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Sandy Lake using science camp to fight diabetes PAGE 11 Vol. 39 No. 27
Elders in high school connect students with culture PAGE 9
New NAN grand chief pledges to protect lands PAGE 6
9,300 copies distributed $1.50
August 30, 2012 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974
www.wawataynews.ca
Once in a lifetime
Beating the odds Pikangikum mother credits culture, family for education success Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News
“The children and youth of Pikangikum have been taking their lives at an extraordinary rate for a number of years,” reads the opening line of the summary of the Office of the Chief Coroner’s Death Review of the Youth Suicides at the Pikangikum First Nation. The report also includes a list of striking characteristics that came out as a result of the review of the deaths from 2006-2008, and it is quite depressing. “Suicides occurred largely in clusters; the youth were very young when they took their lives; none of the children had sought help from a trained professional; almost all of the children were solvent abusers; and school engagement and attendance appears to have been very limited,” were a few of the details. One of the key drivers for youth suicide, according to the report, is
lack of education opportunities. The report delves into the lack of education in Pikangikum since the school burnt down in 2007, and draws attention to the low numbers of high school graduates and post-secondary school students in the community. But Cheryl Suggashie has gone against the trend. The mother of three from Pikangikum just graduated from Algoma University with a major in Law and Justice and a minor in Political Science. As for her success, Suggashie attributes it to a few key factors: support from her family and the strength she found in her traditions and culture. “What helped me was the traditional aspects of my culture,” Suggashie said of how she succeeded in reaching her educational goals. “Culture is a key thing. I just feel that there is hope. It’s hard but you can get through it.” See Pikangikum on page 7
Submitted photo by Pauline Mickelson
Sarah Mickelson of Thunder Bay had a chance to see the Stanley Cup, and Jordan Nolan of the LA Kings, up close during the Garden River Stanley Cup parade on Aug. 20. Mickelson said the experience showed her that anyone can reach their dreams if they are willing to put in the hard work. See story on one family’s inspiring day in Garden River on page 12.
ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐃᐧᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐱᒪᐦᐅᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᐅᐣᒋ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧ ᔕᐧᐣ ᐯᓫ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᐧᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ
ᐅᑭᒪᒥᑐᓀᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᐃᐧᑭᐁᐧᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᐃᓀᑫ ᑲᐊᐃᔑᑎᑫᐧᔭᑭᐣ ᓯᐱᐊᐧᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᒪᓇᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑲᐊᑯ ᐃᐡᐸᑲᒥᑲᐠ, ᐅᑯᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐱᒪᑲᐧᔑᐁᐧᐠ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᐁᐅᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒧᑕᐦᐅᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐧᔕᐦᐅᐠ ᐁᑭᐃᓇᐦᐅᐊᐧᐨ. ᓂᐅᔕᑊ ᐅᐱᒪᑲᐧᔑᐁᐧᐠ ᒪᒪᐤ ᑭᓂᐦᓴᐧᓱᓇᑭᓯᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᐅᐣᒋᒪᒐᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱ ᐅᐸᐅᐃᐧᐱᓯᑦ 24. ᐊᒥ ᑲᐃᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᑕᑲᐧᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᔕᐦᐅᐠ ᒥᑕᓱᑯᐣ ᑭᔭᓂᓯᓭᓂᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐃᔑᓯᐱᐊᐧᓂᐠ. ᕑᐃᒍᕑᐟ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ, ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᑲᓂᑲᓂ ᐱᒧᑐᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᒪᒐᐃᐧᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᑲᐃᐧᓂᐣ ᐃᑯ ᐁᑕ ᐁᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᑲᑫᐧ ᓇᐱᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᔭᐡ ᐅᑕᓂᑫᒥᔓᒪᐣ ᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᐱᒪᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑕᓱᔭᑭ ᑲᑭᐱᒪᐦᐅᑕᓱᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓴᓯᐱᐊᐧᓂᐠ. “ᐊᒥ ᑲᔦ ᐯᑭᐡ ᑲᐅᐣᒋ ᑐᑕᒪᐠ ᐁᐅᐣᒋ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᓯᓇᑯᑐᔭᐠ ᐁᒪᓇᒋᑐᔭᐠ ᓄᐱᐧᓇᒥᐠ ᑲᐊᐃᒪᓇᒪᑎᓇᐠ ᓂᑲᐣ ᑫᔭᓂᐸᐱᒪᑎᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᔭᓂᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ. “ᐣᑭᒋᐦᐊᒥᓇᓂᐠ ᐣᑭᐃᐧᑕᒪᑯᒥᐣ ᑭᓂᐱᒥᓇᐣ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭᑕᐸᒋᑐᔭᐠ ᐅᒪ ᑲᐊᔭᔭᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᒥᐱᑯ ᒋᐃᔑ ᑲᑫᐧᒥᒋᒥᓇᒪᑭᐸᐣ.” ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ ᐊᔕ ᐯᔑᑯᔕᐸᐧ ᑭᐃᓇᐦᐅ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᐁᐅᐣᒋᒪᒐᐨ ᐊᐧᔕᐦᐅᐠ
ᕑᐃᒍᕑᐟ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ, ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᑲᓂᑲᓂ ᐱᒧᑐᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂ.
ᐁᐃᔕᐨ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᐱᑯ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐁᐱᒋ ᒪᒪᑲᑌᐣᑕᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᑐᑕᒥᓂᐸᐣ ᐅᑕᓂᑫᒥᔓᒪᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑲᑭᐱᒪᐦᐅᓂᐸᐣ ᐁᑭᔭᐱᒋ ᑯᓯᑲᐧᐦᐅᑕᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐱᒪᐦᐅᑕᓱᓂᐊᐧ. ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᒥᓇ ᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᔑᓇᑐᐣ ᑲᔭᓂᔑ ᐅᓂᑲᒥᐊᐧᑭᐣ, ᐊᑎᐟ ᒥᓇ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᓂᓯᑕᐃᐧᓇᑲᐧᓄᐣ ᑭᒋᑭᓇᐧᑲᐡ ᑲᑭᐱᒥᐊᐸᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᒥᔑᓇᑐᐣ ᑫᑌᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᔑ ᑲᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᔭᑭᐣ ᑲᔭᓂᔑᓴᓯᐱᐊᐧᐠ, ᐊᔑᐨ ᒥᓇ ᓂᐣᑲᐧᐦᐊᑲᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᑌᑭᐣ ᐯᑭᐡ
ᑲᔦ ᒋᔭᓂᐊᔭᒥᒋᑫᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐱᒥᔭᐊᐧᐨ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ. ᐊᔕ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒥᑕᓱᔭᑭ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᐅᐣᒋᐱᒥᐊᓂᒥᐃᐧᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᑫᐧ ᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐣ ᐁᓇᓇᑲᐡᑲᐊᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐸᐱᔕᓂᐨ. ᓄᑯᒥᑫ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᔭᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑭᔕᑯᑕᑯᓇᐊᐧᐸᓂᐣ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒋᓂᑲᑌᑐᓂᐨ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ 22,000 ᐦᐁᐠᑐᕑᐢ ᐃᒪ ᐊᐦᑭᐠ ᐁᑲ ᒋᑕᔑᓇᓇᑕᐊᐧᓯᓂᐊᐧᑌᓂᐠ.
ᒥᐦᐃᒪ ᐊᐱᐣ ᓇᑫ ᑲᑭᔭᓄᒋᐃᓯᓭᓂᑭᐸᐣ ᑭ ᒋ ᓇ ᒣ ᑯ ᓯ ᐱ ᐃ ᐧ ᓂ ᓂ ᐊ ᐧ ᐠ ᑲᑭᓇᑲᑕᑯᓯᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐁᑲ ᑲᑭᓇᑕᐁᐧᓂᒪᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᒋᐱᔕᓂᐨ ᑲᐧᐟᐢ ᓫᐁᐠ ᕑᐃᓴᐧᕑᓯᐢ ᑲᑦᐸᓂ ᒋᐱᐯᑲᐧᑕᐦᐃᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐃᐧᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑲ ᓂᑲᐣ ᑲᑭᐱᐅᐣᒋᐃᐧᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧᐸᐣ. ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᓂᑲᑌᑐᐨ ᐁᑲ ᐃᒪ ᑫᐃᔑ ᓇᓇᑕᐊᐧᓯᓂᐊᐧᑌᓂᐠ, ᐊᐱᑕ ᐱᑯ ᐁᑕ ᐃᑯᓭᓂ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᑲᐃᐦᑯᑎᐯᐣᑕᐠ ᑲᐃᑯ ᐃᐡᐸᑲᒥᑲᐠ ᒪᒪᐤ 13,000 ᑲᑲᑫ ᑭᓫᐊᒥᑐᕑᐢ ᑲᐃᑲᐧᓂᐠ. ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱ 2011 ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᐅᑭᐅᑕᐱᓇᓇᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᑲᑭᐅᓇᓯᓇᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᒋᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᐦᑭ, ᐅᓇᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑲᐧᔭᐣᑕᑌᐠ ᒋᒪᓇᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑲᑭᓇ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂ ᐅᑕᑭᑦ ᐁᑲ ᒋᐱᑕᓇᓄᑭᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᓄᑕᓯᓂᐁᐧᐠ. ᔕᑯᐨ ᑭᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐅᐣ ᒥᐱᑯ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐁᑐᑕᐠ ᐁᑲ ᐁᐱᓯᐢᑫᑕᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑕᐁᐧᐣᑕᒥᓂᐨ ᒋᔑᐱᒧᑕᒪᓱᓂᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᓂᐣ. “ᑭ ᒋ ᓇ ᒣ ᑯ ᓯ ᐱ ᐃ ᐧ ᓂ ᓂ ᐊ ᐧ ᐠ ᐅᑭᐱᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᐊᐦᑭ ᐁᑭᐱᒥᓂᔕᐦᐊᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑫᐃᐧᓂ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᑕᐧᓂ ᒪᐧᕑᐃᐢ ᑲᑭᐸᑭᑎᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐧᐃᐣ. “ᒥᐡ ᐊᔕ ᐁᑲᓄᓇᔭᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᒋᑭᒋᓀᑕᐠ ᐣᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᐁᒪᐧᔦ
ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᑲᓇᑕᐠ ᐊᐦᑭ ᐊᓂ ᓂᔑᐊᐧᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐅᓄᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᔓᓂᔭᐊᐧᓯᓂᑫᐃᐧ ᑲᑦᐸᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᐱᐊᐧᑲᐡᑲᑯᔭᐠ.” ᐁᑲᐧ ᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ ᐃᑭᑐ, ᑲᐱᒪᐦᐅᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᓄᑯᑦ ᑲᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑭᐅᐣᒋᒪᒋᑐᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᓇᑯᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐁᔑᑲᐡᑭᑐᐨ ᒋᔭᐸᒋᑐᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᑦ ᑐᑲᐣ ᐃᑯ ᐅᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᒪᐣ ᑲᐯᐦᐃ ᑲᑭᐱᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑲᔦ ᐁᐅᐣᒋ ᐊᓂᑫ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᐃᐧᐣᑕᐧ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐠ ᑲᔭᐡ ᑭᑫᐣᑕᒪᐃᐧᓇᐣ. “ᐣᑭᒪᒪᒋᐃᐧᓇᐠ ᐣᑕᐊᐧᔑᔑᒪᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐅᒪ ᑲᐱᒪᐦᐅᔭᐣ, ᐣᑭᐃᐧᒋᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᒪ ᑲᐃᓇᐦᐅᓇᑌᐠ,” ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ. “ᐁᑭᒋᓀᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᔭᓂᐊᐧᐸᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᔭᓂᐃᓇᐦᐅᓇᑌᓂᐠ ᑐᑲᐣ ᑭᒥᔓᒥᓇᐸᓂᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᑐᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᑫᐧ ᐱᒪᒋᐦᐃᑎᓱᐊᐧᐨ, ᐁᐱᒪᐦᐅᑕᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑭᐱᑭᐁᐧᐦᐅᑕᓱᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᐱᐠ.” “ᑕᐱᓇᑲ ᒥᐁᑕ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐁᐊᔭᔭᐠ, ᑭᑕᑭᒥᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑭᓂᐱᒥᓇᐣ,” ᑭᔭᓂᑭᑐ. “ᐁᑭᒋᓀᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᒋᒥᒋᒥᓇᒪᐠ ᒋᑭᔭᓂ ᐊᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐁᐧᓂ ᐊᐦᑭᓂ ᐁᐧᑎ ᓂᑲᐣ ᑫᔭᓂᐱᒪᑎᓯᐊᐧᐨ.” ᐊᐣᑕᓴᐣ ᑭᔭᓂᑭᑐ ᐁᒪᒥᑎᓀᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᐊᔭᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᒥᓇᐧᐊ ᒋᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᓇᐦᐅᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᔕᐦᐅᐠ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᓂᐱᓂᐠ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐁᐧᓀᐣ ᐃᐧᐱᑕᑭᐧᐨ ᑭᔭᒥᑯ ᒋᑭᐱᔕᐸᐣ.
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AUGUST 30, 2012
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ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂ ᒋᒪᓇᒋᑐᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᑦ
ᑎᕑᐊᔾᑎᐣ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᓂᓂ ᑕᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᐊᐧᑲᓄ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᐣ ᒋᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒪᐨ ᐸᑲᐣ ᑲᐅᐣᑕᑲᓀᓯᓂᐨ
ᐅᐡᑭ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᐦᐊᕑᐱ ᔦᐢᓄ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐊᒥ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᑫᐳᓂᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᓇᑲᐡᑭᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧᐱᑕᓇᓄᑭᓇᓂᐊᐧᓂᐠ. ᔦᐢᓄ ᑭᐊᔓᑕᒪᑫ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐅᑲᑐᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᒋᑲᓇᐁᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᑭᒥᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᓂᑯ ᑫᔭᐱᑌᑕᑲᐧᓂᑫᐧᐣ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᐡᑲᐧᐨ ᑕᓇᑲᐡᑭᑫᓯᐊᐧᐠ. “ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᓯᓭᓯᐣ ᒋᓇᑲᐡᑭᑫᔭᐣ ᐊᔕ ᑭᐣ ᑲᑎᐱᓇᐁᐧᐃᐧᓯᔭᐣ ᑭᑕᑭᑦ,” ᔦᐢᓄ ᐅᑭᐃᓇᐣ ᑲᐅᑕᐱᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ. ᔦᐢᓄ ᑲᔦ ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᒪ ᓄᑯᑦ ᑲᑭᐅᐡᑭ ᐅᓂᑲᐸᐃᐧᐦᐃᑕᐧᐸᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐅᓂᑲᓂᑕᒪᑫᐠ ᐅᑲᒪᑕᓄᑲᑕᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐊᔓᑕᒪᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒋᓇᓇᐦᐊᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᒥᓇ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᓂᐠ.
ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᓂᓂ ᑎᕑᐊᔾᑎᐣ ᑲᑕᓇᓄᑭᐨ ᑲᑭᒪᒪᒋᓂᑲᓇᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐅᑕᑯᓯᐣ ᑕᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᐊᐧᑲᓄ ᐯᔑᑲᐧᐣ ᒋᔑᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᒪᐨ ᐸᑲᐣ ᑲᐅᐣᑕᑲᓀᓯᓂᐨ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐃᒪ ᑎᕑᐊᔾᑎᐣ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᑭᐅᐣᒋᐸᑭᑎᓂᑲᑌ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑭᐃᑭᑐᒪᑲᐠ ᐊᓇᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᑭᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑎᐯᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑲᑭᑐᑕᐃᐧᐣᑕᐧ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᐸᑭᑎᓇᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᒪᒥᔑᑫᒧᓂᐊᐧ, ᑭᐃᔑᒥᑭᑲᑌ ᑕᐡ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᓂᓂ ᐁᑭᐱᑯᓇᐣᐠ ᐅᑕᓄᑭᐃᐧ ᐅᓇᑯᓂᑯᐃᐧᐣ. ᑭᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑯᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑭᒪᒪᒋᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᓂᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭᒋᒪᒪᑲᑌᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᑲᑭᐊᐧᐸᐣᑕᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᐅᐃᐧᒋᑲᐸᐃᐧᑕᑯᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ.
Dryden doctor gets sensitivity training
NAN Grand Chief calls for protection of lands
A doctor in Dryden who made racially offensive remarks to First Nations patients will undergo sensitivity training. The Dryden Regional Health Centre issued a statement saying that although the First Nations family involved in the incident did not file a complaint, it has concluded that the doctor breached protocol. The family said it is overwhelmed by the support it has received.
New NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno says First Nations are done protesting over traditional lands. Yesno pledged that First Nations will protect the lands “at any cost,” rather than protesting. “You don’t protest over your own lands,” Yesno told reporters. Yesno also said the new NAN executive would focus on implementing the treaties with the provincial and federal governments.
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ᑭᔐ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᓂᐣ
ᒐᐧᕑᑎᐣ ᓄᓫᐊᐣ ᐅᑭᒋᑭᐡᑲᐊᐧᐣ ᐯᔑᐠ ᑎᐯᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ
ᑭᒪᒋᒋᑲᑌ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐣᑐᕑ ᐯ ᒋᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑕᐧ ᓇᐯᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲ ᒋᑭᑭᐱᒪᑎᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᑲᐧᑎᓯᐃᐧᓂ ᐊᐧᑌᐸᑲᐃᐧᐱᓯᑦ ᐊᓂᒪᑕᑭᓱᓂᐨ. ᑭᔐ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᓂᐣ ᐅᑭᐃᔑᓂᑲᑕᐣ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐯᔑᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐊᓄᑭᐨ ᑲᐅᐣᒋᐊᐧᐃᐧᒋᐦᐊᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᓇᐯᐊᐧᐠ ᒪᔭᑦ ᐃᒪ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂ ᑲᐃᔑᐱᒪᑎᓯᐨ ᒋᐃᔑᐱᒪᑎᓯᐊᐧᐨ. ᒪᕑᑎᐣ ᐊᐧᔾᐟ, ᑲᓂᑲᓂᐡᑲᐠ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓂ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᑭᔭᓂ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑯᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒋᒥᑲᑎᑫᐃᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱᐣ ᑲᔭᓂᒥᔑᓄᐨ ᐁᐧᒥᑎᑯᔑ. ᒥᑕᐡ ᐁᑐᑕᐣᐠ ᐊᐧᔾᐟ ᐁᔭᓂ ᐅᐡᑭ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᐧᐡᑲᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑐᑕᒧᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑫᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᐃᔑᐱᒪᑎᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲ ᒋᔭᐸᒋᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᑲᐧᑎᓯᐃᐧᓂ.
ᐯᔑᐠ ᑕᐣᑐᕑ ᐯ ᑎᐯᐣᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑯ ᐅᑭᒋᑭᐡᑲᑯᐊᐧᐣ ᐃᓂᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᒐᐧᕑᑎᐣ ᓄᓫᐊᐣ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᑲᑭᐃᔑᑲᐡᑭᑕᒪᓱᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑭᑐᑕᒧᐠ ᓂᐦᓴᐧᓱ ᐊᐧᑲᓭ ᑭᐱᒥᐱᓱᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑭᐃᔕᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᕑᑎᐣ ᕑᐃᐳᕑ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐊᐱ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᐢ ᑲᑭᒪᑌᑭᐁᐧᐃᐧᑐᐸᐣ ᑭᒋᒥᓂᑲᐧᑲᓂ ᐃᒪ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ. ᐸᐧᓫᐃᐣ ᒥᑯᓫᓴᐣ ᐃᑭᑐ ᓄᓫᐊᐣ ᐅᑲᐡᑭᑕᒪᓱᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᑭᐁᐧᑲᓄᑫ ᐅᐢᑌᓯᒪᐠ ᐁᐸᐸᒪᑯᐁᐧᐸᐦᐃᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᓇᓯᐱᐠ ᒧᑎᑲᐧᐠ ᐊᐧᓴ ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ. ᐁᑲᐧ ᐅᑕᓂᓴᐣ, ᑲᑲᑫᐧᒋᓂᐨ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᓄᓫᐊᓄᐣ ᐅᑭᐅᐣᒋᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐣ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐁᐧᓀᐣ ᐅᑕᑭᑲᐡᑭᑐᐣ ᒋᑭᑲᒋᑎᓇᒪᓱᐸᐣ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᑲᑲᐃᐧᑐᑕᐠ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᑭᒋᐊᓄᑲᑕᐠ.
Jordan Nolan inspires family
I am a kind man A program in Thunder Bay geared at helping men live without violence is gearing up to start in September. Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin was described by one worker as helping Aboriginal men live like Aboriginal men. Martin White, the program’s facilitator, says that expressions of violence against women were instilled in Aboriginal people during colonization. White introduces men to traditional Aboriginal teachings and practices in order to help them live in a good way without violence.
This week in Wawatay: New Grand Chief Harvey Yesno (top) introduced his new executive to the media and took the opportunity to pledge protection of First Nation lands. A doctor in Dryden is undergoing sensitivity training after making racially insensitive remarks to a First Nations family. A new program in Thunder Bay is teaching men to act in a good way. And Jordan Nolan’s Stanley Cup win continues to resonate through the north. Plus an Elder’s program in a Thunder Bay high school gets top marks (page 9); Lac Seul introduces a group of medical students to its community (page 8); KI paddlers head to Fort Severn to protect their watershed (page 3); and NAN’s new executive council give their introductory speeches (page 6).
A Thunder Bay family was so inspired by Jordan Nolan’s accomplishments that they drove seven hours to visit Garden River when the young man brought the Stanley Cup to his community. Pauline Mickelson said Nolan’s success brought back memories of brothers playing hockey on frozen lakes in the far north. Her daughter, a young gymnast, said Nolan has made her realize that anyone can reach their goals if they are wiling to put in the hard work.
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Wawatay News
AUGUST 30, 2012
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ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
KI paddlers travelling to protect watershed Shawn Bell Wawatay News
Promoting the traditional use of northern waterways and the need for protection of its watershed, a group of paddlers from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation has embarked on a canoe trip to Fort Severn. Fourteen paddlers in seven canoes left KI on August 24. They expect to arrive in Fort Severn after nine or 10 days on the rivers. Richard Anderson, KI’s watershed community worker, said the trip is about more than just following a trading route that his ancestors used to travel every year. “The trip is for awareness that we are protecting our watersheds for future generations,” Anderson said. “The Elders have taught us that our water is very important for us up here, and we should keep it that way.” Anderson has done the journey from KI to Fort Severn 11
“The Elders have taught us that our water is very important for us up here, and we should keep it that way.” -Richard Anderson
times, and he still marvels at the efforts of his ancestors who used to do the trip there and back laden with supplies. He said there are quite a few portages along the way, some retaining signs of their use through the ages. There are also a number of significant historic sites along the rivers, including gravesites that the community group will honour during the trip, Anderson said. Over the past decade, KI has waged an ongoing struggle to protect its traditional lands from mining exploration. Earlier this year the First Nation won a concession from the Ontario government for over 22,000 hectares to be removed from mining development. That
Submitted photos
Richard Anderson, left, is one of 14 paddlers from KI travelling to Fort Severn on a traditional route to raise awareness of the need to protect KI’s watershed from mining and exploration activity. followed KI’s opposition to gold mining company God’s Lake Resources’ attempts to explore in KI land without informing the First Nation. Ontario’s land withdrawal, however, only encompasses half of KI’s traditional watershed of 13,000 square kilometres.
In 2011 KI voted in favour of the KI Watershed Declaration, a plan to place all of KI’s traditional watershed under protection from mining exploration. But the community says the Ontario government is still ignoring the First Nation’s calls to manage its land the way it sees fit.
“The KI people have protected our entire home watershed through Indigenous Law,” said KI Chief Donny Morris in a press release. “Now we are calling on Ontario to respect our protection before this sacred landscape is poisoned by the diamond, gold, and metals min-
ing companies who have set their sights on it.” For Anderson, canoe trips like the one the group has embarked on serve to show how the First Nation still uses the land as his people always have. It is also a way of passing on the traditional knowledge to the youth in the community. “I’ve been on this trip with my kids, I’ve taken them on that route,” Anderson said. “It’s really important that they get to see these routes that our ancestors went through just to survive, to take supplies up there and bring them back to KI.” “It’s all we have up here, our land and our water,” he added. “It’s important that we keep it for future generations because they are the next ones that will be using the land.” Anderson added that the community is thinking of hosting a bigger canoe trip to Fort Severn next year, and that anyone who wished to join them would be welcome.
Fearing loss of reserve lands I am a Kind Man Private property on reserve bill to be debated this fall Shawn Bell Wawatay News
First Nations in northern Ontario fear the loss of their already limited reserve lands should new federal legislation allowing private property on reserves pass, says a Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) deputy grand chief. Les Louttit, who held the housing and infrastructure portfolio during the last executive council before being reelected, said there is a big risk that First Nations right across Canada would end up losing land should there be private property on reserve. “There are pros and cons to the proposed legislation, but I think we know from experiences elsewhere that there is the risk of expropriation of those private lands into nonAboriginal ownership,” Louttit said. “There is the danger (the bill) would continue to erode the size of the community proper, the reserve lands.” On the positive side, Louttit said that private property would allow community mem-
bers to use their land as collateral for getting a mortgage, which could help alleviate the huge backlog of homes needed
“There is the danger (the bill) would continue to erode the size of the community proper, the reserve lands.” - Les Louttit
in NAN communities. An estimated 5,000 new homes are required across NAN’s 49 communities, with thousands more houses in need of repairs. Conservative MP Rob Clarke, a member of the Muskeg Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, introduced the bill into the House of Commons earlier this month. Besides allowing First Nations to choose whether to instill private property on reserves, the bill also addresses other aspects of the Indian Act. It would remove remove all ref-
erences to residential schools from the act and allow First Nations people living on reserve to write wills and estates. Debate on the bill is expected to happen during the fall session. Clarke told Windspeaker Newspaper that his bill is a start towards replacing or eliminating the Indian Act, which he called “cumbersome” and “archaic.” “Everyone’s dream is to get rid of the Indian Act, but what I’m trying to do is start the ground work,” Clarke said to Windspeaker. Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada John Duncan said in a statement that the government backs Clarke’s bill. “The spirit of MP Clarke’s bill is something that I can support,” Duncan said. “Our government understands that there are impediments to the Indian Act. This is why we have worked in collaboration with our First Nations partners to develop the First Nations Electoral Reform Act, as well as the First Nation Land Management
Act, and it is why we continue to work to create opportunities for First Nations communities to participate more fully in Canada’s economy.” Yet First Nations across Canada have spoken out against the bill. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo has been a vocal opponent of the plan since it was first raised in the Conservative’s 2012 budget. “First Nations, by and large, do not support private property,” he said in May. Atleo added that many First Nations have other creative solutions for land use and development that would respect and preserve treaty rights, but which are not based on “externally imposed notions.” Chiefs of NAN were briefed on the new bill during the Keywaywin conference in Kashechewan from August 14-16. Louttit said that NAN chiefs will analyze it in further detail to determine what the effects would be in NAN territory before responding the government.
Dryden doctor to undergo sensitivity training Health Centre apologizes for doctor’s racially offensive comments Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News
A Dryden doctor has been ordered to attend cultural sensitivity training after making offensive remarks to a First Nations family on Aug. 4. The comments, which the family found to be racially offensive, were made as the doctor was attending to the patient at the Dryden Regional Health Centre (DRHC) emergency room. While the family did not file a formal complaint with the hospital, word of the incident spread through social media sites such as Facebook, prompt-
ing the hospital to respond. In a media release, DRHC said it concluded that the physician breached DRHC’s code of conduct and treats the breach seriously. “The physician has acknowledged that his conduct was inappropriate and has indicated that he intends to personally apologize to the family, should he be given the opportunity,” the release said. “He has also agreed to attend cultural sensitivity training”. DRHC does have mandatory cultural sensitivity training for all staff but since the doctor involved in this incident is employed by an
outside clinic, it is unsure if he received the training. “We strive to have a health centre that is inclusive and respectful of all races, cultures and creeds,” the DRHC release said. “We will be conducting a review of all of our programs and services to ensure that all staff, medical staff, and volunteers have the appropriate training and skills in providing culturally appropriate health care and support to First Nations and Aboriginal people.” It added that the review would be conducted with assistance from the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre,
“our designated regional centre of excellence for First Nations and Aboriginal health care.” Meanwhile, the family involved has not spoken to media about the incident. In a media release, an Elder spokesperson for the family said the family needs time to absorb the significance of the incident and is requesting privacy, so they will not respond to media enquiries. He added that the family is overwhelmed with the number of individuals and organizations who have come forward to support the family, including Eagle Lake First Nation and the Grand Council of Treaty#3.
program coming Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News
A program geared at teaching Aboriginal men to live their lives without violence against women gets set to start in Thunder Bay in September. Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin is a community reintegration project that one worker describes as teaching Aboriginal men to “live like Aboriginal men.” Martin White, a Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin worker who runs the program out of the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Center, said he works with Aboriginal men who are abusive to their spouse by reintroducing them to the traditional teachings and practices of Aboriginal people. “The program incorporates the seven Grandfather teachings and how they relate to living as Aboriginal men. Those teachings do not teach a man how to live violently,” White said. ‘Kizhaay Anishinaabe niin’ means, ‘I am a kind man’ in Ojibwe. A pamphlet from Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin states that the goal of the program is “to engage the men and boys of Aboriginal communities to speak out against all forms of violence and abuse towards Aboriginal women.” White expressed how those kinds of violent behaviours were brought into the Aboriginal culture through “contact” – a word the Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin brochure describes as “colonization.” In the first week of the program, White touches up on some of the history of Aboriginal people and the kinds of behaviours that were adopted after contact. “I talk about things like how we learned to take tobacco the wrong way, how we learned to be abusive to our wives and kids. We talk about residential school. I talk a lot to them (the program participants) about how they drink alcohol and get violent – I ask what part of that is Aboriginal?” White
explained. For the most part, the program’s participants are courtordered to be there. The pamphlet describes the project being aimed at “an Aboriginal man who is being or has been recently released from incarceration and is returning to the community.” It is also geared for Aboriginal men who wish to join the program voluntarily. When a person is referred to – or volunteers to – enroll into the program, White said he conducts a quick phone intake and then asks the enrollees to come by the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Center for another meeting. “It takes about an hour to ask questions and get consent forms signed,” White explained. “I register about 25 individuals,” White said. “We are packed at our facility, I think sometimes that’s why a lot of the men drop out of the program. It’s too big of a group. Out of 25 members, we graduate about 10 or 12.” “Sometimes we get people, for instance, who say they are 100 per cent Catholic. I tell them to look at being Catholic and how it mirrors Aboriginal teachings. The teachings have a common root. The Bible doesn’t say to hurt your children, or to consume alcohol and then hurt your wife,” White said. “I tell them to use the Grandfather teachings, they were given to us for free.” The first goal of the program is “to provide education and support for Aboriginal men and boys to address issues of violence against Aboriginal women.” “You can’t change the past, so you have to move forward. You have to make yourself better than it (the past),” White said of people who have been abusive towards their partners. “If you were abusive yesterday, don’t be abusive today. Move forward.” Much more information including current Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin sites in Ontario, as well as other helpful resources, can be accessed at www.iamakindman.ca or by calling 1-800772-9291.
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Wawatay News
AUGUST 30, 2012
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
From the Wawatay archives 16-5th Avenue North P.O. Box 1180 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B7 Serving the First Nations in Northern Ontario since 1974. Wawatay News is a politically independent weekly newspaper published by Wawatay Native Communications Society.
ᓂᐢᑕᑦ ᑲᑭᒪᑕᓄᑲᑌᐠ 1974 ᐁᐅᒋᐊᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑭᐧᐁᑎᓄᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑕᐃᑦᔑᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ. ᑕᓱᓂᔓᐱᒥᑯᓇᑲ ᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐧᐃ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐧᐃᐣ ᐅᓇᔓᐧᐁᐧᐃ ᑲᓇᐧᐊᐸᒋᑫᐧᐃᓂᐠ ᒋᐃᔑ ᐸᐸᒥᓯᒪᑲᐠ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓂᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER David Neegan
Commentary
Health: a matter of responsibility Joyce Atcheson GUEST COLUMNIST
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s I read Wawatay News I am filled with pride and awe. So many youth, Elders, leaders, children are taking responsibility for what we can do in our world. I hear those ending oxy addictions; communities taking a stand against mining, clearcutting, and other destructive actions; the return of the teachings at renewals of annual gatherings and I read of youth making great strides in personal gifts and learning their culture and traditional activities. Memories flood my mind of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug’s homecomings, Muskrat Dam and Eaabemetoong Elders’ gatherings, my time with Wawatay covering meetings, being offered great stories to write by those who had been wronged, and the many hours I spent fishing, learning the lands’ many faces, and listening with my heart because I don’t speak the language and can’t understand it through my ears. These memories remind me of how I learned my responsibility as a human for health of all and the effect of my actions on interdependence and interconnectedness. I once lived in a trailer in Garden River AB, the Little Red River Cree Nation within the Wood Buffalo National Park boundaries. The park boundaries bar the Cree from a reserve, yet ‘this has always been our home,’ said the late and blind 97 year-old, Marguerite Nanooch. One night I awoke kicking to fend off a bite on my toe and later felt tugging of my long hair which left loose had fallen over the side of the bed. As I pulled my hair I heard a soft thud on the floor. I shuddered; they wanted to be bed partners. My TV watching was disturbed by the stomping of feet as I watched one brazen guy skip and jump across the living room floor. My slipper fur steadily disappeared. At night, kick-boxed spice bottles clanked off the ledge on the back of the stove. They scrambled up and over one slice hole to the other of the toaster only to disappear behind the stove when I approached. Empty bags of macaroni and rice filled the cupboard, but these teachers gave back: black droppings littered linens and every cupboard I opened. As days passed, I vowed to end this battle. I knew of mouse treat, a
poison that causes internal bleeding. It’s warfarin, a blood thinner. A trip to the store and my confidence grew; I knew I had the upper hand! The next day in the bathroom one tiny body did a frantic paddle against the toilet bowl’s slippery porcelain. I couldn’t park and I couldn’t flush her… I considered a ramp but quickly chose a slotted spoon. I saved her by flinging her into the tub, like she could climb up the handle to eat me! There she sat drying and preening herself with tiny waterlogged fingers, as I took her picture so I wouldn’t forget this moment of lunacy learning. Feeling really silly I went to work where Louise Blesse listened and didn’t laugh in my face as she showed me how to set traps properly! This same trip I befriended a small brown and white bundle of wiggle, wag, and ears. Mahkachop was a teacher who sacrificed a great deal to my lesson. He was my outdoor companion waiting for me at the clinic door while I worked, walking me home for lunch, going with me daily as I walked the bush, and bounding to greet me every time my footsteps sounded on the porch. He’d made a spot to crawl under the trailer skirting and that’s where he slept. The end of my contract came and I had to leave. I showed the incoming nurse how to set traps so she could take over my trap line, left food for Mahkachop, and looked forward to my return in three weeks. My next visit Mahkachop was gone and the trailer was quiet, eerily quiet. I fulfilled that contract, feeling quite unwell, returning to Ft. McMurray with a fever, severe cough, chest pain, and intense fatigue. I later learned five consecutive nurses became sick living in that trailer. I now believe I had Hanta virus but I never went to hospital or saw a doctor. I supported my body to heal itself by resting, eating good food, and exercising my hardest lesson: patience. On my next trip I learned the health service expanded to two nurses with the old trailer replaced by two trailers. Mahkachop’s gift arrived via George Nanooch, the maintenance man, who told me, ‘Under the old trailer were hundreds of dried mouse bodies and a small dog.’ Today I am heartened by those who show strength and resilience to focus on interdependence and speak for all the creatures who depend on us to value their lives and the very life of our earth mother. Kitchi-meegwetch to all of you.
Wawatay News archives
Food is served during the 1993 baseball tournament in Sachigo Lake First Nation.
Rooting our spirit to the land Richard Wagamese ONE NATIVE LIFE
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ack in 1974 I was about as lost as you could possibly be. I’d left my adopted home a year or so before and had been living on the street, on welfare, unemployed or working at one dead end job after another for very little money. It was a bleak time. I felt snared by circumstance and left with little hope of better so I began to hit the road just to get away. I was a hitchhiker then and at that time it was still a safe thing to do. People were open and friendly and rides came often. I don’t know what I was looking for back then, maybe it was just to be heard and sitting in a car chatting with a stranger felt good, safe in the distance new encounters are forged in. There was a safety in anonymity. I could talk about anything. Drivers mostly just wanted someone to share the highway with and conversations seldom drifted near anything real or dramatic or painful. The car would rumble down the road to
wherever it was pointed and I would sit and imagine things turning out better than they ever had when I arrived. I thought it was a perfect way to fill time and days. Then I met Earl. He was a Finn in his late 60s and after a few decades in Canada he still spoke with a thick accent. But he was friendly and liked to laugh and he told good stories. It felt as though he could remember every detail of everything that had ever happened to him and his stories were rich and deep and engaging. We drove from outside Toronto to the north end of Lake Superior together. He told me stories about his home in Finland and here in Canada. He spoke about his wife Anna-Liisa. He spoke of their common love of fishing in the Ruunaa Rapids in the River Lieksanjoki, how they loved the feeling of the land coming to inhabit them there. He talked about their dream of building a fishing lodge in Canada and how they slaved to make that a reality. The place they chose was as close to a Finnish landscape as they could find. He made this country home. When they made their dream happen they infused it with their own energy and their lodge was small but successful. He was happy there. He felt
like he belonged and that the story of his life was written well here. He could stand and look out across the broad back of the river and feel connected to his homeland by energy and spirit and then feel connected to Canada by the warmth of his wife’s hand in his as they walked the shoreline.
“...their spirit and energy had been grafted on to the spirit of Canada itself because of that.” They largely gave up on towns and cities and worked to make their small home as self-sufficient as possible. Earl came from a long line of lumberjacks and he built an enormous wood house for firewood from trees he felled and bucked himself. They had a root cellar. They smoked fish and Earl hunted and butchered the meat they kept in a freezer. Anna-Liisa baked and put up provisions. Their life was their home and their home was the land. Then Anna-Liisa died. Earl said it felt like the world suddenly became a quieter place and he struggled to
hear the birds. He buried her near the cleft of pink granite she loved and where she had planted flowers in its crevices and cracks. He sat there in her old rocker on summer evenings and sang her Finnish folk songs, drank tea and let his pain wash over him. His life was less without her and he felt lost for a long time. But he said he felt like it was his country now with his wife laid in the breast of it. Said their spirit and energy had been grafted on to the spirit of Canada itself because of that. He looked at me and asked if I had a place where I could set my feet and spirit down and feel anchored. When I didn’t answer he shook his head sadly. “I come here to find myself,” he said “and it was not even yet my home and here it’s been yours all along and still we make the same journey.” He asked me to stay and work for him but I needed to move on. I was still searching for somewhere and couldn’t yet settle for here. So he gave me thirty dollars and a ride to Thunder Bay and a fond wish that I would find a home for myself like he’d found his. “Come back and work,” he said as I left. We both knew I wouldn’t. But I never forgot his story or his words.
CONTACT US Sioux Lookout Office Hours: 8:30-5:00 CST Phone: ....................737-2951 Toll Free: .....1-800-243-9059 Fax: ...............(807) 737-3224 .............. (807) 737-2263
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER David Neegan davidn@wawatay.on.ca EDITOR Shawn Bell shawnb@wawatay.on.ca WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Rick Garrick rickg@wawatay.on.ca WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Lenny Carpenter lennyc@wawatay.on.ca
ART DIRECTOR Roxann Shapwaykeesic, RGD roxys@wawatay.on.ca GRAPHIC DESIGNER Matthew Bradley matthewb@wawatay.on.ca SALES MANAGER James Brohm jamesb@wawatay.on.ca CIRCULATION Adelaide Anderson reception@wawatay.on.ca
TRANSLATORS Vicky Angees vickya@wawatay.on.ca Agnes Shakakeesic agness@wawatay.on.ca CONTRIBUTORS Xavier Kataquapit Chris Kornacki Richard Wagamese
Guest editorials, columnists and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of Wawatay News.
Wawatay News
Linda’s Culture Corner Babies are sacred, gifts from the Creator and they are to be treated with the utmost respect. One way the Anishinawbe did this was to place them inside a tikinagan. It was handmade of the finest black ash or birch tree. Cedar is used for the most part because it is rather light. The use of birch and black ash is because it is easy to bend using heated water and steam. The bottom is rounded a bit to make it rock smoothly, to rock the baby to sleep. The front has an object with which a person can grasp, to rock the baby also. This device is known as the “anaagwa ono.” If a baby were to fall forward, this device would save the baby from a
facial injury. I’ve heard it said too, that the device would save the baby from drowning if canoe travellers were to capsize. The tikinagan would turn itself on its backside and the “anaagwa oon” would turn face up, thus keeping the baby from drowning.
AUGUST 30, 2012
Tikinagan I’ve also heard from long ago elders talk, the baby’s floral designs on the “wacaskeepiisoon” – boy’s designs are meant to be simple – so the spirits do not mistake the child as a girl and steal him. There are five parts to a tikinagan. Two boards where the baby lays, the two short boards that hold the two bigger boards together (one at the top and one at the bottom). The fourth piece is a slightly rounded strip of a board where the baby is held in place also where the “wacaskeepiisoon” is attached. And of course, the “anngwa oon.” A long scarf, or some sort of tying device can be attached to the back of the tikinagan, so the baby can be carried.
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ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
GLIMPSES
OF WILDLIFE
The baby can be placed against a tree, table, chair or any object without having to hold the baby at all times. It must be placed at an angle; otherwise the baby will fall forward or backwards. Objects can be placed on the “anngwa oon” for example the baby’s umbilical cord bag, mallard head as a good luck charm, bones from a sucker head to make sweet soothing musical sounds and perhaps even a small dream catcher. Nowadays it is rare to see babies held in the tikinagans of long ago. It is always pleasant to see a baby in one. Also there are not many men or women who are left to make such ingenious, clever carriers.
WAWATAY BOOK REVIEW
Land is to be shared Joyce Atchinson Special to Wawatay News
History is more than the white man’s view. Prior to settlement, Anishinabek occupied much of the eastern area of Turtle Island. Their belief system and way of life was vastly different than the newcomers’. Dependent on the land for life, they learned to live in peace and harmony, to assure they would have what they needed.
Taking only what they needed to survive they gave back to Mother Earth for each of the gifts they got from her -- plants, animals, fish, and rocks. Sharing was always done, no one owned property or individual wealth. Family life included feeding and raising children as a community. War came to Anishinabek with the newcomers’ desires to control wealth and land. In order to acquire peace the Anishinabek agreed to
peace treaties formalized by wampum belts. As history progressed in this land, changes came about to colonize the Indians, to make Indians be the same as Europeans. Despite treaties war continues to be waged upon Anishinabek, albeit by police and governments now. This small book is ideal for school use, to begin the process of educating children to the value and solemn promise of giving your word.
We are all…Treaty People -Union of Ontario Indians, text by Maurice Switzer, illustrated by Charley Hebert (Printed by Creative Impressions Inc.; 2011; ISBN 978-0-9868211-0-3); 34 pages; $25.00, $15.00 for 100 copies or more)
Submitted photos by Bobby Binguis
Above: An eagle soars with his catch from Lac Seul. Bottom: Wolf cub hanging about highway 664, Hudson Highway near Pelican Falls School turn off.
Find in these communities Aroland Atikokan Attawapiskat Balmertown Batchewana Bearskin Lake Beaverhouse Big Grassy Big Island Big Trout Lake Brunswick House Calstock Cat Lake Chapleau Cochrane Collins Couchiching Couchiching Deer Lake Dinorwic Dryden Ear Falls Emo Flying Post Fort Albany Fort Frances Fort Hope Fort Severn Geraldton Ginoogaming Grassy Narrows Gull Bay Hornepayne Hudson Iskatewizaagegan
Kapuskasing Kasabonika Kashechewan Keewaywin Kenora Kingfisher Lake Kocheching Lac La Croix Lac Seul, Kejick Bay Lake Nipigon Lansdowne Long Lake Mattagammi Michipicoten Migisi Sahgaigan Missanabie Mobert Moose Factory Moosonee Muskrat Dam Musselwhite Mine Naicatchewenin Naotikamegwanning Nestor Falls Nicikousemenecaning North Spirit Lake Northwest Angle #33 Northwest Angle #37 Ochiichagwe’Babigo’ Ining Ogoki Pic River Osnaburgh Pawitik Pays Plat Peawanuck
Pickle Lake Pikangikum Poplar Hill Rainy River Red Lake Red Rock Rocky Bay Sachigo Lake Sandy Lake Saugeen Sault Ste. Marie Savant Lake Seine River Shoal Lake Sioux Lookout Sioux Narrows Slate Falls Stanjikoming Stratton Summer Beaver Taykwa Tagamou Timmins Thunder Bay Wabaskang Wabigoon Wahgoshing Wapekeka Washaganish Wauzhusk Onigum Wawakapewin Weagamow Lake Webequie Whitedog Whitesand Wunnimun Lake
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Wawatay News
AUGUST 30, 2012
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
New grand chief pledges protection of lands Shawn Bell Wawatay News
Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s new grand chief wasted little time in wading into the controversy over resource development on First Nations lands. During a media meet and greet in Thunder Bay on Aug. 22, Harvey Yesno used his opening speech to declare that First Nations in NAN territory are willing to protect their lands by “whatever means possible.” “One thing for sure, on the lands, its going to be all about protection,” Yesno said. “We’re not going to protest over our own lands. Nobody protests over their own property. But people will protect their property. And we’ll protect it by whatever means possible.” Yesno’s comments come as conflict over the Ring of Fire mining development continues to brew. Neskantaga First Nation chief Peter Moonias has said he is willing to die stopping a bridge from being built over the Attawapiskat River. Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Stan Louttit has also made threats of direct action in the Ring of Fire. Cliffs Resources and Noront Resources both have Ring of Fire projects currently undergoing environmental assessment. Cliffs has already
proposed to build its chromite mine in the region, an all-access road south to Nakina and a processing facility in Sudbury. Noront is currently assessing options for its project. Meanwhile Matawa First Nations has an ongoing judicial review waiting to come before the courts that, if successful, would force the companies to conduct a full Joint Review Panel of the projects.
“...the unemployment (in the communities) is greater than the unemployment in the great depression.” – NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno
Yesno also pledged to focus his first term as grand chief on economic development in the communities. He cited high unemployment as a key driver for many of the social problems facing the North. “You all hear about the lack of adequate community infrastructure, whether that’s housing or schools and on and on. But the unemployment (in the communities) is greater than the unemployment in the great depression. That’s
NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno speech T here’s a message to everyone that there is a change, and there will be change. Some internally, and some in the approaches we’re going to take in our mandate. One of the key issues for me as Grand Chief, obviously I’m responsible for all of the communities, there is certain amount of expectation on key issues and one by far is to do with the land, resources and waters. Also the Treaty. We have a relationship with the federal and provincial government, and that is certainly going to be paramount in my work and engagement, both on behalf of the First Nations and communities. We believe we’ve been at this for little over 100 years and we need to get both levels of government along with ourselves at the table and start implementing the terms of the treaty. That’s crucial in terms of resource development. One of the key things we’re not going to be doing, is we’re not going to be protesting over our lands anymore. These are our lands. This is all going to be about protection of the lands. I think our chiefs have made a pretty clear statement that we’re not just going to watch development happen. We want meaningful involvement, we want consultation that’s meaningful. Memos, emails and phone calls will not cut it. We have to establish treaty tables at the community level involving both the federal and provincial governments. That’s the issue. We can talk about programs and services all we want, but that’s not going to build the economy.
We’ve got to talk about creating wealth in the communities, that will create meaningful jobs and economic and business development. That’s what is going to change the communities. You all hear about the lack of adequate community infrastructure, whether that’s housing or schools and on and on. But the unemployment is greater than the unemployment in the great depression. That’s unacceptable for any society. We want to see that change. We want to build capacity for our young people, we want to offer hope for our young people to achieve higher education and participate in the economy. Not only in our communities. Here we are in Thunder Bay, for example. These cities and towns benefit a lot from the work that we do as First Nations people. This is where things are made, this is where meetings are held and so on. So we are definitely going to make some change. The engagement with the government certainly going to be first and foremost. I’m not interested in meeting with beaurocrats. I want to meet with counterparts that will be making decisions. We want to get things done. That’s a high expectations we put on ourselves, and we’ll do everything possible. One thing for sure, on the lands, its going to be all about protection. We’re not going to protest over our own lands. Nobody protests over their own property. But people will protect their property. And that’s a big change. You’ve heard the chiefs already say what they’re prepared to do with protection.
photo courtesy of NAN
NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno said he wants to work on unemployment in the communities, implementing terms of the treaties with Ontario and Canada, and changing NAN both internally and externally so it better reflects the needs of the communities. unacceptable for any society. We want to see that change,” Yesno said. The new NAN executive was elected on Aug. 15 during
NAN’s Keywaywin conference in Kashechewan. Alvin Fiddler, Goyce Kakegamic and Les Louttit were elected as deputy grand chiefs. Only Louttit
returns from the previous executive council. The new council pledged a change in the way it, and NAN itself, operates.
Fiddler said that while on the campaign trail, the candidates repeatedly heard that NAN has become “irrelevant” and less of a voice of the communities. “We want to realign NAN so that it fits our community priorities, and so that it is there to support our leadership and their struggles on the issues that they deal with everyday,” Fiddler said. Yesno said changes are planned for the way NAN operates internally, as well as in the way NAN deals with governments and industry. Part of those changes is the shift from protesting to protecting lands, the grand chief said. But Yesno also noted that NAN expects both federal and provincial governments to treat NAN as a nation, with elected officials meeting to make decisions on issues affecting northern Ontario First Nations. “We are definitely going to make some change, and the engagement with the government is certainly going to be first and foremost,” Yesno said. “I’m not interested in meeting with bureaucrats. I want to meet with counterparts that will be making decisions.” He said that implementing the treaties with Ontario and Canada would also be paramount during his council’s term.
Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler speech
I
n terms of some of the issues and priorities that we heard from the chiefs during the campaign, as you know there are several issues that they face and deal with every day. But one of the themes that we heard was in terms of the change that they see coming into our lands. The Ring of Fire, and the mining development that is taking place and will be taking place. At the same time they’re facing very difficult challenges. The prescription drug abuse is
an epidemic that is creating a lot of havoc in our communities. That’s a challenge that we have, how do we prepare our communities and especially our youth to be a part of that change that is coming? We need to help our leadership in the communities to be in position to manage the change. If we don’t, we’ll get swept away. We will not be able to participate in a meaningful way, and to benefit in a meaningful way all that this resource development will
create. The other thing with this prescription drug epidemic, it is creating a lot of pressure on other systems. The child welfare system, the education system, policing services and our health care system. So if we can work with governments and others to begin to alleviate the pressures that this epidemic is creating, I think it will be good for everybody. The other thing I want to speak to briefly, there is a perception in some circles that
this organization, NAN, over the last few years is becoming irrelevant and becoming less of a voice for our communities. That was something we talked about in the campaign, that we want to realign NAN so that it fits our community priorities, and so that it is there to support our leadership and their struggles on the issues that they deal with everyday. I look forward to being part of that renewal process where NAN is once again a strong, effective voice for our people.
