Polar bear research questioned PAGE 3 www.wawataynews.ca Vol. 36 #18
Bill Nothing receives Tikinagan award PAGE 6
DFC students return to school PAGES 14-15 9,300 copies distributed $1.50
September 3, 2009
Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974
KI denies Platinex access to land
A stroke of genius
Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Platinex’s Aug. 26 attempt to resume mineral exploration in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug territory was thwarted by traditional fishing activities. “They (Platinex) attempted to come to the site,” said KI Coun. Sam McKay, one of the KI6 who were imprisoned in 2008 for standing up for their right to free, prior and informed consent before their traditional territory is mined or explored. “They were unable to land due to people out on the lake.” McKay said a number of community members were participating in traditional fishing activities on Nemeigusabins Lake in a boat and a canoe when the Platinex charter plane attempted to land. Video of the attempted landing is posted on the www.kitchenuhmaykoosib.com website. McKay said the plane flew away to another lake and returned later but was unable to land once again, after which it was seen flying south. “I am very deeply concerned about what is happening at Nemeigusabins Lake,” said KI Chief Donny Morris. “I am deeply disappointed that the province has not intervened on this matter. We made submissions to the province. The premier never responded to our letter where I asked him for a meeting. I think this is opposite to what he said when he talked about the proposed Far North Act. I was out on Nemeigusabins Lake because I am concerned about the safety of my people and I am concerned about protecting our land. I am glad that our presence on the land reconfirmed our Aboriginal and treaty rights and was peaceful.” McKay said the Ontario Provincial Police were monitoring the situation from the shore of Nemeigusabins Lake when the Platinex chartered plane attempted to land, and the community has received support from Wapekeka and Bearskin Lake. see KI page 20
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Send your comments to: editor@wawatay.on.ca or send to: Wawatay News 16-5th Avenue North P.O. Box 1180 Sioux Lookout ON P8T 1B7
Chris Kornacki/Wawatay News
Fort William First Nation artist, Christian Chapman, working out of his Thunder Bay studio. Chapman has received multiple grants from the Ontario Arts Council allowing him to work on various painting projects including a portrait series on Aboriginal artists. Visit www.wawataynews.ca to watch a video interview with Chapman inside his studio.
ᑭᓂᒥᓇᐁᐧᑲᐧᔑᐁᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑭ ᑭᐳᐡᑲᐊᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐣ ᐁᐱᑲᑫᐧᐳᓂᓂᐨ ᕑᐃᐠ ᑲᕑᐃᐠ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ
ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᑲᐢᐟ ᐱᓯᑦ 26 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᐨ ᐊᔕ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑊᓫᐊᑎᓀᐠᐢ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐠ ᑭᑲᑫᐧ ᐃᔕᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᐁᐃᐧᐊᑕᐃᐧ ᐯᑲᐧᑕᐦᐃᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᔕᑯᐨ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᐃᓯᓭᓂᐠ ᐁᑭ ᑭᐳᓂᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐸᑭᑕᐁᐧᓂᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ. ᐊᔕ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑭᐱᑲᑫᐧᐱᔕᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᑕᔑᐯᑲᐧᑕᐦᐃᑫᐊᐧᐨ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᐅᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᓂᓂ ᓴᑦ ᒪᐠᑫ, ᐊᒥ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐯᔑᐠ ᑲᑭ ᑭᐸᐦᐅᑕᐧᐸᐣ ᐣᑯᑕᐧᓱ ᐅᓂᑲᓂᑕᒪᑫᐠ 2008 ᑲᔭᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᑲᑫᐧ ᒥᒋᒥᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᓂᑲᐣ ᒋᑭᑫᑕᒧᓂᑕᐧ ᒪᐧᔦ ᒪᑕᓄᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧᐠ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᑲᐡᑭᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᐳᓂᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭ ᑭᐸᑯᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᒋᒪᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ. ᒪᐠᑫ ᐃᑭᑐ ᒥᔑᐣ ᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐃᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᐱᐸᑭᑕᐁᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᓇᒣᑯᓴᐱᐣᐢ ᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐅᒋᒪᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑭᐊᑯᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐠ ᐁᐱᑲᑫᐧᐸᑭᒋᐊᐧᐨ. ᒋᒐᑲᑌᓯᒋᑲᑌ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᑲᑫᐧᐳᓂᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐃᒪ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᒪᒪᑕᐃᐧᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᐧᐸᑕᓇᐊᐧ. ᒪᐠᑫ ᐃᑭᑐ ᒥᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᒪᒋᑯᑌᐠ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑯᑕᐠ ᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᑭᐃᓇᑯᑌ ᐁᑲᐧ ᓇᑫ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑭᐱᑭᐁᐧᑯᑌ ᔕᑯᐨ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑭᐅᒋ ᑲᐡᑭᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᑭᐳᓂᐊᐧᐨ, ᐁᐧᑎ ᐊᐱᐣ ᔕᐊᐧᓄᐠ ᑭᐃᔑᒪᒋᑯᑌ. ᒥᑐᓂ ᓂᒥᑯᐡᑲᑌᑕᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᐧᐸᑕᒪᐣ ᑲᐃᓯᓭᐠ ᓇᒣᑯᓴᐱᐣᐢ ᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ, ᐃᑭᑐ
ᑭᒣᑯᓯᐱ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᑕᐧᓂ ᒪᐧᕑᐃᐢ. ᒥᑐᓂ ᑲᔦ ᐣᒋᔐᐣᑕᒥᐦᐃᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᐁᑲ ᑲᓇᑫ ᑲᑲᑫᐧ ᑭᐱᑎᓇᐠ ᐁᑲ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒋᐃᓯᓭᓂᐠ. ᐣᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᒥᐣ ᑲᔦ ᐣᑐᔑᐱᐦᐃᑲᓂᓇᐣ ᐁᑭᐃᔑᓂᔕᐦᐊᒪᐊᐧᔭᐠ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᑲ ᒋᑭᐱᐅᒋ ᓇᑫᐧᐁᐧᔑᑐᐨ ᑲᑭᐅᔑᐱᐦᐊᒪᐊᐧᔭᐠ ᑲᑭᑲᑫᒋᒪᔭᑭᐸᐣ ᐁᐃᐧᓇᑭᐡᑲᐊᐧᔭᐠ. ᒥᓂᑐ ᑕᐡ ᐃᑯ ᓇᐸᐨ ᐃᓀᑫ ᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂ ᑲᑭᐃᑭᑐᐸᐣ ᑲᑭᐊᔭᒥᐦᐃᑯᔭᑭᐸᐣ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑ ᒪᑕᓄᑲᑕᐠ ᐅᐡᑭ ᒪᒋᑕᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓂᑲᑌᐠ. ᐣᑭᐊᔭᓇᐸᐣ ᑫᓂᐣ ᐁᐧᑎ ᓇᒣᑯᓴᐱᐣᐢ ᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐁᓂᓂᑌᓂᒪᑲᐧ ᓇᐣᑕ ᒋᐅᒋᒪᒋᓭᐊᐧᐨ ᐣᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᒪᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐁᐃᐧᒥᒋᒥᓇᒪᐣ ᐣᑕᑭᑦ. ᓂᒥᓀᐧᑕᐣ ᑕᐡ ᐃᒪ ᑲᑭᓇᑯᐦᐃᑎᓱᔭᐠ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᑭᐁᐧ ᑲᓄᑕᒪᐠ ᐣᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᒥᓂᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐣᑐᑭᒪᐃᐧ ᐊᔓᑕᒪᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐁᐱᒧᓴᑕᒪᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑲ ᓄᑎᓂᑎᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᐃᓇᑫᐡᑲᒪᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐡᑲᑫᔭᐠ. ᒪᐠᑫ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᔑᒪᑲᓂᔕᐠ ᑭᐱᒣᒣᒋᑲᒋᑫᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᓇᓯᐱᐠ ᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐣᐢ ᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐠ ᑲᐱᑲᑫᐧ ᐸᑭᒋᐊᐧᐨ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐊᐧᐱᑭᑲᐠ ᒥᓇ ᒥᒋᑲᐣᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᑭᐱᐅᒋ ᐊᓱᐡᑲᐊᐧᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ. ᒥᐱᑯ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑲᓂᑲᓂᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᒪᐠ ᐁᐃᐧᑭᐳᓂᔕᐊᐧᔭᐠ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐠ ᐁᑲ ᒋᐱᔕᐊᐧᐨ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᒪᐠᑫ. ᐊᔕ ᑲᔦ ᐣᑭᑭᔕᓯᓇᐦᐊᒥᐣ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᑐᑕᒪᐠ ᐅᓇᑯ (ᐊᑲᐢᐟ 26). ᐊᐱ ᑲᑭᑫᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᐣ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᑲᐃᐧᑲᑫᐧ ᐃᔑᒋᑫᓂᐨ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐣ ᐁᐧᑎ
ᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐣᐢ ᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ, ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᐅᑭᐃᔑᓂᔕᐦᐊᐣ ᐅᑐᔑᐱᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᑕᐧᓫᑎᐣ ᒥᐠᑭᐣᑎ ᐁᑭ ᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᐨ ᐁᐃᐧᓇᑭᐡᑲᐊᐧᐨ, ᒥᓇ ᐁᑭᐅᒋᐃᐧᑕᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᑊᓫᐊᑎᓀᐠᐢ ᓇᐱᐨ ᒥᐢᑕᐃ ᐁᑭᐱᒥᑯᐡᑲᒋᒋᑫᐨ ᒥᓇ ᐱᑫᐧᐣᑕᒥᐦᐃᐁᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑲᔭᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᐱᑲᑫᐧ ᐯᑲᐧᑕᐦᐃᑫᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐠ. ᐊᔕ ᐁᐧᐡᑲᐨ ᐣᑭᐱᐅᒋ ᑭᑭᐱᒪᑎᓯᒥᐣ ᑲᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᐅᒪ ᐁᐅᒋ ᐱᒪᑎᓯᔭᐠ ᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐣᐢ ᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ, ᑭᐃᓇᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫ ᒪᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᑲᐢᐟ 17, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐃᒪ ᑭᐊᒋᑲᑌ ᒪᒪᑕᐃᐧᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᐠ ᒋᐅᒋᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᑌᐠ www.kitelecom. myknet.org. ᐣᑕᓂᔑᔑᐃᐧ ᒥᓂᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐣᑐᑭᒪᐃᐧ ᐊᔓᑕᒪᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓇᑫ ᒋᐅᒋ ᑎᐸᐸᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᐱ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᔑ ᐸᑭᑕᔓᐊᐧᓇᐨ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐣ ᑊᓫᐊᑎᓀᐠᐢ ᑲᐃᓂᑕᐧ ᒋᐱᓇᓇᑕᐊᐧᓯᓂᐁᐧᓂᐨ. ᐣᐸᑯᓭᑕᒥᐣ ᑕᐡ ᐱᓇᒪ ᒋᑭ ᑭᐁᐧ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒋᑲᑌᑭᐸᐣ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑲᑭ ᓇᑯᑕᒪᑫᐸᐣ ᐱᓫ 191 ᐅᐡᑭ ᐅᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐸᑭᑎᓂᑲᑌᐠ (ᐅᐡᑭᒪᒋᑕᐃᐧᐣ) ᑲᐃᑭᑐᒪᑲᐠ ᐅᓄᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑐᑲᐣ ᒋᐅᒋ ᒪᓇᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑ ᐅᓇᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐅᐡᑭ ᐅᓇᔓᐁᐧᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᒪᐠᑫ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧ ᐅᑭᐸᐱᒋᓂᔕᐦᐊᐣ ᐅᑐᔑᐱᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᐁᐃᑭᑐᐨ, ᑭᔭᒥᑯ ᒋᐱᔕᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒋᐱᑭᑭᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᐡᑲᐃᐧᓯᐃᐧᓂ ᑐᑲᐣ ᑭᒋᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᒋᐅᒋᓇᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧ ᐃᒪ ᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᑲᐣ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐸᑭᑎᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᓀᐢ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᐊᔕ ᐅᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᐣ ᐅᐃᐧᑕᒪᑫᐃᐧᐣ
ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᑲᐢᐟ 24 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᓂᐨ. ᒥᑐᓂ ᑕᐡ ᑭᒋᐊᓂᒥᓭᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᓇᑭᐡᑲᓇᐊᐧ ᐣᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᒪᐠ, ᐃᑭᑐ ᒪᐠᑫ. ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᔦ ᐣᑐᔓᓂᔭᒥᒥᐣ ᑫᑭᐅᒋ ᑲᑫᐧᓇᑕᒪᓱᔭᐠ ᐣᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᒥᓂᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐣᑐᑭᒪᐃᐧ ᐊᔓᑕᒪᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ. ᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᒋᑭᑲᑫᐧ ᓂᓯᑕᐁᐧᒋᑲᑌᑭᐸᐣ ᑭᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᒥᓂᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑭᑐᑭᒪᐃᐧ ᐊᔓᑕᒪᑯᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᐊᐱᐨ ᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐃᓀᑫ ᐃᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒥᑯᔭᐠ. ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᑭᑲᑫᐧᑐᑕᒧᐸᓂᐠ ᒋᒥᐡᑲᐧᒋᐸᑭᑎᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᐸᑭᑎᓂᐨ ᔓᓂᔭᐣ ᒋᐅᒋ ᑎᐸᐦᐃᑫᓯᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑎᐸᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧ ᒣᑎᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᐊᑯᓇᐠ ᐅᐱᒪᐊᒧᐃᐧᐱᓯᑦ 2007 ᑲᔭᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᓭᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐁᑲ ᒋᑭᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᓴᑦ ᐊᔕ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ $700,000 ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᐁᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᐁᐧ ᐊᐱ. ᒪᐧᕑᐃᐢ 68 ᑕᓱᑭᔑᑲ ᑭᑭᐸᐊᐧᑲᓄ ᐊᔑᐨ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐠ ᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᐧᔦ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑎᐸᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᑲᑭᐅᒋ ᐸᑭᑎᓂᑕᐧᐸᐣ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᑲᐢᐟ ᐱᓯᑦ 27 ᑲᐃᓇᑭᓱᐨ ᑲᑭᓇᑫᐧᐱᐦᐊᒪᐊᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᑎᐸᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᑭᒪᐣ ᑯᕑᐃᐢ ᐯᐣᐟᓫᐃ ᐁᐃᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐅᐁᐧ ᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᓂ ᐃᓀᑫ ᐊᐱᐨ ᐃᐧᐣ ᑎᐸᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᐃᓀᑫᓭᐠ ᐁᐃᔑᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑲᓇᑕ ᒥᓇ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓇᐠ ᐁᑲ ᐁᑕ ᐁᐧᒥᑎᑯᔑᒧᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑭᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑲᔭᓂᒧᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᓂ ᐊᔓᑕᒪᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒪᔭᑦ ᑲᐃᐧᑲᐧᔭᑯᓂᑲᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐃᓇᐱᐣ ᐸᑭᑭᓂᑲᓂᐠ 9