Windspeaker July 2014 final

P a g e [ 1 ]July 2014

Celebrating 30 years of informing, impacting and inspiring.

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Bill attacks‘mom and pop’

businesses on reservePage 8

Danger tomen and boys goesunacknowledged

Page 9

Toronto’sWalk for Truth, Justice

and ReconciliationPage 8

Photo

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Federal government says 'yes'to Northern Gatewaybut people say 'no'Takaiya Blaney joined hundreds of people who marched and sang inVancouver to show their displeasure with the federal government's approvalof the Northern Gateway pipeline proposed by Enbridge. Many groups areplanning lawsuits and additional protests.

Please see story and photos on pages 7 & 11.

Federal government says 'yes'to Northern Gatewaybut people say 'no'Takaiya Blaney joined hundreds of people who marched and sang inVancouver to show their displeasure with the federal government's approvalof the Northern Gateway pipeline proposed by Enbridge. Many groups areplanning lawsuits and additional protests.

Please see story and photos on pages 7 & 11.

July 2014P a g e [ 2 ]

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

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

P a g e [ 3 ]July 2014

ADVERTISINGThe advertising deadline for the

August 2014 issue of Windspeaker isJuly 10, 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

FeaturesToronto’s Walk for Truth, Justice andReconciliation 8

Six years ago on June 11, 2008, Prime MinisterStephen Harper offered an apology on behalf ofCanada to Aboriginal people for the treatmentthey suffered at residential schools, calling it “asad chapter in our history.”

[ 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

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

“There wouldn’t be anything (in Millbrook FirstNation) if it wasn’t for Lawrence’s tenacity to go outfront and get things done.” - Daniel Paul’sstatement about his brother holds true in a broadersense. Longstanding Mi’kmaq Chief LawrencePaul’s negotiations in Nova Scotia with provincialand federal governments were ground breaking; hewent against the flow early on and opened doorsfor 500-plus First Nation bands across Canada, aswell.

[ rants and raves ] 5

[ windspeaker briefs ] 9

[ provincial news ] 10 - 13

[ health ] 14

[ sports ] 15

[ education ] 16

[ careers ] 17

[ footprints ] Lawrence Paul 18

Danger to men and boys unacknowledged 9

It has taken seven years, but Lucas Degerness’father has finally acknowledged his son’sdisappearance. On Luke’s 21st birthday thisJanuary, his father posted a “happy birthday”message on Facebook and added, “Don’t youthink it’s time to come home?”

PublisherBert Crowfoot

Editorial 1-780-455-2700

E-mail: [email protected]

Contributing News EditorDebora Steel

Staff WriterDianne Meili

ProductionJudy Anonson

Advertising Sales 1-800-661-5469

E-mail: [email protected]

Director of MarketingPaul Macedo

National SalesShirley Olsen

AccountsCarol Russ

CirculationKaren Pritchard

AMMSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PresidentNoel McNaughton

Vice President Rose Marie Willier

TreasurerDr. Chester Cunningham

DirectorsJennie CardinalLeona Shandruk

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B.C. and Native leaders shoulder the hardwork of ending violence 14

Beverly Jacobs knows what it would mean to endviolence against Aboriginal women, but it’s toolate to bring back her murdered niece.

Put the children first, says Ontario’s ChiefBeardy 16

“Almost day in, day out now for us these days,education remains a priority,” said GhislainPicard, spokeperson for the Assembly of FirstNations. Picard expects the subject to be frontand centre when chiefs gather in Halifax in mid-July.

Bill attacks ‘mom and pop’ businesses onreserve 8

Bill C-10, the Contraband Tobacco Bill, was oneof the many issues discussed at the 40th AnnualAll Ontario Chiefs Assembly that took place inToronto from June 9 to June 11. The chiefs wereunanimous in their rejection of Bill C-10 calling ita direct attack on the livelihood of First Nationspeople.

July 2014P a g e [ 4 ]

PHOTOS: DAVID P. BALL

People of all ages and backgrounds turned out in Vancouver united in showing their unhappiness that the federal government approved the NorthernGateway pipeline proposed by Enbridge.

P a g e [ 5 ]July 2014

[ rants and raves ]And in this corner... Chatter

The Globe and Mail reports that the federal governmenthas not complied with a judge’s order to hand over documentsabout the abuses suffered in St. Anne’s Indian ResidentialSchool in Fort Albany, Ont. Lawyers representing studentswere back in court on June 10 to ask that the governmentproduce transcripts of the trial of a former school supervisorconvicted in 1999 on three counts of administering a noxioussubstance. “It was proven beyond a reasonable doubt thatAnna Wesley had forced the victims, when they were smallchildren at St. Anne’s, to eat their own vomit by assaultingthem,” state lawyers in court documents. Children as youngas six were also tortured in an electric chair.

Louise Spence said she was barred from running for chief in a June 6 election at Red Sucker Lake First Nation innorthern Manitoba because she is separated from herhusband. She is the sister of Elijah Harper. The rules thatwere put in place by elders who have long passed and onlyenforced recently, she said. Candidates for chief must bemarried. No common-law partners or divorcees would beallowed for the position. “I feel discriminated against,” shetold the National Post. “I feel judged.” Defenders say thecommunities are very religious. They’re meant to respect thewishes of those who came before, the National Post reports.

A derailment on the only rail line to Churchill, Man.caused a shut down and people from the remote War Lake

First Nation are becoming desperate, reported the CBC. Theyrely on the Omnitrax Canada line to get them to Thompson, afour-hour train ride, for groceries. The community had to chartera plane because they were running out of food, said the chief“We don’t have any of the necessities — bread, eggs,” evenformula for babies and milk, said Chief Betsy Kennedy, andcommunity members have become stranded in Thompsonunable to return home. The track is built across a bog andderailments are a regular concern, she told the CBC. “This ismore than an inconvenience. I have band members stuck inThompson who need to get home to take care of loved onesand to earn their living,” Kennedy added in a press releaseissued through the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and KeewatinTribal Council Inc.

American Singer Pharrell Williams has apologized to fansafter his cover shot on Elle UK Fashion Magazine after itcaused a flurry of outrage. The singer appeared in a FirstNation headdress. While the singer is known for his eccentrichats, the photo, said many, was offensive. Wab Kinew tweetedan invitation to Williams to attend a Sundance “so u can learnabout the sacrifice that’s put in before someone wears aheaddress.” “I respect and honour every kind of race,background and culture,” said Williams. “I am genuinely sorry.”

The official First Nations host of the 2015 Pan Am/ParaPanGames in Toronto is the Mississaugas of the New Credit. A letter was signed June 2 in a ceremony at the New Creditcommunity centre. “All members of the Mississaugas of theNew Credit First Nation are pleased to welcome the Toronto2015 Pan Am/ParaPan games, including the athletes,dignitaries and other international games guests to ourtraditional territory,” said Chief Bryan Laforme, reported theBrantford Expositor. “To us, the games represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase the roots, language, traditionsand culture of the Ojibway and to promote respect for andrecognition of Indigenous peoples across Canada and theAmericas.” Toronto is part of the Mississaugas’ traditionalterritory. New Credit will work with TO2015 on ceremonies,community sport activations, arts and culture, youthprogramming, employment, internship opportunities, economicdevelopment, branding and volunteerism, reads the article.

Business Vancouver reports an agreement betweenAvanti Mining Inc. and the Nisga’a Nation regarding the miningcompany’s proposed $1 billion Kitsault Molybdenum MineProject. The agreement includes a royalty of up to two percent based on the price of molybdenum, and promises toaddress environmental concerns. “We are pleased to havefinally reached an agreement with Avanti that will enable theproject to proceed while ensuring that our treaty rights arerespected, and our nation’s environment is protected,” saidNisga’a Nation President Mitchell Stevens. “This demonstratesthat when proponents take the Nisga’a Nation’s interests andconcerns seriously, practical agreements can be reached ina timely manner. The project is located in the Nass Valley ofnorthwestern British Columbia. It will produce 300 fulltime jobsover 14 years. It is expected to open in 2014.

Williams Lake will host Orange Shirt Day activities in

Let’s get ready to rumbleÖ.The iconiccatchphrase of American ring announcerMichael Buffer seems an appropriate way tostart a rematch between coastal nations (BCand Atlantic) versus, well, everybody else. Ifthe Special Chiefs Assembly held in OttawaMay 27 is any indication, the Assembly of FirstNations Annual General Assembly scheduledfor Halifax July 15 to 17, with a preliminarybattle for supremacy held July 14 at aConfederacy of Nations meeting, should be areal barn burner.

The etymology of that phrase is aninteresting one. It’s said to come from the ideaof burning down one’s own barn to get rid of arat infestation. Or, one who will destroy all toget rid of a nuisance. It’s important tounderstand that this assembly will be awatershed moment for the organization. Thereis the very real potential that the AFN walls willcome crashing down upon the organization,depending on the attitudes the chiefs bring tothe table.

There has never been so much dividing thechiefs, including the polarized perspectives ofhow to move forward on education. Manychiefs would have liked to see amendments toBill C-33. At least, they say, there were somethings within that legislation that they couldwork with, and that includes $1.9 billion. BritishColumbia was on that side of the equation, butwas heavily outmatched with only 60 of its 203delegates on the ground May 27 when theyproduced their resolution to ask the feds tochange the bill. We bet they won’t let thathappen to them again.

The chiefs in assembly also have someimportant decisions to make because time is

not on their side. They need to quickly decidewhen and how they are going to move forwardon the issue of leader. They will need a nationalchief sooner rather than later, we have toassume. A federal election will be held Oct.19, 2015 and First Nations leaders will needto be prepared for that, and well in advance ifthey are to combat this current government’santi-First Nations agenda.

The Harper government must be giddy atthe prospect that the AFN has decapitateditself. To allow the infighting and posturing forcontrol over the organization, so apparent andoutrageous at the May 27 SCA that itthreatened the organization’s very ruination,to continue into the federal election year wouldwork well in the Conservative’s favor. The onlyreal option it would seem is to have the AFNelection at this year’s December meeting. Thiswill give the AFN time for at least somerecovery. The mood is so noxious, however,that even that is in doubt.

The candidates are lining up. Many of themare currently on the AFN executive, so thatwill prove a hurdle to get over in and of itself.It will be very interesting to see how thesechiefs carry themselves in July. Will they putpolitics before all else? Electioneering,showboating, or endless circular speechesabout nothing, could be what we are in storefor. Wasting the time of busy leaders will causefurther frustrations for those who have otherand bigger fish to fry.

So readers, if you are interested inwitnessing some four very historic andentertaining days, book your tickets now. Thisis a not to be missed event. The gloves will beoff. The title up for grabs.

Windspeaker

Letter: First Nations must organize todayDear Editor:Prime Minister Stephen Harper has decided

to stand with Enbridge and move against thewishes of many First Nations and BritishColumbians. First Nations must now urgentlyprepare to handle the tremendous pressures thatwill emerge to transport bitumen in their territoriesand through the coastal waters of B.C.

It is critical that First Nations in B.C. organizequickly and on a scale never seen before.Leaders, youth, emerging leaders, elders, andall citizens must get to work in our communitiesand along tribal lines. We must set out our ownrules for engaging in relations with industry andthe Crown.

Government led infringements will continue onthe scale of Northern Gateway if we do not definethose relationships.

First Nations are quickly running out of time.We must begin today building the institutions weneed to effectively govern our territories. We haveto exercise our rights as governors of our lands,develop our own territorial laws to protect ourlands and sacred places, and give industry andthe Crown notice that they best engage early andnegotiate accordingly.

We must strengthen our ability to protect ourterritory and steward our lands by passing ourown environmental and land-use laws. This iscritical.

Two years ago, the federal governmentpassed Omnibus Bill C-38, clearing the path forresource extraction and transport by eliminatingenvironmental protection programs, closingresearch labs, and laying off internationally-recognized science staff that helped Canadiansunderstand how to protect rivers, lakes andoceans. And now we have 300 scientists callingthe Northern Gateway Joint Review Panelfindings flawed and unscientific.

