Volume 17 Issue 5 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 June 2005

IN THE NEWS

Put your community on the map with stories and

photos. Earn money too. Contact: Maurice Switzer, Editor

Telephone: (705) 497-9127 Toll Free: 1-877-702-5200

news@anishinabek.ca

Anishinabek Writers

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine and Prime Minister Paul Martin greet each other at a cabinet meeting retreat in Ottawa May31. The AFN leader called it a ‘historic step forward for First Nations in their relationship with the federal government.’ – (CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson)

OTTAWA – Aboriginal leadersin Canada have made history byparticipating in a federal cabinetmeeting specifically devoted toaboriginal issues.

The special May 31 cabinetretreat produced new agreementspledging that Ottawa wouldchange how it deals with Nativeissues but skeptics were wary thatit's all just more talk.

AFN National Chief PhilFontaine called it a “historic stepforward for First Nations in theirrelationship with the federal gov-ernment” and an opportunity togive life to the inherent Aboriginaland treaty rights of First Nations.

“This political accord removes

the straitjacket from federal poli-cies and programs and sets thestage for a new relationshipbetween First Nations and Canadaand a new agenda for First Nationsand Canada,” said the NationalChief, who signed the FirstNations-Federal Crown PoliticalAccord on the Recognition andImplementation of First NationsGovernments during the privatemeeting.

The accord commits FirstNations and the Government ofCanada to the establishment of aJoint Steering Committee to under-take and oversee cooperativeaction on policy change; the devel-opment of frameworks for the

recognition and reconciliation ofConstitutional, treaty and inherentrights; capacity-building opportu-nities for First Nations governance,and processes and legislation thatwill enable the development ofFirst Nation governments.

Prime Minister Paul Martinencouraged the provinces to take amajor role in aboriginal programs,an area that has been considered aclear federal responsibility.

Mr. Martin, his Indian AffairsMinister Andy Scott and aboriginalleaders made the appeal after thespecial cabinet committee meeting.

Mr. Martin said issues such ashousing, health and education werediscussed at the closed-door meet-

ing, but the real focus of decisionsand announcements will come atthis fall’s first ministers meeting onaboriginal matters.

Assembly of First NationsNational Chief Phil Fontaine saidthe cabinet agreed in principle withthe idea of an aboriginal housingauthority that would encourageboth private and social housing onreserves.

The ministers began the meet-ing by signing partnership accordswith the five aboriginal groups: theAssembly of First Nations, MétisNational Council, Inuit TapiriitKanatami, Native Women’sAssociation and the Congress ofAboriginal Peoples.

First Nations at cabinet table

EAGLE LAKE FN – Angus Toulouse, the chief ofSagamok First Nation has been elected the new region-al chief for Ontario at the Annual Chiefs of Ontarioconference held in Eagle Lake FN June 14.

He replaces Assembly of First Nations executiveCharles Fox, who resigned last month.

“I am humbled by this honour bestowed upon meby the Chiefs and I will be unrelenting in my approachto carrying out this mandate,” he said.

Angus Toulouse has been Chief of the SagamokAnishnawbek First Nation for the past 11 years. He hasalso served six years as a band councillor in his com-munity. In addition to his duties as Chief, Toulouse isalso the Lake Huron Region Grand Chief for the Union

of Ontario Indians and has served as Chairman of theNorth Shore Tribal Council.

He is a strong advocate for a rights-based agenda,including a focus on advocating for treaty and aborigi-nal rights. He has held a number of portfolios over theyears including education and natural resources with afocus on forestry.

Toulouse was elected for a four-year term overseven other candidates including, Wally McKay(Sachigo Lake), Lorraine Rekmans (Serpent River),Art Petahtegoose (Whitefish Lake), Allan Luby(Dalles), Chris McCormick (Batchewana), LarryJourdain (Lac La Croix), Eli Mandamin (Shoal Lake#39).

Ontario Chiefs elect Angus Toulouse

CNN snubs NativesVERMILLION, SD – CNN

has awarded $1 million forscholarships to minority jour-nalism organizations with thegoal of diversifying newsrooms,but excluded a donation toAmerican Indian journalists, themost under-represented minori-ty. – Related story on page 11

Achievers in VancouverThe National Aboriginal

Achievement Awards, is comingto Vancouver on Friday, January27, 2006 at the Queen ElizabethTheatre where 14 exceptionalAboriginal men and women,including one youth recipientand one lifetime achiever, willbe honoured as part of a enter-tainment extravaganza featuringtop Aboriginal performers.

Women protest C-31MONTREAL – To mark the

20th anniversary of the IndianAct amendment, commonlyknown as “Bill C-31” the NativeWomen’s Association of Canada(NWAC) and the Quebec NativeWomen Inc. (QNW) are plan-ning a protest on Parliament Hillon June 28, 2005. NWACPresident, Beverley Jacobs says“I am hearing about womenbeing denied access to theircommunities as a result of whothey married before 1985. I amalso hearing about First Nationschildren being denied Indianstatus due to unstated paternity.”

Funding saves FNTITYENDINAGA – Thanks to

a last-minute $500,000 fundingannouncement by Indian andNorthern Affairs minister AndyScott, First Nation TechnicalServices Institute will continueoperations. FNTI, 20 years oldin August, has had more than2,000 post-secondary graduatesin aviation, indigenous health,media, human services, andother programs in partnershipwith institutions like RyersonUniversity, and Humber, St.Lawrence and Canadore col-leges.

Angus Toulouse

Page 2 Anishinabek News June 2005

The youngest son of the late,important Canadian artist ArthurShilling, Travis is forging his own

path in the artworld.

Travis Shillingwas born in 1978in MnjikaningFirst Nation. Heis self-taught andhas attended theToronto School ofArt, and the

Dundas Valley School of Art. He is best known as a figura-

tive and landscape painter whouses a unique colour sense, strongcompositions, spontaneous ener-gy, with sensitive and maturestrokes.

“A reflection occurs midwaythrough the portrait, where youforget who you are painting and afever begins while realizing weare all longing and searching forsomething beautiful.”

www.beckettfineart.com

Artist profile:Travis Shilling

Self-portrait

DOHM-NUK / LET’S PLAY!DOHM-NUK / LET’S PLAY!Anishinabek Crossword #3

Travis Shilling

Favourite Anishinabek Websiteswww.oyate.org Native Literature and Education Resourcewww.urbanshaman.org/Contemporary Native artwww.janecommanda.com/local favouritewww.dorothygrant.comSalish High Fashionwww.turtleisland.orgNews, Current Events, Otherwww.thenewpath.caNative Curriculum project delivered by M'Chigeeng First Nationwww.kstrom.net/isk/maps/historical.htmlUseful historical, cultural,political mapswww.etribe.ca/A little bit of everythingwww.thenewworldmovie.comNew Hollywood movie based on Pocahontas (right)

Colin Farrell plays John Smith and new-comer Q’orianka Kilcher is Pocahontas.

Oyate’s logo is symbolic of the educationawareness work they do.

Across 1. Courage (grandfather

teaching)5. Sauce made from basil and

garlic and other ingredients10. Laughter sound11. Nobility12. Reputation14. Food regimen15. Radio wave16. Salvation Army, for short17. Come together18. What we breathe20. Integrity (grandfather

teaching)22. Listener23. Not down25. Either/__?26. Approves28. Burial site29. Unlock31. Indicator light (abbr.)32. Customer Service, for

short34. Sacred bird36. Affinity (grandfather

teaching)38. Modern medicine man?39. French for him41. Concealed43. Indian tent home (U.S.

Tribe sp.)44. Computer47. Extremely49. Man __ man

50. The “strawberry” organ51. Symbol of honesty

Down1. Sacred animal2. Warrior Group (abbr)3. What? (Canadian)4. Method of detecting

distant objects5. Cooking utensil6. Inside (prefix)7. Abstaining8. French for you9. Fruit growing areas

11. The sun provides it13. French friend16. Stone is symbol

19. Feeling of regard for (grandfather teaching)

21. State of being humble (grandfather teaching)

24. Game played on a horse25. One time27. Knockout for short30. Executive Assistant33. Take on35. Wise one37. Snake40. At this place42. “V___ Las Vegas”

(Elvis hit)45. Company, for short46. Expression of surprise48. Right, for short

La

st m

on

th’s

an

swe

rs

The first correct crossword we receive will win a MINIATURE DIGITAL CAMERA courtesy ofAnishinabek Nation 7th GenerationCharities. Last month’s winner is Gabe Belleau fromWhitefish Lake First Nation.

Page 3Anishinabek NewsJune 2005

AnishinabekAnishinabek

By Perry McLeod-ShabogesicWHITEFISH LAKE FN –

Mamaweswen – the North ShoreTribal Council and theN’Swakamok Native FriendshipCentre in Sudbury sponsored aspecial youth gathering atWhitefish Lake First Nation inMay entitled “AnishinabekE s h k i n i i g j i g ( Yo u t h )Teaching/Gathering.”

Held at the Whitefish LakeCommunity centre, the event drew135 participants to hear and share

the teachings of the rites of passageof Anishinabe youth.

Among the invited speakerswere Elder Ann Wilson from theRainy River First Nation, who

shared her experiences with theyouth at the gathering and encour-aged them not to forget their waysof becoming good Anishinabewomen and men.

North shoreyouth meet

Front left, Jamie Lynn Mandamin (daughter) – behind her is HeatherMandamin (Mom), Randy Mandamin (Dad) holding baby Gracie Alexis,Mary Elliot (Nokomis) and Mathew Mandamin (son).

By Marcia TrudeauWIKWEMIKONG – Wally

Mishibinijima raised at leastanother $3500 to assist FirstNation students that are in foster care and want to pursue post-sec-ondary education.

Walking an average daily 50 kilometres, Mishibinijima's fourthannual “Fostering Futures” began at his Rabbit Island home andwrapped up in Sault Ste. Marie. Along the way, his journey was cele-brated at community feasts in Whitefish River and Mississauga FirstNations. Donations are still being accepted and may be sent to‘Fostering Futures Fund’ c/o Walter Mishibinijima, 1266 RabbitIsland Road, Wikwemikong, Ontario P0P 2J0. Next year will be lastthat Mishibinijima walks to Sault Ste. Marie solo. After the fifth walkin 2006, it will be organized as a relay with various walkers that areinterested in taking turns and challenging themselves.

THUNDER BAY – Withlakes Superior, Michigan andnow Huron crossed off their list,the Mother Earth Water Walkerscan put up their weary feet untilnext summer.

They have only two morelakes to walk around in theirefforts to create more awarenessabout pollution and environmen-tal issues concerning Water –lifeblood of Mother Earth.

The walkers recently com-pleted their walk around Lake Huron, which started in Sault Ste.Marie, Ontario and ended in Soo, Michigan almost a month later. Nextyear’s journey will be around Lake Ontario.

“I got the idea in the year 2000 when an elder prophesized that 30years from now water will cost $325 an ounce, if we don’t do anythingto mend our ways. Well that word ‘if’ gave me hope that there’s some-thing that can be done,” said walker Josephine Mandamin.

Mandamin along with Melvina Flamand, Violet Caibaisai andJudith Schmid are the four women who walked the distance of LakeHuron. Last year they walked Lake Michigan and before that LakeSuperior. The 1st Mother Earth Water Walk took place April 2003.Several women from different clans came together to walk around theGreat Lakes to raise awareness.

NIPISSING FN – When Elder Lewis Joseph spoke about losingyoung people to suicide his eyes swelled with tears.

His composure was regained when he talked about the strengthand dedication of the youth who are walking across five provinces toraise awareness about suicide in First Nation communities.

“Our youth are our future and we must protect them, respect themand make them stronger through events like this,” he said.

For the third year in a row the Aboriginal Youth SuicidePrevention Walkers stopped by the Union of Ontario Indian officeJune 7 on their way to Ottawa.

The group which included seven youth, an Elder and two coordi-nators dropped into the UOI offices where they received a $1000donation to help costs incurred during the annual walk.

Alan Ozawanimke, Union of Ontario Indians CEO, presents $1000donation to 14-year-old Emily Williams, a member of the YouthSuicide Prevention Walkers who left Duncan, B.C. March 28 to raiseawareness of youth suicide.

Zhiibaahaasing First NationPow-Wow – Honour our Men.Change in date from July 17-18to September 10-11, Silverwater,contact Chris 705-283-3963.

Anjeni Kohoko-Grant was oneof 21 students and four supervisorsfrom the Algonquins ofPikwakanagan After-SchoolProgram who enjoyed an after-noon horseback riding at FrontierTrails Camp in Eganville.

The outing was a reward forthe Grades 2-8 students, who alsoenjoyed a games room, trampo-line, park, and lunch.

The riding trails took the youthon a 25-minute ride through fieldsand into shaded forests. Eachmember was given a helmet towear and two camp assistantsensured the riders were safe andon track. One supervisor attendedeach riding group.

The day was clear, warm andbright and the youth had a greatday running around, riding horses,checking things out and havingfun.

Suicide taking toll

HONOUR SONGS

Only twolakes to go

Wally raises$3500

POW-WOW DATES

John Fox (Little Bear), LoonClan, Wikwemikong, living in

Thunder Bay.

Students rewarded

Anjeni Kohoko-Grant on horse-back.

Water walkers JosephineMandamin, Melvina Flamandand Violet Caibaisai.

Wally Mishibinijima en routeto Sault Ste. Marie.

Everybody seems to be in favour of self-govern-ment . . . so long as somebody else does the work.

Native peoples want self-government for the samereasons everyone in the world does. But not everyonein that world seems to understand that the first steptowards self-government is accepting a share of theresponsibility to make our societies successful. This iswhat is meant by the term “civic duty” – every citizenhas a role in keeping theircommunity safe, healthy,and prosperous.

Instead of expectingteachers to be surrogateparents for our children –handling out values anddiscipline as well as home-work – we have a respon-sibility – a duty – toensure that our children goto school with values intheir hearts as well as foodin their bellies. Instead ofsaying “All politicians arejerks so what’s the point of voting?”, each of us has acivic duty to do whatever we can to ensure that ourcommunities and country are getting honest and effec-tive government. I would have liked to see all 308 fed-eral riding constituencies summon their respectiveMPs home to special town-house meetings and rakethem over the coals for the daily Punch-and-Judyshow that Parliament has become.

As 150 participants in a recent conference dis-cussed in North Bay, the day is past when we can leavecrime prevention in the hands of the police. For onething, there aren’t enough of them to go around, andfor another, in the words of keynote speaker Dr. GregBrown, “being able to address and solve communityproblems is about all community members workingtogether and taking responsibility for their communi-ty.”

Billed as the Northeastern Ontario CommunityMobilization for Crime Prevention Conference –badges for delegates had to be very big! – the eventwas co-ordinated by the Chisholm CommunityPolicing Committee and the Ontario Provincial Police.Participants included a broad range of people interest-ed in safe communities, from farmers who hang“Neighbourhood Watch” signs in their windows topolice officers on the bomb squad. Workshops,demonstrations, and displays touched on everythingfrom how to recognize counterfeit currency to thevalue of skateboard parks in the fight against juveniledelinquency.

Organizers ensured that their agenda had someaboriginal content. Longtime police officer Sgt.George Couchie, Red-tailed Hawk Clan, NipissingFirst Nation, talked about the importance of healthy

family relationships in reducing levels of violence andsubstance abuse. Stan Wesley, originally from MooseFactory, conducted sessions on “peer helping” – peo-ple helping people. And Anishinabek Nation GrandCouncil Chief John Beaucage outlined the challengespresented by a fast-growing young urban aboriginalpopulation without sufficient access to educationaland employment opportunities.

