, you feel a sense of accomplishment. Spirits are high. You didn’t come out as top team

Drive. You just gotta have it. Doesn’t really matter what you’re doing, if it’s not there it’s going to make life tame and lame. Get up and go, go have some fun, get out of your comfort zone, meet some new people and join that new thing that’ll lead to more new things. Dodgeball is full of people with drive. We all want something more, we all want to be part of something bigger. Drive pushes you through when things get hard, keeps you coming back for more. The rewards are worth the perseverance. You’re going to need to know how to Dodge. Throwing the ball will only bring you half the glory, if you don’t know how to dodge, you’ll be sitting on those sidelines. And it’s not as fun there. Believe me, I know. On your day of reckoning you find yourself standing in front of your opposition, six balls are lined up in between your team and the other

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staring back at you in ready position. The anticipation boils up as the main clock counts down and the announcer howls into the speakers: “Five! Four! Three!...” The runners are on the right, getting ready to retrieve the balls in center and bring them back. Everybody is tense, then with great relief, a horn blows and whistles blare all over the court.

but that’s not why you’re there. It’s mission accomplished. You showed up and didn’t sit on the sidelines. You and your fellow comrades, the organizers, the volunteers, the audience, the pledgers, the sponsors, all came together and made a small difference in a big way.

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Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Former PC candidate’s comments prompt call for apology, boycott Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News

The online and public comments made by a former PC Party candidate in Thunder Bay about First Nations ‘advantages’ prompted a small group of protesters to attempt to confront her at her business.

“She has no business or right earning money from Native people. She is inciting violence and hate towards our people. I want an apology.”

Photos by Stephanie Wesley/Wawatay News

Left: Erin Bottle speaks in the lobby of the Landmark Inn, where she attempted to demand an apology from Tamara Johnson, a former PC Party candidate who posted comments online which Bottle deemed “racist.” Johnson owns a giftshop in the hotel.

– Erin Bottle

Mishkeegogamang’s Erin Bottle led a small group of people to the Landmark Inn on March 21 to demand an apology from gift shop owner Tamara Ward Johnson. Bottle also called for a public boycott of her business over comments made on social media over the last few weeks. Johnson was removed as a candidate in the riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in February. She made comments over social media about First Nations business owners having an unfair advantage. Johnson has publicly expressed that she was removed for speaking the truth. In the wake of her removal from the PC Party, Johnson continued to share her opin-

Above: Bottle and supporters outside the hotel. Johnson later called police, to which six officers were sent to the scene. Bottle was given an incident slip for her peaceful protest. ions via social media and garnered a group of supporters. The posts also caught the attention of others who did not agree with her views, including Bottle. “I am going to be submitting a citizens eviction notice,” Bottle said at the protest. Bottle aims to submit a petition to the owners of the Landmark Inn to have Johnson’s lease revoked. Twenty-two First Nations communities own the hotel. Bottle also called for a boycott of the gift shop unless an apology was made. Johnson phoned the Thunder Bay Police during the protest, and three cruisers and a total of six police officers were dispatched to the Landmark Inn. Bottle was questioned after

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THE SPRING

COUPON EVENT IS BACK See insert in today’s paper

the protest and was issued an incident slip. Bottle accused Johnson of spreading misinformation to her social media followers, and inciting racism and violence towards Indigenous people. Damien Lee, a member of Fort William First Nation, also addressed Johnson’s posts on social media in an open letter on his blog in early March after the posts continued on. He explained he had been waiting for everything to “fizzle out” but felt the need to address the situation when it hadn’t. “When I wrote my open letter, I had already been waiting for three weeks,” Lee said. “I wrote it because it wasn’t fizzling out. I was waiting for it to go away.” In his open letter, Lee wrote: “You’ve made a number of accusations, including the argument that First Nations are getting ‘illegal’ tax breaks, that First Nations should follow Ontario law, and, most recently, that gas stations in my community price gasoline based on race.” Lee breaks down each accusation in his letter and explains through federal and provincial legislation and treaties why the claims Johnson has made are misinformed. Lee said that he felt the protest Bottle held was great. Bottle faced some criticism online after the protest from people who felt her protest was uncalled for and the only way to address the issue would be to have a proper discussion. “Those other ways have been tried over and over the past month,” Lee said of trying to discuss the situation with Johnson and her followers on her social media page.

“We’ve exhausted the other ways. When I heard people say she (Bottle) was loud, she was aggressive, that to me tells me that her march really hit the nail on the head because it’s causing a reaction. People are trying to delegitimize her.” Eabametoong’s Shaun Hedi-

read them myself. I got a sense of the scope of the damage the comments were causing to the community.” Lee feels that the views shared on Johnson’s page, which do not always come from her but from her supporters in the comments, are dam-

Facebook photo

Tamara Johnson. can, an Indigenous artist, also applauded Bottle’s protest. “I think it’s important to demonstrate an ongoing Anishinabe presence despite attempts to intimidate us,” Hedican said. Hedican set up a table of his art at the Landmark Inn the day after the protest. “It’s kind of an indirect way of demonstrating a presence,” Hedican said. Hedican first heard of comments being made by Johnson and other residents of Thunder Bay on social media by members from the community of Rocky Bay. “They found it upsetting, especially with the burning of the bridge into Fort William recently,” Hedican said. “I didn’t take it seriously until I

30TH ŶŶƵĂů KŶƚĂƌŝŽ EĂƟǀĞ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŽƵŶƐĞůůŝŶŐ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ͞ϯϬ zĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ǆĐĞůůĞŶĐĞ Ͳ ^ƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐ &ŝƌƐƚ EĂƟŽŶƐ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͟

May 26, 27, & 28, 2014 ,ŝůƚŽŶ dŽƌŽŶƚŽ ŝƌƉŽƌƚ ,ŽƚĞů ĂŶĚ ^ƵŝƚĞƐ͕ dŽƌŽŶƚŽ͕ KE &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ WŚ͗ ;ϳϬϱͿϲϵϮͲϮϵϵϵ ŵ͗ ŽŶĞĐĂΛŽŶĞĐĂ͘ĐŽŵ tĞď͗ ǁǁǁ͘ŽŶĞĐĂ͘ĐŽŵ

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aging to the Indigenous community. “It seems that Tamara and her group are upset about taxes and how they are being treated by the Canadian and Ontario government,” Lee said. “Instead of addressing those concerns with the federal, provincial government and critiquing those laws in conversation with the government, for some reason it’s become Indigenous people’s fault. They’re blaming Indigenous people for something Canada has done.” Lee calls it a case of “classic scapegoating.” Lee said he feels it would be interesting to sit down and have a public discussion about the issue. “It would be interesting to

have an in-person public conversation that was safe both for her (Johnson) and Indigenous people to say, “what is going on here?”” Lee was unsure of whether Johnson would be open to a discussion. Johnson, who had originally posted a lengthy retort to the protest on her Facebook page where she referred to the protest as a “massive failure” and that Bottle’s words fell on “deaf ears,” has since changed her approach in a new post. “As I have said many times, I am not using this forum to present or discuss anti-native views,” wrote Johnson in a March 24 Facebook post. “I realize full well some may believe that is my intention.” Johnson stated that she does not enjoy being called a racist. Johnson said that those who believe she is discussing anti-Native views are mistaken. “I am presenting and discussing equality issues, fairness issues, and justice issues. Nothing more, nothing less,” Johnson wrote. Johnson expressed regret that she did not initiate discussion with Bottle, and announced that she would now moderate her page of “garbage comments.” “Because this is my page, people will believe I agree with these postings when I don’t. I am (100) per cent for freedom of speech, but I can no longer allow ultra-radicals to spoil my page with their views,” Johnson stated. Bottle said that she still stands by her request for boycott of Johnson’s business until a public apology is made. Johnson did not return calls to Wawatay News to comment on this story.

EĂƟǀĞ ŽƵŶƐĞůůŽƌ dƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ WƌŽŐƌĂŵ ϮϬϭϰ NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS ĐĐƌĞĚŝƚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ DŝŶŝƐƚƌǇ ŽĨ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĂƌŶ Ă ĐĞƌƟĮĐĂƚĞ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŽĨ ϯ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ Program Length: 5 week sessions over 3 years >ŽĐĂƟŽŶ͗ >ĂƵƌĞŶƟĂŶ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ͕ ^ƵĚďƵƌǇ͕ KŶƚĂƌŝŽ 2014 Dates: July 7 - August 9 ĞĂĚůŝŶĞ ĨŽƌ ƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ: June 2 &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ WŚ͗ ;ϳϬϱͿϲϵϮͲϮϵϵϵ ŵ͗ ŽŶĞĐĂΛŽŶĞĐĂ͘ĐŽŵ tĞď͗ ǁǁǁ͘ŽŶĞĐĂ͘ĐŽŵ

Wawatay News

APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Rae calls for improved physical and social infrastructure Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Former Ontario premier Bob Rae called for respectful partnership in resource development during the Grow Greenstone Expo, held March 17-18 in Thunder Bay. “It used to be that a company would do what they thought was their homework and they would then get a coterie, an army of consultants and lawyers and environmental folks, to write reports for them and they would put all these reports in a box,” said the Matawa First Nations lead negotiator and former Liberal MP.

“We need to have a face-to-face process, we need to have a human process where people go into communities and explain to communities what is being proposed and ask the communities for their response.” -Bob Rae, lead negotiator for Matawa First Nations

“Sometimes there would be 2,000 and sometimes there would be 3,000 and sometimes there would be 4,000 pages, and they would send that box to the band office and they’d say, ‘here is our proposal, can we please have your comments in a couple of weeks.’” Rae said the Matawa communities are saying there is “no way” that is going to happen

Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

Matawa First Nations’ lead negotiator for the Ring of Fire Bob Rae spoke about the need for proper consulation and First Nations needs during the Grow Greenstone Expo on March 18 in Thunder Bay. this time. “We need to have a faceto-face process, we need to have a human process where people go into communities and explain to communities what is being proposed and ask the communities for their response,” Rae said. “And give the communities an opportunity to use their traditional knowledge, to consult with Elders, to talk to people and to get on the ground and say ‘well, this is an area that is part of our traditional burial

grounds, this is an area that has been used as a community gathering (site) for thousands of years. These are the things that we know and this is how the water flows and this is where the water goes and this where the fish are and this is what the impacts will be. We are asking the government of Ontario to use that knowledge and to bring the First Nations into a process.’” Rae also raised concerns expressed by the Matawa communities about the construc-

tion of proposed roads to the Ring of Fire mine sites and potential pollution issues stemming from the materials dug out of the mines. “What happens if the wind blows and what happens if it rains and snows and the leachate goes down and it goes into a river system or a water system,” Rae said. “Where does it go then, and by the way, what is in that leachate. What’s there, what are we talking about. Does it have arsenic in it, does it have mercury in it.”