We must create our own circumstances for agovernment-to-government relationship with theCrown and demand that it be respected, insistingthat they engage us well before the start of anyregulatory process for development.

The Crown has legal and constitutional

obligations to First Nations and we must bevigilant and ensure that they meet thoseobligations in full.

First Nations citizens have been living underthe Indian Act, on reserves, and out of theeconomy for seven generations. Too many of ourcommunities have been impacted by systemicefforts to exclude us and we are divided and inneed of healing. This has allowed governmentto ignore their obligations and carry on businessas usual.

We must end this by creating our owngoverning structures that support the vision ofour people, reflect our culture and extend ourjurisdiction onto our territories. Doing so willrestore the health of our nations.

The Northern Gateway is the first battle in theemerging Tar Sands Rush and resourcecompanies are in a race to get product to market.Like the Gold Rush and Settler Rush, it will againseverely impact our lands, our water, our culture,the animals and our children.

The Harper government is determined to turnCanada and our lands into a tar sandssuperpower. We can fully expect this governmentto minimize their legal and constitutionalobligations, then deflect, ignore and bury anyfuture negative impacts on our people. Theirstrategy includes another decade of litigation andconflict.

The Tar Sands Rush has come to B.C and agreat many British Columbians are upset, angryand dismayed at the Prime Minister’s approach.Many British Columbians are counting on FirstNations to take the lead and exercise our rightsas governors of our lands.

Legions of British Columbians are preparedto support our efforts to protect the land and thewater we share with them.

Within this chaos of development exists agolden opportunity for us to take our rightful placeon our lands, address the divisions amongourselves and create a new understanding withBritish Columbians and all Canadians.

Len HartleyCentre for First Nations Governance

July 2014P a g e [ 6 ]

[ strictly speaking ]

Is the Site C dam’s electricity destined for LNGIndustry?By Judith LavoieWriter, DeSmog Canada

Printed with permission ofwww.troymedia.com

Every day British Columbiansflick on light switches, power uptheir computers and cook dinner,confidently expecting the powersupply will not fail them.

The expectation that reliableelectric power will be available isemphasized by BC Hydro as ittouts benefits of the proposedSite C dam on the Peace Riverand the resulting “clean” energythat could theoretically power450,000 homes each year.

“Our forecasts show thedemand for electricity willincrease by approximately 40 percent during the next 20 years,”said Charles Reid, BC Hydropresident.

“And an emerging liquefiednatural gas sector could furtherincrease the demand forelectricity.”

But, looking into the future isan unreliable art and, while BCHydro insists that the power willbe needed by the time the $8-billion project is completed in2024, opponents say that,especially at a time when theenergy market is undergoingrapid change, the mega-dam willend up as a costly white elephant.

The unknowns includechanges in demand because ofeconomic development, the costof electricity, public policychanges and development ofalternative energy sources.

The joint review panelassessing the Site C damconcluded that, although therewill be an increasing need forpower in the future and Site C islikely to be the most cost-effectiveoption, BC Hydro failed to provethat the new energy would beneeded within the timeframe setout in the proposal.

“The panel concludes that theproponent has not fullydemonstrated the need for theprojects on the timetable setforth,” says the report submittedthis month to the federal andprovincial governments.

The panel makes it clear that

federal and provincialgovernment decision-makersneed to be sure the power isneeded before giving the go-ahead.

Justification for Site C “mustrest on an unambiguous need forthe power and analysis showingits financial costs beingsufficiently attractive as to maketolerable the bearing ofsubstantial social and othercosts,” the report says.

The findings have sparkedmore questions about the needfor Site C power, especially asannual figures show B.C. isusually a net exporter of energy.

“This opens the door for us tohave conversations aboutalternatives – local projects withbenefits for local people –projects like smaller hydro, wind,natural gas and evengeothermal,” said Treaty 8 TribalChief Liz Logan.

Even the LNG argument –used by Premier Christy Clark inlast year’s election campaign as amajor reason for building Site C– is losing traction as mostcompanies indicate that, forcompression and liquefaction ofthe gas (which takes vast amountsof electricity), they will generatetheir own power by burningnatural gas already flowingthrough their pipes.

In order to burn natural gas,the LNG industry has beenhanded a blanket exemptionfrom the Clean Energy Act,raising concerns about thegovernment’s commitment tocutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The Pembina Instituteestimates that if five LNGfacilities are built, the industrywould more than double B.C.’scarbon pollution, single-handedly emitting nearly three-quarters as many greenhousegases as Alberta’s oil sands.

However, even those who arguethat LNG plants should bepowered using renewableelectricity don’t necessarily pointto a need for the Site C dam.Clean Energy Canada, forinstance, argues that the LNGindustry can power itself onregionally produced cleanelectricity, mostly wind power on

B.C.’s north coast.Even under that scenario, LNG

plants will need power from BCHydro for ancillary needs, suchas running the site, said DaveConway, BC Hydro spokesman.

Initial estimates said increasedcapacity would be needed by2027/28, but, with taking LNGplans into account, even a “lowLNG load forecast” moves theneed for energy up to 2024.

“Mining is also one of the bigdrivers so, with or without LNG,new capacity and new power isneeded by 2024,” Conway said.

In B.C., about one-third ofelectricity is used by residentialcustomers, another third is usedby commercial customers andanother third goes to industrialcustomers, he said.

“The need for this projectcomes from growing demand,”Conway said. “Economicdevelopment is the primarydriver.”

That need continues despiteresidential customers reducingpower use because ofconservation and BC Hydro’sown documents showing it plansto meet 70 per cent of futuredemand growth throughconservation. It is essential thatBC Hydro is able to meet peakload requirements, Conway said,even though peak demand maycome only one day a year.

However, retired federaleconomist Erik Andersen saidBC Hydro has a chronic problem

with over-estimating the demandfor power.

“Over the course of the pastfour decades, the need for a SiteC generation facility has beenpart of the larger and exaggerateddemand narrative BC Hydro hasbeen telling,” he said.

Andersen crunched thenumbers and is questioningHydro’s estimates of a populationgrowth of one million people inthe next 20 years, which he saysdoesn’t fit with B.C Statisticsforecasts.

“There has been one heck of arollback in population growth,but BC Hydro seems to want toignore that,” he said.

Energy economics expertMarvin Shaffer, adjunct professorin the school of public policy atSimon Fraser University, said BCHydro’s analysis of futuredemand is based on a “veryserious market failure” in thepricing of electricity.

“The only reason Site C is‘needed’ is because thegovernment is preventing BCHydro from using gas-firedthermal units to back up itshydro system when needed,” hesaid.

“If the project is built asplanned, it will be surplus toforecast requirements for manyyears and sold in the export spotmarket at a significant financialloss.”

Even if some power was soldto LNG plants, which would

otherwise use gas-fired thermalpower to meet their energyneeds, it wouldn’t be at a pricethat would begin to recover SiteC’s full cost, Shaffer said.

It is unlikely that surpluspower could be exported becauseenergy produced at Site C wouldbe too expensive, agreed NDPopposition leader John Horgan.

“With the advent of shale gaseverywhere in North America,the price of electricity hasplummeted because people canget gas and turn it into electricityat a relatively low price,” he toldDeSmog Canada.

Government will decide thisfall whether to proceed with SiteC, but Energy Minister BillBennett already seems convincedof the need for more power.

“We don’t need the electricitytoday or tomorrow or the nextyear, but we are pretty darn surewe are going to need it 10 yearsfrom now,” he told reporters afterthe release of the joint reviewpanel report.

However, Paul Kariya,executive director of CleanEnergy BC–an industry tradeassociation that representsindependent power producers,including gas generators–pointedout that predicting powerdemand is a “mug’s game” andthere is a way to meet powerneeds incrementally.

“Times have changed. We’vebeen through an era of buildingbig dams,” Kariya said. “Whenyou build a dam, you get this onemassive lump of power and that’snot the way that energy isplanned for anymore. What weoffer is a more incrementalapproach.”

Judith Lavoie is an award-winning journalist based inVictoria. Lavoie coveredenvironment and First Nationsstories for the Victoria TimesColonist for more than 20 yearsand is now working as afreelancer. She previously workedon newspapers in NewBrunswick, Cyprus, England andthe Middle East. Lavoie has wonfour Webster awards and hasbeen nominated for a NationalNewspaper Award and aMichener Award.

”

Over the course of the past four

decades, the need for a Site C

generation facility has been part of the

larger and exaggerated demandnarrative BC Hydro has been telling.

There has been one heck of a rollback

in population growth, but BC Hydro

seems to want to ignore that

“

– Erik Andersen retired federal economist

By David P. BallWindspeaker Contributor

OTTAWA

Another potential candidate toreplace former Assembly of FirstNations national chief ShawnAtleo has put his name forward.

Ghislain Picard, the assembly’sregional chief for Québec andLabrador, revealed toWindspeaker that he is“reflecting hard” about a run forleadership on a platform ofreforming the organization andbringing it back to its advocacyroots.

That puts the 59-year-old Innuleader in the possible runningagainst Anishinabe’s Wab Kinew,and Perry Bellegarde, chief of theFederation of SaskatchewanIndian Nations and AFN’sregional chief for the province.

“It’s probably time for changeswithin the AFN,” Picard toldWindspeaker in a phoneinterview. “The last restructuringtook place in the early ’80s. Is ittime to do that again? Possibly. Icertainly think I can bring thecapacity for that.

“I’ve been around for almosttwo decades now … I guess Iwould say I think I’ve matured

somewhat, politically speaking.I certainly consider I have whatit takes to do the job.”

Picard was the first executivemember to publicly break withAtleo over his support of thefederal Conservatives’ FirstNations education bill, whichwould have seen billions in on-reserve investments but raisedconcerns it still disempoweredFirst Nations control over theirchildren’s learning.

The AFN Québec andLabrador launched its own legalaction against the bill.

Ghislain Picard ‘reflecting hard’ on joining AFN race

Ghislain Picard, the AFN regional chief for Québec(See Picard on page 19.)

P a g e [ 7 ]July 2014

[ news ]

By Barb NahwegahbowWindspeaker Contributor

TORONTO

Children’s book writer andillustrator Julie Flett says she hasbeen described as soft-spokenbut with very loud ideas. Flett’sloud ideas won her theAboriginal Literature Award, anew Canadian book prize fundedby the Periodical Marketers ofCanada. Flett both wrote andillustrated the children’s picturebook, Wild Berries, alsopublished in Cree as Pakwa CheMenisu. A plaque and a chequefor $5,000 was presented to theCree-Metis writer on June 9 at aluncheon at the 40th Annual AllOntario Chiefs Conference inToronto.

Flett secured the awardhonour when the First NationCommunities READ juryselected her book as its 2014-2015 title pick for communityreading. First NationCommunities READ is theOntario First Nation publiclibrary community’scontribution to the popularreading movement. Books forchildren and books for adults arepresented in alternating years.

Thrilled to be the firstrecipient of the award, Flett saidthe other nominees and “theirbeautiful contributions” are aninspiration to her. When shereceived the phone call notifyingher, “I broke down,” she said,“because it’s such an importantaward. All the people who were

Wild Berries: A story about intergenerationalconnection

PHOTO: BARB NAHWEGAHBOW

Julie Flett

nominated, we work so hard toget the books out into theworld.” The cash award will bea big help, she said, “becausesometimes it takes years to get abook out.”

Flett’s grandmother is Metisfrom St. Boniface, Man. and hergrandfather is from NorwayHouse, Cross Lake. Betweenthem, she says, they spoke fivelanguages, but unfortunately thelanguages were not passeddown. She’s very pleased that notonly is Wild Berries bilingual(English and Swampy Cree) butthat it’s also been published inCree, in the dialect of the Cross

Lake, Norway House area.Wild Berries is about her dad,

Clarence and his grandmother.“It’s a very simple story,” she said,“but it’s about intergenerationalconnection.” It was a wonderfulexperience talking to her dad, shesaid, as she was writing andillustrating the book, envisioninghim with his grandmother. “Hereally does like sour berries!” shesaid, “so I made sure that was inthe book.”