Delegates understood that building safer commu-nities means more than buying better locks for doorsor installing video cameras on city streets after dark.One conference handout – “Safer Communities forAll: Combatting Hate Activity” – was produced by theFederation of Canadian Municipalities, and stressedthat racism can have negative impacts on everythingfrom a community’s social cohesion to its economicdevelopment.

All in all, it was a wonderful event – it’s not oftenyou find yourself in a room with people looking forways they can contribute to making the world a betterplace in which to live. The gifts and giveaways weresuperb. I got a ballcap with an OPP crest that could beextremely helpful when I exercise my treaty fishingrights, and a huge fridge magnet advising everyone inmy kitchen not to feed the bears.

When I came into the office Monday morning Ihad calls from some irate off-reserve Natives inSudbury complaining that a trendy new clothing storewas not honouring their treaty right to sales taxexemption. Out of habit, I reached for the phone tolodge a complaint with the store’s head office inOttawa.

Then I thought about the anti-crime conference,and pecked out a couple of e-mails to members ofSudbury’s new Aboriginal Urban DialogueCommittee, providing them the store’s head officephone number and president’s name. “This issuewould be an ideal one for your group to take on”, Isuggested, adding that the Union of Ontario Indianswould be glad to lend support to their dialogue withcity merchants.

Self-government means exactly what it says.

(Maurice Switzer is a citizen of the Mississaugas ofAlderville First Nation. He serves as director of com-munications for the Union of Ontario Indians and edi-tor of the Anishinabek News.)

Page 4 Anishinabek News June 2005

NOTE: The Editor reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity,clarity, and suitability for publication. All formal comments and complaintsmust be addressed to Editorial Board c/o Anishinabek News.

GOALTo publish a quality newspaper and related publicationsdesigned to foster pride and share knowledge aboutAnishinabek current affairs, culture, goals, and accomplish-ments.

OBJECTIVESTo provide information that reflects the Creator’s four originalgifts to the Anishinabek:

Respect: To welcome diversity and encourage a free exchange of opinions that may differ without being disagreeable. Fair andhumourous comments are welcomed, but not ridicule or person-al attacks.

Honesty: Debwewin – speaking the truth – is the cornerstone ofour newspaper’s content.

Sharing: Providing opportunities for people from the four cor-ners of the Anishinabek Nation to tell stories and recordachievements, and to keep our citizens informed about activitiesof the Union of Ontario Indians.

Strength: To give a voice to the vision of the AnishinabekNation that celebrates our history, culture and language, pro-motes our land, treaty, and aboriginal rights, and supports thedevelopment of healthy and prosperous communities.

Publishing Criteria

Advertising & News DeadlinesThe current circulation of the Anishinabek News is 10,000 copies,

with 9,000 mailed and 1,000 distributed at various events.

DEADLINE FOR JULY/AUGUST ISSUE

For more information or inquiries to the Anishinabek News related to advertising and circulation issues please call our new

toll-free number: 1-800-463-6408

The Anishinabek News is a monthly publication of the Union ofOntario Indians (UOI). Views expressed are not necessarily theopinion or political position of the UOI.

No portion of this paper, including advertisements, artwork, pho-tos and editorial content may be reproduced without written permis-sion of the Anishinabek News Editor or UOI Executive.

Readers are invited to submit letters, articles, and photos for pub-lication. Please include your name, address and telephone numberon all material submitted. All submissions will be reviewed for publi-cation based on priority of interest and edited for clarity of thought,taste, brevity and legal implications. Remuneration will be paid forsubmissions only if a written agreement with the Editor is made priorto publication.Editor: Maurice SwitzerAssistant Editor: Jamie MonastyrskiContributors: Kelly Brownbill, Denise Desormeaux, Rick Fehr,

Rick Garrick, Stewart King, Perry McLeod-Shabogesic, Rosalind Raby, Curtis Wheatley

Editorial Board: Fred Bellefeuille, Les Couchie, Cathie Favreau, Alan Ozawanimke

Co-ordinator: Priscilla GoulaisProduction: Deb Sullivan

Telephone: (705) 497-9127 Toll Free: 1-877-702-5200Fax: (705) 497-9135 e-mail: news@anishinabek.ca

Anishinabek NewsP.O. Box 711, Nipissing First Nation, North Bay, ON P1B 8J8

AdvertisingBookings: June 20Final Art: June 24

NewsNews submissions: June 20Scheduled printing: July 7

Maurice Switzer

Did you know that members of the 42 AnishinabekNation communities are eligible for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION?

Regular Subscription prices for one year (10 issues):Anishinabek Nation citizens $0 (Free) Canada $25 (Can. Funds) USA $25 (U.S. Funds) Int. $50 (Can. Funds)

For more information or inquiries to the Anishinabek News related to advertising and circulation issues please call our toll-free number: 1-800-463-6408

Maanda ndinendamMaanda ndinendam

Self-governmentmeans exactlywhat it says

Editor:The article submitted by the

Principal Negotiator for theAlgonquin treaty process, Mr. BobPotts, published in the April 2005edition of Anishinabek News, statedthat he wanted to ensure that thenon-political Algonquin NegotiationRepresentative (ANR) electionprocess was fair and professional.Unfortunately, it failed to meet thesestandards.

In reviewing these concerns, itmust first be appreciated that thiselection was set in place to establisha clear distinction from politicalAlgonquin Nation Tribal Council(ANTC) Chief positions and ANRpositions.

In this article, Mr. Potts statedthat ANRs require no qualifications,other than being electors. Given thisstatement I have to ask, Is this reallya fair and professional approach totreaty making? And further, do youreally think that Ontario and Canadaare going to send non-qualifiednegotiators to the table?

Throughout this electionprocess, political ANTC Chiefs run-ning as candidates had the advan-tage over non-political candidates inthat they have access to mailing,telephone and electronic mailinglists.

ANTC Chiefs also had theadvantage over other candidates inthat in the past they have beenresponsible for distributing huntingcards and hunting tags. As a result,many Algonquins may have been

reluctant to vote for other candidatesbecause they feared that they mightlose their hunting rights.

The candidates’ meeting dateswere set several weeks in advanceby Mr. Potts without any notice toknown potential candidates, or con-sideration of their schedules to con-firm if these dates were okay. As aresult, one candidate – MelindaTurcotte – could not attend her owncandidates’ meeting.

Due to poor planning, in someAlgonquin communities electorsreceived their election ballots wellbefore receiving candidates’ plat-forms in the mail. The instructionson the ballot suggested thatAlgonquin people “mail in your bal-lot as soon as possible” to ensure it

would reach its destination on time.Although not stated in the instruc-tions this potentially translates to,“vote before the candidates’ plat-form material gets to you” and fur-ther “vote before you have theopportunity to hear the candidatesduring the candidates’ meetings.”

A personal declaration on thevoting ballot was located on the out-side of the envelope; as such, voteswere not private or confidential.This undoubtedly may have pre-vented many from feeling that theirvote was confidential and as a result,possibly many did not participate inthe election.Lynn GehlAlgonquin,Turtle ClanPeterborough

Anishinabek NewsJune 2005 Page 5

Maanda ndinendam/OpinionsMaanda ndinendam/Opinions

Editor:The sad story of Terri Schiavo has long since faded

from the memory of the public at large. More contro-versial events dominate the media such as the ongoingGomery inquiry which gives us a daily dose of shock-ing testimony to pique our interest.

Arguments for and against the Terri Schiavo issue,however, continue to chase around in circles in myhead.

As an aboriginal woman, I had a most difficulttime comprehending how a helpless woman could lit-erally be starved to death in full public view.

I have seen many of our people selflessly care fortheir loved ones, whether they be young children orElders, who were helpless and unable to care for

themselves. I have seen many of our people reluctant-ly make a decision to “pull the plug” when there didnot seem to be any hope for recovery from injury, trau-ma or life-threatening condition and death seemedeminent.

But I have never seen a mother, wife, aunt, sisteror daughter being starved to death.

As an aboriginal woman, it is beyond my compre-hension that what happened to Terry Schiavo couldhappen to today’s society. One wonders what DonaldHerbert, the firefighter from Buffalo, NY, would sayabout the issue after his miraculous comeback from adecade spent fluctuating between a vegetative andminimally-conscious state. I continue to be perplexed.Donna Debassige, Anishinaabe Kwe

Perplexed by ‘pulling the plug’

Electionprocessfair?

Editor:As a former Crown ward, a sin-

gle parent father and who is disad-vantaged in caring for his children.I am writing this letter in relationto recent news stories about chil-dren with special needs.

My son was diagnosed with(ADHD) Attention DeficiencyHyperactivity Disorder. He is onConcerta (56) mls to assist with hisimpulsivity.

A child psychiatrist fromThunder Bay Regional HealthSciences Center was working withhim to monitor his medication.

Since my son was unable to controlhis impulsivity in a regular schoolsetting, he has been participating inan Aboriginal-run day treatmentprogram.

My daughter cannot accessspecialized services to meet herneeds. Generally, short-term inter-ventions are not helping her. WhenI approached services from a rec-ognized, accredited urban chil-dren’s mental health center. I waspolitely directed to get the servicesfrom an Aboriginal agency.

As a parent, I am disgusted,disappointed and sick to the pit of

my stomach to have to deal withthis situation. Our service agen-cies, some who receive millions ofdollars in funding, cannot meet theneeds of an Aboriginal family.

I think some answers may beculturally-appropriate services,general sensitivity training for staffmembers and for schools to betterunderstand and work with studentswho have ADHD issues.

In terms of high staff turnover,how can a service agent deliversuccessful client focus therapy?John FoxThunder Bay

Well-funded agencies failing to help

By Monica BodirskyWhat can be done when you

are experiencing racism? What ifyou are denied housing, a promo-tion, or are subjected to harass-ment? What are your rights, andhow do you know if you shouldfile a complaint?

The Ontario Human RightsCode is a provincial law that givesFirst Nations people, and every-body else, equal rights and oppor-tunities in specific areas such asjobs, housing and services. InOntario, prior to 1962, a number ofdifferent laws addressed discrimi-nation. These laws, along withadded protections, were broughttogether to form the Human RightsCode. The Human RightsCommission was given the man-date to administer and enforce theCode through its public inquiries,as well as its education, mediationand investigation services forthose who wish to file a complaint.An independent body separatefrom the Commission, called theHuman Rights Tribunal of Ontario,makes the ultimate decisionr e g a r d -ing thenature ofdiscrimi-n a t i o nand what should be done to makereparation.

Anyone may make a complaintto the Human Rights Commissionif what they are complaining abouthappened in Ontario and is cov-ered by the Code. If you believeyou have been discriminatedagainst or harassed, theCommission’s job is to settle,investigate, and forward appropri-ate complaints to the human rightstribunal Human Rights Tribunal ofOntario for a hearing... Whilemany people who belong to, orwork within the First Nations com-munity are subjected to racistremarks or conduct, it can beintimidating to address the situa-tion. As a community, we are oftentold not to make waves, or advisedto ignore aggressors; however,repeated harassment or other formsof discriminatory treatment withinthe office can make our work livesstressful, sometimes, intolerable.

According to the OHRC,“Racial Harassment” means thatsomeone is bothering you, threat-ening you, or treating you unfairlybecause of your race, colour orancestry. Harassment can alsoinclude comments connected toyour birthplace, your religious orspiritual beliefs, your ethnicity, cit-izenship, or language. It is againstthe Code, and therefore illegal, foranyone to harass you, insult you,or treat you unfairly for any ofthese reasons.

Although racial harassmentfrequently involves jokes, ridicule,insults etc., it can also appear moreinsidiously as an implied threat orconduct which is racially motivat-ed. It is equally wrong for anemployer or co-worker to treat youdifferently than your co-workers.An example of this may be if youare treated more harshly, or if youare excluded from workplaceevents or social opportunities, or if

you are denied certain benefits, orif you are receiving a higher workload because you are Indigenous.This can be difficult to prove in theabsence of direct comments oractions. What if you simply sus-pect that promotions aren’t offeredto you because you are a FirstNations person?

In the case of MichaelMcKinnon v. the Ministry ofCorrectional Services ((1998)),McKinnon, a corrections officer ofNative Canadian ancestry, allegedthat he suffered discrimination andharassment in employment on thebasis of race, ancestry, and place oforigin.

The allegations included theuse by officers of unacceptableracial comments; the presence ofpictorial caricatures of McKinnonon the bulletin board in the offi-cers’ lounge; management’s sin-gling out of McKinnon for harshertreatment; the denial of a promo-tion; and, the discriminatory treat-ment of his wife, who was also acorrections officer.

The Tribunal found the failureof seniormanage-ment tot a k eappropri-

ate and timely measures to dealwith the conduct constituted aninfringement of McKinnon’srights.

The Tribunal also foundMcKinnon and his wife had beendiscriminated against in employ-ment on the basis of their race,ancestry, and place of origin whenthey were denied the entry-levelmanagement positions they hadeach applied for. The Ministry ofCorrectional Services was orderedto compensate McKinnon for thedifference between his salary andactual payment he received whileon ‘sick leave’ owing to workstress. The Ministry was alsoordered to promote McKinnon andhis wife to the positions that theyhad been denied and to relocateone of the individuals that who hadbeen harassing him.

Silence, or ignoring the situa-tion, will not typically make racialharassment go away. Sometimesthis harassment can lead to vio-lence. If you feel uncomfortable orthreatened, or you believe youhave been treated unfairly becauseyou are a First Nations person,speak to a person in authorityabout it (i.e. supervisor, storeowner, union representative, etc.).

You can contact the OntarioHuman Rights Commission formore information about yourrights or to lodge a complaint. Ifharassing behaviour makes youfeel that you’re in danger, or if itleads to violence, contact thepolice.

For more information regard-ing policies, guidelines, and otherdocumentation regarding racialdiscrimination, please visit theO H R C w e b s i t e a twww.ohrc.on.ca, or call in confi-dence during regular office hoursfrom Monday to Friday at 1 800387 9080 or by TTY at 1 800 3085561.

Human rights bodysupports Native claim

By Denise DesormeauxLONDON – A symposium washeld at The University of WesternOntario’s King’s College on the“Fragile Lives of AboriginalWomen.” Many gathered to payhomage to the spirits of the missingand murdered Aboriginal womenacross Canada.

Joanne Sylliboy (Mikmaq, ofNova Scotia) opened the eventwith a thanksgiving prayer in herlanguage.

Beverly Jacobs (Mohawk –President of The Native Women’sAssociation of Canada), the leadconsultant for the “Sisters inSpirit” Campaign, had completed areport for Amnesty International onthe missing and murderedAboriginal Women across Canada.Jacobs explained, “The basic mes-sage of Amnesty’s report isaddressing Canada, as to what theyare doing for Aboriginal women.All levels of government in Canadashould work urgently and closelywith Indigenous peoples, organiza-tions, and Indigenous Women.”Jacobs continued, “Sometimes it’svery difficult to speak about,because we are talking about thespirits of these missing women.The spirits of these women areleading this.” Every February 14marches are held nationwide toadvocate for our missing women.Jacobs shared, “It was important atthis time to recognize the heartsand responsibilities of our womenand make sure that something isdone. One of the positive outcomesof S.I.S Campaign, is the unityamong our women and organiza-

tions. It has created networking ofwomen across the world.”

