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United Nations report released PAGE 8 Vol. 41 No. 10
Auditor general report on policing PAGE 3
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Flooding prompts evacuation of Kashechewan Wawatay News
About 600 Kashechewan evacuees are doing well in Thunder Bay after being evacuated over the May 10-11 weekend due to flooding from the Albany River. “We got evacuated Saturday (May 10) at night to Thunder Bay and we got here about one o’clock in the morning,” said Ruby Wesley, a mother of two children aged three and eight who was interviewed before Wawatay was informed media were not allowed to interview community members at their accommodations in Thunder Bay. “Our basement got flooded — the water was seeping into the ditches and the water was rising.” Wesley said about 200 evacuees were also sent to Greenstone on May 11. “Everybody knows the drill what to do, but hopefully this doesn’t happen every year,” Wesley said, noting the evacuees have been taking advantage of their situation by shopping and visiting doctors for medical issues they had before the evacuation. About 800 Kashechewan Elders, vulnerable people, pregnant women, youth and their escorts were evacuated in 2013 due to a high risk of flooding on the Albany River.
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Rally on missing, murdered women PAGE 7
All smiles in the blind
This year’s evacuees included Elders, children and people with medical conditions. About 261 community members were left to be airlifted as of 1400 hours on May 12. “We started receiving evacuees on Saturday May 10 around 1900 hours,” said Thunder Bay Fire Chief John Hay. “We had three flights with a total of 140 evacuees. On May 11 we received the remainder of our scheduled 600 evacuees with 10 flights arriving. We registered at two hotels and the final number is 595, five people short of the 600 we said we could take.” Hay said three flights of evacuees were scheduled to leave Kashechewan on May 12 to Kapuskasing, one to Timmins and another three to Ottawa. Buses were also scheduled to transport evacuees to Cornwall. The Canadian Red Cross is providing personal services for the evacuees, including baby formula. “People seem to be settling in really well,” said Sarah Mak, emergency response team leader with the Canadian Red Cross in Thunder Bay. “We are getting them the items they need, but hopefully the city will be planning activities for them. There is a spot set up in the hotel for Elder’s tea and those kinds of things.”
Angus Miles/Special to Wawatay News
Leila and Arianna Miles of Fort Severn take a closer look at the goose shot earlier by Leila, her very first goose, on May 8. The sisters, along with hundreds of hunters across northern Ontario, took part in the annual spring goose hunt over the past month. See photos on page 10.
See EVACUATION on page 2
Neskantaga issues call to action over living conditions Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Neskantaga recently issued a call to action to improve living conditions after three youth committed suicide since last summer, including a 16-year-old girl on April 2. “I have to do something because my people live in poverty, my people are killing themselves, my people don’t have clean drinking water,” said Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias on April 29. “I want to make a change for the betterment of the community and the people and the generations to come.” Neskantaga initially declared a state of emergency in 2013 after seven youth committed suicide and 27 community members attempted suicide over a 12-month period. Moonias issued the call to action during an April 29 meeting in Toronto, which included Bob Rae, Matawa First Nations chief negotiator for regional strategy negotiations, and Irwin Elman, provincial advocate for children and youth.
Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias is calling for action to address living conditions in his community after another youth committed suicide since last month. He noted that many of the young people do not know what it is like to have running water. “I certainly hope there is going to be something coming out of it because we have high profile people (involved) like Bob Rae that knows about the legislation on the water issue itself,” Moonias said on May 12. “The government will listen to them;
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that is what I think is going to happen.” Rae recently posted on his website bobrae.ca that the younger people in Neskantaga have never known what it is like to turn on the tap and drink the water.
“Chief Peter Moonias will be joined by many others in Toronto to bring full attention to this and many other features of life in remote communities in Ontario and across northern Canada: no jobs, poor health, terrible housing conditions, and no real means to address these issues without government leadership,” Rae said in the April 28 post. “As governments announce their willingness to partner with First Nations, the central contradictions persist: First Nations’ governments do not have the means, the money, the revenues, to solve their own problems, and so are left with the perils of dependency. Both Ottawa and Queen’s Park control the purse strings. All revenues flow to the Crown. And the Crown doles out what it wants when it wants. And so the dependency continues, as does the hardship.” Former national chief Shawn Atleo said on April 30 that the Assembly of First Nations fully supports Neskantaga’s call for action. “It was around this same time last year that the community reached
out for help in dealing with the tragedies of youth taking their own lives and to address critical community needs,” Atleo said. “I echo the words of Chief Moonias who says that they have lost too many lives already and there needs to be more awareness about the situation of First Nations in a country as rich as Canada. I stand with all the citizens of Neskantaga in solidarity in their efforts to protect their youth. We need immediate action to address the crisis in the community and as a society we need to take a hard look at the root causes of these problems and work together to create lasting solutions.” Neskantaga, located about 430 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay on Attawapiskat Lake, suffers from a housing crisis, mould in most family homes, a high unemployment rate, an almost 20-year boil water advisory, limited access to affordable and nutritious food, lack of adequate health and mental health services, youth required to leave the community to attend high school and high rates of prescription drug abuse.
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Wawatay News MAY 15, 2014
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Proud of your Grads? Graduation Season is officially here and while graduates are excited to celebrate and move on to their next adventure, take an opportunity to tell your grad how proud you are. Book your ad in Wawatay! Our reporters will be covering graduation ceremonies as they happen, including the PFFNHS and DFC graduations coming up right away. This is a perfect opportunity for schools, school boards, education authorities, bands, family and individuals to show their pride in this year’s grads. Common Ad Sizes & Prices: 1/6 Page $164.16 To place your ad contact: 1/8 Page $123.12 Tom Scura 1/4 Page $246.24 toms@wawatay.on.ca 1/2 Page $494.76 Fax: 1-807-344-3182 1/3 Page $331.36 Toll Free: 1-888-575-2349 Full Page $994.08 Please note: All prices are subject to HST. Prices listed above are for black and white ads. For full colour add $290. Cannot be combined with existing contracts/discounts. Book your ad one week in advance of when you would like the ad to appear in Wawatay.
Photo courtesy of Justin Wesley
Rising waters on Albany River caused by ice jams prompted the evacuation of Kashechewan.
Evacuation a combined effort of Kashechewan, Fort Albany, EMO and the federal and provincial governments Continued from page 1 The federal government provided three Royal Canadian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft for the evacuation of about 1,500 Kashechewan community members in response to a request for assistance from the province. Eight members of 3 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group were also assisting with voluntary evacuation efforts. “Our thoughts are with
the people of Kashechewan, forced to leave their homes by these perilous f lood waters,” said Steven Blaney, minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. “I want to thank the Canadian Armed Forces for their dedication and professionalism while evacuating the residents of Kashechewan. I also want to commend our provincial and municipal partners, as well as the Canadian Red Cross for the tremendous and tireless work being done in the face
of this challenge.” Bernard Valcourt, minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, said officials from his ministry were either at, or en-route to all four host communities to provide assistance. “Our government’s priority is the health and safety of all Canadians, that’s why we are working closely with the First Nations and our provincial partners to ensure that the immediate health and safety needs of the evacuees are met,” Valcourt said.
Wawatay News
MAY 15, 2014
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NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler (centre), the police chiefs of Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service and Anishinabek Police Service and other supporters held a press conference the day after the auditor general released his report, which criticized the federal government in how it funds and approaches policing agreements with First Nations.
First Nations police program ‘not working’: auditor general Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News
First Nations police services supported by the federal government under the First Nations Policing Program suffer from poor allocation of funds, shabby police facilities, and a lack of transparency from the feds, according to the Auditor General of Canada. In his report released on May 6, Auditor General Michael Ferguson also said Public Safety Canada, the federal department that administers the program, does not obtain any “meaningful” input from First Nations when negotiating agreements. In all, Ferguson reported that the program is “not working as intended” and that in Ontario, it “does not ensure that policing services on First Nations reserves meet the standards that apply to policing services elsewhere in the province.” The report is not news to Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which has continually advocated for increased funding and for the feds to legislate Nishawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) like any other provincial or federal police service. Currently, NAPS – which
serves 35 First Nations communities in northern Ontario – is not a mandated police service, but is funded as a program through agreements with the federal and provincial government that can be cancelled at any time. Now, NAN said, the federal government will not renew an agreement unless the First Nations police service absolves the feds of any legal responsibility if the service fails to meet up to standards. “With police services on the brink of not being able to meet payroll, the Government of Canada has pedalled bogus agreements to get First Nations to agree that the federal government are no longer responsible for Aboriginal policing,” said Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “The federal government has used underhanded tactics and bad faith negotiations and has deliberately promoted longterm agreement templates to First Nation police services across the country that will perpetuate the very problems highlighted by the Auditor General.” In researching for his report, Ferguson examined two police agreements in Ontario and visited 15 remote First Nations. The report highlighted the
poor conditions of the police detachment in Eabametoong First Nation, which he described as being “deficient” and noted that detachments in other communities are decrepit and mouldy. (Note: Last month, the province and federal government announced the funding of a new detachment for Eabametoong). The police residence in Kashechewan was also described as “needing improvements.” In funding First Nations police services, Ferguson noted Public Safety Canada is inconsistent in how it reviews or approves applicants and lacks transparency in how it selects which agreements to approve. And when negotiating such agreements, Ferguson and his team found “found no documented evidence of the nature and extent of input by First Nations. We also found that 30 agreement holders had less than one month’s notice to complete negotiations of agreements that would have otherwise expired on 31 March 2013.” The report also concluded that First Nation police services lack the protection of a legislative framework like other police services.
“The federal minister simply refuses to meet, and his closeddoor policy is insulting and disrespectful of First Nations,” said Doug Chevrier, chairperson of the Police Governing Authority for the Anishinabek Police Service. “Had the Government of Ontario not stepped in to support us our service would not have been able to continue operating during this negotiation process, leaving our officers abandoned and the lives of our community members in jeopardy.” In a statement released on May 6, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said his department is addressing the report’s findings and recommendations. “The First Nations Policing Program (FNPP) has had a tangible impact on the safety and security of First Nation and Inuit communities,” Blaney added. “In March 2013, the federal government committed $612.4 million in funding over five years to renew agreements under the FNPP. Public Safety Canada continues to work with partners to finalize multi-year agreements to support dedicated, responsive, and professional policing services in First Nation and Inuit communities through this stable, longterm funding.”
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Wawatay News MAY 15, 2014
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From the Wawatay archives 16-5th Avenue North P.O. Box 1180 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B7 Serving the First Nations in Northern Ontario since 1974. Wawatay News is a politically independent weekly newspaper published by Wawatay Native Communications Society.
ᓂᐢᑕᑦ ᑲᑭᒪᑕᓄᑲᑌᐠ 1974 ᐁᐅᒋᐊᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑭᐧᐁᑎᓄᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑕᐃᑦᔑᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ. ᑕᓱᓂᔓᐱᒥᑯᓇᑲ ᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐧᐃ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐧᐃᐣ ᐅᓇᔓᐧᐁᐧᐃ ᑲᓇᐧᐊᐸᒋᑫᐧᐃᓂᐠ ᒋᐃᔑ ᐸᐸᒥᓯᒪᑲᐠ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓂᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ.
Commentary
Soaring: A Musical Antidote Xavier Kataquapit UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY
T
hese days my mind is filled with worry. I have been watching the events unfolding in the news concerning the Ukraine. I find it unbelievable that major super powers are taunting each other on Russia’s doorstep in the Ukraine. This current major conflict wouldn’t be so bad except for the fact that many of the countries involved have nuclear weapons. The only time I am aware that tensions have been so high among super powers with nuclear arms was during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. It is alarming and upsetting that we are at the precipice of the Third World War again. I am grateful that I have found some escape from all this bad news through my regular meditation of listening to music. In particular, I am thankful that my friend John Elliott has finally produced his album of instrumental music titled Soaring. His long awaited musical work is like an antidote for me to the worry of all this talk of war. I have known John for many years and I was welcomed into his family of musicians when I first came to live away from my home community. I was surprised to find myself around the piano with his parents Rita and Everett and his brother Donald singing songs at Christmas and other festive occasions. Donald is also an accomplished musician. John is an incredible pianist and keyboard player who has worked with Native musicians like my cousin Ron Kataquapit. John provided all the keyboard work on Ron’s album called Spirit Of The Wolf. I have been fortunate to have had private performances over the years from John where he lives with his wife Colleen near London, Ont. I, like many of his family and friends, have been waiting for him to produce an album. His masterpiece “Soaring,” really is meditative music and like the title suggests, it can lift your spirits. John is a northerner from Iroquois Falls, Ont., and you can hear his Irish and Scottish roots in Soaring. You can also hear songs that have a
jazz-fusion feel and calming melodies. Through the magic of modern technology John has managed to produce this album from his own studio. The quality of this production is amazing and I have witnessed his knowledge in terms of putting together all of the necessary electronics, sound, music production and promotion. I have always been amazed every time I have seen him sit at a piano or keyboard where he effortlessly pours all kinds of wonderful melodies from his instrument. I have learned over the years how to play some guitar and I can identify with what it is like to feel the music you produce whether it be sad, happy, angry or in love. My favourite song on his new album ‘Soaring’ is “Just For Fun.” This tune reminds me of Europe and Paris in particular and its upbeat melody takes me back to the streets of that incredible city. John is what I would describe as a big picture thinker and I see his interest in physics, the stars, the universe and beyond in songs like “Soaring,” “Space Walk” and “13 Lightyears.” What really excites me is the fact that all of this wonderful music can be purchased for less than the price of a sandwich online. You can get your very own copy of Soaring by just going to www.cdbaby.com/cd/ johnelliott1 or by searching for “Soaring by John Elliott” on iTunes. You can also visit his website for more information at johnelliottproductions.com Here is an opportunity for people to support a Canadian musician. At the same time you can find that antidote to worry that I have discovered in his soaring melodies. Perhaps if we had the artists and the most creative people on our planet leading us we would not be in the current world crisis at the brink of nuclear war. It seems that we have given up on finding and putting good people in power that promise to make a better world for future generations. It is difficult to find a way to change this game of war but maybe and just maybe saner minds will prevail and humanity will avoid another close call in the nuclear age. Perhaps it will be the artists and musicians that will provide us with enough strength and hope to make a change for real peace. www.underthenorthernsky.com
Wawatay News archives
Students at Northern Lights Secondary School in Moosonee received skis and poles in 2008.