Flett studied Fine Arts atConcordia University and EmilyCarr Institute of Art and Design.Her journey with children’sbooks started in 2004 with The

Cover of thre book Wild Berries by Julie FlettPHOTO: BARB NAHWEGAHBOW

Mocassins written by EarlEinarson. Her sister was workingin publishing and asked her toillustrate the book, a story abouta foster child. Flett was touchedby the response of a young fosterchild who identified with theboy in the story. “He feltrepresented and cared for,” shesaid. “And I thought, ok yes, thisis what I’d like to do; this issomething I can contribute.”

Having found her calling, she’sillustrated several books sincethen. The first book she bothwrote and illustrated is a Michifalphabet book published in 2010called Owls See Clearly at Night.

“I wanted to explore the Michiflanguage,” said Flett, “but I’mnot a historian so the book isfocused on my family and myexperience.”

“I love to work with children,”Flett said, “but in a playful way,not in a school setting, but whereit can be spontaneous andorganic and equal.” If she couldbuild an education system, she’dbuild one with, “more emphasison supporting the students’strengths and gifts, learningthrough play, learning throughexperience and connection tocommunity. Kind of a pre-colonial model.”

By David P. BallWindspeaker Contributor

VANCOUVER

Three days after the federalgovernment granted approval tothe $7-billion Enbridge NorthernGateway oil sands pipeline, agroup of women in Gitgaat FirstNation held the first — albeitsymbolic — blockade of thecontroversial project.

It is no doubt the first of manyto come, as opposition continuesamongst many First Nations in theprovince, who say they will neverback down and allow the projectthrough regardless of governmentrulings.

The June 20 plan is for boatsfrom the northern B.C.community to stretch a massivechain of yarn buoyed by corksacross the widest part of DouglasChannel, the proposed oil tankerroute from Kitimat to Asia.

“The women and kids gotinvolved and crocheted — man!— over 20,000 feet,” Gitgaat chiefArnold Clifton told Windspeaker.“It’s two miles from Hartley Bayover to the other side at the widestpart of the Douglas (Channel).

“It’s not the first time ourpeople have blocked the channel.The last time they talked aboutoil coming through our area theyhad a blockade … but they usedboats.”

Clifton said that neitherCalgary-based Enbridge nor thefederal government consulted his

community, and as a result they’relaunching a lawsuit against theproposal alongside several otherFirst Nations. The community isconcerned about an oil tanker spillin their territories, which cover 90per cent of the channel.

That legal action follows anannouncement, distributed by the

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, thatnearly 30 bands and tribal councilsare putting the final touches onlitigation to halt the project’sconstruction.

The colourful crochet actioncomes after the Conservativegovernment in Ottawa grantedapproval June 17 to the Enbridge

proposal, but only if the companycould satisfy all 209 of theNational Energy Board’srecommendations coveringeverything from increased pipelineand tanker safety to consultationswith aboriginal peoples.

That is on top of B.C. PremierChristy Clark’s famous “fiveconditions” which additionallydemand higher economic benefitsfor the province. Enbridge hassatisfied only the first condition— passing the NEB’s Joint ReviewProcess — but says it can meet allprerequisites within “12 to 15months,” its leader Janet Holdertold reporters on June 17.

Enbridge boasts the pipeline —planned to carry an annual 200-million barrels of oil sands crudefrom Alberta to B.C., and anotherto return chemicals used to dilutethe bitumen — would createnearly 600 long-term jobs in B.C.,on top of 3,000 in construction.The plan would see oil tankersnavigating the northern coast ofthe province, raising fears of acatastrophic oil spill akin to theExxon Valdez accident decadesago.

Enbridge approval ‘declared war’ on the rightsIndigenous people

Hundreds turned out in Vancouver to show their displeasure with the federal governmentapproval of the Northern Gateway pipeline

PHOTO: DAVID P. BALL

(See Enbridge on page 11.)

July 2014P a g e [ 8 ]

[ news ]


TORONTO

Six years ago on June 11, 2008,Prime Minister Stephen Harperoffered an apology on behalf ofCanada to Aboriginal people forthe treatment they suffered atresidential schools, calling it “asad chapter in our history.”

Toronto’s Aboriginalcommunity marked theanniversary of the apology witha five km walk and run billed asthe Walk/Run for Truth, Justiceand Reconciliation. Council FireNative Cultural Centreorganized the walk that startedat their centre at Dundas andParliament, wound through thecity’s downtown and ended at theEaton Chelsea Hotel where the40th Annual All Ontario ChiefsAssembly was being held.

The chiefs welcomed the 250walkers and runners from theAboriginal community and allygroups into the final afternoonof their deliberations with astanding ovation. Council Fireorganizer Andrea Chrisjohndescribed the objective of theTruth, Justice and ReconciliationWalk as broad to cover all theissues facing Indigenous people,“…whether it’s the missing ormurdered women, thecontinuation of the dollars forResidential School survivors andthe TRC to ensure we have ourIndigenous place on ourIndigenous lands on TurtleIsland.”

The Truth and ReconciliationCommission (TRC) wasrepresented by Chief WiltonLittlechild, TRC Commissioner,wearing his trademark cowboyhat. The poster for the walkfeatured Tom Longboat (1887-1949), an Onondaga runnerfrom Six Nations who Littlechilddescribed as “the world’s bestrunner in his time”.

Longboat was a residential

school survivor, having attendedBrantford’s Mohawk Institute.The City of Toronto had toreconcile with Longboat, saidLittlechild. They awarded him ascholarship and wristwatch,which they never gave him,“because there was a protest bythe US Olympic team that he

was a professional because he wasaccepting money.” Thescholarship and watch werefinally given to Longboat’s familymany years after he passed away.

An intergenerational survivorfrom Fort William First Nationspoke about his father whoattended St. Anne’s Residential

School in Fort Albany, Ont.“He was a rotten person when

he came out of that place,” hesaid. “He treated our family in arotten way. We became victimsbecause of him.” He broke downas he told about asking forforgiveness in his father’s lasthours for, “being such a rotten

Toronto’s Walk for Truth, Justice andReconciliation

son for 25 years.” He told theaudience the only thing hisfather said to him was, ‘I loveyou, my son.’

He urged people not to forgetthe residential school survivorswho are living on the streets andstruggling with addictions.“What are we gonna do for thosepeople out there?” he asked.“Think about those people thatthis process has left behind.”

Littlechild agreed that, “…westill have a long ways to gonationally in terms of puttingaction to the words of theapology.”

Ontario Regional Chief StanBeardy commended the walkersfor their commitment to change.“What happened to us as FirstNations people in Canada is notan Indian problem,” he said.“We experience a lot of injustice,the Sixties Scoop, the residentialschools and many other thingsincluding missing and murderedwomen…Those are Canada’sproblems. What happened in thepast is part of Canada’s history.”

Beardy urged people to telltheir stories, and said, “We haveto be able to tell the good partsand the bad parts.” It increasesthe general public’sunderstanding of First Nationsissues and it also givesencouragement to the peoplecoming behind us, he said, “…toknow that what happens to us isnot our fault.” Telling our storieswill prevent it from happeningagain, he said.

Patrick Madahbee, GrandCouncil Chief of theAnishinabek Nation, alsoaccompanied the walkers. “It’s soimportant the identity we haveas Indigenous people,” he said.“We always talk about the pastand we have to never forget whatwent on, the many injustices.But I think a new day is here.What’s going to be history forthe next generations is whatwe’re starting from the work wedo today.”

Chief Wilton Littlechild of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission at the wrap-up of theToronto Walk, June 11, 2014.


Andrea Chrisjohn of Toronto Council Fireconferring with Ontario Regional Chief StanBeardy at the wrap-up of the Walk forTruth,Justice and Reconciliation in Toronto,June 11, 2014

Patrick Madahbee, Grand Council Chief ofAnishinabek Nation speaking in Toronto June11 following the Walk for Truth, Justice andReconciliation.

PHOTO: JASON JENKINS PHOTO: JASON JENKINS


TORONTO

Bill C-10, the ContrabandTobacco Bill, was one of the manyissues discussed at the 40thAnnual All Ontario ChiefsAssembly that took place inToronto from June 9 to June 11.The chiefs were unanimous intheir rejection of Bill C-10 callingit a direct attack on the livelihoodof First Nations people.

At the press conference heldJune 10, Ontario Regional ChiefStan Beardy said, “We reject BillC-10 because it criminalizes usand it criminalizes tobacco trade.It is a direct attack on ourconst i tut ional ly-protectedAboriginal and treaty rights.”

Chief Ava Hill of the Six

Nations of the Grand River saidthere were a number of thingsthat had to be addressed withrespect to the Bill and said, “thisis not just an issue that pertainsto Six Nations, although it seemsthat the government is targetingsome of the Iroquoiscommunities. It’s affecting thewhole region of Ontario.”

The tobacco industry at SixNations employs 2,000 people,said Hill, “and if these people aregoing to be criminalized and areforced to give up their businesses,it’s going to be devastating for ourpeople. If those people don’t havejobs, where are they going to go?Is the government going toincrease our welfare rolls andprovide more money for ourpeople to go on welfare?”

Forcing people to go on welfarewill have an effect on their self

esteem, Hill said, and it will addto the social problems that havealready been created by the legacyof residential schools.

“We get funding cutbacks everytime we turn around,” she said,leaving a void of services andprograms. People suffering joblosses will not have any place toturn for help.

“We are trying to generaterevenue for our community,” Hillsaid, “and now they want a pieceof that.”

The propaganda being spreadby the government, Hill said, isthat organized crime is involvedin the tobacco trade.

“They’re trying to paint ourpeople as terrorists,” Hill said.“We’re not terrorists. We’re justfamilies trying to look after ourpeople.”

Bill attacks ‘mom and pop’ businesses on reserve

(See Bill on page 13.)Chief Ava Hill of Six Nations of the Grand River at the pressconference on Bill C-10 in Toronto, June 10.


P a g e [ 9 ]July 2014

[ news ]

Windspeaker News BriefsThe youth of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug are again inviting“ordinary Canadians” to live in their homes,share their lives and explore their community. They will be openingtheir homes to 50 Canadians from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7 at a cost of$2,900 each for the all-inclusive experience. Most Canadiansknow more about Third World living conditions around the globethan those plaguing First Nations communities across the country,reads a press release. Lack of awareness fosters racism andperpetuates Canada’s ongoing social injustices which deepensthe divide between Canadians and Indigenous people.Kitchenuhymaykoosib Inninuwug youth want to change that. Theinvitation follows on the success of last year’s June ReconciliationEvent in which 43 Canadians took up the chance to share thedaily lives of the youth, see their connection to the land, theircommunity spirit, their sense of humor and their way of life. “Wewant them to see our living conditions and the hope we still have,”said Youth Leader Justin Beardy. Those interested in joining thetrip can sign up by visiting the website www.thirdworldcanada.ca/ki2014, or by contacting the group by Facebook 3rdWorldCanadaor by Twitter @3rdWorldCanada. This project is sponsoredd bythe Ontario Trillium Foundation, community advocate Josh Hellyer,the MichaÎlle Jean Foundation and Productions Cazabon.

Chester Nez, 93, the last of the original Navajo Code Talkers, Second World War heroes brought to the world’s attention bythe Adam Beach movie Windtalkers, died June 4 in Albuquerque.Nez was one of 29 men who created a code from the Navajolanguage that allowed for information to be transmitted withoutJapanese deciphering the messages. His family said he died ofkidney failure. He was a member of the all-Navajo 382nd MarinePlatoon.