Audrey Huntley (Ojibway,German – CBC News Sunday,Toronto) compiled, “Traces ofMissing Women,” a 10-minutedocumentary. Huntley asked peo-ple to share their memories ofloved ones. “I am amazed at theresilience; there is an amazing

strength in the oral tradition,”explained Huntley, “People wantedto share; people wanted to beacknowledged.” Regarding vio-lence against women, Huntleyexplained, “The next step beyondeducation, is prevention. It reallyis sovereignty at the end of the day.Decolonization will help end theviolence.”

Page 6 Anishinabek News June 2005

Ngodoode/FamilyNgodoode/Family

The Abor Group(Energuide)

6” x 6”BiidaahbanHealing Centre

4” x 4.5”

Planting a violence-free futureLast year the Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing plantedfour cedar trees at the Amelia beach in North Bay. The trees have beenplanted to honour the four directions of the Medicine Wheel. Cedar hasbeen chosen because of its sacred and healing properties. This yearmore sacred medicines were planted, including sage and strawberriesand some flowers to honour the women in our communities who have suf-fered from abuse. People are welcome to come and pick these medicinesand use them in their healing or even add to the garden. On MondayJune 20 people are invited back to the garden and are asked to bring arock to form a circle around the garden. Participants are also asked tobring a can of food to donate to the Amelia Rising food bank. For moreinformation please contact the Amelia Rising Centre at 840-2403.From left: Evelyn McLeod, Donna Forget, Carol Croxin, May Recollet,Cindy Couchie, Jody Cotter, Roberta Oshkawbewisens Martin, KaylaLariviere, Doreen Bellaire, and Cathy Burns. – Photo by Cathy Ranger

Honouring the missing spirits

By Curtis WheatleyThe life of Anishinabe children

in care is gruelling.Just like all beautiful life on this

vast home we refer to asMother Earth, if you forcethem from their home, thefuture will most likely bedark. With each momentlost thereafter to isolation,ignorant adults and othertroubled foster children, itis no wonder so many arestruggling to find the hap-piness and love that areoften unknown to them.

I was born in Edmonton,Alberta, and raised in BritishColumbia for a good portion of mylife. My family and I have beeninvolved with social services sincethe day I was conceived. When Ireached 19, I was officially out ofcare and considered another colo-nized Native Indian.

My true story is about neglect,broken homes, plenty of mistrust,child molestation, rape and bad fos-ter parenting. My intention is toinform the public about what isoften covered up on a consistentbasis by these people who are sup-

posed to care for our Native chil-dren. My goal is to publish thisinformation as a novel and advocateon behalf of Native families who

have endured the sameproblems.

It is time to help peopleunderstand the huge impactthat foster life can have ona child. If there is any pos-sibility of change in thefuture, that would be agreat thing, instead of gov-ernment workers sayingthere have been changes

for a number of years, and we areonly getting better.

I believe for the benefit of chil-dren there has to be change now. Iknow my loved ones and I aren’tthe only children who had nochoice of where they lived. ChiMeegwetch to anyone who hastaken time to read my true life story.I hope together we can break thiseternal silence one way or the other.

(This is the first in a series ofarticles about the challenges facingFirst Nations children. Written byCurtis Wheatley, a citizen ofWasauksing First Nation.)

Children in care: untold story

CurtisWheatley

Symposium organizers: Back Row, l-r: Edna Brass, Joanne Sylliboy,Darlene Ritchie, and Beverly Jacobs, Front Row, l-r: Audrey's helper,Audrey Huntley, and Gloria Alvernaz Mulcahy.

Congratulations to Catherine Free from Pays Plat First Nation who graduated fromCulinary Management at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. Catherine has worked inthe field for the past five years and completed her Red Seal Chef exams with flying col-ors.

She worked for the Delta London Armouries for two years and has moved to a resortin the Muskokas for the summer season as a Junior Sous-chef.

Mary Lou Auger, FASD Regional Worker at the Thunder Bay office is the proud moth-er of this accomplished chef.

Page 7Anishinabek NewsJune 2005

Mno-bmaadziwin/HealthMno-bmaadziwin/Health

Top: Christina Wheatley, Middle:Stanley Peltier, Doris Peltier, EllyAntone, Front: Lyndia Jones JodyCotter, Holly Grosbeck

Catherine gets chef’s papers

Catherine Free

NIPISSING FN – It’s an important and often stressful job butOntario First Nation Aids Educators have a circle to turn to when theyneed it.

The Ontario First Nations HIV/AIDS Education Circle (OFN-HAEC) or as the group calls it, The Circle, was formed in 1996 main-ly because there wasn’t any support group for First Nation AIDSEducators and Coordinators in the province.

The members include representatives from each of the fourProvincial Territorial Organizations (PTO’s): Association of Iroquoisand Allied Indians (AIAI), Grand Council Treaty #3 (GCT3),Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), Union of Ontario Indians (UOI), anda representative from Independent First Nations (IFN) and an Elderand youth.

“It’s great that we can get together and support one another andshare ideas and teaching methods,” said Jody Cotter, UOI’s HIV/AIDSCoordinator.

The Circle meets quarterly and schedules teleconferences as need-ed with funds received from Health Canada, First Nations and InuitHealth Branch (FNIHB).

AIDS circle supportive

By Stewart KingAs in everything there is a

process to healing. My stroke(CVA, cardio vascular accident)took to me from a healthy able-bodied young man into a state ofsemi-paralysis and dependenceovernight.

The sudden and unexpectedfall to the bottom was sudden,sheer, and unstoppable. I woke upthe one morning in a hospital bed,unable to comprehend what hadhappened. I was flat on my back,unable to talk, unable to eat ordrink, unable to read or see prop-erly. My left arm and left leg wereuseless and unable to function.The entire left side of my bodyincluding my face was paralysed.

My first reaction,my first instinct wasdenial. There was noth-ing wrong with me thatI couldn’t just simplyovercome. Determinedto get up and go to thewashroom unassisted, Isucceeded in slidingoff my bed and stand-ing on the floor. It wasvery early in the morning and Iwas alone in my room. I managedto take a few steps only to col-lapse on the floor. Unable to getup, I lay frustrated on that coldfloor and cried.

A cheery and helpful orderlybrought me a magazine withcolour photographs showingwhat happens to an individual’sbrain subsequent to a haemor-rhaging occlusion. It was nauseat-ing to me and I heaved the bookacross the room in a fit of rageand anger.

Denial stayed with me, andfinally the thought that I would,and could overcome this misfor-tune and became stronger.Ultimately, this developed intointense curiosity of this disease. Ihad to know how and why Ibecame this way. I inquiredabout my condition and readeverything I could on the subject.It became clearer and much easi-er as education on my conditionenlightened me. I sought to reme-dy my condition. Had I elected to,I could have given up and

remained in this state to vegetatein a convalescent home.

Remedy came in the form ofSpiritual strength, Spirituality,traditional medicines, westernmedicines, physiotherapy, hardwork, determination, and muchperseverance. Traditional Spiritualhelpers rallied around me, friendsand family offered continuousand solid support. My wife andlifelong partner deserves specialconsideration for her non-waver-ing support and abundant aid.Native humour also played amajor role.

Goal-setting had to be withinmy new and revised capabilities.Acceptance of who I had becomeand the new and inherent limita-

tions had to be learnedthrough a process oftrial and error.Frustration was a con-stant companion. Angerbuilt itself up within inme frequently and cre-ated problems for meand those close to me.

I enrolled atGeorgian College and

decided to learn how to workwith computers.

While it was difficult as ahandicapped student to movebetween classes, the courses werea page from the business environ-ment in which providing assis-tance and information is a dailyoccurrence. I succeeded inobtaining a string of A’s in myclass. It was then that I deter-mined that I was ready and need-ed to move on. The direction thatI had needed had been provided.

Denial is necessary and anintegral part of survival and cling-ing to life when you are in thedarkest time of any physicalmishap or emotional circum-stance. Your move from a state ofdenial can evolve from any peri-od of time or influence. It is a cru-cial point in time in which youmust decide to move from. Toremain may prove fatal.

(Stewart King (Zhengos),migizi odoodem, is a PotawatomiElder who lives in WasauksingFirst Nation.)

‘Denial’ key partof healing process

Stewart King

Over $100,000 was raised forJuvenile Diabetes Research inthree fund-raising walk-a-thonsheld in North Bay, Mattawa, andTemiscaming. More than 400 indi-viduals and teams took part in theJune 4 North Bay event, includingNipissing First Nation’s JaneCommanda who dressed as apirate in keeping with the walk's"Swashbuckling Pirates" theme.– Photo by Marc Archambault,courtesy of Baytoday.ca

By Kelly BrownbillBARRIE – For almost five

decades, The Institute onAddiction Studies has devoteditself to the education and supportof people working in all areas ofaddiction treatment and preven-tion.

This five-day conferencefocuses on skills development andproviding self care and networkingopportunities for care-givers. Theconference will be of special inter-est to addiction workers, First

Nation support workers, EmployeeAssistance providers and peerreferral agents, social workers andclergy and spiritual workers.

The 46th Annual Institute onAddiction Studies will be held atthe Kempenfelt Conference Centrein Barrie, July 10-14.

Over the years, the face ofaddiction has changed dramatical-ly. In keeping pace with rapidadvancements in the field, the con-ference programming brings themost current knowledge of addic-

tion and the latest innovations intreatment. Highlights include druguse among the elderly, gamblingaddiction, current medical andlegal aspects of drug use and sub-stance-abusing pregnant women.

Recognizing the unquestion-able need for addiction support inaboriginal communities, theInstitute has always made sure thatissues specific to aboriginal treat-ment and prevention were includ-ed. This year, there are several ses-sions that include aboriginal con-

tent and facilitators. Sadie Buck,well known writer, poet, play-wright and teacher will present afull-day workshop entitled Ad“diction” to Your Voice.

In an effort to reach and assistas many people as possible, TheInstitute on Addiction Studies hasreceived funding from theAnishinabek Nation SeventhGeneration Charities to help facili-tate the participation of FirstNation delegates. Educationalsubsidies are available to aborigi-

nal support workers. To inquireabout receiving help with funding,please call 1-866-278-3568.

Delegates of the 46th AnnualInstitute on Addiction Studies canearn up to 26 hours of continuingeducation hours from the CanadianA d d i c t i o n C o u n s e l l o r sCertification Federation (CACCF).Further information on the Instituteon Addiction Studies, including allseminars and registration informa-tion, is available on the web site atwww.addictionstudies.ca.

Anishinabek charity supports 46th addiction studies conference

NORTH BAY – BobGoulais, Corporate RecruitmentChair for Juvenile DiabetesResearch Foundation (JDRF) –North Bay and YouthAmbassador Daniel Godfreyannounced that local fundraisingfor a cure for diabetes will beexpanding to be a “year-roundeffort” and will branch off intoother areas including specialevents and sporting events.

“We will be expanding ourefforts to contribute year-roundto the foundation while continu-ing to hit our annual goal for theWalk to Cure Diabetes,” saidGoulais, who is also the Chief-of-Staff for the AnishinabekNation Political Office, repre-senting 42 First Nations acrossOntario.

“In North Bay, we have cometo the conclusion that our effortscannot be focused only on thepresent, nor limited to only a sin-

gle event. We remain committedand focused on our overall goal –finding a cure for diabetes,” saidGoulais, who made a presenta-tion at North Bay City Councilaccompanied by ninechildren/youth living with dia-betes.

Under local coordinatorSusan Shouwstra, the singleNorth Bay and area fund-raisingwalk-a-thon has been expandedto include ‘Walks to CureDiabetes’ in Temiscaming and inMattawa. The three events raised$103,000. surpassing the$92,000. target.

The JDRF has alsoannounced it will be hosting theannual Partners Golf andBilliards Tournament, slated forJuly 23 at Clear Springs GolfCourse; and will host the firstSnowflakes, Stars and Hope Galaat the Best Western on November12, 2005.

Diabetes fund-raisingnow year-round effort

Page 8 Anishinabek News June 2005

Meznibiiged/ArtsMeznibiiged/Arts

ELLIOT LAKE – WhiteMountain Academy of the Artshas four $1000 tuition scholar-ships available for Aboriginalstudents interested in develop-ing a career in the visual arts.

These scholarships areavailable for new students andcan be used towards any of theAcademy’s programs thatinclude a two-year Visual ArtsDiploma, a Traditional FirstNations Art Certificate and aBusiness of Art Certificate.

Qualified students thatcomplete two years of study toearn a diploma at WhiteMountain are eligible to contin-ue their studies at the OntarioCollege of Art and Design tocomplete a Bachelor of FineArts.

The deadline for applica-tion submission to be eligiblefor this scholarship is FridayJuly 22, 2005.

Contact: 1-800-368-8655www.whitemountainacademy.edu

WASAUKSING FN – JosephBoyden, the author of the newnovel, Three Day Road, stopped inParry Sound for a public reading ofhis first novel based on the life ofWasauksing First Nation memberFrancis Pegamahgabow.

Three Day Road is in partinspired by the legend ofPegamahgabow, the great sniper ofWorld War I, whom Boyden heardabout from his father during theGeorgian Bay summers of his

c h i l d h o o d .The TorontoStar toutedhim as thea u t h o r t ow a t c h t h i sspring. ThreeDay Road is amesmerizingnovel toldthrough thee y e s o f

Niska, the last Canadian Oji-Creewoman living off the land, and hernephew Xavier. Her nephew andhis friend Elijah travel in theirmoccasins from Moose Factory toToronto to enlist during the FirstWorld War. The taunts of the whiteboys are silenced by the natives’prowess on the rifle range. Onceoverseas, Elijah becomes obsessedwith killing taking greater riskslying for hours between the trench-es, while Xavier remains the silentaboriginal, struggling with his con-

science and the meaning of war.“The novel encompasses a

myriad of themes, the motif ofdeath being the foremost, and itparallels the brutal massacreknown as the first modern war andthe destruction of native culturewith subtle poignancy.” saysDonna Nurse in Quill & Quire. Wethink that Joseph Boyden will beup for the major literary awardsthis year.

Author Joseph Boyden and ZaagPegamahgabow, a Wasauksing FNmember and great-grandson of thehonoured war veteran and inspira-tion for the book.

– Photo by Jamie Monastyrski

The Ontario government is supporting the cultural development ofnorthern Aboriginal youth by investing $300,000 in De-ba-jeh-mu-jigTheatre Group's training and development centre, NorthernDevelopment and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown announced. Minister Bartolucci (front row, second from left) is joined by the the-atre's Artistic Director Jo Osawabine, Artistic Producer Ron Berti, pri-vate sector benefactor A.J. (Rennie) Reynolds Mastin, MPP Brown, De-ba-jeh-mu-jig board member Nikki Manitowabi and Northern OntarioHeritage Fund Corporation board member Mariette McGregor-Sutherland.

By Glenn LaginskieIt was Victoria Day Weekend,

1999, in Phoenix, Arizona. To beprecise the Monday evening ofthe holiday weekend.

I had only been in Phoenixone week and was staying in oneof the worst areas of downtownPhoenix where the shops andbusinesses close at 6:00 pm, evenMcDonald’s.

A street called Van Buren.I’m walking down Van Buren andI see this Native fellow walkingahead of me about 100 feet or so.A pickup full of drunken rowdiesspeeds by and one of the passen-gers throws a beer bottle out hiswindow and it hits the Native fel-low on the elbow, breaking. The

poor fellow is in tears andI help him to his feet.

I’m wearing a medi-cine bag and he’s lookingat it and I take it from myneck and put it on him. Helooks at me with tearsrolling down his face.

He says to me, “Us skinsdon’t stand a chance down here.”