Losing a friend, mentor Stephanie Wesley SEVEN MEDIA DIRECTOR
I
cried the other day. And I kept crying for several hours. I was crying over a woman. Sounds a little funny but it’s true. I was crying over a woman who unintentionally broke my heart. Renate Eigenbrod was the Head of the Department of Native Studies and Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba. She was also a mother, a good friend, and she was a mentor to many, including myself. I first met Renate after she reached out to me via email in the summer of 2012. She had found me after I won a writing contest a couple months prior, and took notice of stuff I had written in Wawatay. She had a subscription to the paper. Renate wanted me to come to Winnipeg to sit on a panel of Indigenous writers at the inaugural Manitoba Indigenous Writers’ Festival as the “emerging writer” that fall. I was very flattered, a little terrified, but also honoured to be invited. I arrived at the airport in Winnipeg, Renate having told me she would be there to meet me. I really didn’t know what to expect as I’d only ever exchanged emails with her. Renate was a very tall woman, and she had this beautiful silver hair. She was also German. Renate had a very lovely accent. To be completely honest, I have
never spoken to a German person before, and it was quite refreshing to hear her speak so admirably about First Nations literature and culture. I spent a lot of time with her during that festival, and she introduced me to a lot of Indigenous writers. She liked to discuss my motives for writing, and also gave her feedback on various stories or columns I had written in Wawatay. I was truly inspired after the festival, and Renate and I kept in touch after that. I’d often receive an email from her about a story of mine she read in the paper, or a column, and she would always encourage me to keep at it. “You are getting better and better!” one email read over a particular column she enjoyed. It wasn’t just the fact that I was writing in general, but to me, her support seemed to be more for the fact that I am an Indigenous writer and everything I write comes from the perspective of a thirdgeneration residential school survivor. She was always stressing the importance of our voice as survivors, which I think is why she enjoyed the short story “Jonas” so much because that story isn’t based on a first-hand residential school experience but the aftermath of it. The students in the story each felt the impact of a school system they had never been in. I drew upon my own experience as “a survivor of a survivor” and also my friends and family when I wrote that story. Sometimes it’s so depressing to think of how much was taken from us, and there’s always a longing for what
might have been. Renate let me know that it’s important to focus on what will be, especially if you work hard for it. That encouragement and support was something she seemingly blessed everyone she met with. I can tell from the messages I read on her Facebook wall from all of her friends, family, students, and colleagues. While Facebook is a place to interact with friends and share funny stories with people, it is also a place to read sometimessad news. On Friday. May 9, I was informed from a friend on Facebook that our acquaintance, the supportive, intelligent, and kind spirit Renate, had passed away unexpectedly. The words looked hollow as I read them. I did not want to believe it, as I was just thinking about her a few days prior and how we hadn’t talked in a while. I was planning on e-mailing her to ask her how she was doing and let her know what I was up to. I felt this knot form in my stomach that day, and I couldn’t stop myself from crying. I wasn’t ready to let her go, to not have any more discussions with her about writing, about life. I cried for the rest of the day as rain fell from the skies outside. I wasn’t the only one to mourn the loss of Renate; I shared that hurt with many others. The next day, I went to a park with my son to enjoy the day, and I thought of her. I thought of everything she talked to me about writing, and I thought of the last time I saw her. In January, Renate was
returning me to the airport after the 2nd Manitoba Indigenous Writers Festival, and she wanted to have lunch at the café there. She was so proud of my job so far as the youth editor of SEVEN, and she suggested to me that I apply for school at the University of Manitoba because it may help open up more options later when it comes to being an editor. I told her I would consider it. I thought it would be nice to be able to be around her more in Winnipeg and grow as a writer. Never stop learning, right? I gave her a hug and thanked her for the opportunities she gave me, and I made my way towards airport security. I stopped before lining up and looked back. She was still standing where I had left her by the café, and I could see her smiling at me just like the first time I saw her in the same airport. She lifted her hand in the air and waved at me one last time before she turned around and left. As much as it hurts that her airport wave was the last time I saw her, I am so thankful for the lessons and inspiration she instilled in me, and I am equally as thankful that her messages, her thoughts, her story will live on forever because that’s what words do. That’s what people do. Even after you expire and move on to your spiritual journey, your words and your impression will remain, and your memory will be carried on by all of those whose hearts you touched in your life. And Renate, you touched the hearts of so many people during your time here on Earth. Miigwetch.
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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 Xavier Kataquapit Nicolas Renaud
Tommy Miles Angus Miles Karen Metatawabin-Wesley Ignace Gull Sam Hunter Justin Wesley Ryan Tyrer Jackie Kataquapit Simon Owen Guest editorials, columnists and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of Wawatay News.
Wawatay News
MAY 15, 2014
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COMMENTARY Say Pleas! The Real Risk of Wrongful Guilty Pleas in NAN courts Simon Owen SENTENCES: JUSTICE ISSUES IN NAN
A
ll of us in this business have pretty different job descriptions. It is much too simple, but still easy to say that defence lawyers try to keep people out of prison, prosecutors try to put them in, and judges decide who actually belongs there. But one basic thing that we all agree on is that no one should be convicted of a crime – much less sent to prison for it – unless the legal process proves beyond a reasonable doubt that they’re actually guilty. Point blank – that’s what all the rules are for. There is even a saying that Canadian justice would rather that 99 guilty people go free than one innocent person be unjustly convicted. The cases when we get it wrong are big deals for us – media coverage, public inquiries, financial compensation for lost years that should never have been taken – and we vow to learn the lessons that these failures teach us. Most, but not all, of the ‘big name’ wrongful convictions – Milgaard, Morin, Marshall Jr., Sophonow, Truscott – resulted from tainted
evidence or biased investigations. Sometimes it takes decades to unravel the truth about how these innocent people were found guilty for crimes they did not commit; and we duly tweak the trial system to make sure it doesn’t fail again in its fundamental job. Thankfully, such cases seem rare in Canadian law. But wrongful convictions do not only happen in highprofile trials, and not only to people who are facing serious charges. The most difficult, and perhaps most common, kind of wrongful convictions, I think, are those that hide behind an accused person’s own admission of guilt. But why would anyone ever plead guilty to a crime they hadn’t done? Imagine something like this: you wake up in the police lock-up, again. No way you’re getting out on bail, since home is a $500 plane ride away and your family has no more hands to lend. The past month has been a haze of cheap highs and shelter beds, but you didn’t rob anyone, no matter what the police say. Everyone was drunk, but you know you left that party before anything like that happened. Your lawyer is saying that a trial is a month away, minimum, but maybe, just maybe, the prosecutor would take a plea to simple theft. Release in a couple of
weeks, nearly guaranteed! Now what do you do? Less-than-reliable charges laid against poor people with (often long) histories of involvement with the criminal justice system, are, in my experience, the most at risk for wrongful convictions in our region. Some of the main factors behind this sneaky disease include: • Vanishing Bail Options. While everyone is equally innocent until proven guilty, this status is much more difficult to assert if you are held in jail while awaiting your trial. Pre-trial detention is meant to be imposed only on those who pose real risks to public safety or who are likely not to show up for court. But if you are someone who already has a criminal record, and are dealing with addictions and unstable housing, you will more than likely be living in a jail cell for the weeks or months it takes to arrange a trial. Sadly, this description fits too many Anishinaabe in NAN courtrooms, and it puts immense pressure on people to take the earliest pathway out of prison, even if it means pleading guilty to charges that they would otherwise take to trial.
• Underfunded Defences. The current Legal Aid system in Ontario does not provide more than summary legal assistance or duty counsel to people facing charges for which a jail sentence is not considered likely, and thus it is practically not realistic for serious legal defences to be mounted against such charges. These restrictions also apply in the case of people who earn more than $10,800 per year (that’s $900 a month, or half the minimum wage for a full-time job). These people do not financially qualify for a legal aid certificate, but may still not have anywhere near what it takes to hire a lawyer to defend them at trial. The question looms: defend yourself, or just plead out? • Mistrust of the System: Most criminal defence lawyers have had clients who believe, rightly or wrongly, that they will not receive a fair trial, and that there is no point in even trying to defend themselves. Lawyers and judges do have a duty to make sure that all accused people who plead guilty are actually accepting responsibility for what they are charged with, but there is, it seems, something cruel about how we stop people from dealing with their cases in the quickest, least painful
f looding and the evacuation of Kashechewan, there is no immediate threat of flooding to Fort Albany. The community had declared an emergency on May 8 and evacuated some residents to Kapuskasing. But later that day, the emergency state was lifted and residents have returned home. The First Nation has since taken in some evacuees from Kashechewan and assisted in
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ithe evacuation of its neighbouring community. To the south, Moose Factory Island Fire and Rescue downgraded its f lood threat level of the Moose River on May 10 to level two, which is defined as: 1) Break up has progressed out to James Bay and 2) Precaution shall continue along riverbanks and waterways as ice continues to break free from the shorelines.
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Have a question for our columnist related to law issues in northern Ontario? E-mail him at: smowen@tbaytel.net Simon Owen is a lawyer at Beamish and Associates in Sioux Lookout, and practices primarily in the areas
of criminal defence law and community justice initiatives. Most of the people and communities he serves are members of the NishnawbeAski Nation, who continually inspire and challenge him to find justice both within and beyond (or in spite of ) the Canadian court system. Simon holds law degrees from the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia, where his thesis work focused on moral and cultural communication in sentencing. These columns represent the personal views of the author alone, and not of any organization that he may be associated with. Nothing in these columns should be taken as legal advice; please consult a properly instructed lawyer for any legal issues you may have. Some names and details in these columns may be modified to protect confidentiality. Finally, the author is not Anishinaabe, and this column is not intended to explain or interpret any Anishinaabe words, concepts, or principles. The author humbly apologizes for any errors or misunderstandings that he may make when referring to Indigenous ideas
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Attawapiskat still on flood watch While the Moose and Albany Rivers have broken up, Attawapiskat is still waiting for the break up of the Attawapiskat River near the community as of May 13. According to the community’s f loodwatch Facebook page, breakup is expected any time. The community’s flood watch team is continuing to monitor the situation. While the Albany River breakup has led to some
way. I n the United States, defendants in this situation can plead ‘no contest’, but Canadian law strictly expects people to admit the essential facts of what they are charged with, no ifs, umms, or buts... Although it may not be possible to entirely prevent wrongful guilty pleas from happening, all of us do have a responsibility to make these injustices as rare, and as unacceptable, as faulty trials. In the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation, this means more resources and understanding for people who are most at risk for being held in jail before their trials, or being arrested for breaching conditions of their bail that should never have been imposed in the first place (like alcoholics being ordered not to drink, for example, or house arrest for the effectively homeless). It means that we have to create more space, and breathing room, for people to foster their options when they are charged with committing a crime. At the end of the day, no one should feel forced to convict themselves.
in these communities Aroland Atikokan Attawapiskat Balmertown Batchewana Bearskin Lake Beaverhouse Big Grassy Big Island Big Trout Lake Brunswick House Calstock Cat Lake Chapleau Cochrane Collins Couchiching Couchiching Deer Lake Dinorwic Dryden Ear Falls Emo Flying Post Fort Albany Fort Frances Fort Hope Fort Severn Geraldton Ginoogaming Grassy Narrows Gull Bay Hornepayne Hudson Iskatewizaagegan
Kapuskasing Kasabonika Kashechewan Keewaywin Kenora Kingfisher Lake Kocheching Lac La Croix Lac Seul, Kejick Bay Lake Nipigon Lansdowne Long Lake Mattagammi Michipicoten Migisi Sahgaigan Missanabie Mobert Moose Factory Moosonee Muskrat Dam Musselwhite Mine Naicatchewenin Naotikamegwanning Nestor Falls Nicikousemenecaning North Spirit Lake Northwest Angle #33 Northwest Angle #37 Ochiichagwe’Babigo’ Ining Ogoki Pic River Osnaburgh Pawitik Pays Plat Peawanuck
Pickle Lake Pikangikum Poplar Hill Rainy River Red Lake Red Rock Rocky Bay Sachigo Lake Sandy Lake Saugeen Sault Ste. Marie Savant Lake Seine River Shoal Lake Sioux Lookout Sioux Narrows Slate Falls Stanjikoming Stratton Summer Beaver Taykwa Tagamou Timmins Thunder Bay Wabaskang Wabigoon Wahgoshing Wapekeka Washaganish Wauzhusk Onigum Wawakapewin Weagamow Lake Webequie Whitedog Whitesand Wunnimun Lake
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Wawatay News MAY 15, 2014
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
NAN chiefs reject Bill C-33 ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᐅᑕᓀᐧᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑐᐡᑭᐅᓇᑯᓂᑲᐣ Bill C-33 Rick Garrick
Wawatay News
Nishnawbe Aski Nation chiefs rejected the federal government’s Bill C-33, First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act, during a May 6-7 gathering in Thunder Bay. “Our First Nations have our own vision,” said Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic. “We believe that the future of education in Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory is based on the vision we have on jurisdiction of education in our communities.” Kakegamic said NAN has been holding discussions with the federal government over education for the past 10 years. “And then for the last four years there was no movement,” Kakegamic said. “Now we know the reason why, obviously, because they have this hidden agenda with this (Bill C-33).” Although Bill C-33’s title indicates First Nations control of education, Kakegamic said the bill in reality gives the federal government control of First Nations education. “They will still be the ones who will be in the driver’s seat,” Kakegamic said. “And that is the problem that we have, who is really in control. If we don’t comply, the minister has ultimate control — they could come in and give it to the third party to administer our own program.” Kakegamic said NAN is still looking to complete its education jurisdiction negotiations. “We have a plan, we have a pathway and that is why we want to move forward,” Kakegamic said. “A lot of these things that have been addressed in the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act — quality of education and quality of teachers — is something that we want. But the issue is that the government has a lot of control.” Kakegamic said the education jurisdiction plan would give First Nations control of education while the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act would give the federal control. “We would be in control,” Kakegamic said about the education jurisdiction plan. “We have a vision, we have a well developed plan, we have been negotiating with them for over 10 years. All we’re saying is come to the table and finish it.”