Four Alberta First Nations are taking the federal governmentto court to get their drinking water problems resolved.Chief Jim Badger of the Sucker Creek First Nation said the nationjust wants equality. Tsuu T’ina, Ermineskin, Sucker Creek andBlood First Nations hope to force Ottawa to upgrade their watersystems, provide support to keep them operational and to refundmoney the bands say the government has saved by not doing so.“Canada has avoided significant expenditures on account of itsbreaches of fiduciary duty and the obligations imposed by thehonour of the Crown,” said a statement of claim. “Canada shouldtherefore be required to disgorge the benefits it has received as aresult of its misconduct.” It is estimated the cost to bring thereserves’ water facilities up to federal standards is about $1.2billion, with another $470 million a year for maintenance.

Jennifer Campeau became the first First Nations womanto be appointed to a Cabinet post in the Saskatchewan Party’shistory. On June 5, Campeau was shuffled into the roles of Ministerof Central Services and Minister responsible for SaskatchewanTransportation Corporation. The appointment is a first for the partyand only the second time in provincial history. “I am very honouredto have this position and I’m committing to working hard as usual,”Campeau said. “It’s huge. First of all I didn’t think I was going toget to this point this quickly because I have only been an MLA fora little more than two years and definitely those two years havebeen a learning curve.” Campeau is a member of the Yellow QuillFirst Nation.

Aroland First Nation in Northern Ontario is opposedto a proposal by Premier Gold to construct an open pit mine nearGeraldton. “My First Nation is generally supportive of sustainablemining development,” said Chief Sonny Gagnon. “Premier Goldwants to destroy Begooch Zaagaigan, a lake that supports ourAboriginal fishery. They just put a number on this lake — A-322— and tell us they’re going to fill it in with mine waste.” The ventureis known as the Hardrock project. It would be located about 275kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. An environmentalassessment is currently underway and permitting processes,which began with a submission to the Canadian EnvironmentalAssessment Agency on April 28.

Timiskaming First Nation said it wants to restore the moosepopulation in its territory—about 3400 square km straddling the Ontario/Quebec border—to a healthy size. A Ministry of Natural Resources moosepopulation survey resulted in a dramatic decrease in the numberof moose tags assigned from 457 to 30 for the 2014 huntingseason. “TFN is very concerned about the moose population inTimiskaming,” said Chief Terence McBride, “and while weunderstand people might be frustrated with the situation, it isunfortunate that some have suggested that First Nations huntingmight be responsible for this decline. If we are to help the moosepopulation it is imperative that we identify the real causes, whichare likely complex and varied, and not resort to unfoundedaccusations.” McBride has heard information from the MNR anddiscussed a number of potential causes, including the impact ofthe winter tick and climate change, and believes building a workingrelationship with the MNR is a good step toward the communityplaying a role in returning moose populations to healthy levels.

Danger to men and boysgoes unacknowledged

By Shari NarineWindspeaker Contributor

EDMONTON

It has taken seven years, butLucas Degerness’ father has finallyacknowledged his son’sdisappearance.

On Luke’s 21st birthday thisJanuary, his father posted a“happy birthday” message onFacebook and added, “Don’t youthink it’s time to come home?”

This reluctance to look at Luke’sdisappearance as more than a caseof “boys-being-boys” or malesbeing capable of taking care ofthemselves, are two reasons, saysLuke’s mother Gina, why missingAboriginal boys and men do notget the attention they deserve.

“I have found that there isn’t alot of awareness of our missingmen and boys,” said Gina.

Luke disappeared from hisPrince George school June 7,2007 when he was 14 years old.Gina had taken him to schoolthat day to talk to the vice-principal. As Gina was finishingoff her discussion, Luke wasdirected to go back to class. Henever arrived.

The day after Luke’sdisappearance, Gina contactedthe RCMP. Luke was spotted inPrince George a number of timesin the first week, but after that,nothing for years. Gina did notremain idle. She contactedorganizations that dealt withmissing children in Canada, theUnited States and around theworld, and got Luke’s particularsout there.

She used social mediaextensively. Five years after hisdisappearance, she received ahandful of tips that Luke hadbeen spotted in East Vancouver.She made the trip there, spoke topeople and determined that whilethere was a Luke there, it wasn’ther Luke.

But then in April 2014MissingKids.ca received a phonecall from a young man claiming

to be Luke Degerness.MissingKids.ca contacted theRCMP and the RCMP calledGina.

“We’re 95 per cent sure it washim,” said Gina. “It was sorandom the timing of this … thatI really truly believe there is agood chance it was him. I don’tknow why after all this timesomeone would do that as aprank.”

Determining where the phonecall came from was impossible.Gina believes her son issomewhere along the west coast.

Degerness’ tale is just one ofmany heartbreaking stories ofmissing boys.

Statistics gathered by SixNations member and Two RowTimes journalist Jen Mt. Pleasantpaint a startling picture. Usingsocial media, websites such asMissingKids.ca andAlbertamissingpersons.ca, andelectronically archived newspaperarticles, Mt. Pleasant has counted650 murdered and missingAboriginal men and boys sincethe 1950s.

“I’m shocked somebody hasn’tdone this kind of research before,”said Mt. Pleasant, who plans toput her information on a databaseonce she is finished.

But as high as the numbers arenow, Mt. Pleasant is certain shehas missed some men in hercount as not every newspaperarticle noted if the missing ormurdered man was Aboriginal.

Mt. Pleasant’s interest waspiqued on the subject when, inthe third year of her criminologydegree from Wilfred LaurierUniversity, she undertookresearch on Aboriginal womenand girls who were involved in thesex trade. In this research, shecame across a large number ofAboriginal males.

Missing and murderedAboriginal males were includedthis year when Danielle Boudreauorganized her ninth annualMemorial March on Feb. 14 inEdmonton.

“A lot of times, over the years,I heard in an offhand sort of way,‘What about our men?’” saidBoudreau.

She was approached bysomeone who wanted to includemurdered and missing Aboriginalmen and boys in the march andshe decided it was a good idea.

Boudreau says she is notsurprised that the alarm has notbeen sounded on the dangersfaced by Aboriginal males.

“Society seems to blameAboriginal men for everything,”she said.

“There’s not a lot ofcompassion for Aboriginal boysand men,” said Gina. “There’sgetting to be more.”

Boudreau adds that Aboriginalmen are starting to stand up andtalk about being victims.

In a concrete move to recognizethat Aboriginal men and boyshave been victims, The CreatingHope Society and Stolen SistersAwareness Movement joinedforces to host its first annualNapekasowiyinaw Walk onFathers’ Day in Edmonton.

The Warriors Walk recognizedboth the traditional role of menin society, as well as honoured andcommemorated the missing andmurdered men and boys.

“I think this is a good firststep,” said April Eve Wiberg, withthe Stolen Sisters AwarenessMovement. “This is definitely anissue that speaks to the larger issueof our missing, murderedAboriginal people.”

Wiberg believes the Edmontonwalk is the first across the countryheld for missing and murderAboriginal boys and men.

Gina was one of a handful offamily members, as well asadvocates and communityleaders, to speak at the Fathers’Day rally.

“I’m glad it’s happening. Thisis one more way to raiseawareness,” said Gina. “Forfamilies like myself, it’s one moreway we can feel that we’re doingsomething.”

PHOTO: SHARI NARINE

At a 2012 commemorative event in Edmonton geared toward murdered and missing Aboriginalwomen and girls, Gina Degerness spoke about her missing son Lucas Degerness. She receivedsupport from Stolen Sisters Awareness Movement members (from left) Tanya Stonechild, DanielleVoyageur and April Eve Wiberg.

July 2014P a g e [ 10 ]

Haisla Nation Chief CouncillorEllis Ross and Kitimat MayorJoanne Monaghan celebrateda recent land sale as a stepforward for the Kitimat region,the Haisla Nation and theprovince.

The sale of the former Districtof Kitimat hospital lands by theProvince to the Haisla Nationsignificantly enhances therelationship between the threegovernments, and will enablenew economic developmentopportunities for the Haisla andthe Kitimat community, reads agovernment press release. Thepurchase was celebrated in aceremony held at the formerhospital site June 17. “Today’sagreement returns a key pieceof Haisla traditional territory tothe hands of the Haisla people,”said Chief Ross. “It is our intentto develop this land for thebenefit of everyone in theKitimat Valley—Haisla and non-Haisla alike. We thank theprovincial government for itswillingness to include us in thesenegotiations and the District ofKitimat for its commitment toreach an agreement.”

British Columbia is home to203 unique First Nations and34 languages with 61 dialects

and is known as a “hot spot” bylanguage experts, an epicentreof staggering linguistic diversity.The Royal BC Museum and theFirst Peoples’ Cultural Councilcelebrate this fact with a featureexhibition, Our LivingLanguages: First Peoples’Voices in BC, opening on June21 for a three-year engagement.Learn how to greet someone inan indigenous language. Learnabout the history of languagedisruption and resurgence inBC’s First Nations communities.Experience first-hand theground-breaking technologiesand strategies First Nationscommunities are using torevitalize their languages. Seethree original artworkscommissioned specifically forthis exhibition by renowned BCFirst Nations artists FrancisDick, Jaalen Edenshaw andDebra Sparrow.

On June 5, the Federal Courtof Appeal dismissed Canada’schallenge of a decisionby the Specific Claims Tribunalthat the Kitselas First Nation hadvalidly established that theCrown breached its legalobligation as a result of the non-inclusion of a 10.5 acre parcelof land in a reserve initially

identified in 1891. Canadaapplied for the judicial review onMarch 21, 2013 when theTribunal issued a decision infavour of the Kitselas. TheFederal Court of Appeal held thehearings April 7 and April 8.Canada has twice now called forjudicial reviews of decisions bythe Specific Claims Tribunal.Canada also applied for ajudicial review of the WilliamsLake Band Tribunal decision. Ajudicial review undermines therole of the Specific ClaimsTribunal and puts First Nationsat a disadvantage as there is nofunding to reply to a judicialreview or the lengthy courtprocess that can result, said theAssembly of First Nations in apress release. “We congratulatethe Kitselas First Nation for theirpersistence in standing up fortheir rights and, in so doing,ensuring Canada respects andupholds the rights of all FirstNations,” said AFN RegionalChief for British Columbia JodyWilson-Raybould. “This rulingonce again affirms thatdecisions by the Specific ClaimsTribunal are fair andtransparent.”

The Nak’azdli Band at Fort St.James celebrated

the completion of the Nak’al Bun(K-7) Elementary School June13. About 150 students fromkindergarten to Grade 7 willhave access to a school thatfeatures a dedicated culturalroom, an industrial kitchen andeducational garden filled withtraditional medicinal plants.Investments also modernize thefacility through sustainabletechnology, such as geothermalheating and a natural airexchange to ventilate theschool. The Nak’azdli Band has720 on-reserve members. “FirstNations students deserveaccess to quality education andtoday’s announcement is a cleardemonstration of what can beachieved by working together,”said Aboriginal Affairs MinisterBernard Valcourt. “The future ofour Nation lies with theeducation of our children,” saidChief Fred Sam.

The First Nations PanoramaImplementation Project teamin BC has won a nationaleHealth award for ground-breaking work creating newpathways to technology andaccess to better health servicesfor First Nations in the province.The Innovation in Adoption ofHealth Informatics award wasgiven to the Panorama team at

the 2014 COACH eHealthConference Informatics AwardsGala. BC First Nations HealthService Organizations involvedin Panorama are the first inCanada to access First Nations-specific reporting software, andprovincially-aligned datanetworks that offer significanttime-savings for health staff,eliminating barriers to care.Prior to the Panoramaimplementation, patients facedtreatment delays while clinicianswaited for test results and datato arrive. Health care providersusing Panorama now haveaccess and use of the right clientinformation when they need it,creating a far more effectivecircle-of-care model.“Panorama will allow healthprofessionals in BC and acrossthe country to better detect earlysigns of outbreaks by enablingsharing vital informationbetween different public health-related services providers,” saidDr. Perry Kendall, BC ProvincialHealth Officer.“The First Nations HealthAuthority is doing great workmoving forward with bridging thegaps in service delivery so thatall public health professionals –regardless of who they serve –get access to the sameinformation at the same time.”

P a g e [ 11 ]July 2014

Natural Resources MinisterGreg Rickford said the NEB “209conditions” from last Decemberwould need to be met before theproject is built, but the rulingrepresented a major hurdle thecompany has now passed.

“Consultations with Aboriginalcommunities are required undermany of the 209 conditions thathave been established and as partof the process for regulatoryauthorizations and permits,”Rickford said, according to agovernment statement. “Theproponent clearly has more workto do in order to fulfill the publiccommitment it has made toengage with Aboriginal groupsand local communities along theroute.”

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip,president of the UBCIC, told aprotest in Vancouver the night ofthe decision that B.C. is unitedin opposing the project —because it threatens bothIndigenous people and non-Natives.

“The Harper government hasdeclared war on the rights andinterests of Indigenous peoples,”he said. “The Harper governmenthas declared war on all the naturalvalues and interests of BritishColumbians who have investedcountless generations of hardwork to create businesses that

depend on the beauty of thisprovince in terms of tourism,commercial fisheries, recreationaland sports fisheries – everythingthat depends on the pristinebeauty that makes this the mostbeautiful place in the entire worldto live.”

Phillip said he and many othersare prepared to go to jail in civildisobedience against the pipelinebeing built.

Enbridge CEO Al Monacorepeated the company’s unprovenclaim it has the backing of 26 outof 40 First Nations along thepipeline’s proposed route —representing the majority of theroute’s Aboriginal population.But Native leaders dispute thatfigure and have called onEnbridge to release their names.

Monaco said the courts are notthe company’s preference foraddressing First Nations concerns.

“We’d certainly prefer tocontinue the dialogue in order tomove forward rather than goingthrough the legal process,” he toldreporters in a teleconference. “Butwe recognize that others may havedifferent views on that — we’renot naive, we are prepared for thateventuality.

“(However) this is notnecessarily an endless process assome are suggesting. There is adefinitive process for federal courtmatters, so I think there’s adefinitive timeline in that thiswon’t go on forever in terms ofendless legal battles.”

He said that regardless ofpending lawsuits, the company’sefforts to win support fromIndigenous communities wouldincrease over the next year and hewas confident their concernswould be addressed.

Marching in rush hour trafficin downtown Vancouver the nightof the federal decision, HaidaElder Lois Rullin said thecompany’s efforts would never

succeed in wooing Indigenouspeoples because the risk of an oilspill or pipeline accident wassimply too great.

“Harper is only protecting 30per cent of the rivers and streamsin Canada, and if we don’t protectthe ones here in B.C., we’re notgoing to have any fish,” she said.“We need that fish, we need thewildlife, and we can’t keepdestroying our land.”

Enbridge approval ‘declared war’ on Indigenous rights( Continued from page 7.)



July 2014P a g e [ 12 ]

Métis youth embark on 2,000-km canoe trip

Eight young Métis fromacross Ontario left May 26 fromMooney’s Bay Park Harbour inOttawa on a 90-day 2,000-kmcanoe trip that takes them toThunder Bay. The youth, whoare either attending post-secondary institutions in the fallor recent graduates, will bevisiting Métis communitiesthroughout, promoting Métisculture and heritage. “This is aunique summer job opportunitythe MNO is providing,” saidMNO President Gary Lipinski atthe launch. “These youngpeople will learn valuable skillsthat will help them throughouttheir lives, experience the life ofa Métis voyageur and at thesame time will teach peopleacross the province about Métisheritage, culture and ourcontributions to Canada.”

MNO intervener in GrassyNarrows First Nation appeal

Métis lawyer Jason Maddenrepresented the Métis Nation ofOntario, which was grantedintervener status for the appealon Treaty 3 harvesting rightsheard by the Supreme Court of

Canada May 15 in Ottawa. Theappeal, Keewatin et al. v.Ontario, has been advanced byGrassy Narrows First Nation formore than five years. The caseis about the Treaty 3 harvestingclause and Canada’s ongoingrole in ensuring theseharvesting rights are protectedwhen lands are “taken up” inTreaty 3 territory. At trial, theOntario Court of Justice heldthat Ontario did not have theconstitutional authority to “takeup” lands in the Keewatin areaof Treaty 3 because of thepromise in the Treaty that onlyCanada could grant theseauthorizations. The OntarioCourt of Appeal overturned thelower court decision and GrassyNarrows was granted leave toappeal to the Supreme Court ofCanada. Earlier this year, MNOfiled written arguments insupport of Grassy Narrowappeal. MNO is interveningbecause Treaty 3 is unique inthe history of Crown- Métisrelations as the only historicTreaty negotiated with FirstNations where Métis as adistinct Aboriginal groupcollectively adhered to a treaty.

Monument to recognize First

Nations’ role with LauraSecord

St. Catharines city councilhas given direction for amonument to celebrate the

pivotal role played by FirstNations’ people in LauraSecord’s heroic trek. TheFriends of Laura Secord areplanning to create a “living stonehearth monument” near theplace where Secord would haveemerged from the woods afterscrambling up the NiagaraEscarpment and was met by aFirst Nations encampment, saidCaroline McCormick, a directdescendent of Secord. Theensuing invasion by Americanforces, which happened twodays later, was successfullydefeated thanks to First Nationspeople. The memorial, which isproposed to be located on landcurrently owned by NiagaraRegion, would be adjacent tothe Laura Secord Legacy Trail,on the edge of DeCew’s Field,which is where Secord wouldhave met the people in theencampment. Visitors will beasked to add a pebble or stoneto the monument “as a symbolicgift and acknowledgement offriendship between FirstNations and the settlers,”McCormick said.

Auditions held for Fire SongAboriginal actors were given

the opportunity in early June totry out for Fire Song, a filmwritten by Adam Garnet Jones,a Cree and MÈtis filmmakerbased out of Toronto. Auditionsfor a variety of roles, both menand women and all ages, wereheld in Wabigoon Lake, FortWilliam First Nation andThunder Bay. About four yearsin the works, Fire Song followsShane, an academicallysuccessful youth from anorthern Ontario reserve who isconflicted on whether to pursuehis post-secondary education inthe city or stay behind andsupport his family, which hadbeen recently impacted bysuicide. Jones said the storywas inspired by his ownexperiences as well as what helearned from working with manyNative youth living in urbanareas. Shooting is planned onlocation in Wabigoon Lake andFort William First Nation.

Compiled by Shari Narine

Métis youth, dressed in authentic Métis clothing from the fur trade era, set out from Ottawa toThunder Bay on the Métis Nation of Ontario Canoe Expedition.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MNO

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P a g e [ 13 ]July 2014

Christine Green is a memberof the Haudenosaunee TradeCollective, a newly-formedcooperative whose goal is toprovide education andinformation about the potentialeffects of Bill C-10 on FirstNations communities. Green isa tobacco grower.

“We’re very troubled by theirresponsible and offensivecomments that the governmentcontinues to make aboutAboriginal people,” Green said,“that we’re creating unsafeenvironments for our people. Wechallenge that because we don’tdeal in drugs or weapons, we’renot human trafficking. Those arethe types of things they’re sayingabout us. It’s 100 per cent nottrue. We don’t want those thingsin our communities either.”

Green said the tobaccobusinesses are “truly mom andpop operations” that employ 20per cent of the working agepopulation of Six Nations. Otherbusinesses are growing because of

the employment and the successof the tobacco industry. She alsosaid the Collective estimates theyhave given at least $2 millionback to the community forprograms and people in need.

“We’re not all about these badthings that everybody likes topaint Native people with,” Greensaid. “We’re not bad. We aregood people, working with goodminds and we’re working to tryand support our economy andour community as best we can.”

During the discussion in thechiefs’ meeting leading up to thepress conference, Grand ChiefMike Mitchell said Akwesasne isnegotiating with the Ontariogovernment on a pilot projectwith regard to the tobaccoindustry. Jurisdictional issues,regulatory systems and sharing oftax revenues are being discussed,he said. Akwesasne has beenlicensing tobacco manufacturersfor about the past 20 years andhas the regulatory systems inplace, he said.

Ontario wants a piece of the

revenue too, Mitchell said, and,“what we offered them was thatthe revenues would stay in thecommunity.” Akwesasne wantsto reinvest the revenues intoother forms of economicdevelopment, taking advantageof the community’s location onthe St. Lawrence River to developa tourism industry. Thediscussions are ongoing.

Chief Hill said Six Nations hasthe capability to regulate thetobacco industry in theircommunity and this issomething they are looking at. Inthe meantime, Six Nations willcontinue to lobby with theSenate for hearings on the Billand is mounting a publicrelations campaign to ensure theCanadian public is fully aware ofthe potential impacts of the Bill.

“It’s going to affect theeconomy of the municipalitiesthat are surrounding ourreserves,” Hill said, “because a lotof our people spend a lot ofmoney off-reserve in thesurrounding communities.”

Christine Green of the Haudenosaunee Trade Collective at thepress conference on Bill C-10 in Toronto, June 10.

Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy at press conference on BillC-10, Toronto, June 10.



(Continued from page 8.)

Bill attacks ‘mom and pop’ businesses on reserve

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July 2014P a g e [ 14 ]

Health WatchCompiled by Shari Narine

Girl decides to tackle leukemia through traditional therapyThe decision by Makayla Sault, 10, to discontinue

chemotherapy and instead use traditional medicine to treather leukemia raises a number of legal concerns, includingthe complexity of Canada’s child welfare laws. There havebeen questions about whether Makayla received specialtreatment from the Children’s Aid Society because she is FirstNations. Kenn Richard, the executive director of Native Childand Family Services of Toronto, says a Children’s Aid Societyis legally required to consider a First Nation child’s backgroundand culture and to involve a child’s band in an investigation.He says that special consideration ensures the troubled historyof First Nations children in care is not repeated. In Makayla’scase, her band council was supportive of the family’s decisionto discontinue treatment. Also of note is that there is nominimum age of consent in Ontario for medical treatment fora person deemed capable. Makayla is a member of the NewCredit First Nation. She was diagnosed with leukemia inJanuary and was travelling from home to Hamilton fortreatment.

Conference on women, child mortality raises questionsCanada hosted the Saving Every Woman, Every Child:

Within Arm’s Reach Summit in Toronto late in May. During theconference Prime Minister Stephen Harper announcedCanada’s renewed resolve to galvanize global action towardsaving the lives of millions of mothers, newborns and childrenin some of the world’s poorest countries. Since Canadabrought the issue to world attention in 2010, progress hasbeen made with maternal mortality rates declining and millionsmore children now celebrating their fifth birthday. WhileCanada committed to the goal by working with other-countrypartners, experts have raised questions about Canada’s owninfant-health issues on First Nations reserves. One in fourchildren on Canada’s First Nations reserves lives in poverty.Dr. Janet Smylie, a family physician and research scientist atSt. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, said First Nations infants’mortality rate is twice as high as the rest of Canada and fourtimes higher for Inuit infants. “If we can’t take care of our ownissues domestically, I don’t know what we can dointernationally,” Smylie said in an interview with CTV News.

Report provides inaccurate picture of TBA provincial report on tuberculosis and its impact on First

Nations has been met with criticism by the Assembly ofManitoba Chiefs. Grand Chief Derek Nepinak wrote to HealthMinister Erin Selby asking her to retract the report, which hassince been removed from the provincial website, and to workwith the AMC on more accurate statistics and a more completepicture of recent research showing the significant effect povertyand poor housing have on tuberculosis transmission. Thereport undercounted First Nations people by roughly 50,000,which skewed the data and minimized the disease rate, aswell as glossing over research showing the effect of poorhousing, lack of modern sanitation, poverty and unemploymenton TB rates. Data was collected from 2000 to 2012.

