Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
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Nickel Belt News Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 60 • Issue 32
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories ofcycles growing up intoChurchill Indigenous artist from Winnipeg Cross Lake Serving the Norman Region since 1961
in support of Indigenous health and well-being
around a lot as a kid. He BY JAMES SNELL A line of approximate- landed in a Winnipeg high ly 80 cyclists streamed school in 2001. “It was a big life change through The Forks in Winnipeg on the evening of July in a sense that I wasn’t 19 in support of 33-year- used to being away from old professional artist Peatr the woods for that long,” Thomas, who set out on July he said. “Naturally, I faced 20 to cycle home to Pimi- some discrimination in the cikamak Cree Nation (Cross city, so it was tough for Lake) in support of Indigen- me personally. There were ous health and well-being. fights sometimes, and I had Thomas led the cyclists to take care of myself.” Thompson Citizen photos by James Snell Moving to Winnipeg Pimicikamak Cree Nation member Peatr Thomas set out from Winnipeg July 20 for a cycling trek to Cross Lake in support through some of his cherished Winnipeg art spaces also brought opportunities of Indigenous health and well-being. on Sunday evening – for Thomas, including an Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham through green space, under artistic rebirth inspired by street art, and a career in Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. a graffiti-covered overpass, and behind heritage build- carpentry. BY GRAHAM For all the harsh weather write things to thatthe you have city ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say ings,IAN stopping on occasion to “Moving EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I have all these stories and to fi gure out. It’s pretty clear to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar to share stories and play in- brought that back for me,” Thoughinspired she’s nowhip written I get through.” he said. “And so I started I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it digenous hop. when a book experienDeMeulles said she wrote had been viable she would again. I was a car- my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. The rideabout endedher with a barbe- painting ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchcue at The Forks skateboard penter for 10 years. I did my Addictions Foundation of the Stories from fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. ownWind: subcontracting for the the I don’t.” park. Thomas has since Manitoba northern director North - Life Churchill She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I last few, and in then decidedfor to finished his epic adventure, Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, I miss the receiving a hero's welcome become a full-time artist.” 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 questions about residents’ your co-workers. Even tell The city said the advisory BY JAMES SNELL Outside of graphic dein Cross Lake. Residents always she would you know what, thisbusy his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was another area they’re verywanted dangerous and current and future visionthe of same peopleboat whoin don’t live here, committee to host The City of Thompson, Thomas stays honkedthought their horns and sign, do. tory, this stuff that’s in my hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson stories and they would go, but visit Thompson often.” an in-person public forum held signs in support of his with videography and the Ma-Mow-We-Tak Thompson. “In my youth I never head, going be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’dand go, since the Hudson Bay Railthat so can whyfill don’t she however, says. “When I go Thompson Mayor Col- about Residents outthey the Bay,” in April, public Friendship Centre, leadingit’syouth arttoprograms accomplishment. feltThomas, good atthe writing,” she if I don’tthe write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way optionthe tocity do that? standing the suspended leen Smook saidoperations in a press have surveythe online, said, back healthhome, orders made on it imThompson RCMP are askaround province. son of resisaid. “But when I moved ‘You didn’t do all that, did said. “My kids are not gonorth of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on “I do what I do out of ing residents and regular release the survey is import- or they can obtain a hard possible. The committee dential school survivors, to Thompson to get into 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 ant, adding residents know copy at City Hall or the Mawill attempt another hearing announced his plans to ride love,” he said. “I’m basic- Thompson visitors to fill out the school ofin social al- old.’ I wasinlike, ‘No, large community a political game and that’s incredible sense. You orders feel so of Thompson’s challenges. in Mow-We-Tak Friendship when public health a survey order toactually collect thriving ally it’s an something open bookI’ve when home earlier July.work, After and at that point had for to write wanted mom to Iupdated did all public that before it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because and you feel great.” “But we need this bird’s Centre. Hard copies can beI small have changed. healthI was and and it comes to mymy past – my putting out aI call sup- ways for university and realized, 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 eye view to ensure that we returned in sealed envelThe committee begangot its port, around $5,000 came trauma and things I’ve safety information. ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so now,” deMeulles says. one book under her belt, Looking back, some of ill really want to thrive. capture the voice of the opes to City Hall during work in January 2020 when The anonymous survey learned the hard way – to in, allowing him to gear up right?’ certainly developed wonderful storiesthat be- those experiences are things whole Though she’s not there builtortheir saysgovernment she may try community, and They’ve office hours, in theworlds city’s deMeulles the provincial asks residents to communihelp people realize for the I780-kilometre trip. many a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. He cycled alone, although they’re not alone if they’re cate their sense of security to make sure our team is safe deposit box between awarded the city with a and came out of from thereother with stories at Parks in and “Itheir did some bizarre her sister and family if someone to youHard and $35,000 “I havegrant another book in working fromother a united 8:30 a.m. came and noon. to hire Comsensepretty of communon reserve – youCanada feel like he had requests a very strong in my and always like fuel hauls intosurthe members ‘I’m sorry, have to me,” sheSafety says. “It’s a darker still are. place of where Thompson said, copies will be you submitted munity Knowledge ity connection. The it’s the end likeI’ve I did. But stuff cyclists wantingskill to share the Churchill writing and confidence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic atbasic -35,” said is,“My cousinit owns home community moreasabout personand where shouldthe be leave to theyour Community Safety story, Alliance consultants vey includes ranked there is hope. I’m living experience. myThomas, writing.whose I writemothvery 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. going,” she said. “Tell your and Well-Being Advisory to facilitate the planning proof of that as a byprod- yes-and-no questions, in clear andathat’s it. It’smoved there. for because your story on me untilto after. That was a says. somewhere and all Maybe family, tell your friends, tell you Committee as a else whole. process.in the next five years addition open-ended uct you of residential schools.” er was teacher,
Survey seeks residents’ input on public safety and community connection in Thompson
Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”