ᕑᐃᐠ ᑲᕑᐃᐠ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ
Rick Garrick/Wawatay News
Margaret Kenequanash, executive director of Shibogama First Nations Council, speaks during the during a May 6-7 gathering in Thunder Bay. She said her council does not agree with Bill C-33
NAN signed framework agreements for governance and education jurisdiction with the government of Canada in October 1999; draft agreements-in-principle for governance and education jurisdiction were tabled in June 2007 and final agreements-in-principle for the governance sector and the education jurisdiction were initialled in July 2009. Mattagami Chief Walter Naveau said Bill C-33 does not ref lect on First Nation languages or cultures. “When you look at (Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Bernard) Valcourt’s presentation, it talks about language, culture, but in there it talks about English and French,” Naveau said. “They put in there monies for English and French. Where are we going to find our (own language) monies.” Margaret Kenequanash, executive director of Shibogama First Nations Council, said her council does not agree with Bill C-33. “I’ve always advocated that no legislation will undermine our principles that the Creator has given us: our identity, our language, our culture, our spirituality, our inherent laws,” Kenequanash said. “And we have a responsibility to protect the
treaty right to education.” Kenequanash questioned how quickly former national chief Shawn Atleo resigned due to criticism over his support of Bill C-33. “If you truly believe in what you stand up for, then you stick it out,” Kenequanash said. “If that’s not the case, then I guess that’s not the case.” Bill C-33 was introduced by the federal government on April 10 and has since been put on hold until the Assembly of First Nations clarifies its position following Atleo’s May 2 resignation. Kakegamic said NAN will not stand by while other nations determine what is best for NAN community members. “We are dealing with the future of education for our nation and it has to be done right,” Kakegamic said. “We call on the federal government to move forward addressing the needs of our people according to our treaty rights, and honouring our nation-to-nation relationship with the Crown as represented by the government of Canada. Education is a sacred responsibility that our chiefs have accepted, and expect the decisions we make to have a positive effect on our children’s future.”
ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᐅᑕᓀᐧᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑐᐡᑭ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᐣ Bill C-33, ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᑎᐯᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓂᑲᑌᐠ, ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱ ᒪᑯᐱᓯᑦ 6 ᒥᓇ 7 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᐨ ᑲᑭᒪᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᐧᑎ ᑕᐣᑐᕑ ᐯ ᐅᑌᓇᐠ. “ᓂ ᑕ ᓂ ᔑ ᓂ ᓂ ᒥ ᓇ ᓂ ᐠ ᐅᑭᑫᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᓂᔑᐡ ᑲᐧᔾᐢ ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ. “ᒥᑕᐡ ᐁᔑᑌᐯᐧᑕᒪᐠ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐊᓂᓂᑲᐣ ᑫᓂᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᑎᐯᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᒥᐦᐅᐁᐧ ᑫᐊᐸᑕᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᑭᑫᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂᐠ ᑭᑎᐡᑯᓄᐱᒧᑕᒪᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᑭᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓂᓇᓂᐠ.” ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᔕ ᒥᑕᓱᔭᑭ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐅᓂᑲᓂᑕᑫᐠ ᐅᑐᐣᒋᐱᒥᓇᓇᑭᐡᑲᐊᐧᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐁᐱᒥᐊᓂᒧᑕᒪᐊᐧᑲᓄᐨ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂ ᐅᒋ. “ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᑯᓇᐠ ᓂᐅᐊᐦᑭ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑫ ᓇᐣᑕ ᒋᑭᐱᐅᐣᒋ ᐊᐧᑲᐃᐧᑲᒪᑲᐠ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐊᓂᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ. “ᐊᔕ ᑕᐡ ᓂᑭ ᑭᑫᑕᒥᐣ ᑫᑯᓀᐣ ᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᐃᓯᓭᐠ, ᐁᑭᐃᔑᓂᓯᑕᐃᐧᓇᑲᐧᐠ, ᐊᔕ ᐁᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᑭᒧᒋᐅᓇᑐᐊᐧᑯᐸᓀᐣ ᐅᑐᓇᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ (Bill C-33).” ᐊᓇᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑲᐣ ᐃᔑᓂᑲᓂ ᐃᐧᐣᒋᑫᒪᑲᐣ ᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐱᒧᑐᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ, ᔕᑯᐨ ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ ᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑭᐃᔑ ᐅᓇᑐᐣ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐃᐧᓂᑯ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᒋᐅᒋᑎᐯᐣᑕᒪᑫᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂ. “ᒥᐱᑯ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᑫᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᐧᑎ ᒋᐅᒋ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐅᓇᔓᐊᐧᑕᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ,” ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ ᐃᑭᑐ. “ᒥᑕᐡ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐁᑲ ᑲᓇᐦᐃᐡᑲᑯᔭᐠ, ᐁᑲ ᑲᑭᑫᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᐊᐣᑎ ᒪᔭᑦ ᑫᐅᐣᒋ ᓂᑲᓂᐅᓇᔓᐊᐧᑌᐠ. ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᑕᐡ ᐁᑲ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐱᒥᓂᔕᐦᐊᒪᐠ ᑲᐃᓇᑯᓂᑯᔭᐠ, ᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪ ᑲᑭᓇ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᐅᑎᐯᑕᓇᐣ, ᐅᑲᑲᐡᑭᑐᐣ ᑲᔦ ᒋᔭᓄᓇᐨ ᐸᑲᐣ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐣ ᒋᐱᐊᓄᑭᑕᒪᑯᔭᑭᑕᐧ ᑭᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᓇᓂᐠ.” ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ ᑕᐡ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐅᓇᓇᑐᓇᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑ ᑲᑫᐧ ᑭᔑᐊᐧᐁᐧᓇᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᐱᒥᐃᐧᑕᒪᓱᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᑫᑭᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂᑭᐸᐣ. “ᐊᔕ ᓂᑭᐅᓇᒋᑫᒥᓇᐸᐣ, ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑫᓂᔑᐱᒥᐃᐧᒋᑫᔭᐠ ᒥᑕᐡ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᒥᓴᐁᐧᑕᒪᐠ ᒋᔭᓂᑲᑫ ᒪᒋᐃᐧᒋᐃᐧᑐᔭᐠ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ. “ᐊᔕ ᑲᔦ ᒥᔑᐣ ᑭᐱᔭᓂᒧᒋᑲᑌᐊᐧᐣ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᑎᐱᓇᐁᐧ ᐱᒧᑕᒪᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᑫᐃᔑᐱᒧᓭᒪᑲᓂᐠ, ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᓂᑕᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ
Rick Garrick/Wawatay News
Mattagami First Nation Chief Walter Naveau
ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᐦᐃᐁᐧᐠ, ᒥᐅᓄ ᑲᐊᐣᑕᐁᐧᑕᒪᑭᐣ. ᐃᐁᐧ ᑕᐡ ᐣᑎᔑᐊᓂᒥᓭᐦᐃᑯᒥᐣ ᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᐁᐧ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᓇ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᐁᐱᒥᐱᐃᐧᒋᑫᑕᒪᑯᔭᐠ.” ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᑲᑭᐃᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᒋᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂᐠ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐃᐧᐣ ᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑ ᑲᑫᐧᐅᓇᑕᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᑲᓂᐠ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄ ᐱᒥᐃᐧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᓂᐣ ᐃᐧᓂᑯ ᐃᒪ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᑕᐅᐣᒋ ᓂᑲᓂ ᐱᒥᐃᐧᑕᒪᑫᐸᐣ. “ᑭᓇᐃᐧᐟ ᑕᐡ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᑭᑕᐅᓀᑕᒥᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᐱᒧᑕᒪᓱᔭᑭᐸᐣ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ ᐃᐁᐧᓂ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐧᐊ ᑲᑭᐅᓇᐸᑕᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂᐠ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᐅᓇᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ. “ᓂᓂᓯᑕᐃᐧᓇᒥᐣ ᐊᓂᐣ ᒪᔭᑦ ᑫᐃᔑᐱᒧᑕᒪᓱᔭᐠ, ᒥᓇᐧᔑᐣ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑲᑭᐃᔑᐅᓇᒋᑫᔭᐠ, ᐊᔕ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒥᑕᓱᔭᑭ ᓂᑐᒋᐱᒥ ᐊᓂᒧᑕᒪᐊᐧᒥᐣ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᑕᒪᐠ ᒋᔑᐅᑕᐱᓇᐠ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᐁᔑᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᐊᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᐱᐃᐧᑕᐱᒥᑯᔭᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒋᑭᑲᑫᐧᑭᔑᒋᑲᑌᑭᐸᐣ.” ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᑭᒪᓯᓇᐦᐅᑎᓱᐸᓂᐠ ᐃᐧᑕᓄᑭᒥᑐᐃᐧ ᓇᑐᒥᑐᐃᐧ ᐯᐸᓂ ᑫᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑎᐱᓇᐁᐧ ᐱᒧᓂᑎᓱᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᔑᐨ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ 1999; ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᐅᓄᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᑭ ᐅᓇᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᑌᑲᐧᐸᐣ ᓇᑯᒥᑐᐃᐧ ᐯᐸᓄᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑎᐱᓇᐁᐧ ᐱᒧᓂᑎᓱᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᔭᓂ ᒪᒋᐊᓂᒧᒋᑲᑌᐊᐧᐣ ᓴᑭᐸᑲᐃᐧᐱᓯᑦ 2007 ᑲᔭᑭᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑭᔭᓂ ᒐᑭᐱᐦᐅᑎᓱᓇᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐅᐸᐡᑯᐃᐧᐱᓯᑦ 2009 ᑲᔭᑭᐊᐧᐠ. ᒪᑕᑲᒥ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᐊᐧᓫᑐᕑ ᓀᐳ ᐅᑭᐃᑕᐣ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐅᓇᑐᐨ Bill C-33 ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑭᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧᑭᔐᐧᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᑎᓯᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑫᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ. “ᐊᑎᑲ ᐁᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ (ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓂᑲᓂᐡᑲᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᒪᒋᑕᐃᐧᓇᐣ
ᐳᓇᕑᐟ ᐸᓫᑯᕑ) ᑲᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᒪᑫᐨ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑐᓇᒋᑲᐣ, ᐅᑕᓂᒧᑕᓇᐣ ᐃᔑᑭᔐᐧᐃᐧᓇᐣ, ᐃᔑᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᓇᐣ, ᔕᑯᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐸᓂᐢᑫᐧ ᐁᑕ ᐁᐧᒥᑎᑯᔑᒧᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐸᑲᐧᐃᔑᒧᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᓂᒧᒋᑲᑌᐊᐧᐣ. ᐊᐣᑎ ᑕᐡ ᑫᐅᐣᑎᓇᔭᐠ ᑭᓇᐃᐧᐟ ᑭᑎᔑᑭᔐᐧᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᐃᐧᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᔭᐠ ᔓᓂᔭ ᑫᐊᐸᒋᐦᐊᔭᐠ.” ᒪᑲᓇᐟ ᑭᓂᑲᐧᓇᐡ, ᔑᐸᐧᑲᒪ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐨ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑐᑭᒪᑲᓂᒪᐦᐃ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᒥᓀᐧᑕᓯᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ Bill C-33. “ᐊᒥ ᑫᓂᐣ ᒧᔕᐠ ᐁᔑᑲᓄᑕᒪᐣ ᐅᓄᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑲᓂᐅᓇᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐁᑲ ᓄᐣᑕᐦᐃ ᒋᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑲᑭᒋᓀᑕᒪᐠ ᒪᐣᑐ ᑲᑭᒥᓂᑯᔭᐠ: ᑲ ᑭ ᐃ ᔑ ᓇ ᑯ ᐦ ᐃ ᑯ ᔭ ᐠ , ᑭ ᑎ ᔑ ᑭ ᔐ ᐧ ᐃ ᐧ ᓂ ᓇ ᐣ , ᑭ ᑎ ᓇ ᑎ ᓯ ᐃ ᐧ ᓂ ᓇ ᐣ , ᑭᑕᒐᑯᐱᒪᑎᓯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ, ᑭᑐᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᓇᐣ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑭᓂᑲᐧᓇᐡ. “ᑭᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒥᑯᐃᐧᓯᒥᐣ ᒋᑲᓇᐁᐧᑕᒪᐠ ᑲᔦ ᑲᑭᐊᔓᑕᒪᑯᔭᑭᐸᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧᐣ ᑫᑭᓇᐃᐧᐟ ᒋᒥᓂᑯᔭᐠ.” ᑭᓂᑲᐧᓇᐡ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐣᑕᐡ ᐃᐧᐣ ᓇᑐᐠ ᐁᑭᐅᐣᒋᐸᐸᔑ ᐃᐡᑲᐧᑕᐸᓂᐦᐅᐨ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᔕᐧᐣ ᐊᐟᓫᐃᐅ ᐃᐁᐧᓂ ᐁᑲ ᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᓇᐦᐊᐸᒪᑲᓄᐨ ᑲᑭᐃᐧᒋᑲᐸᐃᐧᑕᐠ Bill C-33. “ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐃᔑᑌᐯᐧᑕᒪᐣ ᑫᑯᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᓂᐸᐃᐧᑕᒪᐣ, ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᓯᐣ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑭᓂᑲᐧᓇᐡ. “ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᑕᐡ ᐁᑲ ᐃᐁᐧ ᐃᔑᑲᐡᑭᑐᔭᐣ, ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑕᑭᐃᓯᓭ.” ᐅᐁᐧ ᑕᐡ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑲᐣ Bill C-33 ᐅᑭᐅᐡᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᓂᑭᐱᓯᑦ 10 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐱᓇᒪ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑭᐳᓂᒋᑲᑌ ᐸᓂᒪ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᑭᑭᔑ ᐅᓇᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐊᐟᓫᐃᐅ ᒪᑯᐱᓯᑦ 2 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᓂᐨ ᑲᑭᐃᐡᑲᐧᑕᐨ ᐅᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᓂᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐃᔑᒋᑫᓯᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᑕᔑᐸᐱᐦᐅᐊᐧᐨ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐃᑭᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐱᒥᐅᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᑭᐃᔑᒥᓄᓭᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ. “ᐊᓂᐡ ᑭᓄᒋᑐᒥᐣ ᑭᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᒥᓇᓂᐠ ᑫᓂᔑᒥᓄᓭᓂᐠ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓄᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᑲᑫᐧ ᐅᓇᒋᑲᑌᓂᐠ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᑭᑲᒥᐠ. “ᓂᑭᑲᓄᓇᒥᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐊᓂᒪᒋᐊᓄᑲᑕᑭᐣ ᑲ ᐃ ᔑ ᓇ ᓄ ᑌ ᓭ ᐊ ᐧ ᐨ ᓂᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᒥᓇᓂᐠ ᒋᑎᐸᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐃᑯ ᑲᐃᑭᑐᒪᑲᐠ ᓂᑕᔓᑕᒪᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ, ᒥᓇ ᒋᑭᑕᑭᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑭᐃᐧᒋᐃᐧᑎᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋᓭᑭᐸᐣ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᒋᐱᒥᓂᔕᐦᐊᐠ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ. ᑭᒋᓀᑕᑲᐧᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐱᒥᐊᓄᑲᑌᐠ ᓂᑐᑭᒪᑲᓂᒥᓇᓂᐠ ᑲ ᑭ ᐸ ᑭ ᑎ ᓂ ᑎ ᓱ ᐊ ᐧ ᐨ ᒋᐱᒥᐃᐧᑕᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐁᔑᐸᑯᓭᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒥᓇᓂᐠ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐅᓂᑲᓂᒥᐊᐧ.”
Wawatay News
MAY 15, 2014
7
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
SSl te Fa Slate Fallss Tent Meeting Meeti Mee M Me eeetting 2014
We Remember Place: Slate Falls, Ontario Date: June 13, 14 & 15, 2014 Photo courtesy of NAN
The Nishnawbe Aski Nation Women’s Council and Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler held a rally and 24-hour drum ceremony in Ottawa from May 11-12 and called on the government to have a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada.
NAN holds 24-hour ceremony in Ottawa for missing, murdered women Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News
NAN Women’s Council held a 24-hour ceremonial drumming on Victoria Island and Parliament Hill to demand a national public inquiry into the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. The gathering comes after the RCMP revealed police have compiled a list of 1,186 cases of missing or murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. Honouring Our Missing Sisters: a 24-Hour Sacred Gathering of Drums was held on May 11-12, and involved 24 hours of ceremonial drumming. Jackie Fletcher, NAN Women’s Council spokesperson, said that the purpose of the 24-hour drumming was to send a message to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that “we will not rest” until the government commits to a national inquiry on the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and NDP leader Thomas Mulcair joined Fletcher, and other First Nations and political leaders as well as representatives from women’s organizations, on Parliament Hill on May 12 for a press conference. Fiddler said that he was pleased to support the women of Nishnawbe Aski Nation in honouring the missing Aboriginal women. “I am pleased to support the women of Nishnawbe Aski to honour our missing sisters and demand that the Government of Canada call a national public inquiry into murdered and missing
Aboriginal women,” Fiddler said. Fiddler holds the women’s directorate portfolio at NAN. Fletcher said that the homicide rate for Aboriginal women and girls is “shockingly higher” than all other women in Canada. “It is shameful that our calls for action continue to fall on deaf ears when our sisters continue to be murdered and disappear without a trace,” Fletcher said. NAN has stated that the Harper government is resisting renewed calls for an inquiry after it was revealed that the RCMP have compiled a list of 1,186 cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. It is reported that 1,017 of those women in the cases have been murdered. May 12 also marked the release of the UN Special Rapporteur report on the rights of Indigenous people by UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya, which recommends a national inquiry into the “disturbing phenomenon” of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Anaya’s report is based on research and information gathered from various sources, including a weeklong visit to Canada in October. With the help of Assemby of First Nations, Anaya visited six provinces and a number of First Nations communities. AFN Spokesperson Regional Chief Ghislain Picard welcomed the UN report, and called on the Government of Canada to work together with Indigenous peoples to implement the recommendations. “We welcome as well his
Derek’s interests include the practice of Aboriginal Law, Corporate/ Commercial and Civil Litigation.
Other Guests will include: Hank Williams, Allen Ferris, Don Bradburn and Charlie Beardy For more information Contact: Virginia Whiskeyjack 737-5750 January Gilbeau 737-5767 Leona Masakeyash 738-3089
Photo courtesty of Peter Stockdale
An urn containing the remains of a murdered family member was present at the ceremony in Ottawa. Showroom Open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(Anaya’s) support for our call for a national public inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls,” Picard said. Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy said he is not surprised by the “crisis situation” described by Anaya in the report. Beardy called it a “national disgrace” that the issue of missing and mur-
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.
Guest Speaker: Evangelist Darius Ferris (Constance Lake First Nation)
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
dered Aboriginal women does not register in the consciousness of Canada. “I hope this report prompts a national inquiry,” Beardy said. “There is something wrong in our country if Indigenous women are five times more likely to be violently attacked than non-Aboriginal women.”
Phone: 807-345-3784 Fax: 807-345-3033 Toll Free: 1-800-465-3930 email: bazaar@tbaytel.net Offer expires June 30, 2014
8
á?§á?Šá?§á?Šá‘Œ á?Šá’‹á’§á?§á?ƒá“‡á?Ł
Wawatay News MAY 15, 2014
UN report warns of crisis for First Nations in Canada Report includes recommendations for treaties, missing and murdered women Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News
Despite positive steps over the past decade, Canada faces a “continuing crisis� when it comes to the relationship between Aboriginal and nonAboriginal people in Canada, according to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya released his report on May 12. The report is based on his nine-day trip to Canada last fall where he met with different Aboriginal communities in six different provinces. The report includes his findings on the conditions on Aboriginal communities in Canada and 16 recommendations in the areas of social and economic conditions, truth and reconciliation, missing women and girls, self-government, participation and partnership, treaty negotiation and claims processes, and resource development. The recommendations include improving socio-economic conditions with a focus on education out comes and adequate housing, addressing over-representation in the criminal justice system, taking acting to end violence against Indigenous women and girls, which includes calling a national inquiry in missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, addressing legal barriers to the exercise of self-government including meaningful consultation on legislation and the development and implementation of policies and pro-
grams, reforming the comprehensive claims process, ensuring that resource development projects that do not infringe on Aboriginal rights and title, and that First Nations be fully emerged in such projects.
“I hope this UN report is a wake-up call for the Canadian government because it only reinforces and strengthens our positions.� -Stan Beardy Ontario Regional Chief
Assembly of First Nations spokesperson Regional Chief Ghislain Picard welcomed the report, and called on the federal government to work together with Indigenous peoples to implement the recommendations. Picard said First Nations fully agree that Canada must bring more attention and action on the issues facing Indigenous people, issues that affect all Canadians. “This includes full respect and implementation of First Nations rights, title and treaties and ensuring safe and healthy communities for our people,� Picard said. Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy said he is not surprised by the “crisis situation� described by Anaya, and that the report comes at a very fragile time in the relationship between the federal government and Indigenous people.
James Anaya, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous People, released a report that said Canada is facing a “continuing crisis� regarding its Indigenous people. The report, released on May 12, was based on his findings from a nine-day trip across Canada last fall. Beardy hopes this report is a wake-up call. “I hope this UN report is a wake-up call for the Canadian government because it only reinforces and strengthens our positions,� he said. “Not only does this report recommend Ottawa call an inquiry into missing and murdered women and recognize the disparity between the average Canadian and our First Nation communities, but it reports the relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples is worse than ever.� Beardy said that the report
Protect yourself and others
also states the initiatives that have been taken by the government to address issues like missing and murdered women and the disparity between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals have been insufficient. While acknowledging that challenges remain, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) Minister Bernard Valcourt said the government has taken many positive steps to improve the overall well-being and prosperity of Aboriginal people in Canada. “Canada’s diverse and mul-
ticultural society has been a leader on the world stage in the protection of human rights and, as acknowledged in the report, is one of the first countries in the modern era to extend constitutional protection to the rights of Aboriginal peoples,� Valcourt said. Valcourt said that Canada’s numerous laws, policies, and programs aimed at addressing Aboriginal peoples’ concerns allow for a positive collaboration with Canada’s Aboriginal and northern communities. “As pointed out in the report, Canada’s policies and processes
to address historical grievances are an example to the world and many of Canada’s efforts provide important examples of reconciliation and accommodation,� Valcourt said. Valcourt said that while more work needs to be done, the report notes the important steps that have been taken to ensure progress in providing equal access to First Nations, as all other Canadians, to safe housing, education, and matrimonial rights. Valcourt said AANDC is committed to continuing work with partners to make significant progress in improving the lives of Aboriginal people in Canada, and will review the report carefully to determine how to best address the recommendations. AANDC stated Canada is investing $241 million over four years to help First Nation youth between the ages of 18 and 24 get personalized job and skills training. And that the Economic Action Plan 2014 includes an additional $25 million over five years to reduce violence against Aboriginal women and girls, and putting money into concrete resources. Through the Economic Action Plan 2014, Canada committed to invest $323.4 million dollars over two years for the implementation of the First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan. The Government of Canada’s investments for on-reserve housing have resulted in the construction of 11,364 new units and more than 21,212 renovations between 2006/07 and 2012/13.
+HSDWLWLV & DÇ‹HFWV WKH OLYHU Hepatitis C is a virus carried in the blood. Left untreated, it can silenty damage your liver, which could lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure.
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6SUHDG E\ EORRG WR EORRG FRQWDFW You can get hepatitis C when blood carrying the virus gets into your bloodstream.
Brought to you by SLFNHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hepatitis C Program, a branch of the Regional Wellness Response Program.
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For more information about hepatitis C visit www.slfnha.com
Wawatay News
MAY 15, 2014
9
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
One week, Wawatay News editor Lenny Carpenter was attending a Hollywood film premiere in Los Angeles (above); the next he was out goose hunting near the James Bay coast.
From Hollywood to goose hunting on James Bay Lenny Carpenter WAWATAY NEWS
W
hen my college friend Tyler Angeconeb offered me the chance to join him on a trip to Los Angeles to attend a Hollywood premiere, I was esctactic. After all, how many people get a chance to see an actual Hollywood premiere and the chance to mingle with celebrities? To go see the Hollywood walk of fame, go to Universal Studios, attend an NHL game between the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, and possibly meet some of the most
famous actors and celebrities of our time. And I did. I experienced all those things and I’m glad to have done it. I came back with stories to tell my friends and with memories I can look back on. It was an interesting life experience that I may not get to experience again. And a week or so after I was on the Sunset Strip and saying hi and shaking the hands of actor Johnny Depp and Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame, I found myself out in the middle of the bush near James Bay, taking part in the goose hunt. It’s quite the contrast of experiences. From enduring a hot sun with 20+ degree temperatures to wearing my winter coat and braving cold winds; from seeing palm trees on every block
to being surrounded by tamaracks and black spruces; from walking on stars embroided with famous names to treading through the snow and muskeg. But perhaps the greatest contrast is the meaning behind the place. Hollywood is famous for being synonymous with the film industry. Thousands of people go there each year to try become an actor, writer, model, film director and on and on. And there are people who go there to try to see those people who actually succeed those things. When Tyler and I approached the theatre where the premiere was to take place, it was surrounded by hundreds of screaming fans trying to catch glimpse of the film’s stars. While toned down, it was
similar inside the theatre. As we entered, nearly every face in the lobby turned to our direction then quickly looked away. They had hoped we were some of the celebrities and when we disappointed them, they went back to their celebrity lookout. Same thing again at the afterparty, though some people were actually part of the film industry. And that’s where the whole thing becomes weird and silly. Here are hundreds of people trying to be somebody they’re not who are trying to get close to people who pretend to be somebody else for a living. We were just surrounded by fakeness. Nothing seemed that real. It seemed to be the case all over Los Angeles. I won’t lie: I was excited and in a weird sense honoured to meet Depp and Nimoy and the
other celebrities. But it doesn’t compare to that day my dad and I left for our spring camp, to that feeling of hearing the first geese of the season, and eventually getting that first goose of the year. And taking part in our little camp tradition of cooking up the first goose killed, no matter who gets it. To go partridge hunting at the “dance hall” at dawn and watching those birds perform mating dances. To sitting in that blind for hours, as boring it may become, and returning to camp with a goose feeling it was all worth it. To laying at camp in the afternoon taking a welldeserved nap, or listening to the rain softly pelt our tent frame at night. To listening to my dad’s
stories from years past, and hearing about my mooshoom, uncles, great uncles and other who have departed to the spirit world. To chatting with my cousin or uncle about the day’s hunt, sharing the little stories of missing or chasing the geese or laughing about calling geese that turned out to be cranes. And taking part in an ancient Cree tradition, at a camp that’s been the family for a few generations now. That’s what’s real. At least to me, a Mushkegowuk. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad I went to Los Angeles and took in that experience. But if Tyler had asked me to go a week or two later, I’d easily say no. No thanks, I’d tell him. There’s a spring camp I need to be at.
NOTICE OF A PROPOSED CHANGE TO A RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT s. 16.0.1 ONTARIO REGULATION 359/09 by Fiera Axium Northern Solar L.P. Project Name: Kapuskasing (Kap) Solar Park MOE Reference Number: 2004-8T7RKJ OPA Reference Number: FIT-FVUQ800 Project Location: The Kapuskasing Solar Park (the “Project”) is located in Kapuskasing, within Cochrane District, Ontario. Dated At: Cochrane District this the 25th of April 2014. New OSPVF 7 Limited Partnership, by its General Partner Fiera Axium Northern Solar L.P., by its General Partner Fiera Axium Northern Solar GP Inc., is planning to engage in this renewable energy project in respect of which the issuance of a Renewable Energy Approval is required. The project is subject to the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act (Act) Part V.0.1 and Ontario Regulation 359/09 (Regulation). This notice must be distributed in accordance with section 16.0.1 of the Regulation. This notice is being distributed to make the public aware of a proposed change to the project. Project Description and Proposed Change: Pursuant to the Act and Regulation, the facility, in respect of which this project was originally proposed to be engaged in, consisted of a Class 3 Solar Facility. A change is being proposed to the project. The change consists of: 1. The inverter model has changed from SMA Sunny Central to GE 1.0 MW Brilliance Solar to increase operational efficiency. 2. All of the assets owned by Ontario Solar PV Fields 7 Limited Partnership (owner appearing on the original REA permit), were transferred to a new project entity called: New OSPVF 7 Limited Partnership.
±
Ash Street
If approved with this change, this facility would have a total maximum name plate capacity of 6 MW, as planned for in the original proposal. The project location is described in the map to the right.
Brunetville Road
ay 11
Kapuskasing
Mill Street Brunelle Road South
Kapuskasing River
Gough Creek
Gurney Road
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FORMER EMPLOYER PENSION PLANS LOCKED IN RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
FUNDS WILL BE DEPOSITED DIRECTLY FUN PAY NO INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT X *BC Registered funds do not qualify. Not available in Q.C. WITHHOLDING TA E WITH CERTIFICAT OF INDIAN STATUS
Guenette Lake Proulx Lake
Clear Lake Road South
Highw
Documents for Public Inspection: New OSPVF 7 Limited Partnership has been required to update the supporting documents that are required to form part of the application. Written copies of the draft supporting documents will be made available for public inspection on April 30th, 2014 at Kapuskasing Municipal Town Hall and http://fieraaxium.com/en/news.html. Written copies of the Draft Project Description Report and supporting documents were last made available for public inspection at Kapuskasing Municipal Town Hall on March 30th and June 8th, 2011 and at www.ontariosolarpvfields.com.
