Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 60 Number • Issue 4 11
Friday, March 24, 16, 2020 2018 Friday,January
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Chief and MKO demanding better service from Perimeter Aviation after one of its planes crashed into a snowbank in Shamattawa Jan. 19
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Shamattawa First Nation Chief Eric Redhead said Jan. 20 that Perimeter Aviation needs to improve the services they provide to members of his community and others in Manitoba. His statement came a day after a Perimeter flight from Thompson to Shamattawa veered to the right, hit a snowbank and damaged its propeller shortly after landing. “It is unclear whey this Perimeter flight ended up in a snowbank,” said Redhead in a press release. “I flew into Shamattawa earlier in the day and the runway was in very good shape. I had no concerns about the state of the runway. I am now rather concerned about the wellbeing of the Shamattawa residents who were on that plane. Everyone is physically OK, however, they are very shaken up.” Redhead expressed concern in October about Per-
Nickel Belt News photo courtesy of Eric Redhead Shamattawa First Nation and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak are demanding better service from Perimeter Aviation in the wake of a Jan. 19 incident when a plane landing in Shamattawa veered to the right and hit a snowbank beside the runway, damaging its propeller. imeter overbooking flights from his community resulting in members of the First Nation missing important medical appointments. “We have had to resort to chartering private planes so that our citizens can access medical appointments. This comes at great expense to the First Nation and these
are funds that are needed in other areas,” said Redhead at that time. “The community is at a loss as to what to do because we do have an ongoing, binding agreement with Perimeter Aviation. This large corporation, which profits almost entirely off northern First Nations, is letting us down.”
Shamattawa, a remote flyin community without land transportation connecting it to the rest of the province except during the winter road season, is one of 16 First Nations and communities in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario who have signed partnership agreements with Perimeter Aviation identify-
ing it as their preferred provider of air transportation. Grand Chief Garrison Settee of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), a political advocacy organization that represents Shamattawa and more than 20 other Northern Manitoba First Nations, said in the Jan. 20 news release he wants to
see answers from Perimeter about how they will improve service in Northern Manitoba. “Many of the MKO First Nations have expressed that they receive poor service, however, our First Nations have an ongoing, binding agreement with Perimeter Aviation,” Settee said. “Many of our communities do not have an all-weather road so air travel is the only option. I am concerned that this large corporation, which profits almost entirely off Northern First Nations, is letting our First Nations down. Shamattawa citizens absolutely need to see action on this matter. Today MKO is asking Perimeter to create a plan to improve service to Northern Manitoba. If Perimeter is unable to develop a plan that meets the needs of our northern First Nations, we will be calling on the federal government to step in to investigate this matter.”
Murder trial for man accused of killing Crystal Andrews concludes in Thompson Verdict on the charge of second-degree murder to be presented in Gods Lake Narrows Jan. 24
had seen Okemow driving it shortly before that when he hit people with Closing arguments were prethe vehicle. Okemow told police sented in Thompson Jan. 20 at the that two men in the back of the car conclusion of Michael Okemow’s had knocked him out and stolen it second-degree murder trial for the who went missing while walking morning of Nov. 8, the passenger Okemow and Andrews could have and that he woke up later that day 2015 killing of Crystal Andrews in home early on the morning of Nov. power window was down, but that had sex and that no other definitive in a ditch. He also told RCMP 24 Gods Lake Narrows. 8, 2015 and was found dead in the it was up when people showed up connection between the two had times during a four-and-a-half hour Manitoba Court of Queen’s woods near an ATV trail close to to try and get the SUV unstuck later been established. interview that he didn’t know AnBench Justice Chris Martin said where the winter road enters the re- that day, a little after 1 p.m. “There is also no DNA tying drews or what had happened to her. after arguments were presented that mote community the following day. “This is far from the only SUV “The only one who would have Miss Andrews to the inside of the he had committed to delivering the in the community,” Henley said, “The court should find that Mi- had the key to that vehicle was the vehicle,” Henley said. Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham verdict Jan. 24 in the community chael Okemow drove Crystal An- same person who had left the house She also pointed out that ev- adding that it being near Andrews’s Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. where the offence occurred. Martin drews to the west side winter road with it, Michael Okemow,” said idence about shoes belonging to body meant little, since there was said this is likely the first time that no evidence about what time she and that that he killed her there,” saidjustMillo. Okemow could have BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write things you have ‘Oh, I’m as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing that swallow whencaused people say the Court of Queen’s Bench has died or even where she died. “ProxMillo. The Crown also argued that bruising from stomp marks on her EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar travelled an outlying community is notdeMeulles proof beyond Anthrough.” SUV that belonged to Wilfred Michael Okemow’s DNA that beingwascheeks only should showedjust thatfind shoes of imity … Thoughtoshe’s now written when I get I need to capture them for thought exciting somewhere bears, saida reaif it in Northern Manitoba for such a sonable doubt.” Okemow, Michale Okemow’s fafound in a vaginal swab taken from that type might have done it, not a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would purpose. also suggested that police ther,titled was found stuckinin thebecause muskegtheyAndrews hestarted was lying those the particular“To ones. ces growing up in Churchill, her book, Whispers will be showed lost if that they throwing say, ‘Those peopleHenley have moved back to ChurchCrown counsel Ari Millo said zeroed in on Okemow as a suspect about 300 metres from Andrews’s when he told police he didn’t know “The footwear evidence should Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. during his northern closing arguments and then“Iconcentrated all their in-I whoa reputation she was. be sitting given absolutely no leave,’ weight,” of her shoes found Manitoba director that North body. - Life One in Churchill for wasShe also has cats, I was probably should just is quite miss the shoreline, although the piecessaid of circumstanvestigative on him. between the SUV and her as body and Defence Henley she said. simplistic. It’s quite disreGisele deMeulles writ- a couple of reasons. a storyteller herself.lawyer Kathryn on a bomb.’” miss efforts the rock, I miss the tial evidence presentedshe against“I just a big concern a search area conducted insuch said the Crown on fivething A that vehicle spectful. that looked likewere SUVin the“Tunnel ing wasn’t something sort of of the thought, “I had a varied his-was relying Another If we polarvision bearsis even though Okemow duringshe thewould eight-day in wrongful conviction cases,”and she May 2016 up thetory hooded key pieces of circumstantial evi-on found near Okemow’s body was area always thought you know what,turned this hisand I would tell people spurred her was the same boat in another they’re very dangerous trial evidence as aHudson whole sweatshirt she had beenstories wearing dencewould but thatgo, nonehard of them proved on theI morning Nov. scream 8 said. “The do. did not independently prove tory, this stuff that’s in my times facing seen Churchill think weofwould I really miss the and they Okemow’s beyond a reasonais notBay,” enough prove beyond went‘That’s missing. Okemow murdered Andrews. nearRailwhere two witness “In my guilt youth I never not true, is it?’ I’d go, since about that sohad whyseen don’t they she to says. “When I go head, the it’s night goingbefore to be she gone the Hudson Bay ble doubt, collectively they showed a reasonable doubt that Michael Millo said when the SUV was She noted that there was a poAndrews walking minutes before. felt good at writing,” she if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back home, standing on the he was“But the one who killed Andrews, Okemow killedBay Miss Andrews.” first kids discovered police on didn’t the do tential inGillam which last Another testified said. when I moved ‘You all seven-day that, did window said. “My are notby gonorth of spring.witness I think rightthat nowshe they’re Hudson looking out on BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Yer snow gotta go!
to Thompson to get into the school of social work, at that point I had to write for university and realized, ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, right?’ I certainly developed a lot of skill in university and came out of there with a very strong skill in my writing and confidence in my writing. I write very clear and that’s it. It’s there. Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population she’s an artist, she’s got so Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there Contact Nelson 204-307-0281 cause she always tells her atshe might not do again. any longer, her parents and stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family pruderspropertyservices@gmail.com Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. hounded her, ‘Please, justproperty high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the to discuss your needs! put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she for you because your story on me until after. That was a says. is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, never done it and I thought, Being on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to
feeling like they’re pawns in a political game and that’s really sad for them because I think the people of Churchill really want to thrive. They’ve built their worlds there. How would we feel if someone came to you and said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to leave your home community and we’re going to displace you somewhere else and all your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
the bay, it just gives you an incredible sense. You feel so small and you feel great.” Now that she’s got one book under her belt, deMeulles says she may try to produce another. “I have another book in me,” she says. “It’s a darker story, more about personal growth and struggles. Maybe in the next five years it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”