Windspeaker April 2014 final

P a g e [ 1 ]April 2014

Inform. Impact. Inspire. Independent. Indigenous.

Subscription rate: $55.00+GST

Volu

me

32

N

o.

1 •

Apri

l 2

01

4pl

us G

ST /

HST

whe

re a

pplic

able

Win

dspe

aker

• E

stab

lishe

d 19

83

ISSN

083

4 -

177X

• P

ublic

atio

ns M

ail R

eg.

No.

400

6375

5

A

bori

gina

l Mul

ti-M

edia

Soc

iety

(A

MM

SA)

w

ww

.am

msa

.com

$6

.00

Urban organizationsscramble as funding

source in flux0

Quebec independencepush renews

Indigenous concernsPage 10

Pickton victims’children offered

$50K compensationPage 9

Photo

: B

arb

Nahw

egahbow

Seeking justice for missing andmurdered Indigenous womenOne of Toronto’s main transportation arteries was shut down on March 22by activists seeking justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women(MMIW). About 35 people blocked Lakeshore Boulevard for 40 minutes.

Please see story on page 8.

Seeking justice for missing andmurdered Indigenous womenOne of Toronto’s main transportation arteries was shut down on March 22by activists seeking justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women(MMIW). About 35 people blocked Lakeshore Boulevard for 40 minutes.

Please see story on page 8.

April 2014P a g e [ 2 ]

P a g e [ 3 ]April 2014

ADVERTISINGThe advertising deadline for the

May 2014 issue of Windspeaker isApril 17, 2014.

Call toll free at: 1-800-661-5469for more information.

We acknowledge the financial support of theGovernment of Canada through the Canada Periodical

Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Departments

FeaturesFamilies disappointed in missing/murderedwomen report 8

Bridget Tolley is concerned that while politicianshammer out the need for a national publicinquiry into murdered and missing Aboriginalwomen and girls, those who are supposed to beat the centre of the issue will be forgotten.

[ contents ]

Windspeaker is published by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA)Canada's largest publisher of Aboriginal news and information.

AMMSA's other publications include:

Alberta Sweetgrass — The Aboriginal Newspaper of Alberta

Saskatchewan Sage — The Aboriginal Newspaper of Saskatchewan

Business Quarterly — Canada's Aboriginal Business Magazine

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Large numbers of children who were sent toresidential schools never returned home. In light ofthe Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s finalnational event held at the end of March inEdmonton, this month’s Footprints is dedicated tothe memory of those children who died from theharsh conditions they experienced, or perishedwhile trying to escape from them.

[ rants and raves ] 5

[ drew hayden taylor - column ] 6

[ what's happening ] 7

[ windspeaker briefs ] 9

[ provincial news ] 11 - 14

[ sports ] 15

[ education ] 16

[ careers ] 17

[ health ] 19

[ footprints ] Residential School Victimes 18

Pickton victims’ children offered $50Kcompensation 9

More than a year after the missing women inquiryruled that systemic racism and a “colossalfailure” by RCMP and Vancouver police hadallowed serial killer Robert Pickton to continuekilling for years, B.C. has settled a lawsuit with13 children of missing women, and announced a$4.9 million fund for 98 such children in theprovince.

PublisherBert Crowfoot

Editorial 1-780-455-2700

E-mail: [email protected]

Contributing News EditorDebora Steel

Staff WritersDianne Meili

ProductionJudy Anonson

Advertising Sales 1-800-661-5469

E-mail: [email protected]

Director of MarketingPaul Macedo

National SalesShirley Olsen

AccountsCarol Russ

CirculationJoanne Rediron

AMMSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PresidentNoel McNaughton

Vice President Rose Marie Willier

TreasurerDr. Chester Cunningham

DirectorsJennie CardinalLeona Shandruk

Monthly Circulation: 20,000Windspeaker 1-year subscription: $60.00+GST

Published since 1983, Windspeaker ispolitically and financially independent.

COPY RIGHTSAdvertisements designed, set and produced by

Windspeaker as well as pictures, news,cartoons, editorial content and other printedmaterial are the property of Windspeaker andmay not be used without the express written

permission of Windspeaker.Letters to the editor and all undeliverable

Canadian addressed copies can be sent to:

Windspeaker13245 - 146 Street NW,

Edmonton, Alberta T5L 4S8General Enquiries: [email protected]

Rants and Raves: [email protected]: @windspeakernews

Facebook: /windspeakernews

MEMBERSHIPSMagazines Canada

Alberta Magazine Publishers Association

18

9

15

Urban organizations scramble as fundingsource in flux 10

There will be no transition period for organizationsthat use project funding from the Urban AboriginalStrategies program as it is revamped. The impactof no gap funding will be devastating, saidChristine Martin, co-chair of the Metro VancouverUrban Aboriginal Executive Council. Clientele willbe losing out as community-driven programs closetheir doors because of lack of funding.

Canadians are stuck in the narrative of adistant past 17

The history of Canada is based on a series ofmisunderstandings as well as understandings,Bob Rae told an audience of mostly law studentsat the University of Toronto on March 19.

April 2014P a g e [ 4 ]

Check out our currentonline career listings...

• Director of Human Resources andAdministration

• Canada Research Chair• Family Preservation Worker

Electoral Officer• Director, Special Projects

• Project Coordinator and Liaison• Automotive Service Technician

• Long Haul Drivers

www.ammsa.com

P a g e [ 5 ]April 2014

[ rants and raves ]And what will become of the truth? Chatter

The Edmonton Journal reports that a new assistantassistant deputy minister of First Nations, Métis and Inuit educationwill be established for Alberta Education. The new position is intendedto combat the gap in education outcomes for the Aboriginal population.“One of our biggest challenges is that gap between Aboriginal andnon-Aboriginal kids,” Education Minister Jeff Johnson told the paper’seditorial board. Alberta needs to do a better job of making educationrelevant and valued in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities,Johnson said. “It’s embarrassing and it’s unfortunate, but I think there’sa real legitimate reason for that (gap), and it’s the residential schools.The generation who are parents now, or grandparents, their experiencewith education was not a good one,” said the minister. “Imagine peopleshowing up and taking your kids out of your community and tying thatto education, and what that does to your impression of education.”

The Christian Science Monitor reports that the late ShannenKoostachin of Attawapiskatis DC Comics latest character. Koostachin died in a car accident in2010, but before her death she became known internationally for heractivism in the area of education, inspiring a campaign known asShannen’s Dream. DC Comics writer Jeff Lemire was inspired byKoostachin’s story to include her as a character in a Justice Leaguecomic book. “At 13, she organized a campaign to get the temporaryschool in her community replaced with a permanent and safe schoolthat offered high-quality and culturally relevant education for FirstNations students,” reads the report. “While Native American and FirstNation characters are not absent from comic book history, the needfor new heroes and an increasingly diverse representation of culturesin our popular media remains paramount. And with this new Creeteenager superhero, not only is a there a new character to admire, buta real life hero for youth and adults to follow.”

First Nation communities in Ontario are lighting up, theirhomes that is, with green bulbsas part of the Green Light Strategy. The green lights demonstrate toall who see them healthy families against violence towards womenand girls. Karen Kejick is the creator of the idea. She is a member ofthe Grand Council Treaty #3 Women’s Executive Council. The Strategybegan on the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation with 50 green lightbulbs distributed in the community. Other First Nations in northwesternOntario are enthusiastic to join in. Kejick said green is significant toFirst Nations culturally. “Green is a healing colour,” Kejick told CBC.“It represents healing and a spiritual connection to Mother Earth.” ChiefGary Allen said his community, Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation,will be joining in sometime in early April. “When we have strong, healthywomen, we have healthy communities,” he said. “I think it’s neededespecially when we’re looking at missing and murdered Aboriginalwomen in Canada and the continued violence against our women.”

The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) haspartnered with MusiCounts,Canada’s music education charity associated with the CanadianAcademy of Recording Arts and Sciences. It’s a program designed tohelp keep music alive in schools across Canada. APTN has contributed$10,000 to the program and MusiCounts matched that amount.MusiCounts Band Aid Grants were awarded to two schools specificallythrough this partnership, Eskasoni Elementary and Middle School inEskasoni, N. S. and Mi’kmawey School in Membertou, N.S. Each willreceive $10,000 grants for the purpose of equipping their school musicprograms. “APTN recognizes the significance of musical legacy to FirstNations, Inuit and MÈtis Peoples’ cultures,” said Jean La Rose, APTNChief Executive Officer, in a press release. “Music is an inspiration formany, and it’s important to foster creative expression at an early age.”

The Province of Ontario and Matawa-member First Nationshave reached an agreementthat will ensure First Nation communities benefit from the proposedRing of Fire development, reads a press release. The regionalframework agreement is a first step in a historic, community-basednegotiation process, which began in July 2013. The nine Matawa-member First Nations and Ontario signed the framework agreementMarch 26 to move forward with a negotiation process on a community-based regional approach to development in the Ring of Fire. Theagreement ensures First Nations and Ontario can work together toadvance Ring of Fire opportunities, including regional long-termenvironmental monitoring and enhanced participation in environmentalassessment processes, resource revenue sharing, economic supports,regional and community infrastructure. Michael Gravelle, Minister ofNorthern Development and Mines, signed on behalf of Ontario. Thechiefs signed on behalf of their communities. “I’ve seen many frameworktype processes come and go, and MOUs, and some have had beneficialresults but many have not gone anywhere,” said Chief Elijah K. Mooniasof Marten Falls First Nation. “I am optimistic that this regional frameworkallows us to be more involved in development and the decision-makingthat is going to happen… We are working to set the course to moveour First Nations away from dependence so that we can capture themaximum benefits and move towards community wellness and increaseambition for our people.”

Apologies are critical, said EdmontonArchbishop Richard Smith of theArchdiocese of Edmonton, but they do noterase the past. They are beautiful to hear,but the memories of wrong-doing remain,and that, despite the pain these memoriesstir up, is a good thing, because as soon aswe forget our past, we have a tendency torepeat it. “We need to learn and toremember.”

Smith was speaking with APTN reporterChris Stewart on the eve of the last nationalevent of the Truth and ReconciliationCommission. This last event is being heldin Edmonton starting March 27 and runs toMarch 30. We miss the start of the eventfor this paper’s issue by just one day.Because of our press deadline we will haveto bring you our coverage from theseimportant days in the next edition ofWindspeaker.

But in the meantime, we can reflect onthese last few years and be proud. Oh sovery proud of the courage that it has takenfor thousands of men and women to standup and tell their stories. To share in a verypublic way the pain and suffering theyendured when they were just so very youngand vulnerable, and the pain and sufferingthat in turn has been visited upon theirchildren and their grandchildren because ofthat treatment in the residential schoolsacross Canada. No one with a sound mindand a working heart can dismiss theintergenerational impact of that system now.No one.

It should be a point of national Canadianpride that this truth-telling took place. ManyCanadians can stand tall having shown thegrace enough to listen and to try and makesense of it all. They have shown a similarcourage to take the brunt of that truth, toreally hear it, and to understand thepersonal destruction that befell the survivorsof this altogether egregious attempt to takethe Indian out of the child, to assimilate theminto the mainstream by attempting their re-engineering, by removing their beliefs, theirculture, language, parents and communitiesfrom their lives. And beyond that genocide,there was the abuse of all manner andvarieties perpetrated upon these youngones, left alone and unprotected in the careof psychopaths and pedophiles.

If any Canadian is still in the dark or indenial of the horrors committed against thestudents of these schools they should be

ashamed. The truth is not only out there, ithas been brought to you on a platter.

But here’s the next step, the next criticalelement. Those Canadians who have takenthe instruction that has come from the workof the Truth and Reconciliation Commissionhave absorbed a responsibility. They mustremember and never allow it to happenagain. No, we don’t have residential schoolsnow, but we have an overwhelming numberof our children in foster care across thiscountry, more than attended residentialschools by far. Our families are still beingseparated, torn asunder, this time becauseof neglect and poverty.

We need Canadians’ support. We needCanadians to speak up and help correct theoutrageous. Remember what you haveheard, and send a message to yourpoliticians that says, Canadians believecaring for Indigenous children is a priorityand this means restoring families andcommunities and building them up with whatthey need.

We have Indigenous children droppingout of schools and not graduating becausethey see no value in education systems thatdon’t reflect their worldview, that don’tinclude their cultures and languages,stories, heroes, teachings, and theunderpinnings of their traditions in theclasses. Canadians should say, ‘Let’s getthis on track. Stop playing politics with theseyoung people’s lives.’ It took millions ofdollars to destroy these very things in theresidential schools. Let’s make aninvestment in their restoration.

Canadians have been given a gift by theAboriginal population that attended the Truthand Reconciliation hearings across Canadaand shared their stories. It is a gift ofopportunity, to see the past clearly and toreshape the future.

We cannot unhear what we have heard.We cannot unknow what we have come toknow. It’s not OK to turn away from theresidential school era and say, ‘Well we’redone with that now,’ because the legacy ofthat time remains with the survivors and theirfamilies and continues to reverberate withinour nations.

Canadians have a part to play, becauseyou have been a witness and have beencalled on to participate going forwardtowards reconciliation.

Windspeaker

In Canada we take for granted theunfettered right of every individual to vote. Thatthere could be any tampering whatsoever withthis cornerstone of democracy seemsimpossible. But if Bill C-23 is passed, it couldactually prevent certain demographics fromexercising their right to vote.

I urge those groups – seniors, universitystudents and Indigenous peoples – to voicetheir concerns re. this bill. And as for the restof Canada? If the majority fail to speak out onbehalf of our compatriots, Canadians will no

Letter: Bill C-23: A ‘Fair Elections’ Act?longer be able to shake our headsincredulously at the many instancesthroughout history where a peoples’ rightshave been obstructed; we’ll no longer be ableto ask, all fresh-faced and secure in ourCanadian goodness “…but why didn’t anybodyin that country say anything?”

We won’t be able to ask that questionanymore, because we too will have joinedthose same, silent ranks.

Margaret CurrieOttawa

Do you have a rant or a rave?Criticism or praise?

E-mail us at: [email protected]: @windspeakernewsfacebook: /windspeakernews

April 2014P a g e [ 6 ]

[ strictly speaking ]

The colour of school buses

If you would just go ahead and order a Windspeaker subscription then you could getWindspeaker delivered right to your office or home.

For only $60.00 +gst you would not only help support independent Aboriginal communications,but also keep your letter carrier from being bored.

Subscribe to Windspeaker today! 1-800-661-5469 Email: [email protected]

By Carolyn Bennett,MP (Liberal)Guest Columnist

Indigenous women in Canadaexperience rates of violence morethan three times that of non-Indigenous women and youngIndigenous women are five timesmore likely to die of violence.Moreover, recent research showsthat more than 800 Indigenouswomen and girls havedisappeared or been murdered inCanada over the past severaldecades.

When Parliament debated mymotion on Feb. 14, 2013 tocreate a special Parliamentarycommittee to propose solutionsfor this urgent crisis, we all hopedthat the scope and horror of thesituation would allow its work totranscend partisan politics.

While I knew the work of sucha committee would in no wayreplace the need for a nationalpublic inquiry, I was confidentthe hearings would provide anopportunity for victims, theirfamilies and experts to educateParliamentarians about thecomplexities of the issue. I hopedthis one ‘special’ committeewould be able to break throughthe partisanship of thisParliament and honorably reportback to the House the testimonyof the witnesses and theirrecommendations to put to an

end this national tragedy.Although the unanimous vote

in the House of Commons tocreate the Special Committee onViolence Against IndigenousWomen was an excellentbeginning, the report it tabledwas a complete betrayal of thememory of those we have lost,the grieving family and friendsleft behind and those Indigenouswomen and girls who continueto be victimized by violence.

The recommendations ignoredthe evidence and instead simplyoffered highlights of inadequateexisting government initiatives,most not even specific to violenceagainst Indigenous women andgirls. Canadians are demandingurgent action to deal with thisnational tragedy, yet thegovernment generatedrecommendations to simply‘continue’ or ‘maintain’ programsand ‘examine options’ forinitiatives represent a totalabdication of the responsibilityto take bold action and the needto move beyond the clearlyfailing status quo.

Instead of honestly reportingwhat the Committee heard,including the unanimous urgingof provincial and territorialpremiers and the unequivocaldemand of victims’ families andAboriginal leadership for anational public inquiry, theConservative majority on the

Committee chose to obedientlyacquiesce to the Prime Minister’sstubborn refusal to establish suchan inquiry. The Prime Ministeris on the wrong side of historyand the ‘honorable’ Conservativemembers did not honor theirduty to the public good.

For so many families andfriends a national public inquiryis an essential part of theirhealing process. So many familieswere still hurting because uponreporting that their loved onewas missing they were met withthe callous response that theirloss was ‘inevitable’. It is alsoimportant to understand that anational public inquiry is notonly a matter of seeking justiceand reconciliation for pastinjustices, but critical if we areto ever address the systemicproblems underlying thisongoing crisis. We have to get tothe bottom of issues like racismand sexism in policing.

As Susan O’Sullivan, theFederal Ombudsman forVictims of Crime, told theCommittee:

“A national commission ofinquiry would allow for thevoices of Canada’s Aboriginalwomen and communities to beheard, respected, andconsidered, in processes andstructures designed to addresstheir needs. In this way, strategiesfor preventing and responding to

this crisis could be specificallytailored to the needs ofAboriginal women and rooted inunderstandings of the social andeconomic conditions that havecontributed to theirvulnerability.”

It is also clear that in additionto a national public inquiry, theurgency of this issue requires theimmediate development andimplementation of a nationalaction plan. That national actionplan must be developed in closepartnership with victims’families, Aboriginal governmentsand representative organizations,provinces and territories toprovide for the coordination andaccountability of governmentbodies charged with preventingand responding to the violence.

As Assembly of First NationsNational Chief Shawn Atleo toldthe Committee:

“We seek a clear andunmitigated commitment totaking action demonstratedthrough the creation of a nationalpublic action plan. Indigenouscommunities, organizations,provinces and territories, areadvancing strategies to endviolence, but without clearlyarticulated national goals andcoordinated efforts led by thefederal government theseinitiatives will not fully addressthe magnitude of responserequired to prevent and end

Indigenous Women: Harper is on the wrongside of history

violence against Indigenouswomen and girls and bringaccountability to the families ofthose who are missing andmurdered.”

Unfortunately, theConservative majority on theCommittee rejected this keyrecommendation as well.

This issue is about real people,both the victims of theseunspeakable crimes and thefamilies left behind. Families areseeking justice for their lovedones and a commitment that noone else will have to experiencethe profound pain of their lossor go through the terrible cycleof violence that so manyIndigenous women and girlsface. The inadequate committeerecommendations must be wornby every single member of theConservative majority on thecommittee who chose not tohonor what we heard or show thecourage to stand up to the PrimeMinister’s appalling refusal totake this issue seriously. Theyhave let the victims and theirfamilies down yet again.

The people of Canada arebeginning to understand thatthis is not an Aboriginal issue, it’snot a women’s issue, it’s aCanadian issue. We will get anational public inquiry, but itwill require replacing thisConservative government withone that will listen and act.

Remember when riding theschool bus was easy and simple.No pressure or anger, other thanthe odd bully. No socio-politicalissues of exclusion, equity,diversity or racism. It was just asimpler time, and the only thingthat mattered was getting to andfrom school.

At that age, there was nosubstantial understanding of thedeeper implications that riding abus can have. Just ask Rosa Parks.For those not up on theirAmerican civil liberties history,she was an African Americanwoman who in 1955 refused togive up her seat on a segregatedbus to a white person. As a resultshe was arrested and becameknown as ‘the First Lady of CivilRights. Granted, it wasn’t a schoolbus, but I think you get my point.

In my home town, evidently,there has been a similar abrasionof civil rights… except this time,it’s in reverse.

First the context: There areseveral buses that leave CurveLake every morning and returnevery afternoon bearing the

children of our community offinto the lands beyond ourborders–about 20 minutes–tolearn about the importance of piecharts, dangling participles, andto master iambic pentameter. Ithas been this way since timeimmemorial… or the early1960s. I did it. Practicallyeverybody in the Curve Lake isfamiliar with that long andwinding road.

But just a few weeks ago, as thebuses filled up with eager youngAnishnawbe students eager toreturn to the shores of their

beloved Curve Lake, there wasone more body than normal. Ayoung lady, not from thecommunity, but who was datinga Curve Lakian. Evidently shewanted to ride the bus back todeepest, darkest Curve Lake withhim. But as we all grow to learn,both in and outside school, wedon’t always get what we want.

The girl was refused entry ontothe bus. It was just for CurveLakites. Much disheartened, sheleft and I assume went home,greatly agitated. But this is not theend of our story. Not much later

at the halls of power in CurveLake, the woman in charge ofwhat I assume could be calledbus-related activities received aphone call from this girl’s iratefather. While I was not privy tothe conversation, the man wasgreatly upset at the injustice donehis daughter, and called this bus-related activities woman ‘a racist’for not allowing this non-Nativegirl from climbing onto andriding in a bus reserved for Nativestudents.

This is really interesting. Iknow so many people, bothNative and non-Native(including myself ), who havebeen called a “racist’. Everybodyclaims to know what that is andfeels quite comfortable tossing theword around. If I am to believeeverything I hear, based onpersonal experience, practically60 per cent of everybody I knowand have come into contact withcould and quite probably hasbeen classified as a racist.

And there’s also this wholeargument that Native people can’tbe racist because clinical and

technical racism only comes froma place of power and, thoughsome may disagree, most Nativecommunities cannot be calledplaces of power. I know. It’sconfusing. Whole libraries havebeen written on the topic.

But to end the story, Ipersonally don’t believe this wasa matter of racism. Yes she was anon-Native girl (and trust me,some of my best friends are non-Native women) and granted, itwas a Native peoples mode oftransportation. However, thegirl’s father tended to be unawarethat the bus was only insured forthe Curve Lake students.Otherwise, the communitywould be legally liable for anymishaps that may happen duringthe bus ride.

Hey, this guy’s people inventedinsurance, liabilities, and lawyers.Don’t blame us for following theletter of the law.

Oh and the woman in chargeof bus-related activities …she wasnon-Native, which makes thewhole charge of racism evensillier.

THE URBANE INDIAN

Drew Hayden Taylor

P a g e [ 7 ]April 2014

[ news ]

By David P. BallWindspeaker Contributor

Powell River, B.C

North of Powell River, B.C., theancient village of Tees Kwat maynot have been occupied forcenturies, but on March 15,Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation’soriginal settlement hosted thesigning of one of B.C.’s fewmodern treaties and a journey longin the making for the First Nation.

The final agreement with theprovince includes provisions forself-government, a decade ofannual payments totaling nearly$30 million, and 8,000 hectares offee simple land for the band.

The government boasted thedeal would “remove ... constraintsof the federal Indian Act” from theTla’amin. By bringing “certaintyto land and resource rights,” B.C.said in a statement, the treaty will“maximize opportunities foreconomic development and jobcreation for all BritishColumbians.”

“It has been a long, drawn outprocess to get us to this day,” ChiefClint Williams told Windspeaker,“but we’re very pleased.

“We don’t have much choiceliving under the Indian Act. Oureconomy in the Powell River areais not exactly booming. Ourcommunity is isolated and withoutland. We have faced a number ofchallenges. This offers us choicesand opportunities.”

But as it moved towards a finalagreement, the deal has been highon controversy. Communitymembers opposed to the dealblockaded polling booths in 2012with vehicles, and gone to courtwith allegations that elections weremarred by irregularities and evendeceased people’s names added tothe voters list. The results of thatdisputed vote were 57.5 per centin favour.

But at its core, the simmeringcontroversy is over B.C.’s moderntreaty process itself – and whetherthe hopes of achieving “certainty”and “finality” risk extinguishinginherent Aboriginal rights andtitle to the traditional territories.

“It’s such a short-term vision forour people,” Elder Doreen Pointtold Windspeaker, calling thesigning a “sad day” for the nation.“When you sign away 95 or 97per cent of your land to get us towhere we are, how can they sayI’m better off or the Sliammon arebetter off?

“We’re not ready for self-government. Maybe the peoplebenefiting from this are ready, butthe community isn’t ... We are nota reserve that generates revenue –there’s nothing for us to fall backon. We may have forestry, butwhen it comes to the benefit tothe community how far does $250per person take you? Not very far.”

