Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 59 • Issue 49
Painting series reflects the experiences of Indigenous women through the history of the Thompson region BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
METH SEIZED AT HOTEL
NEWS PAGE 2
SANTA SHOWS UP AT HOMELESS CHRISTMAS FEAST NEWS PAGE 5
The Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy (TUAS) and artist Jasyn Lucas unveiled a series of seven paintings reflecting the history of Northern Manitoba from Indigenous and northern women’s perspectives at the Thompson Regional Community Centre (TRCC) Nov. 29. The paintings, each one representing one of the seven sacred teachings – respect, humility, wisdom, truth, courage, love and honesty – were based on research done by FemNorthNet examining the impacts of economic restructuring on Indigenous and northern women. That research was inspired by a desire to expand the history of the Thompson area in the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation traditional territory beyond that which concerned the development of Thompson as a mining community. “Maybe we’re exposing people to another lens of history,” said TUAS chair Charlene Lafreniere. Paintings were chosen as the medium to depict Indigenous women’s stories and history in an effort to inspire discussion in the community and encourage women to share their stories and deepen the documented history of the Thompson region. Originally, the idea was to have stories focusing on the area from both the pre- and post-Thompson eras on a mural, but ultimately an art series was settled on, with the people who collected the stories essentially saying to Lucas “we entrust you to create this art series on our behalf,” Lafreniere said. As an Indigenous man who was adopted by a white family, Lucas’s
Thompson Citizen photo by Ian Graham Jasyn Lucas stands in front of the paintings he created for the Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy to reflect the seven sacred teachings and the history of Indigenous women in the region before and after the establishment of Thompson. own life is part of the history of In- worked on images from dreams and who came to view it that it reflects digenous peoples in Canada, which daydreams in the past and avoided the pain and beauty of the experimade creating the paintings more politically and socially charged con- ences of Indigenous women. meaningful. tent, Lucas said the project helped “We hope that this series inspires “They’re a little bit more intense him mature as an artist. you to share your story or to underand emotional to work on,” said “It was all based on those time- stand our different experiences. Just Lucas. “Some of them are quite lines and really great research,” he as important, we hope to create upsetting. As an urban indigenous said, but he had to close his eyes and understanding, promote truth and artist I’m still learning what some look inside himself for inspiration. reconciliation and inspire action.” of these stories are myself. At the “How can I take these stories and The paintings were displayed at same time I wanted to have that make them relatable?” the TRCC multi-purpose from 11 feeling of hope.” Lafreniere said in an introduction a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 6 As someone who has usually to the series handed out to those p.m. to 8 p.m.
Man in vehicle tried to abduct child on Princeton Drive Nov. 29, police say THOMPSON-RAISED RACQUETBALL CHAMP RETIRES SPORTS PAGE 8
A 9-year-old child reported that a masked man attempted to pull him into a vehicle on Princeton Drive around 3:40 p.m. Nov. 29, Thompson RCMP say. The incident was reported to police around 4:20 p.m. The child, who was walking home from school by himself, was on Princeton Drive near
Stanford Bay at the time of the attempted abduction. The man who tried to grab the child was described as being in his 20s with a darker complexion, black curly hair and brown eyes. He was about 5’7” tall and was wearing a black hoodie with the hood up and a dark green bandana over his face.
Yer snow gotta go!
Contact Nelson at 204-307-0281 pruderspropertyservices@gmail.com to discuss your property needs!
The child said the man had bloodshot eyes. The vehicle is described as a grey Chevrolet minivan or SUV with tinted windows. After the man’s attempt to grab the child, the vehicle drove up Princeton toward Highland Tower. Thompson RCMP believe other children may have witnessed the
incident. Anyone with any information or with residential video surveillance in the area is asked to call the Thompson RCMP detachment at 204-677-6909 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800222-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online at www. manitobacrimestoppers.com.