Clear Lake Road North
Brunelle Road North
n ai e C enu Av
WE UNLOCK
Highway 11
Swanson Road
KEY MAP
NU
Legend
Project Contacts and Information: To learn more about the project proposal, or to communicate concerns please contact:
Site Boundary
ON
^
Site Location
Road
QC
Watercourse Clear Waterbody Lake 0
0.5
1 km
Project Website: http://fieraaxium.com/en/news.html
Saganash River (rivière Saganash)
Notes 1. Coordinate System: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 17N
Bouchard Lake
Joseph Watchi Technical Director Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc. 1501 McGill College Avenue, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec H3A 3M8 Joseph.Watchi@fieraaxium.com
2. Base features produced under license with theBass Duck Creek Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources © Queen's Lake Printer for Ontario, 2013.
WWW.CFSOLUTIONS.CA
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Wawatay News MAY 15, 2014
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Photo courtesy of Tommy Miles
Swarms of geese along the Hudson Bay lowlands near Fort Severn First Nation.
The spring goose hunt across the north
Photo courtesy of Sam Hunter
Above: Layla Hunter, Fox Wabano and other youth learn how to set decoys near Peawanuck. Photo courtesy of Karen Metatawabin-Wesley
Right: “Whyyyy?!” Mekwan Tulpin bemoans while Cedar Metatawabin of Fort Albany holds up the goose she shot minutes after Tulpin left the blind. Tulpin would later get her first-ever goose.
Photo courtesy of Ignace Gull
Above: Elizabeth Gull all ready in the sleigh at camp near Attawapiskat. Photo courtesy of Jackie Kataquapit
Right: Kyra Knapaysweet and her kookoom Jackie hold up geese they killed near Fort Albany. Kyra killed her first goose this spring. Photo courtesy of Ryan Tyrer
From left: Corey Tyrer, Ryan Tyrer, Craig Echum, Kristopher Turner, granny Ellen Turner and grandpa Frank Turner at the Turner camp near Moose Factory.
Do you have ideas for creating your own company this summer?
....................................................
A program of the Government of Ontario.
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2014
Students 15-29 years old in Ontario, receive up to $3,000 to turn those ideas into a real business this summer. Deadline for University and College students is April 15 and high school students is May 23. Call us: 625-3960 toll free: 1-800-668-9360 www.ontario.ca/summercompany www.entrepreneurcentre.ca entrepreneurcentre@thunderbay.ca
Wawatay News
MAY 15, 2014
11
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Bill C-33 rejected by Ontario chiefs Rick Garrick Wawatay News
The Chiefs of Ontario Indigenous Education Summit delegates have rejected the federal government’s proposed Bill C-33, First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act. “The greatest difficulty we have with (Bill C-33) is that in the preamble of the body of the bill, it fails to recognize our inherent authority,” said Regional Chief Stan Beardy. “It fails to recognize, under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution, that we do have the authority, we do have Aboriginal treaty rights. They totally ignore that — they focus on (Section) 91 powers, the federal powers, to continue to escalate their views.” Beardy said the residential school system was developed and imposed on First Nations people by the federal government. “As long as we’re not recognized as people, as long as we’re not recognized that we have inherent authority within the Canadian Constitution, what is designed for us will not work and we learned that through the residential school (system) — it just does not work,” Beardy said. “All we’re saying is, first, recognize and please respect your own constitution, and let’s begin our discussion and look at the system that will work for First Nations people in collaboration with the Canadian government under Section 35.” Beardy said the Maori education system works in New Zealand because the Maori helped with the design.
“We’re saying the same thing, that we want to work with the Canadian government to design a system that will work for our children and for us as well,” Beardy said. The number of Maori school leavers who were qualified to attend university more than tripled between 2002 and 2010, according to an http://www. educationcounts.govt.nz website chart, from 7.7 per cent of the 9,445 Maoris school leavers in 2002 to 23.1 per cent of the 10,620 Maori school leavers in 2010. The COO Indigenous Education Summit delegates developed an alternative proposal for First Nations education, which included the rejection of Bill C-33 and the negotiation of a political accord on First Nations education, during the May 8-9 gathering in Thunder Bay. “I believe this plan is forward movement in maintaining education of our children which needs to be in the hands of our communities,” Beardy said. “This was the direction provided to us by the over 250 participants, chiefs and educators who attended our summit this week. We developed a plan to move forward based on our needs, our priorities and under our control.” Although the COO Indigenous Education Summit delegates also requested a Confederacy of Nations meeting for May 14 in Ottawa, the Assembly of First Nations national executive committee decided against convening the governing body, which has been dormant for about 10 years.
MONDAY May 6
7am CST Cree Morning Show 8am CST Ojicree Morning Show 9 am North Wind Talkers 10 am Ojicree Morning Show 11 am Cree News at Noon 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 4 pm Cree Evening Show 5 pm Ojicree Evening News 6 pm Us Women
7am CST Cree Morning Show 8am CST Ojicree Morning Show 9 am North Wind Talkers 10 am Ojicree Morning Show 11 am Cree News at Noon 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 4 pm Cree Evening Show 5 pm Ojicree Evening News 6 pm Language Program
May 12
May 13
7am CST Cree Morning Show 8am CST Ojicree Morning Show 9 am North Wind Talkers 10 am Ojicree Morning Show 11 am Cree News at Noon 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 1 pm NADF 4 pm Cree Evening Show 5 pm Ojicree Evening News 6 pm Us Women 7pm Gospel Jamboree from Sandy Lake
GUIDE
Aboriginal artisans to market arts and crafts in Toronto Rick Garrick Wawatay News
The Northern Ontario Aboriginal Fine Arts and Crafts Exhibition and Sale is on for this August at the Eaton Chelsea Hotel in downtown Toronto. “We want to showcase and exhibit our art forms from the northern communities,” said John Ferris, who founded the Aboriginal Artworks Group of Northern Ontario about 12 years ago. “This is a great opportunity for the Aboriginal artisans from this area to market and have great exposure for their artwork. It’s not just about selling the artworks or exhibiting their work, but it’s also about educating the people of our culture, heritage, language.” Ferris is looking for 80 artisans
TUESDAY
May 5
WRN LISTENING
Rick Garrick/Wawatay News
John Ferris has organized the Northern Ontario Aboriginal Fine Arts and Crafts Exhibition and Sale, set for this August in downtown Toronto.
7am CST Cree Morning Show 8am CST Ojicree Morning Show 9 am North Wind Talkers 10 am Ojicree Morning Show 11 am Cree News at Noon 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 1 pm Matawa 4 pm Cree Evening Show 5 pm Ojicree Evening News 6 pm Language Program 7pm Gospel Jamboree from Fort Hope
from northern Ontario to participate in the Aug. 14-18 trip, which will cost $600 per person for a return flight between Thunder Bay and Toronto, accommodations in Toronto and a table at the exhibition and sale. “That’s a pretty reasonable price for the artists,” Ferris said. “The artisans also will have an opportunity to bring up their prices, especially to a large community like Toronto.” While the artisans are required to pay for their travel from their community to Thunder Bay, Ferris said a local airline has agreed to provide reduced rates. “This preferred airline company is going to be reducing their rates for them so it will be affordable,” Ferris said. Ferris said the goal of the exhibition and sale is to expand the
WEDNESDAY May 7 7am CST Cree Morning Show 8am CST Ojicree Morning Show 9 am North Wind Talkers 10 am Ojicree Morning Show 11 am Cree News at Noon 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 4 pm Cree Evening Show 5 pm Ojicree Evening News 6 pm Legends Program 8 pm Gospel Singing
May 14 7am CST Cree Morning Show 8am CST Ojicree Morning Show 9 am North Wind Talkers 10 am Ojicree Morning Show 11 am Cree News at Noon 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 4 pm Cree Evening Show 5 pm Ojicree Evening News 6 pm Legends Program 8 pm Gospel Singing
TUNE IN!
artisans market to other regions. “We hope to gain some good connections, even in Europe as well too,” Farris said. “My idea is to eventually head to Europe to showcase and exhibit our artwork over there as well. We want to expand our marketing ideas to new places internationally.” Ferris said other Aboriginal artisans would also participating in the exhibition and sale from Manitoulin Island, Sudbury, North Bay and Toronto. “We are going to be inviting the art gallery owners, gift shop owners, corporations, politicians and the general public,” Ferris said. “We hope to get a lot of good networking while we are down there.” Ferris initially developed an interest in art when he was about four years old by studying the
THURSDAY May 8
FRIDAY May 9
7am CST Cree Morning Show 8am CST Ojicree Morning Show 9 am North Wind Talkers 10 am Ojicree Morning Show 11 am Cree News at Noon 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 4 pm Cree Evening Show 5 pm Ojicree Evening News
illustrations by classical masters in his family’s bible. “It was just the contrast of the light and shadow, colours — that is what really inspired me,” Ferris said. “It was just the shapes that really caught my attention and that is what I still see.” Ferris eventually studied art at the Ontario College of Art after working for CN Rail for about 10 years. “I always wanted to go back to school and I had that opportunity at the age of 25,” Ferris said. “I went to George Brown College and I studied under a master portrait painter — Michael John Angel — who lectures worldwide about the old masters of painting. It was almost like fate, because that is the style of art that I wanted to engage with.”
6 am Booshoo Corner 8 am Cree Morning News 9 am People’s Power Hour 10 am Wacheyah/Dedication Hour 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 1 pm TBRHSC 6 pm OIRSSS Bingo 7pm Sachigo Lake Spring Thanksgiving
WEEKEND May 10
Music Mix 1 pm Sachigo Lake Spring Thanksgiving
May 11
Music Mix All Day
May 15
May 16
7am CST Cree Morning Show 8am CST Ojicree Morning Show 9 am North Wind Talkers 10 am Ojicree Morning Show 11 am Cree News at Noon 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 1 pm NAN Legal Aid 4 pm Cree Evening Show 5 pm Ojicree Evening News
6 am Booshoo Corner 8 am Cree Morning News 9 am People’s Power Hour 10 am Wacheyah/Dedication Hour 12 pm Ojicree News at Noon 6 pm OIRSSS Bingo
May 17
Music Mix All Day
May 18
Music Mix All Day
All times are Central Standard Time. Schedule subject to change without notice.
Legend: Broadcast from Sioux Lookout Broadcast from Timmins Paid Programming
For live broadcast or commercial bookings, contact: Mark Kakekagumick, Client Services Representative Toll Free : (800) 243-9059 Fax: (807) 737-2263 Email: mark@wawatay.on.ca
12
Wawatay News MAY 15, 2014
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Exeko: Uniting Kanesatake Through Radio A project to rebuild a radio station, silent since Oka Nicolas Renaud Special to Wawatay News
Kanesatake is a Mohawk village about one hour’s drive from Montréal, on the Québec shore of the Ottawa River. In early summer 2013, Montréal-based non-profit organization Exeko approached the Kanesatake band council to propose their idAction program - to be launched in a First Nation community for the first time. A program that looks to stimulate self-realization and social change, idAction’s core principle is to nurture a project that must come from the participants’ own ideas and initiative. No one at Exeko at the start of the summer, nor amongst the group of youth who soon enrolled in the program, could imagine that they would spend the next few months working together on a challenging and thrilling project: reopening the local radio station, silent for years. Founded in 2006 by Nadia Duguay and François-Xavier Michaux, Exeko has grown from an idea to a staff of nearly 30 people. Its mission statement is “to foster, through innovation in education and culture, the empowerment and social inclusion of most marginalized populations.” To date, this mandate has covered programs for people with disabilities, the homeless, prison detainees, and Indigenous youth, whether in the city or in Indigenous communities. The idAction program in particular is geared towards teenagers and young adults. It consists of workshops that promote free thought and engagement in social action, within a collaborative and inclusive framework. Exeko often seeks out partnerships with other organizations, so its educational and cultural services can complement resources already in place.
This helps them reach the group of people for whom a program is conceived, in a structure where those people are already mobilized by the partner organization. These partnerships also involve the use of available locations and infrastructures for hosting Exeko’s activities. The Kanesatake project is a classic example. When Duguay and project coordinator Alexandra Pronovost first went to Kanesatake, they received a positive response from the council and were put in contact with Gabrielle Lamouche, manager of the local Pikwadin project — a training and employment initiative from the First Nations Human Resource and Development Commission of Québec. idAction was integrated into Pikwadin. The young men and women, age 20 to 36, taking part in this employment program were given Friday afternoons off through July, so they could attend the idAction workshops. The Exeko team featured mediators Daniel Blémur and Maxime Langlois-Goulet and coordinator Pronovost. They used the closed youth center as a meeting space. Lamouche took the lead in coordinating the group, which eventually solidified around five people, all determined to undertake a meaningful project for the community and for themselves. They are Mike Dubois, Shawna Étienne, Tahkwa Nelson, Andrew Gabriel and James Nelson. The idea to revive the community radio came up early. This is where the idAction approach proved especially fertile. It does not try to commit people to a pre-defined project, but rather lets the project emerge in the process. “What is fundamental here is that they came up with the idea to restart the radio station. We don’t come with preconceived ideas about the problems and a set of solutions. We only asked a few questions and it all started
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Renaud
Exeko participant James Nelson in front of the relaunched CKHQ radio station. from there”, said Blémur. Added Pronovost: “As we talked about what they would wish to change in their community, the main points were the lack of unity - in several regards, the youth not having a voice, the missing connection with the Elders, and not speaking their language enough.” “All these things can be addressed through the power of the radio,” she continued.
“Then, some in the group being musicians and DJs, the idea of music as a simple way to unite people came up.” Langlois-Goulet insists that alternative means of pedagogy are central to the success of the project. Instead of a “vertical transmission of knowledge”, they start from what people know and encourage communication on a peer-to-peer basis, in a more circular manner. He also points
to their outsiders’ view: “Being naïve actually helps us. We don’t know about past failed attempts or local obstacles, nor do we know everything that is involved in setting up a radio station, but we’re able to take distance and motivate people by saying: Yes, it is possible to do this.” The station’s small blue building and antenna still stood by a field on a road, abandoned and in bad shape. Birds had
made their nests in walls, mice had moved in, light fixtures were hanging from the ceiling and layers of dust covered the soundboard. But the old recording and broadcasting equipment, as well as stacks of tapes, CDs and vinyl records, was still there. So first, the group went in and cleaned up the studio. see THREE page 13
PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICE PRESCRIBED BURN Lac Seul Islands Conservation Reserve May 15, 2014 to November 15, 2014 The Public is urged to stay away from the islands depicted in the adjacent map during this period for their own safety. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources will be conducting a Prescribed Burn between May 15, 2014 and November 15, 2014 in the Lac Seul Islands Conservation Reserve. Prescribed Burns are set by forest managers to improve the health of an ecosystem. The purpose of this Prescribed Burn is to restore the forest on the Lac Seul Islands Conservation Reserve (C2317) to a conifer dominated habitat. The proposed burn area is three islands south of Holden Island and two islands east of Kejick Bay. The burn is fundamental to restoring and maintaining the ecological integrity of this fire-dependent area. As a result, the public is urged to stay away from this area during the Prescribed Burn period for their own safety. For more information, please contact: Dale Thompson, 807-737-5033 Renseignements en français : Dale Thompson, 807 737-5033
Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre
Notice of Annual Meeting & Call for Membership Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 5:00 pm Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship Centre Main Hall To vote at the 2014 General Meeting, NGFC Membership must be purchased by May 17, 2014. Membership is open to all individuals who support NGFC’s mandate. Note: Voting rights granted only to residents of Sioux Lookout 18 yrs or older. Memberships can be purchased for $1 at the Centre.