Alcoholism about social conditions, not geneticsDr. Joel Kettner, an associate professor at the University

of Manitoba’s faculty of medicine and the province’s formerchief public health officer, says studies show alcoholism inAboriginal people is about social conditions, such as poverty,not genetics. A Manitoba fishing lodge recently sparkedcontroversy when one of its brochures advised clients againstgiving First Nations guides alcohol because they have a “basicintolerance for alcohol.” The owner of Laurie River Lodge hasapologized and removed the brochure from its website. Kettnersays there have been studies examining differences in alcoholtolerance for different ethnic groups, taking into accountcultural, geographic and racial factors. But when it comes topossible predisposition for alcoholism, “what those really boildown to, in almost all scientific analysis, is the socialcircumstances and social conditions — whether experienceswith family, community or at a larger level, in society,” he said.Kettner adds that the persistence of the genetic stereotype isevidence that more work has to be done to combat racism,including addressing educational, social and political issues.

Project funding to address violence against womenFive projects in the Yukon are sharing $200,000 through

the Prevention of Violence against Aboriginal Women Fund.“Supporting culturally relevant initiatives designed anddeveloped by and for Aboriginal women is a key strategy inworking to address disproportionate levels of violenceexperienced by Aboriginal women in Yukon,” said ElaineTaylor, minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate.Receiving one year of funding of $25,000 each are WhitehorseAboriginal Women’s Circle and Vuntut Gwitchin Government;and receiving two years of funding at $50,000 are WhitehorseFood Bank Society, Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation andNorthern Cultural Expressions Society.

[ health ]

By Stefania SecciaWindspeaker Contributor

SQUAMISH NATION

Beverly Jacobs knows what itwould mean to end violenceagainst Aboriginal women, butit’s too late to bring back hermurdered niece.

On June 13, Jacobs was awitness to the signing of amemorandum of understanding(MOU) to end all forms ofviolence against Aboriginalwomen and girls. It was signedby leaders from the provincialgovernment, including PremierChristy Clark, and Aboriginalleadership across BritishColumbia, including the BC-AFN, the First Nations Summitand Metis Nation-BC.

Jacobs, with the EndingViolence Association of B.C., hasworked for years with Indigenouswomen and has heard manystories of violence, trauma, griefand pain.

“It’s all about the healingprocess and those steps that weneed to take,” she said. “We area very resilient people. We arevery strong people. We havesurvived the worst. We have toempower those skills that wehave to every single person in ourcommunity. We all have thatresponsibility.”

The MOU addresses keypriorities, core relationship andimplementation principles,intended outcomes and actionsrequired as outlined by thegovernment and First Nationorganizations following years ofstudies and recommendations.Its intent is to end lateral,domestic and stranger violencecommitted against Aboriginalwomen and girls.

Regional chief of the B.C.Assembly of First Nations, JodyWilson-Raybould, said theMOU signifies the tireless workdone by women across thecountry to raise awareness aboutviolence against women in theAboriginal community.

“We’ll start as of today,” shesaid. “Concrete andcomprehensive and inclusiveaction wherein we all as leadersand citizens take steps to ensurethis is the first day that we willnot ignore the voices of ourwomen and girls across thecountry.”

Wilson-Raybould noted theMOU would also aid inovercoming the long “shadow ofthe colonial legacy,” as theprovince and First Nationcommunities workedcollaboratively to identify thisissue.

“We will recognize and addressthe root causes of violence againstwomen and girls and recognizethose root causes being poverty,inequality and marginalization,”she said. “This is the start ofsomething impactful and thestart of something that we, asFirst Nations, as a province, and

B.C. and Native leadersshoulder the hard work ofending violence

as a country say ‘Enough isenough.’”

A necessary step in combatingthe impact of domestic violenceis talking about it in public andproviding an accessible way out,said Premier Clark.

“Domestic violence issomething that happens almostalways. It is hidden. It is a crimethat its perpetrators make sure wenever see,” she said. “Victims livewith shame. They live with guilt.They live with the fear that if theyspeak out it will only get worse.”

At the meeting that drew acrowd of hundreds, Hugh Braker,chief councillor of the TseshahtFirst Nation, said he was proudto see chiefs across the provincecome together with a sharedcommitment with thegovernment to end violenceagainst Aboriginal women andgirls.

BC Premier Christy Clark addresses chiefs at the First Nations Summit after signing an MOUcommitting to work to end violence against Aboriginal women and girls.

Premier Christy Clark adds her name to a banner stating acommitment to end violence against Aboriginal women andgirls.

PHOTOS: STEFANIA SECCIA

( See Ending on page 19.)

P a g e [ 15 ]July 2014

[ sports ]

By Sam LaskarisWindspeaker Contributor

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C.

Though she still only has alimited amount of field lacrosseexperience, an Aboriginal teenfrom British Columbia will soonby heading to the U.S. on alucrative scholarship.

Selena Lasota, an 18-year-oldwho lives in Campbell River andis a member of the Katzie FirstNation, accepted a fullscholarship offer from Illinois’Northwestern UniversityWildcats.

The full scholarship offermeans all of her tuition,residence and food expenses willbe covered. For a non-U.S.student, that could be in theneighbourhood of $50,000 ofexpenses per year.

Lasota, a box lacrosse veteran,caught the attention of aNorthwestern coach while shewas playing in her very first fieldlacrosse tournament. That eventwas held in Naples, Florida.

“We played five games and Iscored about 15 goals,” saidLasota, who was playing forTeam B.C., a female fieldlacrosse travel squad that alsoparticipated at a tournament inPalm Springs, Calif.

Lasota was asked to contactNorthwestern officials upon herreturn to Canada following theNaples tournament. Soonthereafter she was offered a fullscholarship, a deal she acceptedthis past November.

Though field lacrosse is playedon the size of a football field,Lasota said it is not a hugeadjustment playing there aftergrowing up playing box lacrossein arenas.

“The game is almost the sameas box lacrosse,” she said. “Youjust have a different stick thatyou need to adapt to.”

Lasota, who will study

Human Development andPsychological Services, will leavefor Northwestern on Sept. 1.

A pair of other schools, OhioState University and Long IslandUniversity, had also expressed aninterest in Lasota.

“Northwestern just clicked forme right away,” she said. “BeforeI committed I didn’t visit theschool. But they were alwaysvery thoughtful.”

Before she was asked to get intouch, Lasota admits she hadnever previously heard of theschool, which is located inEvanston, a Chicago suburb.

But the more she discoveredabout the school the more sheloved it.

“I know they’ve got a reallygood lacrosse program,” shesaid. “And I know they’ve wonseven national championships.”

The Wildcats have been anNCAA powerhouse during thepast decade. They won fivestraight national title from2005-09.

Northwestern also capturedback-to-back NCAAchampionships in 2011 and2012.

And during the past two yearsthe Wildcats were semi-finalistsat the national tournament,posting an over-all record of 19-3 last season and a 14-7 recordin 2014.

Lasota started playing boxlacrosse, on boys’ teams, whenshe was about nine years old.

“I stopped playing with theboys in 2012 because I thoughtI’d get hurt,” she said.

For the past two years Lasotahas played for the NanaimoTimbermen, a junior women’s(ages 17-21) team.

Nanaimo coach AndyReynolds was not surprisedNorthwestern was keen onLasota, despite her limited fieldlacrosse experience.

“Her stick skills are out of thisworld for somebody her age,” he

Sports BriefsBy Sam Laskaris

Cup Winners AgainFor the second time in three years Dwight King and Jordan

Nolan managed to capture hockey’s most prestigious trophy.King, a Metis from Meadow Lake, Sask., and Nolan, an Ojibwefrom Ontario’s Garden River First Nation, are members of theLos Angeles Kings.

The Kings captured the Stanley Cup on home ice on June13, with a 3-2 double overtime victory over the New YorkRangers. With the win, Los Angeles won the National HockeyLeague’s best-of-seven championship final series 4-1.

King and Nolan were also on the Kings’ squad that capturedthe franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2012.

As for this season, King, 24, appeared in all 26 of LosAngeles’ playoff contests. He contributed offensively by pickingup 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in those matches.

Nolan, who is also 24, did not have a major role with theteam’s post-season run. He was a healthy scratch for themajority of the playoffs. And he was held pointless in the threegames that he did dress for.

No doubt Nolan, the youngest son of Buffalo Sabres’ headcoach Ted Nolan, would have preferred to have played a biggerrole with the Kings in the playoffs. Two years ago he had playedin all 20 of Los Angeles’ post-season matches.

Nolan also saw his share of action during the regular seasonthis year. He played in 64 regular season games, accumulating10 points (six goals, four assists).

King finished seventh in team scoring this season. Heappeared in 77 regular season matches and was credited with30 points, including 15 goals.

It remains to be seen, however, where King and Nolan willtake the prized trophy this year. As is tradition, each memberof the Stanley Cup winners is allowed to spend one day withthe Stanley Cup during the off-season.

Two years ago, King took the trophy to Meadow Lake, aswell as the nearby Flying Dust First Nation and Bear Lake,the Metis community where his parents live. Nolan broughtthe mug to the Garden River First Nation.

Fundraising On The LinksParticipants are once again being sought for a celebrity

golf tournament that will raise funds for a proposed Aboriginalhockey academy in Alberta.

The fourth annual tournament will be staged on Aug. 11 atthe Heritage Pointe Golf Club in De Winton, located just southof Calgary.

Some of the proceeds from the event will go to GreaterStrides Hockey Academy Foundation. Former NHLer BranttMyhres, who is Metis, is the CEO and president of theacademy. So far it has run hockey training programs andcamps. The academy’s main goal is to have a facility whereAboriginal youth from across the country will attend schooland also enhance their hockey careers.

Numerous former and current pros have attended the golftournament in its previous runnings. A list of celebrities thatwill take part this year had not been released by mid-June.More information, as well as registration details for this year’sevent, can be found at www.greaterstrides.ca

Shooting For A MedalThe Iroquois Nationals will be looking to capture some

hardware at the world men’s field lacrosse championships,which will run July 10 to July 19 in Denver, Colorado.

The Iroquois Nationals are one of a record 38 teams thatwill participate in the world tournament, which is staged everyfour years. But they are one of only six teams that will competein the highest calibre Blue Division. Those in the highestgrouping are eligible for the event’s gold, silver and bronzemedals.

The Blue Division at this year’s tournament will also includethe defending champion United States, as well as Canada,Australia, England and Japan.

The Iroquois Nationals will play their first game on July 11versus England. Though they were considered medalcontenders prior to the event, the Iroquois Nationals did notcompete at the last world championships in 2010 inManchester, England. That’s because of the much publicizedincident in which team members were not allowed to travel ontheir Haudenosaunee passports.

The fallout from that controversy continued to swirl aroundthe team up until last year. That’s because the sport’s worldgoverning body—the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL)—had a bylaw in its constitution which stated teams are rankedfor world championships based on their finish at the previoustournament.

A total of 29 countries had participated at the 2010 tourney.The Iroquois Nationals were originally seeded 30th for thisyear’s event, which would have meant competing against someinferior opponents.

Following appeals, the FIL allowed the Iroquois Nationalsto rejoin the Blue Division.

said. “And with all the movesand dodges she makes, I knowshe’ll do great down there.”

Lasota has only ever seen oneNCAA game live. The Wildcatsflew her and other incomingrookies to their April 26 gameversus the University ofSouthern California Trojans.

Northwestern won thiscontest, which was held atWrigley Field, 12-7.

Lasota is one of 12 new playersthat will be joining the Wildcats.The team had 35 players on itsroster this season.

Lasota is uncertain how muchplaying time she’ll receive in herfreshman season.

“I don’t know what to expect,”she said. “I’m just going to playmy game and see whathappens.”

Reynolds would not besurprised if Lasota does receiveher share of playing time atNorthwestern, as early as herfreshman season.

Though she’s known for heroffensive skills, Reynolds saidLasota also has other qualitiesthat should appeal to theNorthwestern staff.

“She’s actually good at bothends of the field,” he said. “Andher speed has been unmatchedby anybody else in our leaguethis season.”