Vigil for Saunders

Rae asked how the potential leachate would affect fish in the surrounding rivers and lakes. “You’re talking about a fishery that has been a way of life for thousands of years,” Rae said. “You can’t just walk in and destroy it.” Rae stressed that the Matawa communities are not going to accept being left on the margins any more. “They have to be involved,” Rae said. “And they have to be involved in saying if you’re

going to build a road for a mine, we’d like you to consider what kind of infrastructure you’re going to build for us. Because we don’t have any either. You fly in, we take the winter road, 14 hours from Webequie to Thunder Bay. And you can only do that four months a year.” Rae said the social infrastructure has to be improved as well as the physical infrastructure. “What are we going to do to make sure the (Matawa community) people are able to take advantage of the opportunities, if and when they come,” Rae said. “How do we get people trained. How do we make sure that there’s actually going to be money in the pockets of people that actually will benefit them and their families, so they can provide for themselves and their families.” Rae said revenue sharing also needs to be looked at. “That’s all the First Nations are asking for is a land base and a revenue stream,” Rae said. “They’re saying, ‘look, we are tired of living on handouts from the government of Canada, from the government of Ontario. We don’t want to live this way anymore. We want a chance to participate in the economy, the real economy, and the economy is coming here so how are we going to get our fair share of the benefits from it so it doesn’t all just flow away and be gone and disappear into the wind.” Rae made his comments on March 18 during his presentation: There is a Path Forward and it is Called Respectful Partnership.

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Calvin Simon-McKay of Sachigo and Donna Simon of Wikwemikong hold their candles in Thunder Bay during a candlelit vigil for Loretta Saunders on March 27. Saunders was an Inuit law student whose body was found on Feb. 26 after she was missing for almost two weeks. The 26-year-old had been researching the issue of violence against aboriginal women. Vigils were held in other cities and communities that day. Her death has led to more calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada.

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Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

Lac Seul Sportsmanship

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Dryden tournament participation up, Sioux Lookout down Bryan Phelan Wawatay News

Eugene Capay/Special to Wawatay News

The Lac Seul Jr. Eagles (light jerseys) defeated the Ear Falls Eagles by a score of 4-1 to take the B-Side Championship in the Vermilion Bay Atom Tournament this past weekend. As a show of sportsmanship, they asked the Ear Falls players to join them for a group photo.

Department of Aboriginal Education NATIVE LANGUAGE INSTRUCTORS’ PROGRAM Now Accepting Applications For Summer 2014 Intake Native Language Teacher’s Certification (NLTC) July 2 - July 25, 2014 A three summer program; training in teaching Native as a Second Language to students whose first language is English. A Certificate of Qualification (Transitional) in NLTC is issued by the Ontario College of Teachers upon successful completion of this program. This program is offered in cooperation with, and funded by, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and the Ministry of Education. Native as a Second Language (NASL) Diploma July 7 - July 25, 2014 A four summer program; training in teaching Native as a Second Language to prepare teachers to teach students whose first language is English. For further information regarding Native Language programs and an application package please contact: Bruce Beardy, NLIP Coordinator at (807) 343-8003 E-mail: bbeardy@lakeheadu.ca

For those keeping score, the Northern Bands Hockey Tournament in Dryden attracted more than twice as many teams this March Break as its rival, the Northern First Nations Hockey Tournament in Sioux Lookout. Final score: 29-14. The 29 teams at the Northern Bands, representing remote First Nations in northwestern Ontario, is up from 23 last year, when the event made a comeback at the twin rinks in Dryden. Competing for teams from the same area, the Sioux Lookout tournament dropped from 17 teams to just 14. Normally a week long, organizers condensed the tournament to five days. Some of its games were also played in nearby Lac Seul for the first time, where there is a new 1,300-seat arena. The Northern Bands, coordinated by Max Kakepetum, enjoyed its heydays in Sioux Lookout during the 1980s and ’90s before moving to Thunder Bay for a few years, then shutting down. Filling the void in Sioux Lookout, the Northern First Nations tournament has operated for 14 years. For most of those years, 32 teams participated and others stood by on a waiting list. But this year’s numbers suggest the Northern Bands, with Kakepetum back as co-ordinator, has firmly re-established itself as the region’s most popular hockey event for the March Break. Organizers from Sandy Lake said last year they brought the tournament back because of complaints the Sioux Lookout tournament unfairly allowed teams to bolster their rosters with players who transferred band membership from other communities, and with band members who had always lived and played hockey in the south. Northern Bands rules make those players ineligible. “With the teams here, it’s like playing the boy next door, playing your cousins, playing your uncle,” Ken Goodwin Jr., assis-

Bryan Phelan/Wawatay News

Ken Goodwin Jr., Northern Bands tournament assistant co-ordinator.

tant co-ordinator of the Northern Bands, said as this year’s tournament wound down. “I think that’s what the tournament should really be about – just down-home hockey; no big ringers.” A new Northern Bands rule for 2014 also prevented players from competing in both tournaments, as some did last year. Runner-up teams from all three Sioux Lookout championship games in 2013 – Bushtown Jets (A-side runner-up), Kingfisher Lake Flyers (B-side) and Weagamow Hawks (C-side) – all moved to Dryden this year. As 2014 Northern Bands champions, the Jets, from Eabametoong, took home the top cash prize of $20,000. In Sioux Lookout, the Lac Seul Eagles won their fourth consecutive title and $15,000. The KI Native Wings were another team that switched to the Dryden tournament for 2014. “We like coming to Dryden … the arrangements with the two arenas,” said Steven Chapman, head coach of the Wings. “Everything is closer, central to the arenas, and more teams are coming here.” Goodwin, of Sandy Lake, said he started making phone

calls in September to recruit teams to the Northern Bands. He also used Facebook as a promotional tool. “Every month I would do a little (Facebook) update, like ‘Nine more months, boys’ or ‘Is anybody training?’ – little things like that. We had over 2,000 ‘Likes’ on our Facebook just the past three months and only 700 when we started. It’s an awesome tool.” Goodwin confirmed the Northern Bands would return to Dryden in 2015. Visitors to the Northern First Nations Tournament website offered a range of suggestions for overhauling the Sioux Lookout event for next March Break. Among the options discussed: opening the men’s tournament to teams from a wider area that would include northeastern Ontario, Treaty 3 communities and perhaps even Manitoba; combining the hockey tournament with a women’s broomball tournament and other major activities; replacing the men’s tournament with youth hockey (a last-minute attempt this spring to organize a bantam/midget tournament alongside the men’s didn’t draw enough teams to make it feasible).

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Wawatay News

APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Wings take flight in junior league, Northern Bands Bryan Phelan Wawatay News

A temporary banner hangs outside the entrance: “Welcome Northern Bands Hockey Tournament.” Nearby, attached to the front of the Dryden arena named for him, is a giant poster of the town’s greatest hockey player: “Proud Home of Chris Pronger.” It notes the awards Pronger, six foot six, won in a St. Louis Blues uniform as the NHL’s best defenceman and most valuable player. Later, he became a Stanley Cup champion as an Anaheim Duck and a twotime Olympic gold medalist for Canada. His career ended in 2011 due to concussion and eye injuries. On the other side of the arena wall, another big defenceman is just now hitting his stride. Melvin Childforever, 19, and his Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) Native Wings teammates are so far playing the mighty Kingfisher Lake Flyers to a 1-1 draw. As time runs down and the play gets more frantic, Childforever stands out for his size, mobility and poise against the more experienced Flyers. At almost six foot five, he covers a swath of ice in the defensive zone with his long reach and stick, winning crucial battles for the puck. His head is up as he calmly stickhandles out of danger or quickly delivers a breakout pass. And when he rips a slapshot wide of the net at the other end, the boards thunder. He plays a lot like a young Chris Pronger, in other words. KI defeats the Kingfisher Lake 2-1 in a shootout, as Samson Beardy scores for the Native Wings and goaltender Craig McKay stops all the Flyer shooters.

“I said ‘yes’ right away. I wanted to learn more, (gain) experience. I want to reach a higher level.”

Photos by Bryan Phelan

Wheeling the puck safely out of his end was just one of many ways Melvin Childforever contributed to a Final Four finish for the KI Native Wings at last month’s Northern Bands tournament in Dryden. ern First Nations Hockey Tournament in Sioux Lookout. There hasn’t been any notable success since for KI teams, including the Native Wings who played in Sioux Lookout in recent years. This Native Wings team, however, is different. “They’ve matured with their hockey skills and they seem more confident,” says Steven Chapman, back to coaching the team after a two-year break. It helps that five of the KI players, including Childforever, skated this season at the Junior A level in the Toronto area Greater Metro Hockey League (GMHL). “They seem to have more stamina, more energy, and they’re faster,” Chapman says of those players.

–Melvin Childforever on joining the Greater Metro Hockey League

Northern Recruits

It’s the fourth win of the tournament for KI, to go with just one loss. KI hockey fans, some of them lining the end boards two and three deep for the Kingfisher game, haven’t had this much cheer about in more than a decade of March Break tournaments when First Nation teams from the far reaches of northwestern Ontario travel south to compete. Way back in 2002, the KI Posse won the B-side championship at the North-

Childforever got his call to play in the GMHL from Joe Murphy, a first overall draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 1986 who played more than 700 NHL games. Along the way, he won a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers. Murphy served this season as coach and general manager of the Alliston Coyotes, an expansion team in the GMHL. The Coyotes and another GMHL franchise, the Shelburne Red Wings, share the same owner. Murphy asked

Childforever to join Shelburne in late September. “You’re going to learn a lot,” Murphy told him. “I said ‘yes’ right away,” says Childforever, who until then had only played recreational hockey. “I wanted to learn more, (gain) experience. I want to reach a higher level.” Murphy’s call had come based on a recommendation from Dean Beardy, a hockey scout from Sachigo Lake First Nation and recruiter for the Coyotes. He had seen Childforever play in a tournament in Bearskin Lake First Nation. Two other KI players also landed in Shelburne through Beardy – Clinton Morris and Reuben Anderson, who started the season in Alliston but got traded to the Red Wings. Also moved from the Coyotes to Shelburne were more players recruited by Beardy from remote northern Ontario First Nations: Jake Bruce (Sachigo Lake), Terrence Semple (Kasabonika Lake), and Ethan Beardy and Kyle Mekanak (Bearskin Lake). “I keep in touch with families and the team management,” says Beardy, the scout. “I got calls from the team like once a week to provide an update. If there was a problem, I knew about it.” As a team, the Red Wings struggled on the ice, finishing last in the 20-team league

Clinton Morris, Native Wings captain, keeps tabs on Harry Okeese of the Bushtown Jets during a 2014 Northern Bands semifinal. Guarding the front of the KI net are Reuben Anderson, left, and Sonny Hudson.

