November 10 2023

Page 1

Nickel Belt News

Volume 58 Number 11

Friday, March 16, 2018

Thompson, Manitoba

Serving the Norman Region since 1961

Friday, November 10, 2023

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Volume 63 • Issue 42

Legion unveils new mural for indigenous soldiers

Thompson remembering it’s roots to make for a better future

Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill

Thompson Citizen photos by Matthias J. Johnson First and Second World ous soldiers. enlisted in the Canadian this day. were looked down on, War. “The determined volun- Military given high rank Much of this this being but represented here in In the Morning of this teers were often forced to positions such as snipers, made aware by Councillor Thompson this past WedAround the Thompson Annual Celebration near- overcome many challen- scouts and guards. Joyce Mclvor who pre- nesday, November the 8th community was celebrated ing 10:20, Classmates and ges to serve in uniform” The Indigenous also sented in her given speech was that we live in a modthe annual remembrance teachers alike gathered in Stated the R.D. School served in the Korian and at the Mural Unveiling; ern World now where we day for Indigenous Vet- the school gymnasium to Principle “From learning Persian Gulf War, where “Now, Indigenous veteran make a point to remember erans, remembering those revisit the ancestral past a new language, adapting the First Nations tribes organizations have done a all our veterans, each and who were in the past for- with flags waving and into multicultural differ- made up a significant lot of work to restore the every one equally. gotten and acknowledg- tribal percussion. ences to having to trav- amount of the gathered memories of the IndigenNational Indigenous ing them as an equal to Stories were relived el great distances just to army. The Gulf war of ous and acknowledge their Veteran's Day does not other fellow veterans who from soldiers who fought enlist” 1990-1991 gave the tribal remarkable skills and ser- make less of any race, neifought along side each on the front lines such as This statement stands representatives a variety vices contributed by the ther more, rather to celeother in past wars. Francis Pegahmagabow; true as their dedication of roles such as the Spe- Indigenous people” brate a point that we are Acts of remembrance one of Canada’s most to preserving our democ- cial Force and the Air Chief Angela Levasseur not the men and women of are important. They pay decorated Indigenous racy is a testament to their Force. also made mention how far the past, eager to right past Nickel Belt News photo by Ian tribute to a history that can soldiers, being awarded unwavering commitment, Yet coming back was we as multicultural people wrongs. Today weGraham don’t Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. potentially be lost if not the Military Medal with serving from Canada to made extra difficult on a have come honoring one remember the way we properly commemorated. two bars during the First the rest of the World. In- lot of the Indigenous as another with the respect as people once were, but BYThompson IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say paid the due to World War. digenous veterans had an they were denied all their due, instead of placing rather the freedom fought EDITOR@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 respect in both the R.D. Tommy Prince; serving integral part of the Can- Veteran benefits and treat- one race above another, for. Today we honor you! Though she’s now written when I get through.” need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it Parker Collegiate high as a reconnaissance expert Iadian Military. ed in many ways unfairly. saying that “Many of our ~Matthias J. Johnson is a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would school and the Royal Can- in the Devil’s Brigade, In World War 1 (WW1) But through this difficulty First Nation Veterans have a Local Journalism Initiaces 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 Churchadian Legion. At 5:20PM posed as a local farmer nearly 4,000 indigenous made way for the begin- since been acknowledged tive reporter who works Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. November 8 the unveiling to repair a severed com- men joined the Canadian ning of change. A new and decorated for their out of the Thompson CitManitoba 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 of a newly painted mural munications wire in full Expedition Force, whereas dynamic would begin to contribution during times izen. The Local JournalGisele 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 was presented, dedicated view of enemy troops. He the following war; World take shift and eventually of conflict” ism Initiative is funded ing wasn’t something she just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though to the Indigenous soldiers is “Ialso one of Canada’s War II (WWII) more then pull away racism to the There was a time by the Government of always 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 who fought in both the most decorated Indigen- 3,000 indigenous men culture that has shaped to when certain ethnicities Canada. 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


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