Volume 57 Number 24
Friday, June 16, 2017
Thompson, Manitoba
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UCN graduates recognized at traditional pow-wow BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Past and present graduates of the University College of the North (UCN) were honoured in Thompson June 10 at the third-annual Leslie W. Turner Memorial Traditional Pow-Wow held in the C.A. Nesbitt Arena. The afternoon began with a grand entry of dignitaries and included drumming, dancing and recognition of this year’s graduates who were in attendance for their academic accomplishments. “Today we have so many opportunities for attending different post-secondary institutions and we thank you for choosing UCN,” said the university college’s outgoing president and vicechancellor Konrad Jonasson, whose five-year term is ending this month. “We thank you for continuing with your studies with us and we certainly acknowledge and honour your accomplishments and the fact
that you’re here today.” Members of the 2017 graduating class in attendance received blue stoles as keepsakes of their time at UCN. “The stoles have four logos on them,” said Sharon McKay, UCN’s executive director of aboriginal knowledge and culture. “The UCN logo represents the institution. We have an eagle feather that’s there to represent First Nations. We have an inuksuk to represent the Inuit and we have the Métis flag emblem. It’s to acknowledge the indigenous people of our institution and our area and also to be able to give these stoles to our graduates no matter who they are. It’s a small way of acknowledging them and something that they’ll be able to keep and take home.” D’Arcy Linklater welcomed pow-wow attendees on behalf of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, in
whose traditional territory Thompson lies, saying it heartened him to see indigenous people’s resiliency and the resurgence of traditional ways. “I’m so happy to see those young people bounce back because we’ve been through a lot as First Nations people,” he said. “We’ve been through oppression, assimilation, genocide but we’re so resilient. That’s why I’m so happy to see all of you, dancers especially, drummers, elders who continue to provide guidance and direction for everyone. We’ve been inhabiting our land for more than 10,000 years and there’s archeological evidence of that. That’s what we should celebrate instead of 150 years of oppression and assimilation and genocide. Let us celebrate our resiliency.” Also giving greetings were Thompson Mayor Dennis Fenske, who said the culture on display was part
of what made Thompson special and that he hoped that UCN would occupy a central role in Thompson’s identity for years to come. “I hope we’re known as a university college community based on the structure and programming at the University College of the North,” he said. “Let’s make sure that the traditions and the culture continue and I’m looking to the youth to do that.” Keewatin Tribal Council executive director George Neepin said UCN and Thompson are both gathering places for Northern Manitobans. “Thompson here is like a big downtown for all of Northern Manitoba,” Neepin said. “At some point you’re going to see someone from Brochet or Lac Brochet or Oxford House here in downtown Thompson so we’re like one big huge community. I want to wish each and every one of you success.”
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Dancing, drumming and recognition of graduates were all on the agenda at the University College of the North’s third-annual Leslie W. Turner Memorial Traditional PowWow at Thompson’s C.A. Nesbitt Arena June 10.
Hudson Bay Railway damage needs to be assessed faster than OmniTrax can do it, says Churchill mayor BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
The mayor of Churchill says his community needs an assessment of flood damage to the Hudson Bay Railway completed faster than owner OmniTrax can manage it and that, once rail service is restored, there needs to be a longterm solution to the problems that have plagued the Northern Manitoba port’s only land link to the rest of the province. Mayor Michael Spence says he has asked the federal and provincial governments for their assistance in completing a damage assessment as the first step towards a return to normalcy for Churchill. “OmniTrax has indicated that they don’t have the wherewithal to deal with the state of the rail line,” he said in a media conference call June 14. “We can’t wait four or five weeks like OmniTrax has indicated. That
is not in the cards. We can’t wait that long. That is not acceptable. We’ve asked both the federal and provincial governments to get involved in the assessment of the rail system so this is way beyond OmniTrax.” OmniTrax, which owns the Hudson Bay Railway, announced June 9 that flooding had washed out sections of track and damaged bridges between Gillam and Churchill and that it was suspending rail service along that section of the line indefinitely, with no expectation that service would be restored before winter. Spence said around 400 people – nearly half the town’s population – showed up to a community meeting on June 12. “The community naturally is devastated by this,” he said. “They wanted to make sure that we’re reaching out to the federal government,
the provincial government. They want reassurances that the subsidies are there for food, for supplies.” He said the town has reached out to Calm Air about providing additional air cargo flights at a reduced cost as well as two passenger flights per week from Thompson to Churchill. “A lot of these people naturally they don’t have a lot of funds to take the flight from Churchill to Thompson and a lot of them are users of the rail system, Via Rail passenger service,” he said of Churchillians. Despite the hardships and increased costs posed by the loss of rail service, Spence says life is carrying on. “Nothing has closed,” he said. “Churchill is open for business and it’s important that we state that.” Flin Flon NDP MLA Tom Lindsey said in a June 14 press release that he had
written to both the premier and the prime minster to immediately address the situation facing Churchill. “They can’t wait a year for the rail line to be repaired,” Lindsey said. “It is vital that the province and Ottawa act quickly to help residents and preserve this jewel of the north.” In his letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Lindsey asked the federal government to use the armed forces to help bring food and other essential goods to Churchill and to take ownership of the rail line. “It is clear that the rail line must be nationalized, either totally by the federal government or in partnership with the Manitoba provincial government.” Also weighing in on the suspension of rail service and its effects on those who depend upon it was Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief
Sheila North Wilson. “In the town of Churchill alone, up to 200 York Factory First Nation members and members of other First Nations are now facing increased costs of food, supplies and other necessities because of the flooding,” North Wilson said in a June 13 press release. “The communities of War Lake, Tataskweyak Cree Nation and York Factory First Nation are also facing serious issues due to flooding. MKO calls on the province and the federal government to act together, to address the increased cost of necessities and lost employment due to the rail shutdown. The residents are not only being hit by the loss of economic activity and work from tourism but also the higher than normal freight costs for food and supplies that now have to be supplied by air to Churchill and other remote communities.
MKO stands with affected First Nations people in the town of Churchill who have voiced the need for immediate and collaborative plans to repair the rail lines as soon as possible to Churchill and to address the outcomes from the flooded rail lines that has been detrimental to the region. This includes addressing the skyrocketing cost of foods and goods that are hitting the community at the same time they are experiencing loss of revenue and work from the rail closure.” “We have met with our band members in Churchill and they are faced with extreme challenges like other residents of Churchill. We are calling on the province and federal government to deploy their resources in partnership with communities to resolve this emergency situation,” said Chief Ted Bland of York Factory First Nation.