Melvin Childforever, no. 8, towers above his KI Native Wings teammates during a timeout. with a record of three wins and 39 losses. Just ahead of them in the standings were the Lefroy Wave, which partway into the season added its own pair of KI players, defenceman Sonny Hudson and forward Matthew Morris. Other Wave players included Gunther Fiddler and Brenden Mawakeesick of Sandy Lake First Nation. Shelburne had entered the GMHL in 2010 as an all-Russian team, according to the league’s website, and this year’s edition of the Red Wings still featured mostly Russian players – 11 of them on the final roster – along with Russian coaches. Shelburne also had players from Ukraine, Slovakia and Kazakhstan. “Sometimes the coaches would speak in Russian during our pre-game (talk); they’d barely say anything in English,” Clinton Morris recalls. He and other nonRussian Red Wings relied on plays being drawn on the coach’s dry-erase board or explanations from Russian teammates who spoke slightly better English than the coaches. “It was a great experience to meet different kinds of people and play hockey with them,” Morris says. “They brought their European style of play to the team, which I’d never seen before” – a style with all the emphasis on offensive play, rather than defence, he says. Morris had previously played Junior A hockey in both the GMHL, an independent league, and the Superior International Junior Hockey

“Sometimes the coaches would speak in Russian during our pregame talk.” –Clinton Morris on playing for the Shelburne Red Wings

When Childforever got homesick and thought about returning north early, his mom Julie Anderson, niece Layda Ostaman, and other family members and friends from KI encouraged him to stay. “Be strong,” they’d say. “Believe in yourself.”

‘Just the Beginning’ League (SIJHL), one of 10 regional Junior A leagues that form the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The SIJHL, which includes teams in Dryden and other northwestern Ontario towns, generally has more skilled and bigger players, according to Morris. Still, with a 42-game regular season schedule, playoff games and up to five practices a week, plus dryland and weight training, Morris says his time in Shelburne greatly improved his skating and conditioning. He also switched from being a forward to a defenceman, a position he now prefers. Childforever underwent a transformation too. “When I went down there, for the first two months (the play) was fast for me; like, REALLY fast,” he says. “I couldn’t do nothing. But by the third month, I got the hang of it. By the fourth month, I was already going up ahead, takin’ it … carrying the puck up.” Off the ice, Childforever’s transition to urban living was eased by billeting at a family’s home with four other Red Wings, including Morris and Anderson. Ethan Beardy stayed at the same place and had a vehicle, so he provided his KI teammates with rides.

Early in the Northern Bands tournament the KI Native Wings meet the Kasabonika Flames. Their junior season over, Shelburne teammates are now opponents in Dryden. Dean Beardy and more casual fans watch Terrence Semple, the Kasabonika forward, race to the corner for the puck, chased by KI’s Childforever. “Melvin comes in and looked like he was ready to splatter Terrence against the boards but Terrence saw him coming, so he turned,” Beardy says. “Melvin kinda slowed down. I had a good laugh at that one. I knew they weren’t gonna hurt each other.” In Shelburne, Semple finished third in Red Wings scoring with 32 points in 27 games. Childforever posted 14 points, including three goals. “It’s really intense; it’s fun,” Childforever says of his junior experience, “and you gain strength – your body and your mind, in keeping focused.”

See WORKHORSE on page 10

Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

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Bryan Phelan/Wawatay News

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KIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reuben Anderson stickhandles past Joey Oshag of the Bushtown Jets. Anderson was in top form during March Break at the Northern Bands tournament, after playing 16 games this season in the Greater Metro Hockey League.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Workhorse ... A strong defensive defencemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Continued from page 9 Beardy spots at least two more junior-aged players at the Northern Bands he thinks are ready now for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;fast and toughâ&#x20AC;? action of the GMHL, and invites several other prospects to the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development camp this summer. The GMHL is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;pay to playâ&#x20AC;? league, notes Beardy. The community of KI, through its chief and council, sponsored their five players in the GMHL in 2013-14. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The opportunity came and we helped answer the door for them,â&#x20AC;? says Darryl Sainnawap, KI deputy chief and a Native Wings player. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I figured it would be a good idea for them to be exposed to that type of hockey and to have the opportunity to be a prospect to scouts from other hockey leagues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hockey teaches you a lot of things,â&#x20AC;? Sainnawap adds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It teaches you about teamwork and staying healthy.â&#x20AC;? After downing Kingfisher Lake, the Native Wings win again, 4-2 over the Sandy Lake Chiefs, to reach the Final Four of the 29-team Northern Bands tournament. The KI junior players excel in their own ways. Clinton Morris aggressively clears pucks and opposition players

from the front of his net; Matthew Morris always seems in the right position and is strong along the boards; Anderson buzzes around the puck everywhere, digging; Hudson provides reliable, stay-at-home defensive play; and Childforever quarterbacks waves of offensive rushes. In KIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s semifinal against the Bushtown Jets from Eabametoong, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not enough. Childforever takes a wicked slash to the arm and misses some shifts, but comes back to finish the game in pain. KI loses 4-1 and Bushtown goes on to win the tournament. Sainnawap, however, remains enthusiastic about the future of the younger Native Wings, most of them teammates since they were peewees in Little Bands tournaments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe this is only the beginning for them,â&#x20AC;? Sainnawap says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I foresee bigger outcomes for them and for our community. I believe this is the beginning of a dynasty.â&#x20AC;?

Scouting Reports In KI, meanwhile, â&#x20AC;&#x153;most of the townâ&#x20AC;? encourages Childforever to play another season of junior hockey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of people are proud of me,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess they know I can do something.â&#x20AC;?

Joe Murphy, the former NHLer, knows too. Filling in as Shelburneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coach for a couple of days this past GMHL season, Murphy kept Childforever on the ice for almost an entire game â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 50 out of 60 minutes, the defenceman guesses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just kept my legs moving. I only went off to get drinks of water.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the few games Shelburne won. Beardyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scouting report on Childforever rings true. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Workhorse,â&#x20AC;? Beardy writes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A strong defensive defenceman. He has a good shot â&#x20AC;Ś (and) makes simple, smart plays consistently. Good leadership skills.â&#x20AC;? And it sounds remarkably similar to a Hockey News scouting report on Pronger, still available online: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can log huge amounts of ice time,â&#x20AC;? it reads in part. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is an awesome one-on-one defender. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also an excellent power-play point man, due to a big shot and great hockey sense. Was born to lead.â&#x20AC;? After the semifinal loss at the Northern Bands, in Prongerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hometown, Childforever rubs his sore forearm in the lobby and talks about buying better elbow pads. When he leaves the rink, he passes under the image of Pronger in game action, high on the wall.

Wawatay News

APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

Five Grassy Narrows students, including Jackie Swain, centre, Hans Fobister, top right, and Roxanne Loon, right, are working towards Native Early Childhood Education diplomas at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win.

ABOVE and BELOW: Oshki-Pimache-O-Win students celebrated the new season during the education and training institute’s Spring Feast, held March 24 at the Thunder Bay campus.

Oshki-Pimache-O-Win students celebrate spring with feast Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Grassy Narrows’ Jackie Swain and Roxanne Loon are enjoying their Oshki-PimacheO-Win Education and Training Institute Native Early Childhood Education placements in Thunder Bay. “It’s different from our own community — it’s something new and challenging,” said Loon, who is doing her placement along with Swain, her mother, at the Algoma Child Care Centre. “I’m learning new methods how to teach.” Swain said the placement provides her with “more experience” for her teaching position with toddlers at the Migizi Wazason Child Care Centre in Grassy Narrows. “It’s been a long time since I was in school,” Swain said. “And I’m older than them (the other students).”

Loon and Swain usually do their placements during the day and attend their Native Early Childhood Education classes at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win during the evening until about 8:30 p.m. They began the Native Early Childhood Education program last fall along with three other Grassy Narrows students and 12 students from other communities. “We’re all together,” Loon said about the Grassy Narrows students. “The other workers back home already have their ECEs (Early Childhood Education diplomas). They’re qualified; we’re just getting qualified now.” Loon finds the Native Early Childhood Education program to be a challenge, but she said Oshki-Pimache-O-Win’s modular format of two twoweek on-campus sessions per semester combined with independent distance study

in her home community supported by evening tele/ videoconferences works for her circumstances back home. “I have a family at home with three small children,” Loon said. “I like this program because we’re here for two weeks, but we can go home for six weeks. If I went for a twoyear program (at a college), I wouldn’t see my family at home.” Hans Fobister, one of the Grassy Narrows students who has been working at the Migizi Wazason Child Care Centre for more than a year, said the Native Early Childhood Education program has helped him to understand himself better. “I’m growing in knowledge,” Fobister said. “It’s been an honour and it’s fun interacting with (the other students) and learning their experiences.” While attending their second

two-week on-campus session in late March at Oshki-PimacheO-Win’s Thunder Bay campus, the Grassy Narrows students celebrated spring along with the other students at OshkiPimache-O-Win’s Spring Feast, held March 24. “We’re honouring the season,” said Lori Parkinson, coordinator of the Native Early Childhood Education program. “Here at Oshki, we’ll have a feast each time the students are on campus. We always provide potluck settings whenever students are on campus, but now we have made more of a commitment towards honouring the seasons. Last session it was the New Year’s Feast.” In addition to the Native Early Childhood Education students, who are studying through a Cambrian College diploma program, OshkiPimache-O-Win also has two other groups of students on

campus: Business Fundamentals students, who are studying through a Confederation College certificate program,

and Social Service Worker Program students, who are studying through a Sault College diploma program.

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Wawatay News april 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Wawatay News

april 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

100 Back Street, Unit 200 Thunder Bay, ON P7J 1L2 Tel: (807) 623-8228 Fax: (807) 623-7730 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT MARCH 31

2013

ASSETS CURRENT Cash and bank (Note 1) Accounts and grants receivable (Note 2) Prepaid expenses

4,535,697 2,715,299 72,099

Long-term investments (Note 3) Property, Plant and Equiptment (Note 4) $ LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS CURRENT Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 5) Deferred contributions (Note 6)

299,097

1 330,397 $

13,617,510

11,949,246 695,724

6,586,139

12,644,970

299,097 108,323 628,633

330,396 1 108,323 533,820

1,036,053

972,540

7,622,192

Message from the Grand Chief

3,989,852 9,140,329 156,931 13,287,112

5,505,365 1,080,774

NET ASSETS Investment in property, plant and equipment (Note 7) Investment in Nishnawbe-Aski Investments Ltd. Restricted assets (Note 8) Unrestricted net assets

7,323,095

7,622,192

13,617,510

Grand Chief

Independent Auditors’ Report

Booshoo! Wacheya!

To the Members of Nishnawbe Aski Nation

On behalf of the Executive Council I am pleased to present the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Summarized Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ending March 31, 2013.

