June 14 2019

Page 1

Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 59 Number • Issue 2411

Friday, 16, 2018 Friday,March June 14, 2019

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Book a way to preserve and pass on MMIWG commissioner outlines final report in Thompson memories of growing up in Churchill

Nickel Belt News photo by Kyle Darbyson Michèle Audette was appointed as one of five commissioners of the national inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls in August 2016. She visited St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Thompson June 10 to host a community forum on the inquiry’s final report. Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill.

Michèle Audette talks about national inquiry’s calls for justice and use of the word genocide

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET BY KYLE DARBYSON

For all the harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say stories Commission’s and to do but to figure out. It’seducation. pretty clear I have all these I jumped at it. and I that and the dangers of polar ness and onciliation recomwomen girls. Churchill residents argument. Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them from for 2015 thought that was exciting should just nd somewhereMonday’s bears, deMeulles said if it KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET One section of this document mendations still haven’t Audette echoed the fiinquiry’s community forum a book her experienwroteof amy grandchildren until the and easier to live. had been viable she would Afterabout four years and thousandsDeMeulles calls forsaid theshe creation National been fullyreally implemented yet.plane landed supplementary report on the issue also featured guest representatives cestestimonies, growing up inthe Churchill, titled Whispers in Rights because beAudette lost if shares they these started throwing the that “To say, ‘Those have moved back to Churchof national her in- book, Indigenous and Human tri-they will While conby saying the traditional def-people from every level of government. Addictions Foundation the Wind: from the fuel offinaction, and I realized, ‘Holy choose topopularized live there. They ill in aincluded heartbeat.Thompson I don’t.” quiry into Murdered and of Missing bunalStories that works independently cerns about government inition of genocide, This group Manitoba northern director North from - Lifethe in Churchill for and has Shethe also has reputation cats, I was should just leave,’ is quite “I missSmook, the shoreline, Indigenous Women and Girls government shearemains confident that theyprobably can by sitting groups like the United Nations Mayor Colleen ThompsonI Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller onfire a bomb.’” quite disremiss Bindle the rock, miss the (MMIWG) published their final authority to receive complaints holdherself. their feet to the by estab- in the 1940s,simplistic. originallyIt’s excluded MLA Kelly andIChurchilling wasn’t something she “I just sorthuman of thought, “I had such a varied his- likeAnother that voices spectful. we were polar bears evenNiki though report on June 3. about rights violations lishing entities, the humanthing Indigenous andIfdidn’t takein the Keewatinook Aski MP Ashalways thought would what, this his- Aboriginal tory and I would people that spurred her on into was account the same boat in cultural another area they’re dangerous and To help make she sense of the you re- know committed against rightstell tribunal, are specificfactors like ton, who all very pledged to support do. tory, this stufforthat’s in my stories and they hard sure timesthese facing erasure Churchilland Isexual think violence we would scream I reallyprocess. miss the Hudson would go,to make port’s findings and recommendapeople groups. ally designed that this ongoing “In my youth commissioner I never head, it’sAudette ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’dare go,being about that so why don’t they“This Bay,” she says. “When I go going to bethese gonecalls since the Hudson Bay tions, MMIWG said for juswereRailfacilitated through Caninquiry makes it clear objectives fulfilled. felt goodAudette at writing,” sheSt. Joif I don’t down,” ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d have the to do that? back ontalk the suspended Michèle visited ticewrite will itserve as anshe antidote to the “There is go, much way to do, but let’s operations adian institutions likeoption residential that it’s nothome, good standing enough to said. whenCatholic I moved didn’t do that, she didsaid. said. “My kids are not go- ‘You north Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking on seph’s“But Ukrainian Church short-term government planning notall panic,” “It’sof feasible, schools. about the problem, that thereout must to ThompsonJune to get intofielded ing tothat’s get it prevented if I don’t do you? You’vebut gotwe to be really “It used to be a “So, really feelingwhen like we they’re the bay, it just gives youacan in Thompson 10 and anyit meaningful need commitment, we need of course, bringpawns be action, and comprehensive the schoolfrom of social work,of the and it’s something I’ve al- inold.’ I was like, actually tothriving a political incredible You“Today feel so questions members change from happening the past. the‘No, government be honestlarge with community the truth of inthe womengame and and the that’s tion, now,” saidsense. Ashton. at that point I had to write ways wanted my mom to I did she all that before andstart it’s just dwindled really sad themhapbecause I marks small and you feel great.” public. “It doesn’t work anymore,” this. TheyI was [need to] a diamendown here in Canada of for what’s also the beginning of the forAudette university do. Mysaid. mom’s anneed elder to and and theylogue went with ‘What?’” to such and a small think people of ChurchNowandthat she’s saidand therealized, report’s calls “We have27,’ a longthe leadership the population pened for past 500the years it doesn’t next chapter I believe it isgot in‘Holy, I’m provide not badaatroad this, artist, she’s got sowe allLooking now,” deMeulles oneonbook belt, some of survivors really want to thrive. for justice map she’s on an term investment and know back, families of the to make says. fit because itillwas set up to create cumbent all ofunder us to her certainly right?’Canadian I certainlygovernments developed many wonderful stories those experiences are things Though she’s not They’ve their isworlds deMeulles says200 she may try how at that. We have a toolbehere to remind sure that, step by step, those calls thatthere … definition thatbuilt Rwanda commit to the over recoma lot of skill inhelp university cause Canada she always tells government her she might again.are implemented.” any longer, her parents and and there. would we feel to produce every level can stem the tide and every that not fordo justice a genocide otherHow places where mendations and another. to ensure that and came out of there with comstoriesthe at long-term Parks Canada in didofsome pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someoneshe came to you and “I have another bookit’s in of disproportionate violence investment is“Ione Another audience member there are massacres,” said. our governments, whether a veryagainst strongIndigenous skill in my Churchill and to I’ve always hauls into the national said, ‘I’m sorry, you havefederal, to me,” she says. “It’s a darker members still are. Audette encouraged mitted women the keys real change.”stuff like fuelbrought up the inquiry’s everyone provincial, municipal, writing confi dence in houndedNisichawayasihk her, ‘Please, justCree high Arcticuse at -35,” “My cousin the with leaveinquiry’s your home community story, more about personand girlsand in this country. Nation of thesaid word “genocide” in owns to consult suppleare held to account and are part myThe writing. writeupvery put it on tape,Jacqueline I will writeWalker it deMeulles. didn’t hardware shereport andon we’re displace growth and struggles. inquiryI came with 231 Coun. ques- “It their finaldawn report, and asked store how there,” mentary the going use oftothe of the al solution.” clear recommendations, and that’s it. It’s there. fora you because your story me for until after. was a says. you somewhere else and allTo read Maybe the next fiinquiry’s ve years such covering they That can convince others that this word genocide, since it provides tioned the impact of theseon calls theinnational Some people sayincluding it’s kind of is going to be lost,’ andMonday’s she’s very dangerous thing do. Because of of modern that, loved ones and your it’s something I’ll visit focustheir on variety of areas culture, justice during forum, terms is antoaccurate description legalyour opinions and alternafinal report in full, please blunt orsecurity, direct. I health don’t tend never since done itshe and I thought, on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds ittive hard to history gone?’” doing.” human and wellsaid the Truth Being and RecCanada’s treatment of Indigenous definitions thatisbolster their website at www.mmiwg-ffada.ca.


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