Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 59 • Issue 26
One last ride Despite starting out with more favourable weather, R.D. Parker Collegiate’s June 24 grad parade was (just like last year) interrupted by heavy showers as the convoy of Grade 12 students performed a loop around Thompson, stopping at every elementary school along the way to distribute candy to children. RDPC’s graduation ceremony takes place 7 p.m. June 26 at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena.
KTC ORGANIZES SEARCH AND RESCUE COURSES NEWS PAGE 5
Thompson Citizen photo by Kyle Darbyson
Thompson recognizes 10-year anniversary of signing Aboriginal Accord during National Indigenous Peoples Day BY KYLE DARBYSON
KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
GLITZY GRADS GO OUT IN STYLE NEWS PAGE 7
FOREST COMPLETES KING MINER HAT TRICK NICKEL DAYS PAGES 9-10
Residents of Thompson had a special reason to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. During the opening ceremonies at MacLean Park, Charlene Lafreniere, chair of the Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy, reminded the hundreds of people in attendance that the city signed the Thompson Aboriginal Accord 10 years ago. Not only does this document affirm the role Indigenous people played in the city’s history, but it also outlines various strategies local officials can adopt to help bring about reconciliation. These steps include improving lines of communication between the city and various Indigenous groups, increasing Indigen-
Bear shot and killed by RCMP officers in Thompson’s Burntwood neighbourhood A bear wandering though yards in the Burntwood neighbourhood of Thompson around 7:45 p.m. June 23 was shot and killed by Thompson RCMP after being deemed a threat to public safety. Police arrived in the area first and, after learning that Manitoba conservation officers would not be able to respond in a timely manner, shot the bear as RCMP officers are not issued equipment to tranquilize animals, Thompson RCMP said in a news release. Some conservation officers are trained in the use of tranquilizer guns, said a provincial government spokesperson, but in cases when they do respond to wildlife calls, keeping people safe is always the first priority. Police received multiple calls about the bear and said they want to thank everyone who reported it as there were children playing in the area.
ous investment in the local economy and ensuring that job opportunities for Indigenous people are readily available. “We said then 10 years ago that it wasn’t just a plaque on the wall, it was about mutual respect,” said Lafreniere. “It was about relationships, it was about acknowledging the Indigenous people before the City of Thompson, acknowledging the contributions of the development of Thompson and the continued progress that we’ve seen.” A 2018 progress report published by the city listed some of the steps they’ve taken to keep this process moving forward, like hosting an Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy conference in February of that year. “I won’t lie, we’ve had our ups and downs, but we’re dealing with systemic change and there’s a lot of good leadership in this city and in this region working towards it,” said Lafreniere. “So make sure you take the time to celebrate and know that your leaders were doing land acknowledgements and partnerships far before any commission or report told us to.” MacLean Park hosted a variety of other activities throughout Friday aimed at highlighting Indigenous culture and identity in its various forms. Outside of traditional dancing and singing, the event organizers handed out their annual Soaring Eagle Awards, which highlight local youth achievement in
areas like academics and volunteering. To Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee, these little displays are what makes National Indigenous
Peoples Day so special, since it wasn’t long ago that there was a concerted effort to remove their culture from Canadian life. “For years and years they tried to eradicate our people
… they tried to take away our languages, our songs and culture,” he said. “But today, in 2019, we are still here and we will always be here. We are not going anywhere.”
Thompson Citizen photos by Kyle Darbyson The recipients of the 2019 Soaring Eagle awards are, from left to right, Taylar Hanson-Oliveira, Rackesha Ballantyne, Tyanna McKay-Tom, Rylee Ault and Ron Linklater.
A group of traditional dancers performs at MacLean Park for National Indigenous Peoples Day.