Autumn 2006

bringing news & stor ies of the metis nation BC for September 2006

See CenterSee Center fold for MNBC 2006 AGMfold for MNBC 2006 AGM

WW September pages 1-24.qxp 9/4/2006 10:29 AM Page 1


september 2006 Whispering Winds3

Tansi - Welcome to Whispering Winds

Inside This IssueMessage from the President page 5Chief Executive Officer Message page 6Culture Events summer 2006 page 7Buffalo Hunt (Ron Nunn) page 8Graduation #2 Metis Oil & Gas page 10Encana/MNBC Form Partnership page 12Metis Skill and Employment Centre C.O.R.E.Graduates page 14Minister of Education page 16Metis Matters Radio Show page 18Kelowna Artist Dennis Weber page 19Metis Culture - Capote page 20BC United Metis Youth Council AGM Agenda

Page 24Metis Nation BC AGM Workshops page 26Metis Nation BC AGM Agenda page 28

AGM Sponsors page 30Willison Appeal page 32Youth in Action page 31MNBC Veterans page 33MNBC Registry Database page 34Metis Youth BCUMYC page 35Red River West page 38Region 1 -7 page 40Special Fiction (12 part series)“A Canadian Legend - story of a Metis woman andher family (1875 to 2003) by Leanne Laberge

page 47Metis Women’s Secretariat Update page 49“Heroine of the North” History Part II page 50Back to Batoche 2006 Photos page 52Photo Contest Extended page 53Fiction Contributions from our Guest Writer,Kim Hayek page 54

Great News - We are now entering ourthird year of business!! A specialthanks to you, our readers and ouradvertisers!!! This has been fun, achallenge at times but mostly fun.Noel and I are doing what we like andI hope you are getting something out ofevery magazine you read.This edition has been interesting - thereare so many stories and great photoscoming from around the province thatwe may have missed some but we willcertainly add them to our nextpublication.Our business is growing and we arepleased to announce new teammembers! Colleen French, Falkland, isour Executive Assistant, Gary Ingram,

Delta, will be working in Sales andPhotography. Colleen and Gary offergreat advice (some we use and somewe think about using); Steve Dills hasoffered to help edit some of the storiessubmitted. He is a journalist and islearning a great deal about Aboriginalculture. Anni Therrian continues tosupply us with great pictures; KimHayek, Ron Nunn, Leanne LaBergeand the former Charlotte Bompas(1830-1917) offer us an insight intoMetis history and our culture. A specialthanks to ALL of the MNBC team whocontribute regularly with reports fromtheir various departments. It is thistype of teamwork that makes our jobeasier and more interesting.

We welcome stories from every readeras well as advertisers. Our readershipis now up 10,000 and we just keepgrowing.Subscriptions are available, see below.By October 1st, we will be launchingour new website!!! Watch for it -www.kiwetin.comIn our nest issue we will highlight theMNBC AGM, The BC Oil and GasConference, the Red River Rangers,BCMANR and culture events.Is Christmas your favourite time of theyear? Help us produce a wonderfulChristmas book - send in your recipe,Christmas story, poem or song beforeNovember 5th and you could win a specialred vest. Your name will be entered into ourChristmas 2006 draw.

Kiwetin Marketing & Publishing Ltd.P.O. Box 1266, Vernon, B.C. V1T 6N6Phone 250-558-7997 • Fax 250-558-4178Toll Free 1-866-558-7997Email: kiwetin@shaw. caWebsite: www.kiwetin.com

A Metis company, independently owned and operated by Publisher Noel MineaultPublishers Noel Mineault & Diane Ellis, Colleen French - Executive Assistant, Gary Ingram - Sales & Photography

Steve Dills - Editing, Contributors: Kim Hayek - fiction writer; Anni Therrien - photographer; Ron Nunn, Randy Spinks,Leanne LaBerge, MNBC Directors - writers

We always appreciate our supporters and contributors! Feel free to send in your articles and photos. Publishers do reservethe right to edit all submissions. Advertising rates available upon request.Subscriptions to Whispering Winds are available at $26.00 per 6 issues.


Whispering Winds september 20064

ForeverAvast ye mourners but I do not dieSimply travel, new canoes and rivers to plyAs you remember me, I remember youAs you know me I know you.Tis not for those who have passed for whom to weep,Tis for those left behind whose hearts hang deep.

Life grows onwards beyond my sightTo me it’s day what to you seems nightSun shines in this joy tonight alasPeace is with you as with meAs I pass.

Bring out your drum, your fiddle, your fifeTickle your lute that we dance in laughter to this our life.Avast ye mourners but I do not die

Simply travel, new canoes and rivers to ply.

Carl M. P. CorriganMétis and Proud of It



The Metis Nation British Columbia (MNBC)leadership has continued to work over the summermonths since the last edition of the Kiwetin Magazinewas made available for the Metis communities andmany corporate partners this past June 2006. Kiwetinmagazine is a very important communication tool forthe Metis Nation British Columbia to share stories,successes, and bring a sense of Metis culture and prideto our Metis citizens throughout British Columbia.

In the June edition of the Kiwetin Magazine, I wasproud to read about the historic success achieved whenMNBC and the Provincial Government, through theMinistry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation(MARR) Minister Tom Christensen, celebrated thesigning of the Metis Nation Relationship Accord onMay 12, 2006. I stated our desired objectives in thearticle and the Metis Nation leadership have continuedto discuss and strategize how the Metis NationRelationship Accord will truly benefit our Metiscitizens in key areas of health, housing, education,economic opportunities, and Metis identification.

Metis Nation British Columbia has also continued tolead several successful initiatives. Most recently theRed River Rangers, our elite Metis forest fire attackcrews have been instrumental battling several fires inBritish Columbia. The Encana/MNBC Oil and Gastraining program was also recently showcased in theProvince newspaper during July 2006. The Provincenewspaper wrote a great article outlining the success ofthis program.

Furthermore, MNBC celebrated the first graduatingclass of Construction Orientation (CORE) students inAbbottsford at the Metis Skills and EmploymentCenter. Finally, the MNBC and several of its Metiscitizens attended the annual Batoche celebration inJuly. Batoche is a very historic and important site forthe Metis Nation and I was proud of our support andparticipation of our British Columbia delegates at theevent held in Saskatchewan.

Metis Nation British Columbia leadership and staff arebusy preparing for the upcoming MNBC AnnualGeneral Meeting (AGM) located in beautiful Kelownathis year. A draft MNBC AGM agenda is provided inthis edition to ensure Metis citizens are informed aboutthe importance of attending this event.The Metis Nation British Columbia is makingconsiderable progress and I hope many of the Metiscitizens attend this important event. Highlights of thisyears AGM will include:- Nine (9) Stage Implementation Process to address

our objectives/goals for the Metis NationRelationship Accord;

- Workshops to showcase several of the MNBCprograms and services;

- Cultural events, dancing, and a celebration for all;- Tribute to Art Burd, Master Metis Fiddler;- plus several other items...

This is a very important time for the Metis NationBritish Columbia and the leadership has adoptedrevised MNBC Vision and Mandate statements to markour future direction. I am very proud of the dedicatedleadership the Metis citizens have trusted to developthis great Nation.

A Message from the President of the MNBC

Michael, Nathan and Bruce Dumont


Metis Nation British Columbia(MNBC) staff haveworked aggressively during the months of June andJuly to complete a number of administrativeresponsibilities. The MNBC staff have finalized the2005-2006 Audit with our auditors (Manning Elliot),completed all year end reports for 2005-2006,andcontinued to support our Metis Nation leadership withstrategic operational plans to meet the objectivesidentified in the Metis Nation Relationship Accord.Furthermore the MNBC staff are managing the newyear programs and budgets for 2006-2007. The firstquarter is completed and staff have already begun toconstruct first quarter reporting for our Governmentand Corporate partners to ensure accountability.

MNBC staff are also in the process of revising theircurrent job descriptions as approved by the MNBCBoard Human Resource sub-committee.The MNBC growth has required many changes to theoperations and organization chart. The MNBC Boardof Directors adopted a revised organizational chartand revised business plan this past February 2006.Consequently MNBC staff are complying with newrecommendations, negotiating resources to ensurecorporate success, and supporting the Metis Nation

leadership in terms of Federal and Provincial policydevelopment.

MNBC growth in terms of overall finances will beprovided to the Metis delegates at the 2005-2006AGM in Kelowna. There were several successfulachievements in 2005-2006 and the financial growthenabled the MNBC to initiate new programs, assistmore Metis citizens seek employment and trainingsupport, provide increased Metis Nation governanceresources, and several other supports this past fiscalyear. The MNBC Auditors will assist in the deliveryof the Financial Statements during the AGM toshowcase our transparent approach to programs andservices.

Heading into the month of September 2006 MNBCstaff are working with their MNBC Ministers tofinalize revised business planning as part of the “Nine(9) Stage Implementation Process”. This is a verybusy time for the MNBC staff and our work to ensurea success AGM in Kelowna is crucial. MNBC staffhave developed several informative workshops thatwe hope the Metis citizens who attend will trulybenefit from.

I really want to encourage all citizens to considerattending the AGM in Kelowna. There have been somany successes and we continue to seek your inputinto our administrative structure.

All the best and hope to see you in Kelowna.Keith Henry, CEOMetis Nation British Columbia


A Message from the CEO of MNBC

Keith’s son, Drake, packs up afteran interesting visit to Batoche

Keith HenryChief Executive Officer



Culture Events throughout the summer

Board of Directors Meeting in Terrace, July 2006



Metis Hunters of the Hudson’s Bay Company

by Ron NunnThere were 54 Metis hunters in theColumbia district between 1836 and1860. They were formed into abrigade system that traveled to theSnake River country and as far southas California. One of their jobs was totrap furs and survey the country forthe Hudson Bay Company (HBC).

The early fur brigadesgenerally left Fort Colville orSpokane House destined for theSnake River country, a vast areacovering Idaho and Oregon. Theirother duty, besides trapping, wasexploration. When they were notengaged in trapping or trail blazing,they were hunting and providing thedry meat to feed the boatmen of theColumbia who drove their boat loadsof fur down the river to the Pacific orother fur brigades destined for thedistrict of New Caledonia (northernB.C.).

These brigades consisted offormer men from both the Hudson

Bay Company and the North WestCompany which had amalgamated.They were considered expert huntersand many of them were Métis, sonsof North West Company traders andIndian women. Some were Métisfrom the Red River Settlement andothers, like the famous Jocko Finlay,a Métis of renown, who blazed thetrail down the Columbia for NorthWest Company explorer DavidThompson, were engaged to providemeat for the ever expanding furtrade.

Just to give an example ofhow much meat was used at a fort,one has to look in the companyrecords. The weekly ratio was 4.5pounds of dried meat per person.Governor Simpson, after his tour ofthe various forts in the ColumbiaDistrict, instituted a policy offrugality, restricting European foodsbeing sent to the various forts in theColumbia.

He firmly believed that forprofitability, the employees mustgrow the majority of their ownfood and harvest wild game tosustain their protein needs.

As early as 1827,Francoise Annance, the chiefhunter from the Fort Langleytrading post was engaged inhunting fulltime. He was a veryskilled hunter and most timesreturned to the fort in a day or twowith up to six elk and a dozen deer.

Dr. Mike Angel, a wellknown historian on Métis in thePacific Norwest, gave evidence at atrial recently, that an archeologicaldig at the location of old FortKamloops, unearthed layers ofbones, mostly from deer and elkand some bear. This was anindication of how much wild meatwas consumed and how manypeople were there to consume it.



Similar forts in theColumbia District also neededconstant wild meat, either fresh ordried, to sustain those inside andoutside the fort. The fortsthemselves had hunters, guides andinterpreters. Their jobs were broadlydefined and not strictly limited tothe tasks that were assigned by thefort factor.

The LafleurBrothers, out of FortOkanagan, were em-ployees of the HBC fora considerable periodand spent as much timehunting for food as theydid guiding andinterpreting.

Roderick McLean, whowas assigned to FortSimilkimeen, alsohunted, guided andinterpreted. On aninteresting note, he was a highlyskilled axeman and also workedwith the Boundary CommissionSurveyors.

The Columbia District wasvast. It extended east beyond theKootenays, south into present-dayMontana and Idaho, and west to theSimilkimeen. This area was part ofthe greater land that was dubbed,“Oregon Territory” and remained sountil 1870, when British Columbiacame into being by order of theCrown. When British Columbiabecame a province in l871 the HBCquickly lost its hold on the interiorof the country.

One interesting post wasFort Shephard, built with the

intention of replacing Fort Colville,slightly north of what today is the49th parallel. Fort Colville continuedto operate until the late 1860’s, but itwas no longer the profitable post ithad been, so its personnel weretransferred. Of course, the hunters,guides and interpreters were highlyvalued, as they could provide themeat necessary for the fort staff andtheir dependants, as well as the fur

brigades which traveled east to RedRiver or west to Fort Hope. When we look at the list ofemployees in the various forts of theColumbia district, we see manyMétis names — Lafleur, Felix, Heronand Le Pratt, as well as Ermantingerand Humperville. We also see byHBC journals, that their sons enteredthe fur trade as employees in the lateryears of the Hudson Bay.

If one wonders how muchwild game was turned into dry meat,the ratio would be around five poundsof meat to one pound of jerky.

The fur trade out of Red River got it’sstaple pemmican from the Métisbuffalo hunters, who organized largebuffalo hunts with hundreds of

families journeying onto the plains ofthe Dakotas.

Some of this pemmican, I’msure, made it across the Rockies, butall evidence indicates that the furtrade posts west of the Rockies weremandated to become self-sufficient. When we think of those Métis whowere the guides, inter-preters, andhunters, we think of them only as

Hudson Bay employees, butin fact they were like thetradespeople of today whomoved from one place toanother following the work.Many times they worked forthemselves as free traders,trappers and horse wrang-lers. They were not limitedto one occupation, but had tobe very versatile andadaptable.

When the inter-national boundary was set in 1864,much of the cross border trade wascut off due to heavy duties and tariffs.The Hudson Bay consolidated and fora better word, “laid off” many of itsemployees. The question is where did thosepeople go? Some returned to RedRiver, as documents and HBC logsindicate, but the majority stayed andwith the coming of the Gold Rush,engaged in hunting and guiding forthe miners and supplying meat tothem, either dried or fresh.

So you see, they had theirtrade and they practiced it very well.

We today can still proudlycall them the … Métis Hunters of theHudson Bay.



Graduat ion for Second Intake of Met is Oi l & Gas Program

A group of Métis men and womenwho graduated from a specializedcourse preparing them for work inthe oil and gas industry aremuch better prepared for thejob than others applying forsimilar opportunities.Adrian LaChance, seniorexecutive vice president withTrinidad Drilling Ltd. toldthe students, “Having thetraining you have today is 10times better than any green-horn we could hire off thestreet. When you’re doneyou will have a full under-standing of what is expectedof you.”He was speaking at gradua-tion ceremonies for the 15 studentsat Bear Training Centre inSpringbrook, just west of Red Deer,Alberta, May 30. The students wereall sponsored by Métis NationBritish Columbia (MNBC) under

what MNBC President BruceDumont described as “one of themost exciting aboriginal initiatives

in all of Canada”.They attended the 24 day pre-employment roughneck trainingand life skills program, completingthe course a week after the celebra-tion.

“I’m glad to see you taking the ini-tiative to stick with this,” saidLaChance. “It’s the best training inthe province and probably inWestern Canada. As a training cen-tre we’ve evolved. I feel we’regoing in the right direction, gettingthe most trained people in the field… Our goal is not to hire anyonewho doesn’t have this type of train-ing,” he said.Trinidad, Encana Corporation andBear Training Centre all partneredwith MNBC to provide the immer-sion style training courses designedto provide Métis people with oppor-tunities in the industry.LaChance said Trinidad is building30 new rigs and with crews of 16per rig there will be a “hugedemand for trained people”.“For us we could use every person,”he said. But he cautioned the stu-

dents not to get discouragedif they don’t go to workimmediately after complet-ing the course. The industrywas in spring breakup modeuntil at least mid-June butby July or August all the rigswill be going back to work,he said.“It really is quite an accom-plishment for industry to dowhat we’re doing heretoday,” he concluded.Dumont congratulated thestudents, noting this is thesecond round of roughneck

training provided to Métis throughBear Training’s program.He remembered his early career as aroughneck stating, “I thought it wasan excellent job.”“You make us proud to have gone

Participants in the training course were: Cory Delany, Dustin Resch, TylerRatcher, Shane Zboyovsky, Adrianne Veeters, Lawrence Frederickson, RyanCoombs, Bill Staddon, Nolan Delany, Miachael McDonald, Robert Parisien, JimWells, Keenan Kroeker,Adam Shepherd, Daniel Myhre,



“You make us proud to have completed the training”

through the training, completed thetraining,” Dumont said. The train-ing is also versatile and can help in

other occupations.He particularly stressed the safetyaspect of the course.“The safety training — keep it likeit’s your Bible. Make sure you referto that. You’ve got to look afteryourself, your co-workers. It’s real-ly important. Your partner, familywant you home. Don’t take short-cuts. Keep safety in mind. Keepyour training in mind. What you’veaccomplished here.“Métis Nation British Columbia hasprovided you with skills and talent

for the workforce in theoil and gassector. Youmake us veryproud. Youshould beproud ofyourselves.Stand proud,walk proudfor the MétisNation, notonly throug-hout British

Columbia but throughout Canada.”Dumont said, “It’s only been twoshort years since we envisioned

training for Métis students in the oiland gas sector where we felt therewas the most opportunity. We triedto address how Métis citizens had

access to those opportunities.”He described the partnership withEncana and Trinidad as the “criticalpiece” in the strength of the pro-gram.“I believe it takes good leadershipto achieve those partnerships. Wecontinue to lead one of the mostexciting aboriginal initiatives in all

of Canada. Every one of the partiesmade a personal commitment.”Dumont also praised the students’

personal commitment for leavinghome to take the training andencouraged them to be ambassadorsfor MNBC. “You’re going to make

your family, community andthe Métis Nation proud.”Catherine Pennington, aborigi-nal relations advisor withEncana, also praise the partner-ship with MNBC. “We set outon this initiative together at anindustry forum in Fort St.John,” she said. “We have avery positive relationship.” She noted a major announce-ment on an Encana-MNBCpartnership was being madeabout the same time studentswere completing the course(see separate story).

Following the speeches, each stu-dent was presented with a sash byDumont.The course provided comprehen-sive training tailored specificallyfor the drilling industry. It includesa roughneck program whichinvolves hands-on experience onboth service and general rigs in



Second Graduat ion Class 2006

Guest Ranch for Sale

Located in the heart of Metis History, Louis Rieland the Battle of Batoche in 1885

It includes a lodge and a 5 bedroom ranch home(fully furnished), barn, shop and an elevator. 135acres, Plus 19 acres which border it as an option(has power and lots of water) Need to sell, as myhusband passed away.

Asking $285,000DUCK LAKE, SK

www.jackpinestables.comPhone: (306) 467-2005

Nisku, a safety component lifeskills program and daily fitness pro-gram.“Our advantage is producingknowledgeable, educated, physical-ly fit people to work. By beingmore ready they’re going to be saferand have less

opportunity to get hurt,” said Bear’sprogram co-ordinator, ShaneJepson. He described the physicalfitness component as very impor-tant to the overallability of graduates as they begintheir careers.Upon graduation students received

certificates of completion whichincluded Enform Service andDrilling Rig certification, FallProtection and Scaffolding, BasicFire Safety, Confined Space Entry,H2S Alive, Standard First Aid andCPR and WHMIS or TDG.


SEPTEMBER 2006 Whispering Winds13

Métis Nation British Columbia(MNBC) and EnCana Corporationhave launched an innovativeeducational partnership geared totraining 100 Métis drilling rigtechnicians over the next three yearsso they can help fill the growingdemand in northeast BritishColumbia.The employment initiative, calledthe Pre-Employment Floorman(Roughneck) Program was launchedJune 7 after two highly successfulpilot training programs resulted in100 percent graduation success withover 90 percent employment.The program calls for no less thansix intakes of 15-20 students overthe three years based on at least twointakes a year.The program will engageparticipants with a practical, hands-on, immersion-style trainingprogram in a realistic drilling campenvironment. Participants in thecomprehensive 20-day program willlearn how to safely operate andmaintain drilling equipment and thejob functions relevant to the drillingfloor and deck crew operations, aswell as the specific skills of aroustabout and lease hand. In

addition to the technical training, allstudents participate in an OilfieldFitness Program and a JobReadiness Program. Upongraduation, students will receiveindustry support for securingemployment.The three-year initiative will costapproximately $1 million withEnCana contributing $250,000 andMNBC committing the balance.During the second graduation, May30, at the Bear Training Centre inSpringbrook, Alberta, AdrianLaChance, senior executive vicepresident with Trinidad DrillingLtd. told the students, “Having thetraining you have today is 10 timesbetter than any greenhorn we couldhire off the street. When you’redone you will have a fullunderstanding of what is expectedof you.”Speaking at the launch of theprogram, a week later, MichaelMcAllister, vice president ofEnCana’s Peace Country businessunit said, the training partnershipwas designed to advance theparticipation of Métis workers in theoil and gas industry and help fill thegrowing demand for skilled workers

in the drilling and developmentsector of the industry.“The fact that a recent pilot programachieved a 100 percent graduationrate and a 90 percent employmentrate, speaks to the strength andrelevance of this approach,” he said.“When MNBC approached us withtheir creative proposal … we saw atruly unique and excitingopportunity … We want B. C.residents to be able to participate asfully as possible in B.C. oil and gasdevelopment — and we want toplay our part in ensuring that accessand opportunities are madeavailable.”“The partnership with EnCana hasbeen one hat the Métis Nation holdsin great honour,” said MNBCpresident Bruce Dumont, at thelaunch. “I truly believe the key tosuccess in this world today ispartnership and truly it takes goodleadership to achieve partnership.Leadership is demonstrated bycommitment, dedication, but mostimportantly trust. Today, I feel thatEnCana and the MNBC are leadingone of the most exciting Aboriginalinitiatives in all of Canada based onthese principles.”

EnCana, MNBC partnership to train 100 Métis drilling rig technicians



July 31, 2006 Abbotsford BC

The Métis Skills and EmploymentCentre in Abbotsford is pleased toannounce the tremendous success andgraduation of our first class of con-struction trades CORE students.Students that have completed havenow moved on to further training inspecific fields or on to employment inthe construction sector. The skillsacquired through this training are the

stepping-stones for individuals seekingentry or advancement in the trades. Theprograms offered through the MétisSkills & Training Centre are recog-nized by industry leaders and certifiedby the Industry Trades Authority.“The first of the student grads here atthe Métis Skills & Employment Centrewere very hard working and ambitious.As the Apprenticeship Liaison Worker,I will be supporting them in the nextphase after graduation which is linking

students withemployment ,and supportingthem in theirp lacements .”said HazelB u r n s ,ApprenticeshipLiaison Worker.“We don’t justput themthrough theCORE pro-gram, we arejob coacheswho work withthe employers,and the studenton jobsites toensure the suc-cess and theretention ofthese place-ments”. Inaddition totraining Métisand FirstNations peopleto work in the

C o n s t r u c t i o nIndustry, supportis available byp r o v i d i n gaccommodation; travel, equipment,job-site support and job start tool-upfor those entering into employment.The Construction Orientation andRetention for Employment trainingwas developed to set up individuals forconstruction sector employment. Witha spotlight on safety training and basicwork skills, the program provides astrong underpinning for those interest-ed in working in construction relatedjobs. The Aboriginal Skills andEmployment Partnership (ASEP) pro-gram was launched in late 2003 and isa 5-year program. Its purpose is to cre-ate sustainable employment forAboriginal people in major economicinitiatives across Canada throughmutual partnerships, leading to lifelongbenefits for Aboriginal communities,families and individuals. The VanAsepsociety was created and linked majoremployers and major constructionprojects to a source of labour supply,the Aboriginal peoples of BC. TheMNBC is one of those partners. Theprogram focuses on prospects relatingto the Vancouver Trade andConvention Centre, the Vancouver PortExpansion, the Sea to Sky Highwayupgrades, 2010 Olympics and the gen-eral construction boom happening inBC and Canada.Malonie Langthorne, Director ofMHRDA said, The Métis Nation BCEmployment & Training Program isplacing a lot of emphasis on trades and

Enter the Trades Today

Are you looking for a career? Do you want to make good money in an industry that is

growing and diverse? Do you want to start now?

If you have never thought of being a tradesperson, why not take a look. A career in the trades leads to good jobs and continuous employment. The Métis Skills and Employment Centre located at 2020 Abbotsford

Way, Abbotsford BC, may have the start for you. We currently run the industry recognized CORE

program for construction trades entry. A 6-week program that will get you the knowledge and confidence you need to move into the labour

market and toward apprenticeship and eventually journeyman status. This program teaches the

basics in construction, certifies safety tickets and places you into trial employment with an industry professional, and

much more.

Want to Work? Don’t wait. Drop by. Call today for more information.

604-850-0942 or email [email protected]

Call today!

Partners in learning



MÉTIS SKILLS & EMPLOYMENT CENTRE Graduates First CORE class

apprenticeship opportunities rightnow”. “The Métis Skills &Employment Centre is a solid exampleof our continued growth, and providesstudents the opportunity to earn andlearn while assist-ing BC employerswith a qualifiedMétis workforcethat will address theo v e r w h e l m i n glabour shortages inthe ConstructionSector.” The program doesnot just get the basics to novices, buthelps support people already in labourpositions or early trades work. Theapprenticeship program through theSkills Centre can also help trades des-tined people learn the skills needed toearn provincial and national certifica-

tion by providing a link to apprentice-ship registration, tracking and access toaccredited training. Training is ongoing and classes are 6weeks in length for CORE. Other pro-

grams the Centre willoffer are 1st level car-pentry apprenticet r a i n i n g ,Construction SafetyOfficer (CSO) train-ing and other special-ty and safety trainingclasses. Informationon these upcoming courses,

as well as the MSEC Course Calendarare available on the MNBC website athttp://www.mnbc.ca/mhrda.html. Minister of Employment & Training,Mr. Dave Hodgson, Keith Henry, ChiefExecutive Officer, and MHRDA Staffwant to again congratulate all of the

graduates on their success .The MétisNation British Columbia will continueto demonstrate effective responses toindustry needs. The MNBC recentlyachieved historic success with the sign-

ing of the MétisN a t i o nR e l a t i o n s h i pAccord with theProvince ofB r i t i s hColumbia. Thismarked our fur-ther commit-

ment, as the Métis Nation to supportthe social and economic needs of ourMétis community within BritishColumbia and Canada. Each of thegraduates is part of that commitmentand the Métis Nation respects andthanks you for your contribution to thissuccess.



Thoughts from the Minister of Education for MNBC - Kay Dahl

We have had some very exciting eventstake place over the past few months.While very important they indicate asignificant increase in the credibility ofthe Métis Nation B.C. but what do theymean and why is it important in the longrun?I have, lately, been asking myself thesetypes of questions. We are now half waythrough this term of office and I think itimportant to reflect on the reasons forstriving to “build a nation”.We are all part of Canada. So why takeon the struggle to establish a distinctnation for the Métis?I know that the hunters and fishermenwill say they want the freedom to huntand fish for food to feed their familieswithout having to get permission fromthe government vis á vis the purchase oflicenses and the restrictions of “huntingseason”. I agree this is an important“right” but realistically how many ofour people still feed their familiesthrough hunting and/or fishing? Personally, although I do enjoy a day onthe water fighting with salmon, I domost of my hunting at Overwaitea orThrifty’s. So I had to dig deeper to findthe source of my passion for the reestab-lishment of the Métis Nation B.C.I began to think back over my life andexperiences and what I knew as a childgrowing up in a fairly racist community.My father was very aboriginal inappearance so denial of our heritage wasnever an option for him and he was too

proud to take it if it was. I was taughtabout our Métis ancestry and the part weplayed in the development of this coun-try. I was told about my great-greatgrandparents and of their work forFather Lacombe in north and westAlberta. However this information differed sig-nificantly with what I was taught inschool. There was very little informa-tion in the Canadian history books aboutthe Métis people. What was there seems,on reflection, to have been very prejudi-cial. They (the Métis) were a smallgroup of dissidents led by a mad man,Louis Riél, who committed treason byrebelling against the Government ofCanada. He was subsequently hung forhis crimes. There was no explanationabout the reason for this “rebellious”behavior and there were no legitimatesources for alternative information. Thisis a deficiency that I believe we willhave an opportunity to rectify throughour involvement in the EducationSteering Committees.The new Relationship Accord lends usan increased authority to ensure that theinformation about the Métis people andtheir involvement in the development ofCanada is accurate. Our children need,and, in my opinion,have a right, to be educated in the schoolsystem as well as in their homes, in amanner that encourages pride in theirheritage.It is my very strong belief that we need

to have more Métis spe-cific content in ourschool curriculums andthis needs to come fromMétis authoredresources. This will beaccomplished by havingstrong Métis representa-tion on the AboriginalEducation SteeringCommittees within ourcommunities.

There are, now, several books, most ofwhich were written by non-aboriginalauthors, that explore the fur trade andthe unions between European tradersand First Nations women and refer tothe children that resulted from theseunions as Métis or half-breeds. Thereare however very few academic booksavailable about the Métis people after1885. Although, it is a positive thatMétis have authored most of those thatdo exist.George R.D. Goulet’s book The Trial ofLouis Reil – Justice and Mercy Denied,is an excellent recounting of this verysignificant, historic event.Two additional authors worth noting areHoward Adams: Prison of Grass andTortured People as well as MariaCampbell’s Halfbreed. These booksexamine the lifestyles our ancestors hadinflicted on them after the death ofLouis Riél in 1885. They explain, tosome extent, the shame and denial thathas existed within our families and whythis was seen as necessary for survival.There are other authors emerging fromwithin our nation who build on and sup-port the information contained in thebooks already mentioned. I believethat these books need to be included inthe school curriculums as resources forour students to learn the realities ofMétis history.So, to sum up, one of my personal rea-sons for becoming involved in thestruggle is to ensure that our childrenreceive a much more balanced educa-tion about the development of Canadaand the very significant roleplayed by their ancestors/families.I would encourage all of you, who readthis, to become aware of the work that isbeing done in the education disciplineand support those who represent you onthese very important committees. I amalso very open to any input and sugges-tions you may wish to offer.



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Seventeen Years and Still Going!Métis Matters has been broadcasting onVancouver Co-op Radio since 1989. InNovember of that year, Ken Fisher(then president of the Louis RielMétis Association in Surrey)received a phone call from the sta-tion, inviting him for an on-air inter-view. Ken asked his friend and col-league, Fred Storey, to join him onthe hour-long program Kla How YaFM.Following this debut, Ken and Fredwere invited by the station to presenta monthly broadcast about Métispeople and culture. Less than two

years later, Métis Matters began air-ing every other week, delivering aunique blend of Métis history, cultureand current affairs. Since April 2006,the program has been running week-ly, with a fresh hour of Métis news,views and music each Wednesday at5 pm. Ken Fisher continues to present theshow, along with co-host GaryIngram and technical operator MarkBignell. The crew brings you a mixof traditional Métis style fiddle music(sometimes with a good old-fash-

ioned Country and Westerntune thrown in for variety),alongside news affecting theMétis community, event list-ings and fascinating guests. Métis communities fundamen-tally altered Canada’s west-ward development, particular-ly through the assertion of theiridentity and rights in collectiveactions ranging from the RedRiver Resistance (1870) to theBattle of Batoche (1885).

Today, Métis people continue to fightfor recognition of their Aboriginalrights and existence in Canada. Findout more about Métis culture, struggles

and achievements at the local, provin-cial and federal levels!

Tune into Métis Matters, every Wednesdayfrom 5-6:00 pm. Pacific time.Tune in locally to CFRO 102.7 FM Radioor via Cablevision hook up to FM. UseStarchoice satellite channel 845 acrossCanada OR http://live.coopradio.org OnAir Number (604)684-7561

Metis Matters Radio Show is in need ofasking its listeners “On the Air” torenew their support and join Co-opRadio in the Fall membership Drive.Email: [email protected] [email protected]


Metis Matters Radio Show

Ken Fisher

Gary Ingram



Kelowna artist’s Dennis Weber,creation celebrates Métis heritage

Kelowna artist Dennis Weber hascreated a poster that is being displayedacross the country. He was commissioned, in May, topaint an artwork commemoratingMétis people for National AboriginalDay on June 21. The poster pays homage to Métisleader Gabriel Dumont on the 100thanniversary of his death. Dumonthelped lead the small Métis militaryforces during the Northwest Rebellionof 1885. He also helped convinceLouis Riel to return to Canada andplead the Métis case to the federalgovernment. With superior firepower, Canadianforces eventually crushed the Métisrebellion at Batoche, Sask. Riel washanged and Dumont escaped to theU.S. Soon after, then-prime minister JohnA. MacDonald predicted the Métispopulation would disappear in a fewyears. Riel disagreed, Weber said.“Louis Riel said our people will sleepfor 100 years. But when they wake up,it will be the artists who bring backtheir culture.”Weber, who was born in

Saskatchewan, worked as a carpenterbefore moving to Kelowna in 1999 topaint full time. His works, most ofthem portraits, are featured at TurtleIsland in downtown Kelowna and agallery in Revelstoke.“It’s tough to make it as an artist,although it getseasier every year.I don’t regret it, interms of who Iam, but I do regretit in terms ofsupporting afamily. My wifebacks me all theway,” Weber said.His poster featuresa buffalo robe andskull, with a tornphoto of Dumontsymbolizing theC a n a d i a ngovernment tryingto destroy hisimage, Webersaid. There’s aMétis flag in thecorner as well as aghostly face of

Dumont in the foreground.Weber, 54, is a descendent of JeanNicolet, who was part of theChamplain expedition to New Francein the 1500s. Nicolet, purported to bethe first white man to see the GreatLakes, remained in Canada andmarried a native woman. Weber drew his first portrait at age sixand never gave up his art. He prefersportraits because he enjoys capturingpeople’s “expression and soul”.He travelled to Saskatoon forAboriginal Day to sign posters, visitBatoche and meet members of theGabriel Dumont Institute. Thecelebration is important because itreacquaints him with his ancestry, heindicated.“It’s good to know where you camefrom. The way I act and am is handeddown from my parents. That makesyou connected. It gives you roots.”


Traditional Métis dress includedthree kinds of coats. One was thecapote, or capot crait-rien. Thecapote was a shoulder season gar-ment with a hood, and was com-

monly constructed from aHudson’s Bay Company(HBC) point blanket. The other distinctive coatwas the buckskin jacket.Many buckskin jacketswere produced forsale by Métiswomen, and includ-ed extensive bead-work and fringes. The third design of

coat was the Red RiverCoat. This hide coat designwas adapted from the Creeapparel, and included amore European cut,

epaulets, and theever-present Métisbeadwork floral patterns,quillwork, and embroidery. Métis people created thehandmade capote wrapcoat from an authenticHBC point blanket. TheFirst Nations, as well asHBC’s own employees,adopted the capote, a func-tional garment which is apart of Canadian historywith its warm and water-

repellent qualities.Many, many versions of the capotewere made, and variations in stylewere common: with or withouthood, embroidered, beaded or withleather fringing. In fact, personal-

ization was the norm. The Métisstyle became perhaps the bestknown. Hooded, embelished withfringing, and closed with a brightAssumption sash, the coat became astaple for HBC's explorers andtraders as well. Easy to make, thecapote was made for the Canadianclimate.Point blankets were traditionallymade in plain red, white, green orblue with single bars of deep indigo

Whispering Winds SEPTEMBER 200620

Wrap yourself in a traditional Métis Capote



or black near each end.Various regions seemed to pre-fer certain colours. The plainshunters preferred the whiteblankets as they provided cam-ouflage in winter. The PacificNorthwest coastal tribes pre-ferred blue or green. The red

was popular with the interiortribes. The Métis were partialto the multistripe, reflectingtheir leaning towards colourfultextiles.Now you have the opportunityto create your own personal-ized capote. Suzan Lagrove,former regional manager HBCHeritage Western Canada, is

available to conduct a one-day workshop teaching thetraditional craft of making aMétis capote. Suzan hasattended the Red River Westevent for the past three yearsand enjoys working withindividuals to create theirspecial capote. Over two hun-dred capotes have come tolife throughout WesternCanada with her assistance.The workshop begins with a

brief history of HBC point blankets.Personal assistance with each person is provided to determinehow his/her capote will be designed(with fringe, without fringe, length,buttons, details, etc.) and the groupbegins to cut their blankets.If you or your group would like more information on how you can share the experience yourancestors had in creating their own capote contact Suzan at [email protected].

Positive Transitions for Métis Offenders(PTMO)

Are you Métis?Are you in need of support?

Ask your Community Justice Support Worker

about:What barriers are preventing you from successful

reintegration back into the community?Give us a call - we can help

Jennifer RobertsonCommunity Justice Support Worker

[email protected]

Office: (604) 395-4110 Office: (604) 850-0834Cell: (604) 341-7225 Cell: (604) 854-0834Toll Free: 1866-395-6110 Toll Free: 1877-854-0834713 Columbia Street 2020 Abbotsford WayNew Westminster, BC Abbotsford, BC

EmploymentPreparation/ConnectionsSkills/Education Options

Métis Citizenship ProcessesMétis Community Connection

Métis Cultural ActivitiesCourt/Parole Support

Life Skills TrainingDrug/Alcohol SupportChild/Family Support

Mental Health SupportsLegal Supports

Health Care ProviderHousing Support



What is the Honour Your Health Challenge?

A 6-week Health Challenge, beginning January 2007,featuring prizes and grant opportunities. The HYHCencourages individuals and communities to promote:• Healthy eating;• Increased physical activity;

• Decreased tobacco misuse.

Who should attend the training?

If you are an employee or volunteer with a specialinterest in promoting health and wellness, then thistraining event is for you.

October 22, 2006 – If you have never attended ourtraining event before, this one-day orientation will:• Provide you with general information related to health,tobacco misuse, and suppor ting others throughlifestyle change;

• Suppor t you in the development of an action plan tobring the 2007 Honour Your Health Challenge to yourcommunity, organization or school.

October 23 – 25, 2006 – If you’ve completed your one-day orientation OR if you have already been to one our ofprevious training sessions, these 2-1/2 days of trainingwill provide great opportunities for learning, sharing andskill building in areas of special interest to you:• Action Schools BC • Nutrition 101• Active Communities • Traditional Teachings• Motivational interviewing • Fitness 101

Register now–it’s free!

There is no cost for the training. Completethe attached registration form and fax to(250) 483-5935.

Sponsorship for travel and accommodationis available!

Each community or organization may registermore than one participant. However , we areable to provide reimbursement for travelexpenses and hotel accommodation for oneperson per organization only. We encouragesharing travel expenses if more than oneperson per organization will be attending.

This training event is sponsored by BC Ministry of Health – Aboriginal Health Branch

2007 HONOUR YOUR HEALTH CHALLENGE –TRAINING EVENTCoast Plaza Hotel and Suites, Vancouver, BC, October 22 – 25, 2006

Questions? Contact:

Denise Lecoy

Provincial CoordinatorHonour Your Health Challenge

Phone: (250) 488-2216

Fax: (250) 483-5935

E-mail: dancingspirit@shaw .ca

Train to be an Honour Your Health Challenge Coordinator and lead your Aboriginalcommunity, group or students in the upcoming 2007 Honour Your Health Challenge.

prizes • incentives • grants

active healthy strong free from tobacco misuse





BC United Métis Youth Circle Annual Meeting

Thursday September 28th to Friday September29th, 2006

The Rotary Centre for the Arts 421 Cawston Avenue, Kelowna, BC

www.rotarycentreforthearts.com

The Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort andConference Center

1310 Water Street, Kelowna, BChttp://www.grandokanagan.com/

AGENDA

Thursday, September 28th, 2006- Rotary Centre for the Arts

3:00PM - Registration

4:00PM - IntroductionsChaperones, BCUMYC Representatives, Staff, Delegates

4:30PM - Health Break

4:45PM - Facilitated Networking Activity

5:15PM - The BCUMYC and the Annual Youth Meeting

6:00PM - Jigging and Michif Workshops

7:30PM - Pizza Night and Métis Jeopardy

10:00PM - End of Day One

Friday, September 29th, 2006- The Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort and

Conference Centre

7:30AM - Breakfast and Registration

9:00AM - Opening of the 2006 BCUMYC Annual Meeting

1. Opening Prayer

2. Greeting and Welcoming RemarksDignitaries

3. Introductions BCUMYC Regional Youth Representatives Chaperones

4. Housekeeping Rules and Expectations for the Conference

5. Principles for Youth Annual Meeting Participation

10:00AM - Health Break

10:15AM - Moving Forward, Building the Relationship

1.Strategic plan presentations BCMANR facilitation Open Forum for questions and suggestions

2. Break out sessions

12:00PM - LUNCH

1:00PM - Review/ sharing of break outsessions

1:45pm - Health Break

2:00PM - Next Steps/Call to ActionOrientation for AGM procedures

2:30PM - Cultural PresentationHenry Hall, Director of Culture, Heritage and LanguageMétis Nation BC

4:30PM - Sash Presentation CeremonyBruce Dumont, PresidentMétis Nation BC

BC Youth Agenda


WW Master Sunday.qxp 9/3/2006 3:49 PM Page 25

Métis Nation British ColumbiaAnnual General MeetingWorkshop Session andConference Schedule

The Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort Conference Center

& Rotary Center for the Arts

Thursday September 28th and Friday September 29th, 2006

7:30AM Breakfast Buffet Grand Terrace

9:00AM - 10:00AM "The Métis-Memorable Events andMemorable Personalities" Skeena & South HallFacilitating: George Goulet and Terry Gouletauthors/historians who brought us "The Trial of LouisRiel", Historic talks, questions and answers (45 minute talk, 15 minute question period)"The Metis - Memorable Events and MemorablePersonalities". This workshop will discuss Metishistory, heritage and culture based on the facilitators'new book bearing that title. (50 minute talk followed bya question period).

9:00AM - 10:30AM Employment & Training - BC "TheJourney to Success, an Introduction Skaha RoomFacilitating: Malonie Langthorne, Director of MHRDAand Marlin Ratch Regional Development Coordinator This workshop will provide an introduction to the MétisMHRDA Program in BC and will highlight some of thesuccesses of the past year. Join us for an Interactive funmorning.

9:00AM - 10:30AM Culture, Heritage & LanguageCulture Display and tutorial-Grand Foyer

Facilitating: Henry Hall, Director of Culture, Heritage &LanguageThe display will include Louis Riel Artifacts as well as anumber of Métis Cultural Items. There will also be afluent Michif speaker who will highlight the Michiflanguage and where we are today with the preservationof the Michif language.

9:00AM - 10:30AM Multilateral- Columbia RoomFacilitating: Dean Trumbley, Chief of Operations andGary Ducommun, Assistant Multilateral CoordinatorThis workshop will highlight the achieved deliverablesin the 2005-06 multilateral contribution agreement andhighlight the 2006-07 multilateral workplan. Thisincludes research, citizenship, communications andvarious BCMANR activities.

9:00AM - 4:00PM Health Screening Clinic Chilcotin RoomFacilitating: Marie van Humbeck, Director of Health andPattie Rosvold, NFMAAs part of its commitment to individual, family andcommunity health, the MNBC Ministry of Health willbe offering a free health-screening fair as part of the2006 AGM activities. The fair will provide delegateswith cardiovascular risk assessments and provide themwith information on how to reduce their individual riskprofiles. Local medical experts will also be on hand toprovide information on smoking cessation, obesity andpreventing diabetes

9:00AM - 5:00PM > Metis Youth: Strengtheningtomorrow by leading todayThursday September 28th * Location: Mary IrwinTheatre at the Rotary Center of the Arts (across fromthe Grand 421 Cawston Avenue)

Friday September 29th * Location: Okanagan Room inthe Grand Facilitating: Tresley Tourond Minister and BrittanyKaternick DirectorThe BC United Metis Youth Circle will be hosting andfacilitating an Interactive, culturally relevant Youthmeeting and networking event. Come and participate inan atmosphere created for dialogue, communication,and consultation with the Metis Youth of BC.

9:00AM - 5:00PM > MWS-BC Hosts "TraditionalWomen: Back to the Land Location: Board Room at theRotary Center of the Arts (across from the Grand 421Cawston Avenue)

WW Master Sunday.qxp 9/4/2006 10:57 AM Page 26

Facilitating: TBAJoin us as we meet four Métis women who are livingour historical Traditions and culture; experiencestorytelling, sharing of traditional knowledge andhistory.Open to all; feel free to join us for all or part of the day!

10:30 Health Break

10: 45AM - 12:00PM MNBC Ministry for Child &Families Skeena & South HallFacilitating: Glenn Parker, MNBC Child & FamilyServices ConsultantThe Métis Nation British Columbia is preparing to takeresponsibility for Métis children in care of the Ministryof Children and Family Development. In doing so theMNBC is establishing a Ministry for Children andFamily Services to take control of this important work.This workshop will present the proposed model for ourown child and family ministry and how we can bestensure a high standard of service delivery by both ourMétis service providers as well as any other serviceproviders involved in service to our children.

10:45AM - 12:00PM MNBC Métis Nation BCCitizenship Monashee RoomFacilitating: Laurel Katernick, Provincial RegistrarContinuation from the morning session:This workshop is a guide to the MNBC Citizenshipapplication process. The workshop is designed toprovide assistance with the application package and thegenealogical component of MNBC citizenship. Accessto some genealogical resources will be provided toparticipants.

10: 45AM - 12:00PM VanASEP / Métis Skills &Employment Centre - "Venturing Forth" - Step into theTrades." Columbia Room Facilitating: Malonie Langthorne Director of MHRDAPresenting the video presentation of "Venturing Forth"on the success of the VanASEP Partnership in BC.(Includes footage of the Métis Skills & EmploymentCentre) Linden Pinay, Executive Director of VanASEPwill conduct a presentation on the Journey toApprenticeships, and the strategies behind theVancouver Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnership.

12:00PM Lunch Buffet Grand Terrace

1:00PM - 2:30PM Community Justice Monashee RoomFacilitating: Cameron Bell, MNBC Community Justice

Worker ConsultantPositive Transitions for Metis Offenders - Thegroundbreaking MNBC initiative to reach into prisonsto provide support and assistance for offenders nearingrelease is now almost a year old. Stories of thechallenges, successes and more from the front lines…and a video that captures some of the distressing andunforeseen problems that comes with incarceration.The presentation will touch on ways that anyone whowants to help, can.

1:00PM - 2:30PM EnCana Oil & Gas Training "Oil &Gas Industry Partnerships & Opportunities" SkahaRoomFacilitating: Catherine PenningtonCatherine Pennington from EnCana will speak on thesuccess of the partnership with the MNBC, and providean informative session on opportunities in BC's Oil &Gas Industry.

2:30PM Health Break

2:45PM - 4:00PM Métis Rights Columbia RoomFacilitating: Dean Trumbley, Chief of OperationsDean Trumbley, Chief of Operations and Métis RightsPanel member for Métis National Council will beupdating on the current Métis case law beingdeveloped throughout the homeland. In addition, Mr.Trumbley will be focusing on the recent loss of theSupreme Court of British Columbia Willison case inthe Thompson/Okanagan. This will include a detailedanalysis of the positive and negative outcomes, whatwent wrong and the future Rights based strategy ofthe Métis Nation British Columbia.

3:00AM - 4:30AM BC Aboriginal Workforce Strategy"Supply meets Demand" Skaha RoomFacilitating: Karen White, Provincial CoordinatorKaren White, Provincial Coordinator for BCAWS willpresent on the transition of the Aboriginal EmploymentPartnership Initiative (AEPI) into the next phase - TheBritish Columbia Workforce Strategy (BCAWS).

NOTES: Skeena & South Hall has an opening for a 2:45-4:30PMworkshopMonashee available 2:45-430PM workshop


Métis Nation British Columbia(Also known as the Métis

Provincial Council of BritishColumbia)

9th Annual General MeetingWednesday September 27th to October 1st, 2006

The Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort and ConferenceCenter

1310 Water Street, Kelowna, BChttp://www.grandokanagan.com/

AGM AGENDA and EVENT SCHEDULE

Wednesday September 27th, 2006

8:30AM – 4:30PM MNBC Joint Board of Directors Meetingand Senior Staff Management Meeting (Chilcotin Room)

Thursday September 28th, 2006

8:00AM - 6:30PM BCMANR Captains Meeting (CassiarRoom)

8:30AM – 4:30PM MNBC Joint Board of Directors Meetingand Senior Staff Management Meeting (Chilcotin Room)

8:30AM – 4:30PM PETC Meeting (Cascade Room)

8:30AM – 4:30PM Senate Meeting (Board Room 2)

9:00AM - 5:00PM BCUMYC 5th Annual Meeting

DAY ONE (Mary Irwin Theatre Rotary Center for the Arts -421 Cawston Ave posted in lobby)Friday September 29th, 2006

7:30AM Breakfast Buffet (Grand Terrace)

8:30AM – 12:00PM Senate Meeting (Board Room 2)

9:00AM – 4:00PM Workshops – schedule posted in hotel lobby

9:00AM – 5:00PM MWS-BC Conference (Rotary Center for the Arts - 421 Cawston Ave.) *across fromthe Grand Okanagan Resort Hotel

9:00AM - 5:00PM BCUMYC 5th Annual Meeting

Day One (Grand Okanagan Hotel -Okanagan Room)

10:30AM – Health Break

12:00PM – 1:00PM Lunch Buffet (Grand Terrace)

1:00PM – 5:00PM Registry Meeting (Cascade Room)

2:30PM – Health Break

4:00PM – 6:00PM Early Registration for AGM – (CoatCheck, main floor)

6:00PM Meet & Greet (dinner provided) – (2/3 South Ballroom)

7:30PM 2nd Annual Métis Idol Talent Show – (2/3 SouthBallroom)

AGM Grand Opening

Day One - Saturday September 30th, 2006

7:30AM - Breakfast Buffet (Grand Terrace)

8:00AM – 12:00PM AGM Registration – (Coat Check, main floor)

9:00 AM Official Grand Opening of the 2006 MNBC 9th Annual General MeetingGrand Entry > Métis Flag Procession lead by Sergeant atArms - Mr. Bob Ducharme, President Métis Veterans BritishColumbia (Okanagan Ballroom)

1. Opening Prayer

2. Greetings & Welcoming remarksThompson & Okanagan Region Director

Dave Hodgson MNBC President Bruce Dumont


3. Greetings from Dignitaries (TBA)

4. Honorary mention- V.I.P’s- MNBC Community Charter Presidents- BCUMYC- MWS-BC

10:30AM - Health Break

5. Special thanks to Corporate Sponsors

6. Special recognition – Tribute to Art Burd

7. Appointment of Chair / Co Chair

8. Acceptance of Agenda

9. Appointment of Resolutions Committee* If new resolutions are tabled (one representative per region)

12:00PM - Lunch Buffet (Grand Terrace)

10. 2005 AGM Minutes

11. Presentation of Willison Decision - Jean Teillet, Legal Counsel, Pape Salter Teillet

12. Métis Nation BC Governance Presentation (5 Year Vision Plan) - MNBC Chief Executive Officer Keith Henry

13. 2008 MNBC Elections Committee Presentation

2:30PM - Health Break

MNBC Banquet

6:00PM Doors Open6:30 PM – Dinner (Grand Okanagan Ballroom)Featured Métis Entertainment (AGM program will be in alldelegate bags and can also be picked up at registration)

Day Two - Sunday October 1st, 2006

7:30 AM – Breakfast Buffet (Grand Terrace)

14. Presentation on Financial Audited Statements – Presenting: Manning Elliott Chartered Accountants Deficit recovery plan

15. MNBC Annual 2005-06 Program Reports

Métis Human Resource Development Agreement (MHRDA) - Presenting: Minister Dave Hodgson

Education - Presenting: Minister Kay Dahl

BC Aboriginal Workforce Strategy (BCAWS) - Presenting: Karen White, Provincial Coordinator

Métis Child & Family Services - Presenting: Minister Dave Hodgson

Registry - Presenting: Minister Bruce Dumont

Tripartite Self - Government Negotiations (TSN) - Presenting: Minister Lorne LaFleur

Youth - Presenting: Minister Tresley Tourond

Culture Heritage & Language - Presenting: Minister Rene Therrien

Health - Presenting: Minister Rose Bortolon

Métis Women's Secretariat - BC - Presenting: Minister April McLean-Collart

Economic Development - Presenting: Minister Dan Pope

Multilateral - Presenting: Minister Dave Hodgson

Provincial Research - Presenting: MNBC Consultant, Dr. Mike Evans

Q & A period

10:30 AM - Health Break

12:00 PM - Lunch Buffet (Grand Terrace)

16. Resolutions

17. Dissolve Resolutions Committee if necessary

18. Other business

19. Adjournment

Monday October 2nd, 2006

8:30AM – Métis Veterans Association – BC (MVA-BC)Meeting (Cariboo Room)




Grand Okanagan Hotel, Kelowna BCFriday, September 29th - 7 pm

Age categories:0-10, 11-15, 16-29, 30-55, 55+ golden age

Come, showcase your talent - singing, dancing, fiddling, jigging -All talent welcome !

Solo performances onlyPre-registration available - please email name, age, talent, required equipment to [email protected] or

[email protected] Registration will also be available at the MNBC Annual General Meetingseptember 2006 Whispering Winds31

Welcome to the 2006 Annual General Meetingof Metis Nation British Columbia

Something for EverybodyBe sure to attend the Workshops, Craft Fair,

Talent Show and Banquet.Saturday’s Banquet Tickets will be available at the Registration Table. A special,

supervised room will be allocated for your children. Be sure to pre-register your childas soon as possible by calling Sharon @250-868-0351 so that we can get a head

count.A Very Special Thanks to all of the Volunteers who have worked so hard to make this

MNBC AGM a reality. Great Work,Volunteers!

A Family Affair

2nd Annual



Wil l ison Case

A British Columbia provincial courtruling which recognized Métisharvesting rights in British Columbia,has been struck down on appeal.However after reviewing the decision ofB.C. Supreme Court Justice PaulWilliamson, Metis Nation BritishColumbia (MNBC) president BruceDumont said MNBC won’t be launchingan appeal.“I want to assure Métiscommunity leaders andMétis citizens that the MétisNation British Columbiawill continue to pursueMétis rights,” Dumont wrotein a letter to Métis leadersand citizens. “However, thenext steps to achieve andensure success, if necessary,through the courts, requiresclose examination.Consequently Métis NationBritish Columbia will notappeal the B.C. SupremeCourt ruling in the Willisoncase.”In November 2000, Greg Willison wasstopped near Falkland with a deer in theback of his half-ton truck. He didn’thave a hunting licence but produced hisMétis Provincial Council of BritishColumbia (MPCBC) card. He claimedhis right to hunt for food, as a Métis,without a licence, according to a reportprepared by his lawyer, Jean Teillet,which is available on the Métis NationBritish Columbia (MNBC) web site.During the second of three parts of theprovincial court trial, Willison wassuccessful in proving he had a Métisright to hunt in the area, that there was ahistorical Métis community in the area,that it continues to exist in some form,that hunting was integral to the historicMétis community and continues to besignificant to the contemporarycommunity and he is a member of the

contemporary Métis community.Noting there is another part of the trialstill to come, Teillet wrote, “The reasonsfor this judgement are still veryimportant because they uphold a Métisright to hunt in theOkanagan/Thompson area of B.C.“Because the B.C. government hasrefused to recognize that any Métiscommunities exist in B.C., this

judgement is an important victory forthe Métis in the province and for theMétis Nation generally.”Later in that report she wrote, “Strictlyspeaking the judgement will apply to theMétis community in the “environs ofFalkland” … However, it should betaken as a precedent for the existence ofMétis communities in B.C. and that theyhave harvesting rights.”Willison’s acquittal by the HonourableJudge Stansfield of the British ColumbiaProvincial Court was appealed by theGovernment of British Columbia whichclaimed Stansfield made several errorsin fact and law.Last December, before the appealproceeded, Dumont said, “It isunfortunate the Government of BritishColumbia has refused to recognize theprovincial court’s decision that there areMétis people in this province with

constitutionally-protected harvestingrights. We should be negotiating ourrelationship with British Columbia, notrelying on the courts to define ourrelationship. Currently, we have nonegotiations with the province. As aresult, we are forced to vigourouslydefend our people and their rights in thecourts.”On appeal, Crown counsel Paul