Williams, lauded the deal manyyears in the making, adding that

the fact that the final agreementwas signed at the site of Tla’aminNation’s original settlement, TeesKwat, was historically“important.” Asked aboutcriticism the pact wouldextinguish the nation’s rights andtitle for the future, he said

“This replaces our aboriginalrights and title with treaty rights,”Williams replied, “but those rightsare protected under the treaty.

“Although this does not provideus our entire traditional territories,most of that has been tenured andsold off by the province over theyears. At least now we can benefitfrom some of our lands.”

Now the community hasformed three working groups, hesaid, to plan around issues ofgovernance, finances, and landuse. In an earlier interview,Williams argued in favour of thetreaty because “business is notexactly thriving” for the remoteFirst Nation.

“We have some great land thatcould be developed and couldopen up some doors for theTla’amin nation,” he said. “Theunemployment rate in Tla’amin isfairly high ... Maybe we might beable to inject life into some ofthese opportunities in the area.”

But Point and other critics ofthe current leadership said theland was always theirs as a nation,and that urgent matters ofeconomic development, adequatehousing and health care can beaddressed through other meansthan signing away their title.

Point tearfully invoked thememory of her late son, Bruce –who was William’s predecessor aschief, and a former councillor of16 years. Bruce Point passed awayon Jan. 4 at age 49, and thoughhis cause of death remainsunknown Point said his concernsabout the treaty – despite initialsupport in 2001 – will continueto inspire its opponents who argueit will sacrifice their collectiverights.

“When he realized what was atstake for the people, he withdrewhis support,” Point said. “I’m notgoing to sit back, fold my handsand say, ‘Go ahead with a treaty.’I’ll be there fighting every step ofthe way too.”

John Rustad, B.C.’s AboriginalRelations and ReconciliationMinister, said the treaty’s signing“marks another significant stepalong the path of reconciliation”between the province andTla’amin.

“The time it has taken us to getthis far together is a tribute to theimportance of what we’re trying toachieve,” he said. “That’s becausenegotiating treaties with FirstNations is the ultimate form ofreconciliation.

“This treaty will help provide asolid financial foundation andsupport the Tla’amin in buildinga self-reliant and economicallyviable community.”

Tla’amin sign $30Mself-governmenttreaty, but tensionsremain

April 2014P a g e [ 8 ]

[ news ]

By Barb NahwegahbowWindspeaker Contributor

TORONTO

One of Toronto’s maintransportation arteries was shutdown on March 22 by activistsseeking justice for missing andmurdered Indigenous women(MMIW). About 35 peopleblocked Lakeshore Boulevard for40 minutes.

The group had earlier been ata demonstration organized bypoverty action groups at theMetro Toronto ConventionCentre where the Ontario LiberalParty was holding its assembly. Itwas only when the rally endedthat the MMIW supportersannounced plans for furtheraction.

Police on bikes scrambled tostop traffic as the group made itsway down Lower Simcoe St.carrying warrior flags and abanner that read “Justice forMissing and MurderedIndigenous Women Now.”

Leading the march was JohnFox of Wikwemikong UncededTerritory in northern Ontario.Fox’s 20-year-old daughterCheyenne fell to her death froma 24-storey condominium inApril 2013. The police ruledCheyenne’s death a suicide, butFox has said repeatedly he doesn’t

accept that.The police don’t care, he yelled

into the bullhorn. The group, hesaid, wanted a national inquirynow. The crowd chanted “nomore stolen sisters” amidsthonking horns from angrymotorists.

The group first made its waywest along Lakeshore and therewere tense moments between Foxand the police who attempted todissuade Fox from continuing themarch. Angry words wereexchanged between severaldemonstrators and the police.

The group turned around tomarch east, stopping at theintersection of Lakeshore andLower Simcoe where the womendrummed and sang. Motoristsleaned out their windows to seewhat was causing the delay, aspolice diverted traffic.

Long-time activist Jay Masontook the lead, continuing themarch east along Lakeshore. Asthey reached the nextintersection, police were preparedand blocked Lakeshore with theirbikes preventing furthermovement both east and south.

“Okay, you’ve made yourpoint,” one of the officers said.They threatened arrests if peopleremained in the intersection.Mason shouted at one of theofficers who physically restrainedhim from moving south past the

bicycle barricade.They were standing their

ground for missing andmurdered women, said one of theprotesters to police, urgingpeople along. Undaunted by thethreat of arrest, the women sang

Lakeshore shut down for missing and murderedwomen

By Shari NarineWindspeaker Contributor

KITIGAN ZIBIANISHINABEG FIRST

NATIONBridget Tolley is concerned that

while politicians hammer out theneed for a national public inquiryinto murdered and missingAboriginal women and girls,those who are supposed to be atthe centre of the issue will beforgotten.

“A national inquiry would tella lot, but how many years are wegoing to stand around calling forthis while nothing is being done,and, in the meantime, can’t westart using that money andlooking after our women?” askedan emotional Tolley.

The push for a national inquirysuffered a major setback in earlyMarch when the Conservative-dominated all-party committeeexamining the issue of murderedand missing Aboriginal womentabled its report and failed torecommend the government takethat big step.

Tolley, who is Algonquin fromthe Kitigan Zibi reserve and theco-founder of Families of Sistersin Spirit, made a presentation tothe Special Committee onViolence Against IndigenousWomen in which she called for anational public inquiry. She was

among the two dozenorganizations the committeeheard from along withgovernment departments, variouspolicing organizations, andindividuals.

It was a difficult presentationto make, said Tolley, who is stillwaiting for justice for her motherGladys. She was struck and killedby a Quebec police cruiser 12-and-a-half years ago. There hasbeen no admission ofwrongdoing from the Sûreté duQuébec.

And Tolley’s family is not theonly one hurting.

“In Vancouver, they’ve marchedfor 23 years. How many moregenerations do we have tomarch?” Tolley asked. “It’s reallyhard for us to keep fightingagainst a government that refusesto help.”

Tolley would rather see somemoney spent on improvinghealth, education and livingconditions on reserves andincreasing the number of beds inshelters and healing programs.

“We know what needs to bedone. Why don’t we start doingsomething now?” she asked.

Tolley said 18 years of reportsand provincial inquiries havealready been carried out on theissue with few recommendationsimplemented.

“All we keep doing is reportsand reports and all that keeps

Families disappointed in missing/murderedwomen report

happening is more women andgirls go missing.”

Tolley is not convinced that achange in government will havemuch impact on a nationalinquiry, noting that neither leaderfor the federal Liberals or federalNDP have made thecommitment. However, both theLiberal and NDP members onthe special committee wrotedissenting opinions, whichincluded their ownrecommendations.

“We should really all beworking together to do this,” saidTolley. “It has become so politicalthat the women have beenforgotten.”

The special committee wasformed in February 2013 andalmost from the beginning therewas dissension. The NativeWomen’s Association of Canadastopped its involvement claimingthe role it was given was not therole NWAC wanted. When thecommittee tabled its report,NWAC president stated in a newsrelease, “This report fails to showthe needed commitment andresources to adequately addressthis ongoing tragedy – a tragedythat is a reflection on Canada asa whole.”

Prior to the release of thereport, NWAC delivered apetition with 23,000 signaturescalling for a national publicinquiry. NWAC also issued a

statement listing eight familieswho had been recently impactedby the death of a female member.The Sisters-in-Spirit initiativeidentified 528 Aboriginal womenand girls who have gone missingor been murdered between 2005and 2010.

The Assembly of First Nationsreleased a statement claiming thereport “disappoints victims andfamilies of missing and murderedIndigenous women and girls anddoes not go far enough to addressthe issue….”

In July 2013, the AFN releaseda National Action Plan aimed atending violence againstIndigenous women and girls.Recommendations from thatplan included theimplementation and fulfilment oftreaties, First Nations control overlands and resource revenues, anddeveloping a United NationsDeclaration on the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples’implementation strategy.

Representatives from AFN andNWAC were joined less than aweek after the special committee’sreport was tabled byrepresentatives from the Congressof Aboriginal People, the MetisNational Council, and NationalAssociation of Friendship Centresto discuss strategy.

A news release issued by CAPfollowing the meeting stated, “Itwas unanimously agreed upon

that a national inquiry intomissing and murdered womenand girls must be undertaken andthat all Aboriginal organizationswork together in developing acollaborative approach.”

Also calling for a nationalpublic inquiry is the CanadianBar Association, which representsthe majority of lawyers in thecountry.

“We think it’s the effective toolto have a voice for this issue,” saidAimee Craft, past chair of theCBA’s National Aboriginal LawSection. “When you haveviolations of human rights andunequal treatment, that’s enoughto sound an alarm. The fact thatthe situation persists for anextended period of time may beenough to call a national inquiry.”

Craft maintains that while thenewest report aims at continuingthe changes that are occurring inthe system and institutions, itdoes not address individual andsystemic racism. She says thenational inquiry would do thatand could be tasked withexamining existing reports andappraising existingrecommendations.

Craft adds there is no guaranteethat whatever recommendationscome out of a national inquirywould be implemented. However,those recommendations would bean “effective tool” for lobbying foraction, she said.

The women sing during the shutdown of Toronto’s Lakeshore Boulevard on March 22 to bringpublic attention to the missing and murdered Indigenous women.

a song in honour of missing andmurdered women. After thesong, the march continued northalong Rees Street. At the top ofRees, Davyn Calfchild took thebullhorn and spoke to theonlookers about the estimated

800 missing and murderedAboriginal women, mothers,sisters, daughters, aunties andgrandmothers.

“Sometimes you have to takedrastic action,” said John Fox aspeople dispersed.

PHOTO: BARB NAHWEGAHBOW

P a g e [ 9 ]April 2014

[ news ]

Windspeaker News BriefsBernd Christmas, well-knownIndigenous lawyerwho is highly regarded for his work withgovernment, business and First Nationsin connection with Aboriginal economicdevelopment, has joined Cassels Brock& Blackwell LLP. He will serve as “acritical resource to the Cassels Brockclient base, which includes many of thecountry’s leading mining and naturalresource companies, financial institutions

Pickton victims’ childrenoffered $50K compensation


More than a year after themissing women inquiry ruled thatsystemic racism and a “colossalfailure” by RCMP and Vancouverpolice had allowed serial killerRobert Pickton to continuekilling for years, B.C. has settleda lawsuit with 13 children ofmissing women, and announceda $4.9 million fund for 98 suchchildren in the province.

Announcing the fund onMarch 18, B.C. Attorney GeneralSuzanne Anton said a $50,000fund for each child of womennamed in the missing womeninquiry final report is “a fairamount” and “the right thing todo.”

The fund was announced byAnton alongside VancouverPolice Department chief Jim Chuand representatives of B.C.RCMP and Vancouver CityCouncil. But several families ofserial killer Robert Pickton’smostly Indigenous victimsdecried the price on theirmothers’ deaths as “bloodmoney” and insufficientcompensation.

“It’s sad to say my daughter’sbirth mother was only worth$50,000,” said Bridget Perrier,stepmother of Angel Wolfe,whose mother Brenda was one ofPickton’s six murder convictions.“They have blood on their hands,so this is blood money.

“As someone who’s raised achild that is an orphan due to thesystemic racism that went onwithin the province of B.C. andwithin the VPD, this isdisgusting… it’s pennies. Some ofthese children have been raised inimmense poverty... These arechildren with multiple layers ofissues.”

“No amount of money couldcompensate the children for theloss of their mother, but we dohope that this fund will help the98 children who are eligible,”

Anton told reporters. “It is oursincere hope that this funding willprovide these children with anopportunity to enhance theireducation, their housing andother circumstances as theyprogress with their lives.”

Anton said the amount of$50,000 was decided inconnection with a lawsuit by 13children of missing women,which is poised to settle out ofcourt for the same amount pluslegal costs.

For Michele Pineault, whosedaughter Stephanie’s DNA wasfound on Pickton’s PortCoquitlam farm, the amountmight be insufficient, but it willhopefully help her grandson goto college.

“You could pay off each kid $1million, it’s not going to bringback their mother,” she said. “It’sa figure of money, that’s all it is.There’s no other case like this, butthere’s not a lot of big payouts tokids in general.”

Pineault said she believes thegovernment compensationpackage was the result not onlyof her and the other 12 families’lawsuits, but also communitypressure and protest.

“I don’t think it was just thelawsuit,” she said. “It was pushingfrom the community as well. Werefused to back down. We weren’tgoing to let it get out of theirface.”

The founder of the Butterfliesin Spirit performance troupe,made up of missing women’sfamily members, said thecompensation fund is importantfor children like her cousin,whose mother Tanya Holyk wasfound on Pickton’s farm.

“I honestly don’t think anynumber is enough,” said LoreleiWilliams. “However, at least it’ssomething for my little cousinwho grew up without his mother.He was just a little baby when shewent missing.

“Wally Oppal said they shoulddo this, but we’ve had to push and

fight for it. We’ve been fighting,as family members, for thesechildren for so long. This evensit out and makes it fair for all thechildren.”

One of three lawyers whorepresented families in court saidthe low compensation figureresulting from his cases shines aspotlight on the province’s“inadequate” FamilyCompensation Act.

“Nobody is suggesting for amoment that $50,000 is adequateto compensate them for the lossof their mothers,” he said. “Itreally amounts to a value in thecourts that most people wouldagree is unfair and too little.

“A lot of people feel that whilethe number might be an accuratereflection of the law in theprovince, it’s the law that needsto be changed.”

He and several other lawyerssaid it’s time to revisit that law andallow victims’ families in generalto press for higher damages for awrongful death of a loved one.

Other critics of the governmentapplauded the compensation, butpointed out it was only one of 63recommendations made inOppal’s final inquiry report,including the creation of a shuttlebus along northern B.C.’s“Highway of Tears” where dozensof women have disappeared.

Meanwhile, with governmentand police dropped from the 13children’s lawsuits, the casecontinues against Robert Picktonand his brother Dave, who hasdenied accusations he shouldhave known what was happeningon his property.

In 2007, after the mostexpensive police investigation inCanadian history, Pickton wasconvicted of six second-degreemurders. The serial killer told ajailhouse undercover policeofficer that he had actually killed49 women, but prosecutorsdecided to drop 27 other murdercharges for women’s DNAdiscovered on his property.

Michele Pineault, whose daughter Stephanie’s DNA was found on the Pickton farm, is part ofa lawsuit settlement with B.C., and continues her journey for justice for her grandson.

PHOTO: DAVID P. BALL

and corporate entities, as well as international clients doing businessin Canada.” Christmas became the first Mi’kmaw to become a lawyerin Canada. He brings a deep understanding of Indigenous businessinterests and social perspectives through his work as an executivewith several First Nations enterprises, a press release reads. “Theability to work effectively with First Nations for the mutual benefit oftheir communities and our clients is vital and becoming increasinglymore important every day,” said David Peterson, the chairman ofCassels Brock and former Premier of Ontario.

The National Post reports that the Canadian government was readying itself in the event that last year’s Idle No More activities“escalated.” An 11-page report — redacted heavily and missing apage— was obtained under the Access to Information Act by thepublication. The report shows that Ottawa was being helped by theCanadian Security Intelligence Service and was concerned by the“decentralized, leaderless nature of the protests and the multiplemotivations and influences that drove them,” the Post’s article ofMarch 23 reads. The report said the influences on Idle No Morewere, in part, the impact of youth in the movement, social mediaand “success breeds success”. “The lessons learned, experienceand knowledge gained while garnering these successes will outliveINM, while informing future protests, organizers and the success oftheir endeavours.”

The National Reading Campaign announced a donationfrom Penguin Canada, publisher of Canada Read’s winning novelThe Orenda by author Joseph Boyden. The donation will help thecampaign’s advocacy for improved access to reading in Aboriginalcommunities. The National Reading Campaign will donate copiesof the winning book to Aboriginal libraries across Canada. Of the600-plus First Nations across Canada, only 200 have librariesbecause, in large part, a lack of stable funding, a press releaseasserts. “Literacy is one of the keys to future success, not to mentionan engine for creating the citizens of tomorrow, said Wab Kinew,who championed The Orenda on CBC’s Canada Reads. Kinew hasagreed to be a National Reading Campaign champion as well, forthe Aboriginal initiative for better library services. “Having accessto a powerful novel by one of our best Indigenous writers will be agame changer for thousands of young students,” he said. The bookexplores the tumultuous relationships between Indigenous groupsand settlers in the days before the formation of Canada.

“Justice Grant M. Currie and his court cannot rule on mattersof international concern when it comes to the Treaty No. 10Buffalo River Dene Nation traditional territory” said Chief LanceByhette.His comment was in response to a March 12 decision in the Courtof Queen’s Bench regarding exploration and consultation. JusticeCurrie handed down the opinion that the issuing of permits by ScottLand and Lease was a legal process that did not require thecompany nor the province to engage the “Duty to Consult” with theBuffalo River people. Chief Byhette had taken legal measures andfiled court documents outlining the issues at dispute with the issuingof permits for oil sands exploration in the Buffalo River TraditionalTreaty No. 10 territory. “The people of the Buffalo River Dene Nationhave historically used the lands in question for traditional ceremonialand cultural practices, for hunting, trapping and gathering purposesall within the scope of our Treaty. The occupation, safeguardingand use of the land has always been the Dene Nation’s responsibility,duty and jurisdiction. Why should that change now?” asked the chiefin a press release. “The ruling in our opinion lacks the demonstratedfindings and recommended processes found within internationalopinion and standards of international law, international treaty lawand the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of IndigenousPeoples. Chief Byhette and his council are correct in their standagainst exploration and extractive industries when staking out landsand issuing permits in their traditional treaty territory without theconsent of the Dene people being gained,” said Wes George, anIndigenous Peoples Rights Specialist. “As Indigenous peoples wecome from the land, we are connected to Mother Earth. The BuffaloRiver Dene people as such have a responsibility, obligation andspiritual connection to protect the lands our people walk on.Exploration leads to extraction and contamination of our MotherEarth. The Buffalo River Dene people are concerned for the assaulton their lands, culture and way of life,” said Vice Chief KimberlyJonathan of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations insupport of the Buffalo River Dene Nation and people.

April 2014P a g e [ 10 ]

[ news ]


VANCOUVER

There will be no transitionperiod for organizations that useproject funding from the UrbanAboriginal Strategies program asit is revamped.

The impact of no gap fundingwill be devastating, said ChristineMartin, co-chair of the MetroVancouver Urban AboriginalExecutive Council. Clientele willbe losing out as community-driven programs close their doorsbecause of lack of funding.

The council is made up of 20member organizationsrepresenting the vast majority ofoff-reserve, urban Aboriginalpeople in Metro Vancouver.

“We’re really trying to pushthat they have a status quo forone year so they can figure thisstuff out, because we’re not justdealing with programs, we’redealing with people’s lives,” said

Martin. “That’s why we’refighting so hard for them.”

In early February, the federalgovernment announced awholesale change to the UASprogram, not only consolidatingthe four funding streams offeredthrough the UAS into two, buttasking the National Associationof Friendship Centres (NAFC) todeliver the majority of UASfunding. That’s allowed onlyseven weeks for new terms andconditions to be set for both corefunding and project funding.

“We are working as hard as wecan to move as fast as we can andwe know that everyone isconcerned,” said Jeffrey Cyr,NAFC executive director.Friendship centres were the onlyorganizations to receive corefunding through the UASprogram. Just weeks before theend of the 2013-2014 fiscal year,NAFC and the federalgovernment negotiated anagreement-in-principle on theterms and conditions of the

program, to be used by bothparties for distributing funds.The government has allocated$53.1 million in UAS fundingfor each of two years with NAFCto distribute $43 million of thatfunding each year and thegovernment to handle thebalance.

The terms and conditions arenot similar to the previous UASprogram, said Cyr, “but they areto achieve the same purposesgenerally. The same sorts oforganizations are able to apply forit.”

He notes that there will be ashort transition period put inplace for friendship centres astheir applications are tweaked tomeet the new criteria and thenapproved.

Now, the focus turns tostructuring a call for proposals forproject delivery funding. Cyroffers no timeline as to whenapplications will be called for orapproved. There will be notransition period.

“It’s hard to transition a projectwhen a project is new. Theprogram is new itself. It has newobjectives to it. So you can’ttransition something that doesn’texist,” said Cyr.

Martin said her council wasaware of the program change, butwas under the impression thechanges were only administrative.They recently found outotherwise.

Vancouver Urban AboriginalExecutive Council’s social serviceprovider members receive $1.2million through UAS. Martinsaid they are still determining theimpact the loss of funding willhave on their programs and havenot been told by the governmenthow much funding to expect.

Martin is also concerned withthe top down approach that isbeing taken to determine the newprocess for UAS, whichaccording to a governmentbackgrounder is “to focus onencouraging partnerships andcollaboration to help increase the

participation of urban Aboriginalpeople in the economy.”

Martin said the council alreadyhas strong working relationshipswith the city, province, andprivate banks. That relationshiphas helped provide theirmembers with additionalfunding for both programs andcapacity building.

“We’re so far ahead of the gamethan other communities… andwe’re willing to share thatinformation with others,” saidMartin. “We’ve really built thisamazing infrastructure thatallows us all to work together andhave amazing results. Whatthey’re hoping to develop, we’vealready done.”

Erika Meekes, spokesperson forAANDC, said UAS funding wasintended as project or proposalbased funding.

“Therefore organizationsshould not have becomedependent on the funding fortheir core operations,” Meekesreplied in an email.

Urban organizations scramble as fundingsource in flux


Quebec City

First Nations in Quebec mayhold their own independencevotes in the event the PartiQuébecois wins the April 7elections and holds anotherreferendum.

Although the Liberals appearedto be in the lead in the final weeksof the campaign, the poll is beingwatched closely by aboriginalgroups concerned about theirrights should the provinceseparate from Canada.

Similar concerns arose the lasttime Quebec sovereigntysurfaced with the 1995referendum – and Innu and Creecommunities held their ownvotes.

That may be set to expand,predicts Ghislain Picard, regionalchief of the Assembly of FirstNations of Quebec and Labrador(AFNQL).

“Some nations decided the bestway to go to make our point is tohold our own referendums,” thePicard, who is Innu, toldWindspeaker. “That’s certainlyone option now.

“This time, this is one of the

considerations that maybe morenations will have, if we were tocome to that situation again.”

Aboriginal issues have taken abackseat this election, but afterthe AFNQL spoke out severalMohawk community leaders saidthey might go the next stepshould Quebec hold areferendum – and separate fromboth Canada and Quebecoutright.

But with a March 25 Légeronline poll placing Liberals at 40per cent, trailed by the PQ’s 33per cent – and a new sovereigntyreferendum remainingunpopular amongst voters –Premier Pauline Marois said theissue has become a red herring.

“It brings back debates anddiscussions we had in the past onthe sovereignty of Quebec,”Picard added. “It was true then,it’s even more true now with theUN Declaration on the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples: our peopleshave the right to self-determination. That right is notsuperseded by the rights ofothers.

“First Nations in this provincehave the same attributes thatQuebec claims as a nation orpeople with their own identityand language. But we have even

more than that because we alsohave the land. We have not onlyaboriginal rights, but alsoaboriginal title to the lands...Nobody but ourselves can decideon our fate or our future.”

Much of the election has alsohinged on the PQ’s Charter ofValues, which would prohibitsome religious clothing andsymbols amongst public servantsand has been decried as anti-immigrant.

Ghislain said First Nationshave refused to consent to theCharter being imposed on them,and presenting their position inhearings on the controversial law.

Quebec-based Russ Diabo,policy advisor to AlgonquinNation and editor of FirstNations Strategic Bulletin, toldWindspeaker that legally there islittle base for Quebec to separatewhen it comes to aboriginal titleand rights.

“For a long time they’ve beenpushing nationalist rhetoric, butthey’re still subject to theConstitution Act,” Diabo said.“Section 35 still applies toQuebec, even though the Quebecgovernment feels they didn’t signit.

“There is a lot of racism inQuebec, even in the Quebec

government, towards Aboriginalpeoples. They base their wholeoriginal settlement on terranullius – that the whole territorywas empty except for savages.They’re a tough jurisdiction todeal with from the beginning tonow.”

But with successive PQ andLiberal governments alike failingto consult and accommodate FirstNations, larger questions swirlaround recognition of aboriginalrights in a province rich in naturalresources, such as hydroelectricity,forestry and mining.

“Regardless of who wins theelection, there’s still theseunresolved issues,” said Diabo.“There’s only one modern treatyin Quebec – that’s the James Bayagreement – the rest of Quebechas not been dealt with and is stillsubject to aboriginal title.

“There’s been obstruction fromQuebec to accommodatingAboriginal peoples... They wouldhave a hard time leaving if it’s nottheir land.”

Although neither leading partyresponded to AFNQL’s concerns,in past sovereigntists have arguedthat Indigenous peoples wouldfare better under an independentQuebec than under Canada. ThePQ has in past assured First

Nations leaders their rightswould be enshrined in a Quebecnational constitution.

“For many years, there’s beenarguments in this province that,for some reason, First Nationspeople are better off in thisprovince then they are in the restof the country,” said Picard. “Butbased on what we have been ableto achieve as First Nations, it’sreally up to us to determine whatbetter outcome we can come to.

“Obviously First Nationspeople in this province have donea lot to remain strong inlanguage, in land occupation,and their own traditions. All ofthat reality cannot be pushedaside.”

Independence is not the onlyissue arising from First Nationsthis election. In northernQuebec, Cree have called on thegovernment to finally implementa James Bay region conservationplan that would see 13,000square kilometres of Boreal Forestpreserved and co-managed byQuebec and the Cree Nation.

More than 30 Indigenouscommunities exist withinQuebec, with nearly 100,000people – just over one per centof the population – identified aseither Inuit or First Nations.

Every single Windspeaker article ever published (well, almost)is now available on our online archives at

www.ammsa.comAccess is now available through online subscription.

Quebec independence push renews Indigenousconcerns

P a g e [ 11 ]April 2014

On March 20, the Kwakiutlprotest near Port Hardyon Vancouver Island reached a50-day milestone. Protestersare calling on IslandTimberlands to suspend loggingon Kwakiutl lands and askingthe federal and provincialgovernments to honor the termsof the 1851 Treaty andimplement ‘enclosed fields’ forthe protection of village sites.“We ask Island Timberlands torespect Kwakiutl’s 1851 Treaty,the federal government touphold the honour of theCrown’s written promise to theKwakiutl people, and theprovincial government to protectKwakiutl lands from any furtherinfringement,” said ChiefCoreen Child. A press releasesaid Island Timberlands hasbeen dogged by controversysince being created in 2005,through the purchase of landsresulting from a merger betweenlumber giants MacMillanBloedel and Weyerhaeuser. Therelease says Island Timberlandshas been opposed for itsdestructive forest practices bycommunities throughoutVancouver Island, includingRoberts Creek, Port Alberni,Cortes Island, Oceanside,Cowichan Valley, Port McNeill

and Nanaimo. “The company isnot behaving like a goodcorporate citizen,” said Kwakiutlprotester and Elder LucilleBrotchie. “They have built theirreputation on arrogance and aneconomic model that is far fromsustainable.” During QuestionPeriod in the BC Legislature,

Claire Trevena, MLA for NorthIsland, asked BC ForestryMinister Steve Thomsonwhether he would meet withKwakiutl First Nation’sleadership and Elders to try anddeal with issues that led to theprotest. He refused, the releasesays.

The Liberal government hascut a summer ferry runbetween Port Hardy onVancouver Island and BellaCoola on the Central Coastand has sunk the communities’hopes of attracting tourists to theterritories. The AboriginalTourism Association of B.C. hasinvested $1.5 million over twoyears in the coastal area, buthas been forced to rethink itstourism campaign. Thegovernment says the runcontinually loses money.Transportation Minister ToddStone said B.C. taxpayers can’tkeep bailing out the Ferriesservice. Keith Henry of BCAboriginal Tourism said theelimination of Route 40 effectsthe Central Coast’s circle tourtravel package. “Organizationslike ours, we’re doing a lot to tryand bring more people through,”Henry said. “That’s critical to oursuccess. But if we can’t getvisitors there efficiently, that’sunfortunate.”

Actress Tantoo Cardinal(Dances with Wolves) wasamong a dozen or so womenin West VancouverMarch 22 to protest theexpansion of Kinder Morgan’s

Trans Mountain pipeline. Thewomen were primarily Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish andMusqueam First Nationsmembers. Greenpeacecampaigners joined them. TheWall of Woman gathered at theWelcome Figure at AmblesideBeach to tell Kinder Morgan theexpansion is not welcome in theterritory. The proposedexpansion will see KinderMorgan’s output almost tripledto 890,000 barrels from thecurrent 300,000 barrels ofdiluted bitumen per day. Theproposal is before the NationalEnergy Board. Tanker traffic inBurrard Inlet will increase fromfive tankers to about 34 tankerseach month. Cardinal told areporter for the North ShoreNews that she has a lot ofrespect for First Nations andtheir efforts to protect the waterand marine life. “I really thinkthat any way that we can standthere and try to make so muchof the world realize that water isimportant, (is) definitelyimportant,” she said. “There’s ahuge contingency of people whodon’t really breathe that in verywell.”

Kwakiutl First Nation continues protest near Port HardyPHOTO: SUPPLIED

( Continued on page 13.)

April 2014P a g e [ 12 ]

Tiles help show respect, buildrelationship

Tiles painted to represent achild who attended a residentialschool – outlined in red if theysurvived the residential schooland in black if they did not – is a

way to promote understanding.“Project of Heart provides amore in-depth look at Indianresidential schools beyond thefacts and historical events,” saidJennifer McGillis, SIASTAboriginal activity centre leader,in a news release. The goals of

the project are to show respectto residential school survivorsand to build relationshipsbetween Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people by sharinghistorical information andpersonal experiences. Createdoriginally by an Ottawa teacher,

Project of Heart commemoratesthe lives of the thousands ofAboriginal children who died asa result of the residential schoolexperience. Across Canada,primary, secondary and post-secondary schools haveparticipated in the project, withmore than 100 schoolsimplementing Project of Heart intheir classrooms.

Three First Nations notsigning contributionagreements

Thunderchild First Nationhas joined Little Pine andPeepeekisis First Nations inrefusing to sign the annualfunding agreement with thefederal government. ForThunderchild, the agreement isworth $8 million and funds themajority of social programs onreserve. First Nations have littlesay in the type or amount offunding and much of thatfunding has been capped. Thedecision not to sign theagreement is to protest fundingcuts by the federal government.“We want the Crown to beaccountable. This has been aunilateral process, and we’retired of it,” PeepeekisisHeadman Allan Bird told theStarPhoenix. “There is a lot offear about standing and fighting,

but we have to.” All essentialfunding is continuing to thesecommunities but there is noguarantee what will happen ifthe dispute continues. Talks areongoing, said a spokespersonwith Aboriginal Affairs andNorthern Development Canada.

Fire deaths of children raiseconcerns

Concern is being raisedabout the number of FirstNations children dying in fires onreserves. According toOpposition NDP Leader CamBroten, fires on reserves havetaken the lives of four childrensince September. Three childrenlost their lives in PelicanNarrows and one other died onWitchekan Lake First Nation. Astudy commissioned by thefederal government suggestedFirst Nations people are 10times more likely to die in a firethan the rest of the population.While reserves are federaljurisdiction, Saskatchewanminister responsible for FirstNations Jim Reiter said theprovince’s emergencymanagement team will continueto assist in the investigation andwill examine “possibly …play(ing) a bigger role in trainingfor emergency services on FirstNations.”

PHOTO: SIAST

P a g e [ 13 ]April 2014

Permits provide exclusiverights, not land access

Buffalo River Dene NationChief Lance Byhette ischallenging a recent ruling bythe Court of Queen’s Bench thatallows two exploration permitsfor oilsands exploration ontraditional territory. The permitswere issued last summer by theprovince to Scott Land andLease. Court of Queen’s BenchJustice Grant M. Currie ruled theissuing of exploration permitsdoes not “engage the duty toconsult.” The province says thepermits grant the companyexclusive rights for exploration,but do not permit access to landor excavation. “The BuffaloRiver Dene Nation will beseeking remedy from allavailable sources to bring thisBreach of Treaty and TreatyLaws to international andnational attention to protect thenatural, inherent and Indigenouspeoples lands, rights andIntergenerational equity vestedin the Nation,” states the BuffaloRiver Dene Nation in a newsrelease.

FNUniv campus to relocateThe First Nations University

of Canada’s Saskatoon Campuswill be relocated to on-reservespace at English River FirstNation facilities by July 2014and an enrollment freeze will beput in place this year for theSaskatoon campus. “We arecommitted to having operationsin Saskatoon and we recognizethe historic and contemporaryimportance of the SaskatoonCampus… Our offerings willrespond to local studentdemand in ways that willmaximize FNUniv’s competitiveadvantage,” said FNUniv BoardChair David Sharpe in a newsrelease. The Saskatoon campusposted a deficit of $740,000 andeven with proposed changes adeficit of $140,000 this year isexpected. The Saskatooncampus has been in existencesince 1976. Other campusesare in Regina and Prince Albert.The University ofSaskatchewan’s Office of FirstNation and Métis Engagementand the Saskatchewan IndianCultural Centre are also locatedat English River First Nation.

Cradleboard initiativesupported by U of S

The University ofSaskatchewan signed a

memorandum of understandingwith Buffy Sainte-Marie, thefounder of the Cradle BoardTeaching Project, to supportAboriginal education inSaskatchewan. TheSaskatchewan CradleboardInitiative is a cross-culturaleducational resource projectsupporting Kindergartenthrough Grade 8 students inscience, technology,engineering and math.Curriculum for the program willbe developed by U of Sstudents, Sainte-Marie’sNihewin Foundation Canadaand Aboriginal educators tosupport the provincial sciencecurriculum’s explicit mandate toco-present Indigenous andwestern perspectives onscience at all levels of learning.“In order to achieve the highestlevel of success in theiracademic pursuits, Aboriginalstudents must be able torecognize themselves and theircultures in the curriculum theystudy and in the places theystudy,” said CandaceWasacase-Lafferty, director ofAboriginal initiatives at the U ofS, in a news release.

Compiled by Shari Narine

An incremental treatyagreement has been signedbetween the Province andLake Babine Nationand will support new forestryand eco-tourism opportunities.The agreement supportseconomic development for theFirst Nation, but alsodemonstrates some of thebenefits of treaty in advance ofa final agreement. The

agreement transfers to theNation four parcels of land thatwill support opportunities forforestry and eco-tourism, aswell as provide $100,000 incapacity funding to helpdevelop these opportunities.One of the parcels to betransferred is Fort BabineLodge, which is an existingresort situated on the shores ofBabine Lake, offeringaccommodation in cabins andaccess to recreationalopportunities such as fishing,

hunting and hiking. The otherparcels will provide forestryopportunities, and the lakefrontproperties could be leased asrecreation properties. “Since ittakes time to reach a treaty, weneed to use and protect ourlands. This agreement willprovide economic benefits toour citizens. We must use allmeasures to protect and bestuse our lands, and thisarrangement will be a positivemove,” said Lake BabineNation Chief Wilf Adam.

( Continued from page 11.)

Raven's Eye Briefs

April 2014P a g e [ 14 ]

HCOM urges change for healthservices on-reserveThe Health Co-ManagementSecretariat contends that theprovincial government plays animportant role in reducing thenumber of children who die incare. “There’s no quick fix, but wecan do better, and it starts withimproving the on-reserve healthsystem in this province, whichcurrently lags far behind thehealth system offered in the restof Alberta,” said PeyasuWuttunee, coordinator of theHCOM Secretariat. The HCOMSecretariat works to increase theparticipation of First Nations inassessing, planning andmanaging programs and servicesthat are funded or offered byHealth Canada, First Nations InuitHealth in the Alberta Region.HCOM acts as an advocate forFirst Nations health interests onbehalf of the Chiefs of Treaties 6,7 and 8. A report recentlyprepared for the ChildIntervention Roundtable, whichtook place in January, indicatedthat 58.2 per cent of children incare in Alberta between 1999 and2012 were Aboriginal, and of the143 deaths of children in careduring that time, 98 of thosechildren were Aboriginal.Wuttunee said maintaining thepresent health services on-reserve was making a decision.“Doing nothing is a choice. It ischoosing to accept theunacceptable. If we don’t work toimprove the health of Alberta’son-reserve communities, the fearis that the number of our childrenin care will continue to rise, alongwith the awful outcomes thatwe’ve seen,” he said.

Former INAC minister pushingNorthern GatewayFormer Indian Affairs andNorthern Development Canadaminister Jim Prentice is workingwith Enbridge to sell First Nationson the company’s NorthernGateway pipeline. “I am doing thisbecause I believe that FirstNations should be full partners inresource development and theyshould be owners of projects likethe Northern Gateway,” Prenticesaid in a statement. “This projectcan bring jobs, economicopportunity, communitydevelopment and educationalopportunities to First NationCanadians. This can be achievedwhile protecting the environmentand respecting First Nations’environmental priorities.”Prentice told CBC News that hehas been in touch with Assemblyof First Nations Chief ShawnAtleo and other Chiefs as well.The National Energy Board hasset over 200 conditions forEnbridge to meet with the line.The federal government isexpected to make its decision byJune 2014.

Opposition to Keystone XL stillvocal in the USKeystone XL pipeline opponentCalifornia Democrat SenatorBarbara Boxer says the pipelinewould worsen the environmental

effects of Canadian oil sandsdevelopment by opening the doorto industry expansion. When theU.S. State Department releasedits final environmental impactstatement Jan. 31 – whichconcluded Keystone would beunlikely to alter greenhouse gasemissions – Boxer released astatement that said she isn’t“satisfied with any analysis thatdoes not accurately documentwhat is really happening on theground when it comes to theextraction, transport, refining, andwaste disposal of dirty, filthy tarsands oil.” Boxer held a pressconference in late February,which included U.S. scientistsand environmentalists, and JohnO’Connor, a physician and long-time advocate for the health ofFirst Nations communities inAlberta’s oil sands region. “Thepipeline going ahead is going toopen the floodgates in terms ofdevelopment. I’m just fearful forwhat will happen five to 10 yearsdown the road,” O’Connor said inan interview with The Globe and

Mail.

Organizations, individualsrecognized for flood effortsThe Siksika Nation Fire andRescue Team is among the 175nominations for first respondersreceived by the government forrecognition in relation to thesouthern Alberta flood last June.More than 1,300 nominationshave been received recognizingthose who went above andbeyond to help others in the wakeof the floods, as part of Alberta’sHeroes of the Flood recognitionprogram. Also receivingnominations were the CalgaryStampede Indian PrincessCommittee and Siksika HousingDepartment. All nominees willreceive a certificate and letter ofappreciation. “The flood wasmore than just a catastrophicevent. It was an opportunity forall Albertans to come together, tooffer support, strength andfriendship for those affected bythe disaster. It is important for usas a province to recognize thoseamong us who showed suchbravery and strength in thesetimes of struggle, who havehelped with the rebuilding efforts,”said Premier Alison Redford in anews release.

Black and white photographydepicts First Nations peoplethrough timeBlack and white photographs bythree University of Lethbridge artstudents will be featured inIiht·ÌsÌnaakio’p (Camera), an artexhibition curated by Rob FirstCharger. The concept behind thephotographic exhibition, withwork by Rudy Black Plume, StarCrop Eared Wolf and Joel NoRunner, is a reflection of historicaland contemporary photographscreated by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal photographers. Theirphotographic skills recreatingNative Americans in photographicreality, a virtual world resonatesin the realms of lived and learned


P a g e [ 15 ]April 2014

Photo by Debora Steel

[ sports ]

By Sam LaskarisWindspeaker Contributor

KAMLOOPS, B.C.

The Skidegate Saints have doneit again.

And in relatively easy fashion.The Saints won the boys’ title

at the British Columbia JuniorAll-Native BasketballTournament, which concludedon March 21 in Kamloops.

This marked the third straightyear the Skidegate side had wonthe provincial crown. A total of25 teams competed in the boys’division at the event, whichfeatured players ages 17 andunder.

The Saints easily won all fiveof their contests at thetournament, outscoring theiropponents by at least 30 pointseach time.

Skidegate beat Van City(Vancouver) 86-49 in itschampionship match.

“They’re not just going throughthe motions,” Skidegate coachDesmond Collinson said of hisplayers. “You might think theyare going through the motions.But there’s a spark with these guysthat you have to go hard. You onlyget to play so many games andwe want to work on our game.”

Collinson said his team’s heightadvantage over its rivals is just oneof the reasons for the team’ssuccesses. Centre Jesse Barnes,who is 6-foot-6, is the club’s tallestplayer.

Barnes was named to thetournament all-star team at theKamloops event.

Another Saints’ player was alsosingled out. Shooting guardNathan Vogstad was chosen as thetournament’s most valuableplayer.

“He dominated,” Collinsonsaid of Vogstad. “He hit basicallyevery shot that he took. And he’svery, very disciplined. He just doeshis thing every time he steps outon the court.”

Vogstad has now used up hisjunior eligibility. This comingseason, however, he will take histalents and join the Simon FraserUniversity men’s basketball squad.

All 10 players on the Saints’roster were members of all threeof the provincial championshipsquads. Seven of them are alsoeligible to compete at the 2015B.C. tournament, which will bestaged in Nanaimo.

“Without Nathan it’s going tobe a difficult task,” Collinson said.“But we’re going to train theseguys hard and they’re going to beready next year.”

In fact, Collinson is alreadypredicting the Skidegate squadwill once again be able to defendits title next year.

“You’d better believe we’re goingto win it again,” he said.

Collinson, who is 28, has nowwon a total of six B.C. Junior All-Native titles. Besides his threechampionships as a coach he alsowon three as a player during histeen years.

“It’s definitely better as acoach,” he said. “It’s more of anemotional, physical and mentalthing to teach these young menhow to act like men.”

Collinson prides himself notonly on the fact he is passing onsome hoops knowledge, but hefrequently also instructs hisplayers on how to conductthemselves off the court.

“I’m doing my best do get theseguys ready for college oruniversity,” he said.

All members of the Saints alsoplay for the Queen CharlotteSecondary School team. Thissquad made some headlines thisseason as it moved up severalnotches and played against the tophigh school clubs from B.C.

Because of its enrolment—only128 students in Grades 8 through12—Queen Charlotte was eligibleto compete in an A level league.But Collinson, who also coachesthe high school side, said it movedup to the highest calibre level andparticipated against Quad Aclubs, from schools several timeslarger.

The Queen Charlotte teamposted a 14-2 record against thelarger schools and also qualifiedfor the provincial high schoolAAAA tournament in Langley.The team was seeded 14th at that16-team tourney and posted a 1-3 record.

Sports BriefsBy Sam Laskaris

Hosts win two titlesThe Six Nations Minor Hockey Association is once again

receiving rave reviews for a long-running youth event it hosted.For the second straight year the Six Nations organizationhosted the Little Native Hockey League Tournament.

As was the case last year, in order to accommodate thesize of the tournament, the event, more commonly referredto as the Little NHL, was staged in various Mississaugaarenas.This year’s tournament, which was held March 13 to March17, attracted a record 160 teams. They were competing in 10divisions, five female and five male.

This marked the 43rd year the tournament has been held.The number of entrants surpassed the previous high of 153clubs, which has participated at the 2013 event.

The host Six Nations Blackhawks ended up winning two ofthe divisions; Peewee Boys and Bantam Boys.

The Nipissing First Nation also had two of its squads winchampionships. These teams participated in the Bantam Girlsand Midget Boys categories.

Meanwhile, though it did not win its division, the Six NationsTyke Boys’ side had a noteworthy event. That’s because alltournament entrants were entered into a draw.

The winners received a team dinner with Ted Nolan, anOjibwe from the Garden River First Nation, who is a formerNHL player and the current coach of the Buffalo Sabres.

A handful of other Aboriginal and former NHL players alsoattended this year’s tournament. They were Reggie Leach,Stan Jonathan and Nolan’s eldest son Brandon.

Another former pro, Wendel Clark, who is a communityambassador for the Toronto Maple Leafs, also took in theaction.And the colourful Don (Grapes) Cherry was among those whospoke to tournament participants at the opening ceremonies.

Fiddler Nearing 700 GamesHe might not be a household name but Vern Fiddler has

managed to enjoy a rather lengthy pro hockey career thusfar.Fiddler, a 33-year-old Edmonton native who is Metis, iscurrently a member of the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

He is approaching the 700-game plateau in the NHL.Fiddler, however, is perhaps not known to Canadian hockey

fans as he has spent his entire pro career in some non-hockeyhotbeds, all in the United States.

This is his third season toiling with the Stars. Prior to thathe played two years with the Phoenix Coyotes. And beforethat he was a member of the Nashville Predators.

And Fiddler has not created headlines as he is not a flashyoffensive player who racks up points. Instead, he’s managedto survive in the league because of his solid two-way play.

In terms of points, Fiddler’s best NHL campaign was during2007-08, when he earned 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in79 games with the Predators.

As for this season, Fiddler had picked up 14 points in hisfirst 62 matches with the Stars.

Jamieson Piling Up PointsThanks in part to a pair of games where he reached the

double-digit mark in points, Cody Jamieson is on pace to havehis best National Lacrosse League season.

Jamieson, a Mohawk from Six Nations, is a member of thetwo-time defending NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks.

He had accumulated 71 points (28 goals, 43 assists) in hisfirst 12 games this season. And Jamieson, who was averagingclose to six points per game this year, was in second placein the league scoring race, behind only Toronto Rock starGarrett Billings, who had 82 points.

With six regular season contests remaining, Jamiesonshould easily surpass his career high of 89 points he had lastseason.Jamieson has especially enjoyed some success this seasonagainst Toronto. He picked up 10 points, including five goals,in Rochester’s 17-9 triumph over the Rock on Feb. 15. Andthen he bettered this performance by earning 11 points (fourgoals, seven assists) in the Knighthawks’ 17-12 victory againstToronto on March 15.

Jamieson, 26, is in his fourth NLL season. Before turningpro he starred at Syracuse University where he was a memberof the NCAA champs in 2009.

During the spring and summer months Jamieson also playsin the Ontario Lacrosse Association and the Major LeagueLacrosse.

Last year he led the Six Nations Chiefs not only to the OLAtitle but also the Mann Cup (national senior men’s crown). Hewas chosen the MVP in the Mann Cup tournament.

And he was also a member of the MLL’s Hamilton Nationals.That club has relocated to the U.S. and will play as the FloridaLaunch in 2014.

Team continues to dominateannual basketball tourney

The Okanagan’s Syilx Girls squad wins the 2014 Junior All NativeBasketball Championship in Kamloops.

PHOTOS: WAWMEESH GEORGE HAMILTON

Three years in a row for the Skidegate Saints to win the 2014Junior All Native Basketball Championship in the boys division.

“It was the first time ever anyteam has done that,” Collinsonsaid of an A-size schoolparticipating at the highest calibreAAAA level.

Meanwhile, a squad called Syilxfrom the Okanagan Nation beatHaisla 49-39 in the girls’championship match at theKamloops tournament.

Syilx had also won back-to-backprovincial titles in 2010 and ’11.

“We don’t ever go into atournament expecting to win,”said Syilx coach AmandaMontgomery, who has been a partof all three championship squads.“We just tell them to take it gameby game.”

Sylix point guard NicolaTerbasket was the only teammember who was also part of theteam’s two previous provincialchamps. The 17-year-old was alsochosen as the MVP of the girls’division.

“She had a great tourney,”Montgomery said of Terbasket,who was also named first teamtournament all-star.

Another Syilx player, Elle-LeighSnow, was also named a first-teamall-star. And the champs also hadtwo players chosen for the second-all star team; Terbasket’s youngersister Reilly and their cousinMadison Terbasket, who was alsonamed the tournament’s bestdefensive player.

April 2014P a g e [ 16 ]

[ careers & training ]Traditional rolesand responsibilitiesof men explained

By Barb NahwegahbowWindspeaker Contribution

TORONTO

Colonization has interferedwith the traditional roles ofIndigenous men, Giibwanisi toldpeople gathered on March 5 fora discussion on men’s obligations.The discussion was part of aspeaker series titled CommunityResurgence, hosted by RyersonUniversity’s Centre forIndigenous Governance andRyerson’s Aboriginal EducationCouncil.

“When I first understood whatcolonization was, I was reallyangry and just wanted to rage,”said Giibwanisi, one of theevening’s two speakers. Amember of Beausoleil FirstNation, he’s an activist and co-founder of Oshkimaadziig UnityCamp. The Camp, located inAwenda Provincial Park twohours north of Toronto, is a landoccupation and culturalrevitalization project foundedtwo years ago.

Giibwanisi’s anger took him ona journey to learn about theculture. He calls his process ofdecolonization biskaabiiyang, theOjibway word for returning.

“What are we returning to? Weare returning to a way of life thatwas taken from us,” he said.

Giibwanisi recalls one of thefirst things Cree Elder VernHarper said to him.

“Drugs and alcohol have nobusiness in our way of life.”Giibwanisi sobered up, started tolearn and changed his life.

He’s learned that Indigenousmen have four roles – firekeepers,warriors, providers and teachers.Of relationships between menand women, he says, “There’ssupposed to be a balance. Theway that I look at it is that theSacred Pipe, there’s the bowl andthere’s the stem…the bowl

represents the woman and themedicines and the fire that’sinside it… Women carry thatfire of life and it’s the man whohas to protect that…and it’s notcomplete until you put the twotogether.”

“We’re warriors,” he said, andthat comes with responsibilities“to defend and to protect a wayof life, to protect the people.”That includes stopping violenceagainst women, Giibwanisi said.He quoted Shawn Brant ofTyendinaga as saying men havefailed to protect the women, andevidence of this can be seen inthe issue of missing andmurdered women.

To fulfill the warrior rolemeans to understand the SevenGrandfathers teaching aboutbravery Giibwanisi said. “Youhave to put yourself in a positionto be hurt, to be uncomfortable,to be challenged.”

Another role of Indigenousmen is to be a provider. “We haveto hunt. We have to fish,” hesaid. “But there’s a lot oflegislation that’s been passed orbeing passed that prevents usfrom doing these things.”

He spoke about his family, andhis young nieces in particular,and his responsibility to “impartknowledge to them about how aman is supposed to be so thatwhen they grow up they knowwhat to expect.” That’s anotherresponsibility of men, he said, tomake sure teachings are passedon about the roles of men andwomen.

Rick Monture was the secondspeaker. He is a Mohawkhistorian and director of theIndigenous Studies Program atMcMaster University. Montureis from Six Nations of the GrandRiver and came from a familywhere men were ironworkersand the women were teachers.


Giibwanisi speaking in Toronto about the roles of Indigenousmen at Community Resurgence speaker series March 5.


Find more of everything online: www.ammsa.com

P a g e [ 17 ]April 2014

[ careers & training ]

experiences of Aboriginal peoplein the 21st century. They areconveying the same technicaldata, skill, and criteria found inmainstream fine artsphotography. Fine artsphotography is defined as aprocess whereby the artistestablishes a creative vision togenerate an artistic statement inthe field of photography. Theexhibition takes place March 1 toApril 30 at the Blackfoot ArtGallery and Gift Shop, inLethbridge.

Candidate announces intentionto seek Liberal nominationThe general manager of FortMcMurray Métis Local 1935 isseeking the federal Liberalnomination for Fort McMurray-

Athabasca. Kyle Harrietharecently announced his intentionto seek the nomination noting hehas “spent 16 years working forresponsible and sustainabledevelopment — a just societythat respects Aboriginal andminority rights, and accountable,fiscally responsible, transparentgovernment.” Harrietha accusedthe Conservatives of rolling backregulatory and environmentaloversight “to the point whereFirst Nations and Métiscommunities have littleconfidence that their rights andtraditional lands are beingprotected.” As general managerof Fort McMurray Métis Local ,Harrietha oversees more than300 members dedicated topursuing the advancement ofthe Métis people of northeasternAlberta.

When he went to university, hefelt “it wasn’t a man’s kind ofthing to do.” He came to realize,particularly after he startedteaching at McMaster, that hewas fulfilling his designated rolein life. Through his work, he ishelping to keep the culture andtraditions alive. Monture saidhe’s able to be a better teacherbecause he’s not just teachingfrom textbooks, but from hisown life experiences.

“We all have our roles andresponsibilities to fulfill,” he said,and talked about the need to givethanks daily for the elements inthe natural world that carry outtheir responsibilities so humanscan continue to survive.

The world was created withbalance, Monture said, and hespoke about the male-femalepairings, “Grandmother Moonand Elder Brother the Sun,woman and man.

“Creator’s a male entity.

Mother Earth. We have theThunders, Grandfathers thatprotect us. Also, the stars arefemale. The stars are the helpersof the moon as well. All thesethings happen in pairs, and maleand female principles in powers,”he said.

All these natural forces havefamily relationships, Monturetold the audience, and it shouldmake us think about our ownfamilies and our roles to help andprotect each other.

( Continued from page 20.)

Traditional roles of men explained

By Barb NahwegahbowWindspeaker Contributor

TORONTO

The history of Canada is basedon a series of misunderstandingsas well as understandings, BobRae told an audience of mostlylaw students at the University ofToronto on March 19.

Rae resigned last year from hisposition as Liberal MP for theToronto Centre riding to take onthe job of Advisor to the MatawaChiefs Tribal Council regardingthe development of an area in TheRing of Fire in northwesternOntario.

Canada has two narratives, Raesaid, the colonial or “Imperialstory of Canada which is thatCanada was discovered byEuropeans, that Europeansfought over which country wouldrule and that whoever lived inCanada was subject to the law ofthe majority which reflected thenarrative of the settlers.”

The other narrative is theIndigenous one. There werepeople living here who hadcustoms, languages, beliefs andlaws, and a relationship with theland that was very different fromthe Europeans.

“It is taking us a long time as acountry to fully understand theracism and the profound bias…”

upon which the Imperial view isbased, said Rae. “What seems tome,” he continued, “is that we’reincreasingly having to come toterms with these two ways oflooking at the country andunderstanding that it requiressome real reconciliation.”

Reconciliation has three phases,he said. The first is telling thetruth, the racist origins of thepolicies and actions, and theimplications for those on thereceiving end.

The second phase is, “anger andindignation and frustration andpeople coming to terms with thetruth on both sides,” Rae said.“People understanding we didthis, these things wereauthorized…” he continued.

Then there’s reconciliation,figuring out how to go forwardin ways that will make adifference. In Rae’s view, theprocess of reconciliation is juststarting.

Two things make reconciliationsuch a pressing current issue inCanada, he said. “One is thedemographic revolution which istaking place which is literallytransforming the Aboriginalpopulations and its relationship tothe rest of the country. There’s a20 per cent increase in theAboriginal population, accordingto Statistics Canada between 2006and 2011, from 1.1 million to 1.5

million.” This is coupled with asteady increase in Aboriginalpeople moving to urban areas.

The second thing, said Rae, isthat oil and gas exploration, andmining for gold and diamondsmeans development isencroaching further and furthernorth, “…into areas that havetraditionally been areas whereFirst Nations people have livedand worked and felt to be theirtraditional territory.”

Aboriginal issues are no longer“out there”, he said, “they’reactually here in Toronto andthey’re in every major urbancentre, and society has to dealwith it.” It’s brutal trying to getpeople’s attention, he said,“because the awareness is notthere, the sensitivity is not there,the understanding is not there.”Canadians are, “…stuck in anarrative that is way, way back inthe past which has nothing to dowith the current situation.”

The government has to dealwith resource inequality, he said,as it relates to everything –education, housing, socialservices, child welfare. GivingFirst Nations jurisdiction but noresources to do it, “is just wrong,”Rae said.

The other challenge for bothparties is deciding what to do withexisting treaties, whether tobreathe new life into them, or rely

on litigation or negotiation. Thesechallenges require real politicalleadership, he said, and as long aspolitical leaders rely on thelengthy litigation process,injustice will rule anddemonstrations will likelyincrease.

In response to a question aboutthe missing and murderedAboriginal women, Rae said anational inquiry would be useful.

“There has to be some attention

Bob Rae

Canadians are stuck in the narrative of a distant past

paid to why it’s taking so long toget answers and how policing canbe improved,” he said. “It’s aproblem with a national scope. It’snot simply confined to one policeforce…it’s a more systemicproblem and a systemic problemrequires a systemicanswer….there are somechallenging issues that need to beinvestigated and need to bediscussed. That’s something anational inquiry can do.”


Alberta Sweetgrass Briefs( Continued from page 14.)

April 2014P a g e [ 18 ]

from disease, malnutrition, fire.

[ footprints ] Residential School Victims

Thousands perished

Large numbers of childrenwho were sent to residentialschools never returned home. Inlight of the Truth andReconciliation Commission’sfinal national event held at theend of March in Edmonton, thismonth’s Footprints is dedicatedto the memory of those childrenwho died from the harshconditions they experienced, orperished while trying to escapefrom them.

In Stories Moshum andKokum told me, Arnold J.Isbister tells of an elderlyneighbour, Mrs. J., who makesa late night visit to his parents’cabin in a snowstorm.

Writing from the perspectiveof his son, Isbister describes howthe youth falls asleep soon afterMrs. J. arrives, but in themorning questions the visit.Why did the old woman ventureout in such impossible weather?

Grandfather answers that thewidowed woman braved thestorm because it made herunbearably lonely. Howlingwinds and swirling snowreminded her of the death of herbeloved brother and father yearsbefore.

That night, Mrs. J. recountedstories of a happy childhooduntil her brother Matthew wastaken away to mission school.She missed him terribly,especially that first Christmaswhen he wasn’t home to makethe family laugh. She feltoptimistic when the familyreceived word aroundEastertime that he was illbecause now he would have tocome home. But when her fatherwent to get him on Matthew’swhite horse, he was informed theboy had died. Heartbroken, thefather built a travois for his son’sbody and was too distraught tonotice the approaching springstorm when he set out for home.

After eight days passed with nosign of her father and brother,Mrs. J. knew something waswrong. Her mother asked otherfamilies and the local priest tojoin in a search, and finallyMatthew’s white horse wasspotted standing in the midst ofa prairie. Beside him, a pile ofsnow almost hid the frozenbodies of Mrs. J. kin. Matthewwas wrapped up in blankets, andhis father held him in his armsas if to keep him warm.

Mrs. J. never stopped grievingher loss, and her mother died ofdespair two years later, Isbister’sgrandson learns.

As most Canadians know,many families lost loved ones atresidential school, but the far-reaching impacts are still beinguncovered.

By January of this year, theTruth and ReconciliationCommission determined thatmore than 4,000 residential

By Dianne Meili

The Chooutla “Indian Residential School” in Carcross, YT, 1921

school children died. Thatfigure, though, is based onpartial federal governmentrecords. Commission officialsexpect the number to rise as itsresearchers delve into recordsfrom Library and ArchivesCanada, the churches that ranthe schools, and elsewhere.

The commission is gettingcloser to revealing the extent ofthe substandard conditionsstudents endured. If threats likephysical, emotional and sexualabuse, malnutrition, disease, orfires didn’t kill them, many diedas runaways.

One heartbreaking incidentthat drew rare media attentionin 1937 involved the deaths offour boys – two age eight andtwo age nine – who fled the Lejacresidential school in BritishColumbia in mid-winter. Theywere found frozen together inslush ice on Fraser Lake, barelya kilometre from home. Aninquiry at the time found oneboy, wearing summer clothes,had “no hat and one rubbermissing and his foot bare.”

The largest killer of students,by far, was disease. For decades,

starting around 1910,tuberculosis took many lives.Records from a school inSpanish, Ont., record the fluepidemic killed 20 children overa grim three-month period.

Conditions that called forhealthy children to be housedbeside sick children, and the factthat buildings were poorlyventilated and students wereoften malnourished andincapable of fighting off disease,resulted in great loss. These kindsof actions and shortcomingscould have been reversed,preventing many fatalities.

“Aboriginal kids’ lives justdidn’t seem as worthy as non-Aboriginal kids,” observedKimberly Murray, executivedirector of the commission, in aNational Post article.

She said fires also took manylives, despite repeated directivesin audits calling for fire escapesand sprinklers.

Many schools refused to spendmoney on fire escapes, buildingpoles outside of windows so thechildren could slide down. Withdoors and windows locked toprevent children from escaping,

though, they were unable toreach the poles.

The commission’s researchmanager Alex Maass, saidstudent deaths were so much apart of the residential schoolsystem that architectural plansfor many of them includedcemeteries that were laid out inadvance of the building.

Maass has also found thatdeath reports were consistentlydone until 1917, when theyabruptly stopped.

“It was obviously a policy notto report them,” he said.

Allegations of manslaughterand murder have been made byschool survivors testifying atcommission hearings, but theseremain unproven. A story of anun throwing a newborn babyborn to a student into a furnacehas been uttered by at least onesurvivor.

The late Harriett Nahanee,who attended a school in PortAlberni, B.C., said she saw afellow student kicked down thestairs. The last time she saw thechild, she was lying on the floor,not moving or breathing, hereyes wide open. The RCMP

later claimed the girl died ofpneumonia.

The names of children whodied – along with how theydied and where they are buried– are being assembled by thecommission’s “The MissingChildren Project”. Manybelieve the commission has sofar just scratched the surface,and many more names will beadded as documents arereleased and investigated.

Residential schools began tooperate in Canada in the1870s, with the last one closingits doors in 1996. The Truthand ReconciliationCommission has beenresearching the legacy ofresidential schools since 2008,and will release a final reportof its findings in 2015.

One of its numerousmandates is to establish anational research centre toserve as a permanent resourcefor Canadians to appreciate thefar-reaching damage theseschools wreaked on Aboriginalchildren and families, and tomove toward reconciliationand healing.

P a g e [ 19 ]April 2014

Health WatchTeaming up with cancer agency for studyMetis Nation-Saskatchewan and the Federation ofSaskatchewan Indian Nations have teamed up with theSaskatchewan Cancer Agency to identify First Nations and Metiscancer sufferers in hopes of using that data to improve cancersurveillance, care and services. Riaz Alvi, provincial leader ofepidemiology and performance with the Saskatchewan CancerAgency, said providing culturally-specific care is a priority. Detailsof the three-year, $1-million-plus project are still being workedout. The study will focus on rural, remote and isolatedcommunities. Pilot programs utilizing the data to improve cancercare and services will take place at the English River First NationHealth Clinic, Ochapowace First Nation, Battleford Tribal CouncilIndian Health Services and with members of the MN-S. “I thinkthis partnership is an indication of where the future of healthcare is going, especially with respect to First Nations and Metispeople. We need to pull together,” MN-S President RogerDoucette told the Leader-Post. According to the CanadianPartnership Against Cancer, rates of common cancer amongFirst Nations, Metis and Inuit people have increased over thepast few decades, with the rates of cancer in some communitiesexceeding those of the general Canadian population.

Three-year cancer initiative undertaken in Newfoundland-LabradorJourney in the Big Land is a three-year initiative aimed atenhancing cancer care services for Labrador Inuit, Innu andmembers of the NunatuKavut Community Council. Funding of$800,000 from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer wasawarded to the Cancer Care Program of Eastern Health, whichprovides programs and services to all Newfoundland residents.The initiative recognizes the unique challenges faced by manyAboriginal people when confronted with a cancer diagnosis,including language barriers, cultural differences andgeographical isolation from primary care to secondary andtertiary health centres. The framework for the Journey in the BigLand initiative was developed as a result of a stakeholder forumwhich was attended by representatives of Eastern Health,Labrador- Grenfell Health, Nunatsiavut Government,NunatuKavut Community Council, the Innu Nation and Aboriginalcancer patients, family members and community elders. EasternHealth is the largest, integrated health authority in Newfoundlandand Labrador.

Four-part cancer study launched in B.C.The B.C. Cancer Agency is working with the First Nations HealthAuthority and Metis Nation B.C., among others, to determinebarriers facing Aboriginal people when it comes to cancer care.Funding from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer hasbeen distributed to the different Aboriginal agencies to conductthe research and implement the programs, with the B.C. CancerAgency working in a supporting role. The work will include fouraspects: what happens when treatment is concluded; the launchof videos across western Canada of Aboriginal people tellingtheir stories about their cancer experiences; gaps in care from aMetis perspective in B.C.; and the development of a programwith groups from the Yukon that will look at the challengesAboriginal people in that territory face. The B.C. Cancer Agencyprovides most of the cancer treatment to Yukon patients throughits Vancouver centre. Funding goes through until 2017.

Cultural safety program being developedThe Wabano Centre in Ottawa has received $150,000 from theOntario Trillium Foundation to design a “cultural safety trainingprogram” to help hospitals, police services and other partnersprovide better service to Aboriginal peoples. Wabano Centrestaff will then train its partners. Wabano Centre ExecutiveDirector Allison Fisher said Indigenous peoples often facebarriers when it comes to accessing health care or other servicesbecause many providers lack understanding in First Nationsculture. The cultural safety training program is due to becompleted by 2015.

Diabetes centre openedThe Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and Health Services’ DiabetesCentre for Excellence recently celebrated its grand opening. Thecentre is a community tribute to the future health and wellnessof Akwesasne. The vision behind the structure was to have ahome for specialized services focusing on prevention anddiabetes management. The Let’s Get Healthy Program offersfamily-based education programs in fitness, diabetes health,nutrition and prevention. “Engaging the community in thepromotion of a healthy lifestyle is the mission of the DiabetesCentre for Excellence,” said Heather Garrow, program manager,in a news release. The $3.6 million building provides space toaddress diabetes management, including a 2,500 square footfitness room, a heated floor for yoga, a pool for aquatic exercise,including an assisted lift for easier access and a theatre kitchen.The nutritional support includes both counseling and cookingdemonstration space. A relaxation room offers a mind-bodyconnection to teach meditative stress reduction. Diabetes affects16 per cent of the people living on the territory.


EDMONTON

Many residential schools werebuilt from brick so artist DawnMarie Marchand has invitedsurvivors, their descendants andtheir spouses to draw their storiesin the form of a three inch bynine inch piece of brown paper.

“I want to recreate the storieson a wall and I wanted to use amedium that was easily accessibleand anybody could mail,” saidMarchand of choosing the brick-shape.

Marchand is coordinating acollaborative installation that willbe unveiled during the Truth andReconciliation Commission’sfinal national event, which takesplace in Edmonton March 27-30.

Marchand is hoping for 1,500bricks. At the beginning ofMarch she had only 100. Butshe isn’t panicking. She isconfident that closer to the event,the bricks will start coming in.As well, she knows people whoare planning to attend the TRCevent and want to see their bricksgo up.

“Art builds,” as Marchandrefers to them, have been heldthroughout the province, wherethose connected with residentialschools have created their bricks.

Marchand has personalexposure to residential schools.While her mother neverattended, she had aunts, unclesand cousins who did.

“All of the things that affected(my mother’s life) and my life,those intergenerational thingsaffected us despite her notgoing,” said Marchand, whocreated a brick that has aphotograph of herself with herfinger held up to her lips forsilence. “Even to this day, (mymother) won’t talk about whoher cousins are that hurt her andwho are the people who went.”

The brick represents not onlyMarchand’s mother’s silence, butthe silence demanded of thestudents: don’t speak yourlanguage, don’t speak about yourculture, don’t speak to yoursiblings.

Those who walk through theexhibit will be given a river stoneto hold and rub, a commonpractise to help relieve tension instressful situations. These stoneswill become part of a permanentHealing Garden installation atBlue Quills First NationUniversity as part of the gardenpath.

“The symbolism behind it is

that we’re going to put it underyour feet so you can moveforward,” said Marchand.

The site of the brickinstallation has yet to bedetermined. Marchand ishopeful it will end up as apermanent installationsomewhere when the TRC eventconcludes.

There will be Aboriginal artwork spread throughout thedowntown area, says DebbieHubbard, a member of theregional advisory committee forthe national TRC event.

“One of the things (we’ve)really tried to be intentionalabout with this event is inengaging the arts communityand particularly some of theAboriginal arts,” said Hubbard.“There’s a real recognition thatin Edmonton there’s quite avibrant Aboriginal, Inuit, Métisrepresentation of skilled artists.”

While the brick installation is

not a formal TRC exhibit, therewill be a collection of artworkfrom Alberta Aboriginal artistson display in the EnterpriseSquare gallery in the formerHudson’s Bay building fromMarch 20-April 18. Marchand isresearching and writing thecommentary to go along with theexhibit, which is a body of artpurchased by Aboriginal Affairsand Northern DevelopmentCanada in the 1990s. It is thecollection of work undertaken bymembers of the Alberta IndianArts and Crafts Society, whichoperated from 1975-91 andincludes such well-known namesas Alex Janvier, Joane Cardinal-Shubert and Faye Heavy Shield.

“This artwork is so beautiful.It’s like 25 years ago and it’s sorelevant and contemporary andincredible,” said Marchand.“This is a real great opportunity,especially for the newgeneration.”

Artist Dawn Marie Marchand writes of this “brick” she painted,“I was remembering another story, I was told. A story where ayoung girl went to school with her brother. Even though theywere together they weren’t allowed to interact.”

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Art part of healing process ofresidential schools

More health news, more events,more careers, more sports...

Find more of everything at: www.ammsa.com

April 2014P a g e [ 20 ]

Wampum holds power of earliest agreementsBy Barb NahwegahbowWindspeaker Contributor

TORONTO

The Indigenous Visual CultureProgram at Toronto’s OCADUniversity hosted a talk titled,Wampum: Language and Symbolrecently. About 60 peoplegathered to learn about wampumfrom historians, curators andartists.

Historian and curator, RickHill, Tuscarora from Six Nationsof the Grand River Territory,started learning about wampumbelts when he worked in amuseum in the 1960s.

“It made me mystified as towhat were these things,” he said.“Where did they come from,where are they and how come Igrew up not knowing aboutthem.” He soon found out they’dbeen taken away byanthropologists who then tookthem to museums. Hill has beenpart of repatriating wampum beltsfrom Toronto’s Royal OntarioMuseum.

“Wampum is just a visual deviceby which memory is kept alive,”Hill said. “Our ancestors were veryskilled in how to make theseabstract symbols that have greatmeaning, great power. We alsobelieve that wampum has its ownpower.”

Wampum belts are made withquahog clam shells which are the

purple or black, and whelk shellswhich are white. Hill said, “By itsnature, the shell is able to retainthe words spoken over it and thenit can be passed on fromgeneration to generation.”

The white whelk shell is asymbol of power and peace andall the good things, and the purpleor black quahog clam shell is justthe opposite. “I thought it ironicthat in the ocean,” said Hill, “thesetwo are kind of enemies of eachother… but the whelk can actuallydefeat the quahog clam. So thewhite shell can overcome thepurple shell in the ocean andmaybe that’s what our ancestorsbelieved.”

historian and researcher fromM’Chigeeng First Nation onManitoulin Island in Ontario, saidhis introduction to wampum beltswas the Covenant Chain 1764entrusted to the Odawa people ofMichilimackinac at the 1764Treaty of Niagara. “It’s become acliché now,” said Corbiere, “to saythat treaties are living documents,but that’s what these wampumbelts are as well.” He’s working ona paper making a case, “that thisis what we would call our case lawand our common law and theseare our precedents. And I’m tryingto show how each time they putanother belt on, it’s actuallyanother belt reinforcing theprevious one.”

Corbiere met with a lot ofskepticism when he startedsharing his research on wampumwith Manitoulin Island FirstNations in 2002. “I was told,Mohawks have wampum; wedon’t have wampum. Now, ourGrand Chief, he has thesebelts…people have started toaccept and see the evidence of ourwampum tradition as Ojibway,Odawa and Potawatomi people.”

The organizer of the talk and apresenter, Bonnie Devine, is anAssociate Professor and theFounding Chair of the IndigenousVisual Culture Program at OCADUniversity. A member of SerpentRiver First Nation in Ontario, sheis an installation artist, curator,writer and educator.

Rick Hill (right) answering questions about wampum, with Alan Corbiere (centre) and BonnieDevine (left) at OCAD University.


The dish with one spoonwampum belt, “is probably themost significant in terms of theNative people in this land,” saidHill. “The old people say thisrepresents the first treaty made inNorth America. It was madebetween all the Native nationsbefore the Europeans arrived. It’sa simple belt with a field of whitewhich represents peace and unityand harmony, with a little darkfigure which represents the bowl.”Some of the belts contain an iconwithin the bowl that represents abeaver tail.

Of particular importance in thisage of environmental degradationis the fact that the dish with one

spoon is also a covenant withnature. “Nature says, ‘Here’s thegreat dish and inside the dish areall the plants, the animals, thebirds, the fish, the bushes, thetrees, everything you need to behealthy and therefore, happy’.”

Hill spoke about the rulesnature attaches to this covenant.“The three basic rules are: onlytake what you need, second, youalways leave something in the dishfor everybody else, including thedish, and third, you keep the dishclean…that was the treatybetween us and nature, and thenthe treaty between us andeverybody else.”

Alan Corbiere, Anishnaabe

Windspeaker April 2014 final

Documents

Transcript of Windspeaker April 2014 final