Windspeaker mar 2014 final

P a g e [ 1 ]March 2014

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Atleo receivespushback on

education agreementPage 9

Regional chiefco-chairs

Liberal convention0

Federal budgetmisses the mark

on Aboriginal needsPage 8

Photo

: B

arb

Nahw

egahbow

Strawberry ceremonyhonours Aboriginal womenThe Toronto march for the missing and murderedAboriginal women on Feb.14.

Please see story on page 11.

March 2014P a g e [ 2 ]

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P a g e [ 3 ]March 2014

ADVERTISINGThe advertising deadline for the

April 2014 issue of Windspeaker isMarch 20, 2014.

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

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Departments

FeaturesFederal budget misses the mark on Aboriginalneeds 8

The 2014 federal budget is a good start forAboriginal peoples, but it’s not enoughaccording to Assembly of First Nations NationalChief Shawn Atleo.

[ 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

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When the long-awaited Elders’ care centre in FortChipewyan, Alta., opens this spring, the MikisewCree First Nation will dedicate it in memory ofWillie Courtoreille. The facility’s family room will benamed after the long-time band councillor, whotalked about his community needing the facility forthe past three decades.

[ rants and raves ] 5

[ drew hayden taylor - column ] 6

[ richard wagamese - column ] 6

[ what's happening ] 7

[ windspeaker briefs ] 9

[ provincial news ] 12 - 18

[ sports ] 19

[ education ] 20

[ careers ] 21

[ health ] 23

[ footprints ] Willie Courtoreille 22

Changes to urban funding concerns Métis 8Some friendship centres still have Native orIndian in their titles, but they have been servingthe entire Aboriginal population in urban centresfor decades. Now with a new agreement signedbetween the federal government and theNational Friendship Association of Canada, thatoverall commitment has been stepped up.

PublisherBert Crowfoot

Editorial 1-780-455-2700

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CirculationJoanne Rediron

AMMSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PresidentNoel McNaughton

Vice President Rose Marie Willier

TreasurerDr. Chester Cunningham

DirectorsJennie CardinalLeona Shandruk

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Atleo receives pushback on educationagreement 9

The First Nations Control of First NationsEducation Act, announced Feb. 7, has notreceived a better reception than its predecessor,the First Nations Education Act, proposed lastOctober.

Regional chief co-chairs Liberal convention 10

Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief JodyWilson-Raybould admits the Liberals still carrysome unfortunate baggage in Indian Country —particularly a bitter taste from Jean Chretien’sWhite Paper in 1969, when he was Indian AffairsMinister — but she maintains that a crucial way tochange the system is still from the inside.

Strawberry ceremony honours Aboriginalwomen 11

About 500 people attended the Feb. 14Strawberry Ceremony held in Toronto to honourthe more than 600 Aboriginal women who aremissing or have died violent deaths, and to seekjustice for the women with calls for a nationalinquiry.

March 2014P a g e [ 4 ]

P a g e [ 5 ]March 2014

[ rants and raves ]Stomp your feet for our youth Chatter

ON FEB. 8, THE KWAKIUTL COMMEMORATED THE 163RDanniversary of its 1851 Douglas Treaty as the First Nationentered into its 12th day of protest against the province of BritishColumbia, Canada and forest companies over the clear-cuttingof cedar trees on lands with exclusive Kwakiutl Aboriginal title,rights and interests, and treaty rights, a press statement reads.“The people of Kwakiutl have been left with no choice but toprotest and stop Canada and B.C. from allowing companies tocut and remove cedar trees from our land,” said Chief CoreenChild of Kwakiutl First Nation. Cedar is vital to the Kwakiutlpeople, contributing to every facet of life—from ceremony tosanctuary, the release states. “As our respected ones taughtus, the trees are the ‘standing people’. They have the sameenergy as a bear, a salmon, a mountain, or a human being.The trees in the forest are like family,” said Tom Child, LandsManager and Band Member of Kwakiutl First Nation. The 1851Treaty with the British Crown stipulates that lands and waterswere to be set-aside for the exclusive use by Kwakiutl tomaintain livelihood “Our people viewed the treaty as vital toprotecting land, water, and a way of life,” said Chief Child. “Buttreaty implementation never happened. It was denied. And byway of denial, natural resource-based industries sprang uparound us and decimated our lands and waters. In June 2013,the BC Supreme Court found that BC and Canada had failedto implement and respect the Kwakiutl Douglas Treaty andchallenged both levels of government to begin honorablenegotiations with the First Nation “without any further litigation,expense or delay.” The press statement said BC has decidedto appeal the decision. Kwakiutl First Nation calls upon thefederal and provincial Crown governments to cease their delaytactics, stop their denial of Aboriginal rights, title and interests,and acknowledge that the Treaty of 1851 exists and needs tobe honored and implemented.