Pearlman argued theprovincial court judgewho acquitted Willison inhis May 2005 trial madefour crucial errors inapplying the 10-pointPowley test for Métisrights:• in finding a historicrights-bearing Métiscommunity in theFalkland area;• in finding acontemporary Métiscommunity;• in finding a continuity

between the historic practice and thecontemporary right asserted; and• in concluding that Willison had asufficient ancestral connection to ahistoric Métis community in the area.In her review of the appeal judge’sdecision (which is also on the MNBCweb site), Teillet wrote, “The appealjudge found that the evidence did notdemonstrate an historic Métiscommunity with a sufficient degree ofcontinuity and stability to support a site-specific aboriginal right. The evidence,according to the appeal judge, wassparse … The evidence also did notdisclose a distinctive and identifiablelifestyle or culture of a Métis people. Such evidence as wasproduced was not site-specific.“In the end, the appeal judge found that

MNBC won’t appeal Métis harvesting rights decision



Willison Appeal continuesd from page32.

the trial judge erred in concluding thatthe evidence supported the existence ofan historic Métis community in the furbrigade area” (Brigade Trail which ranfrom Fort Kamloops south through theFalkland area into the U.S.A.).The appeal judge agreed with the Crownthat the trial judge erred in his definitionwhen finding a contemporary Métiscommunity existed.On the issue of continuity, “The appealjudge found that there was no evidence

of sufficient continuity of practice,custom or tradition,” wrote Teillet. “Theappeal judge noted that there was nodiscussion of members of thecommunity continuing identifiableMétis practices over the period of timefrom the assertion of European controlto the present.”And finally, according to Teillet’sreport, the appeal judge describedWillison’s genealogical evidence as“tenuous”, but did not overturn the trialjudge’s finding that there was anappropriate ancestral connection toMétis people who were living in the

Falkland area in the 19th century.”Teillet was quoted in a July article in theVancouver Province stating she didn’texpect Willison to appeal JusticeWilliamson’s ruling. She indicated itwas not a landmark case on Métishunting rights.“It stands for one thing — what happensto poor people who can’t afford to havereams of evidence on native title. Thenext time the Métis take on a case(concerning special rights), they’ll havetheir ducks in a row.”

Participants are wanted for astudy entitled:"Métis Children and the ChristianEducational Agenda - theFormation of a Métis ChildhoodIdentity in the West."This research is being undertaken by agraduate student at the University ofSaskatchewan for his Doctor ofPhilosophy dissertation. The objectiveis to study how Métis children, asstudents of the Christian educationalagenda, either formed or did not form aunique identity during their education.The information obtained from theinterviews will be used, along witharchival sources and hymns, poetry,nursery rhymes, and stories, toconstruct Métis childhood at themission stations of York Landing, FortEllice, Norway House and Rossville,Partridge Crop, Cumberland, PrinceAlbert, Morleyville, Green Lake, andThe Pas.Did the missionary educators attemptto recreate nineteenth-century Britainand France in nineteenth- andtwentieth-century Western Canadathrough these Métis students? Otherissues may surface that are unique tothe interviewees. It is hoped that uponcompletion of the research, a history ofMétis childhood identity in the contextof mission education in westernCanada will be revealed.This project has been approved by the

Research Ethics Board (REB) of theOffice of Research Services at theUniversity of Saskatchewan.If you or someone you know was astudent in the schools of any of theabove communities, and would like toparticipate in a one- to one-and-a-half-hour

interview, please contact

Jonathan Anuik:Student: Jonathan Anuik_Email:[email protected]_Telephone:(306) 934-4631 in Saskatoon (out-of-townparticipants may call collect)

Thursday, November 2, 2006 at theOkanagan Golf Club located at 3200 Via Centrale.

Well known aboriginal leader, ChiefRobert Louie BUAD ‘75, will be receivingthe Distinguished Alumni Award, while upand coming freshwater scientist, MichelleBoshard BSc ‘97, will be receiving the firstever Young Alumni Award.

Tickets are available for purchase - $75for Okanagan College & OUC alumniand $100 for non-alumni.

Net proceeds from this event will bedirected toward the DistinguishedAlumni Student Bursary Fund.

To purchase tickets or for more information please contact:

KATERINA HAYOffice of AdvancementOkanagan CollegeToll free [email protected]

www.okanagan.bc.ca/alumni

Chief Robert Louie,BUAD ’75

Michelle Boshard,BSc ‘97

2006 ALUMNIAWARDSBANQUET

Help wanted with Métis education project



Five Year Strategic Plan

Métis identification continues to be atthe forefront of Métis Nation BritishColumbia’s (MNBC) agenda. Métisidentification and documentation iscritical to the continued growth of theMétis Nation and the preservation ofour history. The ongoing developmentof the MNBC Centralized Registry isessential to meet the needs of the MétisNation at the community, provincialand national level. Achieving this willrequire increased capacity support atthe provincial and grassroots levelwithin Métis communities. To achievethis, MNBC’s Centralized Registry is inthe early development stages of a FiveYear Strategic Plan. This article is abrief description of where the Registry

is to date within this plan. The FiveYear Strategic Plan is currently at stagetwo of a nine stage implementationphase and is in draft only.

In the initial stages of development ofthe Five Year Strategy Plan it becameapparent that capacity building isfundamental to the success, growth andlongevity of the MNBC CitizenshipRegistry and Métis communities inrelation to their role in MNBCCitizenship. The capacity buildingportion of the plan is built around theidentification of strengths and gaps thatexist and need to be addressed tosuccessfully implement the Five YearStrategic Plan.

Included in the capacity buildingcomponent of the plan is infrastructuredevelopment. The initial infrastructure

development identifiedthe projected number ofstaff the Registry wouldrequire to efficiently andprofessionally stayabreast of the increase inCitizenship applications.This would see a Registrystaff increase over thenext five years ofapproximately fourteenpositions. The Duties andresponsibilities for thepositions of ProvincialRegistrar, ProvincialRegistrar Assistant andthe seven RegionalRegistry Clerks arecomplete as these areexisting positions. Theduties andresponsibilities for theremaining positions, stafftraining programs andworkshops are underdevelopment.

Citizenship Database

Providing assistance to applicants withthe collection of requireddocumentation to validate and verifythe genealogical component of MNBCCitizenship is important to the Registry.Initial steps have been taken in this areain a joint project with MNBCresearcher Dr. Mike Evans. The jointproject is the development andimplementation of a Primary HistoricalDocument database. The databaseallows for the scanning, storing andsearching of historical documents usedto validate and verify the genealogicalcomponent of MNBC Citizenship. Theprimary historical documents will beused to assist applicants with thegenealogical component of citizenshipand reduce the cost to applicants for thecollection of documents. The databasehas been eighteen months in theplanning and development. Thedatabase is designed to streamline thecitizenship application process. Thenew Centralized Registry database wasdeployed in late August 2006.Additional necessary key functionswere identified and added to thedatabase that delayed the originaldeployment date of early summer.

The Five Year Strategic Plan,deployment of the new Citizenshipdatabase and the joint project of thePrimary Historical Document databaseare important steps forward for theMNBC Registry. The MNBC Registrycontinues to actively seek out andimplement procedures to streamline allaspects of the MNBC citizenshipprocess.

Métis Nation BC Centralized RegistryFive Year Strategic Plan & Citizenship Database



by Brittinay Katernick

I have been involved with the MétisNation BC (MNBC) since 2002 as botha Regional Youth Representative forthe BC United Métis Youth Circle(BCUMYC) and most recently as amember of the MNBC staff. The transition from a political positionto a technical one has been an excitingexperience. Not only do I now work forthe committee that I used to be arepresentative of, but I am nowresponsible for the administration of allof the provincial Urban MultipurposeAboriginal Youth Centre (UMAYC)programs. The opportunity to experience theseyouth programs being delivered withinour Métis communities is one of themany highlights of my position. Itravel across the province doingprogram monitors and am able tointeract directly with Métis youth andcommunity members in anenvironment that promotes Métiscultural awareness and other valuablelife skills. The lessons learned andexperience gained while in thesecommunities has allowed me towitness firsthand the many benefits ofthese programs. The Department of Canadian Heritagemakes these programs possible and theRegional Youth Representatives of theBCUMYC evaluate and monitor theprograms with my assistance.

The 2006-2007 Request for Proposalswas one of the most successful for theBCUMYC, with the highest number ofsubmissions and approved programs todate. The program guidelines wereamended for UMAYC this year and thecommunities were able to compensateand continue to produce qualityproposals and programs. The community programs varied fromregion to region. A significant numberof Métis youth from five differentregions were able to travel to Batoche,Saskatchewan to participate in thecultural festival “Back to Batoche”. British Columbia made up a significantnumber of participants with youth fromthe following communities: NorthwestB.C. and Tri River Métis Associations,Kootenay Region Métis Association,Nova Métis Heritage Association,Vancouver Island Regional YouthCommittee, Fort St. John MétisSociety, and Northwest MétisAssociation. This was also my firstexperience at the historical site and Ienjoyed experiencing it with all of theMétis youth from B.C.In addition to traveling to Batoche, Ihave also been able to participate in acanoe journey that was hosted by theWaceya Métis Society, and a culturalcamp and capote-making workshop bythe North Island Métis Association. Over the next six months I will also beattending various other programs, suchas a slow pitch tournament by the

Merritt District Métis Association, acommunity clean up program by theKelly Lake Métis Settlement Societyand cultural events and workshops thatare being hosted by communities suchas Salmon Arm Métis Association andCariboo Chilcotin Métis Association. There are also several other programsthat will be happening throughout allthe regions in communities such as:Two Rivers Métis Society, Nova MétisHeritage Association, Miki’siw MétisAssociation, Northwest B.C. and TriRiver Métis Associations, CowichanValley Métis Association, and MétisNation Greater Victoria. I am lookingforward to being able to attend each ofthese events and get to know mycommunities and interact with otherMétis youth. There is at least one UMAYC programbeing administered within each of theseven regions across B.C. and Iencourage and invite everyone tocontact their communities and becomeinvolved as a volunteer or as aparticipant. These programs are a vitalpart of passing down our culturaltraditions and practices and are anexcellent way to establish arelationship with the Métis youth inyour community. I would also like tocommend all of the communities andthe volunteers that assist with theseprograms and make them possible. Asa Métis youth thank you for all yourhard work!

Métis Youth communityprograms:

Preserving our cultural traditions

Be sure to enter the Whispering Winds PhotoContest! Great Prizes! See Details on page 53



Métis Youth & Veterans

Preserving our cultural traditions

Greetings on behalf of the B.C. UnitedMétis Youth Circle.The summer months have now passedand with fall upon us we are enteringanother busy time for the Métis NationBC and the B.C. United Métis YouthCircle (BCUMYC). The summer months are not typicallyfilled with meetings but give all of usan opportunity to attend culturalgatherings across our province andothers and spend time with ourfamilies.The BCUMYC has made significantchanges over the past few months inplanning for the next five years. Wewill be seeking input from Métis youthacross the province at the Annual

General Meeting and throughout theircommunities over the next year. We are excited for the opportunity forour Métis youth to fully participate inthe governance of the Métis Nation BCand will be working to ensure we havea fully integrated approach. Please make sure to visit our website,bcmetisyouth.ca and sign up for ouryouth distribution list to stay up to dateand current on all activities of theBCUMYC. The website lists all of theRegional Youth Representatives andtheir contact information. If you have any questions or arelooking for more information pleasecontact myself as the Minister [email protected] or our Director of

Youth, Brittaney Katernick, [email protected] or to speak withBrittaney call the MNBC office at 604-801-5853.As Minister for B.C. Veterans I havehad the opportunity to meet with theMétis Veterans Association of B.C. andwe are diligently moving forward onthe development of a relationshipagreement.We hope you enjoy the MNBC andYouth Annual General Meeting andlook forward to seeing as many of youas possible.In the Spirit of Youth, Tresley Tourond

Minister for Youth and B.C. VeteransBCUMYC Chairperson

I’m writing in regards to whatthe Metis Association and its (Justice)program have done for me personally.Opportunities in society nowadays arefew and far between in order forsomeone like myself to better their lifeor get it back on track so to speak.Having alcohol and drugs destroy thelast 18 yrs of my life and then hit rockbottom, and being sentenced to 4 yrs inprison and watching my life flashbefore my eyes; I thought at this pointthere’s no hope for me and emotionallyat this point my life is over, all duemainly to my addiction of Alcohol andDrugs and where it has brought me tothis point in my life. Fortunately Ihadn’t lost anything except my sanityand my freedom, I still have a lovingwife and kids who support me andfamily that hasn’t given up on mewhich in turn brought me to a reality

that if all these people still love me andsupport me, there still must be hopethat I can turn things around in my lifeand put the past behind me the best Icould and look forward to the future,and that’s when the Métis associationcame into my life; being in prison atthis point for 23 months and beingclean and sober for the first time in mylife and basically had turned my lifearound with everything that I hadaccomplished on the inside of prisonwalls, I still had one void in my life andthat was where do I go from here whenI leave prison, yes I’m clean and soberand I have my sanity back and I havemyself back and I’m in control of myown destiny, so that’s when I decidedto go back to college and get a degreeand find a new career that I enjoy doingand that will financially enable me toprovide a descent life for my wife andkids, but money was an issue and like Isaid before the Métis association cameinto the picture and gave me an

opportunity to better my life and theypaid for my college fee’s and allowedfor a living allowance while I’m goingto college to support myselffinancially. Bottom line out of it all mycounsellor that has been working withmy family and myself, words can’tdescribe my gratitude for what she hasdone for me not just financially butemotionally. It is a beautiful thingwhen programs like this one areavailable to someone who had given upon life and himself and now after 2yrsof being clean and sober and startingcollege in the fall with no worriesfinancially and knowing that I have anew best friend that will always bethere for my family and myself, there ishope and by the grace of god I’ve beengiven a second chance at life and Icouldn’t have done it without the helpof the Metis Association.Thanks for believing in me and givingme this opportunity, I’m so deeplygrateful.