As it turns out ‘skins’ is aword used by some to defineIndians in the Southwest. I wait-ed till the ambulance arrived andleft the poor soul with thesewords, “till we meet again,” andthat’s how this piece of art –‘Grieving Indian’ – came to me.

Glenn Laginskie, Algonquinsof Pikwakanagan, lives in

Toronto. The self-taught artist says it

took two prison terms totallingover 11 years for him to discoverhis creative artistic talents androots.

He works as a constructionworker and operates AlgonquinArts and Crafts. (416) 850-2558.

The art of Zoey Wood-Salomon is painted in the tradi-tional Woodland style that reflectsher Odawa-Ojibway heritage. Theoriginality of her paintings aremarked by a combination of every-day experiences around her andthe traditional legends of her her-itage.

She is from the WikwemikongUnceded Indian Reserve on

M a n i t o u l i nIsland. Withinternationalrecognition,both inCanada andthe U.S.A.,Zoey, a self-taught artistblends herown spiritualodyssey as a

Christian into her work.“For a long time I was lost. I

tried to blend into the dominantsociety but I never found a placewhen I felt good about myself. MyCreator in His great love for mesaw this and He opened up a wayfor me to get back in touch withwho I am and where I come from.Today He is leading me gentlyback to my culture, my heritageand my people. He has done thisthrough my art. My art and faithhave become integral parts of my

self-discovery. When I paint, Ipray. I find that I get very dissatis-fied with myself when I do notpaint, and so, if I am not painting,I am not praying.”Contact: zoeyjimws@shaw.ca705-759-4897

Boyden best-seller honours Pegamahgabow

De-ba-jeh-mu-jig theatregets $300,000 grant

Tough times and thrownbottle inspires painting

Scholarshipsavailable forNative artists

Zoey blends her art with her faithto create powerful images.

Zoey Wood-Salomon

He works in stone, withpaint and even wood andbirchbark. For artist CraigMcKay there isn’t a mediumhe hasn’t tried.

A member of BatchewanaBay First Nation, McKaypicked up his paintbrushwhen he was four and it has-n’t left his hand since. His artis unique and in touch withthe natural world.

“I find solitude and theopportunity to learn aboutmyself and my place withinnature,” he says.Contact Craig McKay at 705-692-4016.

Artist finds solitude in creating works

Collectors and galleries from around the globe collect artist CraigMcKay’s paintings and sculptures.

Painting and praying integralto artist’s spiritual odyssey

M’CHIGEENG FN – ThisFirst Nation is in a struggle to havetheir authority recognized in theirown traditional territory over afisheries issue.

Coldwater Fisheries has beenpushing the expansion of their fishfarm facilities in West Bay onManitoulin Island without the con-sent or even consultation with theFirst Nation. They have beendeveloping this proposal for sever-al years now and have yet to con-tact the First Nation directly.

Coldwater’s proposal toexpand is in the second stage of athree-stage process with theMinistry of the Environment.Nowhere in the three stages of thisprocess does it require any appli-cant to consult or seek approval bya First Nation in whose territorythe project is being proposed. Thismajor oversight and ColdwaterFisheries avoidance have theM’Chigeeng leadership frustratedwith government and vowing tokeep this expansion from happen-ing in their waters.

“It is a question of jurisdictionand safety,” says Chief Glen Hare,“I said it before and I’ll say itagain, we just don’t want it here!”

There are two possible loca-tions in the West Bay. One is offthe west-side shore and the other isout in the middle of the bay. Both,according to Chief Hare, havemajor problems.

One concern is the restrictionof community members to travel totraditional fishing areas when

approaching such a facility.Community members will have totravel around the cages a certaindistance out to the middle of thebay which can be quite treacher-ous.

And Chief Hare notes that bothproposed locations are very closeto the plant that is the source of thecommunity’s drinking water.

There are also concerns aboutthe impact on local fish speciesand habitat, and the fact that a for-mer farm in Whitefish River terri-tory was closed because of envi-ronmental concerns and to this dayhas not been cleaned up.

WAHNAPITAE FN – ThisSudbury-area First Nation has justcompleted another fisheries projectand taken another step closer todeveloping their fisheries manage-ment plan.

The Lake Wahnapitae Spring

Littoral Index Netting (SLIN) wascompleted within a two-week timeframe from May 9-20.

Again this year, Larry andWally McGregor, both fromWahnapitae, guided the project forthe First Nation. Both have

become excellent technicians, whoworked previously on the 2004Fall Walleye Index Netting(FWIN) last year. Maureen Peltierand Kimberly Carmichael, bothAOFRC Biologists, have workedon the Wahnapitae crew as well forthe last two years.

“This and last year’s projectsran smoothly, with fair catches andgood weather conditions,” saidWally McGregor, “although thisyear we didn’t catch as many laketrout as we would have liked.”

In the first week, only one boatwas available, so all four projectmembers worked as a single crewon one boat because of a lack ofnets for two boats.

By the second week two boatswere in the water with two sets ofSLIN nets. In total 90 sets weremade lasting for 90-minute dura-tions each.

This year only ten healthy laketrout were caught and sampledthen released. The lake trout werenetted along with one small mouthbass, 60 herring, five whitefish,and a yellow perch.

Although there was an increasein the recommended sample sizefrom 60 net sets to 90 net sets thecrew did not sample enough laketrout to make conclusions on thehealth of that particular population.Larry and Wally McGregor guide the Wahnapitae fishing project.

Fisheries project is one step closer

M’Chigeeng FNfighting fish farm

Anishinabek News Page 9June 2005

Giigoonh/FishingGiigoonh/Fishing

NIPISSING FN – The fishhatchery on Nipissing First Nation(NFN) has released over 100,000more pickerel fry than last year’stotal.

Under the watchful eye ofhatchery technician StuartBeaucage and with 100% supportfrom his community, the facilitywas able to top 600,000 fry thisspring. Only in its second year ofoperations, the MFN hatchery hasproduced over 1.1 million fry todate. This will increase in futureyears as technicians learn to makebetter use of equipment and the nat-ural cycles of the pickerel and Lake

Nipissing.The hatchery began collecting

eggs in mid-April and released itsfry at the end of May. StuartBeaucage spent most of his timetending the eggs and eventually thefry. This work is no small task.

“This year we had funding tohire Stuart to be our official hatch-ery technician” said Jeff McLeod,NFN Fisheries Coordinator, “Lastyear he was a volunteer.”

Unlike nine-to-five jobs, hatch-ery work has its own natural sched-ule. A technician must be on call 24hours a day to respond to anychange that may destroy the eggs or

fry. Any small change in tempera-ture, oxygen levels or water qualitycould wipe out a whole year’s work.

NFN’s hatchery has sparkedinterest in other First Nations todevelop their own hatcheries. ChiefFranklin Paibomsai of WhitefishRiver First Nation visited the NFNfacility along with council and com-munity members, and BlaineCommanda from Serpent RiverFirst Nation also called to inquireabout how to start up a hatchery.

This year, fry were releasedalong the north shore of LakeNipissing as well as on Iron Island,a major spawning area for pickerel.

Stuart Beaucage of Nipissing First Nation prepares the hatchery for another season. Last year NFN releasedover 500,000 pickerel fry from this facility.

Nipissing releases million pickerel

M’Chigeeng FN Chief Glen Hareis frustrated with the government.

SSUUMMMMEERR HHEELLPPGrant Stevens is the newest and youngest member of theAnishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre (A/OFRC)team joining as an Aboriginal Fisheries Technician. A mem-ber of Nipissing First Nation (NFN), Grant credits his love forthe outdoors to his father, long-time NFN Councillor RickStevens. Although his employment will only be over the summermonths, ending September 2, his presence as a recent grad-uate of the Fish and Wildlife Technician Program at SirSandford Fleming College is very helpful to A/OFRC capaci-ty-building efforts.“I will take the summer off to work, than return for the NaturalResource Law Program,” says Grant, “From there I plan tostart a career in law enforcement and hope to help my com-munity any way I can.”

Page 10 Anishinabek News June 2005

Dnakmigziwin/SportsDnakmigziwin/Sports

By Denise DesormeauxCHIPPEWAS OF THE THAMES – Hearts raced,

arms stretched, and spirits soared at WiijiiNimbawiiyaang Elementary School’s “3 on 3Basketball Tournament” held May 12th.

Grades 5 to 8 students from Walpole Island,Moraviantown, Kettle and Stony Point, OneidaSettlement of the Thames, and Chippewas of theThames, participated in the event, which was support-ed by Middlesex Victim Services, WiijiiNimbawiiyaang Staff, RCMP, OPP, “Blue Wolf”Singers “Zhowski Maiingan” (OPP Drum Group), andChippewa, Oneida, and Moraviantown Police.

After Zhowski Maiingan opened the event with awelcoming song, Chippewas of the Thames BandCouncillor, George Henry extended a greeting to par-ticipants from the host community.

Chippewa Youth Council member Megan Huffnoted: “It’s great to come here, to a community that isso encouraging and supportive of their youth.” Meganis currently completing her graduating year at ReginaMundy High School and aspires to become a ClinicalPsychologist. “It’s important to set goals, and work toachieve those goals,” she added.

National Hockey League player CodyMcCormick, also of the Chippewas of the Thames,delivered an inspiring speech, “I worked hard inschool, I stayed away from all the bad things. It wasmy dream to play in the NHL.” McCormick describedthe dedication, sacrifice, and hard work that heendured to reach his goals. He had left home at theage of 16 to play junior hockey with the BellevilleBulls and improve his hockey skills before beingdrafted by the Colorado Avalanche, for whom heplayed in 2003-2004.

Tim Kunkel, who works in Glencoe as liaison forChippewa, Oneida, and Muncey, said “We’re all win-ners. It’s about having a good time and playing lots ofbasketball!”

All teams gave their best effort throughout theday's competitions. The teamwork, sportsmanship,and awesome basketball skills shone through in everygame played.

Championship Results:Junior Girls – Walpole IslandJunior Boys – OneidaSenior Girls – Chippewas of the ThamesSenior Boys – Chippewas of the ThamesLuke Waddilove, of the Chippewas of the Thames

Police, told participants “The real winners today areyou guys! I appreciate the sportsmanship I’ve seen.You guys should give each other a great round ofapplause because you are the ones that made this hap-pen today!”

Spirits soar in 3-on-3 tourney

Girls Senior Division (Grade 8) Champs “Chippewa Blazers,” from left:Vince George (Chippewa Police), Emily Kechego, Jeff Clarke (WiijiTeacher), Maggie Hendrick, Tim Kunkel (Police Liaison), CheyenneFrench, Vangeline Kechego, and Luke Wadilove (Chippewa Police).

NAAF10.25 x 7

Brennan Nicholas of Oneida Eagles protects the bas-ketball from a Kettle and Stony Point player during thejunior 3-on-3 championship play-offs, won by Oneida.

Boys’ Junior Division (Grade 6) Champs “Oneida Eagles,” from left:Salakwa Doxtator, Brennan Nicholas, Cody Doxtator, and JordanCornelius.

BEAUSOLEIL FN – The Ontario government is supporting theChippewas of Beausoleil First Nation with a grant to increase physical activ-ity and help young athletes who wish to compete in the 2006 North AmericanIndigenous Games.

The $75,603 grant from the Communities in Action Fund will be used toplan and implement physical activity programs for youth aged seven to eight-een, and for seniors 50 years of age and older. Youth will be offered clinics infive sports, which will work to stimulate ongoing sport participation in thisgroup, possibly leading to participation in the North American IndigenousGames in 2006. A functional fitness program for seniors will also be imple-mented, with sessions to instruct this group on ways to be active on a regularbasis. By targeting youth and seniors, it is expected that these programs willreach 50 per cent of the Beausoleil community.

Beausoleil getting in shape

Page 11Anishinabek NewsJune 2005

Kidowenan/CommunicationsKidowenan/Communications

Let’s Speak Ojibway

6” x 6”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Native American Journalists Association is dis-appointed by numbers released by the American Society of Newspaper Editorsshowing a drop in the number of American Indian journalists working at U.S.newspapers.

Native journalists already are the most under-represented group in theAmerican newsroom. And despite a professed desire to increase newsroom diver-sity, the number of American Indians working at mainstream newspapers has fall-en in the last year, highlighting a disturbing trend in ASNE’s numbers.

If ASNE’s numbers are accurate, there are only 295 Native journalists work-ing at U.S. newspapers – a mere one half of one per cent of overall newsroomemployees. A Ryerson University study in 1994 indicated there were four self-identified aboriginal journalists among the 4,000 employed by Canada’s 100daily newspapers.

More troubling than the immediate drop is a fluctuation in recent-year num-bers that seems to indicate either an unwillingness or an inability of U.S. news-papers to retain Native journalists.

“Many of our students don’t attend the big journalism schools and don’t enterthe traditional internship programs,” said NAJA president Dan Lewerenz (IowaTribe of Kansas and Nebraska). “They’re no less talented, and they’re no less ded-icated – they’re simply harder to find. That means editors need to be willing tolook beyond the comfort of the familiar J-schools and internship programs ifthey're going to recruit talented young Native journalists.”

“Newspaper executives must be willing to go the extra mile in order toincrease Native representation in their newsrooms,” added Lewerenz.

“They need to reach out to Native communities and demonstrate a commit-ment to covering Indian people and Indian issues.”

Native journalistsstill a very rare breed

By Maurice SwitzerSUDBURY – As a major provider of news and

information in Northern Ontario, MCTV is tryingto do more than offer its viewers a variety of sto-ries. The four-city television network also wantsto have a variety of faces telling those stories. Thenetwork staged its first-ever Aboriginal YouthCommunication Camp for 26 students of LaSalleSecondary School, the first of three similar eventsplanned for this year to promote television broad-casting as a career option for aboriginal youth.

“We have to change the face of MCTV… andthe industry,” says Mark Oldfield, the northernbroadcaster’s executive producer. “We’re not get-ting nearly enough applications from aboriginalcollege and university students, so we need to getout and start encouraging candidates. We’re hop-ing there are at least five or six students in thethree schools we visit that start thinking about ourbusiness.”

The Grades 9 to 12 students participating in theMCTV camps at LaSalle in Sudbury, ManitoulinSecondary School at M’Chigeeng, and WhitePines Academy in Sault Ste. Marie spent the dayscripting hypothetical news stories – like oneabout a nightclub featuring “Movie-oke” – likekaraoke, but where patrons act out movie scenes.“They produced very good work,” says Oldfield,whose MCTV team also provided participantswith hands-on experience with television news

cameras. “It was a delightful experience workingwith these students – they taught us a few things.”

Candalee Beatty, MCTV’s AboriginalRelations Co-ordinator, agreed. “There were a fewexcellent writers here,” she noted. “These campsare important because it gives our young people achance to tell our own stories. When aboriginalpeople tell stories, it is completely different.”

Beatty, from Muskoday Cree First Nation inSaskatchewan, is a graduate of CambrianCollege’s journalism program. MCTV created herposition last year to develop an aboriginal resourcedirectory that includes information about FirstNations communities and aboriginal businessesand organizations in the network’s coverage area.It also includes some guidelines on appropriateaboriginal terminology and style. “Yesterday Iread a story on our website where somebody wascalling pow-wow regalia ‘costumes’,” she says.“Part of my role is correcting things like that, andcapitalization of First Nations.”

“We’re hoping through these camps to inspirestudents to come to MCTV.” Judging by studentresponse to the first camp, the recruiting strategyseems to be working. Evaluations overwhelming-ly rated the day-long session “good” and “excel-lent.”