Lasota has just finished up herhigh school studies at CarihiSecondary School in CampbellRiver. Her school does not havea field lacrosse team, so insteadshe participated in a pair of othersports, soccer and basketball, inher final high school year.

Now that she has a lucrativefield lacrosse scholarship, Lasotaexpects to stop playing boxlacrosse.

“I think this season will be mylast,” she said.

Chances are this will not bethe last time, however, that thelacrosse community hears ofLasota.

Katzie Nation Native headssouth on a scholarship

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Selena Lasota is heading to Northwestern on a full scholarship

July 2014P a g e [ 16 ]

[ education ]Put the children first, says Ontario’s Chief BeardyBy Shari NarineWindspeaker Contributor

WENDAKE

“Almost day in, day out nowfor us these days, educationremains a priority,” said GhislainPicard, spokeperson for theAssembly of First Nations. Picardexpects the subject to be frontand centre when chiefs gather inHalifax in mid-July.

Whether First Nations chiefsare on board with AFN’s May 27resolution to direct the federalgovernment to scrap Bill C-33 orbelieve they can move forwardwith an amended Bill C-33,“we’ve got to put the children

first,” said Siksika Nation ChiefVincent Yellow Horn, who alsoholds the portfolio for educationfor Treaty 7.

Yellow Horn says Siksika is stillconsidering the possibility ofworking with an amended Bill C-33, even though the federalgovernment has stalled the FirstNations Control of First NationsEducation Act.

Re-introducing Bill C-33 isbeing supported bySaskatchewan’s Meadow LakeTribal Council and the BattlefordTribal Chiefs.

“It is time that we get Bill C-33 back on track and roll up oursleeves and get to work ondeveloping a regulatory

framework together, a frameworkthat Minister (Bernard) Valcourtcommitted to developcollaboratively,” said SweetgrassFirst Nation Chief LoriWhitecalf, who also serves aschair of the Battlefords AgencyTribal Chiefs.

Picard said the fact that someFirst Nations are looking atcontinuing with Bill C-33 despitethe AFN’s Chiefs in Assembly’srecent resolution is not aboutdissention but about “diversity.”He also says that the AFN is anadvocacy organization, whichmeans First Nations make theirown decisions.

Ontario Regional Chief StanBeardy agrees with thatassessment.

“What you have is anoverarching set of principlesbased on inherent and treatyrights and depending on wherethose Nations are located, theywork out the logistics and thedetails what is relevant to them,”he said. “First Nations fullyrespect regional diversity andeach First Nations right toexercise jurisdiction over theireducation however they want todo it.”

The AFN will continue tomove ahead with the mandate itwas given at the end of May.

“So what we’re saying is reject,withdraw (Bill C-33) and makethat money available now andnegotiate on some protocol withthe Crown on how this willhappen,” said Beardy. Chiefssaid there was too wide a gapbetween Bill C-33 and the five

conditions established for FirstNations education in Decemberby the AFN.

Chiefs want to see the $1.9billion announced in the 2014federal budget delivered nowalong with the 4.5 per centescalator to close the funding gapbetween on-reserve and off-reserve education.

The AFN is asking thegovernment to establish a newpolitical process.

“We want them to realign,how things should have beendone at the outset,” said Picard.“We want to see that thisgovernment does things the rightway. Failure of that, obviouslypositions will certainly harden.”

While the AFN continues towork at a national level, Picardexpects regional work tocontinue as well. He says anumber of First Nations,including those in BritishColumbia and the Maritimes,already have educationframeworks in place.

“A lot of First Nations are inthe process of being at the tablenegotiating some arrangementon education so the work hasbeen ongoing and the work willcontinue. Some of them havefully developed their educationsystem based on their inherentright. So we have different stagesof development,” said Beardy.

He adds that the AFN is stillnot clear on the federalgovernment’s intentions.

“Minister (Valcourt) said theywere pausing until they heardfrom the AFN. So I’m not sure

exactly what that means. I`m notsure if that means they`re goingto wait until the leadership, AFNNational Chief, is in place or ifthe statement that came out ofthe Chiefs Assembly is adequatefor them to get a sense of wherethe First Nations across Canadastand on this,” he said.

In an email interview withAboriginal Affairs and NorthernDevelopment Canada, thedepartment would not respondto specific questions but offeredonly a statement from AndreaRicher, director ofcommunications for theminister, “As we have said allalong, this legislation will notproceed without the support ofAFN, and we have been clearthat we will not invest newmoney in an education systemthat does not serve the bestinterests of First Nationschildren; funding will onlyfollow real education reforms.”

Since AFN National ChiefShawn Atleo’s resignation May 1,AANDC has had no officialcontact with AFN regarding FirstNations’ education.

“When we look back over 100years we`ve had educationsystems imposed on us. I don`tthink anybody would say in theirright mind that the result of thatwas good for all of usÖ what theChiefs are saying today is that ifwe are going to develop somekind of education system, theFirst Nations have to play a keyrole in developing that system tomake sure it works for them,”said Beardy.

By Shari NarineWindspeaker Contributor

ROLLING HILLS

For Victor Lethbridge, beingshortlisted with authors who havefollowed their writing passion foryears is accomplishment enough.After all, Lethbridge is latecoming to the writing party.

His second book, Little Chiefand the Gifts of Morning Star, wasone of five titles shortlisted for the2014-2015 First NationCommunities Read program,which took submissions ofchildren’s books that encouragedfamily literacy, intergenerationalstorytelling, andintergenerational informationsharing. Winning the FNCRaward was Julie Flett, author-illustrator of Wild Berries andPakwa che Menisu. Flett was alsothe first-time recipient ofPeriodical Marketers of Canada’s

new Aboriginal Literature Award.“I’m a new comer to the literary

world,” said Lethbridge. “For me,my passion for writing came into what more can I do to help myaudience with the issues that I feelare important.”

Lethbridge is a motivationalspeaker in First Nations schools,travelling all over western andnorthern Canada. His secondbook, which is the second in theLittle Chief series, talks about loss.While it focuses on a little girl,whose horse has died, it presentsa universal theme.

“The feedback I got from thestory is that it really gets thereaders thinking and ponderingabout different situations, aboutputting themselves in the positionof the girl or the boy in the book.It’s more of an emotionallycharged situation,” saidLethbridge. “It gets the reader tobe empathetic with others.”

Motivationalspeaker getsnomination forsecond book

Victor Lethbridge delivers a workshop to the elementarystudents at Chief Old Sun School. He uses his writing to helpdelivers his message.

( See Motivational on page 17.)

PHOTO: PROVIDED

P a g e [ 17 ]July 2014

[ careers & training ]Motivational speaker

( Continued from page 16.)FNCR initially considered 40

submissions for the award beforelonglisting to 31 titles from 17publishers. That eventually wasknocked down to five. Along withLethbridge’s and Flett’s works, upfor consideration were TheDiamond Willow Walking Stick: ATraditional Métis Story aboutGenerosity, written and illustratedby Leah Marie Dorion, withMichif translation by NormanFleury; Moccasin Creek writtenand illustrated by Rene AndreMeshake; and, Raven Brings theLight written by Roy HenryVickers and Robert Budd, andillustrated by Roy Henry Vickers.First Nation Communities Readis the Ontario First Nation publiclibrary community’s contributionto the popular readingmovement.

Lethbridge is no stranger toawards. His first book, Little Chiefand Mighty Gopher The PemmicanFrenzy, won the Children’s andYoung Adult Book of the Year atthe 2011 Alberta Book Awards.The positive comments andfeedback he received encouragedLethbridge to launch Little Chiefinto a series.

Recently, Lethbridge

participated in a literacy readevent in Saskatchewan, where hepresented to students. He wasthrilled at their response, notingthat many authors don’t get tohear first-hand how their writingimpacts others.

Gifts of Morning Star, like thefirst book in the series, has FirstNations’ content. It isLethbridge’s way to connect withan audience that is often timesoverlooked. But even more, itallows Lethbridge to teach FirstNations’ history and tie back totraditional ways in anentertaining manner.

Lethbridge’s third book will bea departure from the Little Chiefseries. Entitled You’re Just Right,the book, although it has FirstNations content, is aimed at awider audience, to encourage andaffirm the unique gifts andcharacteristics individuals have.The book takes the reader frominfancy to “being an old person.”Like the Little Chief series, it willbe published by TatankaProductions and it will also beillustrated by Ben Crane,although the pictures won’t becartoonish like Little Chief. You’reJust Right will be going to thepress no later than early June.

Didn't find your ideal career here?Browse through morecareer listings online:

www.ammsa.com

July 2014P a g e [ 18 ]

remained dedicated to his vision

[ footprints ] Lawrence PaulMillbrook chief

“There wouldn’t be anything(in Millbrook First Nation) if itwasn’t for Lawrence’s tenacity togo out front and get thingsdone.”

Daniel Paul’s statement abouthis brother holds true in abroader sense. LongstandingMi’kmaq Chief Lawrence Paul’snegotiations in Nova Scotia withprovincial and federalgovernments were groundbreaking; he went against theflow early on and opened doorsfor 500-plus First Nation bandsacross Canada, as well.

“He had the gift of gab and hehad the ability, perhaps, to use alittle shame on people so theywould come forward and dobetter than what they’d beendoing,” said Daniel, a notedwriter and historian.

“He said ‘let’s work togetherand perhaps all of us can prosperin the long run.’”

In 1984 when his band was $4million in the red, Lawrencestepped in as chief and eliminatedthe debt in two years, initiatinga new program of economicdevelopment. By acknowledginghis band’s inherent strengths, andworking closely with theprevailing economic andgoverning structures of the day,he championed economic successin his community.

Nova Scotia Premier StephenMcNeil said he was a tireless anddedicated leader. His efforts ledLawrence to be named one ofAtlantic Canada’s top 50 CEO’sby Atlantic Business Magazine.

Born in Saint John, N.B. inJuly 1934, the ninth eldest of 14children, Lawrence moved withhis family at the age of eight tothe Indian Brook reserve nearShubenacadie, Nova Scotia.

At that time education wasmostly out of reach andAboriginal people weren’tallowed to vote. The fact hisbrother went on to achieve somuch on behalf of Millbrook isa testament to his ability to seewhat needed to be done and then

By Dianne Meili

Chief Lawrence Paul

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For only $65.00 +gst you would not only help support independentAboriginal communications,

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figure out how best to get thataccomplished, Daniel said.

Lawrence served in the army,worked in fisheries enforcementand as an economic developmentofficer before moving toMillbrook, near Truro, becauseof his marriage to his first wife.

He was elected councillor in1974, serving for four years, andwas elected to council again in1980. Between 1984 and 2012he won 14 consecutive two-yearterms as chief, defeated finally byRobert Gloade.

As early as the 1970s,Lawrence envisioned retailactivity that would make hiscommunity solvent. In the early2000s his council obtained afederal grant and provincialsupport to build a highwayinterchange that connected theMillbrook Reserve to NovaScotia Highway 102. The newexposure ushered indevelopment of the Truro PowerCentre and Millbrook now leasesthe site to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal tenants who run fastfood restaurants, hotels, cinemas,gas stations and other businesses.

A band-owned aquaculturefacility that raises Arctic Char isalso located on the site and a newhousing development wascreated nearby. Millbrook FirstNation partnered otherinvestments under Lawrence’sleadership, including a newbuilding to house a GeneralDynamics helicopter supportfacility on its Cole HarbourReserve, a wind energy project,and a planned deep-water portin Melford, N.S. The band hasdeveloped wharf facilities andmaintains small fishing fleets. Italso operates the GlooscapHeritage Centre and establishedthe large Glooscap statueoverlooking Highway 102.

Former federal fisheriesminister Herb Dhaliwal was oneof more than 200 people whopacked the tiny Sacred HeartCatholic Church in Millbrookafter Lawrence’s death on May

28. Dhaliwal negotiated long andhard with Lawrence to reach afishing deal for the MillbrookFirst Nation, one of dozenshammered out in the wake of the1999 Supreme court of Canadadecision affirming a treaty rightto hunt, fish and gather.

