Nickel Belt News Red Dress Day a time for remembrance, awareness and action Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Thompson residents marched through downtown on the afternoon of May 5, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People, also known as Red Dress Day.

Starting and finishing at Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak’s office on Selkirk Avenue, the march proceeded down Mystery Lake Road, along Thompson Drive and up Public Road, with speeches, a barbecue and entertainment in the MKO parking lot on an unseasonably warm and sunny early May afternoon.

case.”

The inclusion of two-spirit people in Red Dress Day made Francis Budd get emotional during a speech to the crowd,

“It is so so important that two-spirit and gender-diverse people are included when we talk about disproportionate violence,” Budd said. “The most fundamental thing that we must remember is the way that we regard one another as human beings can sometimes be a matter of life and death.”

More than just a day to raise awareness, however, Red Dress Day is also a day to remind governments about their obligations, said MKO Vice-Chief Shirley Ducharme.

Boil water advisory for Thompson issued May 10

“I think about our young people,” said Heidi Spence, director of MKO’s MMIWG2S liaison unit. “We want them to grow up in a community that’s safe. We don’t want young girls to have to worry about what’s going to happen to them. We can’t let it be a normal occurrence.”

Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Though she’s now written a book about her experiences growing up in Churchill, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles said writing wasn’t something she always thought she would do.

Some of those who walked wore shirts or carried signs with the names of missing and murdered people, including one adorned with the name of Leah Anderson, who was killed in Gods Lake Narrows in 2013 at the age of 15.

Ace Doran-Campbell said after the walk that she participated in memory of Anderson.

“This was someone my mom had grown up babysitting and was family to us,” said Doran-Campbell.

“To this day, there still haven’t been any arrests in her

“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 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 to write things that you have to figure out. It’s pretty clear when I get through.”

DeMeulles said she wrote her book, titled Whispers in the Wind: Stories from the North - Life in Churchill for a couple of reasons.

“As we near the fourth anniversary of the final report of the National Inquiry into MMIWG and the second anniversary of the release of the subsequent national action plan, we remind all governments of the importance or implementing the 231 Calls for Justice,” she said. “They are not optional.”

I don’t.” was not a very safe thing to do but I jumped at it. I thought that was exciting until the plane landed and they started throwing the fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy cats, I was probably sitting swallow when people say that Churchill residents should just find somewhere easier to live.

The City of Thompson has announced that a boil water advisory is now in effect for its water system until further notice.

The advisory was issued in the late afternoon on May 10.

Until further notice, city residents are being asked to boil tap water for cooking or drinking for at least one minute prior to consuming it. Water to be used for brushing teeth or washing fruit and vegetables should also be boiled before use. Unboiled water can be used for washing, flushing toilets and showering or taking baths.

For all the harsh weather and the dangers of polar bears, deMeulles said if it had been viable she would have moved back to Churchill in a heartbeat.

The issue of MMIWG2S is affected by many factors that government can address, said Churchill-Keewatinook Aski NDP MP Niki Ashton, including housing, poverty and lack of access to educational, medical, addictions and mental health services.

“Our leaders must stop being part of the problem as we continue to see this tragedy unfold and must be part of the solution,” she said.

“I just sort of thought, you know what, this history, 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, very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel

Another thing that spurred her on was the hard times facing Churchill way suspended operations

“It used to be a really thriving large community and it’s just dwindled down to such a small population

Though she’s not there any longer, her parents and her sister and other family

“My cousin owns the hardware store there,” she

Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to

“To say, ‘Those people choose to live there. They should just leave,’ is quite simplistic. It’s quite disrespectful. If we were in the same boat in another area I think we would scream about that so why don’t they have the option to do that?

I think right now they’re feeling like they’re pawns in a political game and that’s really sad for them because I think the people of Churchill really want to thrive. They’ve built their worlds there. How would we feel if someone came to you and said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to leave your home community and we’re going to displace you somewhere else and all your loved ones and your history is gone?’”

“Routine monitoring of the treated water supply indicates a failure in the filtration treatment process allowing poorly treated water to enter the distribution system,” said a notice from the provincial government. “A boil water advisory has been issued to ensure public health protection.”

Commercial, public and permitted facilities such as restaurants, health care facilities, day cares, personal care homes and private facilities that provide food and water services can remain open but must follow recommendations from the Boil Water Advisory Fact Sheet 33 — Boil Water Advisory for Commercial/ Public Facilities available on the provincial government’s website.

“I miss the shoreline, I miss the rock, I miss the polar bears even though they’re very dangerous and I really miss the Hudson Bay,” she says. “When I go back home, standing on the Hudson Bay looking out on the bay, it just gives you an incredible sense. You feel so small and you feel great.”

Now that she’s got one book under her belt, deMeulles says she may try to produce another.

A notice will be issued when the boil water advisory has been rescinded and it is safe to drink unboiled tap water again.

“I have another book in me,” she says. “It’s a darker story, more about personal growth and struggles. Maybe in the next five years it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”

THOMPSON GAS BAR CO-OP THANK YOU!

The Board of Directors of the Thompson Gas Bar Co-op Ltd. invites you to Customer Appreciation Day

June 3, 2023 from 11 am - 2 pm

Bring the whole family and enjoy BBQ, hot dogs, popcorn and drinks. Hourly prizes including $100 Co-op gift cards. Patronage cheques will be available starting at 11:00 am.

GRAND PRIZE: All expenses paid trip to Las Vegas for 2, includes flights, hotel and $500 spending cash!