“I learned that it takes a lot of work to make astory ready to be shown on the news,” wrote oneparticipant. “And only a little time to do it.” Careers for communicators

Anishinabek News and the Union of Ontario Indians Communications Unit were well-repre-sented at the Wasse-Abin High School Career Fair on Wikwimikong Unceded Indian Reservein May. Priscilla Goulais, UOI Communications Co-ordinator, demonstrated computer softwareused to paginate the newspaper and talked about careers in the communications field to inter-ested students. The focus was on media at this year’s fair, attended by over 200 participants.Special guests included actor/TV producer Jennifer Podemski, music program producerElaine Bomberry, De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre, MCTV, and Wiky TV Productions.

Students Michelle Manitowabi, Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, and Ken Sackaney, Constance Lake First Nation, par-ticipated in the first-ever MCTV Communications Camp, co-ordinated by the broadcaster’s Aboriginal Relations Co-ordinatorCandalee Beatty.

MCTV recruits Native students

TORONTO – As part of CHUM television’s commitment to encouragingAboriginal participation in Canadian broadcasting, MuchMusic is proud to offerthe annual MuchMusic Aboriginal Youth Scholarship. The $3,000 scholarship isawarded in partnership with AYN (Aboriginal Youth Network) to the individualwho best demonstrates skill, talent, excellence and enthusiasm in pursuing afuture in the broadcast industry. Open to all Aboriginal Canadians under 25.Deadline: November 30, 2005. Application form, scholarship criteria and otherdetails at www.muchmusic.com/mays.

Wanted: Native broadcasters

Training to communicate Jamie Monastyrski, the Union of Ontario Indians Communications Officer, delivered an intro-ductory communications workshop for UOI staff at the Elders Hall in May. Subjects includedthe importance and history of communications, basic writing techniques and photographymade simple. UOI Communications is planning to deliver a series of staff workshops entitlingparticipants to training certificates. Participants included: front, from left: Jamie Monastyrski,Nadine Payette, Jason Restoule; rear, from left:Nicole Robinson, Holly Brodhagen, BernadetteMarasco, Cathy Favreau, Doreen Trudeau, Dave Shawana, Jody Cotter, Esther Gilbank.

Page 12 Anishinabek News June 2005

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Zhoonyaakewin/Economic DevelopmentZhoonyaakewin/Economic Development

By Rick FehrWALLACEBURG – For the first time

in its history, this southwestern Ontariotown has presented a Native man with oneof its highest honours. Walpole IslandChief Dean Jacobs (Ojibway –Potawatomi) was awarded 2004 BusinessPerson of year by thearea’s Chamber ofCommerce, in anevent he describes asrecognizing the eco-nomic achievementsof all Anishinaabeg.

The mid-Aprila w a r d c e r e m o n ymarks just one morein a series of achieve-ments by the people of Walpole Island(Bkejwanong Territory), who among otherthings have recently been recognized by theUnited Nations for maintaining one of theworld’s most fragile wetland ecosystems.

In balancing the pressures and demandsof the economy and maintaining ecologicaldiversity, Walpole Island has become anexample of how traditional values, capital-ism, and sustainability can co-exist in afragile balance. Chief Jacobs attributes thesuccess to community mobilization as theycollectively face water-borne pollutionfrom Sarnia’s Chemical Valley, invasiveplants and insects, and the continued socialmarginalization of its people.

While some people might think of it aswishful thinking, nearby non-Native com-munities have increasingly found them-selves needing allies on Walpole Island totackle common economic and environmen-tal problems. Wallaceburg found a strongally in Walpole Island throughout the1990’s to confront chemical spills in the St.Clair River, and now as the town suffersfrom an economic slump Walpole Island isbeing turned to again, this time as an exam-ple of sustainable economics. The commu-nity hosts one of the largest Native operat-ed farming co-ops (which all members holdshares in) with crop production on morethan 4,400 acres. Similarly, the area’s wet-lands continue to support traditional hunt-ing, fishing and gathering, while at thesame time sustaining wetland eco-tourism.

Chief Jacobs said “the answer’s within,you don’t have to export or import answers,a lot of traditional knowledge comes fromwithin, and just living and learning andknowing the local area and the Great Lakesenvironment.”

(Rick Fehr is an environmental studiesstudent at York University.)

EDMONTON – The winnersof the fifth annual E-SpiritAboriginal Youth Business PlanCompetition were honoured at aspecial awards ceremony in Mayfor 240 Aboriginal youth from allregions of Canada, including twoschools from Ontario.

The internet-based competi-tion, developed by the BusinessDevelopment Bank of Canada(BDC), is aimed at Aboriginal stu-dents in Grades 10 to 12. The

competition features interactivebusiness planning resources,access to mentors online and achance to meet and network withother students.

This year’s competitioninvolved a total of 161 teams from74 schools and over 534 studentsfrom across Canada. In addition topresentations by each team, anindependent panel of expertsjudged business displays thatincluded posters, detailed 3D

mock-ups, product samples, busi-ness cards, promotional videosand laptop demonstrations.

“This competition exposesstudents to real-life situations theywill encounter in the businessworld,” said André Bourdeau,Acting BDC President and CEO.

“E-Spirit symbolizes educa-tion,” said E-Spirit Elder, Dr.Lillian McGregor. “It hasenhanced the participant's knowl-edge of technology and in what

can be accomplished by its limit-less boundaries. Just from partici-pating in this event, every studentleaves a winner.”

The Silver Award was award-ed to Sudbury Secondary School,whose students Patricia andJordan Debassige created the busi-ness concept Debassige VisionWorkshops, designed to conductworkshops for aboriginals on var-ious aspects of aboriginal cultureand modern-day family life.

Sudbury students win silver business award

Silver Award winners Jordan and PatriciaDebassige, Sudbury Secondary School.

Wallaceburghonouring Walpole Chief

Chief Dean Jacobs

Page 13Anishinabek NewsJune 2005

Birch Pine Bark

Golf Tournament

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By Thomas EdwardsDuring May I was in Sagamok

Anishawbek First Nation. It’s a community just outside a

little town called Massey. Massey,a small town an hour and half westof Sudbury, Ontario is quiet, tran-quil, and almost hidden. Unlessyou were driving to Sault St. Marieor traveling down that road, you’dnever know it was there. It’s a nicelittle town of few people.Sagamok, on the other hand is amuch larger community. With apopulation of about 1300 people,it’s hidden behind Massey, across ariver, and around a rock.

The scenery in that area is beau-tiful. The river was one of thenicest things I had ever seen. As wedrove, my hosts told me to watchout for an Indian head that would

stick out of the rocks. My firstimpression was to be curiousbecause I didn’t know what she wastalking about. As we turned a bend,there was this rock sticking outover the road. You’d almost thinkthat it was going to fall. Then sud-denly, a face appeared and I wascompletely amazed. Little did Iknow that the Indian Head wasn’tthe only cool thing I would see overthe next two days.

I’ve been on many tours aroundcommunities when I visit as a rolemodel, but this one had to be thenicest. The one thing that struckme as a young Aboriginal personwas the pride and joy that the youthtake in their communities. We don’tget that enough in our native com-munities in Manitoba.

I’ve learned about the

Community Development 10-yearAction Plan, the ComprehensiveYouth Development Strategy YouthTeam, and the Waste Managementand Diversion Program, the politicson the community, the job situation,and the youth. It was so great to seea community that was trying tomake achange in ourpeople’s livesand makechanges forthe better.

It was sogreat to see ac o m m u n i t ywith so muchpride. It wasso great to belooked at and welcomed into acommunity without someone won-dering why I was there. As wetoured the community I was greatlyimpressed to see the Eagle’s Lodge,where Elders who don’t need 24/7care can stay. The duplexes, triplex-es, and the two apartmentsimpressed me. The beaches, therecycle program, garbage program,school, law enforcement, and “The

Point” (Sagamok Point) wereamazing to see.

At The Point we saw eagles andvultures. Hawks were everywhere.I love animals and this place wasfull of them. Later that night, thecommunity had a small pow-wowwhere many of the youth came. Itmade my heart soar to see a non-Aboriginal woman dancing in apurple jingle dress and dancingbecause it was a part of her, notsomething she was trying to be apart of. It was great to be able todance in another community andterritory. As I was introduced toother people, each one did the samething. Smile, extend their arm, sayhi, and ask me how I was doing.You don’t see that too often wherean entire community welcomes astranger and treats them veryrespectfully and nicely.

The community had just lost a16-year-old boy to suicide the daybefore I arrived and yet, still keptgoing while honouring this youngman. As a person, that touched andinspired me. I was glad to see thatthe community was trying hard todo something about it and continue

to heal. Aboriginal people have somuch to heal from history yet stillface a lot of tragedy today. Myheart, soul, and prayers went out tothe family and the community dur-ing my entire visit and I hope thatthey have that chance to heal.

My trip to SagamokAnishnawbek First Nation was themost powerful, rewarding, and funtrips that I have ever taken. As aNational Aboriginal role model, myjob is to inspire and instil a messagein youth, “Lead Your Way!” But itis I who was inspired by the youthand the community on this trip. Iwill never forget that communityand I will use that community as anexample of what Aboriginal peopleand communities can do. Sagamokis a very progressive communityand as a role model, but moreimportantly as a person, I’ve beenhumbled, touched, and healed bythis very cool and awesome com-munity.

(Thomas Edwards, Ojibwe fromWinnipeg, is enrolled in theUniversity of Manitoba’s EducationProgram.)

National role model inspired by visit to Sagamok

Travelodge City

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Thomas Edwards

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Anishinabek News June 2005Page 14

Kinoomaagewin/EducationKinoomaagewin/Education

Wikwemikong Board of EducationJob Posting

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By Irvin MarshallTHUNDER BAY – Along the

way we get to meet role models ormentors who have pioneered apath for the rest of us. Just such aperson would beProfessor DoloresWawia who joinedLakehead University’sfaculty 30 years ago – July1, 1975.

Professor Wawiawas one of the firstAboriginal educatorsand most certainly oneof the first Aboriginalwomen, to be hired bya university in Canada.

As Lakehead celebrates its40th Anniversary plans are beingmade to honour Dolores for hercontributions and as a mentor toher culture. Professor Wawiaaccepts her role model status.“They will say to themselves, ‘Ifshe can do it then so can I!’ andthat is a good thing.”

Brought up in Gull Bay FirstNation, she is the eldest of 12 chil-dren, six of whom also possessacademic degrees. After a highschool guidance counselor toldher that she was “not universitymaterial,” Dolores attendedMcMaster University, where sheachieved a Bachelor of Arts in1974, and where she returned toestablish the Indigenous Studies

Program and teach from 1993-96.During her third year of teach-

ing at McMaster, Dolores suffereda massive stroke; an aneurysm lefther paralyzed and barely clinging

to life. Her family wastold she might not sur-vive the ordeal and LastRites were administered.

Dolores received herMasters Degree ofEducation at LakeheadUniversity, where shehas been teaching since1982. She doubles as avolunteer “Storyteller”and goes by the name ofMuk Kee Queh (Frog

Lady). She laughs as she describeshow she got this name as aninfant.

“My mother came in to checkon me in the living room, andthere on the floor by my tikinaganwas this huge bull frog. Shepicked me up and ran to her moth-er’s house to tell of what she hadseen and Dolores’ grandmothersaid, ‘Then that’s what going to beher name, Frog Lady.’” The cus-tom was that you were given yourname in accordance with the firstanimal to look upon you afterbirth.

Irvin Elwood Marshall is aNative artist and writer living inThunder Bay.

By Denise DesormeauxCHIPPEWAS OF THE THAMES – As the brilliant spring

tulips blossomed, Wiijii Nimbawiiyaang students proudly dis-played their colourful and intricate creations at their AnnualScience Fair.

On May 11, the school gymnasium was adorned with numerousmasterpieces that exemplified the inquisitiveness, dedication, andcreativity of the Wiijii Nimbawiiyaang students.

“Behind every single project, there’s a family that has beeninvolved. It gives families a chance to work together,” explainedCarol-Anne Dendias, Wiiji Nimbawiiyaang’s Science Fair co-ordi-nator and Grade 4 teacher.

Grade 6 student Larry Fisher oozed enthusiasm. “I found thatthere is electricity in almost everything. If you have two of thesame electrons, they will not touch, but if they were different, theywould touch.”

With the support of his Father, Larry created The Trickster.“This baby can teach people to make their hand steady!” hebeamed. Similar to the children’s board game Operation, TheTrickster makes a buzzing sound when the metal object passingover it came in contact.

In the primary division, Skye Kennedy happily shared her expe-rience in creating her project, “The Bear”, noting that she mostenjoyed creating a mini-bear den out of a balloon and papier mache.“My Grandma helped me,” she added.

Grade 5 student Keesha Doxtator smiled as she explained theprocess of her “Laundry Detergent” experiment. “The materials Iused were water, Sunlight, Cold Water Tide, Gain, and stained t-shirt cloths. My hypothesis was right – Cold Water Tide cleanedthe best!”

Lakehead’s ‘frog lady’honoured for 30 years

Dolores Wawia

Keesha: Cold-waterTide cleans clothes best!

Larry Fisher proudly displays his sciencecreation, known as “The Trickster.”

Keesha Doxtator gains valuable, first-hand experience washing dirtyshirts with Cold Water Tide.

Skye Kennedy and her popular “Bear” display that shemade with support from her Grandmother.

Medical Science student SamanthaBoshart enjoyed judging exhibits.

Page 15Anishinabek NewsJune 2005

Native Studies Page

Full Colour

Page 16 Anishinabek News June 2005

Bmaadziwin/CultureBmaadziwin/Culture

GRAVENHURST – Thefirst annual Native CultureCelebration days June 4-5 inthis resort town were attend-ed by nearly 1,000 people.Organizer Rolf Cohrs wasapplauded for his efforts inlaunching the event byMayor John Klinck, whosetown council was involved instaging the event at GullLake Park.

Federal minister of agri-culture Andy Mitchell was onhand for the official openingof the event, which featuredthe Sobriety Singers Drumg r o u p , d a n c e r s f r o mMnjikaning First Nation, cul-t u r a l t e a c h e r T e r r ySahanation from WahtaMohawk Territory, totem-pole carving by WayneSmith, demonstration oflonghouse bui ld ing byOntario School of Masonrystudents, and a display byMuskoka Wildlife Centre.

– Photos by Linda McRae

GULL BAY BRICKER – Zhaninodin King, 21, Gull Bay First Nation, isa student at the Ontario School of Masonry in Gravenhurst. He demon-strated his trade during Gravenhurst’s first annual Native CulturalCelebration June 4. – ‘Views by Linda’ Photography

FRIENDSHIP BELTThe Great Lakes Treaty wampum belt of 1764 signified the peace and friendship that existed between theAnishinabek peoples of the Great Lakes and the British Colonial government. The belt was on display atthe first annual Gravenhurst Native Cultural Celebration, and is shown being held by Terry Sahanation,Wahta Mohawks, event organizer Rolf Cohrs, and Maurice Switzer, director of communications for theUnion of Ontario Indians.

Gravenhurstgoes Native

By Perry McLeod-Shabogesic

WHITEFISH RIVER FN– It was cold and wet atWhitefish River First NationMay 13, 2005, but the rainyday didn’t put a damper on thecommunity’s annual chil-dren’s pow-wow, one of thefirst of the year inAnishinabek territory.

Chief Franklin Paibomsai(Shining Turtle) welcomedeveryone to this year’s versionof the small but special gath-ering, which moved indoors tothe community centre com-plex. The children of thecommunity stage this pow-wow every year to honour the

spring and dance for their par-ents, Elders and communitymembers. It is a time for themto lead the dance for that newlife that has just awoken.