NAN Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic speech
I
think we’re living in exciting times. A long time ago our ancestors lived off the land, fishing and trapping. That’s not feasible. But there’s other rich gifts that we have in our traditional lands. Minerals, waterways and forestry. And I think we know that we need the partnership to get the benefits for all people of northwestern Ontario. I think we need to open more dialogue with our neighbours, with the municipalities. What they want is exactly what we want for our children. Safe, healthy communities. I think we miss more opportunities sometime, we’re not as successful as we should be, by the continuation of native and non-native solitudes. We need to work together So I look forward to
working on that agenda with my colleagues. Education is a priority in our territory. The situation is not getting any better. They say our native people are failing. But it is not our native people that our failing. It is the system that is failing our students. So we need to find ways how we can address this situation. How can we empower the educators throughout our territory with the adequate funding, resources and expertise to educate our children? And I believe that they can succeed, like anybody else. In the urban society, you have school boards, you have all resources available to your people. Us, in our reserve, we don’t have that. We don’t have things
like second-level services, specialists. Basically in some areas we just have schools. This is what we need to address to upgrade our students. I think with all these developments, that we need to talk about resource sharing. We not only need to talk about the benefits on our lands, but we need to talk about how we can empower our children so in years to come they will have that capacity to look after themselves and their children. That’s the challenge we have. I think we need to develop our students. We need plumbers, we need miners. Not everyone is destined to be a brain surgeon. We need to encourage our students like that too, more hands on, more reachable for the aspirations
that they have. I am thrilled to be working with the new executive. I was there for nine years, you get complacent and you leave for awhile and now you’re back with fire in your feet again. I’m looking at the new challenges that we have. But as I said before, we need to reach out to each other. One of the greatest challenges that we have as we start this new millennium is understanding and tolerance. That’s what we need to reach out to each other. There’s a lot of misconception, there is a lot of public education that needs to happen, about who we are and why are we taking the positions that we are. It’s dialogue, communicating.
NAN Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit speech
I
’m very happy obviously that I’m reelected, that the chiefs have confidence in getting me back in to work on the issues I’ve worked on based on the mandates they had given us the first term. I think we made some progress towards establishing a vehicle, an entity that will address the housing and infrastructure issue and the capital needs of our communities. As you know,
we’re close to a 5,000 home backlog across NAN, and then there’s the associated infrastructure such as water, sewage, roads and hydro to support those facilities that will be required. On another front, I have a passion for economic resource development. I’d like to begin to work on laying down a foundation for establishing a NAN economy, a NAN First Nations economy
in the NAN territory based on the resource extraction that happens in our territory. Again on economic development, we’re looking forward to working with NAN First Nation entrepreneurs and corporations, regional entities and regional business, I’m hoping we can put together a NAN business summit. Solely focused on NAN business people, bringing them together so that they can
network amongst each other, whether it be an owner of a convenience store or whether it’s a major entity like Wasaya. Also looking at bringing them together with private sector and financing and all that kind of stuff. That’s one of the things we had discussed internally here before the election that we would try and organize.
Wawatay News
AUGUST 30, 2012
á?§á?Šá?§á?Šá‘Œ á?Šá’‹á’§á?§á?ƒá“‡á?Ł
Pikangikum needs to embrace culture in education, says Algoma grad Continued from page 1
Troubles with education Pikangikum’s struggles with education have been well documented, and the chief coroner’s review draws a clear link between education and youth suicide. “A cluster of deaths occurred shortly after the destruction of the school,� the report read. “Children not attending school will experience increasing isolation from the mainstream Pikangikum society, lack of programming and healthy activity, and could easily fall into the lure of solvent abuse.� The report explains that the reserve has only around eight high school graduates each year and that in 2009 there were not any high school graduates who sought a postsecondary education in college or university.
“In Pikangikum, the language is strong, they need to focus on the traditional aspects now.� - Cheryl Suggashie
“Almost none of these children seek post-secondary education,� reads a line in the report. Upon hearing of the coroner’s report on the deaths in her home community, Suggashie was not too shocked or appalled. “All I really hear are complaints and investigations, long-going investigations and that’s it,� Suggashie said. “My cousin just committed suicide not too long ago, and we are a good family. Abuse is what triggers (suicide), emotional and verbal abuse. It’s not always about gas sniffing and alcohol.� Suggashie feels that all the negative stories in the media about Pikangikum helped inspire her to get an education. She attended school in Pikangikum as well as in different places like Northern Eagle High School in Ear Falls when it was still operating, and in Thunder Bay and Sandy Lake. But she knows all is not well in Pikangikum. Suggashie attributes many of the problems to an imbalance along generational lines. She suspects there is a weak relationship between the youth and the Elders, so that youth struggle to learn their identity as Anishinabe people. Suggashie said that Pikangikum should go back to the traditional ways and reintroduce the Anishinabe culture to the community with things like sharing circles. She said that the circles could start with a family on its own instead of something overwhelming like a community-sized circle. Suggashie feels that Pikangikum is lucky in the sense that the reserve still speaks their language, something that is lost
Cheryl Suggashie of Pikangikum credits her culture and family support for her success in education. She cautions that a new school in the community is only one step in encouraging youth to embrace education. in a lot of other communities. “In Pikangikum, the language is strong, they need to focus on the traditional aspects now,� she said.
New school not enough John Duncan, minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, announced in early August of this year that Pikangikum would be getting a new school. Suggashie said the community will “be happy at first about the school, but they will need to do more things.� She feels that a community recreation center would benefit the youth and help keep them active. Another aspect that could benefit the youth of the reserve would be welcoming the Elders of the community into the school on a regular basis for cultural teachings and activities, much like the Elders program that is running at Dennis Franklin Cromarty highschool in Thunder Bay. “The Elders could share their old stories, their ceremonies,� Suggashie said, just as the Elders had done with her. She said she did not know much about things like drumming before she spent
time with the Elders. “They should get together with the youth.�
Family support key Besides her culture, Suggashie credits the support of her family for helping her succeed, most notably her grandparents George and Martha Suggashie. Her “gramma away from home� was Josephine Mandamin, an Elder with whom she graduated this year. “You do need the support of your family when you’re away at school,� Suggashie said. Support also came from her own culture, which she describes as “strong.� “It took me a long time to get through college, but I did it. I wanted to show my family that I wasn’t just out here for nothing,� Suggashie said. “I think once you are educated, you can do anything.� Suggashie is currently working on putting together a traveling youth panel to speak to other communities about being third and fourth generation residential school survivors and their experiences as such. “I think people need to listen to the youth, they are smarter than they think.�
ATTENTION Service to the Public Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Thunder Bay District OfďŹ ce The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources – Thunder Bay District Office, located on the basement or B level of the Ontario Government Building at 435 James Street South, will remain closed over the next several months for repairs to water-damaged areas. To avoid an interruption in regular service, staff members are working in satellite offices. For assistance on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4:30 p.m. EST: t t t t t
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AUGUST 30, 2012
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Lac Seul welcomes medical students
Linda Henry Special to Wawatay News
Environmental Assessment Process Moves Forward Osisko has been busy visiting with local community members over the past few weeks, sharing information and gathering your feedback about the Hammond Reef Gold Project. On Saturday August 18, we welcomed approximately 105 attendees to Open House 4 at Osisko’s Main Street Office in downtown Atikokan. The event included a presentation of baseline study results, posters describing the Project and Environmental Assessment, information handouts and a Land Use questionnaire. A Project overview video was also playing on a loop in the boardroom. We understand that some people may not have been able to attend the Open House because of their participation in the Bass Classic. We are happy to announce that we will take part in the Atikokan Show Case again this year on September 8, 2012 to share information about the Hammond Reef Gold Project. Although the exploration phase of the Project is coming to an end, Osisko is providing information on training and education opportunities to assist employees to prepare for a potential larger construction workforce in 2014. We have also been engaging with government, First Nations and Métis communities through regular committee meetings, Elders forums and site visits. Most recently, Osisko provided the Métis Consultation Committee with a boat tour of the Hammond Reef site and visited the newly built round house at Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation, near Upsala. The round house gathering included approximately 25 Elders from seven First Nations communities who came together to talk about traditional land use. Thank you to all who have participated in the Environmental Assessment process to date and congratulations to Osisko employee Kevin Rissanen for winning second place with his fishing partner Corey Nephin in the Bass Classic!
Over 90 medical students, who are working towards becoming doctors, visited the small community of Whitefish Bay, Lac Seul First Nation on Aug. 21. They came at the invitation of Chief Clifford Bull who resides in the community. The main purpose was to have the students see for themselves the size of some of the communities of the north. Along with the doctors came presenters. First on the agenda was Bull, who welcomed the students and visitors to Lac Seul First Nation. He informed the crowd that this was his home. Also he announced to all it was his mother’s 79 birthday. He introduced the next person, the councillor of the community of Whitefish Bay, Roger Bull. Councillor Bull too, welcomed the visitors to his community where he also grew up. He told them a delicious meal of fresh pickerel was on the menu, but first the visitors had to listen to some presentations that the Lac Seul First Nation had arranged. An agenda had been passed out. Members of the new youth chief and council came forward also to welcome the students, staff and others. Tina Armstrong, director of Aboriginal Affairs at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) came in front and introduced the dean of Faculty, Dr. David Marsh. He, in turn, spoke about NSOM, his role with the program and where he hailed from. He told the people he was Mic’mwa from Newfoundland and was one of the very few of
the native student doctors to come out of medical school. A powerful and moving power point presentation on the history of Lac Seul was shown by Renee Southwind and Tom Chisel. Presenters came one after another. Janet Gordon came forward and spoke about her work in the field of services to the First Nations people. She is employed with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority. Next came Helen Cromarty. Helen introduced herself as a former nurse. Her role is in the new Meno Ya Win Health Center, as the Special Advisor to the board of directors. Both Cromarty and Gordon encouraged the students to come north to work. Cromarty’s prominent word of advice to the students was, “LISTEN.” She also said that the one huge difference the new hospital has with other hospitals, is the food. It is the only hospital that is allowed to serve traditional foods such as moose, deer and wild rice. Garnet Angeconeb came next to speak about the residential school era and how it continued to affect people today. Angeconeb said when he first came into the building he felt a silence. But when the students came in, he felt hope, hope for change. “If we can understand our collective past, then we can look forward to our future,” he said. As time was quickly drawing to a near closing and people were getting hungry, Gail Winter made a short presentation about “transportation” for First Nations people for medical treatments. A blessing of the food was made by one of the women of the Whitefish Bay community. A feast of fresh pickerel, potatoes, vegetables, meat trays, vegetable trays and fruit trays were made available for all present. During the meal, one student, Allison Webb spoke about her experience in Nibinamik. “I had a great time in my placement there. I made lots of friends. I was sad to leave,” Webb said. She is from Parry Sound and attends medical school at Laurentian University. The students had a fun time visiting Whitefish Bay, Lac Seul. They were made to feel welcome and the residents of the community hope to see some of these students come back and work as doctors here in the north.