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which comprise the statement of financial position as at March 31, 2013, and the statements of changes in net assets, revenue and expenses, and cash flows for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information. The financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

NAN’s Financial Statements and the Auditors’ Report for the 2012-2013 fiscal year were accepted and approved by Chiefs-in-Assembly on August 13, 2013 during the XXXII Keewaywin Conference in Kasabonika Lake First Nation.

Auditors’ Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors’ judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We look forward to a successful and productive new year and we wish you continued peace, success and happiness in 2013-2014.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion In our opinion, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Nishnawbe Aski Nation as at March 31, 2013 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.

Meegwetch. Grand Chief Harvey Yesno

Chartered Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants

ᐊᕐᐱ ᔦᔅᓄ

Dryden, Ontario July 4, 2013

Finance Director/Acting Chief Administrative Officer

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31

2013

2012

Cash provided by (used in) Operating activities Excess of revenue over expenses for the year Items not involving cash Amortization of property, plant and equipment Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Changes in non-cash working capital balances Accounts and grants receivable Prepaid expenses Deferred expenses Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Deferred contributions

63,513

41,695

89,736 153,249

101,646 10,133 153,474

6,425,031 84,832 (6,443,881) 385,050 451,032 604,281

(6,694,880) (146,071) 1,601 6,674,573 208,707 43,930 197,404

Investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(58,436)

(95,856)

Increase in cash during the year

545,845

101,548

3,989,852

3,888,304

Cash and bank, beginning of year Cash and bank, end of year

4,535,697

3,989,852

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS Balance, beginning of year Correction of prior period error (Note13) Balance, beginning of year (as restated) Excess (deficiency) of revenue over expenses for the year Invested in capital assets Balance, end of year

330,396 -

(89,735) 58,436 299,097

INVESTMENT IN NANIL

$ 1 -

(1) $ -

RESTRICTED $

BDO Canada LLP 37 King Street Dryden, Ontario P8N 3G3

2012

STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 REVENUE First Nations Institutions and Organizations Government of Canada Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - set contribution Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - fixed contribution Fisheries and Oceans Health Industry/Fednor Province of Ontario Attorney General Children and Youth Community Services (AHWS) Health and Promotion Native Affairs Natural Resources Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Northern Development and Mines Education Transportation Training, Colleges and Universities Interest Amounts repayable (recoverable) to funders Other Transfers (to) from deferred contributions

Funds transferred for First Nations operations (Note 12) Portfolio expenses Bank charges and interest Conferences, workshops and reports Consulting and professional fees Public relations Rent and utilities Salaries and benefits Supplies and resources Travel Capital expenditures

UNRESTRICTED

2013

2012

108,323 -

$ 533,820

$ 972,540

$ 684,396 246,449 930,845

Excess of revenue over expenses before other items

108,323

153,249 (58,436) $ 628,633

41,695 $ 972,540

Other items Capital allocations Amortization of property, plant and equipment Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

63,513 $1,036,053

Budget

Excess of revenue over expenses for the year

45,000

2013 $

45,000

2012 $

47,158

13,852,384

15,354,267

2,337,376 2,618,733 54,940

2,337,376 2,619,567 54,940

2,712,056 87,000 4,163,050 122,4000

147,344 1,237,988 5,088,369 571,694 707,550 420,912 148,397 24,079 2,273,709 455,927 29,984,402

181,277 1,237,988 5,074,992 488,801 707,550 341,502 1,662,233 161,388 148,397 90,000 65,772 550,283 305,704 (384,005) 29,541,149

485,114 1,138,944 5,056,446 518,450 725,002 283,592 1,550,455 223,385 50,000 61,824 (130,124) 538,869 (208,635) 32,779,253

(17,025,897) 12,958,505

(17,047,411) 12,493,738

(20,059,919) 12,719,334

13,432 3,941,318 1,725,614 121,545 368,876 5,104,643 348,530 1,276,111 58,436 12,958,505

13,432 3,416,984 1,790,994 121,544 368,876 5,094,279 162,066 1,372,314 58,436 12,398,925

6,922 3,548,347 2,066,237 143,020 369,788 4,699,438 160,961 1,571,147 95,856 12,661,716

94,813

57,618

58,436 (89,736) -

95,856 (101,646) (10,133)

(31,300)

(15,923)

(31,300)

63,513

41,965

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MARCH 31, 2013 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Elected Officials and Senior Management The remuneration for the year of elected officials and senior management totaled $695,413 (2012 - $551,872). Amounts paid to elected officials and senior management for travel amounted to $119,150 (2012 - $98,835). The Grand Chief and Deputies are provided salaries of $108,000 and $103,000 respectively plus 12% pay in lieu of vacation. Travel allowances include mileage reimbursed at $0.55 per kilometre and meals/incidentals at $84.90 per day. Specific salary, benefits and travel reimbursements were:

Grand Chief Harvey Yesno

Salary and Benefits

Travel Reimbursements

2013

$ 75,613

$ 18,538

$ 94,151

2012

(Former) Grand Chief Stan Beardy

89,814

3,382

93,196

133,552

Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fidder (elected August 14, 2012)

72,121

4,849

76,970

Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic (elected August 14, 2012)

72,121

14,802

86,923

118,772

15,031

133,803

135,856

(Former) Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose

Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit

91,266

16,385

107,651

148,451

(Former) Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin

64,740

17,520

82,260

143,404

(Former) Executive Director

90,634

28,643

119,277

Chief Administrative Officer

20,332

158,395

$ 695,413

$ 119,150

$ 814,563

$ 719,658

Flow Through Funding Agreements The organization receives funding for distribution to member First Nations and First Nation organizations for specific projects and initiatives. The First Nations and specific organizations report on the expenses of these funds. Total First Nation Allocations

2013

2012

$ 17,047,411

$ 20,059,919

For the complete consolidated financial statements visit www.nan.on.ca

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Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

LEADING TOGETHER

On the Rez in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News

When four youth in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation decided to send an open invitation for average Canadians to come spend five days in their remote community in northwestern Ontario to build bridges across culture and get a clearer sense of what life on a remote reserve is like, many in the community did not take them seriously. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were people who said itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible,â&#x20AC;? said Leona Matthews, one of the youth organizers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just youth, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; But we worked really hard and got it done.â&#x20AC;? The original goal was to have 25 Canadians come into the reserve â&#x20AC;&#x201C; located nearly 600 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. Clearly, the letter worked: 43 Canadians answered the call. The group flew into the community on June17 to spend five days and four nights in KI, also known as Big Trout Lake. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think this was going to blow up like this,â&#x20AC;? said Justin Beardy during the event. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It snowballedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; totally exceeding my expectations.â&#x20AC;? The visitors stayed with local families, and experienced firsthand life in an isolated First Nations community in northern Ontario. They toured homes to get a sense of the housing conditions, and learned about substance abuse and unemployment issues. During an open forum with the chief and council, they learned about the frustrations of trying to work with what one

Wawatay file photo

Karyn Paishk, Justin Beardy, Leona Matthews and Faith McKay. visitor called a â&#x20AC;&#x153;paternalisticâ&#x20AC;? federal government. But they also experienced the Ojicree peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s traditional activities such as fishing, canoeing and medicine picking. They ate traditional meals of geese, moose, fish and caribou prepared by local Elders. And they learned how tight-knit and resilient a community of 1,300 can be. Peter Love, a part-time lawyer and member of the Toronto Rotary Club, said most Canadians know little about Aboriginal history and their perspective. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re terribly ignorant,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But this [KI trip] is the process of learning.â&#x20AC;? Connections were made, friendships formed, and cultural gaps bridged. Both visitors and hosts were sad at the conclusion of the week. The first such youth-coordinated exchange initiative of its kind in KI, the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspi-

ration can be traced back six years ago, to the arrival in KI of a young Ottawa filmmaker, Andree Cazabon. Herself a child of foster homes, the award-winning filmmaker/activist had heard about eight children in the community who had become orphans after their mother and stepfather committed suicide a month-and-a-half apart. When she arrived to produce a documentary on the socioeconomic issues within the community, she met with some reticence- despite having the blessing of the chief and council. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first thought was anger. My nephews and nieces had been through a lot - and now somebody was filming them and asking them questions,â&#x20AC;? resident Tina Sainnawap said after the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I felt like she was going to hurt my nieces and nephews.â&#x20AC;?

Protect yourself and others

But when Cazabon explained her reasons for filming, and made a commitment that she would continue to work with the Indigenous community for 10 years, many relented. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an individual, I was responsible to make a commitment to the community,â&#x20AC;? said Cazabon, who is a Francophone-Ontarian. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would not make another film until we made a difference.â&#x20AC;? The documentary was titled 3rd World Canada. After its premiere in 2010, Cazabon took the film on several tours in various cities in Ontario. Youth from the community â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including some of the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subjects â&#x20AC;&#x201C; came along to speak at the screenings in Ontario. That proved to be a challenge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be lucky to get a sentence out of them,â&#x20AC;? Cazabon said. But as the tours progressed, the youth grew more comfort-

able. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It took two years,â&#x20AC;? Cazabon said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youth engagement is not something done overnight and you need people to lead with their voices.â&#x20AC;? Through the tours, 3rd World Canada evolved from a film into the KI exchange project. This past January â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at the height of Idle No More â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cazabon visited KI. She wanted to meet with youth, and brainstorm ideas and possibilities on what to do next to bridge those cultural gaps. Inviting Canadians to spend a week in the community was one of them. But instead of taking the lead on the idea, as she had done with the tours, Cazabon turned ownership of the project over to the group. She insisted the youth needed to spearhead the initiative, in order for it to be a success. Beardy and Karyn Paishk were involved from the start. Although they had never engaged with 3rd World Canada, they had previously helped organize local events related to Idle No More. Matthews and Faith McKay joined up later on. And while other local youth took part in meetings and volunteering, those four would be the core group behind the KI event. Cazabon served not only as a mentor but a partner in the initiative through her production company, Cazabon Productions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told them I would donate four months of my time,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We drafted up an agreement, they threw me a budget and we would all be responsible.â&#x20AC;?

Being a grassroots initiative, the project lacked major funders. So the youth fundraised and sought sponsors in the north while Cazabon covered the south. Wasaya Airways, an Aboriginally-owned airline, came on board through youth efforts, while the Toronto Rotary Club, which hosted screenings during the tours, agreed to sponsor the event. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our fundraising campaign promised deliverables that have to do with fundersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; objectives,â&#x20AC;? Cazabon said. The whole initiative was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;scary project,â&#x20AC;? for the youth, Cazabon said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They learned the best way to erase the fear is lean on each other.â&#x20AC;? There were times the youth thought the event might never happen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We almost gave up but we always kept pushing each other,â&#x20AC;? Matthews said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were a great team.â&#x20AC;? Within a few weeks, Paishk and McKay went on another short 3rd World Canada tour in Toronto, Peterborough and Ottawa, where they were hosted by visitors from the KI event. Immediately following the event, another group of KI youth travelled to Lisbon, Portugal to attend a Rotary International Convention, which was attended by 25,000 people from around the world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so proud to be from here, KI. This is our home,â&#x20AC;? Paishk said on the last night of the event. She noted the laughter around the community grounds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You see this? This is the spirit of KI, and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever die.â&#x20AC;?