“He was a determined man forthe betterment of his communityand for the betterment of hiscountry,” Dhaliwal said in theHalifax Chronicle Herald News.

Eulogized by niece Violet Paulat his funeral, funeral-goerslearned Lawrence loved JohnnyCash music and chain-smokedwith all the windows rolled up onroad trips.

“One thing he taught me wasnot to carry grudges,” she related.“He could passionately disagreewith someone one day and thenext day embrace that person’sview on a different subject. Ilearned you don’t have to like thepeople you work with. You justhave to get the job done.”

Jack Paul, Lawrence’s eldest

son, quoted in The Truro DailyNews, recalled a time when hisfather may have been consideringa run for the Assembly of FirstNations’ top position.

“I remember him telling methat a national chief one timeover breakfast (during a functionin Halifax) made a remark. Dadtold him ‘you know, if you don’tapologize for your remark, I amgoing to run against you and Iam going to defeat you.’ Well,that national chief made anapology for the remark he made.Dad was like that.”

Family members speculateLawrence would not have madegood on his bid to lead theAssembly because of his fear offlying, wondering how he wouldhave travelled to unendingmeetings with chiefs acrossCanada?

Childhood games were toblame for Lawrence’s disdain forairplanes, according to Daniel.He and his brother were just likeevery other little boy on the

Indian Brook reserve during theSecond World War – alwayspretending they were soldiers.

“Air force pilots were makinglow-level runs Ö they wereflying almost at the tree tops andLawrence made a beeline for thisone tree and climbed way outto the top of it. The airplanealmost came over that tree.

“The tree was swaying backand forth. Lawrence came downmuch faster than he went up,”Daniel said.

After that, Lawrence alwayssaid, “I hate flying.”

Daniel explained his brotherstruggled with dementia for ayear-and-a-half. “It’s so hard onpeople, especially family whoare watching a loved onedeteriorate before their eyes.”

In his life, Lawrence receivednumerous awards and honours,including an Honourary Doctorof Laws from Halifax’s SaintMary’s University.

He was married three timesand had seven children.

P a g e [ 19 ]July 2014

“I wanted to start byreminding everyone that if youlook at the statistics, thismorning, while we’ve beensitting here, somewhere inCanada an Aboriginal womanhas been beaten,” he said. “If youlook at the statistics, in the timethat we have been sitting herethis morning, somewhere inCanada an Aboriginal child hasbeen abused.”

Braker noted that the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations have facedan ongoing struggle for the last25 years since signing their owndeclaration to end violenceagainst women.

“We’re able to look at the chiefsin the room and say, ‘You’ve gota long walk ahead of you,’” headded. “This is not somethingthat a few words one day is goingto cure. This is something that’sgoing to be a lifetime struggle forall Aboriginal people.”

The B.C. government hascommitted $400,000 to theGiving Voice initiative, whichaims to help Aboriginalcommunities speak out and takeaction on the issue of domesticviolence.

In February, the provincialgovernment released theProvincial Domestic ViolencePlan to span over three years. It’sattached $5.5 million to theproject, including $2 million tofund programs for Aboriginalwomen, men and childrenaffected by domestic violence.

Infamous tragedies in B.C.,including the victims of serialkiller Robert Pickton and theTrail of Tears victims in northernB.C., has placed the province inthe dubious position as havingthe most suspicious Aboriginalwomen death cases in Canada,according to the Native Women’sAssociation of Canada. Mostcases involve young womenunder the age of 31.

There are more than 1,100cases of murdered and missingAboriginal women over the lastthree decades in Canada, and225 are still unsolved.

As Wilson-Raybould said: “Wecan do better” by putting actionto words.

“We must do better for ourwomen and girls,” she added. “Ilook forward to the hard workahead.”

Every singleWindspeaker article

ever published (well, almost)since 1983 is now free to search and read

via our online archives exclusively at:www.ammsa.com

Ending violence( Continued from page 14.) Maintaining rooming houses

needs to be a priorityA community forum was held

in May to draft an action plan foraddressing the disappearanceand decline of rooming housesin Winnipeg. A report releasedby the Manitoba ResearchAlliance finds that roominghouses are an important type ofhousing. A focused approachinvolving outreach with tenantsand improving the complexregulatory and policy frameworkis needed to maintain them. Thecost of inaction on roominghouses will be an increase intenant displacement,homelessness and an increasedreliance on the shelter systemand emergency services. TheInstitute of Urban Studies,University of Winnipeg,Canadian Centre for PolicyAlternatives – Manitoba,Manitoba Research Alliance,Spence NeighbourhoodAssociation, West BroadwayCommunity Organization,Resource Assistance for Youth,and the Neighbourhood ChangeResearch Partnership broughttogether more than 80 roominghouse tenants, landlords,community members,government representatives,researchers, service agenciesand students for the discussion.

Sinclair inquest concludesAlmost six years after Brian

Sinclair died in a hospitalemergency waiting room, theinquiry into the circumstancessurrounding that incidentwrapped up in mid-June.However, there has beencriticism and frustration that theinquiry did not delve deeplyenough into why it was assumedthat Sinclair, an Aboriginal manwho was also a double-amputee, was believed to havebeen either a homeless manseeking shelter or a drunk“sleeping it off.” An internalreview found 17 staff memberssaw Sinclair, but no oneassumed he was waiting forcare. Two Aboriginal groups andlawyers representing the familyboycotted part of the inquestbecause Judge Tim Prestonrejected calls to examinewhether systemic racism playeda role in Sinclair’s death. By thetime Sinclair was discoveredlifeless by other patients, rigormortis had set in. The cause ofdeath was a treatable bladderinfection.

Working groups result fromregional roundtable

Manitoba provincial andmunicipal government membersrecently hosted representativesof all three levels of governmentfrom Nunavut in Churchill for theHudson Bay NeighboursRegional Roundtable meeting.“Working together to realize newopportunities to grow theregion’s economy will creategood jobs and better services fornortherners,” said ManitobaAboriginal and Northern AffairsMinister Eric Robinson in apress release. The delegatescreated working groups toinvestigate energy options anda potential winter road fromChurchill. They will report to theregional roundtable at its nextmeeting in Baker Lake in mid-September, which will coincidewith the annual Kivalliq mayorsmeeting. The regionalroundtable is an initiativeinvolving Churchill, Gillam, FoxLake Cree Nation and SayisiDene First Nation in Manitobaand the seven Kivalliq regioncommunities of Nunavut. Theforum provides an opportunityfor members to talk, share bestpractices and promotedevelopments that can createnew jobs and opportunities tobenefit the north.

Aboriginal Music Programmarks 10 years

Manitoba Music iscelebrating the 10th anniversaryof its most acclaimed initiative,the Aboriginal Music Program.Two free lunch hour concerns atAir Canada Park in Winnipeg willbe held on June 25 with MÈtisfiddler Darren Lavallee and thenon July 17 with Aboriginal rockband The Mosquitoz. SinceAMP launched in 2004,groundbreaking projects andservices have been delivered tohelp First Nation, MÈtis, andInuit people develop sustainablecareers in Manitoba’s musicindustry. It is the first and onlyprogram dedicated to Aboriginalmusicians and industry in NorthAmerica. Made possible throughthe support of the federalgovernment, the province,FACTOR, and Manitoba Film &Music, the program is a drivingforce behind a vibrant Aboriginalmusic community in Manitoba.Over the years, AMP haspresented market developmentshowcases of Aboriginal talent

in Manitoba and in key nationaland international industrymarkets. “The Aboriginal MusicProgram has been integral in mygrowth and understanding of themusic industry,” said DonAmero, who has earned awards,including a JUNO, and who nowsits on Manitoba Music’s boardof directors.

Winnipeg school placessecond in nationalentrepreneurship contest

Stars Tutoring, from theChildren of the Earth HighSchool, in Winnipeg, earnedsilver in the BusinessDevelopment Bank of Canada’sfourteenth edition of BDC E-Spirit, a national business plancompetition, open to Aboriginalstudents in grades 10 to 12.Stars Tutoring helps studentssucceed with personalizedtutoring services for clients agedfive to 12. Qualified instructorsfacilitate learning and helpincrease academic performanceby using a variety of tutoringtechniques tailored to eachstudent’s learning style. Tutoringservices cover a wide range ofsubjects. The silver standingwon the school $2,000.“Throughout the 16-weeks ofthe BDC E-Spirit competition,the participants had anopportunity to explore everyfacet of the business planningprocess and discover first-handwhat it takes to launch a newventure,” said Robert Lajoie,national director, AboriginalBanking Unit, in a news release.“We hope this experience hasled students to considerentrepreneurship as a viablecareer choice and that they willcontinue to stay activelyinvolved in their communities.”

First Nations artistrecognized with Winnipegcouncil award

Leonard Sumner, anAnishinabe MC/songwriter andvideographer from LittleSaskatchewan First Nation, wasamong six people to be recentlyrecognized with an award fromthe Winnipeg Arts Council.Sumner took home the $2,500RBC On the Rise Award, whichrecognizes an emergingprofessional artist in anydiscipline. His latest album, RezPoetry, came out in 2013.

Compiled by Shari Narine

Manitoba Pipestone News Briefs

Atleo’s backing of the FirstNations Control of First NationsEducation Act — since put on iceby the government — was a majorfactor in his resignation, and sawhim opposed both within theorganization’s leadership circleand from grassroots advocates.

The AFN has historicallyoscillated between national chiefsseen as having a more conciliatoryor confrontation relationship withthe federal government.Observers have noted that thosewith the latter approach havefaced crippling budget cuts overtime, hampering the assembly’simpact.

Where does Picard sit on thatspectrum?

“I’ve always been one to try toengage governments. In manyways we don’t really have achoice,” he replied. “We simplydon’t control the politicalenvironment as much as wewould like to. But it can’t be doneunder any conditions. Our role isto determine how it happens.

“I’m certainly one who looks atbuilding bridges with thegovernment, but far moreimportant is our relationshipsamongst ourselves.”

Picard spoke last month at theUnited Nations in New York City,following the release of a finalreport from outgoing UN specialrapporteur on Indigenous Rights,James Anaya, who supported callsfor a national inquiry missing andmurdered women.

“More and more, Indigenouspeople will lobby the internationalcommunity to see that our rightsare respected not onlyinternationally but domesticallyas well,” he said. “It’s very sad that

we have to use these forums andlobby the internationalcommunity to denounce thesesituations.”

Originally from the Innucommunity of Pessamit, QuÈbec,on the north short of the St.Lawrence Gulf, Picard worked incommunications in the decadebefore he entered politics,including stints in journalism andco-founding an aboriginal-language community radiostation in 1983.

In 2008, he co-authored aFrench book, the title of whichtranslates as From Kebec toQuébec: Five Centuries ofExchange Between Us. Picard hasbeen regional chief since 1992,and in 2003 was named to theprestigious National Order ofQuébec.

In its June 12 newsletter, theAFN announced it would stillhold its annual general assemblyfrom July 15 to 17 in Halifaxwithout Atleo at the helm.However, chiefs attending aspecial assembly in Ottawafollowing Atleo’s resignationrecommended the National Chiefelections be postponed to fall, andthe organization put out a call fora chief electoral officer on May 27.

That special assembly saw 512participants gather in Ottawa,including 263 chiefs, according tothe bulletin.

The next National Chief will bethe assembly’s 12th since itsinception, but if elected Picardwould be the body’s first Innuleader. The only leader fromQuébec so far was Cree leaderMatthew Coon Come, whoheaded the AFN from 2000 to2003 and remains Grand Chief ofthe Grand Council of the Crees.

Picard in AFN race?( Continued from page 6.)

July 2014P a g e [ 20 ]

Windspeaker July 2014 final

Documents

Transcript of Windspeaker July 2014 final