Paint Lake Cottage Owners Association

Annual AGM

Thursday May 25, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Paint Lake Fire Hall

The following board positions are currently available: President – 2 year term

Vice President – 1 year term

Members at Large – 2 year term

We are always open to new members joining our board and would like to hear from you with any concerns, questions or suggestions. All are welcome to attend.

Public Notice

MANITOBA HYDRO 2023 PESTICIDE PROGRAM

Public notice is hereby given under Manitoba Regulation 94/88R that Manitoba Hydro intends to conduct the following programs:

Pole Maintenance on in-service wood poles: the application of supplemental wood preservation to reinforce protection against decay and insecticide, in order to control damage caused by carpenter ants. The period of application is from 05-01-2023 to 03-31-2024 on wooden poles for distribution, sub-transmission and transmission lines throughout the Province. Poles will be treated as required. Other individual poles may be treated as needed.

The proposed active ingredients are borate, meta sodium, sodium fluoride, and permethrin.

Herbicide Tree Control on power lines rights-of-way to discourage tall growing woody plant species from growing under power lines to ensure reliability, electricity supply and public safety. The period of application is from 05-01-2023 to 03-31-2024 in the following locations:

1) Ground Herbicide Tree Control for distribution lines rights-of-way in rural municipalities: Armstrong; Boissevain-Morton; Dufferin; Ethelbert; Gimli; Grandview; Grasslan; Harrison Park; Kelsey; Prairie Lakes; Riding Mountain West; Roblin; Rockwood; Rossburn; Swan Valley West; Thompson Victoria Woodlands and Yellowhead.

Ground Herbicide Tree Control on dykes of following generating stations: Brandon; Kelsey; Keeyask; Kettle; Laurie River; Limestone; Long Spruce; Notigi; Manasan; Missi Falls; Gillam, and Winnipeg River generating stations.

Ground Herbicide Tree Control for transmission lines corridors located in: RM of Ste. Anne, RM of East St. Paul, RM of Ellice-Archie, RM of Cornwallis, RM of St. Andrews, RM of Brokenhead, RM of Alonsa, RM of Portage la Prairie, Municipality of Westlake-Gladstone, RM of Grahamdale, RM of West St. Paul, RM of Reynolds, RM of Rosser, Prairie View Municipality, Waterhen-Northern Affairs Act, RM of Lac du Bonnet, City of Portage la Prairie, RM of Yellowhead, Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman, Duck Mountains Provincial Park, Whitemouth Falls Provincial Park, LDG of Pinawa, RM of Springfield, RM of Dufferin, RM of Dauphin, City of Brandon, Municipality of Oakland-Wawanesa, RM of Alexander, Mallard-Northern Affairs Act, Gilbert Plains Municipality, Municipality of Ethelbert, RM of Grey, Municipality of Glenboro-South Cypress, RM of Piney, RM of Woodlands, RM of St. Clements, RM of Rockwood, Town of Lac du Bonnet, Municipality of Norfolk Treherne, Rock Ridge-Northern Affairs Act.

2) Individual Stems Treatments where and as required using basal bark and cut stump treatments.

The proposed active ingredients are: triclopyr; picloram; 2,4-D; imazapyr, aminopyralid, aminocyclopyrachlor and metsulfuron-methyl.

Pesticide Insect, Rodent and Pigeon Control in the facilities of the following generating stations: Brandon; Selkirk; Great Falls; Slave Falls; Seven Sisters; Pine Falls; Pointe du Bois; MacArthur Falls; Grand Rapids, Keeyask; Kettle; Kelsey Long Spruce; Limestone; Laurie River; Missi Falls; Jenpeg and converter stations: Dorsey; Riel; Radisson and Henday.

The proposed active ingredients are: brodifacoum; bromadiolone; avitrol; permethrin; diphacinone; dichlorvos; malathion; boric acid and pyrethrin.

Herbicide Weed Control in all electrical sub-stations; gas sites; yard sites; Manitoba Hydro district offices; Manitoba Hydro telecommunication sites for worker safety. In Converter Stations (Riel; Dorsey; Keewatinohk; Radisson; Henday). In Generating stations (Brandon; Seven Sisters; Selkirk; Kelsey; Laurie River; Wuskwatim; Notigi Missi Falls ; Grand Rapids; Jenpeg; MacArthur; Great Falls; Keeyask; Pine Falls; Slave Falls; Point Du Bois; Kettle Long Spruce; Limestone ; Gillam) and transmission rights-of-way in municipalities of Rosser; Winnipeg plus customer owned stations at 386 Industrial Park Road in St. Agathe to comply with the Manitoba Noxious Weed Act, as and where required. The period of application is from 05-01-2023 to 04-30-2024. The areas to be treated are located throughout the province and will be treated as required. The proposed active ingredients include: glyphosate, 2,4-D; dicamba, imazapyr, aminopyralid, aminocyclopyrachlor, flumioxazin; pyroxasulfone; indaziflam; chlosulfuron and saflufenacil.

Landscape Care on Manitoba Hydro owned landscaped grounds, around buildings and facilities, for noxious weeds and insect control. The period of application is from 05-01-2023 to 03-31-2024. The areas to be treated are located throughout the province and will be treated as required. The proposed products are Allowable Herbicide Products in Manitoba under MR286/2014.

The public may send written submissions or objections within 15 days of the publication of the notice to the department below.

Manitoba Sustainable Development

Environmental Approvals Branch

1007 Century Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3H 0W4