MNBC JusticeA special thanks from a client



by Patricia Sprinks/Blum, DawsonCreek, B.C.In 1973, my father Lloyd GeorgeSpinks, donated two cemetary plots heowned in the Red River District anddesignated one of them to a Métisveteran who would have been given apaupers funeral. The other plot wasdonated in reserve to any other Métisveteran who may need it in the future.We lived in the Red River District,prior to moving to B.C.My father, my hero was a very caring,loving, generous man.He was World War II war veteran. Hesigned with the Canadian Hastings andPrince Edward Regiment in 1940, rightafter his 18th birthday. For 3 years hefought in Italy — they started at the toeof the "boot" and his regiment workedits way north, liberating Italy. In 1943,my father was missing in action. Heand other captives were treatedinhumanely, locked for weeks inside afreezing cold box car. They had nowashroom, no food, no nothing but thedark smelly boxcar for two and a halfweeks. After that, my father wasdetained, a POW … prisoner of war atStargard in Germany.Still starving, infested with lice andfilthy dirty, he survived for the durationuntil May 1945 VE (Victory in Europe)Day.

My father had to report to theappropriate place to be transportedback to Canada. In the mean time, hemet and fell in love with a beautifulGerman girl. While they were walkingdown the sidewalk toward the placewhere my Dad had to report, theGerman girl noticed the Germansoldier across the street taking aim atDad, AFTER VE Day!The German girl screamed "NO" andleaped in front of my father. She tookthe bullet that was meant for my father,saving his life. My father took her IDcard and a lock of her hair that helaminated with the ID card and hecarried that in his wallet for evermore.He loved her and was mourning herloss. He was so grateful to still be alive.Someone else shot that German soldierbefore he could shoot anyone else.It wasn’t until my father came homeagain, my aunt (his sister) cooked awonderful turkey dinner and all thefamily welcomed him home.After almost staving to death for threeyears, my poor father’s stomachliterally exploded. My dad spent 2.5years in Kingston General Hospital.Mom was a proby RN who happened towok in the same wing where my Dadwas put.Needless to say, they met, they courted,they fell in love, they eventuallymarried and over the years raised sevenchildren … two girls and five boys.As I said, my father, my hero … for the

rest of my life. My dad was born Feb.8, 1922 and died Feb. 26, 2002.Every person my Dad met, my Dadcared for. He loved family, friends, andstrangers. He was a lovinghumanitarian.My mom is the sweetest person I haveever known, very soft spoken, a highlyeducated person. She lovingly cared forher family, friends, and all her hospitalpatients.You may think seven kids would beunruly, however in my family theywere the exception. If any one of ushurt our mom’s feelings or upset her, itmade our heart ache. Never did any ofus ever want to upset our sweet mom.We seven children, were very muchloved and cared for. Not once were weever cold or hungry. Our every needwas lovingly cared for. We were nevera rich family. At times we were verypoor, but never once were we cold andwe never went hungry. Our every needwas lovingly cared for.Being one of eldest children, I have somany wonderful memories almost fromthe day I was born. As a child, myearliest recollection was I always had amind of my own. If asked permission todo something, if I could figure therationality for it, I would comply. Ifnot, I did it anyway and paid theconsequences later. I am a almost acarbon copy of my dear Dad.

Veteran Lloyd George Spinks

Allan Arnault,WW11 veteranreceiving his medals in a shortceremony on 29th July ’06. ManyThanks to all who turned out and toBranch 256 of Royal CanadianLegion of Nanaimo. Refreshmentswere put on afterwards by LegionEntertainment Officer and MVAMember Arthur Lefever and his

wife,Marlene. Pinning the medalson was a young veteran ofKhandahar, Kai Hessel ofNanaimo. Everyone enjoyed theold time fiddling and music/songsof member and professionalEntertainer, Winston Wuttunee.Bob Ducharme stands behindComrade Arnaault.

Métis Veteran Recieves Medals



Red River West

Red River West CulturalAssociation

by Leanne LebergeCreated to educate people aboutthe heritage and culture of theMétis people, the ninth annualRed River West Rendezvousstarted July 6th and provided aweekend of exciting activities.The first evening opened withlively music and jig dancing inthe spacious Victoria Rod andGun Club facility. Unfortunately,the sunset council fires werecancelled due to extreme firehazard conditions.Friday brought some showers,washrooms and a buffetbreakfast. Each morning and afternoonwere filled with workshopswhich included: children’sactivities and paper crafting withLynn Ladret; drum making forchildren and adults with Tom andJack Finnie, beading withMousetrap; and finger weaving,moss bag construction and crazyquilts with Leanne Laberge.Amidst all this activity, a daily

musical tribute to the late fiddler,Art Burd, was performed byRene Therrion, WinstonWuttune, and Ed Peekeekoot.Amy Eustegirling, Patti Mayo,Trent and Destry Freeman andLawrence Mydonick joined thegroup throughout the weekend.An Elder?s Tea was hosted everyday by Leona Mason andstoryteller Margaret Sloan heldthose present spellbound withher inspiring Métis tales, whileoutside, Frank Tarodidemonstrated Hawk and knifethrowing, allowing manyspectators to try their hand.Dinner menus were varied andincluded grilled salmon, roastbuffalo, moose chili and buffalostew. By the time evening rolledaround we were very glad tohave the toe-tapping music todance off those tasty meals.If you haven’t seen YvonneChartrand and the Louis RielDancers they’re a real treat.Dressed in old time traditionalMétis attire, their feet fairly flewabout the floor. In addition,Audrey and Bev Lamberthonoured us with theirfascinating steps and flashingsmiles.An extra treat was Moosham’sLittle Jiggers. They certainly do

our culture proud.Saturday afternoon brought asolemn note as Art Burd?sgranddaughter, Samantha, ledthe Grand Entry. Veteran BobDucharme was in the processionas were many others. LorneLafleur emceed the openingceremonies and helped us tounite in both our feelings of lossfor our departed brother, but alsoof joy for our unity and culturalpride.The weekend included manyvendors’ booths, sellingeverything from finely beadedbuckskins to silver jewellery.Henri Hall had many of his Métisartifacts on display and for sale.After a full day of activities,good eats, great entertainment,and friendly conversation,nighttime found us full-trimmedand joy-filled as we ambledslowly off to locate ourindividual tents, campers or tipis.Closing ceremonies took placeSunday afternoon. As a wideeyed youngster put it, “You meanwe have to go home now?”.Indeed, there were manyamongst us who felt that the timehad gone by all too fast.



Red River West



Region 1- Vancouver Is land

MIKI’SIW Metis

AssociationThe summer months have been veryslow in our community.On June 10, we held our AGM andelections. Re-elected were BryceMercredi as president; LynnMcDonnell as secretary and ChadRochon as director.The facilitators for the variousworkshops have been confirmed forour November youth project.On the week of July 19-24 we sent twoyoung people to “Back to BatocheDays”. A report follows from one ofour youth who attended.• • • by Haley N. SjostromAfter recently being recognized asMétis, I was invited to the annual“Back to Batoche” event inSaskatchewan. Of course I said yes. Itsounded like a privileged opportunityto learn about my heritage and tourhistorical sights.Wednesday July 19th came along quitequickly. After departing Comox airportwe met the rest of our group from thesouth island in Saskatoon, andcontinued by van to Batoche. At campwe set up our canvas wall tents whichwere very “rendezvous” keeping usshaded from the stifling heat in the

daytime, and shelteringus at nights where wewere the prey ofmosquitos.Throughout the next daywe learned that drinkinglots of water is very goodin the extremely hot anddry climate. Festivities of“Back to Batoche” didn’tstart until the weekend,so the B.C. groupexplored some history.Heading to Fort Carlton,along the NorthSaskatchewan River, wetravelled a long dusty

gravel road and then boarded a cableferry to get across the Fish River to theDuck Lake area. Once there our tourguide taught us about the fur trade, RedRiver carts, sources of food and thecustoms of these people. Then theVancouver Island group continued onfor a picnic at St. Laurent, and exploredthe church grounds.On Friday, July 21st, the fiddling andjigging had begun. Every day was sohumid, a water bottle was always at myside. I made friends with my groupmembers and felt at ease with all thesestrangers. At nights there were campfires. The hall attracted a great crowd everynight with music and dancing. I didn’tknow how to jig, but I tried and wascheered for my efforts. There werebeautiful sunsets every evening. I tooklots of pictures, especially of thenature. A friend of mine, Rachel, and Iwere walking through a field behindcamp. I told her to go no furtherbecause I saw a swarm of bees, but sheassured me that they were just brightorange and yellow dragon flies.We wore our sashes as much as wecould, and folded them before we slept.It was great to see many differentcolours of sashes and learn theirmeanings. The hand made sashes weremuch stronger in comparison to the

machine woven, but their beauty wasequal. The elders had a custom for plants andtheir appreciation for them. Tobaccowas left on the ground in place ofwhere sages had grown, to give thanksback to the earth. When all the water had been drunk, itwas time to pack up and head out ofBatoche, back to some civilization. My experience in Batoche was anunexpected blast. I give thanks to JenLaRose, Mark Telosky and the rest ofthe organizers who made thisopportunity a success!

Cowichan Valley Metis Nation

byLeanne LabergeThe past few months have beenproductive and festive for CowichanValley Métis Nation (CVMN).Our spring fling was held at the EaglesHall on June 3 and we participated inAboriginal Day, June 21, for the firsttime, following an invitation from theCowichan tribes. Bill Delorme, CVMN president; LorneLafleur, MNBC vice president; LeonaMason, MNBC regional registry clerkand Leanne Laberge, recently hiredCVMN community office liaison werewell received. Ms. Laberge has beenasked to join the organizing committeefor next year’s event.Our ninth annual Red River WestRendezvous, July 7-9 was well attendeddespite the extreme heat. Our hats areraised to Trish Parent, Red River WestCultural Association president, whoworked night and day for weeksorganizing the event. Another drivingforce was Ed Shaw, Mid-Island MétisNation RE&T representative and RRWboard member. And working quietly inher office Jerri Briggs, administrativeclient support for RE&T, spentcountless volunteer hours on the project.

Thanks are extended to the dozens ofpeople who helped in so many ways to



Region 2 Lower Mainland

North Fraser is planning a health screeningand Diabetes awareness and preventionworkshop to take place at the MNBCannual general meeting in Kelowna Sept.29.

We are hoping, through this event, that othercommunity leaders and programmers might offer

the same programs in their communities.I believe the provincial government has said there will befunding available to emulate our programs throughout theprovince. This will be an opportunity for other locals toapply for funds to carry out their programs.Other than that, North Fraser has been busy responding toproposal calls in search of funding our existing and ongoingprograms as well as expanding programs for the future.

North Fraser Metis Continue to Assist their Citizens

make the function a success. Since nextyear is our tenth anniversary it will bebigger and better. However, we needvolunteers, so please visit our web siteredriverwest.org or e-mail:[email protected] Bill Delorme and liaisonLeanne Laberge have been attending

local school board meetings, partially toinsist the Métis are acknowledged as anintegral part of the community andmore specifically to have Métis peopleplaced in schools as Aboriginal supportworkers. They will continue to assertthe Métis presence in the new schoolyear.

Sadly, we lost another of our elders.Mrs. Florence Shillito (mother toClaude Parnell) passed away on July 23at the age of 88. She was a woman ofboundless energy and a generous spirit.Finally, we hope to see many Métisislanders at the General Assembly onSeptember 16 in Duncan.

Cowichan Valley Metis Nation continued

on the Nova Metis office with all sorts of inquiries.Members can pick up training applications at the MNBChead office in Vancouver or at our office. We are there toassist all Metis people.Funding is available for tuition, etc. but before you apply,you should have a valid Metis membership card. Alsoenquire into the details of your selected course and thelength and costs of your employment upgrading & training.When this is complete it makes it easier to assess yourfunding possibilities and your eligibility for re-training ortuition funding. Many programs and services are available within the

structure of the Nova Metis Heritage Association and inpartnership with the head office of the MNBC in Vancouver.Two Metis Employment and Training assessment officesare now open. One in New Westminster and the other inAbbotsford. Also the Metis Womens Secretariat of BC hasbeen created and has a representative on the MNBC Board.Also the BC Metis Youth are represented with reps in allseven regions and their chairperson has a seat on the MNBCboard of Directors.Good progress has been made in all aspects of developing

a viable and respected administrative structure for Metis inBC and the Metis people via MNBC have developed aConstitution and several other “Acts” by which the Metispeople in BC are governed. This includes the MNGA or“Metis Nation Governing Assembly” which was formed torepresent all 35 + Metis local Community organizationsacross BC and their presidents meet at least twice a year toreview performance and policies of the elected officials. Soall is well and moving positively forward on this day inSeptember 2006.Nova Metis Heritage Association is a huge part of thismake-up as we approach 1700 Metis people in ourmembership. Join us to-day!Call 604-634-0119 for more information The Nova Board of DirectorsRonald Coles - Abbotsford - Acting President; DeanaJohnson,Treasurer; Bob Albiston - Secretary Directors -Kerry Marion. Bev Lambert, Patti Mayo, Dave Piper, ElenaWilliams, Leonard Laboucan - Captain of the Hunt*

5-10604 King George Hwy., Surrey, BC - V3T2X3 - [email protected] Formed from the remnants of the formerUnited Heritage Association but havingto re-name and reconstitute themselves as

Nova Metis Heritage Association inOctober 2003 the NMHA leads the way for

other local Metis community organizations in the R2-Lower Mainland Region. Their past president and nowexecutive director Ken Fisher has worked hard with otherdedicated Metis citizens to create a viable Metisorganization with an office in the Dell shopping Plaza inSurrey. With an ever increasing membership, Metis fromall around BC are turning to the Nova Metis office forverification and renewal of their roots as one of the threerecognized aboriginal people in Canada, “THE METIS”. The Nova Metis board of directors meets the last Tuesdayof each month at the Nova office. We welcome all newmembers to attend. The Nova Metis office is the most activelocal community providing memberships in the LowerMainland. There are estimated to be 48,000 Metis in B.C.,40% of whom are in the Lower Mainland. That puts a strain

Nova Metis Heritage Association by Ken Fisher



Region 3 Thompson- Okanagan

Sunny Skies and Family were a wonderfulmixture at the recent picnic sponsored byVernon Metis. Keith Henry and DeanTrumbley were there to give greetingsfrom President Bruce Dumont. It is agreat time, terrific food, the children had alot of fun and the location was perfect.The organizers and cooks are to becongratulated. Region 3 had many summer events. This isthe time of year when Metis people acrossthe province gather together and sharespecial moments. If you have pictures ofyour events be sure to email them or mailthem to Whispering Winds, a division ofKiwetin Marketing & Publishing. Ouremail address is [email protected] or mailto: Box 1266, Vernon, B.C. V1T 6N6



Region 4 - KootenaysCitizens of Region 4 (Kootenays) are proud to welcome their new RegionalDirector, Gerry was acclaimed this summer and looks forward to meeting allcitizens of our Metis Nation. Gerry Legare has been a strong supporter of MNBC for quite some time. We look forward to hearing from Gerry in our next edition.

A special thank you goes to AnniTherrien for sending in terrific photos of

Region 5 happenings

Region 5 - North Central


Region 6- Northwest Region 6 Tri-River Métis Association


by President Kim Hodgson, Tri-River MétisAssociation, Smithers, BC

The Tri-River Métis Association wasone of 13 representatives andorganizations from Bulkley ValleySchool District #54 that took part insigning Walking Together: AFramework for the Enhancement ofAboriginal Education in the BulkleyValley, on June 8th.The document has been five years inthe making, and Tri-River MétisAssociation members Kim Hodgsonand Arlene Huisman have representedMétis interests on the AboriginalEducation Council of SD#54 workingtowards a better education and futurefor our students.Walking Together is the result of acollaborative effort to establish arespectful and trusting partnershipamongst Aboriginal communities andorganizations of the Bulkley Valley, theMinistry of Education and SchoolDistrict #54. It outlines a commitmentto the improvement of opportunities

for Aboriginal learners. It involvesshared decision making and thecreation of a unified voice at theAboriginal Education Council toaddress the educational needs of allAboriginal students.Walking Together seeks to: enhanceAboriginal student success; improve thcultural context in which studentslearn; instill a sense of belonging; andimprove health and wellness.The agreement is a working documentthat defines goals and outcomes andhas mechanisms for evaluatingprogress. At the beginning of eachschool year a report will be preparedby the Aboriginal Education Council toupdate progress and identifydirections, strategies and targets for thenew year.The finalized report will form the basisof the Aboriginal Student Success goalof the annual District Learning Plan.The next step for the Tri-River MétisAssociation is to work in conjunctionwith the Aboriginal Education Council,the Aboriginal Education Principal

and Aboriginal Curriculum teacher todevelop Métis specific curriculum forthe school district.We would like to involve Métiscitizens from our Northwest Region increating our curriculum and usingmaterial such as: stories, music, art,beading, cooking, crafts, jigging,language and history. We will start withthe K-7 age group and then develophigh school curriculum. Eventually ourgoal is to have skilled Métis teachersand support workers in the regionemployed by SD#54 to present andteach Métis specific education.The Tri-River Métis Association isvery proud of its accomplishment andwelook forward to a bright future andeducational opportunities for ourstudents.



NORTHWEST REGION 6ANNOUNCEMENTS

NORTHWEST REGION DATACOLLECTION PROJECT: It ishoped that this venture will benefitemployers and potential employees ofthe Métis Nation BC alike. The Northwest Region Data CollectionProject (NWRDCP) is an initiative tocreate a database of employment-related information about the Métiscitizens and businesses of this region. .Information gathered would includecontact information, resourcesavailable, and services provided. Thisdatabase will be accessible byprospective employers, and potentialequipment and service contractors andother service providers. These groupswill be able to use this database tosearch for and contact Métis citizensand businesses that meet their jobrequirements.The Northwest Region Data Collectionwill continue until the end ofDecember 2006. Please inform all Métis members aboutthe project so that they can toparticipate and receive the benefits ofthis program.

To obtain the forms to register yourname in the database all Métis in theNorthwest Region as well as the Métis

of theFort St.J a m e sarea areasked tocontact:

Barry Wolfenden: Email:ba r rywol fenden@hotmai l . com,Tel.: 250. 638.1199

Kristen Pederson Email: [email protected]

Tel.: 250. 877.2485

THE MNBC 9TH AGM is on FridaySeptember 28th thru October1st 2006in Kelowna at The Grand OkanaganLakefront Resort and ConferenceCenter, 1310 Water St. Any Métiscitizen may attend participate. Pleasecheck www.mnbc.ca for the agenda.

MÉTIS NATION B.C.PROVINCIAL SURVEYSince May 12th 2006, research anddata collection has been conducted byMNBC, in the form of the MétisNation B.C. Provincial Survey(MNBCPS), the survey addressedmany issues in order to identify thegaps that remain as barriers preventingthe success of B.C. Métis people whencompared to the general population.The participation of Métis citizens,youth and elders alike, is imperativefor the success of this research.

For more informationand to download thequestionnaire pleasego to www.mnbc.caor pick up thequestionnaire at yourlocal office.

Red River West July6th to 9th 2006

I was invited by the Red River WestCommittee to help celebrate thisevent on Vancouver Island. RRW isthoroughly an event that promotesMétis culture at it’s finest.As the culture minister I waspleased to have had the opportunityto attend the RRW on behalf ofMNBC.

The Elders Conference called,“Gathering Our Wisdom: Pathwayto The Future” was a three dayevent hosted by the KermodeFriendship Society at theKitsumkalum Recreation Centre.

I was honored to be asked to attend,“The Old Fashioned Social” on theevening of May 27th to performMétis fiddling for the elders andguests.Another entertainer there was ErniePhilip who is a full bloodedCanadian Shuswap Indian andprofessional Native dancer who hasdanced, lectured and made guestappearances all over the world.

Rene Therrien MNBC NorthwestRegion 6

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It seems we were anticipating thelongest day of the year in June and herewe are once again noticing the leaveschange colour and school suppliesavailable in all the stores. I hope that the wonderful summerweather was enjoyed by everyone.

On a sad note, I would like to extendmy condolences to the families ofWilfred Savard, Jean Campbell andRomeo LaRiviere, all of whom passedaway in the last few weeks.

Upcoming events include an electionin Dawson Creek to elect a newPresident for their Metis Society boardof governors. This meeting should betaking place in September but as yet Idon’t know the exact date. I wish allthe candidates good luck.

There will be a Regional Presidents

meeting on September 9th at 10:00 a.min Kelly Lake. Hope to see you there.

The A.G. M. will be in Kelowna onSeptember 29 through October 1st,2006. I look forward to seeing as manyof you as can attend. Many positiveinitiatives have been happening theselast few months and I think you will bevery pleased and excited to hear aboutthem.

I think that we have an amazing groupof people working hard to further ourcause economically and politically.Credit is due to the provincial board,especially Keith Henry and BruceDumont and everyone around theprovince who are working hard at thelocal level. Despite the few stumblingblocks we have encountered we can beproud of the progress we have made insuch a short time. Well done.

A Message from Dan Pope,Minister of Economic Development and Director of Region 7



Everyday, all summer long, there

have been long rows of people outsidethe government building. They areissuing something called Scrip. Mamasays that it is a little piece of paper thatwe will get in exchange for our home.Papa says that our name, Primeau, hascome up today and that we must takeour turn in the line up.It is very hot weather for mid-September and the cutter is filled tobursting. My Papa’s long, white hairsparkles in the sunlight, but his eyeshold thunder.“Marie”, he manages, “I know thecutter is crowded, but we must ‘all’ goand get our Scrip, so that we can use itwhen we find a new home.”Mama just grunts, folds her armsacross her chest, and flicks her single,brown, braid in anger.I am very sad about leaving the RedRiver, for although many of our friendsand family are moving west as well,my brothers and sisters and cousinsand I were born and raised here. I havereached my twentieth year this summerpast. I am little and dark-skinned, likeMama, and do not look my years, but I

am to be married in two weeks to JohnJames Paquin. John James is very tallfor a Métis man and being part Scots,his skin is much lighter than mine. “Wewill make beautiful babies, we two”,he says — out of Papa’s range ofhearing of course. I fiddle with mybraids and feel shy.We live in St. Norbert and John Jameslives quite some distance away, in St.Andrews. When John James’shorseshoes sound outside our door, myPapa lights a short candle and sits inthe corner, rocking and muttering andsmoking his pipe. When the candleburns out John James knows that it istime to go. We cannot walk outtogether as some betrothed couples do,because Papa says it is ‘unseemlybehaviour’. He says that good Catholicgirls do not do such things. Initially,Papa did not approve of John James,for he is a Protestant. However, whenhe learned that in 1807 John James’sgrandfather set out to hunt Buffalo andtrap on the wild plains with the fatherof our beloved Monsieur Louis Riel, herelented and gave us his blessing.1875 has been a most advent filled yearfor we Métis. Everything seems to bechanging yet again. Mama says that it

is much the same as when they wereuprooted and moved here, but that waslong before I was born. My Mama’smother is Cree and Mama and Papaboth speak Cree and Michif. Wechildren only speak Michif though, Isuppose because we were all raisedhere in the Red River Settlement andnever got to meet Mama’s family downsouth. It is said that Monsieur Riel isliving down south now, across theUnited States border, like Mama’sfamily. I should like to go there myselfone day, but it appears that we are all toset out in our Red River carts for themen’s Buffalo hunting grounds in theNorth West Territories. They say thatthe trip will be very long and difficult.My family’s cart can hold very little,and once they get the teepee tied to oneside and Papa takes the reins, there islittle space left for the others. That is,of course, discounting cooking pots,fireboxes, clothing, food stores, andscant few personal items. Fortunately,the Paquin family has less membersand John James has his own cart, so wecan disperse the relatives throughoutthe three carts. As well, many of thegirls in each family are married, and

A Canadian LegendThe first chapter of a 12 part series - a fictional story describing the life of a typical Metis woman

by Leanne Laberge, Cowichan Metis

The Red River Settlement 1875-76

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can travel with their men.We feel very fortunate that all of themen are very good food providers, butwe realize that it would be much betterif we wait and leave in the springtime.We all know from tales told by thehunters and trappers returning from thenorthwest, that winter is extremelyharsh there and that food becomes lessavailable as the winter wears on. It hasbeen voted upon and it was decided,we will make a winter camp a fewmiles outside of the Red RiverSettlement area.• • •It is mid-winter now and the coldengulfs us. Many of the very youngand very old are ailing. I am in goodhealth in the fifth month of mypregnancy. I will be arriving in thewestern territories with a newborn.Many of the nursing mother’s can nolonger produce milk. Mama says that ifwe soak the barley grain overnight, andboil the barley water well, when cooledsome it will keep the babies alive. Itseems to be working. The barley makesvery good bannock when dried andcrushed to flour. The Pemmican hasheld out well and we often boil andmash it with barley mush for the oldones without teeth.The snow is blown as smooth as iceand it has been scarce, which is notgood. We are without snow to bank ourteepees and create windbreaks. Manyof our dogs have lost limbs to frost

bite. They will be left behind in thespring if they cannot keep up with thecarts. The wind howls and blows awaywhat little snow there was. We feelexposed on this open plain, and it hurtsto know that someone else iscomfortably warm inside the cabinsthat we had called home. Break-up has come early this year. Thisis good in one way — it is warmer —but bad in another way — it is muddy.Mud is everywhere and on everything.Our skirt hems are forever dirty and thechildren look like a flock of littleMudhens. The cartwheels cut so deeplyinto the ground and hold the clay so,that they cannot be moved. We mustwait for the prairie to dry before weattempt the crossing and given thecondition of many of the elders andinfants, it is going to be a difficultendeavour.• • • Tomorrow morning we will leave.Marie Louisa Paquin, was born afortnight ago, a glowing child withdark skin and a piercing cry. I nursewith ease, all is well with she and I.John James adores her, although a son

would have been his first choice. I tellhim that girls are of great importanceon the hunt. Who would skin andbutcher were it not for us?Morning found us in a downpouragain, just when the clay soil hadhardened. Despite the health of manyof their number, the elders havedeclared that we can wait no longer.We dare not risk another winter out ofdoors, especially in an unfamiliar land.It will be a long journey to our newhomeland and we know some of uswill be lost along the way, but we areabout to embark on an adventure notunlike that which our forefathersexperienced to arrive here. Given ourbloodlines and hardy spirits, we knowthat we are up to the challenge.

A Canadian Legend, Part 1, continued from page 39

Leanne Laberge is a Vancouver Islandauthor who has published both shortstories and poetry. She is currentlyworking on a screenplay, based on ashort story, about her Metis aunt inDuck Lake, Saskatchewan, in 1935.Leanne is trained in, and has workedas: a Theatrical Costumier, a TeenCounselor, a Metis Historian, aCreative Writer and a Journalist. Shehas been able to combine most of hertalents throughout the years to fulfillher passion for the history, stories, andtraditional dress of her people, theMetis. This twelve part series followsthe path of her Metis ancestors, fromQuebec to British Columbia, from 1695to 2003.

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Consistent with the goals of MétisNation BC (MNBC), the purposeand mandate of the Métis Women’sSecretariat-BC (MWS-BC) is topromote, empower and enhance thesocial, economic and political well-being of Métis women, youth, andcommunities in British Columbia.Some of the recent activities of theMWS-BC include: New director of womenWe recently welcomed our newdirector of women, Victoria Pruden,who was hired in July. Prior toaccepting the position at MNBC(Victoria) she worked as a programdeveloper and curriculum writer forthe Bridges for Women Society inVictoria, and as an instructor in theFirst Nations department atCamosun College in Victoria. Meeting with Canadian HeritageWe (April McLean-Collart andVictoria Pruden) had a very positivemeeting with Lynne Widdows,program officer for the CanadianHeritage Aboriginal Women’sProgram, to discuss current andfuture funding proposals that willsupport MWS-BC in achieving its

goals and objectives.Regional Representative electionsthis fallPreparation and planning forelections for MWS-BC RegionalRepresentatives are underway forRegions 1, 2, and 3. Elections willbe taking place in the fall, pendingconfirmation of funding andratification of a new InterimElectoral Code proposed by MWS-BC.Upcoming activities, programsand eventsCommunity Action for Women’sSafety Symposium I (April McLean-Collart) will bepresenting at the CommunityAction for Women’s SafetySymposium in Vancouver onSeptember 15. Invited by IdaChong, minister of CommunityServices and minister responsiblefor Seniors and Women’s Issues, Iwill be speaking about thesuccessful Métis women’sawareness campaign, whichsupported B.C. Métis locals inhosting information, awareness andeducational workshops on family

violence and abuse.“Traditional Women: Back to theLand” The MWS-BC programming atMNBC AGM 2006 will focus onmeeting traditional women fromacross the province of B.C. who areliving our traditions. Join us as wemeet four Métis women who areliving our historical traditions andculture; experience storytelling,sharing of traditional knowledgeand history. This session will beopen to everyone, and will takeplace on Friday, September 29thfrom 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the RotaryCenter in Kelowna, B.C.Participants are welcome to join usfor all or part of the day.

