October 25, 2012

Indian Act debate brought to parliament PAGE 6

Old village site documented on Attawapiskat RiverPAGE 8

Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974

October 25, 2012 9,300 copies distributed $1.50 Vol. 39 No. 35

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NAPS awards officers for hard work, braveryPAGE 14

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The faces of healing

photos by James Benson/Special to Wawatay NewsLike many northern First Nations, North Caribou Lake is battling a prescription drug abuse epidemic. While the community is working hard on providing programming and activities to help people get off of and stay away from drugs, the success of any program is measured by the strength of the people involved. Wayne Kakekayash, top left, Crystal Keeash, top right, Valerie Keeash, bottom right, and Darlene Kenequanash, bot-tom left, are each finding their own strengths and the help of family and friends while they walk their healing path to get away from drug addiction. Their stories are found on pages 10 and 11.

Jody Porter/CBC News

2 Wawatay News OCTOBER 25, 2012 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

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INSIDE WAWATAY NEWS THIS WEEK

ᑭ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᑕᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᑌ ᐁᑭ ᒥᑭᑲᑌᐠ ᑫᑌ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᑕᐊᐧᐱᐢᑲᐟ ᓯᐱᐠ

ᑲᓇᓇᑐᓇᐠ ᑫᑌ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᐱᑲᐧᑕᑭᐣᐠ ᐅᑭᐃᐧᐣᑕᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᓀᐡᑲᐣᑕᑲ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑫᑌ ᑕᔑᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑕᑲᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐊᐧᑕᐊᐧᐱᐢᑲᐟ ᓯᐱᐠ.ᒥᑕᐡ ᐃᒪ ᒪᔭᑦ ᑭᒋᐊᓯᓂᑫᐃᐧ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑ ᐊᔓᑲᓂᑫᐨ ᓯᐱᐠ

ᒋᐅᒋ ᐊᔓᑕᒧᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐁᐧᑎ ᑲᐃᐧᐃᔑ ᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᑲᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᔕᐊᐧᓄᐠ ᒋᐅᒋ ᔕᐸᐧᑕᒧᒋᑲᑌᐠ. ᔕᑯᐨ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐢᑲᐧᐟ ᐦᐊᒥᓫᑕᐣ ᑲᑭᒥᑭᑫᐨ ᑕᐅᐣᒋ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᒪᑲᓂ

ᓀᐡᑲᐣᑕᑲ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐁᑕᑲᐧᑭᐣ ᓂᐣᑲᐧᐦᐊᑲᓇᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑌᑎᐸᐦᐃ ᐯᔓᐨ, ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐣ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᒋᑭ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑲᑌᑭᐸᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑌᑎᐸᐦᐃ ᑲᑭᐃᑭᑐᐨ ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᑲᑭ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᑐᐨ ᐊᐦᑭᓂ ᐁᒪᐧᔦ ᒪᑕᓄᑲᑌᐠ ᒥᑲᓇᑫᐃᐧᐣ.

Village site on Attawapiskat River documented

An archeologist has confirmed Neskantaga’s claims that a long-standing village site exists on the banks of the Attawapiskat River.

The site is where industry wants to build a bridge over the river to connect the Ring of Fire with the southern highway system.

But Scott Hamilton’s findings lend weight to Neskantaga’s claims that there are sacred burial sites in the area, making it more likely a full archeological review of the area will need to be completed before any road construction begins.

Page 8

ᓀᐡᑲᐣᑕᑲ ᑭᑲᑫᐧᑌᐧ ᒋᐃᐧᒋᐦᐊᑲᓄᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐃᓀᑫ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ

ᓀᐡᑲᐣᑕᑲ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᑭᑲᓄᓇᐊᐧᐣ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᓂᑲᓂ ᑲᓇᐊᐧᐸᑕᒥᓂᐨ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂ ᒋᐅᐣᑎᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᑫᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᑐᓂᐸᐣ ᑭᓫᐃᑊᐢ ᐊᓂᓯᑫᐃᐧᑭᒪ ᑲᐃᐧ ᐃᓇᓄᑲᑕᐠ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᑕᑕᒪᑫᐃᐧᓂ.ᑭᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐁᓇᑕᐁᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᒋᐊᔑᑎᓂᑕᐧ

ᐃᒪ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᐊᓄᑲᑌᓂᐠ . ᑭᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᓫᐃᑊᐢ ᐁᑲ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᐁᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᓂᑲᓂ ᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᐨ ᓇᐣᑕ ᒥᓇ ᒋᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᐊᔑᑎᓇᐨ ᓀᐡᑲᐣᑕᑲ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᐧ ᐃᔑᒪᑕᓄᑲᑕᐠ ᐅᑕᑭᐃᐧ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ.ᐊᐧᐁᐧ ᐊᐦᑭᐃᐧ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪ ᒋᑦ ᑊᕑᐊᐟᓫᐃ ᐅᓇᓇᑲᑕᐁᐧᐣᑕᐣ ᑲᑭ

ᑲᑫᐧᒋᒪᑲᓄᐨ ᔕᑯᐨ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐅᓀᐣᑕᐣ ᑫᑐᑕᒧᑫᐧᐣ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᓂ ᐊᓄᑭᓇᑲᐣ.

Neskantaga wants mediation on environmental assessment

Neskantaga First Nation has called on Ontario’s environment minister to appoint a mediator for Cliffs’ environmental assessment terms of reference.

The First Nation wants to have more input into how the envi-ronmental assessment will happen. It argues that Cliffs has not adequately consulted or accommodated Neskantaga on the process that will happen for the assessment.

The environment minister Jim Bradley is considering the request but has not made a decision, according to a spokesperson in the ministry.

Page 7

ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᔑᒪᑲᓂᔕᐠ ᑭᑭᑕᑭᒪᑲᓄᐊᐧᐠ

ᒥᑕᓱᐊᐦᑭ ᑭᔑᒪᑲᓂᔑᐃᐧ ᐊᓄᑭᑕᒪᑫ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐱᑕᐯᑯᐠ, ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᔑᒪᑲᓂᐡ ᒉᓴᐣ ᒥᑕᑕᐊᐧᐱᐣ ᑭᑭᑕᑭᒪᑲᓄ ᐁᑭᒥᓇᑲᓄᐨ ᐃᐧᓫᑊᕑᐁᐟ ᒐᑦ ᑯᐨ ᔑᒪᑲᓂᔑᐃᐧ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᐃᐧᓂ.ᒥᑕᑕᐊᐧᐱᐣ ᑭᑭᑕᑭᑕᐣᑕᒪᐊᐧ ᐅᑕᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐱ ᓂᑲᓂᐡᑲᒪᐊᐧᐨ

ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐣ ᐱᑲᐧᑕᑭᐃᐧ ᐱᒥᔭᐃᐧᓂ ᐃᒪ ᐱᑕᐯᑯ ᓯᐱᐠ , ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭ ᐱᒥᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐡᑲᑎᓴᐣ ᐱᑲᐧᑕᑭᐃᐧ ᐱᒪᒋᐦᐅᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐁᑲ ᑲᐃᔑᑲᑭᑫᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ.ᐁᑲᐧ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᒪᒥᓂᑎᓇᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᑕᑭᒥᑯᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑕᐣᑐᕑ ᐯ ,

ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᔑᒪᑲᓂᐡ ᑊᓫᐁᐣ ᒐᐧᔾᐣᓴᐣ ᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑭᒥᓇᑲᓄ ᓱᑭᑌᐦᐁᐃᐧ ᐸᑭᓇᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᑯᑕᑭᔭᐠ 17 ᔑᒪᑲᓂᔕᐠ ᑭᒥᓇᐊᐧᐠ ᐸᑭᓇᑫᐃᐧᐣ.

NAPS officers honoured

After 10 years of police work in his home community of Fort Albany, NAPS officer Jassen Metatawabin has been hounoured with the Wilfred Chum Coach Officer award.

Metawabin has led rafting trips for youth on the Albany River, and taught young people the on-the-land skills they may not other-wise have been exposed to.

During the awards ceremony in Thunder Bay, NAPS Constable Blain Joynson was awarded a bravery award and 17 other officers and civilians also received awards.

Page 16

ᐃᐧᑫᐧᑐᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᓯᐠ ᐅᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᒥᓀᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᐁᑲᐯᔑᐦᐃᐣᑕᐧ

ᐣᑯᑕᐧᓱᐱᓯᑦ ᑲᑭᐃᐡᑲᐧ ᑕᐃᐧᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐅᐡᑭ ᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᑲᒥᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑕᐣᑐᕑ ᐯ , ᐃᐧᑫᐧᑐᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᓯᐠ ᐅᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐊᐧ ᑭᐃᑭᑐᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᑲᑲᐯᔑᐦᐃᐣᑕᐧ ᐁᒥᓀᐧᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑲᑲᐯᔑᐦᐃᐣᑕᐧ ᑌᑎᐸᐦᐃ ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᑲᐱᐅᐣᑐᓭᐊᐧᐨ.ᐅᐁᐧ ᐅᐡᑭ ᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᑲᒥᐠ 110 ᓂᐯᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐊᔭᐊᐧᐣ ᒥᐦᐅᐁᐧ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ

ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᐁᑭᑲᐡᑭᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᒋᒥᓇᐧᔑᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᐱᐨ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᑭᐸᐣ ᐃᒪ ᑭᒋᐅᑌᓇᐠ , ᐃᒪ ᐊᑯ ᑭᐱᑲᑲᐯᔑᐦᐊᐸᓂᐠ ᐦᐅᑌᓫ ᒥᓇ ᒧᑌᓫ ᑲᑎᐱᓇᐁᐧᓯᒪᑲᑭᐣ ᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐣ . ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐃᐁᐧ ᐃᔑᒥᓄᓭ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐡᑭᑲᐯᔑᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᓄᑭᐠ ᐊᐱᑕᒪᐡᑭᑯᒧᐊᐧᐠ , ᐅᒋᐯᐧᒧᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐅᒪᐡᑭᑯᒧᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᐅᒋ ᐁᐧᐣᑕᓂᐠ ᐅᑕᑯᓯᐠ ᑫᐃᔑ ᐃᐧᒋᐦᐃᐣᑕᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐯᑭᐡ ᐁᐸᔭᑕᑫᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᒪ ᑲᐃᔑ ᑲᐯᔑᐦᐃᐣᑕᐧ.

Wequedong Lodge gets rave reviews

Six months since opening its new lodge in Thunder Bay, Weque-dong Lodge’s services are being complimented by clients from across the north.

The lodge’s 110 beds are a big improvement on the previous situ-ation in the city, where clients often had to be housed in hotels and motels. And the fact that many of the lodge’s staff speak Oji-cree, Ojibwe or Cree makes its easier for clients to get the services they need while feeling comfortable.

Page 9

ᓀᐣᑲᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᐱᒥᐸᑐᐠ ᐅᑭᑭᔑᑐᓇᐊᐧ ᒥᓯᐁᐧᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐱᒥᐸᑐᐠ

ᓀᐣᑲᐃᐧᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐅᐱᒥᐸᑐᐠ ᐅᑭᑭᔑᑐᓇᐊᐧ 72 ᐃᒪ ᐅᐣᒋ 200 ᐃᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯᐣ ᒥᓯᐁᐧᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᑭᑯᒋᐦᐃᑎᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᓇ ᐃᒪ 1500 ᒥᑐᕑ ᑯᒋᐦᐃᑎᐃᐧᐣ.ᐅᑯᐁᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐱᒥᐸᑐᐠ ᐅᑭᓇᓇᑭᐡᑲᓇᐊᐧ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭᒋᐊᓂᒥᐁᐧᐸᓂᐠ,

ᐁᑭᒥᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐁᐊᔑᐡᑭᐊᐧᓂᐠ ᐁᑲᑫᐧ ᑭᔑᑐᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐱᒥᐸᑐᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ.ᐃᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯᐣ ᐁᐧᑎ ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑲᓴᐸᓇᑲ ᑫᐃᐧᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑭᑭᔑᑐᓇᐊᐧ

ᐅᐱᒥᐸᑐᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ, ᐃᒪ ᑲᑭᐅᐣᒋ ᒪᒪᐃᐧᓄᒪᑲᑭᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᓄᑲᒥᑯᐣ ᑌᑎᐸᑲᒥᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐅᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᓂᐊᐧ ᐃᒪ ᐱᐊᐧᐱᑯᐠ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐊᐧᐸᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᑭᓇ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ.

Sandy Lake runners compete in world marathon

Sandy Lake’s running club finished 72 out of 200 schools from around the world in the world marathon challenge and 1500 meter challenge.

The runners from Sandy Lake battled tough weather conditions, rain and mud to complete the race.

Schools from Lac Seul and Kasabonika also competed in the chal-lenge, in which schools all around the world run the race and post their times on a website for everyone to compare.

Page 20

A historic village on the Attawapiskat River, top left. Youth runners in Sandy Lake, top right. Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias, mid left. And Wequedong Lodge staff, above.

1 Wawatay News OCTOBER 25, 2012 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ Wawatay News OCTOBER 25, 2012 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 3

Rick GarrickWawatay News

Jaret LeClair’s excitement after setting up the first goal in last year’s SIJHL finals is entrenched in the memory of his coach and general manager.

“It was game one in Wis-consin — obviously they were undefeated at home until that time,” said Wayne Strachan, head coach and general man-ager with the Fort Frances Lak-ers. “Jaret’s line had scored the first goal.”

Strachan recalled the inci-dent during the Oct. 17 funeral for LeClair, 20, Jordan Nabigon, 22, and Kody Nabigon, 17, who passed away in an Oct. 7 car accident. The funeral for Greg Nabigon, a 36-year old father of four from Pic River who also passed away in the accident, was held on Oct. 20.

Strachan emphasized the hard work LeClair put into get-ting the puck out to the front of the net for his teammate to score at 5:35 in the second period.

“And then his excitement and just the expression on his face of how pumped he was for us to get the lead down there and then obviously win the hockey game was something that sticks in my mind,” Strachan said. “Once he put his skates on and stepped on the ice, he did what-ever it took to help the team have success.”

Strachan said LeClair was known for standing up for his teammates, but he could also get his team going by scoring a big goal or delivering a big hit.

“He was obviously a very fierce competitor,” Strachan said. “He could shut down an opponents top line; he was defi-nitely one of the best penalty

killers in the league.”Strachan said it was “just

awesome” to see the turnout of about 950 people at the funeral at the arena in nearby Mara-thon for the three youth.

“Obviously, not only Jaret but the other two young men, the Nabigon boys that have passed away, really touched that com-munity in some way and had a lot of friends and family that are going to be missing them,” Strachan said.

The three youth, who all played hockey in a number of communities across northern Ontario, passed away after their car collided with a pickup truck driven by Greg Nabigon, who is well known on the powwow trail, on Hwy 627 near Pic River.

Three Fort Frances Laker staff members and four players paid their last respects along with Strachan at the funeral.

Pic River Chief Roy Michano said the hockey players’ salute with their sticks raised to the sky as the pallbearers carried the three coffins out of the arena was “indescribable.”

“I cannot begin to describe the emotions that took place,” Michano said. “Unreal, beauti-ful, sad. It is an unreal network of people who connected with us in regards to these beautiful young men.”

Michano said the deaths shook his community, but when he saw all the sacred fires being lit in the community, he knew the spirit was with the commu-nity.

“After a whole year-and-a-half of funerals, this one was a shocker because the previous ones were of people dying of natural causes,” Michano said. “But when you get four young men going, it was just unreal.”

Michano said the deaths of

the three hockey players hit municipalities throughout the area, not just Pic River’s com-munity of about 800 people.

“It was difficult, but it was very interesting to see the sup-port that occurred both within the church groups and within the traditional areas,” Michano said. “Sacred fires are done here to allow the deceased to make their struggles and jour-ney towards the west for three days. On the third day they return back towards the eastern

direction to come home. Then they are ready to be put into the resting place at the cemetery.”

Michano said the community is holding up “very well,” as cir-cles are being held and support is being provided for those who lost loved ones.

“This is so beautiful in the Anishinabe world,” Michano said. “We don’t leave them to grieve alone.”

Michano said the grieving process usually takes about two weeks.

Funeral held for Pic River youth killed in car crash

While the deaths of Kody Nabigon, Jaret LeClair and Jordan Nabigon have shocked the community of Pic River, the support from across northern Ontario has helped the FIrst Nation deal with the loss.


A model steel-frame two-to-three-bedroom housing unit that can be used in remote First Nations or on mine sites is being planned for construc-tion in Thunder Bay through Wasaya Group’s joint venture with Dowland Contracting.

Wasaya Dowland Ventures LP is also considering the con-struction of a steel-frame hous-ing factory in Thunder Bay after Dowland Contracting signed a housing agreement with PTF China, an ISO 9001 certified company that manufactures high quality pre-engineered building products.

“Day by day, the Wasaya Group of Companies is mov-ing closer to becoming a “one stop shop” for mining compa-nies and others who seek to work in the north,” said Tom S. Kamenawatamin, Wasaya Group’s president and CEO. “We are constantly being asked to help develop Ring of Fire business models and partner-ships by stakeholders in the Ring of Fire region and by oth-ers who are interested in offer-ing their services and products towards the development there.

Kamenawatamin said Wasaya was requested by indus-try to help grow businesses in the region.

“We have met with many of the major players in the Ring of Fire over the past two years and have been asked to become more active in fostering busi-

ness development so that the people in the region can benefit from the developments in their region,” he said.

Kamenawatamin said the steel-frame housing units could be used to provide safer and healthier living conditions for families in First Nation commu-nities or as mining camp accom-

modations.Kamenawatamin estimated

the lifespan of the steel-frame housing units would be about double the lifespan of wood-framed on-reserve housing.

“The new joint venture is good for the region’s First Nations and has brought us expertise and capacity that were previously beyond the scope of our remote commu-nities,” Kamenawatamin said. “Project capability such as mine site construction, hydro trans-mission, and the building of infrastructure such as hospitals, hotels, ice-hockey arenas, and educational institutions are now a reality.”

Wasaya group plans to build steel framed houses for north

“Day by day, the Wasaya Group of Com-panies is moving closer to becoming a “one stop shop” for mining companies and others who seek to work in the north.”

- Tom Kamenawatamin


It’s how an Indian prays

From the Wawatay archives

Wawatay News archivesPikangikum, Group Grad, June 1984.

EditorialCopy the territories on mandatory residential school education

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 ᑭᐧᐁᑎᓄᐠᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑕᐃᑦᔑᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ. ᑕᓱᓂᔓᐱᒥᑯᓇᑲ ᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ

ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐧᐃ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐧᐃᐣ ᐅᓇᔓᐧᐁᐧᐃ ᑲᓇᐧᐊᐸᒋᑫᐧᐃᓂᐠ ᒋᐃᔑ ᐸᐸᒥᓯᒪᑲᐠ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓂᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER David Neegan

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERDavid [email protected]

EDITORShawn [email protected]

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHERRick [email protected]

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHERLenny [email protected]

ART DIRECTORRoxann Shapwaykeesic, [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGNERMatthew [email protected]

SALES MANAGERJames [email protected]

CIRCULATIONAdelaide [email protected]

TRANSLATORSVicky [email protected]

Agnes [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORSJames BensonXavier KataquapitRichard WagameseMario WassaykeesicJoyce AtchinsonMarianne JonesSandy Lake running club

Guest editorials, columnists and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of Wawatay News.

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The documentary 8th Fire, shown on CBC earlier this year, had a number

of wonderful scenes, but one in particular stands out given recent news coming from north-ern Canada. In the scene a group of young high school stu-dents living in southern Ontario went through a course on resi-dential schools. The students were shocked and appalled to learn about what had hap-pened to First Nations students so recently in this country. But even more astounding was the fact that none of them had ever heard of residential schools before that course.

Non-Aboriginal children cannot be blamed for their lack of knowledge of residential schools. In most cases, neither can their parents. It is a part of Canadian history that has for too long been covered up and glossed over. But the govern-ment can be blamed, and should be held responsible. The govern-ment created the schools. The least it can do now is make sure the entire country gets educated about what happened during that time.

So it was great to see the news coming out Canada’s northern territories earlier this month. The Northwest Territories and Nunavut announced they have completed the country’s first mandatory residential school curriculum for high school stu-dents.

The curriculum, which will be taught in Grade 10 Social Stud-ies and Northern Studies courses in both territories starting imme-diately, was presented to Truth and Reconciliation Commis-sioner Marie Wilson on Oct. 2.

“We all need to realize this very, very key point: that resi-dential schools are not Aborigi-nal history, this is Canadian history based on Canadian laws that Aboriginal people had no say in,” Wilson told CBC after the event.

We’d suggest taking her com-ments literally. This is Canadian history, but not just in the NWT and Nunavut. This is Canadian history right across the country – and as such, similar curriculums should be mandatory learning in every high school in Canada.

The model that the territories will use to teach about residen-tial schools is based around stories of residential school survivors from the north. The stories are told via audio clips or video, allowing the students to experience from first hand sources what happened at the

schools and what the lasting effects have been.

John Stewart, the NWT’s curriculum developer for the residential school lessons, told the Northern Journal newspa-per that the unit takes students on an “arc,” from a high point before residential schools, to the dark period of the schools, before ending on the “hopeful beginnings of reconciliation.”

“It’s a dark part of our history, and one of the dangers is that you leave kids there. They hear or read a story about someone in residential school and it’s dev-astating,” Stewart said. “All the guidance we received from all of the leaders that we interviewed was that you don’t leave kids there. You talk about that as part of our history, but then you also talk about where we’ve gone since then.”

The model that the territories used is one that can be copied by each province. Ontario, for example, could use stories from residential school survivors across the province to get the knowledge out to students. There is already work going on in Manitoba and Saskatchewan on doing something similar – in fact, Manitoba was piloting a similar course curriculum last school year and the province is expected to unveil a mandatory course on residential schools sometime in the near future.

Ontario has made small steps in the right direction. In 2007 the provincial government cre-ated an Aboriginal education policy framework. Then in 2011 it created a minister’s advisory council on First Nations, Metis and Inuit education, to help implement the 2007 policy. But much of the province’s work has been focused on improving out-comes for Aboriginal students – a laudable goal, but it cannot be the only one.

The territories have real-ized that First Nations, Metis and Inuit people do not live in a bubble. Aboriginal issues are territorial issues. That is why it is so crucial that curriculum about residential schools is taught to all students. Ontario needs to make the same realization, to help educate all people – includ-ing and especially non-Aborig-inal people – about the dark chapters of our past.

As Wilson said, this is Cana-dian history. If we are ever to move beyond the residential school era, to heal from it as a country, the entire country needs to understand what hap-pened and why.

There is no better place to start building understand-ing than in the school system. Ontario should follow the NWT and Nunavut’s lead and imple-ment mandatory residential school curriculum.

Some days, when you get to the middle of your fif-ties like I am, you look back

and wonder how you ever made it this far without certain things happening. There are turns of fate and circumstance all along life’s road and at my age, you get to re-examine all of them. People get sick, people leave, and accidents happen, good fortune sprawls across your path as sud-denly as summer rain. It’s a lot to consider.

As a writer and a journalist, I’ve been fortunate to have met a lot of very good people along the way. Some of them were famous, some were infamous, a few were notorious and most of them were unexceptional, ordinary people with ordinary lives. But hindsight lets me see that what made them extraordinary were the extraor-dinary stories they carried that changed me somehow, made me more, made me better.

One was a lady I’ll call Emily. She was an Elder and a tradi-tional teacher and in the humble

nature of those spirit healers, wouldn’t want her real name used even though I’m sure she’s long continued on her soul jour-ney. She was a Stony woman and lived in southern Alberta. I found my way to her not long after I’d gotten back in touch with my people after twenty some years.

Emily lived on the same reserve she’d been born on and when I met she was in her late 70s. She was a quiet woman. Her favorite activity seemed to be sitting in her old willow rocker, smoking her pipe and watching the land. We never spoke then. Without saying a word to me she let me know that these were special times and I’d be better off if I could learn to discern why. I tried but I was impatient and all I learned was quiet.

Emily had seen things change amazingly for her people. She’d been born just after the turn of the last century. She was a teen when World War I broke out. She was a young wife with a couple kids when the Great Depression hit. She watched her people change forever, more drawn to devices and new tools than the old ways and the old skills. She watched young people leave their culture and language behind and head for the cities. She’d seen cer-

emony become less vital.I came to her not really know-

ing anything about ceremonial things. I didn’t know much about anything that had to do with First Nations people. I was living in Calgary, learning to fly fish and I’d wandered to her cabin one day tracking a trout stream that wound its way out of the Alberta foothills. It was early evening and she invited me to sit and join her for tea.

I haven’t been in very many sit-uations where I was just known instantaneously. Emily looked at me, smiled and patted my hand. Talking to her was incredibly easy and when I spoke about having finally made it back to my people and being dumbfounded at the amount I didn’t know she understood. Then she undertook to teach me. Very gently, very easily, she showed me traditional spiritual ways and she talked to me about their value.

She’d been in residential school and knew how it felt to have tradition and language and ceremony removed. She under-stood that when people arrive back home that it’s necessary to bring them back from the inside out. So she taught me how to build a sweat lodge, to gather medicines and how to pray.

“Always just ask for nothing,” she said. “Just give thanks for what’s already here. It’s how an Indian prays.”

Those words meant a great deal to me. My adopted home had been built on a foundation of religiosity rather than spiritu-ality and I bore a lot of emotional bruises from that. Then I noticed that she had a beat up old bible on her bedside table. When I asked her how she could keep that after all she’d been through in the residential school, she took my hands in both of hers, looked deeply into my eyes and said, “Because Jesus wept.”

It seemed like an odd thing to say and it took me years to get it. Our greatest teachings are like that. There are no profound answers. Instead, there’s just enough to carry with you and explore and consider while you live. I finally came to understand what she meant and it changed me. See, Jesus wept in gratitude for pain and for the lessons it contained. When you can come to accept your pain and confront it, you can learn to let it go.

You can learn to say a prayer of gratitude for the teachings within it all. That’s what she meant. It’s how an Indian prays.

Richard Wagamese

ONE NATIVE LIFE

Shawn Bell

EDITOR


FindFind

in these communitiesin these communities

ArolandAtikokan

AttawapiskatBalmertownBatchewana

Bearskin LakeBeaverhouse

Big GrassyBig Island

Big Trout LakeBrunswick House

CalstockCat Lake

ChapleauCochrane

CollinsCouchichingCouchiching

Deer LakeDinorwicDrydenEar Falls

EmoFlying PostFort AlbanyFort Frances

Fort HopeFort SevernGeraldton

GinoogamingGrassy Narrows

Gull BayHornepayne

HudsonIskatewizaagegan

Kapuskasing Kasabonika

KashechewanKeewaywin

KenoraKingfisher Lake

KochechingLac La Croix

Lac Seul, Kejick BayLake NipigonLansdowneLong Lake

MattagammiMichipicoten

Migisi SahgaiganMissanabie

MobertMoose Factory

MoosoneeMuskrat Dam

Musselwhite MineNaicatchewenin

NaotikamegwanningNestor Falls

NicikousemenecaningNorth Spirit Lake

Northwest Angle #33Northwest Angle #37

Ochiichagwe’Babigo’ IningOgoki

Pic RiverOsnaburgh

PawitikPays Plat

Peawanuck

Pickle LakePikangikumPoplar HillRainy RiverRed LakeRed RockRocky Bay

Sachigo LakeSandy Lake

SaugeenSault Ste. Marie

Savant LakeSeine RiverShoal Lake

Sioux LookoutSioux Narrows

Slate FallsStanjikoming

StrattonSummer Beaver

Taykwa TagamouTimmins

Thunder BayWabaskangWabigoon

WahgoshingWapekeka

Washaganish Wauzhusk Onigum

WawakapewinWeagamow Lake

WebequieWhitedogWhitesand

Wunnimun Lake

Encourage the youth

Last week I was sitting around with my son at the house. He says dad I want to tell you something for the first time and I’m gonna tell you the truth.

You taught me the traditional ways when I was a little boy and you still do that today.

Remember when you guys started the powwow here in Eabametoong 20 years ago? I was just a little boy at that time.

I have never learned any-thing positive from the tradi-tional teachings and I’ll tell you why.

Because that is all I heard from the Christians when they stood up against you guys. All I

heard was that our culture was evil, and I started to hate people and myself because that what I heard. I hated myself because I know that I am Anishinabe and my culture is evil. And I became very angry and weak.

And when you guys stood up not stopping from the pow-wow and the traditional ways, I thought you guys hate them too.

Today he’s a little different after telling me his story. And my regret today is that I wish they didn’t stand up against us. It would’ve have been different today. They didn’t know how much damage they did to the community when they did that.

I have shared this story with some Elders in the community and only one of them said that the drumming and powwow is nothing and would rather see them being Christians. That is not the answer.

To the northern communi-ties: if and when your youth start drumming please don’t stand up against them. Help them. Because if you stand up against them you will see the consquences like Fort Hope did, because we started having sui-cides in the community after that.

Weiben SlipperjackEabametoong First Nation

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WAWATAY BOOK REVIEW

By Joyce AtchesonSpecial to Wawatay News

Black and white mov-ing images fired colour and hope.

The true tale of how APTN came to be, within seemingly insurmountable timelines, and the behind the scenes action shows our strength, diversity, courage, determi-nation, and drive.

When TV arrived to north-ern Turtle Island, much of the black and white pro-

gramming was fed from southern Canada with the exception of limited hours of cultural activities in the lan-guages and some locally pro-duced Inuit entertainment.

Working together the northern areas -- YT, NT, NU -- built a northern TV network which 13 years ago birthed what we know today as Aboriginal Peoples Tele-vision Network. It took First Peoples’ views to all of Turtle Island and to international networks.

The work of the leaders, visionaries, and staff hired to do monumental tasks is awe-inspiring. The story of launch day is hilarious with the beginning starting before schedule and capturing Native humour at its finest, excitement building as the countdown starts, to the odd finale when Weesakachak misdirected the fireworks.

Jennifer David, the author of Original People. Original Television: The Launching of the Aboriginal Peoples Tele-

vision Network likens the challenge of staffing a net-work already in preproduc-tion to ‘designing, building and driving a car -- all at the same time. Three cars actu-ally -- Yellowknife, Winnipeg, AND Ottawa…’

This is an awe-inspiring story.

If you ever needed proof that the First Peoples, the original Peoples of this land are awesome, read this book.

I laughed, grinned, gig-gled, felt the excitement

grow, the butterflies leaping from my tense gut, cried with pride, and marvelled at the entire process.

This is the best news story I’ve read in a long time!

Original People. Original Television: The Launching of the Aboriginal Peoples Televi-sion Network -- Jennifer David (Debwe Communications Inc. Ottawa, ON; 2012: ISBN 978-0-9864901-0-1; 222 pages, $24.95 + shipping)

Vision created reality

Over for Tea, part IIThe brisk walk over

is already numbing. An occasional ELAN ski-doo is working its way across the snow, guided by a bundled up faceless person. I can hear it in the distance, as my new winterboots sing a differ-ent tune, along the tire-tracked snow. It’s a little softer now, but the fresh squeak coming from my winterboots continue to tread through the REZ landscape.

REZ homes are stacked like scattered cards thrown about, laying any which way, but yet strangely uniformed. As a child, you knew who was related by the grouping of houses; the tradition is still there, but slightly larger now. As an adult, and a welcomed visitor to his home, I can piece newly-built homes but don’t know who lives in them fresh walls.

The chimneys billow out a white stream of smoke, and then just hang at a certain level. The rising smoke from the chimneys do not continue onward and upward into the cold January (or is it Decem-ber?) morning sky on the REZ. It all lingers together, conferencing with one another; perhaps the early morning frost in the REZ air only allows the escaping chimney smoke so far. I can imagine inside them houses as warm and full of family, with the REZ radio playing away some

Christian acoustic music, strumming away with an Anishinabe singer.“Jo-zhee-gunk” is close, and I can still see the familiar sites from

my childhood. A square wash basin hangs on the side of the building. Probably a useful tool to place fish or a fishnet in the summer; perhaps even serves a place to wash dirty clothes or socks in. I can picture a scrub board, and recall its rhythmic sounds as it scrubbed socks rigor-ously.

The outside wall’s paint hangs in pieces outside in the cold tempera-tures, easily to flake out if I were to slide my mitt across its exterior. But I’m not gonna; I’m gonna let the fragments of paint continue to serve a purpose.

There’s a stack of dried wood outside and in the close vicinity of “Jo-zhee-gunk.” I’m sure it was brought and dropped off by the distant ELAN ski-doo and its driver, dutifully. They’re already cut and ready for use; covered with a thin cellophane plastic, protecting them from the cold(?) more likely from falling snow. My Aunty was always keen to having a good fire burning, especially during the winter months.

The crisp air, my new winterboots, and cold wooden staircase to the house is clash of a combination. The cold stairs cry in a creak as my weight (and new winterboots) take a closer step to my visit with my Aunty. First one, then two, then three, then I reach for the door and turn the knob. No knocking necessary; they’re expecting me, and I’m not holding up a pamphlet like a city door-to-door messenger.

The heat from the house greets me in; some escape in steam, tempt-ing to rise to the billowing and lingering chimney smoke. I enter my

Aunty’s house and I can see that I’ve made myself an entrance. A good one. You can tell from the eyes that she remembers you. I often wonder does she remember me from my childhood or as an adult.

It starts quiet. The REZ radio plays slowly in the background and the television is turned off. The walls are decorated with pictures of smiling faces and posed people that I am not too familiar with. Perhaps from the next REZ over. (I’m referring to Pikangikum First Nation, by the way.)

She sits there by the livingroom window, continuing on with the silence for a minute or two. I think she studies me each time that I visit. I think she wants to know if I’m eating well; am I getting fat, or lean, or have the stress of a family guy in my eyes yet. I don’t think she’s disap-pointed either way.

She implies that the tea is fresh; so, I don’t hesitate to help myself to it. The dark stream pours out and fills the plastic cup that I found in the cupboards. I see a few metal ones hanging on the wall, but don’t think I’d be able to drink that much. A huge plastic cup works just as well.

As I walk back into the livingroom, my feet are warmed by the stove’s heat as well as my hand that clasps to the plastic cup of warm Red Rose Tea. My Aunty points out where I could find the Carnation Milk and the “shu-gaw”, but I like my tea black.

I make myself comfortable, watching my Aunty, as she studies her nephew again. She smiles a bit. I wonder if she sees me as an adult, or as a child still. I take a sip of my long-awaited REZ drink: REZ tea.

MarioWassaykeesic

GUESTCOLUMNIST

Editor’s Note: Mario Wassaykeesic’s Over for Tea part I ran in Wawatay News on October 18.

Re: First Nation Catholics celebrate canonization of Saint Kateri (Wawatay News, Oct. 18)

Watched it on the news of the first First Nation Saint Can-onization and she’s one of the few who made me feel it my heart and soul with emotional tears or happiness. Yes she truly is a Saint along with Mother St. Theresa. Saints are for real I found out since my wife intro-duced me to St. Anthony and St. Frances.

Norman H. Jack

Re: Eabametoong calls for NAPS to leave (Wawatay News, Sept. 13)

Some of us here in Eabam-etoong know it is a mistake to send NAPS packing yet (some

people) cry and tell sob stories of childhood wrongs to move their agenda. Now we are back in where we started from, white people policing us.

Submitted online

Re: We are all immigrants, Xavier Kataquapit’s column (Wawatay News, Oct. 18)

Thank you so much for writing about something that has always concerned me. I was born in Aus-tralia of Greek heritage.

Places like Canada and Aus-tralia, as the world sees them, are purely imperial constructs. Imagine that the most held idea about these places is that they are young countries! How more rac-ist can these places be?

The only way forward for these places is the abolishment

of the English crown and sover-eignty for all the people living. These places need new constitu-tions with the original peoples of these lands being the integral part of these new constitutions. How can most people of Canada accept legislation like the Indian Act? Where is this democracy that Canadians feel so strongly about? What I write for Canada also applies to Australia. Most people have been given propri-etary rights to their land with-out sovereignty, the crown has bought them out. The true sover-eign of these lands are the origi-nal peoples. This is what scares the crowns’ offices the most. That is why they do everything split newer arrivals amongst them-selves and ensure that there is no awakening to these facts.

Submitted online by Angelo

Submitted online


IT’S TIME THEY MOVED OUT OF THE BASEMENT.

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Space provided through a partnership between industry and Ontario municipalities to support waste diversion programs.

Face i t , your o ld e l ectron ics have had the i r day . Find out how and where you can safe ly and eas i ly d ispose of them at recyc leyoure lectron ics .ca . R e m e m b e r t o c l e a r y o u r h a r d d r i v e s a n d S I M cards before recyc l ing .

INSPECTIONNotice of Slash Pile BurningTrout Lake and Red Lake Forest

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) invites you to inspect the MNR approved prescribed burn plan for slash pile burning that will be carried out in the Trout Lake Forest and Red Lake Forest (see map).

As part of our ongoing efforts to regenerate and protect Ontario’s forests, some recently harvested areas have been selected to be burned under the strict guidelines of the MNR Prescribed Burn Planning Manual. The prescribed burn will reduce the area covered in slash piles while increasing the area available for regeneration and reducing the fire hazard. The burn is scheduled for ignition between November 1, 2012 and February 15, 2013.

Information about this prescribed burn project, including specific locations and maps, is available for public viewing at the offices of Domtar Inc. for the Trout Lake Forest and the Red Lake Forest Management Company for the Red Lake Forest during normal business hours and the MNR public website at ontario.ca/forestplans beginning November 1, 2012. For more information or to arrange an appointment with MNR staff to discuss the prescribed burn project, please contact:

Trout Lake Forest

Gregg Lloyd, RPF, Management Forester Janet Lane, RPF, Plan AuthorMinistry of Natural Resources Domtar Inc.Red Lake District Office Dryden OfficeP.O. Box 5003, 227 Howey Street 1 Duke Street, Postal Bag 4004Red Lake, ON P0V 2M0 Dryden, ON P8N 3J7tel: 807-727-1347 tel: 807-223-9156fax: 807-727-2861 fax: 807-223-9401office hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. office hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Red Lake Forest

Robert Partridge, RPF, Management Forester Kaitlin Moncrief, Ministry of Natural Resources Operations Forester Red Lake District Office Red Lake ForestP.O. Box 5003, 227 Howey Street Management Co. Ltd. Red Lake, ON P0V 2M0 P.O. Box 1338, 138 Howey Streettel: 807-727-1347 Red Lake, ON P0V 2M0fax: 807-727-2861 tel: 807-727-3320office hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. office hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.


Grand Chief Harvey Yesno is calling for increased First Nations governance, rather than a one-size-fits all approach to changing the Indian Act, after two motions were tabled in the House of Commons to replace or alter the Indian Act.

“We know the impedi-ments the Indian Act would have because we always have to ask Indian Affairs to manage lands or how we deal with leases on reserve or to create a bylaw,” Yesno said. “So we said a num-ber of years ago through the leadership that we want to be able to govern ourselves and govern our affairs.”Yesno said the development

NAN grand chief says feds should focus on First Nations self-governance

of an act to replace the Indian Act would be a challenge due to the diverse concerns of First Nations across the coun-try.

“In Nishnawbe Aski here, we have 32 communities that are f ly-in and remote com-munities and I don’t think we have the same challenges as urban or road-access reserves have, where they have to deal with expropriation of lands for railroad, transmis-sion, pipelines, highways and other things like that,” Yesno said. “We are not the majority across the country but we still do represent a significant per-centage, because I think there are 120 remotes all through-out the country.”

Yesno said NAN had been discussing the governance issue with the federal govern-

ment over the past 10 years.“The main piece of our

whole discussions over the

years has been around educa-tion and jurisdiction,” Yesno said. “We believe that was one of our centre pieces of our discussions with the gov-ernment, and now it’s bogged down just a little over a year now and there hasn’t been any movement.”

Liberal Party of Canada leader Bob Rae tabled his motion, M-386, on Oct. 22, four days after Conserva-tive Party of Canada MP Rob Clarke tabled his Private Mem-ber’s Bill C-428 on Oct. 18.

Rae’s motion calls on the federal government to work with First Nations on a nation-to-nation basis to replace the Indian Act.

“First Nations have been very clear – we must shed the colonial institutions and frameworks that have char-acterized the Crown-First Nations relationship to date if we want to work together towards a new process,” Rae said. “This motion compels the federal government to work in partnership with First Nations to finally resolve the countless long-standing eco-nomic and social inequities that affect them.”

Rae‘s motion calls for the government to establish a formal nation-to-nation pro-cess between First Nations and the Crown to replace the Indian Act with new agreements that fulfill the Crown’s responsibilities to First Nations in a manner consistent with First Nations’ rights, the original Treaty relationships with First Nations upon which Canada was founded, the outstand-ing obligations and prom-

Indian Act debate brought to parliament

ises on behalf of the Crown to First Nations, and the standards established in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

“As First Nations lead-ers across the country have stated, the Indian Act remains the most significant obstacle to progress for First Nations communities across Canada,” Rae said. “While the Con-servative government has so far refused to engage in any substantive discussions on the issue, I hope they will take the opportunity that my motion provides to do so.”

Clarke’s bill aims to repeal sections of the Indian Act that

NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae

deal with wills and estates, sale or barter of produce, changing bylaws, restriction of trade with First Nations, the way First Nations people are described in legal docu-ments and the removal of residential school references from the Indian Act.

Clarke’s bill also includes a section that requires the min-ister of Indian and Northern Affairs to report before Jan. 31 each year on the work undertaken by his or her department in collaboration with First Nations organiza-tions and other interested parties to develop new legis-lation to replace the Indian Act.

“We said a number of years ago through the leadership that we want to be able to gov-ern ourselves and gov-ern our affairs.”

- Harvey Yesno


INSPECTIONInspection of Approved Slash Pile BurningKenora and Whiskey Jack Forests

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) invites you to inspect the MNR-approved prescribed burn plan for slash pile burning that will be carried out in the Kenora and Whiskey Jack Forests (see map).

As part of our ongoing efforts to regenerate and protect Ontario’s forests, some recently harvested areas have been selected to be burned under the strict guidelines of the MNR Prescribed Burn Planning Manual. The prescribed burn will reduce the area covered in slash piles while increasing the area available for regeneration and reducing the fire hazard. The burn is scheduled for ignition between November 1, 2012 and March 15, 2013.

Information about this prescribed burn project, including specific locations and maps, is available for public inspection at the offices of Miisun Integrated Resource Management Inc. and at the MNR Kenora District Office during normal business hours and the MNR public website at ontario.ca/forestplans. The ServiceOntario location in Kenora at 220 Main Street South provides access to the Internet. For more information or to discuss the prescribed burn project, please contact:

Kenora Forest: Whiskey Jack Forest:Shannon Rawn Kurt PochailoMiisun Integrated Resource MNR Kenora District OfficeManagement Inc. 808 Robertson Street, Kenora, ONtel: 807-467-3351 tel: 807-468-2597 e-mail: [email protected] Pyke MNR Kenora District Office 808 Robertson Street, Kenora, ON tel: 807-468-2559 e-mail: [email protected]

Neskantaga wants mediation on Ring of Fire environmental reviewShawn BellWawatay News

Neskantaga First Nation is requesting mediation to resolve differences between the environmental assess-ment it wishes to see for Cliffs’ Ring of Fire mine, and the assessment process the company has proposed.

In a letter to Ontario’s Minister of Environment Jim Bradley dated Sept. 27, Nes-kantaga called on Bradley to refer Cliffs’ terms of refer-ence to mediation.

“Our constitutionally pro-tected Aboriginal rights and title and treaty rights are not appropriately addressed in the terms of reference,” Neskantaga wrote. “There-fore, numerous fundamental issues of concern arise on the terms of reference as submit-ted. It is our strong view that these should be addressed in a mediation between Neskan-taga and…Cliffs.”

Neskantaga’s legal council Greg McDade of Ratcliff and Co. LLP told Wawatay News that as of Oct. 19, the minis-ter had not yet responded to the request.

Under Ontario’s Environ-mental Assessment Act, the minister has the ability to refer a terms of reference

to a mediator if requested. McDade said the decisions

made at this point of the environmental assessment will determine how much conf lict comes later in the process.

“The terms of reference really sets the stage for the whole environmental review,” McDade said. “First Nations have sought a seat at the table, arguing that they should be part of the deci-sion making process. Unless that gets set up now, this environmental assessment cannot possibly succeed.”

Alex Blasko, special proj-ects officer with the Minis-try of Environment’s Envi-ronmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, said the

minister is “carefully review-ing the request before mak-ing a decision.”

Blasko said the minister will take into account a num-ber of factors in his decision, including the willingness of parties to participate in a mediation process, if there have been other attempts to resolve the matter outside of mediation and if the issues involved are clearly defined and negotiable.

Blasko added that the ministry “encourages propo-nents to consider all meth-ods of resolving disputes and addressing outstanding con-cerns.”

“Comprehensive consulta-tion is vital to the environ-mental assessment process

and proponents must fully consult with the public and First Nations communities during the planning and development of a project,” Blasko said.

Cliffs submitted the terms of reference to the Ontario government on July 27. First Nations and the public were given until Aug. 27 to pro-vide comments on the docu-ment, although the comment period was extended until Sept. 25 at the request of First Nations.

Neskantaga submitted a number of concerns with the terms of reference, includ-ing concerns with the lack of “meaningful consultation with respect to their content and development.”

Under the act, the minister

is supposed to make a deci-sion whether to approve the terms of reference 12 weeks after it is submitted.

McDade said if the minis-ter decides to proceed with the terms of reference and ignore Neskantaga’s request for mediation, the First Nation could choose to chal-

lenge the decision in the courts.

Otherwise Neskantaga and other impacted First Nations could challenge the environ-mental assessment once it gets completed, but McDade said that option is not in any-one’s best interest.

Neskantaga is also part of Matawa First Nation’s judi-cial review of the federal government’s decision to hold a comprehensive envi-ronmental assessment for Cliffs’ Ring of Fire mine, rather than a Joint Review Panel as the First Nations desire.

Matawa’s judicial review was filed in Nov. 2011, but it may be a year or more before it makes its way to the courts.

File photoChief Peter Moonias has concerns with the terms of reference for Cliffs proposed chromite mine in the Ring of Fire.

“Our constitutionally protected Aborigi-nal rights and title and treaty rights are not appropriately addressed in the terms of reference.”

– Neskantaga First Nation

Rainy River Gold Project Public Comments Invited

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has determined that a federal environmental assessment is required pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 for the proposed Rainy River Gold Project located near Fort Frances in Ontario. The Agency invites the public to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assess-ment.

The public can review and comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines, a document that identifies the potential environ-mental effects to be taken into consideration and the information and analysis that needs to be included in the proponent’s EIS.

Rainy River Resources Limited is proposing the construction, operation and decommissioning of an open-pit and underground gold mine. The proposed mine site is in the Township of Chapple, Ontario, approximately 65 kilometres northwest of Fort Frances.

Written comments must be submitted by November 19, 2012 to:

Rainy River Gold ProjectCanadian Environmental Assessment Agency55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 907Toronto ON M4T 1M2Telephone: 416-952-1576Fax: [email protected]

To view the draft EIS Guidelines or for more information, visit the Agency’s website at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca (registry refer-ence number 80007). All comments received will be considered public.

Copies of the draft EIS Guidelines are also available for viewing at the following locations:

Fort Frances Public Library / 601 Reid Avenue, Fort FrancesTown of Fort Frances –Town Office / 320 Portage Avenue, Fort FrancesEmo Public Library / 56 Front street, EmoAtikokan Public Library / Civic Centre (behind the Post Office), AtikokanTown of Atikokan - Town Office / 120 Marks Street, Atikokan

Following this comment period, the Agency will finalize and issue the EIS Guidelines to the proponent. An application period for participant funding and a future public comment period related to the EIS will be announced later.


INSPECTIONInspection of Approved Slash Pile BurningDryden and the Wabigoon Forest

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) invites you to inspect the MNR-approved prescribed burn plan for slash pile burning that will be carried out in the Dryden and Wabigoon Forest (see map).

As part of our ongoing efforts to regenerate and protect Ontario’s forests, some recently harvested areas have been selected to be burned under the strict guidelines of the MNR Prescribed Burn Planning Manual. The prescribed burn will reduce the area covered in slash piles while increasing the area available for regeneration and reducing the fire hazard. The burn is scheduled for ignition between October 29, 2012 and November 23, 2012.

Information about this prescribed burn project, including specific locations and maps, is available for public viewing at the offices of Dryden Forest Management Company and Domtar Inc. (addresses below) during normal business hours and at the MNR public website at ontario.ca/forestplans beginning October 24, 2012. ServiceOntario at 479 Government Street, Dryden also provides access to the Internet. For more information or to discuss the prescribed burn project, please contact:

Dryden Forest Wabigoon Forest

Don Armit Derek JohnsonArea Forester, MNR Area Forester, MNRtel: 807-223-7526 tel: 807-223-7556e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

Jack Harrison Erin WoodlandDryden Forest Management Company Forester28A Earle Avenue Domtar Inc.Dryden, ON P8N 1X5 Dryden Forest Lands tel: 807-223-7216 Office within Dryden Millfax: 807-223-7229 tel: 807-223-9790e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

Renseignements en français : Sylvie Gilbart, 807-934-2262

Remains of Attawapiskat River village found

Shawn BellWawatay News

The people of Neskantaga have been telling Ring of Fire companies for years that the place where industry wants to build a bridge over the Attawapiskat River is an impor-tant cultural location contain-ing sacred burial sites.

Now an archeologist has backed up the First Nation’s assertion that the river cross-ing has been a crucial gathering place and site of an old village.

Scott Hamilton, a professor in Lakehead University’s depart-ment of anthropology, visited the location in September to conduct a surface examination.

It was quickly apparent to Hamilton that the site was used often over the past century, up until at least the 1970s. He found “evidence of occupation” including log tent frames, five gallon barrels cut into stoves and hide stretching racks.

Hamilton also found a short section of a metal pipe that he speculated could be the remains of a musket rifle dating back to the days of northern Ontario’s fur trade.

“It is a place of high archeo-logical potential,” Hamilton said. “Having the amount of tra-ditional knowledge about the site as exists in the community greatly amplifies the context of who was there and what fami-lies used the site.”

The site is located along a long stretch of rapids on the Attawapiskat River, on a natural ridge of bedrock.

Hamilton said the archeo-

logical evidence seen on the surface, combined with tradi-tional knowledge of Neskantaga Elders and the natural features of the landscape, means there is a high likelihood that the area was a place of “repeated use.”

“If it was repeatedly used as a gathering place, there is a higher probability that during occupations there will be peo-

ple who die and are buried (in the area),” Hamilton said.

Canada Chrome Corporation (CCC) owns mining leases in the area, stretching across the Attawapiskat River north to the proposed Ring of Fire. Cliffs Resources is trying to obtain those leases so it can build a road along the route connecting its Ring of Fire chromite mine to

highway 11.Hamilton said it is no coin-

cidence that plans for the road run through an area tradition-ally used as a gathering place.

He said the landscape crite-ria for road building, such as higher elevation and bedrock close to the surface, often coin-cides with places people would have always used. There is the

Submitted photos by Scott HamiltonThe site on the Attawapiskat River, above, has long been a place of summer gathering for the people of Neskantaga. The First Nation is working to document locations of cultural significance in the face of increasing pressure from the Ring of Fire. Besides being a gathering place, this site is where Cliffs wants to build a bridge to connect its mine to the south.

Remnants of the village include a barrel stove, right, and a hide rack, left.

Site of historic village on path of proposed Ring of Fire bridge and road

possibility of other traditional use places along the esker that Cliffs wants to use to build its road, he speculated.

Generally the responsibility for doing archeological explora-tion falls to the proponent of a project during the environmen-tal assessment process, Hamil-ton explained. So if Cliffs does decided to build a road to the Ring of Fire through the site, it would be up to the company to have the area surveyed.

In the meantime Neskan-taga is using site visits such as Hamilton’s to ensure that the community’s values are docu-mented, in anticipation of fur-ther development in the area.

Neskantaga Chief Peter Moo-nias has stated he is willing to die to prevent a bridge from being built over the Attawapis-kat River. He has repeatedly cited the sacred burial sites in the area as reason to stop the transportation corridor.


NISHNAWBE ASKI NATION DAY OF PRAYER

FOR COMMUNITY HEALINGWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

The NAN Day of Prayer started in order to address and overcome the tragedies that have affected our communities. Let us come together with the strength, wisdom and love of the Creator to start our healing journey. Through spiritual support and healing, NAN Day of Prayer will draw community attention and support to the challenges and issues within NAN communities; such as

youth suicide, family dysfunction, and substance abuse issues.

2-3:00pm EST - Tune in to a NAN webstream and LIVE radio broadcast on Wawatay Radio

Performers, call-in, songs and prayer

Remembering Our HeroesRemembering Our HeroesWawatay News will present a special section of the November 8 edition devoted to the First Nations men and women who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces. Our coverage will include:

• Profi les of First Nations WWII vets from northern Ontario • A look at modern confl icts, and how First Nations soldiers

are fi ghting in Afghanistan• Looking back at WWI - how First Nations soldiers were

instrumental in fi ghting that war for Canada

If you are interested in including a message from your business/organization, Please contact:

Tom ScuraTom ScuraWawatay Ad SalesWawatay Ad Sales807 344-3022807 [email protected]@wawatay.on.ca

AD BOOKING DEADLINE: THURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012AD BOOKING DEADLINE: THURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Common Ad Sizes & Prices:

1/6 Page $164.16 1/8 Page $123.12 1/4 Page $246.24 1/2 Page $494.76 1/3 Page $331.36 Full Page $994.08

Please note: All prices are subject to HST. Prices listed above are for black and white ads. For full colour add $290. Cannot be combined with existing contracts/discounts.

Home away from home at Wequedong LodgeRick GarrickWawatay News

The friendly atmosphere in Wequedong Lodge’s recently consolidated 110-bed facility has been a big hit for medical appointment clients from across northern Ontario.

“I kind of like it — I know my own people,” said Cyril Beardy, a dialysis patient from Muskrat Dam who has been staying at Wequedong for over two weeks after being in the hospital for two months. “When I was in the hospital, I couldn’t really talk to anyone, but here I can talk to anyone.”

Beardy, who is currently receiving dialysis treatments three times a week at the hospi-tal, has met with two other peo-ple from his community since moving to the lodge.

“I’m glad to be here,” Beardy said. “The staff are really nice.”

Before Wequedong estab-lished the new 52-room facility this past March in partnership with Ontario Aboriginal Hous-ing Services and the govern-ment of Ontario, the non-profit had been operating two lodges with a total of 42 beds. Since Wequedong usually has about 140 clients per week, up to 100 clients had to be lodged in motels or hotels around Thun-der Bay.

“Consolidating Wequedong Lodge s four buildings into one efficient 110-bed development significantly enhances Weque-

dong Lodge’s service delivery,” said Sylvia Maracle, chair of the OAHS board of directors and executive director of Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres.

Wequedong is now able to provide clients with accommo-dations, transportation, transla-tion and meals from one loca-tion.

And the Wequedong employ-ees are “extremely excited” with their new facility, said Betsy Ledger, Wequedong’s project manager/health and safety coordinator.

“We’ve heard comments how classy it looks,” Ledger said. “It’s very professional. We have a complete commercial-sized kitchen available for our cooks and we have a commercial-sized washer available now for our housekeepers.”

Patricia Raven, a cook/server with Wequedong, said the new kitchen is “great.”

“We mostly serve healthy foods for diabetics,” Raven said. “We try to provide a healthy variety. It’s all simple, basic, easy to cook meals.”

Ledger said clients also appreciate that many Weque-dong employees speak Ojibwa, Oji-Cree and Swampy Cree in their dialect.

“So if there is a need for translation services, we have that within our employees,” Ledger said.

Darryl Jay Ottertail, Weque-dong’s assistant field super-

visor, said the new facility is “amazing.”

“It’s been in the making for the past 10 years,” Ottertail said. “When it came in on time on March 15 and we finally moved in, some of the staff actually had tears in their eyes, not just for themselves but for the clients.”

Ottertail said some clients phoned after the new facility was opened on March 22 to say they looked forward to staying in the new accommodations.

“It’s real and it’s good to have one place, you know, one big roof, not just for the clients but for some of the workers,” Ottertail said. “The clients look forward to coming here because we have everything here all in one building.”

Charles Morris, Wequedong’s executive director, called for recognition of all the people and organizations that provided contributions to the new facil-ity.

“Recognition is due to the lodge’s board of directors, many of whom have been with the lodge since the mid-1990s,” Morris said. “Also to Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services and to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for their grant contributions, to the Credit Union Consortium for their financing, and to those employees who partook in the dream to strive for a single building operation.”

Rick Garrick/Wawatay NewsWequedong cooks Roberta Mattinas, Angela Kakepetum, Pamela Meshake and Patricia Raven serve soup during the facility’s grand opening celebrations on Oct. 18.

Rick Garrick/Wawatay NewsWequedong housekeepers Margaret Hunter and Georgina Ogima keep the facility’s 110 beds tidy.

Wawatay News OCTOBER 25, 2012 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 1110 Wawatay News OCTOBER 25, 2012 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

James BensonSpecial to Wawatay News

It’s 2 p.m. on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon. I am driving over to the New Horizons Suboxone Treatment Centre, which has just opened two days ago. The new centre is the second building to house a Suboxone program and the facility itself is more spacious and comfy. I arrive and the third intake clients, who have just started their inductions, stand at the door greeting me and welcoming me with a smile, offering hugs and a hot cup of tea. The smiles on their faces are priceless and warming. I meet Crystal Keeash, a client in the first Suboxone intake program who now works full time as an assistant coordinator at the treatment centre. We arrange and set up interviews with the participants, and Keeash excitedly agrees to be one of our interviewees.

Before we begin, let me share with you briefly about some of the recent events that have happened in the community and left behind a lot of hurt, grief and tur-moil. North Caribou Lake has gone through a rough patch in the last year. Recently six young people have taken their own lives within a five-week period. The majority of people now in the Suboxone program were closely related to them. These tragic losses have resulted in children having one or both parents gone in a matter of days.

Because of these fatalities, the community, including its frontline workers, pas-tors, Elders and all band members in general has been greatly overwhelmed with much pressure to try and do something so that nothing like this happens again. Programs have been started for all age groups. For toddlers and pre-kindergarten children, the staff at the ECD building open up almost everyday for them to drop by and hang out with other toddlers and young mothers. At the youth drop-in centre, the staff are working overtime to keep the youth busy by promoting physical activity such as soccer tournaments, hockey, pow-wow drumming sessions and more. At the school gym, young adults are kept busy playing various activities such as volleyball and floor hockey, while at the local church, a bible study and singing night is hap-pening for those who may be interested and an arts and crafts class is happening at another. All of these activities have kept everybody on their feet with places to go and things to do, and the impact of teamwork has played a positive role within the community.

As I walk through the corridors of the New Horizons building, the sense of pain still lingers in the air. But through it the participants show much interest and are keen to learn and gain new knowledge on their quest to end their addiction to drugs. The following are those who are struggling to end their addiction to prescrip-tion drugs. These are their stories.

Healing our community: Fighting for our people, our children, our land

North Caribou Lake First Nation has taken a mountainous step to fight

against the prescription drug abuse that has rapidly overtaken the community

of 1,000. SEVEN Youth Media writer James Benson takes readers inside the

treatment centre where he interviews four participants who share their stories

of struggle and success and their dreams for a better tomorrow.

She is shy. Yet, her soft spoken voice speaks with compassion.

Crystal Keeash is a mother of six children and is married to Tony, also a former client at the treatment centre. They have been married for over 20 years. Crystal has suffered many ordeals over the course of her life but remains opti-mistic and cheerful through it all. Crystal, like many in this program, says her interest in trying prescription drugs only came because her hus-band had tried it along with his friends. It has been over 10 years since she started. It only took one try to get her addicted.

“I started off with perks, then I was on crack for four years, then I started Oxys and then mor-phine,” she explains.

It was more like a force that got her hooked. She recalls that her husband’s friend really wanted her to do a line, and she could not say no for an answer.

“He kind of forced me (to take his line) so I just did it and right away I got hooked on it.”

During her time using drugs, she asked herself questions on how she would get her next fix.

“Every morning I’d say to myself where am I going to get my fix from? Sometimes we’d sell something or work for some-body just to get our high,” she explained.

Because of her addiction to drugs and her stealing to get money for drugs, Crystal says her family didn’t want anything to do with her.

Crystal Keeash

Crystal worked as a home-maker for a number of years. Her pay checks were over a thousand dollars. She recalls using all her money just to buy two oxy pills.

“I wouldn’t buy food, even the child tax we would get I’d only buy $400 dollars worth of food and the rest would go towards drugs,” she recalls.

Once she received a call from the NNDAP worker noti-fying her that she had been accepted into the Suboxone program, she told her family that she was going to make that change for them.

“I’d feel sorry for my kids. My kids would have a hard time and ask me why I do that. Today, it’s different. I see a lot of changes in me and I never ask for money anymore,” she chucklingly said. Today, Crystal works full time an assistant Coordinator for the Suboxone Treatment Program.

“It’s been interesting,” she says of her move towards her new path. Her family has been very supportive and encour-aging in her journey towards recovery. Her goal today is to help others who are struggling with their addictions to drugs

and by doing that, she says any-thing is possible.

Crystal also considers herself a role model to her daughter who is in the same program in Thunder Bay. She says that her path to recovery is not finished yet.

“I have got to meet with the people who I had hurt before for stealing from them and selling something from them, I have to say sorry to them. It’s what I’m planning to do next,” she says. “Forgiveness is something I have been working on.”

Darlene Kenequanash is a mother of three children, and a grand-mother of four. Her husband, Zebu-lon, is also one of the participants in the Suboxone program.

Darlene is known to be a cheerful woman, confidant, outgoing and open-minded. She gives moral sup-port when needed and her role now as a volunteer at the treatment cen-tre has been more then helpful.

As a very athletic person in her younger days, she recalls the time she started getting hooked on pain medication to ease her aching bones. After each baseball game, she remembers having severe hip prob-lems that would cause her to rely on Tylenol 3s, then eventually Percocets before she gradually started using Morphine. The doctors later found out that she had a congenital hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip joint has not developed perfectly. As the doctors limited the use of her prescribed medication to morphine, she realized that she was dependent on these pills.

“I started to look elsewhere after they lowered my prescription,” she said, explaining that she was not aware that they sold these pills off the streets.

Darlene previously worked full time as a Probation Parole Services Worker. Once she started buying pills off the street, she knew she could not work there anymore.

“I just gave it up. I didn’t tell my boss that I was giving it up. I just backed off. I was supposed to con-

Darlene Kenequanash

tinue seeing clients but I didn’t feel right doing this position knowing that I was buying pills.”

Her feelings of withdrawal were difficult to deal with.

“I was agitated. I had sweats and was vomiting lots,” she said. “My kids would help me look for medication because they seen what I was going through.”

It was her youngest daughter, Faith,

who gave her support and love dur-ing those moments she thought she wouldn’t get through.

“Of all my three kids, my baby Faith, she pampered me when I was sick. She would always check up on me, kiss me, and tell me she loved me everyday,” she said.

With the pain she caused for her family due to her dependency on pre-scribed medication, she knew she was

dragging her whole family down. “It got to the point where my hus-

band started using too. I dragged him down with me.”

It was during this time Darlene realized that her son was also using.

“It got to the point where I started selling stuff, borrowing money. My family didn’t like me doing this,” she said. “There were times I traded my wood for morphine. Once the wood

was gone, I started taking things from inside the house. I started cleaning out my house completely.”

Her quest for healing from pre-scription drug abuse started after she tragically lost her daughter Faith in May 2012. Knowing she needed change, she tried a Suboxone program in Sioux Lookout, it did not work out because she wanted to be back home with her family.Once the program opened up in Weagamow, she said that her husband and herself would check in on a daily basis and stayed for the sessions.

“When the program started in July, I made my way into the group because I had to pick up our doses. When I went in to pick up my doses, I would stay for the sessions because they were interesting. They started talking about the root of the problem. They would talk about grief and loss. This is why I stayed because I was drawn to the subject,” she said.

Now, with all the positive changes happening in her life and in their home, she says her family has become much closer.

“We get together and do things now as a family,” she said. “In fact, my hus-band is working on our kitchen and my grandkids and I are learning how to bead.”

Thinking back to how life was like before seeking help, she says she never wants to relive that life again. “My heart is set that I want to be clean. I have plans for the future. I want to get my kids into hockey and get them the stuff they need.”

His future is bright. Compar-ing how life was just months ago, Wayne Kakekayash, says “I’m clean and happy.”

Like many of the clients who are enrolled in the Suboxone treatment centre, Wayne says he started using prescription drugs as an experiment 13 years ago and was instantly hooked. All odds were against him. Being unemployed and full of trouble, he had no hope for the future.

“I pretty much got sick and tired of it. I hated waking up sick and trying to find money,” he said, recalling that he just about sold everything in his possession to get his “fix,” even nearly sell-ing his truck.

“I almost sold my truck but then it clicked in me that I really needed my truck,” he said, as he looked back at his life in the last six months.

Remembering the feeling of being sick, Wayne says he was full of anger and rage.

“I was in constant pain when I didn’t have nothing. I was angry. Once I took my hit (a term used for getting a fix) I was back to my normal self.”

In order to get his fix, Wayne says he did various odd jobs. It wasn’t until recently, when his grandmother talked to him about seeking healing for him-self, that he decided to change his ways.

“I had a talk with my grand mother. She told me she wanted me to get better before she passes and that’s what I’m doing,

Wayne Kakekayash

requesting what she asked me to do,” he said.

Within a few days, he was accepted into the Suboxone Treat-ment Program. His first impression, once he accepted his path, was fear.

“I was scared,” Wayne recalled, stating that he was afraid of what the outcome would be if he didn’t succeed in the program. “I was scared that I would get sick before getting into the program. But

because my childhood friends were here, I decided to stay. It was a good decision I made. I don’t regret it.”

His decision has not only caused a positive step for himself, but for his mother also.

“My mother and I came into the program on the same day, now we both don’t do drugs and I’m happy about it,” he said.

Wayne acknowledges his friend who has been very supportive

towards seeking inner healing and finding peace for him self.

“My friend would always push me to get off it. When I told her I was in this program, she was happy. She just kept encouraging me with posi-tive encouragement.”

With all that he has gone through, he says that this is only a stepping-stone of what is yet to come.

“I still got stuff to deal with from my past. I still have a long way to go.”

Helpless, hopeless and in des-perate need for a change, Valerie Keeash says she needed a change in direction for her life for the sake of her family.

Valerie, a soft-spoken mother of six, says she attempted to get off drugs at one point but was not suc-cessful.

“I tried quitting before,” she said of her time at the Sioux Lookout Withdraw unit in December 2011. “I finished that program but relapsed once I came out. I had told the workers that I was going to stop and help people who are addicted too but that didn’t happen.”

Keeash says she would spend thousands of dollars each week to satisfy her addiction. She would sell everything she owned until her home nearly became empty. On some days, she says she doesn’t know how they got the money or where the money came from but would have a lot of money to get the fix they needed.

“I’d do anything. I’d sell my stuff. I’d sell my washer and dryer and even borrow money,” she recalls.

She battled constantly in trying to keep her family circle strong. Yet, she was losing. Both her parents were not talking to her because of her abuse with prescription drugs Her two oldest daughters tirelessly convinced her to get the much-needed help that they wanted for her. Valerie says that her decision for change happened after six com-munity youth took their own lives back in May.

Valerie Keeash

“I was thinking of suicide and taking my own life before all this happened,” she said. “I didn’t like the withdrawals I was going through. I wanted to give up.”

She had told her oldest daughter, after the first youth passed away, ‘that was sup-posed to be me, I waited for tomorrow, I wanted to do it,’” she said. It was then her daugh-ter wept in desperate plea, tell-

ing her she needed help fast. The following month she was

accepted into the treatment program. Her road to recovery began. Her first impression before getting into the program was excitement. After all, she wanted change not only for her-self, but for her family.

“We keep ourselves busy with beadwork and other kinds of activities,” she said of her time at the treatment centre.

After spending countless hours at the treatment centre, along with her sister in law Crystal and brother Tony, they were eventually asked to over-see the program.

Although it hasn’t been an easy road for Valerie, she says it’s her grandchildren who keep her busy and occupied.

Today, things are different in her home. Her family is more tightly knit and her children are

happier then ever before. Her future plan as a full time coor-dinator for the treatment centre is to continue learning on how to help others by going to work-shops and training.

“There’s help out there,” she says of her step towards her healing and recovery, “that’s why I came here; I wanted to quit my habit and to start a new life.”


“Money when you need it,Anytime, Anywhere”

WE UNLOCK• FORMER EMPLOYER PENSION PLANS• LOCKED IN RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

FUNDS WILL BE DEPOSITED DIRECTLY INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT

*BC Registered funds do not qualify. Not available in Q.C.

Prescription drug abuse funding includes money for remote First NationsShawn BellWawatay News

As part of a $15 million investment in fighting prescription drug abuse (PDA) in the province, the Ontario government is pledging $2 million to Aboriginal initiatives.

In an announcement made on Oct. 17, Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews outlined a series of investments geared at an opioid addiction problem that she called the worst in Canada.

Funding geared at Aboriginal initiatives to combat PDA will include money for 130 units of telemedicine equipment, such as videoconferencing equipment, to help addiction treatment and counseling services in remote communities.

“The announcement is a critical step in addressing narcotic drug abuse, an issue that has been identified as a priority by Aboriginal communities,” said Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Kathleen Wynne in a press release. “With First Nations and Métis leadership, and the advice of the Expert Working Group, we look forward to expanding the programs that help build healthy communities.”

Besides telemedicine equipment, the $2 million for Aboriginal PDA initiatives will be used to support the Trilateral First Nations Senior Officials

Committee. The committee, which includes representatives from Ontario, Canada and the Chiefs of Ontario, has developed a work plan to address on-reserve narcotic addiction.

In a press release, the Ontario government stated that the funding for Aboriginal initiatives will also be used to support Aboriginal people living off-reserve.

“The ministry will work through urban Aboriginal organizations and Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) to determine local needs,” the press release stated. “The funds will support the creation of education and training programs and improve co-ordination of services serving urban Aboriginal peoples.”

First Nations in northern Ontario have been calling for help for PDA for years. In 2009 Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) declared a state of emergency

for all 49 NAN communities due to PDA. Eabametoong and Cat Lake have declared their own states of emergencies since that time, with both communities estimating that over 70 percent of people living on-reserve are addicted to prescription drugs.

Besides the Aboriginal initiatives being funded under the new plan, Ontario is pledging to increase addiction treatment and counseling for pregnant women and mothers, and increase provision of methadone and Suboxone treatment programs across the province.

The funding will run through the 14 LHINs in Ontario, based on need, Ontario’s press release stated.

The government also said it will increase public education around the risks of opioids, and outreach to health care providers and other high risk populations.

Ontario estimates that 50,000 people in the province are addicted to narcotics, and the number of babies born with narcotic addiction at 4.3 per 1000 births.

Matthews has requested that her federal counterpart, Leona Aglukkaq, ban generic OxyContin from being sold in Canada once the patent on the drug expires in November.

So far the federal government has not officially responded to the request.

“... both communities estimated that over 70 percent of people living on-reserve are addicted to prescrip-tion drugs.”


Slate Falls First Nation

48 Lakeview Road Slate Falls, ON P0V 3C0Tel: 807-737-5700

Tel/Fax: 1-888-431-5617

Notice to Slate Falls Nation Members

Slate Falls NationChief and Council Election 2012

Nomination MeetingDate: Friday October 26, 2012Location: Bimaychikamah School GymTime: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Public Candidate ForumDate: Friday October 23, 2012Location: Bimaychikamah School GymTime: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Election DayDate: Friday November 30, 2012Location: Slate Falls Band Offi ceTime: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

If you are a member of Slate Falls First Nation, you are entitled to a vote providing you are 18 years of age as of November 30, 2012. If you have any questions regarding the election please call Brenda Roundhead at 807 737-5700

$45.99

NOTICE TO ALL CREDITORS AND OTHERS

All claims against the estate of ELMER JAMES WYNNE lateof Moosonee, Ontario, who died on or about the 12th day of January, 2012, must be fi led with the undersigned personal representative on or before the 12th day of November, 2012, after which date the estate will be distributed having regard only to the claims of which the Estate Trustee then shall have notice.

DATED at Cochrane, Ontario this 15th day of October, 2012.

By: FRANCINE LINKLATERBy her Solicitor:Stephen BeaudoinBeaudoin BoucherBarristers & Solicitors174 - 4th Avenue, P.O. Box 1898Cochrane, Ontario P0L 1C0

NAN is once again accepting applications for the Health Careers Grant Program for NAN First Nations and/or affi liated organizations. Successful projects can receive up to $5,000 to develop and implement Health Careers promotional activities.

Examples of Health Career promotional activities that will be supported under this program include: Health Career Fairs, Health Career Workshops, Student Essay Writing Contests and Health Role Model Presentations.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible to apply for a Health Careers grant, you/your community/group must:

• Be a member of NAN and have written

support of community administration.

(i.e, Chief and Council; Education department;

Health Department)

• Be an organization affi liated with NAN.

• Take the primary responsibility for planning and

off ering a Health Careers event/experience to be

completed by Friday, March 15, 2013.

• Commit to fulfi lling the project by having

an authorized representative of the community

or organization sign a letter of agreement

with NAN.

• Submit a fi nal narrative and fi nancial report of

the project to NAN within 2 weeks of project

competition and no later than March 29, 2013.

How to apply:

Applications are now available at www.nan.on.ca

or by contacting the Health Careers Program at

1-800-465-9952 / 807-623-8228 or

by email [email protected].

Application Submission Process:

• All applications received by the deadline date

will be reviewed by a selection committee;

• All applicants will be notifi ed as soon as possible

and no later than November 28, 2012.

• Due to the limited amount of funding

available, incomplete or late applications

will not be considered.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION IS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 @ 5:00 PM EST.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Health Careers Grant Program

Timmins diabetes expo shines light on Aboriginal effortsXavier Kataquapit Special to Wawatay News

The fourth annual Timmins Diabetes Expo held on October 18 and 19 has helped to make sure that the fight against dia-betes is being won in northern Ontario.

Aboriginal organizations and area health care agencies have been working together for four years in prevention, awareness, education and support concern-ing diabetes through events targeted to professionals, the public at large and school chil-dren. This year’s event featured nationally renowned speaker Dr. Michael Vallis, a clinical psychologist who specializes in diabetes, and Melissa Kelly, professional dance instructor and owner and operator of the Melissa Kelly Dance Academy in Timmins.

Timmins Diabetes Expo Com-mittee chairs Julie St Onge, Canadian Diabetes Associa-tion and Richard Aubin of the Metis Nation of Ontario com-mented that the two day event has increased its reach to pro-fessionals and the public by at least 50 percent.

“We have a great commit-tee dedicated to this event and some really wonderful sponsors who I want to thank for their support,” said St Onge.

The two-day expo featured three separate events with Vallis speaking to health care professionals and the public at large while Kelly facilitated a series of workshops to local school children.

Vallis’ message in his work-shops centred around his exper-tise in behaviour sciences with a focus on encouraging change in relation to managing diabetes. He did so through a presenta-tion punctuated with humour and helpful tips.

“My job today is knowledge translation which is to take behaviour sciences and present them to nurses and dieticians who can incorporate the basic skills to their practice. I am also trying my best to encour-age the public to recognize that through behaviour change they can better manage diabetes,” said Vallis.

The professional event was held at the Porcupine Health

Unit and featured a workshop to local health care profession-als in person and through live teleconferencing using the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) to health care work-ers in Kapuskasing, Kirkland Lake, New Liskeard, North Bay, Moose Factory, Fort Albany and Hearst.

“It is important for us as Aboriginal health care profes-sionals to provide as much assistance as possible to our people and the public at large to combat what has become an epidemic in First Nation com-munities dealing with diabe-tes,” said Peggy Claveau of Misi-way Milopemahtesewin and Timmins Diabetes Expo com-

mittee member. The public and school chil-

dren’s events were held at the Centre Cultural LaRonde. The children’s workshops focused on movement and exercise with instruction by dance profes-sional Kelly.

“My goal was to promote health and fitness through the enjoyment of dance. Dancing is the best form of physical activ-ity at any age because it is fun, there is music and it doesn’t feel like work. I enjoy working with children and being able to assist with the community,” said Kelly.

Claveau also led a cultural workshop that incorporated traditional crafts and Aborigi-nal teachings on health. Com-mittee members Hillary Deyne and Robert Smith held a healthy eating workshop titled Think About Your Drink which focused on healthy drinking choices for children.

Schools that participated in the event included: W. Earle Miller Public School, St. Paul Separate School and Pinecrest Public School in Timmins and Mary Jane Memorial Elemen-tary School in Mattagami First Nation.

“I had fun learning about health and fitness and it was cool to learn about Native cul-ture,” said 11 year old Joel Wood, a Grade 6 student from W. Earle Miller Public School.

The public event was opened and closed by the Omushkeg-owuk Mother Clan Singers, an all women’s traditional drum group.

Xavier Kataquapit/Special to Wawatay NewsThe Omushkegowuk Mother Clan Singers opened the Timmins Dia-betes Expo public event in Timmins on October 18 at the Centre Cul-tural LaRonde. From L-R are: Carmen Edwards, Alice Sutherland, Dianne Tookenay and Elizabeth Etherington.


For more details and offers, visit us at your Ford Store or ford.caAll offers expire December 15, 2012. Offers may be cancelled at any time without notice. See Service Advisor for complete details. Applicable taxes and provincial levies not included. Dealer may sell for less. Only available at participating locations. 1 Storage term is at the Dealer’s sole discretion, up to a maximum of one year. †† In order to receive a local competitor’s advertised price: (i) tires must be purchased and installed at your participating Ford Dealer; (ii) customer must present the competitor’s actual local advertisement (containing the lower price) which must have been printed within 30 days of the sale; and (iii) the tires being purchased must be the same brand, sidewall, speed and load ratings as shown in the competitive advertisement. Offer only available at participating Ford dealerships. This offer is valid on the cost of the tire only and does not include labour costs, valve stems, mounting, balancing, disposal, and taxes. Offer does not apply to advertised prices outside of Canada, in eBay advertisements, by tire wholesalers and online tire retailers, or closeout, special order, discontinued and clearance/liquidation offers. Limited time offer. Offer may be cancelled or changed at any time without prior notice. See your Service Advisor for details. Ford Protection Plan is only available for non-commercial cars and light trucks. If an eligible Ford, Motorcraft ® or Ford-approved part fails due to a defect in material or workmanship, wear out or rust through, it will be replaced at no charge as long as the original purchaser of the part owns the vehicle on which the part was installed. Labour is covered for the fi rst 12 months or 20,000 km (whichever occurs fi rst) aft er the date of installation. Emergency brake pads are not eligible under this plan. See Service Advisor for complete details and limitations. ** Excludes emergency brake pads or shoes. Machining or replacement of rotors and drums available at additional cost. ‡‡ Rebate offers are manufacturer’s mail-in rebates. Rebates available on select Hankook, Continental (credit card gift card), General Tire (credit card gift card), Goodyear, Dunlop, Pirelli, Yokohama, Bridgestone (credit card gift card) , Firestone (credit card gift card), Michelin and Toyo tires. Offers are valid on qualifying sets of four tires, purchased and installed at participating locations during the respective promotion periods for each tire brand. Offer is valid on the cost of the tire(s) only and does not include labour costs, valve stems, mounting, balancing, disposal, and taxes. Amount of rebates, start dates and expiration dates (range from November 20 – December 31, 2012) vary depending on tire manufacturer. It is the responsibility of the customer to submit the required claim forms and proof of purchase to the relevant tire manufacturer with suffi cient postage by the required deadline for that rebate offer. See your Service Advisor for complete details and claim forms. ©2012 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.

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NAPS honours 19 officers with awardsRick GarrickWawatay News

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service Constable Blain Joynson was recently honoured for bravery during a 2010 shooting incident in Deer Lake that claimed the life of one man and wounded another.

“One male was deceased as a result of the wound he received and another male had two gunshot wounds,” said Joynson, who received the Bravery award at the NAPS 5th Honours and Awards Ceremony, held Oct. 17 at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay. “I was the only officer working in the community at the time and I had about four crime scenes, I had these two victims and I basically did everything by

myself for five hours before the first plane came with backup.”

Joynson said it was a “very stressful situation” to be in as the only police officer in the community.

“There was a lot going on — a lot of community members had questions,” Joynson said. “I did different things like evidence collection and the crime scene, I had to figure out where the accused was and what weapons were involved, and obviously my prime concern was safety of the community.”

Joynson was first informed of the shooting incident at 7:10 in the morning by security staff at the nursing station.

“I made my way to the nursing station and that is where I began my

investigation,” Joynson said. “It was pretty stressful. I was working on two hours of sleep because I had a major occurrence the day before. With our service, you’re basically on call 24 hours a day.”

Joynson said the experience of being honoured with the Bravery award is “very humbling.”

“There are a lot of other officers who also deserve the award, but I’m just very thankful to receive it,” Joynson said.

Joynson, who grew up in Thunder Bay, has been serving with NAPS for about five years, the first three-and-a-half years in Deer Lake and the last year as a detective with the NAPS Guns and Gangs unit in Thunder Bay.

“My future goals are to

possibly move up ranks in the service once my duration in this unit expires,” Joynson said. “When I got my detective spot, I’m also a member of our Emergency Response Team. We deal with any high risk or major incidents within our territory, such as barricaded persons, missing persons, search and rescue, suspect apprehension, execution of search warrants and other things like evidence

collection.”NAPS also honoured Sgt.

Raymond Sutherland with a bravery, historical award during the awards ceremony, which included 17 additional awards for other police officers and civilians.

Const. Robert MacPhail received the Officer of the Year award, Ian De Leon received the Civilian of the Year award and Helen DeFranceschi received honourable mention for Civilian of the Year.

Const. Jassen Metatawabin received the Wilfred Chum Coach Officer Award; Det. Const. Brad Duce received the Investigation of the Year award; Mary Friday received the Chief of Police Citation; and OPP Communications Centre Sgt. David Dodsworth received the

Governor General of Canada Exemplary Service Medal.

Constables Conrad Paypompee, Andrew Dunn, Simon Chartrand, Troy Larose and Shannon Parks received Lifesaving awards while Constables Bradley Skrzypek, Waylon Linklater and Dwaine Howe received Community Service awards.

Const. Marc Beaparlant and retired Sgt. Bob Baxter also received Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals, which were created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne.

Beaparlant was recognized for his work with the DARE program and Baxter for his work with victims.

“...It was a ‘very stressful situation’ to be in as the only police officer in the community.”

– Blain Joynson

Submitted photo courtesy of NAPS


Posted October 24, 2012

NOTICE OF RATIFICATION VOTEMISHKEEGOGAMANG OJIBWAY FIRST NATION MEMBERS

In October, 2012, Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation (“MOFN”), Slate Falls Nation (“SFN”), Canada and Ontario concluded, subject to approvals by the Eligible Voters of MOFN and SFN, a Settlement Agreement concerning additions to the Reserves and the fl ooding of Indian Reserves 63A and 63B and traditional territory around Lake St. Joseph (the “proposed Settlement Agreement”) by reason of the operation of hydro operations and dam structures at Rat Rapids, Cedar Channels and Root River.

Notice is hereby given of a Ratifi cation Vote among Eligible Voters of MOFN on whether to approve the proposed Settlement Agreement.

The Ballot Question is set out in Annex “A” to this Notice.

Any person whose name appears on the Band List of MOFN who is at least eighteen (18) years of age by the day of the Main Poll (being November 14th, 2012) is an Eligible Voter in this Ratifi cation Vote. An Eligible Voters List has been established and is posted at the MOFN Band Offi ce. Any person may enquire of the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer, at the address, phone number or e-mail address listed at the end of this Notice, to fi nd out if any name is on the Eligible Voters List.

If you believe you meet the criteria to be an Eligible Voter and wish to vote in this Ratifi cation Vote, but your name does not appear on the Eligible Voters List, or if you believe any name is wrongly included on the Eligible Voters List and wish to applyfor removal of that name, you must apply to the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer, at the address, phone number or e-mail address listed at the end of this Notice, for her ruling on your application to add or remove a name (as applicable) in accordance withthe procedures set out in the Ratifi cation Protocol found as a Schedule to the proposed Settlement Agreement.

The ratifi cation period will begin on October 24th, 2012, as the date of posting of this Notice, and end on the 14th day of November, 2012, being the last day of the Main Poll in this Ratifi cation Vote, unless extended by the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer, in accordance with the aforementioned Ratifi cation Protocol, as a result of rescheduling of any poll due to unforeseen circumstances.

The proposed Settlement Agreement, in English, as well as a Plain Language Summary of the proposed Settlement Agreement, and other materials relevant to the Ratifi cation Vote may be obtained by contacting the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer at the address, phone number or e-mail address listed at the end of this Notice or may be viewed at the MOFN Band Offi ce.

An information meeting will be held at the Missabay Community School on Mishkeegogamang Reserve 63B on November 8, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., subject to being rescheduled or subject to any delay of the start time by the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer due to unforeseen circumstances:

Eligible Voters may vote in advance by mail-in ballot, provided their ballot is delivered by mail to the address set out in themail-in ballot package by 5:00 p.m. on November 13th, 2012. All off-Reserve Eligible Voters for whom MOFN has a current address will be mailed a mail-in ballot package, including instructions on how to exercise a mail-in ballot, together with an information package on the proposed Settlement Agreement. On-Reserve Eligible Voters who wish to vote by mail rather than in person may obtain a mail-in ballot package, and the other information listed in this section, by contacting the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer at the address, phone number or e-mail address listed at the end of this Notice. The mail-in ballot must be delivered to the address set out in the mail-in ballot package by 5:00 p.m. on November 13th, 2012, in order to be valid.

Alternatively, Eligible Voters may vote at the polling centre on the Main Poll Day at the Missabay Community School between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

In accordance with the terms of the aforesaid Ratifi cation Protocol, following the announcement of the results of the Ratifi cation Vote on November 15th, 2012, Eligible Voters will have seven (7) calendar days from the date of posting of results to request areview by a Review Offi cer of the ratifi cation procedures and/or results of the Ratifi cation Vote. Such application must contain the grounds for requesting the review and any other relevant information. It must be received by the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer at the address indicated at the end of this Notice before the expiration of the said seven (7) day period.

Where there is a review by a Review Offi cer, the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer shall post the Review Offi cer’s report of the results of such review at the MOFN Band Offi ce no later than seven (7) calendar days from the date of receiving the request to review. The person seeking the review may, within seven (7) calendar days of the posting of the results of the review by the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer, appeal the results of that review to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, whose decision shall be fi nal.

Questions, request for mail-in ballot packages and any other matter addressed to the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer may be directed to her at the following address, phone number and email address:

Elizabeth RedskyChief Ratifi cation Offi cerADDRESS: P.O. Box 2650, Kenora, Ontario P9N 3X8EMAIL: [email protected]: 807-733-9903


The Thunderbird Friendship Centre is currently accepting resumes for the position of Alternative Justice Program Coordinator to cover a one year maternity leave.

Purpose of the PositionThe Thunderbird Alternative Justice Program Coordinator will coordinate the development, implementation, and on-going operation of the Aboriginal Community Justice Program utilizing holistic approaches to justice. The Coordinator will deliver a culturally based pre and post charge diversion program for Aboriginal youth and adults who come into confl ict with the law and provide meaningful alternatives which address the needs of the victim(s).

Qualifi cations Post-Secondary Degree or Diploma in Aboriginal Community Justice,

Alternative Justice, Criminology, or related fi eld; or a combination of relevant accredited training and extensive related work experience. Experience in crisis intervention and possess interviewing and

counseling skills. Demonstrated knowledge of Canadian Justice System and community

justice concepts. Must have an understanding of Aboriginal culture and practices; Ability

to speak and write Ojibway, Cree and/or Oji-Cree is considered an asset. Excellent written and oral communication skills, and able to facilitate

diverse groups. Knowledge of computers and various applications. Must have experience in program development, data collection, data

management, fi le maintenance, proposal writing and evaluation. Must possess a valid class “G” driver’s license and access to a reliable

vehicle. Must be able to work fl exible hours including evenings and occasional

weekends. Must have a Criminal Reference check, including a Vulnerable Sector

Screening completed and approved prior to commencement of employment. Standard First Aid and CPR Level C, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills

Training would be considered an asset.

Responsibilities1. To coordinate and facilitate the recruitment, training, and retention of

volunteer Steering Committee and Council Members.2. To maintain partnerships with judicial and community resources in

the implementation, development and maintenance of the Alternative Justice Program.

3. To facilitate diversion circles with Council Members, clients, victims and any support person to prepare the Healing Plan.

4. To make and receive appropriate referrals on behalf of program clients.5. To liaise with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal resource/service providers.6. To organize and facilitate public education workshops for the community.

Closing Date November 2, 2012 at 4:30 pm

Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter, resume and the names of three references to the attention of Donald Copenace, Executive Director. We appreciate your interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

ThunderbirdAlternative

Justice Program Coordinator

2013 Forestry Summer Student Opportunities – Dryden, ON

We are currently recruiting summer students for the 2013 season in our forestry operations in Dryden, Ontario and Ear Falls, Ontario.

Employment opportunities are generally 4 months in duration for the summer term. We have positions in:

• Silviculture• Regeneration Surveys

ResponsibilitiesDepending on your year of study and specialization, your responsibilities will include:

• assisting the silviculture contract forester with day to day duties

• supervising and monitoring silviculture contractors (tree plant/site preparation operations/tending) performance around quality and safety

• conducting site reconnaissance; preparing pre-work for renewal work; verifying contractor payment and compliance

• conducting various regeneration surveys (FTG, exceptions monitoring, and stand tending)

• assisting with the planning of various silviculture projects (i.e. aerial chemical tending or slash pile burn projects)

• collect data using GPS and query / compile data using GIS system

• miscellaneous duties such as road inspections, water crossing monitoring and other forestry related duties

Qualifi cationsStudents in all years of HBSc. Forestry Program or Technical Diploma will be considered. Previous GIS, GPS, silviculture, fi eld surveying (FTG, regeneration survey, FRI cruising) contractorsupervision, surveying, harvesting or road construction experience would be an asset. Must be able to work in a forest environment.Must have valid driver’s license and valid First Aid certifi cate.

CompensationA competitive salary is offered, as well as a limited travel allowance.

To applyPlease submit a cover letter and resume by Monday October 29 to [email protected].

We would like to thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Building a capable, committed, and diverse workforce.

Professional Practice Education AssistantFull Time Term (1 year)

Qualifi cations:• Post secondary education • Basic offi ce management skills • Basic principles of anatomy, physiology and

medical terminology• Profi cient keyboarding and word processing skills • Profi ciency in MS Offi ce, Word, Excel, PowerPoint,

Outlook, Internet, etc.• Excellent organizational and planning skills• Excellent communication and organization skills • Excellent time management skills• Proven ability to work independently and within

a team environment

Responsibilities:• Oversees and manages all education/offi ce procedures

under the direction of the Professional Practice Leader• Ensures that information management processes and

systems are in place to ensure that information fl ows in a timely manner that supports the work of the Professional Practice Leader

• Performs other duties as assigned

Closing Date:Resume with cover letter must be submitted to Human Resources by 4:00 pm, November 5, 2012

Submit Resume to:

Human Resources: Recruitment Competition #NAMN 05/12Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health CentreBox 909 Sioux Lookout, On P8T 1B4Fax (807)737-6263Email: [email protected]

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted, we thank all others for their interest.

The successful candidate will be required to provide a criminal records check.

ExcitingHealth Care

Opportunities

SIOUX LOOKOUT FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITYPublic Health Project

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTInternal/External Posting

Permanent Full TimeLocation: Sioux Lookout, Ontario

Reporting to the Public Health Project Coordinator, the Administrative Assistant is responsible for providing direct administrative and offi ce management support to the Public Health Project Coordinator and all members of the Public Health working group team. Specifi cally, the Administrative Assistant provides document processing, records and fi le management, and secretarial services to the project coordinator and project team.

QUALIFICATIONS• Diploma or certifi cate in a Business or Secretarial Arts

fi eld an asset;• Previous experience in offi ce administration an asset; • Previous work experience and/or education in a health

related fi eld an asset; • Profi cient computer and keyboarding skills an asset;• Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

KNOWLEDGE & ABILITY• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with

staff and the general public;• Must have experience and understanding of Native culture,

and the geographic realities and social conditions within remote First Nation communities;

• Ability to communicate in one of the First Nations dialects in the Sioux Lookout Zone a defi nite asset;

• Superior time management and organizational skills;• Must be self motivated and have the ability to

work independently;• 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 to:

Human Resources DepartmentSioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority

61 Queen Street, P.O. Box 1300SIOUX LOOKOUT, Ontario P8T 1B8

Phone: (807) 737-1802 Fax: (807) 737-2969Email: [email protected]

Closing Date: November 9, 2012 at 4:30 p.m.

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

Fort Albany officer recognized with Wilfred Chum Coach Officer AwardRick GarrickWawatay News

The 2012 recipient of Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service’s Wilfred Chum Coach Officer Award enjoys passing on his knowledge of the Albany River to youth.

“We do a rafting trip every year from Constance Lake,” said Const. Jassen Metatawabin, who has served with NAPS for about 10 years in his home community of Fort Albany. “We teach the kids about different historical aspects of the river, hunting and fishing spots, how to fillet fish, how to harvest off the land. Me and Karen do a lot of fishing, mostly for pickerel and a little bit of pike.”

Metatawabin said some youth in his community do not have many opportunities to go out on the land.

“That’s the whole purpose of the rafting trip — to get them out on the land,” Metatawabin said. “To open their eyes up and see what is out there. It’s almost like the kids are getting urbanized on their little reserve.”

Metatawabin and his partner Karen, who is originally from Constance Lake, have completed the 10-day spring journey down the Albany River along with about 20 other community members during three of the last four years.

“It’s a free-floating raft, so we just float with the current,” Metatawabin said. “We use a boat motor once in a while to tug us to certain spots.”

They usually hire a

contractor to build the 65-foot-long by 16-foot-wide raft, which has bunk beds in the stern, a dining/kitchen area in the middle and an open area in the bow.

“Me and my wife are both hard core — we go on the river all the time with our kids and my parents,” Metatawabin said. “We’re really involved with the Albany River and promoting its richness and variety and the cultural benefits it has with the fishing and hunting and the travelling.”

Metatawabin developed an interest in policing after Karen studied law in university.

“Her father was a police

officer with NAPS for 22 years and the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) before that,” Metatawabin said.

Metatawabin enjoys working in his home community, noting he knows just about everyone.

“I have to deal with a lot of my family, like my uncles and aunts and cousins, so it has its positive moments and its negative moments,” Metatawabin said. “And it’s easier for me, I believe, to interact with everybody because I do know everybody.”

Metatawabin can usually tell who is calling on the radiotelephone just by the way they talk.

“And I know where they live and I know the history of pretty much all the calls and I can give that to my rookies,” Metatawabin said.

Metatawabin appreciated being recognized with the Wilfred Chum Coach Officer Award. He also acknowledged the assistance he received as a young police officer.

“Even Wilfred Chum, who the award is named after, gave me a lot of guidance and a lot of wisdom,” Metatawabin said. “There are a lot of senior officers around NAPS that contribute all the time. It’s not just one person coaching officers, it’s an entire group.”

Rick Garrick/Wawatay NewsGrand Chief Harvey Yesno and NAPS Chief of Police Claude Chum congratulated Const. Jassen Metataw-abin, right, as he accepted the Wilfred Chum Coach Officer Award during Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service’s 5th Honours and Awards Ceremony on Oct. 17 in Thunder Bay.


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One family created their own unique talking stick during an Oct. 20 Community Arts and Heritage Education Project talk-ing/walking stick workshop in Thunder Bay.

“Everybody contributed to the family talking stick,” said Derek Kahni, CAHEP workshop presenter, “embellishing them with beads and wires and feath-ers and paints.”

“I think it is a wonder-ful way to maintain respect in a discussion.”

– Derek Kahni

More than 40 people

attended the workshop, which provided participants with a selection of found sticks, from as far from Thunder Bay as Ter-race Bay, to choose from to cre-ate their own talking/walking stick.

“It was interesting to see how people proceeded,” Kahni said. “They would look at the stick, because they were all natural and weathered, and within them you can see a lot of things, which are very personal.”

Traditionally used by First Nations people to provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in community discussions, the talking stick is usually passed around the circle during discussions, with only the person holding the stick being able to speak.

“I think it is a wonderful way

to maintain respect in a discus-sion,” Kahni said. “We’re all excited when we’re in a group — everybody wants to say something. If everyone talks at once, obviously we can’t make sense but if everybody has a turn, then it is clear whoever is holding the stick is talking and then he passes it on.”

The talking/walking stick workshop also included a dis-cussion of Jim Steven’s book Angelique Abandoned, which told the story of an Aboriginal woman’s survival over a frigid winter on Isle Royale.

Upcoming CAHEP work-shops include a Nov. 3 medi-cine pouch creation workshop by Lac Seul artist and heritage programmer Susan Kakepetum and Dec. 1 and 8 song creation workshops by James Wilkinson.

Talking sticks created during CAHEP workshop

Rick Garrick/Wawatay NewsWunnumin Lake’s Jayson and Hosea Dickson created a talking stick during the Oct. 20 Community Arts and Heritage Education Project talking/walking stick workshop in Thunder Bay.


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Former actor inspires at-risk youthMarianne JonesSpecial to Wawatay News

In 1962, Victor Joseph Seegerts died a hero’s death when the commercial fishing boat he worked on drifted from the island where he and his fellow crew members were stopping. Seegerts, a Dene from Uranium City, Alberta, braved the frigid waters of Lake Athabasca and swam to the boat, but was unable to scale the high sides of the boat to climb aboard. After numerous attempts, he succumbed to cold and exhaustion.

“He died trying to save the lives of other people,” says his son, David Seegerts. Even though David was only two years old at the time, the youngest in a family of seven children, “that story inspired me to follow his example to save the lives of my people.”

The road to fulfilling that dream would have many twists and turns. David’s mother remarried. Her new husband was violent and abusive to her and the children. By the time David was eight, he began run-ning away from home, but it wasn’t until he attempted sui-cide at the age of 14 that he was placed in a foster home. That proved to be a turning point for him.

“It was a good foster home,” he recounts. “I got into cadets and martial arts. I wanted to learn to protect myself.”

He became a favourite with his foster parents because of his respectful attitude and good manners. It was there that he learned consequences and a work ethic that he has maintained all his life.

“To this day I love work. I started working at the age of 12. There was an old man known as Garbage Joe because he drove a garbage truck. He would hire us kids to help him. We’d line up outside his door at 5 in the morning, and he’d take the first four in line. I was always one of the ones picked.

“Also, my foster dad took me cutting wood and chopping and piling on weekends for money. Then we built a garage. I started to understand the concept of

work and money.”David also enjoyed travel-

ling across Canada on holidays with his foster family, and he was close to one of his foster brothers. Despite the posi-tive grounding he was getting, when he was sixteen, he hitch-hiked to Thompson, Man. to visit one of his brothers who was involved with a motorcycle gang. After a few months there, David moved on to Edmonton where he spent his time living on the streets, couch surfing, selling drugs and partying.

“I hung out with shady people for a couple of years. Then I got busted. That’s when my life changed. Getting busted was the best thing that happened to me.”

David decided to hitchhike to Fort McMurray to get away from the life he was leading. On the highway he inhaled a peanut and passed out. A passing motorist stopped and saved him by administering the Heimlich maneuvre, then gave him a ride and offered him a job in his Fort McMurray

warehouse.“He told me he hired me

because I was wearing a nice sweater. I’ve always had deep respect and manners, and I always looked good. My mother instilled that in me.”

That near-death experience convinced David that he was being spared for a purpose. However, he continued to drift between jobs, cities and relationships. During the 1980s he was living in Calgary, “still a party animal with no direction. I always maintained a job, though.”

One day he saw an advertisement for a one-year course in survey technology. It was a limited-enrolment course that required more schooling than he had. But David was not one to give up.

“I had a Grade 7 education and needed Grade 10. But I had perseverance and I had desire, so I phoned up the course instructor, and was accepted. Throughout that course I locked myself in my bedroom and studied, learning trigonom-

etry and calculus. I passed my math and got 80 per cent in my fieldwork.

On graduating, Dave landed a job with an engineering firm in Edmonton.

“I was nicknamed “Psycho Dave” because of my work ethic. I used to cut two-and-a-half kilometres of survey line a day. I worked seven days a week. I loved it.”

Dave eventually moved to Vancouver to be closer to fam-ily, and stopped drinking. But problems followed him, in the form of spending two years in the legal system fighting false charges. The experience trau-matized him and brought him close to suicide again, until an acquaintance working with the Hey’-Way’-Noqu’ Healing Circle persuaded him to get counsel-ling.

While he was living in Vancouver, working for a surveying company, he was approached by an agent in a coffee shop. She encouraged him to consider an acting career, and gave him her card.

Five months later, he called, and “the next day I was on The X-Files. I became in demand right away. I worked with Sentinel, Walt Disney, did eight months with Hawkeye: Last of the Mohicans as a stand-in.”

Over the next nine years David enjoyed steady work in every aspect of television and film, including acting, set build-ing, script writing, directing, videography and sound. “I had the bug. I saw an ad for a train-ing program for film and video technicians and applied. I was one of the 16 accepted out of 4,000 applicants.”

Upon graduating from the program, he went to work for the National Film Board as a set carpenter. That led to work with Nickelodeon as a carpen-ter with Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Brothers of the Frontier and Wounded. “Every show I worked on I got an acting part as well.”

However, after several accidents that shattered both kneecaps and an ankle, his career changed direction. He began volunteering for native organizations and a women’s shelter in Vancouver. He was invited by Aboriginal Community Careers Services Society (ACCESS) to work with Blade Runners, a program designed to mentor and help homeless and at-risk youth in gaining employment.

David threw himself into his new career with his typical drive and passion, acquiring a diploma in employment counselling.

“Later I got to develop my own programs in Prince George, B.C., a very racist town. I became coordinator, program developer, facilitator and job developer for the program, put-ting 12 kids at a time through a 4-week course, mentoring and liaising. I loved it because I love hard work and being in the limelight and being productive. The program had an 85 per cent success rate when I left Prince George.”

Understanding first-hand the issues that many of the youth struggled with, David developed anger management workshops and non-violent

workshops. Later, he went to Saskatoon to develop life skill programs and social programming for the Saskatoon Tribal Council.

In 2011 a Facebook friend in Kakabeka suggested he move to Thunder Bay, saying, “We need people like you here.” He decided to accept the challenge, and relocated. He began working for Ka-Na-Chi-Hih, facilitating workshops in anger management and addiction awareness, and in June of 2012 was hired as a residential worker with Creighton Youth Services. In addition he plans to do workshops in Niagara Falls and Sioux Lookout. Another of his projects is using his skills in film work to create a production with the Creighton Centre.

“I want to get these kids telling their stories. That’s all they want. Kids want someone to listen to them.”

At 52, David’s dream of following his father’s example of helping his people is being fulfilled. “I love working with these kids. They like my approach. I talk at their level.” It was in Thunder Bay that David also met his life partner, Alice Sabourin, an instructor in Aboriginal Studies at Lakehead University.

“I think it was a godsend that a co-worker introduced me to her. We both have the same goals. We both work out at a gym every day and are committed to our health.” They also share a passion for counselling youth at risk.

“We both love them from the bottom of our hearts.” Together they are working on developing their own company to share their expertise with other groups.

David still does occasional surveying work, and is learning photography. He is also working on writing a book about his life and experiences. He finds that his background in the arts and entertainment world offers hopes and inspiration to his young clients.

“I can relate to them because I was one of them and I overcame.”

Marianne Jones/ Special to Wawatay NewsFormer Hollywood actor David Seegerts is planning to use his film skills help youth at Creighton Youth Services in Thunder Bay to tell their stories om film.


Posted October 24, 2012

GENERAL FORM OF NOTICE OF RATIFICATION VOTESLATE FALLS NATION MEMBERS

1. In October, 2012, Slate Falls Nation (“SFN”), Stanley Carpenter (the “Representative Action”), Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation, Canada and Ontario concluded, subject to approvals by the Eligible Voters of the SFN, the Representative Action and Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation, a settlement agreement concerning the fl ooding of Indian Reserves 63A and 63B and the traditional territory around Lake St. Joseph (the “proposed Settlement Agreement”) by reason of the operation of hydro operations and dam structures at Rat Rapids, Cedar Channels and Root River.

2. Notice is hereby given of a Ratifi cation Vote among Eligible Voters of SFN and the members of the Representative Action on whether to approve the proposed Settlement Agreement.

3. The Ballot Question is set out in Annex “A” to this Notice.

4. Any person whose name appears on the Band List of SFN who is at least eighteen (18) years of age on the last day of the Ratifi cation Vote (namely, the 14th day of November, 2012) is an Eligible Voter in this Ratifi cation Vote. An Eligible Voters List has been established and is posted next to the Notice in the SFN Band Offi ce. Any person may inquire of the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer, at the address, phone number or e-mail address listed at the end of this Notice, to fi nd out if any name is on the Eligible Voters List.

5. If you believe you meet the criteria to be an Eligible Voter and wish to vote in this Ratifi cation Vote, but your name does not appear on the Eligible Voters List, or if you believe any name is wrongly included on the Eligible Voters List and wish to apply for removal of that name, you must apply to the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer, at the address, phone number or e-mail address listed at the end of this Notice, for his or her ruling on your application to add or remove a name (as applicable) in accordance with the procedures set out in the Ratifi cation Protocol found as a Schedule to the proposed Settlement Agreement.

6. The ratifi cation period will begin on October 24th, 2012, as the date of posting of this Notice, and end on the 14th day of November, 2012, being the last day of the Main Poll in this Ratifi cation Vote, unless extended by the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer, in accordance with the aforementioned Ratifi cation Protocol, as a result of rescheduling of any poll due to unforeseen circumstances.

7. The proposed Settlement Agreement, in English, as well as a plain language summary of it and other materials relevant to the Ratifi cation may be obtained by contacting the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer at the address, phone number or e-mail address listed at the end of this Notice or may be viewed at the SFN band offi ce.

8. An information meeting will be held in the following location and at the following time, subject to being rescheduled or subject to any delay of the start time by the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer due to unforeseen circumstances:

9. Eligible Voters may vote by mail-in ballot at any time during the ratifi cation period set out in section 6 of this Notice, provided their ballot is returned by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the close of polls on the last day of the Main Poll, namely the 13th day of November, 2012. All off-Reserve Eligible Voters for whom SFN has a current address will be mailed a mail-in ballot package, including instructions on how to exercise a mail-in ballot, together with an information package on the proposed Settlement Agreement. On-Reserve Eligible Voters who wish to vote by mail rather than in person may obtain a mail-in ballot package, and the other information listed in this section, by contacting the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer at the address, phone number or e-mail address listed at the end of this Notice. The mail-in ballot must be returned by the stated time in order to be valid.

10. Alternatively, Eligible Voters may vote at a polling centre on the Main Poll Day at the Boardroom at the SFN Band Offi ce on November 14, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

11. As a third voting alternative, Eligible Voters whose place of residence is in the Slate Falls Indian Settlement may request the attendance of a “roving poll” at their place of residence at any time from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (or such extended hours as may be ordered by the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer in accordance with the aforesaid Ratifi cation Protocol) during the Main Poll day set out above. The Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer will be posting notice of a local telephone number which may be called during that day to request attendance of the roving poll.

12. In accordance with the terms of the aforesaid Ratifi cation Protocol, following the announcement of the results of the Ratifi cation Vote, Eligible Voters will have seven (7) calendar days from the date of posting of results to request a review by a Review Offi cer of the ratifi cation procedures and/or results of the Ratifi cation Vote. Such application must contain the grounds for requesting the review and any other relevant information. It must be received by the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer at the address indicated at the end of this Notice before the expiration of the said seven (7) day period. The Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer shall post, in public places on the Slate Falls Indian Settlement, the Review Offi cer’s report of the results of such review no later than seven (7) calendar days from the date of receiving the request to review. The person seeking the review may, within seven (7) calendar days of the publication of the results of the review, appeal the results of that review to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, whose decision shall be fi nal.

13. Questions, request for mail-in ballot packages and any other matter addressed to the Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer may be directed to him at the following address, ph one number and e-mail address:

Wallace McKayChief Ratifi cation Offi cerADDRESS: 43 Garwick Cove, Winnipeg, Manitoba. R2J 4C2EMAIL: [email protected]: 204.803.9480

_______________________________________ Wallace McKay, Chief Ratifi cation Offi cer

Location of Information Meeting: Date and Time:

Bimaychikamah School Gym, Slate Falls November 8th, 2012, 6:00 p.m.


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Sandy Lake takes on the world in marathon, 1500 metre challengeSubmitted by Sandy Lake Run-ning Club

Despite having to run on a cold and wet day in muddy conditions, Sandy Lake fin-ished in 72 place out of 200 schools from around the world in the 2012 world mar-athon and 1,500 metre chal-lenge.

The Sandy Lake Running Club participated for the sec-ond straight year, running in this world event. The com-peting runners were between the ages of 7 and 13.

The first run was the 7-11 age groups, doing the 1500 relay world challenge race. The students were up bright and early even with the inclement weather and muddy track conditions. The first run was extremely fast

for the youngsters and every-one was cheering them on. The time result for the 1500 meter challenge for Sandy Lake was 5:34 minutes. As of today, Sandy Lake sits in 72 place out of 200 schools. The children say they had a lot of fun and would love to do it again.

The second race scheduled was the World Marathon Challenge consisting of 30 participants, each doing 7 laps of 200 meters. The race started off with the first lap being done by Jerry Clark in his rubber boots, just nudg-ing past Titus Day at the fin-ish/start line. The baton was then handed off to Rebecca Kakepetum who started the second round of 210 laps. The total time for the race was 3 hours, 18 minutes and

48 seconds. We even had one runner, Drake Meekis run-ning so fast that he literally ran out of one of his shoes half way. But he kept on run-ning with only one shoe: true dedication on his part.

Towards noon hour it became harder to complete the race. Most racers were thinking more about their stomachs, as they watched fellow classmates leave for lunch. However, the runners kept going and finished the race! The day ended with a much needed prepared lunch and the submission of the final results.

We are very proud of our runners for putting Sandy Lake, Ontario on the world map. We also want to con-gratulate all the compet-ing runners from across the world; especially, French-man’s Head and Kasabonika for their great effort. The principal of Thomas Fiddler Memorial Elementary School and the Sandy Lake Run-ning Club would also like to extend a challenge to all other neighbouring reserves to participate in the race next year.

On behalf of the Running Club of Sandy Lake

Kiitcha-megitch

Submitted photo Two Sandy Lake running club members during the World Marathon Challenge, in which Sandy Lake finised in 72 place out of 200 schools from around the world despite having to run through the rain.

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October 25, 2012