Volume 55 Number 19
Friday, May 13, 2015
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Students hold protests in Nelson House
Nickel Belt News photo courtesy of Carol Kobliski Nelson House community members rally together during a May 12 protest asking for answers from the Nelson House Education Authority. BY MOLLY GIBSON KIRBY MOLLY@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Carol Kobliski, a grandmother of a Grade 9 student in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) at Nelson House, took part in a protest in the community on May 12 regarding the state of the high school Nisichawayasihk Neyo Ohtinwak Collegiate. Kobliski says an initial protest took part on May 8, with the principal Lillian Gail Gossfeld-McDonald and high school students, because Gossfeld-McDonald let students know the Nelson House Education Authority is planning to send high school students to Thompson in September for school. “We didn’t know. The community wasn’t consulted, we weren’t aware of this. It wasn’t until the principal herself, at the high school, had a meeting with the students and informed the students to this plan,” Kobliski explained. Participants took
part in the community protest to let chief and council know they’re not okay with these potential changes. Gossfeld-McDonald has since been suspended from the high school with pay, Kobliski says, but isn’t sure how long that would last. The Nickel Belt News contacted GossfeldMcDonald for comment, but calls were not returned by press time. Kobliski doesn’t understand why students would need to travel to Thompson for schooling, when there is a high school in their community. “As a grandparent, and I had my kids go to school here, too, and to hear they’re going to be transporting kids to Thompson, I’m very concerned about it. On those roads during the winter, they’re icy. I’m not going to have my grandson on a school bus every morning and evening, that’s too much for those students. We have a high school here. If there are issues with the building, they can
be fixed. It’s all about funding.” Students are hoping with these protests, Gossfeld-McDonald will be able to return back to teaching, as the high school does not have a vice-principal. “They want the board members out and they want the director out. They want the principal back, and I want to know who’s looking after our kids.” Chief Marcel Moody was not available for comment when Nickel Belt News contacted the NCN band office, and neither was Wayne Thorne, education director for the Nelson House Education Authority. Kobliski hopes this matter can be resolved, and students can continue being educated in Nelson House. Lorie Henderson, School District of Mystery Lake superintendent, says there have been no formal discussions about Nelson House students being taught at R.D. Parker Collegiate.
11-year-old Garden Hill First Nation girl found dead after going missing Cause of death undetermined as of May 13 BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
RCMP have not yet determined what killed 11-yearold Teresa Robinson in Garden Hill First Nation, whose body was found May 11, six days after she went missing after attending a birthday party. RCMP Chief Supt. Scott Kolody, “D” Division officer-in-charge of criminal operations, said in a May 13 statement that officers from the RCMP Island Lake detachment as well as the
“D” Division serious crimes unit, major crimes unit and forensic identification section are in the community investigating, but the cause of death was not yet known. “I know there has been much discussion about how Teresa died,” said Kolody. “As investigators, we have to deal with facts, and the facts are as follows: we do not have a confi rmed cause of death at this time; an autopsy is being performed today
that may provide insight to cause of death; we are speaking to people in the community of Garden Hill as part of our investigation and have received the utmost cooperation from the community, including First Nation leadership.” Media reports have speculated that the girl may have been mauled to death by a bear. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief David Harper told the Canadian Press that it ap-
peared Robinson had been mauled by an animal and that bears had been seen in the area. He also said there are wild dogs living in the area. “We appreciate that everyone wants to know what happened to this little girl, and so do we,” said Kolody. “In order to ensure that we get accurate information and that the investigation is not jeopardized in any way, we do ask for your understanding that, at this point, we can-
not share details regarding the investigation. While the nature of our role in law enforcement is that we do deal with tragic circumstances, there is nothing that can prepare us emotionally for investigating the death of a child. We have experienced and professional investigators who are working tirelessly to try and find some answers for the family, for the community and for Teresa herself. Our hearts go out to Teresa’s family and her community of Garden
Hill First Nation. What they are going through at this time is unimaginable, and they have our sincerest condolences.” Garden Hill First Nation, an Oji-Cree-speaking community, is located on Island Lake about 300 kilometres southeast of Thompson and comprises about 18,180 acres. It is only accessible in summer and fall by boat from Island Lake and Cochrane Bay, or by air, and in the spring and winter by air or ice road.