Paid for by the Government of Ontario
For more information call Marsha at 737-1903
Wawatay News
MAY 15, 2014
Three Months of Accomplishments Cont’d from page 12 Through the weekly meetings, they tackled every issue they had to face to carry the project to its end and keep it going afterwards. They addressed technical needs, drafted programming and a schedule, familiarized themselves with CRTC regulations, and created a Facebook page. Funding was another big question. Exeko helped by inquiring into potential institutional sources while the participants planned local fundraising, such as the sale of raffle tickets at a lacrosse tournament and bringing the bingo back on the air. Popular in the past, bingo has proved an important source of funding since the radio launched in September. First they consulted with Elders who were very supportive of the project – “Otherwise we wouldn’t have gone ahead,” says Shawna Étienne. They also recorded a vox pop across the village, and found out that everyone would welcome the rebirth of the radio. Comparing Kanesatake with other nearby Mohawk communities also served as motivation – “Kahnawake has a radio station, Akwesasne has one… Why don’t we have one?” said Nelson. They especially discussed the ethical framework in which this broadcasting tool in their community would have to operate. How would politics and religion be handled? How would they screen proposals for talk shows? These concerns intersect with sensitive issues in the community. Political
divides, slander and family conflicts had all contributed to the shutdown of the radio. The hope that the radio can foster unity is reflected in the very name that was chosen for the new CKHQ, United Voices Radio.
“It will also mean giving a voice to the youth and to Elders...” – James Nelson
Nelson was upfront with the matter: “From the start, some of us here are part of families that don’t like one another. Now we’re talking to each other and working together,” he said. “Maybe not all the rest of those families will follow, but it’s at least a start for uniting everybody again.” It will also mean giving a voice to the youth and to Elders. Dubois, who has taken up the responsibility of drafting programs to appeal to everyone, also intends to support emerging local talent by inviting bands, DJs and other musicians to perform in studio. Finally, they cannot help considering the place of their project in Kanesatake’s recent history. Some of them were kids in 1990 and fully remember the Oka Crisis. Not only did those tragic events isolate the community in Québec and Canada’s mainstream media and politics, it also fuelled internal conflicts and left the community divided.
At the time, CKHQ radio played an important role. While the army moved in, it kept playing music, informed people about the situation and maintained an independent voice on the air. Nelson stayed at the station for days with his mother during the crisis, so it is a significant part of the personal meaning he now finds in this project. As of September 2013, technical repairs and upgrades were done, and the station is now on-air part-time, with music programming and radio bingo. Exeko’s team went back September 20 to help put the finishing touches on the reopening of the station. At the last meeting, everyone was in near disbelief about what had been accomplished in a mere three months. The idAction program provided the initial spark for local youth to commit to such a project, but in return, one could say it helps Exeko by confirming the legitimacy and considerable potential of the program. Shawna cleverly pointed to that circular nature of their exchange: “So, did we help you help us?” About Leading Together: This is part of a series of reports on successful youthfocused projects resulting from collaboration between Indigenous communities and philanthropic organizations. Leading Together is itself 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.
TRAINING IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Cochrane, Ontario
Building Construction Training Program Get the hands-on skills you need to work in the growing building construction industry. Offered by Canadore College in partnership with Apitisawin Employment
Open to youth aged 19 to 29 For more information contact:
Mike Dumoulin Apitisawin Employment and Training 705.272.6065
Where Cochrane, Ontario When June 9 to December 12, 2014 Deadline to apply May 23, 2014
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
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Wawatay News MAY 15, 2014
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Accidents Happen. Know Your Rights.
Rehearsing for the big show
Car and Truck Accidents, Snowmobile and ATV Accidents, Airplane and Boat Accidents, Slips and Falls, Serious Injuries, Death Cases, Long Term Disability, Dog Bites, Medical Malpractice, Victims of Crime. Girones Law Firm also holds one of the largest number of multi-million dollar awards and settlements resulting from personal injury in Canada MarcC.C.Laroche, Laroche, Jennifer Jennifer M. Kelly, AndréBourdon, Bourdon,Lorenzo Lorenzo Girones, Girones, Q.C., Meunier, absentJay from photo Andrea and Jérémie Marc Kelly, André Q.C.,Jay Andrea Girones, Meunier, absentGirones from photo JérémieFournier Fournier
GIRONES LAWYERS A Serious Injury Law Firm
16 Cedar St. S.,Timmins 705-268-4242 • 1-800-569-1673 lg@vianet.ca
Brent Wesley/Special to Wawatay News
Rochelle Goodman of Sandy Lake rehearses her dance moves in preparation for a live showcase at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto on May 14. Goodman, along with 13 of her Sandy Lake peers, two Pikangikum youth, and others from Lac La Croix First Nation, are performing as part Outside Looking In, a high school accredited program that uses dance to inspire and empower. See story in the next issue of Wawatay News.
INSPECTION Inspection of Approved 2014 – 2015 Annual Work Schedule Whiskey Jack Forest The Kenora District of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has reviewed and approved the April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015 Annual Work Schedule (AWS) for the Whiskey Jack Forest. Availability The AWS will be available for public inspection at the Kenora District Office of the MNR and the MNR public website at ontario.ca/forestplans beginning May 12, 2014 and throughout the one-year duration. Ontario Government Information Centres in Kenora at 220 Main Street South, in Dryden at 479 Government Road and in Red Lake at 227 Howey Street provide access to the Internet. Scheduled Forest Management Operations The AWS describes forest management activities such as road construction, maintenance and decommissioning, forestry aggregate pits, harvest, site preparation, tree planting and tending that are scheduled to occur during the year. Tree Planting and Fuelwood The MNR is responsible for tree planting on the Whiskey Jack Forest. Please contact Todd Skene at the Kenora District Office of the MNR for information regarding tree planting job opportunities. For information on the locations and licence requirements for obtaining fuelwood for personal use and for commercial fuelwood opportunities, please contact Kurt Pochailo at the Kenora District Office of the MNR. More Information For more information on the AWS or to arrange an appointment with MNR staff to discuss the AWS or to request an AWS operations summary map, please contact: Kurt Pochailo, R.P.F. Plan Author Ministry of Natural Resources 808 Robertson Street P.O. Box 5080 Kenora, ON P9N 3X9 tel: 807-468-2597 e-mail: kurt.pochailo@ontario.ca
www.wawataynews.ca
Todd Skene Integrated Resources Management Specialist Ministry of Natural Resources 808 Robertson Street P.O. Box 5080 Kenora, ON P9N 3X9 tel: 807-468-2544 e-mail: todd.skene@ontario.ca
Wawatay News
MAY 15, 2014
15
á?§á?&#x160;á?§á?&#x160;á&#x2018;&#x152; á?&#x160;á&#x2019;&#x2039;á&#x2019;§á?§á?&#x192;á&#x201C;&#x2021;á?Ł
DFC student rewarded at 5th Annual Aboriginal Science Fair Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Deer Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Misti Harding won the Best Use of Primary Research award for her diabetes presentation at the 5th Annual Aboriginal Science Fair at Confederation College. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diabetes is a pretty common disease and everybody knows about it but when they came to my presentation, they learned stuff that they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know, like why it is more common in Aboriginals,â&#x20AC;? said Harding, a Grade 12 student at Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nations High School in Thunder Bay. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In earlier days, Aboriginals used to go boating and fishing and hunting for their food. They would go and chop down wood for their stoves. They were just a lot more active â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have motor boats, so they paddled and were a lot more active.â&#x20AC;? Harding said many Aboriginal people no longer go hunting or fishing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to, they just buy junk food from the store,â&#x20AC;? Harding said, noting her community has a KFC outlet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is not a lot of exercise on a reserve; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to exercise on a reserve.â&#x20AC;? Harding received a good response to her award, a tablet-laptop combo, at DFC. And the school nurse was proud because she had helped Harding to do her blood test for the presentation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I did a little experiment on doing blood tests with random people, non-Aboriginals and Aboriginals, and there
Rick Garrick/ Wawatay News
Rick Garrick/ Wawatay News
Deer Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Taylor Meekis described a number of Windigo and Thunderbird pictographs near Deer Lake in her science fair presentation.
Taylor Dalzell and Jared Visitor won the Best Use of Indigenous Knowledge award for their science fair presentation on the auroras.
was some test results proving ... that Aboriginals are more prone to diabetes,â&#x20AC;? Harding said. Harding was one of about 17 Grade 8-12 students who participated in the April 11 Science Fair, which was hosted by Confederation Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Talk Science outreach program and Lakehead Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aboriginal Mentorship program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ability of Aboriginal students and others to participate in this event has created a wonderful awareness and celebration of Aboriginal peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accomplishments and traditional knowledge both for the participants and for the community at large,â&#x20AC;? said Barbara
Walberg, science fair judge and coordinator of the Native Child and Family Service program at Confederation College. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This unique event has also provided the students with an important positive experience with the academic world that embraces the Aboriginal perspectives, traditional culture and world view.â&#x20AC;? Jared Visitor and Taylor Dalzell, from Crolancia Public School in Pickle Lake, won the Best Use of Indigenous Knowledge award for their presentation on the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, and the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We tied it into the different
cultures of the world,â&#x20AC;? Visitor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We tried to gather all their legends as to why they thought there were lights in the sky at night.â&#x20AC;? The two students also discussed what would happen if a coronal mass ejection were to occur in modern times. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Back in 1859, the highest solar storm hit the earth,â&#x20AC;? Visitor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If that happened today, because we are so dependent on technology, we would be without power for months. It would have grave consequences for a lot of people.â&#x20AC;? Dalzell said the presentation gave them an opportunity to â&#x20AC;&#x153;look deeper into something we
were accustomed to.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We went into the science of it and we looked to see what actually happens at the core of the sun,â&#x20AC;? Dalzell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also have a bunch of random facts and interesting things about the auroras, such as when the earliest datable observation of the aurora were, which was in 567 B.C. And the earliest drawings were from 30,000 B.C.â&#x20AC;? The science fair was sponsored by Ontario Power Generation and the Oshki-Anishnawbeg Student Association at Confederation College. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The science fair is designed for students to develop an interest in science, engineering and technology while celebrat-
ing traditional sciences,â&#x20AC;? said Sandra Stiles, director of Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Talk Science, a national charitable organization committed to community and school outreach by post-secondary students and professional volunteers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It also gives them an opportunity to explore the college environment, hopefully inspiring them to enroll.â&#x20AC;? Other award winners included: Jennifer Keetch, from Churchill High School in Thunder Bay, for Best Oral Presentation; Cassandra (CJ) Jolicoeur, from Dryden High School, for Best Interactive Display and Sydney Haskins, from Superior CVI High School in Thunder Bay, for Best Visual Display.
NOTICE OF PROJECT CHANGE
Financial Services DEBT PROBLEMS? (Discuss Your Options.) For free advice: MNP Ltd., Trustee in Bankruptcy. Local Office: 315 Main Street South, Kenora, ON; Cathy Morris, Estate Manager (807) 468-3338 or Toll Free 866-381-3338. Principal Office: 301-1661 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB. Ken Zealand, CA, Trustee. www.mnpdebt.ca Bad Credit, Bankruptcy or have No Credit? Let our Financial Services manager, Joanna work with you to find the right payment and guide you through the process of re-establishing your credit. Together we will get you into the right vehicle today! Contact Joanna today toll free at 1-800-465-1144 or email joanna@bayview.toyota.ca
Project Name: Cochrane Solar Project Project Applicant: Northland Power Solar Abitibi L.P., Northland Power Solar Empire L.P. and Northland Power Solar Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Meadows L.P. (hereafter referred to as Northland Power) Project Location: The Abitibi property is on Part Lot 14 & 15, Concession 8, the Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Meadows property is on Lot 16, Concession 8 and the Empire property is on Part Lots 17 & 18, Concession 7, in the northern portion of the Town of Cochrane, in the geographic township of Glackmeyer. Project Description &RQVWUXFWLRQ RI WKLV PHJDZDWW IDFLOLW\ KDV FRPPHQFHG 7KH SURMHFW ZLOO JHQHUDWH HOHFWULFLW\ XVLQJ SKRWR YROWDLF SDQHOV PRXQWHG RQ Âż[HG UDFNLQJ VWUXFWXUHV (OHFWULFLW\ JHQHUDWHG E\ the solar photo-voltaic panels will be converted from direct current to alternating current by an inverter, and increased to 27.6 kV by the inverter house transformer, and subsequently VWHSSHG XS YLD WKH VXEVWDWLRQ WUDQVIRUPHU WR N9 SULRU WR EHLQJ FRQQHFWHG WR WKH 3URMHFWÂśV WUDQVPLVVLRQ OLQH $Q DSSUR[LPDWHO\ NP WUDQVPLVVLRQ OLQH ZLOO EH FRQVWUXFWHG IURP the facility location, progressing west to the connecting point with the HONI electricity grid. Other project components include access roads, a control building and site fencing. OPA reference numbers are FIT-FAQLBA0 (Abitibi), and FIT-QJ0FUC (Empire), and FIT-FM5F42U (Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Meadows). The REA number is 1290-9A4KSE. Project Change 7KUHH FKDQJHV ZHUH LGHQWLÂżHG IURP WKH RULJLQDOO\ SURSRVHG 3URMHFW )LUVWO\ DQ LQFOXVLRQ RI D KD P [ P [ P WULDQJXODU SLHFH RI DGGLWLRQDO ODQG EHWZHHQ (PSLUH DQG Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Meadows to satisfy legal land right requirements is proposed. Secondly, it was determined that directional drilling for the connection line between Empire and Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Meadows is needed in order to minimize vegetation removal requirements around the watercourse and to reduce shading on adjacent panels. Lastly, two additional archaeological studies were completed within the previously approved Project location in order to ensure the area had been adequately surveyed. Due to these changes, the applicants have submitted an application to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to amend the REA for the Project. The MOE is currently reviewing this application. Project Documents Copies of the Project documents including the two new Archaeological Assessment Reports and the Project Change letter, detailing the changes to the REA supporting documents are available online at: http://cochrane.northlandpower.ca/ Project Contact and Information: To learn more about the changes or to communicate any concerns please contact: Hatch Ltd. Northland Power Rob Miller, Director, Business Development Sean Male, MSc, Environmental Coordinator 30 St.Clair Ave. W. 4342 Queen Street, Suite 500 Toronto, ON M4V 3A1 Niagara Falls, ON L2E 7J7 Tel: 647-288-1066 7HO )D[ Email:rob.miller@northlandpower.ca Email: smale@hatch.ca Conc 8 & 9 Calder
WRN is broadcast on 89.9 FM in Sioux Lookout and 106.7 FM in Timmins and to many community-based affiliated radio stations. WRN is also distributed nationally on Bell TV Channel 962.