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Wawatay News

APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

LEADING TOGETHER The Red Road Project: Trading Substances for Substance Youth-led initiative in Nova Scotia is getting Mi’kmaw youth off drugs and booze Trina Roache Special to Wawatay News

On a bright midsummer afternoon, Haley Bernard surveyed the Pictou Landing First Nation with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the rural Mi’kmaq community is like a close-knit family. On the other, it’s plagued by drug and alcohol abuse. She wants to see change – a generation of culturally strong, educated youth who are drug and alcohol free. Bernard hopes the Red Road Project will lead the way. Started in March 2012, the goal of the Red Road Project is to help Mi’kmaw youth aged 15 to 29 learn to say no to drugs and alcohol. While the idea came from the Nova Scotia chiefs, and is administered by the education working group, Mi’kmaq Kina’matnewey or MK for short, the Red Road Project is run by youth, for youth. “We aim to educate (Mi’kmaw) youth to lead a healthy lifestyle through their culture, language, fitness, connecting with their Elders and peers in their community, conquering addiction,” said coordinator Savannah Simon. Youth leaders like Bernard walk the talk. She graduated in the spring from Cape Breton University with a bachelor’s degree in Mi’kmaq Studies. For the summer, she worked as a youth leader. Bernard signed a contract to stay sober, but she said there’s more to it than that. “The Red Road Project is about embracing your life and just being happy and doing good things,” she said. With that mindset, Bernard opens the gym at the community recreation centre for basketball, heads a running club and holds traditional craft classes and bonfires by the shore. With 23 youth leaders in 13 Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, this project is the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada. Representatives from the RCMP now sit on its advisory committee, and it currently has a budget of $100,000 funded by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development of Canada. Further, a connection with the Halifaxbased youth network Leaders of Today (LOT) has provided training opportunities in leadership and public voice. LOT Coordinator Steve Gor-

Photo couresty of Red Road Project

Left: Participants in the Red Road Project, a cultural program for Mi’kmaw youth aged 15 to 29 in Nova Scotia aimed at helping them learn to say no to drugs and alcohol. Trina Roache/Special to Wawatay News

Above: Haley Bernard, one of Red Road Project’s youth leaders.

“The Red Road Project is about embracing your life and just being happy and doing good things.” -Haley Bernard Red Road Project youth leader

don explained that his group helps youth influence government policy. “It’s about building leadership and connecting new youth leaders with provincial politics, from the minister down to provincial staff,” he said. Gordon said networking creates a lot of opportunities for youth groups to learn from one another. He looks forward to working closely with the Red Road team on this and future community action projects. Laurianne Stevens was also encouraged by early feedback and wants to see these kinds of partnerships grow. Stevens is a director with the education working group that oversees the Red Road Project. She admitted there’s a learning curve and changes made in the second year have been successful. Hiring charismatic Savannah Simon boosted morale. And monthly reports made

youth leaders more accountable. Still, challenges remain. Stevens said the distance between the Mi’kmaq First Nations makes communication difficult, despite the use of videoconferencing. So the goal for next year is to partner with the communities. With plans to secure additional funding, Stevens would like to hire more coordinators. “It’s about getting the band involved. We want the community to have ownership, so everyone knows about it,” said Stevens. In terms of macro project design, the group’s strategy has been threefold: strength lies in cultural traditions; youth leaders make invaluable role models; and social media is key. In addition to its own website, the Red Road Project is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Contests for logos, rap songs, and videos help spread the word. Assistant coordinator Brittany Prosper is working on a brochure to hand out to parents, schools, and powwows. Each week, Prosper and Simon combine one of seven sacred teachings with a chapter from Sean Covey’s book, The 6 Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make, which deals with teen issues. For example, youth

leaders will focus on the sacred idea of trust and read about teen sexuality. The coordinators give ideas for activities but the youth leaders adapt that plan to their own community. The range of activities is broad. Nature walks, sweats, talking circles, sports and fishing have proved popular. Prosper organizes Elder visits once or twice a week in her home community, the We’koqma’q First Nation in Cape Breton. “We just talk and bake, make food like Indian tacos. I like to get their perspective,” said Prosper. “We want to tie traditional culture to all our activities.” Part of the challenge is figuring out what works and what doesn’t. An even bigger challenge is getting people to show up. But with patience and persistence, organizers can see the combination of social media, youth role models and clear links to tradition starting to work. Haley partied in her teen years like all her friends. When she started to struggle in school and suffered bouts of depression, she knew she had to make changes. Over the last two years, Haley started taking language courses, going to sweats, and dancing at powwows. “I still go out with my friends. I know I’m not missing out on

anything. And I make sure they see that I can still have fun and be myself.” All the youth leaders gathered at a cultural camp before the summer. They spent five days in a technology-free teepee and participated in smudges, talking circles and other traditional activities. “Everybody left with such unity and a strong bond which is so crucial when you are a sober, Mi’kmaw youth leader, because we’re very rare,” says Simon. The purpose of the camp is to empower the youth leaders and impart a positive energy they can take back to their community, along with their own Red Road teepee. “When you’re doing traditional activities, you can’t go if you’re doing drugs and alcohol. And that’s what’s broken that connection with everyone and their cultural, spiritual self,” said Bernard. Looking ahead, Stevens wants to further expand the group’s scope. Red Road leaders visit schools and last March, gave a presentation at a Crime Prevention Symposium in Halifax. Everyone involved wants the Red Road to eventually have a presence in all Atlantic Indigenous communities. And Simon would love to see the Red Road go national.

About Leading Together “How do we inspire Indigenous youth?” writes Duncan McCue, a seasoned journalist and member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation in southern Ontario. “It’s a question I asked myself often...” Leading Together a series of reports on successful youthfocused projects resulting from collaboration between Indigenous communities and philanthropic organizations. It is a collaboration of Journalists for Human Rights, Tyee Solutions Society, Wawatay Native Communications Society, and the J. W. McConnell Family Foundation, which commissioned this journalism. In the coming weeks look for more Leading Together stories from across Canada on wawataynews.ca. The stories will also appear in each issue of Wawatay News.

Pelican Falls First Nation High School is hosting their

Introducing Derek Fox as the newest member of our experienced legal team. A member of Bearskin Lake, First Nation, Mr. Fox was born in Sioux Lookout and attended law school at the University of Manitoba, graduating with a juris doctor. He was later called to the bar with the Law Society of Upper Canada in January 2014. Derek’s interests include the practice of Aboriginal Law, Corporate/ Commercial and Civil Litigation.

14th Annual Pow Wow April 11,12,13,2014

In his spare time he likes to hunt, fish and trap on his family trapline at Sachigo River (about 50 miles north of Big Trout Lake). Derek also values spending time with his two sons aged 8 and 10. Erickson & Partners is a full service law firm dedicated to providing our clients with trusted service, advice and results.

Call or Visit Derek Fox or any of the Erickson & Partners Team at

(807) 345-1213 Toll Free1-800-465-3912 291 S. Court Street, Thunder Bay www.erickson-law.com

Everyone is welcome For more information, please contact: Traditional elder Juliette Blackhawk, Lola Goodwin, Sharon Newman, Solomon Kakagamic, Nathan Hunter at 807-1110 or 1-800-378-9111.

Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Stolen Sisters – Silent Screams? Part Two Peter Globensky GUEST COLUMNIST

ow ironic that Valentine’s Day, a day that is meant to be filled with love and it’s sweet memories can be a source of so much pain for so many. Anishinabe quay Sharon Johnson, one of the principle organizers of the annual Full Moon Memory Walk which was held this year on Valentine’s day in Thunder Bay is well acquainted with that pain and the grief that is its constant companion. The body of her 18-year-old sister Sandra Kaye was found brutalized and naked on a frozen February floodway 22 years ago. Her murderer remains at large, the crime unsolved. “I think about her all the time, and someday there will be answers and my family won’t hurt so much anymore,” Johnson said. Through the annual Full Moon Memory Walk Sharon has channelled her grief into remembrance and ensuring that the rest of Canadian society becomes acquainted with the troubling mysteries surrounding what has now become over 850 missing and murder cases of Aboriginal women in Canada – many of which remain unsolved. In last month’s column (Feb. 20 issue), I referred to detailed reports prepared by both the National and Ontario Native Women’s Associations citing the hundreds of Aboriginal women who had been victimized by these violent crimes. I also

Wawatay file photo

Participants in the Valentines Day Memorial Walk in 2007 in Thunder Bay. cited the litany of Canadian organizations both Aboriginal and non, and a number of international organizations including the United Nations which have been calling for a national inquiry into this disgraceful situation, the roots of which are buried in the rot of racism and poverty. The omnipotent Stephen Harper who, let’s face it, is the government of Canada has ignored all such calls for such an inquiry, but has offered the appearance of action by setting up a “Special Parliamentary Committee on Violence against Indigenous Women” dominated by Conservative Party backbenchers.

Let me again ask the same question I did in my last column: Why are we stuck on “no”? Why is our national government, aided and abetted by a corporate media which trivializes the violence against Aboriginal women by largely ignoring it, so hell-bent on steering clear of such a national inquiry into this national disgrace? Or did I just answer my own question? The reasons are deeply rooted in the rot of stereotypes and systemic racism too deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of our culture. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “stereotype” as a widely held but fixed and

oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. “Missing or murdered Aboriginal women? Well, what do you expect - they likely spend all or much of their handto-mouth lives on Seedy Street and either hook or do drugs or both to get by. They chooses the life of second class citizens – they pays the price!” The trouble with such a wildly distorted fixation is like a parasite, the stereotype bores deeply into our collective thinking, breeds there, and after infecting becomes viral and comes to dominate our uninformed opinions of others and their problems.

