Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 58 Number • Issue 4111
Friday,October March 12, 16, 2018 2018 Friday,
Thompson, Manitoba Thompson, Manitoba
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Red ribbons maketo a return to the Miles Bridge Book a way preserve and Hart pass on
BY KYLE DARBYSON
anticipated, with Friday’s group consisting of grieving families, sympathetic allies, city officials and members of the Thompson RCMP. This red ribbon campaign, also known as the Red Cloth Ribbon Awareness Campaign, has its roots in Manitoba, with the movement getting kicked off in December 2015 thanks to a small group of Opaskwayak Cree Nation women from The Pas. Throughout that same month, the idea quickly gained momentum, with similar events taking place in Winnipeg, Regina and, of course, Thompson. Montean said she decided to revive this campaign in the Hub of the North in 2018 to refresh the bridge with new ribbons and include some families who didn’t get the chance to honour their missing loved ones last time. “The issue of murdered and missing is not going away,” Montean wrote in a Facebook message to Nickel Belt News. “And we need to remind people of that.”
memories of growing up in Churchill
KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
On Oct. 5, an awareness campaign to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls reemerged in Thompson after a three-year gap. At around 5 p.m., a group of over 50 people walked down to the Miles Hart Bridge and tied red ribbons to the structure’s walkway railing as a way to remember those they’ve lost and to highlight the fact that many are still unaccounted for. “Almost every red ribbon and tie today represents a person,” said event facilitator Bobbi Montean. “There was a woman whose daughter was murdered and there was family here that are currently doing an active search for their missing mother.” This gathering at the Miles Hart Bridge is especially relevant today, since the structure overlooks the Burntwood River, which has been the site of a relentless search and recovery operation for resident Dianne Bignell, who was last seen in May. Montean and several
Nickel Belt News photo by Kyle Darbyson Thompson resident Fran Gibbs ties a red ribbon to the Miles Hart Bridge on Oct. 5 to remember her niece Louise Baker, who was murdered over five years ago. other people organized a similar ribbon-tying ceremony back in 2015, although that event took place
in the dead of winter. “The first one we did three years ago in December it was -25 [degrees] or
something and the wind coming up was just wicked,” she said, Organizing a follow-up
event in the fall definitely paid off for Montean, since way more people attended this year’s event than she
MKO tries to strengthen community bonds during inaugural fall feast Settee took the time at about how her aunt was Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham the beginning of the event killed by her uncle in 1962, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. On Oct. 4, Manitoba to introduce himself to the a story that is made even masses and letthat them moreI’m tragic of the was not a very safe thing swallow when people say Keewatinowi Okimakanak to BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather write things youknow have ‘Oh, just because as bad, right?’ that he officially into Ifact that aunt was nine (MKO) threw together a to EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET have allher these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar figure out. It’s moved pretty clear new home in Thompson months pregnant the time. community gathering at his Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to captureatthem for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it as of Sept. 14. After toiling with feel- until the plane landed and easier to live. the Bill Comaskey Wellness a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really had been viable she would the best way in to because ings of anger and be grief Centre in Thompson, where her“This ces growing up in Churchill, book,istitled Whispers they will lostfor if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchwith the surroundyears, she eventually fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. the political advocacy group Addictions Foundation of connect the Wind: Stories from the many I don’t.” ing communities, because found the has strength to for- cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite treated various northern Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also a reputation “I miss the shoreline, I some of them are just within as give her uncle for his crime on a bomb.’” residents to a ThanksgivGisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. a storyteller herself. simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the evensuch reconciled ing feast. ing wasn’t something she a short “I justdriving sort ofdistance,” thought, and “I had a variedwith hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though Settee told the Nickel Belt him after he was released This crowd included always thought she would you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and Newsthis following his in introfrom prison. families from Indigenous tory, do. stuff that’s my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson ductory speech. “MKO “I am areI’dable communities throughout “In my youth I never head, notglad true,we is it?’ go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go it’s going to be gone ‘That’s be relevant to their talkit’s about it very freely Northern in- needed felt good atManitoba, writing,” she if I don’ttowrite it down,” she to ‘Yeah true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back home, standing on the andkids that’sare one of gothe today because I know cluding Split Lake,I Nelson said. “But when moved people ‘You didn’t do all that, I’m did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on said. “My not reasons not alone,” sheto said. “I House, Thicket Portage to Thompson to get into ing to getwhy it if II wanted don’t do to it you? You’ve got be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an thissomething my home office.” the actually bottom thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so and York Factory, well make the school of socialaswork, and it’s I’ve al- honour, old.’ I wasfrom like, ‘No, Since Oct. 4my alsomom marks myallheart, MKO for and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” as community representaat that point I had to write ways wanted to of I did that the before I was the My province’s official day 27,’ implementing this‘What?’” service. to such a small population think the people of Churchtivesuniversity from Valeand andrealized, the City do. for mom’s an elder and and they went Now that she’s got honour missing andgot murhas brought a now,” deMeulles says. of Thompson. ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, to she’s an artist, she’s so I believe one belt, Lookingit back, some of ill really want to Nickel thrive. Belt Newsbook photo under by Kyle her Darbyson Indigenous women closure for On top of featuring copi- dered right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful stories be- form those of experiences areme.” things Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try New Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee introduced himself and girls, eventually Moving forward, Settee any ous trad- cause a lotamounts of skill of in food, university sheSettee always tells her she might not do again. longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. to the attendees of MKO’s gatheringcame and feast Thompson. turned the mic over to elder he some and MKO to her itional dancing music, and came out ofand there with stories at Parks Canada in said “I did prettywant bizarre sister and other familyOct. if4 someone to youinand “I have another book in Marie Ballantyne, who put establish this fall feast as this event also served as a very strong skill in my 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 make up owns Northern election times, site, MKO represents personalher, spin on onejust of an annual event as a way to that awriting coming party andout confi dencefor in ahounded ‘Please, high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin the only leave during your home community story,the more about personneed a citizens ofand Firststruggles. Nations the biggest issues facing give people “It likedidn’t Ballantyne MKO’s new leader my writing. I writeGarrivery put it on tape, I will writeInit deMeulles. dawn Manitoba. hardware store there,” she or andtimes we’rewhen going we to displace al growth “I believe it’s import- vote. This has else to happen signatories to people throughout staywas con-a says. son whoit.was elect- digenous clearSettee, and that’s It’s there. for you because your story aonplatform me until and after.toThat you somewhere and all who Maybeare in the next five years ant that our organization consistently.” Treaty 4, Treaty 5, Treaty Canada. nected with the patchwork ed as grand chief back in Some people say it’s kind of 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 you, According to their web- doing.” 6 and Treaty 10. Ballantyne told Ithe crowd Being of Indigenous communities August. blunt or direct. I don’t tend never done it and thought, on a plane full of fuel connects deMeulles with finds it hardnot to history is gone?’” BY KYLE DARBYSON
KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET