April 2022

Boo Maga Puméke7

April 2022

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - #12

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Contents Councillor’s Message

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JoAnne Moiese talks about how life has changed since Covid.

Welcome to the Boo Maga (puméke7), which translates to “drum stick”.

LCDC Visit the 150 Mile Ranch

6

The

daycare

children

met

various

different

farmyard animals

Student Highlight

8

Davee

Palmantier

is

currently studying for her Masters Degree.

Staff Member Highlight

10

Willie Hardeman tells us about working as a tutor

Express to Sucess Training

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Sign up now for a wide variety

of

through WLFN!

Take a look at what your Council have been discussing over the past month!

Contact us: shannon.skeels@wlfn.ca 250-296-3507 ext.185

trainings

Council Meeting Highlights

14

Got an idea or story for future editions?

General Inquiries: lisa.camille@wlfn.ca 250-296-3507 ext.103 Facebook: Williams Lake First Nation www.wlfn.ca

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Councillor’s Message Weyktp, I hope that this report finds you all in good health and spirits. It has been a crazy last two years plus with Covid. I was thinking this past weekend, that two years ago my young cousin Reggie Sandy (Joseph Sandy and Alethea Andy’s son) told me of a dream that he had that this sickness was over. Well, finally that dream has come true and the light is at the end of the tunnel. Masks will no longer be mandatory, and we may gather once again.

When I reflect on how our community

has

navigated

through the times of Covid, we have been so resilient. Our members were able to receive assistance from the initial Covid disbursements of food and a one-time monetary incentive.

Our

community

members

were very understanding of the mandates and restrictions that we had to follow to keep our community safe. Now, as we move forward with some

trepidation, I am sure that we

Wycotte family. There is still a

will continue to be safe in body,

good representation of Williams

mind and spirit.

Lake First Nation Students in that

I would like to acknowledge

course. It is so beautiful to hear

that one thing that Covid

Secwepemcstin being used as part

taught us is the importance of

of our greetings and introductions.

our immediate family system.

This is due to the hard work that

We could still communicate

Cody has done. Hands up in honor

via Facebook messenger and

of you Cody!

by Face Timing each other,

I currently am working on a project

which was amazing. We were

for our community. I will be in

able to conduct our lessons

touch with our Elders Worker to

through zoom. I was blessed

reschedule a meeting to take place

to complete a virtual course

with the Elders and Knowledge

taught by Cody William. In this

Keepers of our community. This

course we had over 27 people

will be to revise our Texelc Burial

and at least half of the students

Protocol. I apologize, we had

were descended from the

meetings that were booked but

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had to be postponed. The

Bowe. Rhona carries great

development. Now, we have

days are getting longer and I

knowledge

Secwepemc

been getting requests to have

will be able to attend evening

spirituality and medicines. It

communities visit our offices.

meetings. Also, I have two

would be great to have her

There will be many great

weeks off from March 21 to

visit our community.

announcements coming in the

April 1, 2022. I know it is short

As a councillor, I feel so

next month or so. I look forward

notice, but I would love to meet

proud of our community. It is

to continued prosperity. In

during this time.

wonderful to see all the young

one way I am sad to be once

I would be remise if I did not

families moving into their new

again

acknowledge

Cultural

homes. It is also great to have

home. However, the power of

Worker David Archie. Kukstemc

some of our membership

technology allows me to still

Dave for all the work that you

arriving home. I would like

be an active council member.

do. The support that you have

to formally welcome Bernie

It is great to be working in the

provided for our community

Bates who will be moving

traditional area of our great

and leadership. We know that

home soon. There are so

grandmother who descended

we may call on you at any time

many people that have been

from Esdilagh.

to be present to offer songs,

blessed with housing. I wanted

Have a great Spring and I will

prayers and cultural cleansing.

to acknowledge Bernie as he

see you all soon, in person.

On behalf of our community,

has been away for so long.

Hugs permitted!

kukstemc.

Welcome back!