Conc 8 & 9 Clute Connection Point to Hydro One Networks Inc. Grid Location of Additional Lands
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Wawatay News MAY 15, 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
Youth entrepreneur encourages youth to realize potential Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News
Fort Albanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brent Edwards would like to see First Nations youth and people succeed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to see all of these Aboriginal youth succeed in life,â&#x20AC;? said Edwards, the owner and operator of Mooselegs2. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have the potential to do it. I want to open their eyes and help them realize their potential.â&#x20AC;? Edwards is a workshop facilitator, entertainer and a master of ceremonies. He was named the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 by NADF, which he said was â&#x20AC;&#x153;amazing.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never thought I was going to be this kind of person,â&#x20AC;? Edwards said of the role he now holds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was the shiest guy in the school. I could barely talk to anybody.â&#x20AC;? Edwards said that he grew up in Moosonee, Thunder Bay, and Fort Albany. As a child he would often watch his aunts and uncles as they convened in his home to have fun. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would watch them be crazy, improvising skits or creative characters. I used to laugh, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d join in too,â&#x20AC;? Edwards said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d send someone into the room and they would have to dress up in a certain way and come out as a different character.â&#x20AC;? Edwards said the games inspired him to be the person he is now. He has a few characters that he takes on during some of the workshops and events that he emcees. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Patty DeBeers, she is quite the eccentric lady. She is devoted to giving hickeys to everybody,â&#x20AC;? Edwards explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chief Hyaiwatha is
Submitted photos
Brent Edwards of Mooselegs2, shown here with Kashechewan youth, hopes to inspire youth to succeed in life. the chief of all chiefs. Dr.Eagle DeBeers. She (my mother) comes into our classroom,â&#x20AC;? had one of those laughs where Edwards said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was expecting has a B.A in B.S.â&#x20AC;? The Mushkego Kid is her head swung back. The the pep talk, thinking â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yeah you a superhero and another gut-wrenching laugh, she guys are gonna make it! Keep character Edwards sometimes was laughing away at this going!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? What the vice principal told takes on in his role as an character.â&#x20AC;? Edwards thinks of his mother them shocked Edward. entertainer and workshop â&#x20AC;&#x153;This vice principal comes as his major role model. facilitator. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She was a single mother and in and tells us to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;look around, Edwards often uses humour as a way to get his messages she raised me to who I was,â&#x20AC;? he people. Look around; there are across to people he speaks to said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look up to her because only three of you who are going to graduate. Based on statistics, and views humour as a way of she is very inspirational.â&#x20AC;? Edwards said he likes to help only three of you are going to healing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I am up on stage, people and make them laugh. graduate!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Edwards recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is coming from our vice and I see people laughing and He also wants to help the youth principal, quite the pep talk,â&#x20AC;? he smiling, it makes me feel good,â&#x20AC;? do well in school and in life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to help our youth said. he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because someone Edwards said that when might be suffering a loss, or look beyond the reserve, suffering from stress, and that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more to it. I find that he looks back now that in a moment in time when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sometimes kids are enclosed in â&#x20AC;&#x153;sadistic wayâ&#x20AC;? the words the vice principal said worked. laughing, it all fades away. the reserve,â&#x20AC;? Edwards said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From what I recall, only Edwards recalls a talk that he Laughter is healing!â&#x20AC;? Edwards likes that his work and his classmates were given about three of us did not graduate,â&#x20AC;? Edwards said. has made his grandmother in Moosonee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My first day of high school, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I look at it now, maybe laugh, and also his mother. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first time she saw me first day of class, Grade 9. There we used it as motivation. But I on stage, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never forget this,â&#x20AC;? were about 30 of us Native would never use that tactic!â&#x20AC;? Edwards went on to posthe said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was dressed as Patty students and the vice principal
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY +HDOWK 6XSSRUW 2IĂ&#x20AC;FHU This position provides emotional and training support to NAN communities and families who require assistance coping with trauma, grief and developing healthy lifestyles for long term healing. This role will provide eligible former Indian Residential Schools (IRS) students and their family members with access to emotional support to safely address issues related to their IRS experience. The worker will collaborate with individuals, families, communities and other partners to create a support system further enabling the healing process. The worker is responsible for needs assessments and developing and delivering training, support and referrals in accordance with that assessment. This position requires strong administrative and reporting skills to compliment the community work. This position requires the ability to be on call and travel extensively on short notice. 7KH GHDGOLQH IRU DSSOLFDWLRQV LV SP (67 )ULGD\ 0D\ &RYHU OHWWHU 5HVXPH DQG WKUHH UHIHUHQFHV PXVW EH VXEPLWWHG WR EH FRQVLGHUHG DQ DSSOLFDQW 7R GRZQORDG WKH FRPSOHWH MRE GHVFULSWLRQ SOHDVH YLVLW ZZZ QDQ RQ FD RU FRQWDFW ,DQ %HDUG\ +XPDQ 5HVRXUFHV &RRUGLQDWRU DW RU 6DEULQD 0DULRQ +XPDQ 5HVRXUFHV 'LUHFWRU DW IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN/TECHNOLOGIST
Patty DeBeers, one of Edwardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; personas, is â&#x20AC;&#x153;devoted to giving hickeys to everybody.â&#x20AC;? secondary education after high school graduation. He went into Radio Broadcasting and Business Marketing, and also acquired a Business Administration diploma. He has also obtained an Aboriginal Teachers Certificate, and is a certified Life and Executive Coach. Edwardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first time as a emcee was in 1998 when a healing and wellness conference was held in Fort Albany. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They asked me to emcee, I was really shy and I did it,â&#x20AC;? Edwards said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went up there. But I was never full into it back then. Mooselegs2 came out in 2007-2008. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when I first started really going into it.â&#x20AC;? Over the past two years, Edwards has spoken at or emceed one or two events a month. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slowly picking up,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do a lot of youth workshops and conferences.â&#x20AC;? Edwards goes to places like Thunder Bay, Timmins, and has done education conferences as well. Edwards finds it hard to be away from his family when he is traveling for work, and that occasionally an event lands on a day close to his childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthdays or his anniversary, but he still has support from them. The issues Edwards speaks on depend on the conference he is at. Recently he facilitated a workshop on lateral violence
at the NAN Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conference in Thunder Bay. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to stress the slap in the face-hug syndrome, and what it is the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Just Kidding effect.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m trying to get it out that for some reason in our Aboriginal society itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OK to insult someone and say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;just kiddingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and it makes it all better,â&#x20AC;? Edwards said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all across our communities,â&#x20AC;? he explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bullying. It runs rampant in our communities. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh you ever look fat, you. Just kidding.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh messy hair, you. Just kidding.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Edwards said that if someone hears those kinds of things every day, they start to wonder if thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how they are really viewed in the community, and it can start to take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health. Edwards continues to look forward to helping people and inspiring them to live a good life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My main thing is helping youth succeed, and helping people realize that we can do this. We can succeed,â&#x20AC;? Edwards said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody can do it. It just takes a little time and hard work. I am still working at it, too.â&#x20AC;? Edwards can be contacted on his website http://www.mooselegs2.com or his Facebook business page.
Domtar Inc., Dryden Operations, is currently seeking an Electrical Engineering Technician/Technologist to join the Dryden team. A progressive community set between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, Dryden offers excellent medical, educational and recreational facilities. Your Role: Â&#x192; Under the supervision of an Engineer, provide the technical knowledge and skills required to initiate, plan, develop and execute major maintenance and capital projects for the Dryden Mill site. Â&#x192; Provide technical assistance and advice on projects while maintaining absolute commitment to safety. Â&#x192; $VVLVW LQ ÂżHOG VXSHUYLVLRQ RI SURMHFWV DQG VXSSRUW VWDUW XS Prerequisites: Â&#x192; A Diploma in Electrical Engineering Technician/ Technologist. Â&#x192; $ VDIHW\ RULHQWHG PLQGVHW ZLWK WKH GHVLUH WR HQIRUFH and follow mill safety and environmental policies and procedures. Â&#x192; Strong verbal and written communication skills. Â&#x192; Excellent computer skills. Â&#x192; Strong organizational and time management skills. Â&#x192; Experience with Auto CAD and SAP an asset. Â&#x192; $ VHOI VWDUWHU ZLWK WKH DELOLW\ WR ZRUN ZLWK PLQLPDO direction.
Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre
Board Vacancies We are seeking residents of the community to put their names forward to act as Board Members. Election of the Board will take place during the General Meeting on June 17, 2014. Director Requirements: % Must be a voting member of NGFC % Committed to the mandate of NGFC % Available to attend monthly Board Meetings % Cannot be related to a current employee of NGFC % Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Persons Sectors Check We are also looking for a Youth Representative (aged 18 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 24)
If you are interested in an opportunity to work with an organization that is an Equal Opportunity Employer SOHDVH H PDLO \RXU FRYHU OHWWHU DQG UHVXPH LQ FRQÂżGHQFH by May 28, 2014 to: erika.pouru@domtar.com We would like to thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
Interested persons please submit a letter of interest to: Executive Committee NGFC Board of Directors Box 1299, 52 King Street Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B8 Email: brendad@ngfc.net For more information please call Brenda at 737-1903
Wawatay News
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á?§á?&#x160;á?§á?&#x160;á&#x2018;&#x152; á?&#x160;á&#x2019;&#x2039;á&#x2019;§á?§á?&#x192;á&#x201C;&#x2021;á?Ł
MAY 15, 2014
TIKINAGAN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES Job Title: Reports to: Location:
LIVE-IN FOSTER PARENTS Direct Services Supervisor-Residential Unit MUSKRAT DAM (Comp. #13-098) LAC SEUL (Comp. #14-069) PIKANGIKUM (Comp. #14-070)
POSITION SUMMARY: Tikinagan Child and Family Services is seeking Live-In Foster Parents for our Agency Operated Homes. The Live-In Foster Parents will reside with children in care to create a safe, nurturing, and family environment. The Live-In Foster Parents will work with a team of Child Welfare professionals and ensure that the Ministry Standards are met and carried out in the home. Tikinagan Child and Family Services will cover all living expenses in the home, as well as provide a foster per diem. The Live-in Foster Parents will receive respite each month. Shifts can be an optional 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. DUTIES INCLUDE:
ATTENTION STUDENTS:
School Liaise with the local school on the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attendance and progress.
Are you looki king for summer work? k?
Daily Activities Include social and cultural activities appropriate for each child. Medical Ensure the child receives medical attention as required. Emergency Contact the local authorities of any emergency involving a child. Daily House Care Implement proper meal preparation, house routine, and standards for the clients. Tikinagan Contact workers when necessary concerning the clients. Participate in case conferencing for the child/children in the home. DO YOU: % Have the ability to communicate with the clients in a positive manner? % Have experience working with high risk and special needs children and youth? % Have the ability to work with Tikinagan staff and other service providers? % Have the ability to pass medical and criminal records check? % Have a valid Ontario driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license? % Speak one of the Nishnawbe-Aski languages (considered an asset)? IF SO, THEN PLEASE SUBMIT AN UPDATED RESUME, COVERING LETTER AND 3 REFERENCES TO: Residential Care Supervisor Tikinagan Child and Family Services P.O. Box 627 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B1 Fax: (807) 737-1532 or Email: residential@tikinagan.org
Outland is hiring students for the First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program 2014 (FNNRYEP) FNNRYEP Information
Job Description â&#x20AC;˘
â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘
â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘
Outland is looking for motivated students who are excited about living in a remote camp setting with 30 other youth Willing to work from 9am to 4pm 6 days a week Work hard during production tree planting and thinning projects Looking to obtain valuable certificates including: o 2 Cooperative Education Credits o SP-102 Fire Fighting training o Ontario Recreational Canoe and Kayak Association o GPS/Mapping o WHIMS o First Aid o Brush saw and chainsaw training Position runs from July 6th to August 15th Eager to participate in Science Camp at Confederation College Works well with others and has a positive attitude Readiness to learn and try new things! Competitive wages with daily performance bonus
â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘
Program has been running since 2000
â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘
Substance-free environment
Employed over 325 First Nations Youth Combines elements of industry knowledge, safety and training, Education, work experience and healthy living Live-in management supervision Core cultural component Networking opportunities Strong educational component Athletics program Healthy meals prepared by onsite chef Opportunity for growth in the company
CLOSING DATE: OPEN UNTIL FILLED All successful applicants will require a current Criminal Record Check (CRC) (and Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) for positions working with children). As such, it is recommended that applicants apply for a CRC & VSC as soon as possible.
