Nickel Belt News Volume 62 • Issue 02
Friday, January 14, 2022
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
MP’s call for military support driven by politics, not First Nations needs, says AMC grand chief
The organization that represents Manitoba First Nations say a Northern Manitoba MP’s call for military support to help Indigenous communities in the region navigate COVID-19’s fourth wave is more about political grandstanding than finding real solutions. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), which represents 62 of Manitoba’s 63 First Nations, said in a Jan. 9 press release that Churchill-Keewatinook Aski NDP MP Niki Ashton’s call for military support to First Nations in her riding was made for “political optics.” “Ashton did not reach out to First Nation leadership before sensationalizing the issue of hospital closures
and need for emergency staffing.,” said AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas. “She did not make calls to leadership asking what supports they require that would enable them to address the crisis with community-based solutions.” Ashton said in Jan. 7 news release that she had asked the federal ministers of Indigenous service and of defence to provide military support for First Nations in her riding that are trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19, saying that the high transmissibility of the omicron variant and the lack of health care capacity makes it difficult for First Nations to cope when frontline health care workers can’t report to work be-
cause they are infected or were in close contact with someone who was. “It has been made abundantly clear that First Nations are particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. Our region has gone above and beyond to stay safe but more people are getting sick and we need the federal government to respond to the current urgent needs of communities,” said Ashton. “Remote and isolated communities like Manto Sipi Cree Nation require particular support. This includes bringing the military back to ensure communities are able to function and limit the spread of COVID-19. Lives are on the line." Dumas says what Manitoba First Nations really
need is long-term investment and solutions that are First Nations-driven. “We remain very concerned how the long-standing inequalities and insufficient investments in health infrastructure and staffing have positioned First Nations to deal with yet another pandemic that put First Nations at a higher risk for more severe outbreaks and outcomes,” Dumas said. “We need immediate partnerships, planning and resources to ensure health services and access to critical infrastructure remain available. Calling in Canadian Armed Forces is a stop gap solution that does not take into consideration what First Nations need and want.”
Nickel Belt News file photo Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas said Jan. 9 that NDP MP Niki Ashton’s call for military support to help Northern Manitoba First Nations deal with COVID-19’s fourth wave was more about political optics than helping First Nations create real solutions.
First Nations teen earning rave reviews for archery prowess BY SAM LASKARIS
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, WINDSPEAKER.COM
Despite her age, Waasayah Munro-Soldier continues to rack up impressive accolades for her archery skills. Earlier this week, Munro-Soldier, a 13-year-old Grade 8 student, was announced as the winner of the 2021 Archery Manitoba female 3D archer of the year award. Austin Taylor, a junior at Kentucky’s Lindsey Wilson College, was selected as the male recipient of the award. This past year he was the U.S. collegiate 3D champion. The awards, handed out by the provincial governing body for archery in Manitoba, recognize the two archers with the most outstanding achievements in provincial, national or international 3D archery in the past year. Most people are probably aware that in archery competitors use bows to shoot arrows at targets. But in 3D archery, instead of flat, round targets that have a bullseye in the middle, 3D targets are three-dimensional animals comprised of foam or plastic. These targets can be placed in outdoor or indoor ranges. Points are awarded based on where the animal targets are hit. Munro-Soldier was rather surprised when she got the news Jan. 3 that she had been selected for the Archery Manitoba award. “I was excited, speechless and kind of happy,”
she said. Munro-Soldier is a member of Fox Lake Cree Nation through her father Reil. Her mother, Joanne Soldier, is a member of Swan Lake First Nation in Manitoba. “Waasayah has a whole community rooting for her,” Soldier said of Swan Lake Nation. “They’ve always been willing to support her financially for her events.” Munro-Soldier, who attends Elmwood High School in Winnipeg, has been earning praise for her archery skills for a few years. She was introduced to the sport in November 2018 when she registered for lessons at Heartland Archery in Winnipeg. A few months later, in February 2019, she entered her first competition, the Manitoba indoor championships. She had some immediate success, winning a silver medal in her category. “It was just funny how her first competition was the provincials that February,” said Soldier. The young archer has continued to win several medals at various competitions, including both the Manitoba indoor and outdoor championships the past few years. In 2021, she was crowned the provincial champ in her Cub division, for those ages 14 and under. Munro-Soldier was not only named to the provincial 3D archery squad this past year, but she was chosen to be a member of
Submitted photo Waasayah Munro-Soldier, 13, is Archery Manitoba’s female 3D archer of the year. the province’s target team, an offer she turned down to concentrate further on her 3D development. “I think she just has a natural talent,” Soldier said of her daughter, the only female named to the provincial 3D squad. “We’re all surprised at how quickly she grew in the sport. But
she’s attended some elite clinics over the past years.” Munro-Soldier is keen to progress up the ranks in her sport. “I want to go travel the world and see how archery is in different countries,” she said. Her mother is among those who are predicting a
bright future for her. “I think she’s going to make it to the international levels,” Soldier said. Soldier said her daughter is benefitting from the fact numerous elite archers from Canada are from Manitoba. Munro-Soldier has attended various camps featuring high-level athletes.
“She’s surrounded by that level of archers,” Soldier said. Though she was just 10 at the time, in July of 2019 Munro-Soldier placed first in her category at the Manitoba trials for the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). Her victory earned her a spot on the Manitoba squad for the NAIG, which were originally scheduled for 2020 in Halifax. But the pandemic postponed those games. That multi-sport competition has been further postponed and is now slated to take place during the summer of 2023. Besides participating at the 2023 NAIG, Munro-Soldier is also hoping to take part in the 2025 world youth archery championships, which are scheduled to take part in her hometown of Winnipeg. Munro-Soldier is believed to be the only Indigenous member of Archery Manitoba, which was a surprise to her mother. So much so that Soldier said she has thought about starting an archery club specifically for Indigenous youth. “I’ve been considering it,” she said. “But we also have to consider the resources to the kids.” Soldier said archery is not a cheap sport to get into. Her daughter’s latest elite bows and accessories cost about $5,000. And Soldier said expenses travelling to various competitions can add up to about $10,000 annually.