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AUGUST 30, 2012
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ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Elders help students connect to culture Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News
School is about to start up again for many Ontario schools, including Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School (DFC). But unlike most schools in the province, DFC is preparing to welcome Elders as well as students into the new school year. “There have always been Elders at the school from the start,” Jonathan Kakegamic, principal of DFC, said. “The past two to three years, we have increased our Elders. We have seven Elders at the school now.” Kakegamic said that having an Elder present in the school gives the students a sense of security and a sense of community. “There’s always someone there to go to when you want to talk,” Kakegamic said of the Elders at DFC. “In our culture, the Elders play a big role in the communities and family.” Bella Patayash of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninwug First Nation can be found in the Elders room at DFC on any day of the school week, and occasionally after hours once the final bell has rung. “I try to stay in the evenings, too,” Patayash said. “It’s the only time they (the students) can communicate with their family back home on the
phones and computers.” Patayash looks forward to doing the same culturally centered activities she has been doing with the students since she first started working as a DFC Elder. She and the other Elders do arts and crafts such as beadwork and sewing with the students. “I teach arts and crafts because I know a lot of the times when people are done school, they can’t get a job right away. But if you have that (arts and crafts) to fall back on, you can earn your own money. I learned that from experience,” Patayash explained. The Elders also teach the students how to prepare wild food. “They like eating wild food, it’s part of their life,” Patayash said. “We teach them how to cut up meat, like how to prepare moose. They also like to make bannock.” Patayash learned everything she knows from her adoptive mother, whom she said was a hard worker. “My own mom died when I was young,” Patayash explained. “My mom asked her, my adoptive mother, to raise me to be her daughter. That’s how it is traditionally, a mother would tell a person to take care of their children if they knew they would be gone soon. “ “She did all these things, like preparing food in differ-
ent ways - also tanning hides and doing beadwork. I was beside her all the time,” Patayash said. “For some reason, I just wanted to be beside her.” The Elders at DFC often teach by showing. “They learn a lot just by watching,” Patayash said. “If we have to prepare fish, like cleaning and cutting it up, they will watch. Some want to try it, too.” The student’s skill level in the various activities improves each year, she said. “The first year, most are starting from scratch. The second year, they will know more. Some are really fast,” Patayash said of the students. “They catch on right away with sewing.” Patayash said that the arts and crafts are not just about sewing, and it is often the talking that brings the Elders and the students together. “You sit with someone while you sew and you get to know them, they talk to you more about things,” Patayash said. “They open up a bit more, like at home. It helps them talk about their feelings and what they’re going through.” Kakegamic has seen the difference in students who participate in DFC’s Elders program. “The kids who take advantage of the program, they have improved,” Kakegamic said. “Their marks have improved.”
Laptops for every student Rick Garrick Wawatay News
The Keewatin Patricia District School Board (KPDSB) is purchasing laptops for all Grade 4-12 students to improve teaching and learning through the use of technology in classrooms. “Students need to be prepared for 21st century careers and be very adept with media literacy and other technology savvy skills,” said Jack McMaster, KPDSB’s director of education. “We had presentations to our trustees at board meetings with respect to some of the projects teachers are doing with kids and have received excellent feedback. They are seeing much more productive writing and deeper thinking. When handwritten projects come in, the kids don’t go into it in as much depth as they would with the technology, so our teachers are seeing better forms of writing and more writing.” McMaster said students are more willing to convey information to the teacher through technology than
through written text. “So the teachers are very pleased with what is happening and I think we are seeing some changes to the format in the teaching,” McMaster said. “In the past we were the vessels of knowledge; now when we have the technology, we can actually facilitate the learning for the kids and try to develop more independent learners.” KPDSB is also purchasing a minimum of one iPad for every four students in Kindergarten to Grade 3, as well as mobile laptop labs for every Grade 3 class to assist in the transition to Grade 4. Teacher desktop computers will also be replaced with laptops and docking stations. The total cost for the computer purchases is about $2.3 million. KPDSB carried out a pilot project at three elementary schools during the 2011-2012 school year, with Grade 4-12 students being equipped with laptops and wireless Internet access in their classrooms. Students from JK to Grade 3 were provided with access to
mobile netbook labs and iPads and classrooms were equipped with interactive whiteboards. More than 600 students completed a survey to assess the pilot project, with 80 per cent of JK-Grade 2 students, 97 per cent of Grade 3-5 students and 94 per cent of Grade 6-8 students stating they liked using the technology. “We got some feedback from our students last year and it was pretty evident that this was a direction we needed to continue going in,” McMaster said. “In particular, we had a number of Grade 8 students who were very concerned about coming to high school without having their netbooks with them because they were so used to having them and using them and immediately accessing information about any topic instantaneously.” Nearly all parents/guardians who completed the survey also felt it is important for the school to provide technology for their children. “I think the parents saw the enthusiasm the kids brought to learning,” McMaster said.
“We did a youth forum, and the Elders was something that came out regularly,” he explained. “They like it. They like to see that there are different Elders, too.” The Elders program will be more involved this year with the school’s activities. Visits by Elders to every classroom will take place. “They talk about life experience – they encourage the kids,” Kakegamic said of the classroom visits. “I was here in 2004 as a teacher,” Kakegamic said. “I saw what the school could be.” Kakegamic wanted to incorporate the Elders presence into the school more. He sees now that the program has built a real sense of community in the school. “The Elders have so much knowledge that they can pass on to us. It’s important.” “It’s mainly because of our culture and our identity,” Patayash said of why she continues to be a part of DFC as an Elder. She said the first thing she does when she meets a student is speak to them in the language to see if they can understand. If they don’t understand, she does her best to teach them. “I think it’s important to be able to speak the language and keep the culture,” Patayash said. “That’s the main reason I want to be here.”
Stephanie Wesley/Wawatay News
Bella Patayash of KI spends most every day, and many evenings, in the Elders’ room at Dennis Franklin Cromarty high school in Thunder Bay. Patayash and the other Elders at the school help students connect with their culture while they are far from home.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT SECTION 7.1 NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF MINISTRY REVIEW AN INVITATION TO COMMENT ON THE CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MINISTRY OF NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AND MINES UNDER THE MINING ACT A Class Environmental Assessment for Activities of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines under the Mining Act (Class EA) has been submitted to the Ministry of the Environment. The Ministry of the Environment has prepared a Review of the proposed Class EA for Aboriginal communities, public and agency comment. The Review of the proposed Class EA does not make a decision about the proposed Class EA. That decision is made by the Minister of the Environment after the comment period is over and in consideration of all submissions received. To view, or for more information about the proposed Class EA, the ministry Review and the Notice of Completion of ministry Review, call the Ministry of the Environment at 1-800-461-6290 or 416-314-8001 or visit the ministry’s website at: English: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/industry/assessment_and_approvals/ environmental_assessments/projects/STDPROD_085847.html French: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/fr/industry/assessment_and_approvals/ environmental_assessments/projects/STDPROD_085848.html Copies of the proposed Class EA, the ministry Review and the Notice of Completion are also available for viewing at offices of the Ministries of the Environment and Northern Development and Mines during normal business hours. Send written comments no later than October 5, 2012, to: Director, Environmental Approvals Branch Ministry of the Environment Attention: Cindy Batista, Project Officer 2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A Toronto, ON M4V 1L5 tel: 416-314-8214 or 1-800-461-6290 fax: 416-314-8452 e-mail: cindy.batista@ontario.ca Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, unless otherwise stated in the submission, any personal information such as name, address, telephone number and property location included in all submissions become part of the public record files for this matter and can be released, if requested, to any person.
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Wawatay News
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
SIOUX LOOKOUT FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITY
SIOUX LOOKOUT FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITY Electronic Medical Records Project
TRANSITION FACILITATOR Internal/External Posting Full Time Position Location: Sioux Lookout, ON
HEALTH RECORDS COORDINATOR Internal/External Posting Term Full Time 6 months with a possibility of an extension Location: Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Network Technician Wawatay Native Communications Society is seeking an energetic, motivated and reliable individual for the position of Network Technician. Wawatay Native Communications Society is a self-governing, independent community-driven entrepreneurial native organization dedicated to using appropriate technologies to meet the communication needs of people of Aboriginal ancestry in Northern Ontario, wherever they live. In doing so, its founders intended that Wawatay would serve their communities by preserving, maintaining and enhancing indigenous languages and culture. Wawatay’s mission is to provide media capabilities and content that address the unique needs of the Nishnawbe people. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Network Technician is responsible for the IT resources of Wawatay Native Communications Society. This position oversees the existing network and computer resources and provides consultation on the expansion and maintenance of the network and related resources. The person chosen will actively develop and maintain the various web properties of Wawatay. There are currently four independent web sites. They are based on PHP and MySQL. The Wawatay network consists of three offices interconnected via a VPN. It is a mixed Windows PC and Mac environment. There are several small business servers fulfilling various roles within the organization such as file sharing and audio streaming. Qualifications: • Degree or Diploma in IT related field such as networking or programming. • Experience working with small business networks. • Proficiency programming in PHP. • Proficiency with MySQL databases. Duties: • Maintain the Wawatay network and all related assets. • Develop and maintain the web properties of Wawatay. • Consult on IT related issues or purchases. • Provide technical support to the Wawatay staff. Assets: • Experience working with Apple computers. • Experience with Windows Servers • Experience with Linux. • Knowledge or experience with the Asterisk PBX. • Ability to communicate in Cree, Oji-Cree, or Ojibway would be a plus. Location: Salary: Deadline for Applications:
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
AUGUST 30, 2012
This position is responsible for providing support and assistance to young adults with developmental disabilities and to increase/strengthen their involvement with community. QUALIFICATIONS • Minimum Grade 12 or equivalent; • Diploma in Developmental Services or demonstrated equivalency through experience; • A solid grasp of community development principles, person-centered planning, life skills development; • A solid understanding of the community and the systems operating within the community in the area of business, education, social services, employment services, and volunteers; • A demonstrated aptitude for broad exploration of new and unique means of attaining goals; • A demonstrated ability in conflict resolution; • A self starter and goal driven; • Excellent interpersonal skills; • Valid Driver’s License, use of vehicle and appropriate insurance coverage. KNOWLEDGE & ABILITY • Knowledge of the people, culture and health priorities of the First Nations communities in the Sioux Lookout Zone; • Knowledge of social supportive services; • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Professional Pro Plus 2007; • Ability to communicate in one of the First Nation dialects of the Sioux Lookout Zone a must; • Ability to work with confidential client and organization information in a responsible manner; • Ability and willing to work flexible work hours as required; • Ability and willing to travel extensively to First Nations Communities; • Must be willing to relocate and live in Sioux Lookout. Please send cover letter, resume, three most recent employment references and an up-to-date Criminal Reference Check & Vulnerable Person’s Sector Check: Human Resources Department Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority 61 Queen Street, P.O. Box 1300 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B8 Phone: (807) 737-1802 Fax: (807) 737-2969 Email: Human.Resources@slfnha.com
To be determined Commensurate with experience. Friday, August 24, 2012.