For or more inform i f ation ti conttactt: Sarah h Ambrozi A b iak k E: samb broziak@ i k@outl tland.ca d T (807)) 7 T:(807 707 07-499 4995 99 95 http:/ htt p /ww p:/ /www w outl w.outl w.o utland and.ca .ca/fi ca/fi /first rst-nat rst nation nat ionss-inu ion inuit/ inu it/
***ONLY THOSE SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE CONTACTED***
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Domtar Inc., Dryden Operations, is currently seeking an individual to join the Dryden Team. A progressive community set between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, Dryden offers excellent medical, educational and recreational facilities. Your Role: Reporting to the Engineering Superintendent your role will: Â&#x192; Provide electrical and instrumentation design engineering support to the Mill. Â&#x192; Direct a variety of capital and maintenance projects from conceptual design to operating installation. Â&#x192; Develop detailed project scopes and budgets for new projects, and prepare project approval documents and project bid packages. Â&#x192; Manage installation of the capital and maintenance/repair projects in compliance with DOO FRPSDQ\ VDIHW\ HQYLURQPHQWDO DQG ÂżQDQFLDO SROLFLHV Â&#x192; Co-ordinate and schedule maintenance, engineering, procurement, construction and repair activities. <RXU 3URĂ&#x20AC;OH Â&#x192; (OHFWULFDO (QJLQHHULQJ GHJUHH UHTXLUHG ZLWK HOLJLELOLW\ IRU 3(2 FHUWLÂżFDWLRQ Â&#x192; Experience in a pulp and/or paper mill is an asset, but recent graduates will be considered. Â&#x192; You will have proven organizational and analytical skills. Â&#x192; You possess sound interpersonal skills and the ability to work within a team environment. Â&#x192; You have the ability to co-ordinate maintenance, engineering and repair activities. Â&#x192; You have a safety-oriented mindset with the desire to enforce and follow mill safety and environmental policies and procedures. Â&#x192; You have strong verbal and written communication skills, including technical writing and budget preparation. Â&#x192; You possess excellent computer skills with computer-based maintenance software, 06 2IÂżFH DQG VFKHGXOLQJ VRIWZDUH 7KH DELOLW\ WR XWLOL]H $XWR&$' DQG RU H[SHULHQFH working with PLC controls is an asset. If you are interested in an opportunity to work with an organization that is an Equal 2SSRUWXQLW\ (PSOR\HU DQG RIIHUV D IXOO UDQJH RI HPSOR\HH EHQHÂżWV DQG D FRPSHWLWLYH ZDJH SDFNDJH FRQVLGHU MRLQLQJ RXU 7HDP 3OHDVH IRUZDUG \RXU UHVXPH LQ FRQÂżGHQFH by May 28, 2014 to:
FORESTLANDS MANAGER DOMTAR N.W. ONTARIO Domtar Inc., Dryden Operations, is currently seeking a Forestlands Manager to join the Dryden team. A progressive community set between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, Dryden offers excellent medical, educational and recreational facilities. General % Build business alignment between the Dryden Forestlands staff, the area contractors and the Dryden Pulp Mill to consistently deliver high quality results. % Build organizational capacity through development of individual team membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; capabilities and ownership to improve the business. % Develop and maintain constructive relations with external stakeholders. Overview of Responsibilities Leadership responsibilities encompass the people, operational and strategic aspects related to WKH UHOLDEOH ZRRG VRXUFLQJ DQG ORJLVWLFV RI GHOLYHULQJ PLOOLRQ FXELF PHWUHV RI ZRRG ÂżEUH WR WKH 'U\GHQ 3XOS 0LOO DQG PDQDJH WKH Ă&#x20AC;RZ RI YROXPHV FRPPLWWHG WR RWKHU XVHUV (VVHQWLDO WR WKLV UROH is the responsibility to ensure the secure and sustainable forest stewardship on 1.8 million hectares of land-based tenure, as well as the wood security related to approximately 900,000 cubic metres RI SXUFKDVHG ÂżEUH Key Focus and Priorities % Proactively lead the Health and Safety systems and behaviours towards industry leadership by showing continual improvement in priority elements and the attainment of zero injuries. % Lead the implementation of plans and systems in order to meet Domtarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forest stewardship DQG IRUHVW FHUWLÂżFDWLRQ SULQFLSOHV DQG JRDOV % &RQWLQXH WKH GHYHORSPHQW RI FRQWUDFWRU ZRUN V\VWHPV WR HQVXUH LQGHSHQGHQW Ă&#x20AC;H[LEOH DQG successful contractor businesses. % 'HYHORS DQ HIIHFWLYH UHOLDEOH DQG FRVW HIÂżFLHQW ZRRG ÂżEUH KDUYHVW DQG GHOLYHU\ V\VWHP WKDW provides competitive leadership in the industry. % (QVXUH WKH ORQJ WHUP HFRQRPLF VXVWDLQDELOLW\ RI ZRRG ÂżEUH WR WKH 'U\GHQ 3XOS 0LOO DQG FUHDWH opportunities for further strategic development. % Provide leadership to develop productive government, public and stakeholder relationships. Provide reliable processes for proactively managing issues of importance. If you are interested in an opportunity to work with an organization that is an (TXDO 2SSRUWXQLW\ (PSOR\HU SOHDVH H PDLO \RXU FRYHU OHWWHU DQG UHVXPH LQ FRQÂżGHQFH E\ May 21, 2014 to:
erika.pouru@domtar.com
erika.pouru@domtar.com
We would like to thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
We would like to thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
18
Wawatay News MAY 15, 2014
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Homeless soccer players aiming for national tournament Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Rick Garrick/Wawatay News
KIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Derek Redsky tries out a move during an April 24 game.
A group of Thunder Bayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homeless soccer players are practicing on Thursday evenings for an opportunity to play in the Canada Cup Tournament from May 28-31. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good exercise for me,â&#x20AC;? said Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwugâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Derek Redsky. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a positive activity theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to do. I encourage more people to come out and play. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s street soccer, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recreational and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good exercise.â&#x20AC;? Redsky said about four homeless people usually show up to play on Thursdays with a group of volunteers, but he has seen up to eight homeless players on some days.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The most people weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had was seven to eight; we average about four,â&#x20AC;? Redsky said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I used to live (at Shelter House) about a year-and-a-half ago, so I know most of them.â&#x20AC;? The Canada Cup Tournament, taking place at Kinsmen Field in North Vancouver, is the first national tournament to be held in Canada. In the past, street soccer teams participated in regional tournaments to pick players to represent Team Canada at the Homeless World Cup. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to organize a team for the Homeless World Cup,â&#x20AC;? Redsky said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worldwide apparently; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty big.â&#x20AC;? This year local organizers and Street Soccer Canada
officials will be scouting players at the national tournament for the national team, which will represent Canada at the 2014 Homeless World Cup in Chile. Big Grassy Riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alexander Andy enjoys playing with the other soccer players. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m playing with people who are probably as good as me or better than me,â&#x20AC;? Andy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really competitive and I like to win.â&#x20AC;? Andy said soccer was always his favourite sport when he was growing up, noting he used to play soccer in Rainy River. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish I could have pursued this when I was in high school,â&#x20AC;? Andy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My dream was to play with Team Ontario.â&#x20AC;? In addition, Andy also attends events at other youth
centres. He uses the weekly practice sessions as a way to keep away from drugs and alcohol. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I came here to Thunder Bay, I was supposed to quit drugs and alcohol, but then for a couple of years it got worse,â&#x20AC;? Andy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m trying to do better for myself because I have a second kid coming on the way.â&#x20AC;? Andyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partner, Natasha Mamakeesic, from Sandy Lake, enjoyed her first game with the other homeless soccer players on April 24. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to come back here every Thursday,â&#x20AC;? Mamakeesic said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun; I like it.â&#x20AC;? Ken Miller, project coordinator at Shelter House
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Thunder Bay and organizer of the weekly homeless soccer practices, said the turnout has ranged from between three to about 15 homeless people since the practices began in January. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are a couple of people who said they really enjoy being a part of this,â&#x20AC;? Miller said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They get to meet with their friends and just have a good time and forget about whatever.â&#x20AC;? Miller recalls one woman who came out for the first practice in January but was hesitant to play. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But by the end of the practice, she was up there,â&#x20AC;? Miller said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She was kicking the ball around and she was laughing her head off. She was just having a great time.â&#x20AC;?
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Wawatay News
MAY 15, 2014
19
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Photos by Rick Garrick/Wawatay News
Right: Neskantaga’s Tracey Wapoose, right, walks with a group of friends in the Out of Darkness Memorial Walk, held May 4 in Thunder Bay for people who have lost a loved one to suicide. Above: Red Lake’s Jodi McKenzie (left) walked in memory of her brother.
Out of the Darkness Memorial Walk growing for First Nations Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Neskantaga’s Tracey Wapoose honoured three siblings and other relatives lost to suicide, including Duane Moonias, at the Out of the Darkness Memorial Walk in Thunder Bay. “This is my first time on the walk,” Wapoose said during the May 4 3.5 kilometre walk along the McIntyre River near Confederation College. “A lot has been happening in my community and I’d like to do something to help with what’s been happening back home.” Neskantaga recently announced that three youth have committed suicide since
last summer, including a 16-year-old girl on April 2. Sixty per cent of the community’s population of 420 are youth. The Aboriginal Healing Foundation reported that the overall suicide rate among First Nations people is about twice that of the total Canadian population in a 2007 report: Suicide Among Aboriginal People in Canada. And former national chief Shawn Atleo said the suicide rate for First Nations youth is even higher. “At five to seven times higher than overall suicide rates in Canada, First Nations young people need every support required for its preven-
tion,” Atleo said last September. “Our young people are the most powerful voices in our nations, and they need and deserve every opportunity to achieve success.” Wapoose said it felt good to join in with other people who had lost loved ones to suicide at the Out of the Darkness Memorial Walk. “I’m feeling the comfort of being here and I feel that I’m not alone,” said Wapoose, who completed the walk with her two daughters and some friends. “I’m proud that I’ve accomplished doing the walk.” Wapoose encouraged other First Nations people to join the next Out of the Darkness
“I’m feeling the comfort of being here and I feel that I’m not alone...” – Tracey Wapoose
Memorial Walk. “The goal of this is to raise awareness around suicide, but also to help erase the stigma,” said Margaret Hajdinjak, who founded the Out of the Darkness Memorial Walk in 2010 after losing her son to suicide. “We want people to come out and walk with other people who know what you feel.” Hajdinjak said about 300 people usually
attend the Out of the Darkness Memorial Walk. “It’s very comfortable,” Hajdinjak said. “You know someone knows exactly how you feel. It’s really very powerful — there’s something about sitting beside someone and you don’t need to talk to them, but they know how you feel.” Red Lake’s Jodi McKenzie walked in memory of her brother. “I’m here to support my friend Cathy, who lost her son to suicide just like I lost my brother,” McKenzie said. “I’ve also lost an uncle to suicide.” Sandy Lake’s Brenda Mason attended the Out of the Darkness Memorial Walk
as a representative of St. Joseph’s Care Group’s Mental Health Outpatient Program. “I think it is very important for us to be here to support this considering the high rate of suicide,” Mason said. “A lot of young people are looking for help.” Mason said the number of First Nations participants in the Out of the Darkness Memorial Walk are increasing each year. “It gives me an opportunity to talk with them in our own language,” Mason said. “I’d like to see in the future is more young people coming to participate here, not only in the walk but in the activities that are taking place here.”
National Nursing Week slfnha.com
Thanking you for all you do...
Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority takes this opportunity to thank all of the nurses serving the 31 First Nation communities in our region. From Sioux Lookout to Fort Severn, and everywhere in between, we appreciate and recognize the care you provide for your patients. National Nursing Week (week that includes May 12) was first celebrated in 1985 to highlight nurses' contributions to the well-being of the Canadian public. In 1971, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) designated May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday, International Nurses Day. Pictured, foreground: Lana Angeconeb, Nurse in Charge, Frenchman’s Head Clinic in Lac Seul First Nation. Pictured in background is Meeguin Angeconeb, Referral Clerk, and Louise Chisel, Home and Community Nurse.
May 12-18, 2014
20
Wawatay News MAY 15, 2014
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Rick Garrick/Wawatay News
DFC’s Scott Meekis is ready for the Enter the Den finals.
Submitted photo
Sandy Lake’s Scott Meekis, centre, has made it to the finals of the Enter the Den business competition for high school students in Thunder Bay.
DFC student makes finals of Enter the Den competition Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Sandy Lake’s Scott Meekis is excited about reaching the finals in the Enter the Den business writing plan competition for Thunder Bay high school students. “I was amazed — I wasn’t even sure I was going to pass on to the semi-finals,” said the Grade 12 Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nations High School student. “When I handed it in, I was thinking I wasn’t going to be chosen. I was surprised when my teacher told me (I was in the finals).” Meekis said the staff and students at DFC have been congratulating him on making the finals. “Good job man, keep going, you got this,” Meekis said, quoting some of the comments he received. “They were
encouraging me and I feel confident about it.” Meekis developed his business idea from the traditional beading crafts his mother, Nora Jane Meekis, and his grandmother have always created. “I’m very proud of him,” Nora Jane said. “I’m glad he’s been noticing what I’ve been doing.” Meekis was one of about 140 high school students from across Thunder Bay who entered the Enter the Den competition this year. The competition was inspired by the popular Canadian television program, the Dragon’s Den, but it features a gentler format with practical feedback provided to every participant. The top three finalists will receive $1,500, $1,000 and $500 cash prizes based on the research, presentation and defence of their business ideas during the
“This just shows that any First Nation youth, given the opportunity to compete, can compete with any other youth here in the city and in Canada...” – Jonathan Kakegamic
final competition on May 22. Nora Jane was surprised when she found out her son had made the finals. “The first time I heard about it was when the school principal called,” Nora Jane said. “My son didn’t tell me that he entered that contest, but I am very proud that he accomplished that. I’m very excited for him.” Nora Jane plans to take her
son shopping when they travel down to Thunder Bay for the final competition. “He will put on a business suit,” Nora Jane said. Nora Jane emphasized that she provides plenty of support to her children while they are pursuing their education. “I keep calling the school, or even when he was going to school here, I kept calling the school to ask about his marks and his attendance,” Nora Jane said, noting she often encourages Scott to get his marks up higher. “I always tell him when you set your mind to it, you can do it. One time his mark was below 50 and he still had four weeks of school, so I said you better get your mark up, you need to pass that course. And he did, he got it up to the 70s.” DFC principal Jonathan Kakegamic said the
school is proud of Meekis’ accomplishments. “This just shows that any First Nation youth, given the opportunity to compete, can compete with any other youth here in the city and in Canada,” Kakegamic said. “We hope that it continues. It’s a perfect example that First Nation education is working. I hope other kids will see it and strive for that.” Meekis originally first placed second for his beadwork business plan in the Grade 11 Entrepreneurship class at DFC last year. “A year later he enrolled in Grade 12 Entrepreneurship and he continued his business idea with an online business focus,” said Brandon Wright, DFC’s entrepreneurship teacher. “He entered the (Enter the Den) competition in March this year and out of 140 applicants, Scott
and another student at DFC were selected to advance to the semi-finals. Of those 10, Scott was chosen to advance to the finals.” Wright said the process has been very rewarding. “The reason why Scott has been so successful through the Entrepreneurship program and through the Enter the Den competition is that not only does he have a great idea, but he brings enthusiasm and knowledge to his idea,” Wright said. “And that is what judges are looking for — they want to see the confidence behind the idea.” After his upcoming graduation, Meekis plans to work for the summer back home in Sandy Lake, where his three-year-old son and two-year-old daughter live. He is considering a career in the heavy equipment field.
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