When the virus spreads as it must it insinuates itself into our institutions and public instruments of expression. It then deforms into something far more dangerous and enabling! The Ontario Human Rights Commission defines systemic racism and the resulting discrimination as patterns of behaviour, policies or practices that are part of the structures of an organization, and which create or perpetuate disadvantage for racialized persons. There is sufficient and compelling evidence to propose that these two socially corrosive and toxic attributes are at the heart of why we have

come to know so little about so many for so long. That so little has been done to solve these horrendous crimes against Aboriginal women or to begin to prevent their recurrence goes far beyond disinterested police work or a distracted media. If the year-long parliamentary committee does not conclude that poverty and powerlessness are at the rotten root of violence against Indigenous women, that far too many cases of violence are ignored and remain unsolved, that there is a need for a national inquiry and a national dialogue on this, our collective disgrace it will have abrogated its responsibility to parliament, the people of Canada and the hundreds of Aboriginal women whose voices are now silent forever. We need to shine some very bright lights into the cellars and basements under our foundations as a country, or are we too afraid of what we will find lurking in the darkness? Do not underestimate the power and dignity behind Sharon’s conviction and determination. She will be instrumental in getting that much needed national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. We can all help her do so. Peter Globensky is a former senior policy advisor on Aboriginal Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister and recently retired as CEO of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. He invites comments on his columns at basa1@shaw.ca

THE MÉTIS NATION OF ONTARIO

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Wawatay News

APRIL 3, 2014

Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

Faceless dolls were created by elementary school students in Thunder Bay through Lakehead University’s local faceless dolls project.

Grade 8 students create faces for Faceless Dolls Project Rick Garrick Wawatay News

The issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women was recently shared with students in Thunder Bay through Lakehead University’s local faceless dolls project. “I think it’s sad, mainly, that no one is paying attention to these people who have gone missing,” said Rachel Corston, a Grade 8 Algonquin Avenue Public School student. “It’s nice that they’re recognizing them now and that we’re doing all these dolls.” Corston and her fellow students created unique faceless dolls during a March 26 faceless dolls project session at her school. “It’s actually pretty neat — we get to make these dolls, the people representing them,” Corston said. “I focused mostly on the trim of the dress, you know the glitter glue and ribbons.” Helen Pelletier, director of the Lakehead University Aboriginal Awareness Centre, and Charmaine Romaniuk, the vice-president student issues at Lakehead University Student Union who created the local faceless dolls project at Lakehead University after hearing about the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s Faceless Dolls Project, brought the local faceless dolls project to two Thunder Bay schools, Ecole Gron Morgan and Algonquin Avenue Public School. “Overall, it’s been very suc-

cessful,” Pelletier said. “This is the second school we’ve been to. We went to Ecole Gron Morgan and there were over 200 dolls made there. And at the university as well, we’ve had over 100 made.” Pelletier estimates there will be about 500 dolls created once the faceless dolls project sessions are completed at Algonquin Avenue Public School. “And there are other schools interested, so if we actually kept going to every school, we would probably have more than enough dolls to represent the (murdered and missing) women,” Pelletier said. “It’s kind of comparable to the Walking With Our Sisters uncompleted moccasin vamps. When that project started, Christi Belcourt only asked for 500 or 600 moccasin vamps, but when all was said and done she had over 1,800.” Belcourt’s project involved the creation of 600-plus beaded moccasin vamps by hundreds of people that were to be combined into one large collaborative art piece for installation in a winding path on cloth on the gallery floor in various galleries and sites across Canada. Pelletier said about 13 classes participated in the faceless dolls project at both schools through the cooperation of Corine Bannon, Native language teacher at Ecole Gron Morgan and Algonquin Avenue Elementary School. “This project, for me, is

empowering for our students to recognize the importance of culture and how important the girls are,” Bannon said. “Traditionally, women are the life givers, so when a woman is missing, that is one less person that is giving life. And in a First Nations community, women are valued because of our traditions.” Bannon said she received a mixed reaction from the students about the high numbers of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. The Native Women’s Association of Canada’s Faceless Dolls Project involved the creation of 582 dolls to represent the 582 known cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. “Some were not aware of the statistics, some are very shocked,” Bannon said. “After they do the dolls, they feel very empowered. They feel they are contributing and recognizing the First Nations women and girls who are missing.” Algonquin Avenue Public School Grade 8 student Kyra Maki said the project was “very interesting.” “You get to show your hope for all the women and girls who went missing,” Maki said. “I thought it was sad that no one was even looking for the people because if it was like a Caucasian person, it would be all over the news and everyone would be looking for them. But since it’s not, no one seems to care.”

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Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

First Nations interested in mutual gain: Ovide Mercredi Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Former national chief Ovide Mercredi called for mutual advantages from resource development during the Grow Greenstone Expo, held March 17-18 in Thunder Bay. “It’s time for us to remind ourselves, as the Supreme Court of Canada said, we are all here to stay — and we better learn to get along,” said the Misipawistik Cree Nation councillor. “That’s not going to be easy, because the First Nations people, because of their oppression over the centuries, are not very trusting right now. And you can’t really blame our people for lacking trust because of the way we have been impacted by Canada as a country.” Mercredi asked what right do companies have to develop First Nations territory without their consent. “People need to be involved, they need to be consulted, they need to be part of the plan,” Mercredi said. “And we are not part of the plan — not yet.” Mercredi said Canada made treaties with First Nations people soon after the country was founded in 1867 “in order to make room for themselves to expand the boundaries of Lower and Upper Canada.” “But these treaties were also based on this idea that the First Nations people could keep their culture, they could keep their way of life,” Mercredi said. “Now, what does that mean in contemporary times. It should mean that they should be able to drink the water from the lakes and rivers without having to boil it, because that is what they had before the treaty was made. And it should mean that they should be able to carry on with their hunting, fishing and gathering lifestyle on their natural territories without having the habitat destroyed by development.” Mercredi said the treaties are also about protecting the

“...And it should mean that they should be able to carry on with their hunting, fishing and gathering lifestyle on their natural territories without having the habitat destroyed by development.” – Ovide Mercredi, Misipawistik Cree Nation councillor and former national chief

land and the plants and wildlife that live on the land. “Because if development is done without any concern about the environment, the treaty right to hunt becomes meaningless,” Mercredi said. “If there are no animals, there is no treaty right to hunt.” But Mercredi said First Nations people are also “very much interested in mutual gain.” “The First Nations people are not isolated from each other — they are very connected to each other,” Mercredi said. “We are informed — we are aware of what we want and we are very much interested in the dialogue that has been missing.” Mercredi questioned the idea that First Nations people gave up title to their vast lands and territory for small reserves and an annual treaty payment of $4 or $5. “Where in the world can you buy that much land for $5 dollars a year,” Mercredi said. “And if you look at treaty negotiations right now where there is unceeded territory. like in British Columbia, those negotiations have been taking place for 20 years without no conclusion. Nobody is going to say to me that in my community my people surrendered their territory in one day. I refuse to believe that. I rather believe what my people tell me — that we agreed to share the land but we did not give up

Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

Former national chief Ovide Mercredi (left) called for mutual advantages from resource development during the Grow Greenstone Expo on March 18 in Thunder Bay.

“Those treaties have to be interpreted, not just in favour of Canada, but for mutual benefit. They have to be interpreted in favour of the Aboriginal people too. It cannot be one sided.” -Ovide Mercredi

everything.” Mercredi recalled an Elder’s statement about the community’s territory that he heard when he was a youth. “As far as your eye can see, all the land around you

see is ours and all the waters you see still belongs to us,” Mercredi said. “My reserve is only about two miles by about five miles. Our territory is bigger than that by probably a thousand times.” Mercredi said it is important for the federal government to deal with treaty implementation. “Those treaties have to be interpreted, not just in favour of Canada, but for mutual benefit,” Mercredi said. “They have to be interpreted in favour of the Aboriginal people too. It cannot be one sided.” Mercredi called for a better relationship in the future, noting that prejudice and racism have to be challenged.

“Those negative feelings prevent us from creating a good relationship,” Mercredi said. “I’m not asking you to marry me or to love me or even to kiss me. I’m saying, quite simply, that if we have a common vision about development in the north, it should be based on the historical relationship, which was mutual gain and friendship.” Mercredi said future development has to be done with the consent and full participation of First Nations people. “Development should never happen in the way it happened in my community,” Mercredi said. “When (Manitoba Hydro) came there they

built a townsite for their workers, completely segregated from my community. Hydro has been in Grand Rapids for almost 45 years now, and two years ago they finally extended water and sewer to the village. Imagine that, like it would take that long for them to share that quality of life with a Metis community. They never shared that quality (of life) with the reserve, because the reserve got the money from Indian Affairs to have water and sewer 10 years ago.” Mercredi made his comments on March 18 during his presentation: Taking Northern Development Back to Mutual Advantage.

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Wawatay News

APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

North Spirit Lake battling bedbugs Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News

Stephanie Wesley/Wawatay News

In session at the NAN Women’s Council Forum in Thunder Bay.

NAN women’s forum features talk on lateral violence Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News

The 2014 NAN Women’s Council Forum took place on March 18-20 in Thunder Bay. This year’s conference included a series of special events including performances by Dennis Franklin Cromarty’s Youth Jigging Troupe and stand up comedy by Ron Kanutski and Todd Genno. “I had a great time at the NAN Women’s Council,” Kanutski said. “It is the first show I have delivered with 98 per cent women in attendance and I found the group easy to engage with and get the laughs flowing.” He said he used English and Ojibway in his humour with a hint of music to finish off the show. “It was an honour to be invited and I felt respected,” Kanutski said. “I look forward to many more opportunities in the

future.” Invited guests also participated in various workshops related to the building wellness and resiliency theme of this year’s conference. Fort Albany member Brent Edwards was on hand on March 20 to deliver an informative workshop on the issue of lateral violence. Lateral violence, a form of bullying, is an issue that is alive and well in many First Nations communities. Edwards asked that the participants close their eyes and raise their hands if they’d ever experienced lateral violence and gave out examples, with the majority of the room raising their hands. When asked if they’d ever been the bully in a situation, a fair number had also raised their hands. The group of women shared their stories and experiences with lateral violence. One example of lateral violence that Edwards addressed

was the use of the words “just kidding” after an insult. “Someone will say something to you, or laugh at you, and then they say ‘just kidding,’” Edwards said. “You see it on Facebook, and hear it in communities.” “Why or how has that become socially acceptable in our community?” Edwards asked. And Evening of Solidarity for Missing and Murdered Women also took place on March 18, with NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno, Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, and Sharon Johnson. The forum also included a cultural teachings session with Sam Achneepineskum, a selfcare workshop with Melissa Seguin, SafeTALK training, a presentation from Corrine Fox of the Canadian Addictions and Mental Health, Have a Heart exercise by Esther McKay, Cancer Care with Kiri Butter, and a presentation on NADF’s microloan program with Linda McGuire.

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North Spirit Lake member and resident Donna Rae and her family have been suffering from a bedbug infestation for the last four years, and the mother of six wants help dealing with the intruders. “I am tired of being itchy every night,” Rae said. She explained that she and her daughter, as well as her newborn son, have been getting bitten the most. “My daughter has sensitive skin,” Rae said. “She has a really bad reaction to the bites. She was put on Benadryl maybe three times already.” Rae said that she and her family traded houses four years ago, and upon moving into the house she realized it had an infestation. “At first I didn’t know what they were, I didn’t know what kind of bug it was,” Rae said. “It looked strange. I didn’t know what bedbugs were.” Rae went to the clinic where they gave her and her family lotions to help with the itchiness that is caused by the bites from the bedbugs. She explained she has been asking the nurses there for help. The clinic informed her they contacted Health Canada about the nuisance bugs. “Health Canada said they’re looking into it,” Rae said. She has also gone to her band for help. “I keep asking my band, this will be my third year taking a letter to the band for help,” Rae said. She explained she was told there was no money to bring in an exterminator to combat the infestations. Rae said the band informed her they would move her fam-

Submitted photo

Bedbug bites on a North Spirit Lake resident’s back.

ily into a new house, but that there was no money this year for one so she could possibly move into one next year. “I’ve been trying to get rid of them; I’ve been heating up the house. I heat the clothes in the dryer, the blankets and stuff,” Rae said of her attempts to combat the infestation. Rae also bought a new vacuum, which seems to help a little. Bedbugs are described on the website Bedbugsinfo.ca as small insects (about the size of an apple seed) with ovalshaped bodies and no wings. The bugs usually come out and bite at night. Rae said the problem is very stressful. “I am tired of being itchy every night,” Rae said. “When I go to bed, I have to cover myself from my arms and my legs. I have to wear long-sleeve sweater.” Rae said that her newborn

son is also being bitten now on his face. She said she can’t use harsh chemicals in her home either because of her young children. “They’re asthmatic. I just don’t know what to do.” Rae first posted photos online of the bugs and the bites on her children and herself four years ago. “I’ve been trying and showing photos on Facebook, and I didn’t know where to get help from,” Rae said. “I asked people what would they do if they were in my situation?” Rae said that she isn’t the only community member who is suffering from the bugs. “I think most people have them, but I think they’re ashamed to say they do,” Rae said. Rae hopes to find relief soon. “I just don’t want to feel itchy every night!”

Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

Lenny Carpenter

Wawatay News

Taylor-Ann Chisel was announced as chief for a day of Lac Seul after winning an essay contest. Submitted photo

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20 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Grade 5 student spends day as chief of Lac Seul responsibilities as chief. “The main goal is to take pride in our community, our culture. We are laying the foundation so that you as the youth and future of our community will carry the torch proudly and continue to prosper our growing community.” Bull said to the class. It was the first Chief for a Day event held in Lac Seul. The contest was organized by Grade 5 teacher Steven Korobanik, who said the aim was to “educate our children on our local government responsibilities and to take even more pride in their community.” The essays were based on the students’ beliefs on what they would do if they were the chief of Lac Seul. In preparation

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for writing their essays, students were educated on the responsibilities of the chief for the three communities of Lac Seul, including Frenchman’s Head, Kejick Bay and Whitefish Bay. They were also encouraged to think of ways they could continue to build pride and potential in their small community. Korobanik said the event led to “first time a girl had been in a position of chief” of Lac Seul and hopes it encourages youth to pursue their goals and dreams regardless of their age or gender. Taylor-Anne was announced as the winner on March 19 and also received a $25 iTunes card and other gifts from Lac Seul First Nation.

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Series to dispel myths about precontact Americas Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from Page 3 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am delighted that my book has inspired APTN and two indigenous production companies to create a docudrama series on the history of the Americas before Columbusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; arrival,â&#x20AC;? Mann said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking forward to seeing this team create an epic narrative of indigenous history that is long overdue.â&#x20AC;?

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Mannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book dispels longheld theories that prior to European contact indigenous people were largely nomadic, did not alter the natural landscape and were not as advanced as other civilizations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adapting Charles Mannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s groundbreaking book into a miniseries has been a dream for us at APTN for many years,â&#x20AC;? said Jean La Rose, APTNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CEO. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By bringing Mannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book to life through the eyes of a team of indig-

enous producers, scholars and talent, we hope to tell the authentic, full and true history of indigenous peoples in the Americas and our vast contributions to the world.â&#x20AC;? Mann described a number of civilizations in his book, including the Aztec empire, which had a city â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that was larger than London or Paris at the time as its capital. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tenochtitlan dazzled its invaders,â&#x20AC;? Mann wrote in his book. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was bigger than Paris, Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest metropolis. The Spaniards gawped like yokels at the wide streets, ornately carved buildings, and markets bright with goods from hundreds of miles away. Boats f litted like butterflies around three grand causeways that linked Tenochtitlan to the mainland. Long aqueducts conveyed water from the distant mountains across the lake and into the city. Even more astounding than the great temples and immense banners and colorful promenades were the botanical gardens â&#x20AC;&#x201D; none existed in Europe. The same novelty attended the force of a thousand men that kept the crowded streets immaculate. (Streets that werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ankledeep in sewage! The conquistadors had never conceived of such a thing.)â&#x20AC;?

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Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

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

Pelletier translates art skills to multimedia Crystallee Mouland Special to Wawatay

Kelsea Pelletier graduated in June 2013 with a diploma of Multimedia Productions from Confederation College and immediately was hired by Matawa First Nations. The Fort William First Nations youth said the road map to her success was having the aspiration and dedication to complete high school and college in a timely manner to obtain a professional job. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of my aspirations to complete school, came from the ability to return the education to my community and all Canadians,â&#x20AC;? said Pelletier. During a high school co-op placement her interest in art

became apparent. Pelletier said creating art made her happy and the opportunity to become an Aboriginal digital artist steered her education studies into multimedia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Multimedia is a growing industry,â&#x20AC;? said Pelletier. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always changing and technology is always on the go.â&#x20AC;? Confederation College offers cultural services and Aboriginal programming components to each program. Pelletier said merging culture with multimedia allows artists to expressively graphic design and to globally convey Aboriginal issues and culture through digital communications. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Culture is something we are trying to bring back,â&#x20AC;? said Pelletier. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel many artists real-

ize we can digitally design, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be just Aboriginal paintings.â&#x20AC;? Opportunities to produce business promotion items like posters, social media and websites makes a career in multimedia viable, said Pelletier. Working as a resource centre information support assistant for Matawa is allowing her to directly apply her education to her job. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m creating social media updates, newsletters and taking event pictures,â&#x20AC;? said Pelletier. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I ended up getting experience interviewing people and collecting information.â&#x20AC;? Skills acquired at post-secondary school gave her the tools to be successful at work, Pelletier said.

Creation of brochures, media delegation, video editing and website consulting are skills she learned in school and job duties she fulfills daily. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My job tests all my abilities from the multimedia school program,â&#x20AC;? said Pelletier. Working for an Aboriginalbased organization teaches staff about culture and environmental services and business, governance and relations and remote communities, said Pelletier. However, Pelletier said she learned a lot about Aboriginal cultural, teachings and spiritually through her education journey by being able to access the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s APIWIN Aboriginal Services. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already know your culture and teachings,

said Pelletier, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good place to learn and get perspective on your lifeâ&#x20AC;?. The Multimedia Program is new and Pelletier was the first person to graduate from such a program in her community and receive the Casino Rama bursary in recognition of her graduation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel very proud to bring back my education and diploma to my community,â&#x20AC;? said Pelletier. Fort William First Nation and former chief Peter Collins supported Pelletierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education and career endeavours. Pelletier advises all current and new post-secondary students to be positive, socialize, utilize facilities and faculty, work hard and avoid procrasti-

Crystallee Mouland /Special to Wawatay News

Kelsea Pelletier nation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go to post-secondary school and finish it,â&#x20AC;? said Pelletier. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely worth it.â&#x20AC;?

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Wawatay News

APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Elders need to share traditional knowledge Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Mishkeegogamang’s Erin Bottle called for Elders to share more traditional knowledge with youth during a Lakehead University Elders and Youth Round Table. “When I hear our people talk about what we lost, what we don’t have, (and) what we need, what we need to change is the language that we use if we are to empower our young people,” Bottle said during the March 19 gathering in Thunder Bay. “I understand the Anishinabeg is not given everything all at once. It is impossible for somebody to know everything — that is why we need each other, every piece of knowledge. Each and every single one of you were given a piece (of knowledge); bring those pieces together.” Bottle encouraged people to gather together during the winter, noting winter is the sacred time for the Elders to share their knowledge. “You have knowledge that we young people need,” Bottle said. “We need you; we need your knowledge.” Bottle said it doesn’t “cost anything” for people to gather together. “It doesn’t cost anything to go see an Elder, to help them out, to go clean their house, wash their dishes,” Bottle said. “Spending time with them — they love it.” Bottle also encouraged the Elders to approach youth with tobacco instead of waiting for youth to approach

Rick Garrick/Wawatay News

Erin Bottle of Mishkeegogamang calls for more Elders to approach and share knowledge with youth during a Lakehead University Elders and Youth Round Table on March 19. them. “It is not only young people’s responsibility to take tobacco to an Elder,” Bottle said. “It is also the responsibility of an Elder to take tobacco to young people if they have knowledge and they see somebody strong to carry it.” Bottle recently received tobacco from an Elder. “I felt so loved by them,” Bottle said. “They wanted to come and give me tobacco to

share with me. I gave them time to talk to me. What I received was ancient knowledge of the clans. Sixteen songs were given to me during that Ogichidaa fire.” Bottle also called for those who have lost their language to strive to reclaim it. “It is up to you to feed that fire inside to retrieve your language,” Bottle said. “To use both eyes to see when someone is talking.” The Elders and Youth

produced by the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, to fill the gap between youth and Elders. “All the information is in that handbook for the people who want to talk with an Elder,” McKay said. “It is very important and I would like to see the university to come up and produce an Elders handbook.” Sagkeeng Elder Freda McDonald said Anishinabemowin is important for

Education guide aimed at educators, social workers, lawyers

The latest edition of Sagatay is out now. Look for it on your next Wasaya flight.

Rick Garrick Wawatay News

Some of this issue’s features include... Flocking around Fort Severn Lac Seul fishing derby drama Hunters and Gatherers honoured Cowboys & Indians

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Round Table was hosted by Lakehead University’s Office of Aboriginal Initiatives in conjunction with Aboriginal Cultural and Support Services. Topics included: relationship building, cultural programming, culture in institutions, meaningful teachings, language programming and knowledge transfer. Metis Senator Bob Mckay suggested the development of an Elders handbook, similar to the Elders Handbook

connecting people together because it comes from the heart. “The language was given to us as a heritage and it is the root of our people,” said the member of the Spirit Wheel Singers. “It is very important for all of us Anishinabe to learn the language. I have lost a lot of the language myself, but I keep studying it and try to learn more and more.” Pic River Elder Beatrice Twance-Hynes said she feels a “sense of peace” whenever somebody offers her tobacco. “I feel like I know what I have to do,” said TwanceHynes, who is also a member of the Spirit Wheel Singers. “Sometimes the answer doesn’t always come. When you go to talk with an Elder, the Elder may not have the answer right away to what you are asking. The Elder may have to go back to reflect and pray on what needs to be shared.” Pic River Elder Raphael Moses encouraged others to share their traditional knowledge. “I spent many years travelling — I doctored many people in Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec in the last 34 years,” Moses said, noting he recently published a book on traditional medicines after seeing many of his friends passing on across the north without sharing their knowledge. “It’s hard to find young ones to follow; I’ve been asking young people to come sit with me and I will teach you what I know, but it is very hard.”