Please send resume, cover letter and three letters of reference to:
Closing Date: September 14, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Tabatha Jourdain, Human Resources Wawatay Native Communications Society Box 1130, Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B7 Fax: (807) 737-3224 Email: tabathaj@wawatay.on.ca
The Health Authority wishes to thank all applicants in advance. However, only those granted an interview will be contacted.
Wawatay Native Communications Society wishes to thank in advance all those who submit applications. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
For additional information regarding the Health Authority, please visit our Web-site at www.slfnha.com
No resumes received after that time will be accepted
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Reporting to the Operations Manager, the Health Records Coordinator provides overall coordination of Health Records services which include the transition from paper medical files to electronic medical records for the establishment and maintenance of health records in accordance with departmental, regional and legislative requirements. QUALIFICATIONS • Health Information Management diploma or certification; • Experience in Medical Records and/or electronic medical records an asset; • Superior time management and organizational skills; • Excellent leadership skills; • Excellent analytical skills; • Strong computer skills. KNOWLEDGE & ABILITY • Working knowledge of medical records management; • Ability to maintain effective working relationships; • Ability to work independently in a fast paced work environment; • Knowledge of the Privacy Act; • Experience in developing policies and procedures; • Must be willing to relocate and live in Sioux Lookout. Training will be provided to the specific Electronic Medical Records system. Please send cover letter, resume, three most recent employment references and an up-to-date Criminal Reference Check to: Human Resources Department Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority 61 Queen Street, P.O. Box 1300 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B8 Phone: (807) 737-1802 Fax: (807) 737-2969 Email: Human.Resources@slfnha.com Closing Date: September 14, 2012 at 4:30 PM No resumes received after that time will be accepted The Health Authority wishes to thank all applicants in advance. However, only those granted an interview will be contacted. For additional information regarding the Health Authority, please visit our Web-site at www.slfnha.com
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Wawatay News
AUGUST 30, 2012
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ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Science camp helps Sandy Lake fight diabetes Stephanie Wesley Wawatay News
Taking a break from science, campers engaged in physical activities such as swimming and tubing.
Submitted photos by Kirsten McKay
ABOVE: Menashe Rae talks to the camp attendees about traditional medicines. LEFT: Group of campers on a hike to Sandy Lake’s old diabetes camp site. The hike was a chance to teach life skills as well as conduct the traditional medicines teachings.
Sandy Lake First Nation played host to the Let’s Talk Science Camp on Aug. 20 – 24. The science camp, previously known as Sandy Lake Diabetes Camp, has been happening every year for nearly a decade. Gary Manoakeesic works for the Sandy Lake Diabetes Prevention program. He said that the mission of the program is to empower Sandy Lake and modify its lifestyle. The goal is to prevent type 2 diabetes in the community through education and physical activities. Sandy Lake once had the most cases of type 2 diabetes per capita in Canada. Manoakeesic wants to prevent that from happening again. “We do a lot of activities throughout the year, every month there’s a different activity,” Manoakeesic said. Activities included things like baseball tournaments, swimming, hiking, and walking. Two years ago, the Sandy Lake Diabetes Camp turned into the Let’s Talk Science Camp. “A team from the University of Toronto called Let’s Talk Science approached the program,” Manoakeesic said. “They wanted to incorporate science with the diabetes camp.” Meghan Larin, one of the students from Let’s Talk Science, said that it was her first time in Sandy Lake. “I’ve been working with Let’s Talk Science, like doing out-reach in the city,” Larin said. She explained that she was interested in making the journey to the far north because she knows that a lot of the children from communities like Sandy Lake are not necessarily exposed to science like the kids in Toronto are. “I wanted to help teach
kids who hadn’t had a chance to see things like this before,” Larin explained of the different activities the camp has to offer. “This year’s focus of the camp was on cardiovascular health and the heart and lungs,” Manoakeesic said. “Last year the kids learned about the immune system.” Manoakeesic said that there were 70 children, ages six to 16, who signed up for the camp this year. “The kids were excited, a lot of them showed up early each day before the camp even started in the morning because they really wanted to be there,” Manoakeesic said. Kristen McKay, a camp supervisor, said that the children had a lot of fun. Her favourite part of the camp was when they went out on the nature walk to the old Diabetes camp site. “We also took the kids on a hike to look for traditional medicine. They learned about different plants and their uses,” McKay said. Manoakeesic said that between the science camp and other activities, the community wants to stem the spread of type 2 diabetes. “I am hoping that in the future with this generation of Sandy Lakers that the rates of diabetes will drop,” he said. “Preventing diabetes is worth it. Stopping diabetes is worth it.” Manoakeesic said that the Sandy Lake Diabetes Preventing program is always looking for donations to help curb the instance of diabetes in the community and keep its members active. “Baseball gloves, bats, hockey stuff - any kind of sports equipment will help,” he said.
For Lease Request for Expression of Interest Anemki Mountain Corporation is seeking expressions of interest from Aboriginal organizations and corporations interested in leasing space in a professional building complex to be constructed on Fort William First Nation. Each unit should not be less than 400 square feet. The building currently has two prospective tenants, a legal corporation and a medical clinic. The building site is near city transportation. We require that each involved party cost share in the building design budget as the building is to be designed and constructed according to the conditions specified by those expressing interest in this endeavor. For further information call 807 623 8160 and speak to Cheryl Guse-Bannon, General Manager.
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AUGUST 30, 2012
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
Inspired by Jordan Nolan’s NHL success Family joins hundreds in Garden River to celebrate with the Cup Shawn Bell Wawatay News
Jordan Nolan’s accomplishment of winning the Stanley Cup and then sharing that victory with his community of Garden River First Nation resonated through First Nations across the north. Hundreds of people gathered in Garden River to welcome Nolan when he brought the Stanley Cup to the community on Aug. 20. Among them were Pauline Mickelson and her family, who drove eight hours from Thunder Bay to see Nolan and the Stanley Cup. As Mickelson said, to many First Nations people Nolan’s victory was more than just a young man winning hockey’s biggest prize. “When you look at the history of our people, and then when we see one of our own people realize his dream, it’s inspiring,” Mickelson said. “I believe they are not doing it just for themselves, but they are doing it for our entire people.” Nolan’s father Ted, a former NHL player and former NHL coach, said something similar when describing to Wawatay what it was like to see his son win the Stanley Cup. “Some of the things that our people went through and what have you, and all of a sudden you see one of our own with the Stanley Cup and bring it to a First Nations community,” Ted Nolan said. “It’s something that still sends chills down your back.” Mickelson said there was no hesitation to pile the entire family into their truck and drive to Garden River for the parade. The family understood it was a once in a lifetime experience to see something like that, and she did not want her children to miss out on the opportunity.
For Mickelson’s daughter Sarah, a 14-year-old gymnast, the chance to see Nolan and the Stanley Cup up close has inspired her to push for her own dreams. Sarah now says she wants to be in the Olympics someday.
“It shows that a lot of people can really get far, can achieve anything if they never give up.” – Sarah Mickelson
“When I saw Jordan Nolan, that’s just telling me not to give up,” Sarah said. “It shows that a lot of people can really get far, can achieve anything if they never give up.” Mickelson’s other daughter, Marissa McPherson, said she had “pins and needles” when she met Nolan. McPherson said in her life she has seen a lot of First Nations people who are really good at playing hockey, but who just do not seem to reach that higher level. She said Nolan’s example may inspire others across the north to take that final step. “(Nolan) shows that if they want to go further, they can do it if they really want it,” McPherson said. As for McPherson’s daughter Teairra, who gave Nolan two big hugs when she met him, the experience could be summed up in one word: “awesome.” The excitement and inspiration that her children and grandchildren had from the experience left Mickelson even more enthused about Nolan’s accomplishments. “I wanted my children to be a part of history, and to have
Submitted photo by Pauline Mickelson
Marissa McPherson and her children Teairra and Briere Meekis joined hundreds of other First Nations people from across the North in celebrating Jordan Nolan’s Stanley Cup victory with a parade in Garden River. McPherson said she had “pins and needles” when she met Nolan. something that they can hold onto that we did as a family,” Mickelson said. “And it was wonderful to see all of our people there.” “It shows the kids that they
can do whatever they want to do,” she added. And as she experienced the parade and seeing the Stanley Cup up close with her family, Mickelson was thinking of the
rest of her extended family across the North. “All my brothers played hockey,” she said. “When he raised the Cup (in Garden River) I thought about all
my brothers playing hockey outside in -40, and I thought about all my brother’s children now playing hockey in arenas, so I took that picture and I dedicated it to them.”
Tiny Tots powwow Six First Nation children, including the four pictured to the right, were gifted with regalia on Aug. 27 during a Tiny Tots Powwow at the Dawson Court Home for the Aged in Thunder Bay. The regalia were created through a partnership between Anishnawbe Mushkiki, Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre and four long-term care facilities, including Dawson Court. Photos by Rick Garrick/Wawatay News