“It is a wonderful day forour children and our commu-nity,” says Chief Paibomsai.“Each year our small pow-wow gets a little bigger. Thecommunity stages its 12thannual pow-wow Aug. 20-21,but this one is a special eventfor our children.”

Whitefishsingingin the rain

Whitefish River Chief FranklinPaibomsai (Shining Turtle) andson Eli (Shining Son).

NIPISSING FN –Although it has been donesince the beginning of time,feasting Bundles and EagleFeathers is of growing impor-tance to many Anishinabek.This tradition has alsobecome a custom of theyouth.

On Monday May 2,Nbisiing Education Centrecelebrated the coming of thespring by feasting all thesacred items students, teach-ers and community membersbrought to the gathering.Dancers shared their skills asthe grandfather drum called inthe spirits and spirit helpers toshare in the food that hadbeen prepared. Teachingswere shared on the impor-tance of this day and feedingthe spirits that help us eachday in our lives. This shouldbe done at least four times ayear. Feasting gives nourish-ment to them but also cele-brates the work they do for us

in trying to guide us on ourjourney.

N b i s i i n g E d u c a t i o nCentre, located on NipissingFirst Nation near North Bay,has been leading the way inreclaiming culture and lan-guage in the area. Studentslearn Ojibwe in class andorganize special culturalevents and ceremonies duringthe school year.

“It’s such a wonderfulthing to see our youth cele-brating this day,” said MurielSawyer, Principal of NbisiingEducation Centre. “Theschool plans to do this everyyear.”

Grass dancer Malachi McLeod-Shabogesic, participated inNbisiing Education Centre'sspring celebrations.

Nipissingcelebratesspring

CHARLIE’S ANGELS is what Carmen Nelms and Angelique Hill of Six Nations,and Cindy Deschenes of Kitigan Zibi FN, call themselves. They were workingthe traditional food trailer Charlie’s Foods at the Odawa Pow-Wow May 28.

TRADITIONALDANCER NoodinShawanda,Odawa/Pottawattomi fromWikwemikongUnceded IndianReserve, was atthe May 28 OdawaPow-Wow, and is aregular on theOntario pow-wowcircuit.

FASHION-CONSCIOUS Bernadette Riley and Jackie Fisher of the Bkejwanong FirstNation launched Authentic Tribal Apparel a few years ago and business has been brisk,according to the entrepreneurs, seen taking a break from sales at the May 28 Odawa Pow-Wow. Catch them on the pow-wow trail this summer for authentic designed sweatshirts andleisure wear. – Photos by Jamie Monastyrski

FACES AT ODAWA POW-WOW

Page 17Anishinabek NewsJune 2005

WHITEFISH LAKE FN – TheChiefs of the Lake Huron region(formerly Robinson Huron)received the first draft of GrandCouncil Chief John Beaucage’srights-based Natural ResourcesStrategy during a regional Chiefsmeeting held May 4. This discus-sion document details an ambitiousplan to work towards the fullrecognition of aboriginal and treatyrights within Anishinabek Nationterritory.

“We’ve been told by the Chiefsand our citizens that it is necessaryto continue to enhance and protectour treaty and aboriginal rights,”said Grand Council Chief JohnBeaucage. “From resource man-agement to traditional ecologicalknowledge to harvesting – all ofthese are fundamentally tied tothese sacred documents we calltreaties.”

The document calls for a strat-egy to use the new Government ofOntario – Political Confederacytable to open a comprehensive dia-logue on Aboriginal and TreatyRights, especially with regard toNatural Resources. In March, theprovince of Ontario and thePolitical Confederacy established aroundtable, a forum where SeniorCabinet Ministers can meet withthe Grand Chiefs of Ontario’sPolitical Territorial Organizations(PTOs). The roundtable is expect-ed to meet at least twice per year.An announcement of this newforum is expected in early June.

The primary objective of thisstrategy is to begin the process ofrecognition and respect of aborigi-nal and treaty rights; and diffuse

the adversarial approach to recog-nition of these rights (i.e. thecourts). The Union of OntarioIndians already has a number offorums for discussion and analysis,including the Anishinabek-OntarioFisheries Resource Centre and theAnishinabek-Ontario ResourceManagement Council.

Grand Council Chief Beaucagehas proposed an introduction totreaty rights for the OntarioCabinet, which will be a startingpoint to introducing a rights-basedapproach. For the past two months,he has been meeting with provin-cial Ministers to move along theissue of inter-treaty harvesting.Thus far, both Minister MichaelBryant and Minister DavidRamsey have expressed their sup-portive of these discussions andgetting the question of inter-treatyharvesting “out of the courts” to bemanaged by First Nations them-selves in cooperation with theMNR.

The Southeast Region is alsoexpected to be a focus of theNatural Resources strategy. GrandCouncil Chief Beaucage has com-mitted to looking into the harvest-ing rights of the Williams Treaty,which the government has arguedwere extinguished when the treatywas signed in 1923. Regardless ofthe Williams Treaty arguments, R.v. Powley set forward significantprecident that recognizes the rightto hunt and fish as an aboriginalright. Although the specific casewas in reference to the Metis right,this may open the door to discus-sion based on the First Nation abo-riginal right to hunt and fish.

Resource strategyto be basedon treaty rights

NIPISSING FIRST NATION –Grand Council Chief JohnBeaucage is optimistic that theappointment of a federal mediatorwill expedite a fair settlement forthousands of residential schoolsurvivors.

The federal governmentannounced that former SupremeCourt Judge Frank Iacobucci willmediate ongoing talks for the fed-eral government and report byMarch on whether all former stu-dents should receive lump-sumrewards for damages, sources said.He'll also explore the value of atruth-telling forum for abuse sur-vivors, and the need for an apolo-gy from the prime minister.

Beaucage congratulatedNational Chief Phil Fontaine,whose lobbying for lump-sum set-tlements prompted today’sannouncement.

“The National Chief has stead-

fastly pursued this cause for over adecade,” said Beaucage. “His pub-lic acknowledgment of his resi-dential school experience hashelped give other survivors thecourage to begin their healingprocess, and to help Canadiansunderstand the tremendous soci-economic damage these schoolsinflicted on First Nations peo-ples.”

“Those who do not understandthe devastating inter-generationalimpacts of residential schools sayaboriginal people need to forgetabout the past and just get on withtheir lives,” said Beaucage. “Wecan no more forget about the last-ing legacy of residential schoolsthan Jewish communities aroundthe world can forget about theHolocaust.”

The Assembly of First Nationshas proposed a basic cash paymentof $10,000 to each recognized

residential school survivor, and anadditional $3,000 for each yearspent in the schools.

“Compensation is important tomany survivors whose residentialschool experience directly con-tributed to lives of poverty andsocial dysfunction,” saidBeaucage. “But in the long term,reconciliation and healing will bethe most valuable contributions toCanada's national well-being.Healing can best begin with ameaningful apology from PrimeMinister Paul Martin.”

Beaucage said it is also impor-tant that the government follow upMarch’s mediation findings with acomprehensive public educationcampaign about aboriginal peoplesand issues, something that he sayswas not sustained after Canada’s1998 official response to the reportof the Royal Commission onAboriginal Peoples.

Residential school optimism

WHITEFISH LAKE FN –Resources and their managementtopped the list of items discussed atthe May meeting of Lake HuronRegional Chiefs.

Over three dozen Chiefs,Councillors, Union of OntarioIndians staff and community mem-bers attended the leadership gather-ing in Whitefish Lake First Nation.

Elder Gordon Waindubenceshared the opening prayer inAnishinaabemowin to give themeeting a proper start. TheAnishinabek Bundle was also pres-ent to help the leadership withdecision-making through ceremo-ny.

Regional Lake Huron GrandChief Angus Toulouse, SagamokAnishinawbek, and Chief TheresaMigwans from Whitefish LakeFirst Nation provided openingcomments and welcomed everyoneto the community and territory.

A meeting highlight was the

appearance of JosephineMandamin, Executive Director ofthe Ontario Native Women'sAssociation and leader of theAnishinabe Kwe Water Walkers,who spoke to the gathering on theimportance of the walk aroundLake Huron and the sacredness ofwater. She also encouraged otherwomen to stand up and embracetheir responsibility to the water.

C o l d w a t e rFish Farmsencroachment inM’Chigeeng tra-ditional territorywithout permis-sion from the FirstNation was atopic of someconcern. ChiefGlen Hare soughtsupport from theassembly to fur-ther their positionon resisting any

development of this business basedon jurisdiction. “We just don’twant it in our community,” saidChief Hare. “This is not an issuewith the industry as a whole but isabout our right to decide what goeson in our territory,” he added. Aunanimous resolution supportedthe M’Chigeeng position.

Grand Council Chief JohnBeaucage reported that a new rela-

tionship with Ontario is emerging.The Anishinabek-Ontario trappingharmonization agreement had beensigned in Sault Ste. Marie, openingsome areas for resource-issue dia-logue. Both the AnishinabekNation and the province are alsolooking at moving forward with aninter-treaty harvesting agreementas well. It is hoped to have thisapproved by both sides by the fall.

MaheengunShawanda, ofWikwemikongU n c e d e dIndian Reservewas given timeon the agendato discussh u n t i n gcharges thathad been laidagainst himlast fall. Hesought supportfrom the

assembly in entering a plea of notguilty. He hoped to invoke histreaty right and aboriginal rightwith the blessing of theAnishinabek Nation. Chief PatMadahbee of Aundeck-Omni-Kaning First Nation, pointed outthat the legal opinion does notaddress First Nation inherent rightand that it is limited. “If we losethis we will be boxed in,” saidChief Madahbee. “It is unreason-able to think that we as people onlyhunted in one place.”

It was felt that the attitude ofsome Conservation Officersallowed these types of cases to goas far as they do, that the officerswant to make a point with FirstNation harvesters by hasslingthem. It is hoped that the new rela-tionship that is beginning with theOntario Ministry will help avoidthese situations in future. The UOIlegal counsel will reviewMaheengun’s situation.

Lake Huron Chiefs hopeful for new Ontario attitude on resource issues

Grand Council Chief John Beaucage addresses Lake Huron RegionalChiefs’ meeting.

Partners in crime preventionAnishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief John Beaucage delivered a workshop on the challenges of UrbanAboriginal Youth at May's Northeastern Ontario Community Mobilization for Crime Prevention Conference atNipissing University in North Bay. Here, Beaucage interprets the Great Lakes Treaty Wampum Belt for StaffSergeant Irving Sloss, a conference organizer, and conference participant Dale Ribson, CFB Petawawa.

– Photo by Maurice Switzer

Page 18 Anishinabek News June 2005

. . . The Buzz . . .

KETTLE & STONY POINT – The Anishinabek Nation and the MétisNation of Ontario will re-new their traditional ties as Nations, as the sacredPipes of both Nations are bound together by the Great Spirit. The 2005Anishinabek Nation Unity Gathering and Grand Council Assembly will be theforum that will see both these Pipes brought together for the first time in manygenerations.

Both Nations will also each bring their songs to the Drum. Last August,the Many Eagle Set Sundance Song was passed to the Métis Nation by ElderFrancis Cree at Turtle Mountain, North Dakota.

KETTLE & STONY POINT – The Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Pointand the Union of Ontario Indians have been working cooperatively to host theinaugural Unity Gathering in conjunction with the 2005 Grand CouncilAssembly. This five-day event will be the largest political gathering inOntario’s history and will host close to 2,500 people for a pow-wow, vision-ing session, and the Chiefs Assembly, as well as a number of other excitingcommunity events.

There will be a number of highlights on each day of the gathering.Beginning on Saturday, June 25 the Anishinabek Nation will renew its tieswith the Metis Nation of Ontario as their sacred pipes and songs will be unit-ed together in ceremony. The Executive of the Metis Nation of Ontario willbe in attendance including President Tony Belcourt. Following the day-longpow-wow, an evening of entertainment will be hosted by co-MC and specialguest Adam Beach.

On Sunday, June 26, the Anishinabek Nation will take some time toremember Dudley George and recognize his family led by his brother SamGeorge. The pow-wow participants will also recognize the work of theIpperwash Inquiry, including Commissioner Sidney B. Linden. The Sundaywill feature an evening of story-telling including a guest performance of De-baj-uh-muh-jig Theatre Group.

Monday, June 27 will feature a day-long vision session of Women, Elders,Youth and Leadership which will assist the Union of Ontario Indians in devel-oping their strategic plan and Nation Building initiatives for the years to come.The evening will include a traditional feast and the first annual YouthAchievement Awards.

The Grand Council Assembly will also feature some memorable activities.On Tuesday, June 28, the Union of Ontario Indians will sign a Memorandumof Understanding with the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres.This significant step in the Anishinabek Urban Strategy, will recognizeOntario’s Friendship Centers as their primary urban service delivery agency.No longer will the Anishinabek Nation only include the 42 member FirstNations, but will also include the 28 Friendship Centres across the province.

Finally, on Wednesday, June 29, the lead negotiators for both Canada andthe Anishinabek Nation will initial the Governance Agreement-in-Principle,signaling the end of the negotiations and the start of the ratification process.The Governance negotiations of the Restoration of Jurisdiction project beganin 1998. This agreement includes selection of leaders, citizenship, law-mak-ing authority, appeals and redress processes, community constitutions and fis-cal relations.

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Sacred Pipes smoked

Promoting AIDS awarenessChristina Wheatley and Doris Peltier of the Ontario First Nations HIV/AIDS Education Circle (OFNHAEC) pres-ent Anishinabek Grand Council Chief John Beaucage with an AIDS Awareness jacket at a recent meeting heldat the Union of Ontario offices.

CIBC supports lifetime achieversBill Bray, a CIBC Account Manager from North Bay, presents Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief JohnBeaucage with a cheque for $5000 that will go towards the Anishinabek Nation Lifetime Achievement Awards tobe handed out this June. “CIBC has been involved with the Anishinabek Seventh Generation Charities for a num-ber of years from the Stay-in-School Program to the Achievement Awards,” Bray said.

NIPISSING FN – GrandCouncil Chief John Beaucage senta message of congratulations toDenise Stonefish after her electionas Grand Chief of the Associationof Iroquois and Allied Indians. She

beat Chris McCormick 28-20. Denise is the Chair of the

Chiefs of Ontario finance commit-tee and the Chair of the OntarioFirst Nations Women’s Council.

“We hope to continue our

mutual alliances in health,resources, and intergovernmentalaffairs, and in ensuring our respec-tive agendas are strong at thePolitical Confederacy and at otherlevels and forums,” Beaucage said.