We

our

are

looking

used

in

forward to having a Women’s

We

to

tour

Sweat at the end of March and

communities,

fingers crossed that Cultural

Kamloops

resource person may be Rhona

and Westbank to see their

such Indian

other as Band

working

away

from

JoAnne Moiese Councillor JoAnne Moiese

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Learn Secwepemctsín!

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Little Chiefs Daycare visit the 150 Mile Ranch The children from Little Chiefs

cows, including a new born

Daycare took a trip out to

calf.

visit the 150 Mile Ranch on

They ended the day by visiting

March 10th. They recieved

the miniture horses and gave

a tour from June Harry and

them lots of pets, cuddles and

Julia Flinton who were happy

scatches.

to introduce them to all the

We would like to say a huge

animals.

thank you to June and Julia

First they visited the chicken

for showing us around and

coop and were able to see the

introducting us all to the

birds up close and give them

animals. The children had a

a pet.

wonderful time and cannot

They also took a trip to see the

wait until they go again.

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Post-Graduate Student Highlight: Davee Palmantier

My name is Davee Palmantier, I grew up in Sugar Cane and moved away to Prince George to attend university immediately after high school. Later, I moved to Kamloops and worked with the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, until 2020 when I moved back home to Williams Lake and began working for WLFN. My hobbies outside of work and

school include sports, such as basketball, rugby, and softball.

I also enjoy spending time outdoors with friends and go snowmobiling, snowboarding, mountain biking, and boating.

I am currently enrolled full-time in a 2.5-year Master’s of Environment and Management program at Royal Roads

University, a program that I have been interested in for over five years. I have had the opportunity to work in environmental roles within the forestry, fisheries, and clean technology sectors and hope to continue doing so, as well as make an impact in rebuilding these renewable resources.

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WLFN Celebrates International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 8th, 2022. WLFN chose to host a dinner and paint night, to show appreciation to all the important women in the community.

The event was catered by the Fox’s Den who

provided a delicious “breakfast for dinner” that was enjoyed by everyone.

Respected Elder, Rhonda Johnson, gave a speech based around the topic of Gender Equality.

“I grew up in a family of very strong women,” said Rhonda, “so

gender equality was never something I had to think of before.”

The evening concluded with a painting session, led by Sarah Sigurdson, from Cariboo Art Beat. She walked everyone through a step by step guide to paint a beautiful watercolour wolf.

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Staff Member Highlight: Willie Hardeman Q: What is your role at WLFN & what are your job duties?

A: I work at WLFN as a tutor. I check on all the students to see exactly what they need and where they are at in their education, and then we work from there. With grad

Chiefs Primary School and some math sessions

coming up, I make sure all the students

with the Kindergarteners and First Graders.

have the credits they need. Some students

Q: What is the best part of your job?

will need a tuxedo or dress, haircuts or grad

A: The best part of my job is watching the kids

photos, so we help to organize and arrange

grow and learn. I worked with a young man

that too.

who was completing a Heavy Duty Mechanic

I check on kids at both high schools and

apprenticeship, but needed to focus on his

make sure they’re up to date with their

math skills for an upcoming assessment. We

studies, if they’re struggling a little bit, I’ll

started with sessions just one day a week but

arrange tutoring sessions to get them up

soon he wanted to come more and more. He

to speed. If they have assignments due,

ended up passing that assessment with 93%.

I will also help them with those and I can

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your

coordinate with their teachers to make sure

job?

everything we do outside of school matches

A: I would have to say the most challenging

up with what they’re learning in school.

aspect is time. We have so many kids in our

I also spend a lot of time at the Education

program and so I have to make sure I’m always

Centre for drop-in sessions, both during

organized so I can meet the needs of the

school hours and after school. I teach

students.

reading sessions with the kids from Little

Q: Where is your favorite place that you’ve

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travelled to?

Driving the road to Hana

day. It makes me want to seek out

A: I would have to say Hawaii,

was incredible, with the most

the good in people and build up

but Maui in particular. It was

beautiful ocean views and

whatever already exists in that

absolutely

The

waterfalls. It took us 7 hours,

person.

moment you walk off the plan

but the entire trip just blew

Q: What do you enjoy doing

e, everything feels so tropical

me away.

outside of work?

and the vegetation is amazing.

