Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
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Volume 63 • Issue 48
Crime against humanity is issued with the history of Residential Schools Unclear acted uponand historic events Book aevidence way toispreserve pass on
tigation I had the privilege on personally asking Chief Garrison what the effects We all know the stories fling a Crime Against Huthat have been told since manity may cause on our our earliest years, the mis- modern society and what treatment of Indigenous new evidence may have ocpeople in the Canadian curred for it to be pursued lands. Hearing these stor- now, many years later. ies I decided to ask detailed “Until we see the Inquestions to get a more edu- digenous people thriving in cated approach on the fore- the economy, having access told legends and see if I can to reserve lands and also back up ancient stories with cultures being restored, lantruth and decipher it sprite guages being restored, then from the lies. we know we’ve arrived” In recent activity, the This surprising answer Manitoba Keewatinowi proves to be inaccurate as Okimakanak (MKO) par- the drastic opposite in each ticipated in the 4th Cycle category is found existing of the Universal Periodic of Indigenous thriving off Review (UPR) of Canada Government financial benein Geneva only this past fits, access to land without November 10, 2023. taxes and cultures and lanSeeking Justice on the guages being taught highly matters of residential in schools across Canada. schools and removal of land Upon this brought to back in the early centuries, Chief Garrison’s attention Grand Chief of MKO com- his reply was that “The menced an investigation Government has never adof the Residential School mitted this was a genocide, system as a Crime Against that’s the official apology”. Humanity under the laws The Chief stated that with of Canada , this presented the unjust actions of the MKO’s renewed call for past this is the one moment action during a meeting they’ve all been waiting for, with federal Justice Minis- stating that if this bill goes ter Arif Virani at the Perma- through it will end all racism nent Mission of Canada in from Indigenous people. Photo by Dave Baxter/Winnipeg Sun/Local Journalism Initiative Geneva, Switzerland. “The Indigenous people During MKO’s meeting say they’ve been waiting Veterans Day or putting in proves 215 people died as His only reply; “There with questions. Tradition with Minister Virani, Chief for this for 150 years. That place murals honoring the opposed to an event such were no crosses, they were of these stories continue, Garrison said that the cir- brings a lot of empower- Indigenous people, if this as the Holocaust which murdered. That’s the end while uncertainty remains. cumstances of the Residen- ment to people who have gives proof of our culture exists only single graves of it” Stated Chief Garri- Perhaps these events realtial School System meet been suppressed. This is putting aside racism. His containing numerous bod- son “The stories that people ly took place in the past, the tests of Crimes Against when we can rise above as reply was that he still be- ies stacked on top of each have told. That’s the evi- but facts remain unfound. I Humanity under the laws Indigenous people” lieves we have not moved other. That proves geno- dence. The stories, it’s all personally caution you not Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham of Canada as well as under “Our goal” Garrison con- past the mistreatment since cide, in which these graves in the stories”. to jump to conclusions in Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. Article 7 of the Rome tinues, “is to be recognized the beginning. “We have not are not the case. With no further evidence stating opinion as fact withStatute of the International as an autonomous, self gov- advanced since then, we It’s not even proven these given, this could very well out personally researching BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say Criminal Court. erning sovereign people. still want a call to action” graves were originally un- be the reasoning of why the the fact for yourself beforeEDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar The June 3rd letter by Because we are, we always On June 3rd 2021 we all marked, while wooden Crime Against Humanity hand. This I would advise 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 former Justice Minister have been” heard the news of the poten- crosses could have been file has been on hold and re- of every one of us. a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would Lametti to MKO’s initial Among the unique tial evidence that was un- placed resulting in deterior- mains under investigation. ~Matthias J. Johnson is a 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 Churchgives a hopeful response choice wording, it was covered with the discovery ation over 150 years. With Perhaps further evidence Local Journalism Initiative Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. in pursuing this investiga- asked of Chief Garrison if of 215 unmarked graves, fuel these questions, I sought in Government is pending reporter who works out of 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, I tion further and issue the the massive Government while that sounds like a further truth on the matter in along with the rest of us. the Thompson Citizen. The Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the findings as a Crime Against efforts that have enforced massive find, the cause of hopes that the Grand Chief From the outsiders Local Journalism Initiative 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 Humanity. through Truth and Recon- death still remains unclear. Garrison may have answers perspective it appears a is funded by the Governalways 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 With this ongoing inves- ciliation Day, Indigenous Finding 215 graves only on this subject. great deal of us remain ment of Canada.
memories of growing up in Churchill
BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, THOMPSON CITIZEN
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 PREM SAWNA 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 head, it’s going to be gone if I don’t write it down,” she said. “My kids are not going to get it if I don’t do it and it’s something I’ve always wanted my mom to do. My mom’s an elder and she’s an artist, she’s got so many wonderful stories because she always tells her stories at Parks Canada in Churchill and I’ve always hounded her, ‘Please, just put it on tape, I will write it for you because your story is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community I INSURANCE did all that beforeSPECIALIST I was and it’s just dwindled down 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” * LIFE/MORTGAGE INSURANCEto such a small population now,” deMeulles says. Looking back, some of INSURANCE * SUPER VISA/VISITOR VISA those experiences are things Though she’s not there * DISABILITY INSURANCE she might not do again. any longer, her parents and * CRITICAL/HEALTH INSURANCE * RRSP/RESP/TFSA “I did some prettyINVESTMENTS bizarre her sister and other family www.akalinsurance.com stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. Email:Arctic psawna68@gmail.com high at -35,” said “My cousin owns the deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she Good Together... For You on me until People after. ThatWorking was a says. very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, Being on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to
I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go have the option to do that? back home, standing on the 204.914.4902 I think right now CELL: they’re Hudson Bay looking out on 36-1313 the Border feeling like they’re pawns bay, itSt., justWinnipeg gives you an in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so really sad for them becauseBROKER I small and you feel great.” MORTGAGE think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got * PURCHASING A DREAM HOME ill really want to RENEWAL thrive. one book under her belt, * MORTGAGE They’ve built their REFINANCE worlds deMeulles says she may try * MORTGAGE there. *How would we feel to produce another. REPAIR YOUR CREDIT if someone came to you and “I have another book in www.redstarmortgage.ca Office: 204.202.7793 said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker Email: psawna@redstarmortgage.ca leave your home community story, more about personand we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. you somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years your loved ones and your it’s something I’ll focus on history is gone?’” doing.”
PREM SAWNA, P.ENG., AMP