SSttoonneeffiisshh nneeww AAIIAAII GGrraanndd CChhiieeff

June 8 & 9: DGC Inter-Treaty Harvesting June 7 & 8: GCC First Ministers meeting Housing Working

Group (Ottawa)June 9: GCC meeting with CMHC (Sudbury)June 10: GCC meeting with Minister Ramsey (Ottawa)June 13-16: GCC/DGC AOCC (Dryden) June 17: FMM Housing Working Group (Ottawa) June 21: GCC Aboriginal Solidarity celebrations with

Wikwemikong First Nation June 21: DGC Aboriginal Solidarity celebrations

Laurentian University June 22-23: GCC/DGC Chief Committee on Governance

(Orillia)June 24: GCC/DGC – UOI Board of Directors meeting

(Kettle & Stoney Point)June 25-29: GCC/DGC – Unity Gathering and Grand Council

Assembly

Political Office Calendar

Acronyms: DGC - Deputy Grand Chief GCC - Grand Council Chief

Page 19Anishinabek NewsJune 2005

In Brief

Contact UsUnion of Ontario Indians

P.O. Box 711, North Bay, ON P1B 8J8

Toll Free: (877) 702-55200Phone: (705) 497-99127

Fax: (705) 497-99135

E-mmail: iga@anishinabek.caWebsite: www.anishinabek.ca/iga

Our StaffAllan Dokis

Directordokall@anishinabek.ca

Jason LarondeResource Management Council

Coordinatorlarjas@anishinabek.ca

Alicia McLeodTreaty Research Assistant

mclali@anishinabek.caSandra Restoule

Treaty Research Clerkressan@anishinabek.ca

Nadine RoachForestry Coordinator

roanad@anishinabek.caRobert MorriseauForestry Technician

morrob@anishinabek.caYves ChenierPolicy Analyst

cheyve@anishinabek.caKerry Colnar

Operations Support Officercolker@anishinabek.ca

Sault College of Applied Artsand Technology has suspendedthe Aboriginal ResourceTechnician Program offeredthrough distance education.Launched in1989 with the part-nership of the college, HumanResources Deve lopmentCanada, Indian and NorthernAffairs Canada and the OntarioMinistry of Natural Resources,the three-year program providedwork placements, summer jobsin firefighting, parks, lands, fish-eries, and administration, and theopportunity for First Nation par-ticipants to pursue a career with-out leaving their home territories.

Program cancelledIntergovernmental AffairsIntergovernmental Affairs

Chief: James WabigwanFirst Nation: Thessalon First Nation. Thiscommunity is located approximately 100 kmseast of Sault St. Marie on Highway 17.Years of Service: He has been Chief for 3 1/2years. Previous to being Chief he wasCouncillor for 4 years.Current Registered Members: 559Bio: Chief Wabigwan was born on January 7,1950 and comes from the Mukwa (Bear) clan.He is the father of 7 children and has 4 grand-children. His newest grandchild, Olivia, wasborn on May 7, 2005.

Before becoming involved in politics, Chief Wabigwan worked in amill in Sault St. Marie and various other jobs as a carpenter and labourer.In Chief Wabigwan’s words he is a “jack of all trades, master of none”

When Chief Wabigwan lost his job at the mill he moved back toThessalon First Nation and decided to take a 1-month course that wasbeing offered through the band at a high school in Debra. This 1-monthclass is what changed Chief Wabigwan’s life forever. Before this class hewas shy man and lacked confidence. This course was an entrepreneur-ship-based course that involved lessons on how to open small businessand how to deal with people. Chief Wabigwan explained that after thisclass he gained confidence and a new world opened up to him. This iswhen he decided to get involved with politics. Prior to this class he wouldhave never guessed that he would be involved in politics and someday beChief.

In his spare time Chief Wabigwan enjoys taking walks in the bushand sitting by the lake. He also enjoys going on small road trips as it giveshim time to think and to clear his head. Goals/Objectives for Community: To develop and implement a constitu-tion for his community which would allow for the First Nation to havestrong fiscal and business management. He believes that this constitutionis very important for Thessalon First Nation members, as it will ensurethat there is money for the future generations. Through these improvedmanagement practices he would like to see enhanced employment oppor-tunities along with job security for the membership. He explains that,“We always need to think seven generations ahead.” Political Ambition: Chief Wabigwan would like to continue on as Chiefof Thessalon First Nation. Biggest Obstacle to Overcome: Chief Wabigwan believes the biggestobstacle that he has encountered in his position, as Chief, is the need toseparate politics from business and the administration of the band. He seesthe importance in separating the two structures and he believes this canonly be done through good management practices and setting up soundmanagement structures.

CHIEF’S CORNER

James Wabigwan

Process:Part I: REVIEWA summary and review will be done onkey documents and studies pertaining toforestry.A summary report, along with focusedcommon statements will be created thatreflect the spirit and direction of ourmembers.These common statements will be usedas our guidelines to validate what hasbeen said and collected over the years ina series of workshops,Part II: VALIDATIONA summary of the findings will be circu-lated to our communities to deliver a firstglance of the outcomes of the review.Notification of the workshop dates will beposted for communities to participate.Part III: RESOLUTIONSummary of results with resolution willbe provided for council review and con-sideration.

Anishinabek Forest StrategyGoal: To create our own Vision/ForestStrategy in Anishinabek Territory utiliz-ing curret and past studies associatedwith community forest developments.To determine the long-term goals ofFirst Nations as it relates to forestmanagement planning and forestry ingeneral.

Our intent is to facilitate a forum todevelop your own Foresty strategy.

These workshops will serve toassist the UOI Forestry Unit in sup-porting the development of localstrategies. We are in the process ofplanning regional workshops to gainyour insights.

Updates and info packageswill be delivered as to

when and where the nearest workshop will be hosted.

Contact our office for more information.

Union of Ontario IndiansHead Office - Nipissing First Nation, P.O. Box 711, North Bay, ON P1B 8J8

Contact Nadine RoachPhone: (705) 497-9127 Fax: (705) 497-9135

Toll Free: (877) 702-5200 Email: roanad@anishinabek.ca

Environmental bursaryChief Patrick Madahbee (Aundeck Omni Kaning), left, and Chief FranklinPaibomsai (Whitefish River), right, looked on as Ministry of NaturalResources spokesman Bruce Richard presented Jonathan Haaland ofWhitefish River First Nation with a $1000 bursary to pursue environmen-tal studies. Jonathon is enrolled in an environmental program atFanshawe College in London and plans to return to Northern Ontario aftercompleting college. His studies will continue throughout the summer,focusing on water and soil sampling. – Photo courtesy MNR

By Rosalind RabyA North Shore First Nation will

be welcoming a new conservationofficer this month.

The Mississauga First Nation(MFN) has supported a partnershipwith the Ministry of NaturalResources – Blind River office, totrain a conservation officer (CO) forthe band.

It is not the first time they havedone this, says MFN Chief LarryBoyer.

“We had our first CO come onboard just over three years ago,”recalls Boyer. “Beverly Gauthier wasthe first ever CO for our First Nation,and did a good job of it too.”

“However, she decided to seekanother position, this time as a policeofficer for our police service, so wehad to have someone else trained tofill the vacancy.”

That person is Travis Jacques, 23,who hails from MFN also. He is agraduate of W.C. Eaket SecondarySchool, and graduated from thePolice Foundations program out ofNorth Bay in 2002.

“This job is something I’ve beenthinking about since grade nine,”says Jacques. “It seems to be a bitmore interesting than policing, and Ireally like the outdoors, so it is a nicefit.”

“I’m looking forward to workingas a CO, especially on my homereserve.” The training is a partnershipbetween the MNR and the FirstNation, adds Boyer.

“Since 1999, the MNR – SaultSte. Marie district, through its BlindRiver office has been working close-ly with the MFN to train one of theircommunity members as a conserva-tion officer. Our band negotiated asignificant land claim in 1994, whichresulted in a land base increase toover 40,000 acres (92,842 hectares).”

“Our community is very pro-active in the management of ourresources, and the conservation offi-cer training program was designed toincrease Aboriginal Œshared’responsibility for resource harvest,management and enforcement.”

Data collection on resource har-vest, an action plan on common con-servation issues and joint enforce-ment initiatives are integral to theprogram, adds MNR CO DaveHamlin, who is also providingJacques with hands-on training.

“We provide the training, hands-on experience and equipment, whilethe reserve takes care of his wages,”explains Hamlin. “I’ve taken Travisthrough a spectrum of training,including work in the general field,the use of force, firearms, the legalstatutes that will govern his job, theacademics and the field duties per-taining to a CO position.

“He is considered a deputy COuntil he is formally sworn in as a full-fledged officer.

“This approach also includes theongoing development of laws andby-laws for the purpose of resourcemanagement on First Nation lands.”

Mississauga First Nation (MFN) Chief Larry Boyer spends a few minuteswith Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer Dave Hamlin andtrainee Travis Jacques. Jacques will be formally sworn in as a CO onJune 20.

Mississauga welcomesconservation officer

Canadian Aboriginal History News

This site offers historical information alongwith current and past news, facts and tidbitsit also allows you to make contributions ofyour own to the website. If you have inter-

esting stories or news drop them a line.

http://www.northernblue.ca/ablog/index.php

“Indian leaders were chosen bytheir deeds and the manner inwhich they acted towards theirpeople, their generosity andtheir willingness to serve theirpeople above all else. They werethere to guide their people butweren't here to rule the people.Our people didn't understand thetheory of dictatorship. Our peo-ple lived in harmony and asequals. We were taught to haverespect for all things and berespectful to all beings on thisearth.” – Author Unknown

Leadership

Websiteof the Month

GENERAL NOTICE

By Rick Garrick FORT WILLIAM FN – Fort William First Nation is a

growing community, both in terms of economic develop-ment and population.

“Fort William First Nation is moving towards moreeconomic diversity,” says Ian Bannon, one of the six newband councillors elected in mid-April and general man-

ager of Anemki Mountain Corporation, a band-ownedentity which manages the Anemki Mountain office com-plex.

“Over the past few years, there has been a lot of eco-nomic development in our community.”

Anemki Mountain Corporation built the AnemkiMountain office building next to the band office in theearly 1990’s, and it now houses a variety of tenants,including Indian and Native Affairs Canada’s ThunderBay office and a variety of Native organizations.

“Since then we’ve constructed two more office build-ings, a community centre and the (two arenas),” Bannonsays, noting that the second arena was built this past year.

Another recent development was the construction ofthe Bowater Sawmill in the community’s industrial park,which was developed on part of the Railway Taking landsthat were recently returned to the band after almost a cen-tury of use by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and theCanadian National Railway.

“This is the land we bought in 1996 for $10,” saysGail Bannon, lands manager at Fort William. “We own it,but it’s still classified as city property.”

Because it is still classified as city property, the city iscurrently sending tax bills for the land to the band.

“Until that ... land is converted to Crown land, there isa tax issue,” says Ian Bannon. “Fort William (FirstNation) is still in the process of negotiating that on thebasis that the land should never have lost its status asreserve land.”

Fort William, located on the southern edge of Thunder

Bay, has been taking a “practical and forward-lookingapproach” in its negotiations over lands, including theNeebing Surrender in 1859, the Railway Taking in 1905,the Rifle Range in 1905, the Mining Claims in 1909,Chippewa Park in 1917, and the Ontario Hydro Right-of-Way in the 1950’s, which were taken from the originalreserve lands as surveyed in 1853. The community plansto use any compensation it receives for the lands under itsSpecific Claims process for economic development pur-poses, and is not looking to displace innocent third par-ties, because “Fort William First Nation believes stronglythat two wrongs do not make a right.”

Gail Bannon explains that the Neebing Surrenderlands were given away by the government for almost nocost to the new settlers in the area.

“It was good farming land,” she says. “The land alongthe Kaministiquia (River) is some of the best land inCanada.”

The Neebing Surrender and Railway Taking took allof the band’s land along the Kaministiquia River andChippewa Park took most of the band’s remaining goodwaterfront land along Lake Superior.

“You know, for community members back in thattime, water was an important resource,” she notes. “Theytook away most of the valuable waterfront property.”

“Fort William (First Nation) at that time was veryprosperous – logging, farming, raising cattle. Now there’sonly rock and swamp left – what are you going to do.”

Gail Bannon explains that a settlement agreement hasbeen worked out for the Rifle Range lands, and the com-munity will likely hold a vote on the agreement this fall.

During the Chief and Council election, held in Aprilwith over 90 candidates vying for positions as chief orcouncillor, Chief Peter Collins was re-elected to his fifthterm with 181 votes, edging out Harold Pelletier by 25votes. Guy Collins, Arlene Solomon, Phillip Pelletier,Lyle Charlie, Tim Ward, and Michael Pelletier were re-elected as band councillors while Ian Bannon, LeoBannon Sr., Valerie Chapman, Jeffery Charlie, RoyCharlie, and Yvette Greenwald were newly elected asband councillors.

About 1200 of the community’s 1750-plus band mem-bers were eligible to vote – 660 eligible voters live off-reserve, half of them in Thunder Bay. Some 45 per cent ofthe band membership, which grew by 180 since 2001,currently lives on-reserve.

Chief Collins said after the election that his first pri-ority would be to resolve the $3.8-million tax dispute theband has with the City of Thunder Bay over the RailwayTaking lands in a mutually satisfactory manner.

Collins is also looking to develop a commercial watersupply or hydro-electric plant from the Loch Lomondwaters, which are located on the opposite side of the com-munity from Thunder Bay, to build 30 new homes in thecommunity, to deal with prescription drug addictions, andto develop a trades school for youth in the community.

The trades school would be located near the Arena,

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Page 20 Anishinabek News June 2005

FORT WIL

Ian Bannon at the Dilico Child and Family Services office, oneof four new Fort William First Nation-owned office buildings inthe shadow of Mount McKay.

KiHS teacher Craig Hardy and some of his students outside the Fort William First Nation Community Centre.

“. . . this is our territory and we assert sovereignty on these lands

Economic diversity priority for new council

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where a Community Centre has already been built and asoccer complex and race track are also planned for somepoint in the future.

The Community Centre currently contains an Elders’Cultural Centre and a KiHS Education Centre, whichopened in February, 2004.

“We run two alternative studies programs here,” saysCraig Hardy, alternative education coordinator and KiHSteacher, noting that Grade 9 and 10 students take coursesthrough KiHS over the Internet and Grade 11 and 12 stu-dents take distance education courses through theLakehead Public School Board. “They don’t have toleave the community anymore to earn a secondary schooldiploma.”

About 15 to 20 students are currently enrolled inKiHS and about 30 to 40 students are currently enrolledin the distance education program.

“We’re looking to graduate about 15 students thisyear,” Hardy says.

The Education Centre also offers some post-secondaryprograms through Confederation College.

“Our focus is to offer and extend services to commu-nity members towards skill development,” Hardy adds,noting they also offer employment services through YESEmployment.

Other than the Education Centre, most of the commu-nity’s students attend elementary and secondary schoolsin Thunder Bay.

Luanne Maki, the Community Health representative,explains that the Health Centre, in addition to providinghealth and family support services, provides a monthlyElders program “to get them out of the house and social-izing with each other,” a monthly Moms, Dads and Babesprogram for newborns to age four, a weekly children’sprogram for ages five to nine at the Community Centre,and a community kitchen for youth aged 10 to 15.

“We also have special community events,” Maki adds,listing a four-week summer day camp, an annual FamilyPicnic, a Christmas Party, a Halloween Party, a Health

Fair, a Family Walk, the annual Mount McKay Pow-Wow, and twice-a-year bazaars.

In addition to working in the community’s officebuildings, band members are also employed in commer-cial fishing, in the gas bar and restaurant business, in theBowater sawmill, or in privately owned businesses such

as Pelletier’s Auto Body or Bill MacLaurin Contracting. A group of eight youth in the community have also

recently established the Eagle Mountain Youth Council. “They just started,” says Ian Bannon, adding that they

are well organized. “In our last council meeting, the youthcouncil received high regard and recognition.”

Page 21Anishinabek NewsJune 2005

WILLIAM FIRST NATION

ands,” – Chief Peter Collins

Samantha Thibert, a Grade 11 student at the KiHS Education Centre in Fort William First Nation, works on her mould experimenton one of the centre’s computers.