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An education guide has been added to the garnetsjourney.com residential school to reconciliation website for use by educators at all levels. “The work of creating awareness goes on — this is one more way of telling Canadians about their history,” said Garnet Angeconeb, a former Aboriginal Healing Foundation board member from Lac Seul who set up the website along with former CBC Radio journalist Ashley Wright, who now teaches journalism at Algonquin College and Carleton University. “We’re hoping people will feel free to use it — a number of people have said they will use it. People have said it is very resourceful, so I have to say the reaction has been very positive. We also encourage people to share the website with whomever can use it in a good way as a teaching tool.” The education guide provides an introduction to Angeconeb, the website and to each video on the site; curriculum connections from Grade 5 up to post-secondary subjects; lesson plans including background information, summaries of each video, discussion

questions, terms to know and research and inquiry suggestions; helpful tips on incorporating storytelling into an educational context and suggestions on moving from awareness to action. “We are lucky in this day and age to have the technologies that we do,” Angeconeb said. “People can take a look almost first-hand in term of someone’s experiences.” Angeconeb hopes the education guide will be used by educators from elementary schools up to secondary schools. “It could also be used by people who work with First Nations people,” Angeconeb said. “But not only that, it’s a guide for people like social workers, people in the justice system, including police, (and) health care workers to learn about the legacy of the Indian residential school.” The garnetsjourney.com website was set up in 2012 featuring a series of 33 videos in six chapters that share Angeconeb’s journey through the residential school system and on to reconciliation. “We want people to use (the website) as a source of information so that people can get educated and learn about that particular part of

Canadian history,” Angeconeb said. “They are all fairly short videos about different things, going right from life before residential school to what it was like going to residential school to the life of dealing with the effects of residential school after residential school — you know, the healing and the pain and the suffering that people do endure after residential school.” The website begins with a 21-minute mini-documentary about Angeconeb’s journey from the trap line to residential school to today. “I know that this is totally impossible, but I would give anything if I could turn the clock back,” Angeconeb said in the mini-documentary. “And continue on from where the residential school system interrupted a way of life. I would give anything to get that back.” About 150,000 First Nations and Aboriginal children were taken from their families during the 1800s and 1900s by the federal government and sent to residential schools operated across Canada by a number of Christian denominations, including the Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbyterian churches.

Wawatay News APRIL 3, 2014

ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

sgdn Protecting People and the Environment: The Multi-Barrier System

The long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel involves the development of a deep geological repository. It is a multiple-barrier system designed to safely contain and isolate used nuclear fuel over the long term. The design is based on the use of multiple durable barriers, including hundreds of metres of rock. This long-term management plan emerged from more than 30 years of scientific and technical studies conducted in Canada and internationally. Most countries with nuclear power programs have selected the deep geological repository as their preferred approach for managing used fuel; two countries (Sweden and Finland) have identified sites and are in the early stages of licensing.

Q. A.

Protection de la population et de l'environnement : Le système à barrières multiples

La gestion à long terme du combustible nucléaire irradié canadien nécessitera le développement d’un dépôt géologique en profondeur. C'est un système à barrières multiples conçu pour confiner et isoler de manière sûre à long terme le combustible nucléaire irradié. La conception est basée sur l’utilisation de multiples barrières durables, y compris des centaines de mètres de roche qui recouvriront le dépôt. Ce plan de gestion à long terme est le fruit de plus de 30 années d’études scientifiques et techniques menées au Canada et ailleurs dans le monde. La plupart des pays pourvus d’un programme nucléaire ont adopté l’approche du dépôt géologique en profondeur pour gérer leur combustible irradié; deux pays (la Suède et la Finlande) ont choisi un site pour établir leur dépôt et en sont au stade initial de demande de permis.

What is the multiple-barrier system? A series of engineered and natural barriers will work together to contain and isolate used nuclear fuel from people and the environment. Each of these barriers provides a unique level of protection.

Q. R.

• Barrier 1: The Used Nuclear Fuel Pellet – Used nuclear fuel is in the form of a ceramic pellet. It does not readily dissolve in water.

• Barrier 3: The Used Nuclear Fuel Container – Used fuel bundles will be placed into specially designed containers to contain and isolate the fuel. The container is designed with an inner supporting structure such as thick steel for mechanical strength, and an outer corrosion-resistant layer such as copper to withstand the mechanical, hydraulic and geochemical conditions in the deep underground environment. • Barrier 4: Bentonite Clay, Backfill and Seals – In the repository, each container will be surrounded by bentonite clay, a natural material proven to be an effective sealing material. As placement rooms are filled with containers, they will be backfilled and sealed. The access tunnels and shafts will be backfilled and sealed only when the community, the NWMO and regulators agree that it is appropriate, and postclosure monitoring will then be implemented.

• Barrière 3 : Le conteneur de combustible nucléaire irradié – Les grappes de combustible irradié seront placées dans des conteneurs spécialement conçus pour confiner et isoler le combustible. Les conteneurs sont conçus d'une structure interne de soutien tel qu'un acier épais pour fournir une résistance mécanique, ainsi que d'une couche externe qui est résistant à la corrosion tel que le cuivre pour résister à des conditions mécaniques, hydrauliques et géochimiques présentes dans un environnement souterrain en profondeur. • Barrière 4 : L’argile de bentonite, et les matériaux de remblai et de scellement – Dans le dépôt, chaque conteneur sera entouré d’argile de bentonite, un matériau naturel dont l’étanchéité a été démontrée. Lorsque le nombre voulu de conteneurs aura été placé dans les salles de mise en place, les espaces libres seront remplis de matériaux de remblai et seront scellés. Les galeries et les puits d’accès ne seront remblayés et scellés que lorsque la collectivité, la SGDN et les autorités réglementaires jugeront que cela est approprié. La surveillance post-fermeture sera alors mise en oeuvre.

• Barrier 5: The Geosphere – The repository will be approximately 500 metres underground. It will be excavated within a suitable sedimentary or crystalline rock formation. The geosphere forms a natural barrier of rock, which will protect the repository from disruptive natural events, including ice ages, and human intrusion. It will also maintain favourable conditions for the container and seals, as well as limit movement of radionuclides to protect people and the environment in the event that engineered barriers fail.

Is there evidence from nature to indicate that this approach can work over very long times?

The most important evidence will be from the site itself. Detailed field investigations involving geophysical surveys, characterization of the existing environment, drilling and sampling of boreholes, field and laboratory testing, and monitoring activities will be conducted during site characterization to affirm the suitability of the site. In particular, evidence will be sought that conditions at the site have been stable with little to no groundwater movement for millions of years at repository depth. There are also several locations where high levels of natural radioactivity have been contained for millions of years by the surrounding geology. These natural systems provide strong evidence supporting the concept of a deep geological repository. One location is the Cigar Lake uranium deposit in Saskatchewan. This deposit is one billion years old and is buried 450 metres below the surface, surrounded by a layer of naturally occurring clay. This clay layer has effectively contained the radioactive components from the uranium deposit.

Une série de barrières ouvragées et naturelles formeront un tout capable de confiner et d’isoler le combustible nucléaire irradié de la population et de l’environnement. Chacune de ces barrières offre un type distinct de protection. • Barrière 1 : La pastille de combustible nucléaire irradié – Le combustible nucléaire irradié se trouve sous la forme d’une pastille de céramique. Elle ne se dissout pas facilement dans l'eau. • Barrière 2 : L’élément combustible et la grappe de combustible – Les pastilles de combustible sont contenues dans des tubes étanches appelés éléments combustibles. Ces tubes sont composés d’un métal résistant à la corrosion appelé Zircaloy.

• Barrier 2: The Fuel Element and the Fuel Bundle – Sealed tubes contain the fuel pellets; these are called fuel elements. The tubes are made of a corrosion-resistant metal called Zircaloy.

En quoi consiste le système à barrières multiples?

• Barrière 5 : La géosphère – Le dépôt se trouvera à une profondeur approximative de 500 mètres. Il sera excavé au sein d’une formation de roche sédimentaire ou cristalline appropriée. La géosphère forme une barrière rocheuse naturelle qui protégera le dépôt contre les perturbations des événements naturels, y compris les périodes glaciaires, et de l’intrusion humaine. Elle maintiendra en outre des conditions favorables pour les conteneurs et les matériaux de scellement et limitera le mouvement des radionucléides afin de protéger la population et l'environnement dans le cas d'une défaillance des barrières ouvragées.

Y a-t-il des preuves de la nature pour indiquer que cette approche peut fonctionner à très long terme?

La preuve la plus importante sera fournie par le site lui-même. Des études détaillées sur le terrain, notamment des levés géophysiques, des études de caractérisation de l’environnement existant, le forage et l’analyse de carottes rocheuses, des tests sur le terrain et en laboratoire et des activités de surveillance, seront menées dans le cadre des travaux de caractérisation pour confirmer l’aptitude des sites. Tout particulièrement, des preuves seront recherchées pour démontrer que les conditions présentes sur le site ont été stables pour des millions d’années avec très peu à aucun mouvement des eaux souterraines à la profondeur du dépôt. Nous connaissons aussi l’existence de plusieurs lieux où de hauts niveaux de radioactivité naturelle ont été confinés pendant des millions d’années par la géologie environnante. Ces systèmes naturels constituent des preuves convaincantes appuyant le concept du dépôt géologique en profondeur. Un de ces lieux est le gisement d’uranium de Cigar Lake, en Saskatchewan. Ce gisement existe depuis un milliard d’années. ll se trouve à 450 mètres sous terre et est entouré d’une couche d’argile naturelle. Cette couche d'argile a confiné de manière efficace les composants radioactifs du gisement d'uranium.

Dr. Paul Gierszewski is the Director of Safety and Licensing at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization. Prior to joining the NWMO, he was with Ontario Power Generation, where he was responsible for maintaining and improving safety assessment system models for deep geological repositories. Dr. Gierszewski has a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto and doctorate in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario.

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

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M. Paul Gierszewski est directeur de la sûreté et d'obtention de permis à la Société de gestion des déchets nucléaires. Avant de se joindre à la SGDN, il travaillait pour Ontario Power Generation, où il était responsable du maintien et de l’amélioration des modèles de système d’évaluation de la sûreté des dépôts géologiques en profondeur. M. Gierszewski a obtenu un baccalauréat en sciences de l’ingénierie à l’Université de Toronto et un doctorat en génie nucléaire au Massachusetts Institute of Technology de Boston. Il est ingénieur agréé dans la province de l’Ontario.

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