Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 59 Number • Issue 4811
Friday, March 16, Friday, November 29,2018 2019
Thompson, Manitoba Thompson, Manitoba
Servingthe theNorman Norman Region 1961 Serving Regionsince since 1961
Providing you with expert advice & friendly service. Book online at speedyglass.ca or try our free app on your iPhone
We look forward to serving you. Ϳͷ-A Kelsey Bay Thompson, MB R;N ͷS Ph: Ͷͺ-ͽͽ;-ͽͶͺ; Fax: Ͷͺ-ͽͽ;-ͽͷͺ
Researchers seeking people affected by domestic violence to share their stories
BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
A pipe ceremony at Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak’s (MKO) office in Thompson was held Nov. 25 to launch the third phase of a five-year research project that is seeking to hear the experiences of Indigenous, remote and northern people affected by domestic violence. The Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative is funded by the Social Sciences Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and seeks to conduct research on domestic violence homicides in Canada in an effort to identify strategies to reduce the risk of being a victim and sharing this knowledge with communities that are particularly vulnerable to domestic homicide, including Indigenous people, immigrants and refugees, children exposed to domestic violence and rural, remote and northern residents. The research in Manitoba is being led by Kendra Nixon of RESOLVE Manitoba at the University of Manitoba and conducted in partnership with MKO, Wahbung Abionoonjiiag and the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre. “When I was approached to participate and become a partner on this project, I
so I hope that this is the beginning of a very good and gentle relationship that’s based on good faith, reciprocity and trust.” MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee and Thompson deputy mayor Les Ellsworth said they have family members who have experienced domestic violence. “I had younger siblings that later moved to Thompson and one of them ended up having a boyfriend here in the north, actually he was from Tadoule Lake,” said Ellsworth. “It was a very violent relationship.” “We have to teach them when it’s OK to walk away and sometimes not walk, run,” said Settee.”You run away because you’re going to be a victim of homicide if you don’t walk away.” Angie Hutchinson of the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre said it was important that research projects like this take the Indigenous worldview and knowledge into account. “We may have a different form of application of rigour and different ways and that can absolutely be included within academic contexts,” she said. Renée Hoffart of RESOLVE Manitoba is the prairie regional co-ordinator fo the CDHPI and said having Indigenous organizations
as partners helps researchers work more effectively. “Part of this work that we’ve been doing with MKO, Wahbung and Ma Mawi is really looking at how we can hear the experiences of survivors and the friends and family of people who have been murdered in a way that is safe and supportive and honouring those stories,” she said. “It would not be possible to what we’re doing in that way without them.” The CDHPI is seeking survivors of severe domestic violence and family and friends of victims of domestic homicides to share their stories in one- to two-hour interviews by phone, video conference or in person. There is no payment for participating but interview subjects will receive a $50 gift card as a thank-you and the researchers will work with them to protect their privacy and safety. For more information or to participate, contact Hoffart at 204-4747410, 1-844-958-0522 or email her at renee.hoffart@ umanitoba.ca. “I’m really looking forward to how the data is going to be used and then also really hopeful that it’s going to be used to influence change especially given the recent statistics for Northern Manitoba,” said Anderson-Pyrz.
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative researchers and Indigenous partner organizations held a gathering at Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak’s office in Thompson Nov. 25 to discuss the current phase of the five-year research project, which involves interviewing survivors of severe domestic violence and the friends and family of victims of domestic homicide. shared with with our executive director and she immediately agreed that it was very important for MKO to be part of this project because far too often the voices of the north are forgotten,” said Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, MKO’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) liaison. “I wanted to ensure that we had that opportunity to include voices from the north as well as from the children
who are left behind. Sadly, many times as Indigenous people our voices are not really heard until it’s included in research. We’ve got to be advocates but also include our voices in research. We’re trying to do both in this program.” Nixon said having the cooperation of the partner organizations helps researchers to gather the information they need while also being respectful of the trauma par-
ticipants have experienced. “This project will open up a lot of hurtful memories but it’s important that we honour those stories and don’t forget about people that have been impacted,” said Nixon. “We will take care of those stories as sacred stories and not simply data that researchers collect. You can’t talk about violence in this country this province without acknowledging the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples
Meth use on the rise in Thompson, says addiction clinic nurse
Cocaine sold in Thompson is often contaminated with methamphetamine Mary Beaudry Nov. 25, the first day of RAAM clinic. Manitoba Substance Use and AddicMethamphetamines are a stimulant, RCMP news releases about seizures tion Awareness Week (MSUAAW). a class of drugs that also includes cafof methamphetamine are rare com- “I’m getting probably at least two calls feine and nicotine and one that makes Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham pared to those about busts for cocaine a week regarding people using meth. people feel energized, alert and funcAddictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. or marijuana – there have only been Meth has increased hugely in town. tional, the AFM’s Dr. Sheri Fandrey two in the north this year, one in Norhere. of people saypeople toldsay a Thompson 2018. BY IAN GRAHAM For allaudience the harshin weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not aIt’s very safeI know thing a lot swallow when House and stories the other Pasbut it’s not, butatit’s and Churchill it’s rearingresidents It boosts baseline by EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET have all these andin The to figure out. It’s pretty clear Iway to do I jumped it. Iherethat and thedopamine dangers levels of polar – but the drug is in Thompson, says its ugly head pretty badly.” as much as 1,100 per cent. As a point Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it the nurse who worksreally at the rapid In the first month so oftothe clinic of comparison, eating a cheeseburger a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren untilacthe plane landed and or easier live. had been viable she would cess to addiction operating priorthe to its official opening are hungry a perces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will medicine be lost if (RAAM) they started throwing “To say, ‘Those when peopleyou have movedcan backboost to Churchclinic at the Addictions Foundation of son’s baseline dopamine level by 50 in October 2018, Beaudry saw one 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. Manitoba building. methamphetamine user and one who per cent, while having sex increases Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, itI meth has hit us pretty on bada so was injecting morphine. Alcohol 100 per cent. cigarette Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as“The a storyteller herself. bomb.’” simplistic. It’sand quiteabout disremiss theSmoking rock, I amiss the I’m dealing with those people coming cocaine use are the most common increases a smoker’s dopamine level ing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though in,” said RAAM clinicspurred nurse her reasons people tratment Continued on Page 2 always thought she would you know what, this his- tory and full-time I would tell people on was theseeksame boat at in the another area they’re very dangerous and BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
do. “In my youth I never felt good at writing,” she said. “But when I moved 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
tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson Mary Beaudry, the nurse at the rapid access to addiction medicine (RAAM) in the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba head, it’s going to be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go building Thompson, during the clinic’s grand opening in October 2018, said Nov.back 25 that shestanding is now getting if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’sintrue.’ They’dseen go, here have the option to do that? home, on the way suspended operations about two calls a week from people regarding use of methamphetamine. Nickel Belt News fileout photo said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking on ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got she’s an artist, she’s got so Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. one book under her belt, many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try Contact Nelson 204-307-0281 cause she always tells her atshe might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someone came to you and “I have another book in pruderspropertyservices@gmail.com Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker hounded her, ‘Please, justproperty high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave your home community story, more about personto discuss your needs! put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. for you because your story on me until after. That was a says. you somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, your loved ones and your it’s something I’ll focus on never done it and I thought, Being on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to history is gone?’” doing.”
Yer snow gotta go!