Anamikiewakchu – Ojibwe for “Thunder Mountain” – is one ofthe world’s oldest topographical features, dating back 500 mil-lion years. A sacred place for Anishinabek – who believe it isthe home of the Thunderbirds – the 1600-foot plateau of MountMcKay provides a striking view of Lake Superior and theSleeping Giant formation offshore, and the city of Thunder Bay.A road leading up the mountain passes through Fort WillamFirst Nation, which is staging National Aboriginal Day celebra-tions June 21, and a three-day pow-wow in July.

l

THUNDER BAY – “We must begin to re-assertthe sovereignty within our traditional territory,”Grand Council Chief John Beaucage, flanked byFort William Chief Peter Collins and the twelveFirst Nation Chiefs of the Northern Superiorregion told a special news conferenceMay 31.

These First Nations came togetherto deliver a strong message to theCanada and Canadians in “reclaim-ing” the area known as the LakeheadTerritory. This traditional territoryincludes the greater Thunder Bay area,which is part of the Robinson SuperiorTreaty territory.

“This isn’t about land claims, orcompensation or economics,” saidGrand Council Chief Beaucage. “Thisis simply about respect and awarenessof the true aboriginal title of thissacred place.”

There continue to be significantdevelopments that affect the Northern Superiortraditional territory, including the development ofa Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area,removal of First Nations harvesting cabins, chal-lenges to the Lake Nipigon fishery, and continuedwith forestry allocations with little or no sustainedbenefit to First Nations.

“We are putting government, industry, andstakeholders on notice that steps will be taken toensure our rights and aboriginal title to this terri-tory are protected,” said Grand Council ChiefBeaucage.

Regional Grand Chief Peter Collins, who is alsoChief of Fort William First Nation, talked about his

most recent challenges within his territory.“We have been constantly at odds with the gov-

ernment over this territory, the latest being a sig-nificant municipal tax assessment,” said Collins,referring to industrial land that belongs to the Fort

William First Nation that was recent-ly assessed taxes. “We are here tomake it clear that this is our territoryand we assert sovereignty on theselands that we occupy and havealways occupied.”

There was also a strong messagefor the various brother and sisterorganizations that occupy offices,land and undertake development inthe Lakehead territory.

“Other First Nations organiza-tions have mistakenly settled orasserted authority in the ThunderBay area,” said Grand Council ChiefBeaucage. “It is custom that FirstNations respect each others’ territo-

ry, and ask for permission to make use of theselands. In this case, the territory of the NorthernSuperior Chiefs.”

The Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850 cededlands “from Batchewana Bay to Pigeon River, atthe western extremity of said Lake, and inlandthroughout that extent to the height of land.” Thisis traditional territory of the Anishinabek Nation,and includes the Lakehead territory surroundingMount McKay.

“In our language, this is called ThunderbirdMountain, and is said to be the spiritual nestingplace of the Thunderbirds. This is a very sacredplace,” said Grand Council Chief John Beaucage.

Anishinabek reclaim Lakehead

Chief Peter Collins

By ROJ StaffThe Education Working

Groups will be conducting aconsultation strategy to get feed-back on the proposedAnishinabek Education Systemthat they have developed. June14 to 16 the working groupmembers will attend meeting tofinalize the work to date and pre-pare for a community-by-com-munity, in-depth consultation onthe governing structure andoperations of the AnishnabekEducation System. The commu-nity sessions will most likely be1-day interactive workshops ledby the working group membersthemselves. The sessions willrun from October to Decemberin all regions, including urbancenters. A symposium to presentthe final draft model based oncommunity members input willbe held in March 2006.

The graphic illustrates theAnishinabek Education Systemthat has been developed by theEducation Working Groups. Thelogo is meant to capture thebelief that education is a parentaland community responsibility.The system is child-centred andso the Anishinabe family is cen-tral to the system. The Bear andthe Eagle are representative ofan Anishinabe way of being.

The main purpose of restor-ing jurisdiction over education isto provide a better educationexperience for Anishinabe chil-dren. It is known that this willtranslate into higher education

success rates and more opportu-nity. The logo speaks to the high-est importance that AnishinabekFirst Nation citizens have placedon language and cultural identi-ty.

The 28 Participating FirstNations that have signed theEducation Agreement-in-Principle are shown in bold. Theremaining 15 First Nations arealso shown for two reasons: first,the agreement is open at anytime for other First Nations tosign on. Even after a FinalAgreement has been signed,more First Nations could beadded, providing there is a com-munity ratification process andthe existing Parties to the FinalAgreement agree that a newParty can be added. Second,relationships may be establishedbetween Participating FirstNations operating under the edu-cation self-government agree-ment and other First Nationsoperating under the Indian Actregime with respect to educationprograms and services.

The Education WorkingGroups are proposing that eachFirst Nation establish a LocalEducation Authority. The LocalEducation Authorities from ageographic area will form aRegional School Council, whichis illustrated by a Bear Paw.Seven Regional School Councilsare being proposed. The powers,duties, functions and responsi-bilities of the Local EducationAuthorities and Regional School

Councils will be established bythe Participating First Nations.

Each Participating FirstNation will need to develop andapprove the laws and/or writtenagreements that will establishthe Local Education Authorityand the Regional School Councilto which that First Nation willbelong.

In addition to these bodies,the Anishinabek EducationSystem will consist of a centralor nation-level KinomaadswinEducation Body that will be

responsible for the administra-tion and distribution of educa-tion funding transferred fromCanada to the Participating FirstNations under the FiscalTransfer Agreement.

Other functions that theEducation Working Groups pro-pose be nation-level services are:

A n i s h i n a b e m o w i nInstitute that will establish stan-dards and teaching aids/tools tosupport the preservation, promo-tion and development of lan-guage and cultural programs and

services for the ParticipatingFirst Nations;

A n i s h i n a b e kCurriculum Centre that willestablish education standardsand develop curriculum respon-sive to the Participating FirstNations’ needs;

Centre for AnishinabekAssessment that will developand implement assessmentmechanisms to measure andchart the progress and proficien-cies of students in theAnishinabek Education System.

Page 22 Anishinabek News June 2005

Restoration of JurisdictionRestoration of JurisdictionAnishinabek educationsystem takes shape

Kinomaadswin Education Body illustration

By Michael EshkawkoganCommunity Facilitator

As often as possible, information sessions areput on by Community Facilitators during theevening of a negotiation session so that communi-ty members can take advantage of speaking direct-ly to the negotiators. This is why the negotiationsare held in the First Nation communities them-selves, including urban First Nation communitycenters.

I had the opportunity to facilitate an informa-tion session the evening of May 5th at theWikwemikong Long Term Care Building. In atten-dance from Wikwemikong were RolandaManitowabi, Councillor/Portfolio for Education;Henry Lewis, A/Education Director; Edward Fox,Education Finance Manager; and Dorothy Fox,Pontiac School Counselor.

Merle Pegahmagabow, Anishinabek HeadNegotiator for Education, and Sheila Murray,Chief Federal Negotiator, gave an overview of theEducation Final Agreement and an update onwhere the process is at today. Merle informed thegroup that it is very important that we get commu-nity members involved with the Restoration ofJurisdiction process, the Education FinalAgreement, the development of the AnishinabekEducation System.

The community members were given theopportunity to ask questions.

Information sessions: your access to the negotiators

Henry Lewis, Wasse-Abin High School Principal; Michael Eshkawkogan,Community Facilitator; Merle Pegahmagabow, Anishinabek HeadNegotiator; Bernadette Marasco, Administrative Assistant (EducationNegotiations); Edward Fox, Education Finance Manager; Dorothy Fox,Pontiac School Counselor; and Rolanda Manitowabi,Councillor/Education Portfolio at the information session inWikwemikong, May 5th.

Q. How much longer will it take to finish the Education FinalAgreement negotiations?

A. It will take approximately 10 months to finish theEducation Final Agreement Text.

Q. Is the Ontario Government involved with the ROJEducation Final Agreement process?

A. No, we do have meetings with the Ministry of Educationand Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat (ONAS). The Anishinabek

Nation Negotiator attends the meetings as anobserver.

Q. How much funding will we get to developthe Anishinabek Education System?

A. The Finance Working Group is presentlyworking on the cost of the proposed system, includ-ing the Kinomaadswin Education Body (KEB) andhow the funding will flow to First Nation commu-nities.

Q. Some of the First Nations in the past havebeen trying to get recognition for our own Child &Family Welfare licenses since 1997. The provincialgovernment pulled the plug. Will the Education FinalAgreement negotiations process be pulled by theprovincial government?

A. No, we don't work with the ProvincialGovernment at this time. Ontario will not veto theAgreement.

Q. We are losing language in the community.How is the Anishinabe Language and Culture goingto be maintained in the school system?

A. The Education Working Group is presentlyworking on Anishinaabemowin and culture insti-tutes to support the Participating First Nations indeveloping programs for language and culture intheir communities.

Information sessions are an ideal way to get yourquestions answered. Contact your community facili-tator about the next information session in your com-munity.

Page 23Anishinabek NewsJune 2005

Restoration of JurisdictionRestoration of Jurisdiction

Chiefs Committee bringing leaders togetherAt their meeting held in Niagara Falls on April 13 and 14,

2005, the Anishinaabe Anokiiwin Aanokiitoojig (ChiefsCommittee on Governance) directed the ROJ staff toarrange for a conference of all Chiefs and Councils of theAnishinabek Nation to be held in the fall of 2005. This con-ference is intended to permit the citizens of the AnishinabekFirst Nations, through their Chiefs and Councils, the oppor-tunity to present their ideas on the conditions upon which theself-government negotiations with Canada should proceed.The Chiefs Committee wants First Nation leaders to deter-mine if the current self-government negotiations withCanada will address the concerns and aspirations of theAnishinabek people.

The 2005 conference follows the all Chiefs and CouncilsGathering held last September where Anishinabek leadersheard from the Navajo and M'iqmak Nations on the chal-lenges and successes of self-government and reviewed thedraft agreements on governance and education now undernegotiation with Canada.

Negotiators getting set to initial AIPAnishinabek Nation Chief Negotiator on Governance, R.

Martin Bayer, and Chief Federal Negotiator Liz Morin aremaking plans for a tentative initialing of the GovernanceAgreement-in- Principle at the up-coming Grand CouncilAssembly in Kettle and Stony Point, June 28 and 29. Morinnotified Bayer at the recent joint Canada-Anishinabek meet-ing of education and governance negotiators held inWikwemikong that she has received internal approval to ini-tial-off on the draft AIP. An initialing ceremony signals thatthe negotiators have completed their work and the fate of theagreement now rests with the respective Parties – theAnishinabek First Nations and the federal Cabinet.

Bayer secures six BCRs for Governance AIPDokis First Nation and Sagamok Anishnawbek are the

latest to sign Band Council Resolutions (BCRs) supportingthe Governance Agreement-in-Principle and supporting con-tinuing negotiations toward a Final Agreement. The twoLake Huron Region communities join Nipissing,Sheshegwaning, Long Lake #58 and Serpent River, for a totalof six First Nations prepared to sign onto the AIP. If the num-bers follow the Education AIP approval process, Bayer willneed 22 BCRs before Indian Affairs will send the agreementto Cabinet for Canada's approval. An AIP is not legally bind-ing, only a Final Agreement ratified by a community refer-endum is legally binding.

Ahneesh nah, niijkenhukMy name is Esther Gilbank, and I am a member

of Nipissing First Nation. I am pleased to be thenew Chiefs Committee on Governance Coordinatorwith the Restoration of Jurisdiction (ROJ) depart-ment.

Formerly, I was the Community FacilitatorSupport Worker where I provided support for theCommunity Facilitator staff and ROJCommunications department.

With the experience and expertise I have gainedin coordinating events and meetings, preparingreports and taking minutes, I feel confident that I amup to the challenge of assisting the Chiefs in theirimportant work. I am eager to start the work of thisimportant role and invite the members of the Chiefs

Committee on Governance to contact me if you feel there is anything I can do toassist you on the Committee.

Hello, my name is Jason Restoule and I am a mem-ber of Dokis First Nation. I am the new CommunityFacilitator Support Worker in the Restoration ofJurisdiction (ROJ) department at the Union of OntarioIndians (UOI) head office in North Bay, ON.

For the past 20 months I have been working at theUOI as the Distance Delivery Program Assistant forthe Anishinabek Educational Institute. Previous to thatI had been employed by the UOI in various depart-ments as a summer student. I am a graduate of theBusiness Administration Degree program at NipissingUniversity as well as the Marketing ManagementDiploma program at Kwantlen University College inBritish Columbia.

I am very excited about my new role in the organi-zation and I am looking forward to working in the ROJ

department and supporting our Community Facilitators. I can be reached by telephoneat (705) 497-9127, by fax at (705) 497-9135, or by email at resjas@anishinabek.ca.

New staff to the Restoration of Jurisdiction team

Esther Gilbank Jason Restoule

By ROJ StaffA joint Anishinabek-Canada

meeting of both education andgovernance tables was held onMay 4th in WikwemikongUnceded Indian Reserve. Therewas preliminary discussionaround the issue of membershipand what it means in relation tofunding issues. Further discus-sion will be held at the next jointmeeting planned for mid-August.

The joint meetings are heldat least quarterly to coordinatethe two negotiation tables sincemany definitions and legalissues overlap.

Also, the joint meetingsallow all negotiators to beupdated on the activities in theRestoration of Jurisdictiondepartment that support bothagreements: for example,Capacity Development,Constitution Development, andFiscal Relations research proj-ects, such as the newly complet-ed student enrollment projec-tions that will assist negotiationof the education Fiscal TransferAgreement.

The outstanding parts of themain document, the draft FinalAgreement with respect to theExercise of Jurisdiction overEducation are “Enforcementand Adjudication,”“Anishinabek EducationSystem,” and “AdditionalParties.” Further discussion on“Life Long Learning” is alsotaking place. Work continues onthe Fiscal Transfer Agreementand the Implementation Plan.

The draft Fiscal TransferAgreement has been reviewedby legal counsel and a new draftwill be tabled at the educationnegotiations in Alderville on

June 2nd.At the May 5th education

negotiation session inWikwemikong, Glen Brennan,Assistant Federal Negotiator,reviewed with the main tablethe following reports:E l e m e n t a r y / S e c o n d a r yEducation National ProgramGuidelines, Post-SecondaryEducation National ProgramGuidelines and DIAND ServiceCodes Descriptions –Education. These are TreasuryBoard guidelines on howDIAND delivers education tostudents on reserve. The servicecodes explain what activities areprovided under each code andthey are revised every 5 years.

The Education FinalAgreement is tentatively sched-uled for completion by the endof the this fiscal year, March2006, at which time First Nation

ratification or approval of theFinal Agreement, including theImplementation Plan and FiscalTransfer Agreement will likelybegin.

Prior to ratification of theEducation Final Agreementeach Participating First Nationwill need to ratify a constitutionthat describes such things as theFirst Nation’s law-makingprocess, the First Nation’s juris-dictions and authorities, the pro-cedures for enforcing laws, theprocedures for appealing lawsand administrative decisions ofthe First Nation and theiradministrative bodies, and anamending formula, among otherthings. The EducationAgreement requires that FirstNations have constitutions andsets out what, at a minimum,should be in a First Nation con-stitution.

Ten months to ratification time

Education negotiators dropped in at the Career Fair at Wasse-Abin HighSchool in Wikwemikong on May 5th. Shown are Bernadette Marasco,Anishinabek Administrative Assistant, and Sheila Murray, Chief FederalNegotiator.

ROJ Briefs

Page 24 Anishinabek News June 2005

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