Métis Women’s Secretariat BC Updateby April McLean-Collart, MNBC Minister for Women

and Victoria Pruden, Director of Women


FIRST LETTER FROM FORT SIMPSON

MACKENZIE RIVER,NORTH-WEST TERRITORY.

October 9, 1874.

MY OWN DEAREST SISTER,You will see by the date that wehave at last reached the end of ourlong journey. This we didSeptember 24-a day bright andbeautiful, with clear bracing air(after the months of cruel heat),and preceded by a moonlit nightand exquisite aurora borealis. I hadfelt latterly very tired of the jour-ney and on the point of knockingup. We went through the sameconstant monotony of lake andriver and portage over and overagain, the only variety being thatthe weather became ever moredamp and chilly in the evening andnights. We had some severestorms, which were not agreeablein our open boat.

We had a good deal of trouble withour sailors after parting with ournice Red River crew; sometimesthey were most difficult to procureat any price. Our men gaveWilliam a great deal of trouble, andat one time I feared a completemutiny.

Another difficulty we had was the short-age of provisions. We could only getsmall supplies at each Fort to help us onto the next, and if detained by contrarywinds or rebellious Indians, we hadsome difficulty to eke them out amongourselves with servants and sailors.However, by God’s great mercy we werehelped on day by day, and supplies neverdid fail, though at one time we ate ourlast piece of meat for dinner, without theslightest knowledge of where we shouldfind supper.

On Monday, September 21 (dear St.Matthew’s Day), we entered the greatMackenzie River. We had been somedays crossing Great Slave Lake, which isvery beautiful, dotted with little islands.We encountered on this lake one of thestiffest gales on the whole of our jour-

ney, so that we had to put in a FortResolution, where we were detained fivedays. Then we got on to Hay River,stopping a few hours at Fort Providence,after which we entered the MackenzieRiver. It is so beautiful from the first-itscurves so graceful; and one remarkablefeature is the strong current in the midstof the stream-so strong that we coulddispense with oar and sail, and simplydrift down, night and day, while our menwrapped themselves in their blanketsand went to sleep.

Well, at last, after two nights’ drifting,

we drew near Fort Simpson. There wasa curve in the river and a pretty littleisland ahead, and William said; “Afterthat we shall see Fort Simpson.” It wasso much to attain! There it was! First,the Fort on a high embankment, somehouses and tents clustering near, and,

about a quarter of a mile distant, thecathedral! A pretty, really pretty,little church with spire all com-plete, of wood, of course, andnative built. As we drew near wesaw that our boat was observed,and immediately the red flag washoisted on the flagstaff, and allthe Fort officers and their wives,and all the rest of the colony,including the carpenter, black-smith, and schoolmaster, etc.,mustered on the beach to receiveus. They all seemed pleased, andgave me a kind welcome to FortSimpson. Our house is shard withMr. and Mrs. Reeve and threechildren.

[Later, referring to their arrival,Mrs. Bompas wrote:]

Last autumn the stock provisionsin the stores were lower that everbefore - i.e., only sufficient forone week. Most of the men had tobe sent away to hunt for them-selves, and there was great diffi-

culty in collecting scraps of meat for thewives and children. It came at last to thepoint when there was not another mealleft. But on the evening of that very daytwo Indians came in bringing fresh meat.From that moment the supplies havenever failed. As surely as they got low,so surely would sledges appear unex-pectedly bringing fresh supplies. It waswhen matters were at the worst lastautumn that we and our party arrivedbringing six extra mouths to be fedbesides the boat’s crew. Yet theCompany’s officers received us with theutmost courtesy and good temper, and


A H e r o i n e o f t h e N o r t h c o n t i n u e d f r o m J u n e E d i t i o n

Chapter II. Fort Simpson(September, 1874-June, 1876)

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although we could see that they were ingreat depression of spirits, they did theirbest to look and speak cheerfully andhopefully on the matter.

October 28.

I have been here nearly five weeks andbegin to fell more settled, though ourhouse is not as comfortable as I hope tomake it. All my provision stores I havearranged up in the attic (no cupboards).Alas, they are not so much as one couldwish, owing to our having had to openour flour bag in the boat to satisfy themen; also our bag of rice got wet, and agreat part has had to be thrownaway, and the rest is injured, andI must confess-very nasty!Also, by mistake, our chiefgrocery box was left behind,and we shall not get it tillnext fall, so we want manythings I should have beenthankful for. We have no cof-fee or cocoa, only a littlearrowroot given my by a friend.No corn flour or starch. It is veryvexatious, but one must cheer up andmake the best of it. In the meantime Godis very merciful to us, and sends us somany little helps through the kindness offriends. One has given us 12 lbs. ofgood rice, another a little coffee, anothersome candles, and one day, to mydelight, there came a small keg of butter.We only allow ourselves to bake once aweek, using about 5 lbs. of flour. Thisgives William and me a small piece ofbread once a day. And all our party -forexample the schoolmaster, catechist, andservants-a good-sized piece twice aweek. Besides this we have a few bis-cuits, of which William makes me takeonce a day. Wee have a chest of tea anda keg of sugar, so, after all, we are fairlyoff for provisions. The Hudson Bay Co.provides the missionaries with meat andfish (at pretty high prices), on conditionthat we never trade in fur with the

Indians. It seems hard not to be able toget anything for myself or to send home.Only the other day I had in my hand alovely black fox skin which I could havegot for a few beads or half a pound oftea, and I might not! Twice a week agreat bell is rung at the Fort, and all theColony get their “prey.”

Our “prey” has hitherto (five weeks!)been only dried moos-deer meat. Itlooks for the entire world like a heap ofdirt, rough shoe leather. This we haveboiled for breakfast, dinner, and tea.

However, I am thankful today we arepromised a good supply of rabbitsthrough the winter. It is wonderful howone’s capacity for food increases in thisclimate, especially the craving for fat orgrease. I used to watch the Indians inour boat with such amaze and disgust-eating a piece of bread with a lump ofmoose-deer fat like lard! I believe Icould now do the same with great satis-faction.

Now a little about our mission work.Near the Fort are some tents inhabited byIndians-just skins sewn together, open-ing at the top for smoke-warm but dirty.The Indians all speak Slave, a dialectakin to Chippewyan. They wear skins orleather dresses, ornamented with beadsand fringe. The men are good-looking,

the women coarse and mostly plain.Besides these, there are constantlyIndians coming and going, and they allsooner or later turn up at the MissionHouse. William talks so nicely andearnestly to all, and tries to get the chil-dren to school and all to church. Justnow we have a class of Indians in theafternoon, and I go in and make themsing and so calisthenics exercises.Before this I lead and ablutionary depart-ment, and then send them outside with acomb by which their black shaggymanes are reduced to order. They callme “Yalti Betzani” (Bishop’s wife).

The Diocese of Athabasca: Note byMrs. Bompas

The Athabasca Dioceseextends both in length andbreadth to a distance aboutequal to the length of twoprovinces of Quebec and

Ontario together, the length ofthe diocese being from end to

end 3,000 miles and containing750,000 square miles. The distance

from London to Constantinople will rep-resent to a European the length andbreadth of the diocese. The length andtediousness of travel in this country maybe compared to a voyage in a canal bargeup and down the Rhine and Danube fromEngland to Turkey. If all the populationsbetween London and Constantinoplewere to disappear except a few tents ofIndian or gipsy encampments, and wereall the cities and towns obliteratedexcept a few log huts on the site of thechief capitals-such is the solitary wasteof this land. Again, were all the diversi-ty of landscape changed into an unbro-ken line of pines and willows-such is thiscountry!


Memoirs of Charlotte Selina Bompas (1830-1917) – Wife of the First Bishop of Selkirk (Yukon)With Extracts from Her Journal and Letters Compiled by S. A. Archer – London: SPCK, 1929

Thanks again to Randy Spinks,aVernon Metis. we will continuethis diary of Mrs Bompas in ournext edition.

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52september 2006 www.kiwetin.com


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PPPP HHHH OOOO TTTT OOOO CCCC OOOO NNNN TTTT EEEE SSSS TTTTSend in your photos and you could WIN a Kiwetin Wind Jacket!

Overall best Photo receives a jacket, category winners receive a Kiwetin shirt. Enter as often as you can. Use "Kiwetin Photo Contest" in email subject line.

Life happens to everyonePhotos from the lighter side of life

Categories(Adult & Youth)

- People & Life

- Nature & Scenery

- Wildlife

- Not so Wildlife

-Christmas/Winter Scenes

What a wonderful world it isPhotos exploring spectacular scenery we are privileged to enjoy

The wild and the beautifulPhotos of natures creatures in their element

The Not-so-wildlifePhotos of our devoted companions

Please put your name,, age, address and phone number on the back of each photo.DEADLINE is October 18th, 2006 (no photos will be accepted for the contest after October 21st)

Send to: Photos c/o N. Mineault, #77 6688 Tronson Road, Vernon, B.C. V1H 1R9 or email [email protected] (Please send them as a jpeg at 300 dpi)

Photos will be used in our magazine with your name on the credit line. If you would rather not be published please let me know.. Diane

Deadline for P

hoto Contest h

as been

exten

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October

18th, 2006

A new ca

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These co

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september 2006 Whispering Winds


www.kiwetin.com september 200654

Noel and I were saddened to learn of the death of Art Burd this past June. This man was awonderful fiddler, a man devoted to helping Métis citizens learn more about their heritageand a great friend. We first met Art at the First Ministers' Conference in Kelowna when heand Bev Lambert joined the MNBC team to entertain at the Official Opening CeremoniesWe became instant friends and enjoyed several evenings at different Métis events during thepast year. We talked on the phone and exchanged many emails. Noel and I, along with BCMétis people will miss him during the AGM and all other Métis functions.We offer condolences to Art's wife, Violet and his son, Kelly.Art produced a CD "Fiddle with Flavour"in 2005. On the back cover he wrote: "I would liketo thank my dear wife Violet and son, Kelly for making my dreams come true with this finerecording; without their encouragement and resources it wouldn't happen. Also a specialthanks goes to my buddies Rick Dunn, Eddy Molyski and my son Kelly for donating timetowards this album. Great job, Guys! It was fun and I hope to do it again, if time will allow!"Art's time was cut short but we can all be sure he is making wonderful Métis music in heaven.Our love and prayers go out to you Art.It is possible to get a copy of Art Burd's CD from MNBC Metis Trading OutPost.Art Burd

FoodCoupons.........

By Kim Hayek, New Westminster, B.C.

Late Summer is a time of harvest formany farm communities. My Auntsand Uncles tell me that lots of strangerslived on the farm, temporarily, as hiredhelp. Fields of hay needed to be cut,baled and stored. Days of intense heatdid not stop the work crew. Sometimesneighbors would come out to help.Rows and rows of bread would belined on the country kitchen counter,buttered and filled by Aunt Jenny.Wrapped in wax paper, brown paper orlinen then packed in boxes. Some onewould drive across the field, to the haywagons, and distribute the middaymeal.

Any vegetables left in the gardenneeded to be picked, chopped,blanched, and frozen. Canning andpickling of vegetables and fruits startedto be harvested when they were ripe,usually July and August. Big enamelcanners would be boiling for hours.Mason jars full of beef cubes, venison,and rabbit were sealed and stored forthe long prairie winter. Wild berries:strawberries, blueberries,boysenberries, wonderberries weretransformed into fruit jams, jellies andbutter. A variety of plums and appleswere mashed and made into sauces-a

good ingredient to add to cakes andbumbles later in the autumn.I remember, when I was 3 or 4 yearsold, I had to weed a whole row ofpotatoes. Sounds like a small choreBUT the row was an acre long! AuntJenny made us all work on the farm, allages could do something to contributeto the evening supper. I am sure I hadhelp and got a lot of hugs andencouragement to weed the spuds.Going into town to buy sugar and getthe wheat turned into flour was atimely event. A whole day of hot, dustyearth roads. If a child went along, atreat may be given in the form of anorange soda, licorice or stick candy. Shortly after World War II, late 1939,early 1940 many items were rationed.Cars and other big items were frozen atwartime’s prices. Some car dealerswould add a car rug if you purchased acar from them, others a few cents ofgas. Creative ways to sell productsduring a hard cash-less time. TheWartime Trade Board distributed‘tickets’ or ‘coupons’ for food. In theprairies tickets were sent to agovernment office, handed out once amonth to families and individuals. Theration was per person, per household.Butter, sugar, meat, eggs were the mainfood items that were rationed, as wellas gasoline. My great grand father hadthe local milk run and would give thetickets to the city people, as the farmprovided food for his family. Otherswould use their tickets to trade for

gasoline, Jamaican rum, or more food. My father remembers that his motherwould have a row of glass jars on thekitchen counter. His brothers’ andsisters’ names were on the jars of sugar.My father’s sugar was ALWAYS thefirst to be emptied. He had a sweet toothform very young. He collectedaluminum from cigarette packages andturned those in for pennies.If a single person lived in a roominghouse in the city of Winnipeg, thetickets would be given to the landlady.That night all would enjoy a hugedinner of roast, gravy and all thetrimmings.Food security is a right. Many familiesthat moved away from the farm tosecure employment have had topurchase their food. Over the years theprice of survival has been dependent ontrucking, gas prices, shipping yards,and management. Think about this: theaverage food item travels 1500kilometers before it gets to your kitchentable.Kim Hayek has been a faithful contributorsince we published our first magazine.Thanks Kim for staying with us since thebeginning. Kim had faith in Kiwetin, YourAboriginal Voice and with people like herby our side we will continue to grow andmake this publication stronger andstronger.Kim, a Metis, visits North Fraser Metiscommunity centre on a regular basis. She iswell known for her writing, her poetry andher spiritual strength.


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