Q: What’s the one thing you

A: I love going to the gym and

I dipped my feet in the water

can’t live without?

golfing. I also play and coach

and it felt just like bath water.

A: It would have to be my faith

basketball. I also really like building

Another time, we were caught

first, and my wife second. I

things, such as garden boxes and

in a tropical storm, so we stood

think she would say the exact

i’d like to try and build a table and

underneath a tree – this tree

same thing. My faith allows

benches this summer.

was so thick we didn’t get wet

me to teach through love,

Q: Do you have a message for the

at all. The colour of the water

because if I don’t love me

community?

was this beautiful aqua blue,

first, I can’t love anyone else.

A: We are moving in the right

the beaches were just perfect

I get very excited when talking

direction. I believe that WLFN is

white sand and we saw turtles

about my faith because that’s

doing a wonderful job and our

swimming.

what keeps me going every

future is bright.

beautiful.

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Express to Success Training Please note that ages vary depending on training requirements. Date, time, and locations are to be determined. This sign-up is to create interest and we will then organize dates and times.

Trainings will include (but are not limited to):

First Aid Level 1

Confine Space

Super Host

Drug & Alcohol Awareness

WHMIS

Fall Protection

Learner's Driving Course

Bullying Awareness

Food Safe

Babysitting Course

Cooking Classes

Resume Building Workshop

H2S Alive

Financial Literacy

Mental Health Info Session

Open to other training suggestions

To sign up: Call: 250-296-3507 Willie Hardeman ext. 116 Shawna Philbrick ext. 135 Sign up deadline is May 13th, 2022

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Open to: WLFN Registered Citizens Students on nominal role.

Additional Perks: Names entered into prize draw for each completed training course Awards Dinner to celebrate training completion

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Staff Birthdays and Anniversaries

Willie Sellars Chief 8th Anniversary!

Judy Brigham Education Assistant 1st Anniversary!

Deveny Kohlen Early Childhood Educator Happy Birthday

Mimi Sellars Community Health Representative Happy Birthday!

Ira Nelson O&M Worker 6th Anniversary!

Shianne David O&M Admin Assistant 2nd Anniversary!

Brittany Cleminson Natural Resources Coordinator 4th Anniversary!

Kiera Dolighan Senior Manager, Social Dev. 2nd Anniversary!

Willie Hardeman Tutor 1st Anniversary!

Steve Simms Equipment Operator 1st Anniversary!

Dana Alphonse On-Call Receptionist Happy Birthday!

Aaron Higginbottom Senior Manager, Natural Resources 12th Anniversary!

Chris Wycotte Director of Self-Goverment Happy Birthday!

Julia Flinton Title & rights Coordinator Happy Birthday!

Pamela Kozak Education Supervisor Happy Birthday!

Wenona Gordon Lands Manager 6th Anniversay & Happy Birthday!

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Council Meeting Highlights

April

The WLFN Council convened to approve the WLFN Budgets for the next fiscal year 2022/2023.

A staff presentation on the “ Fraser River Domestic Sheep and Goat Exclusion” was heard by the Council. A letter of support was approved by all members of the council.

The Council unanimously supported a donation of $5000 to Ukraine to support the needs of the individuals and families affected by this conflict.

Council supported accepting the Mount Polley Revised Participation Agreement. the mine is targeted to open in the next few weeks and will bring employment opportunities to our region.

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A plan for major renovations to the WLFN Arbour and surrounding area was presented by the CAO. Council is excited to have the Arbour updated.

The Proposed Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management Act to replace the current First Nations Land Management Act that will better reflect the central importance of the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management was presented by Staff. The Council was in support.

Council is in support of Councillor Rick Gilbert representing WLFN to meet with the Pope along with other survivors who attended Canada’s residential schools.

The WLFN Council was honoured to have Prime Minister Trudeau pay us a visit, and they were proud to show him around our community.

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APRIL 2022

Easter Friday

Easter Sunday

Easter Monday

Stay up to date on all of our events by following our Facebook page: Williams Lake First Nation 16 BOO MAGA - APRIL 2022

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