MANITOBA ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW SWAN CRITICIZED Ottawa for cutting front-line policing on the province’s reserves,saying it was part of a federal “line of attack” on First Nationcommunities. A CTV report state the 45-year-old program onFirst Nations policing that works in partnership with the RCMPwill end in just over a year. “This is a continuing line of attackson Aboriginal people by the federal government,” Swan told aprovincial NDP convention on Feb. 9. “The Conservativegovernment tells us they’re about law and order. They may beabout law but they’re sure as hell not about order.” The reportsaid Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney has offered cash toreplace the program, but it would fund only about 15 new RCMPofficers. Swan said they couldn’t cover the same ground asthe constables.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDSHIP CENTRES launched a new web-based resource that assists Aboriginalpeople relocating to urban centres. NewJourneys.ca was twoyears in the making and targets both Aboriginal individuals andservice providers. It includes practical tips and information onissues such as safety planning, registering children for school,and finding employment, housing and other services. It boastsmore than 6,000 resources, programs and services, includinggovernment resources and listings for recreation, cultural,health, education, employment, and childcare programs andservices that are offered in 119 urban centres across Canada.“We know that Aboriginal people move to urban centres for avariety of reasons,” said Jeff Cyr, NAFC’s executive director,in a press statement “They come in search of jobs andeducation opportunities, and in the case of many women andchildren, to escape violent and abusive situations. Researchshows that the success of these individuals and families reliesupon their ability to plan for their new lives while still living intheir home communities. It also shows that early access torelevant programs and services, and making contact withcommunity early on contributes to better long term outcomes.”

INDIGENOUS LUMINARIES WILL GATHER IN WINNIPEG FROMacross the country for the 21st Annual Indspire Awards. Thegala will be held March 21 at Winnipeg’s Centennial ConcertHall. Organizers are expecting 2,000 guests. The show will bebroadcast nationally by media partners Global Television andthe Aboriginal Peoples Television Network at a later date. “Eachyear, we bring together prominent and exciting Indigenousentertainers and presenters to make the evening a worthytribute to all of the award recipients who deserve this nationalrecognition and celebration,” said Roberta Jamieson, presidentand CEO of Indspire. Co-Executive Producer with Jamiesonfor the gala evening is Jennifer Podemski, award-winningactress, director, and producer. Co-host is Tina Keeper, wellknown to audiences for her work on the hit series North of 60.Co-host is Kyle Nobess, a Winnipeg-based actor and presenterwho has co-hosted the Aboriginal Peoples Choice MusicAwards, and has appeared in hit TV shows, including MohawkGirls.

The walls shook with their stomping feet,reads a message from Ontario’s ProvincialAdvocate for Children & Youth. Irwin Elmanwas writing about his experience at a Feathersof Hope Forum last March, where more than100 youth from 62 northern First Nationscommunities had gathered to share theirexperiences of hopelessness and poverty andtalk about the issues affecting their lives. Theytalked about their pain, frustration and anger.And as they spoke their peers watched andlistened closely, encouraging them by stompingtheir feet on the ground when they heard astatement that rang particularly true. Makingnoise where they could to emphasize theimportance of the words.

Well, they’ve been stomping their feetagain, but this time symbolically with therelease of the Feather of Hope: A First NationsYouth Action Plan. Elman said “First Nationschildren and youth want an opportunity tomake things better, not just for themselves,but for the generations of children and youthwho will come after them.” They say they wantbetter than neglect and marginalization, andwhy shouldn’t they have better? Why shouldn’ttheir hopes and dreams be realized?

What are they asking for? Schools, safehousing, clean water, affordable nutritiousfood. That they have to ask for such basicthings should be our embarrassment. What arethey asking us for? Services to deal with theintergenerational trauma of the residentialschool system, healthy adults free ofaddictions, good parents, good leaders andmentors. It’s what we all should be wishing forthem too.

They want to go to school in their owncommunities, so they don’t have to beseparated from their parents to get aneducation, away from all that is familiar tothem; so they don’t become isolated and fallinto that deep well of despair, drug and alcoholaddiction, and suicide.

And they want us to help them achieve it.They are being realistic; they know there

are no simple solutions, but these youngpeople are telling us that standing still on one

spot, paralyzed to the prospect of change, isnot an option. They want action. Change mustbegin to happen, step by step.

They release this report, said Elman, with amixture of hope and trepidation, with a feelingof fear at what may happen to their ideas andthoughts and feelings, sent now out into theworld. They want the adults to take their handsand walk with them, not re-interpret the reportwithout their help. Inclusion is the watch-word.They want to include us, and they wantreciprocity.

“Through writing the action plan, we wantto drive home the point that as young peoplewe want to be respected for our ideas andabilities, to contribute and work with ourleadership, government, communities andallies to create solutions that improve the livesof young people and communities,” reads astatement from the report.

Our young people feel disconnected, fromtheir histories, languages, traditions, identities.So, they are taking it upon themselves to re-connect where they can and have put their bestfoot forward with this plan. It focuses on keyissues, including residential schools, identityand culture, quality education, suicide, sportand recreation, opportunity and leadership,physical and mental health, drugs and alcoholservices, and the funding that all of these thingsrequire to achieve success.

They want a five-year strategy to deal withthese key issues. They set a 60-day timelinefor a number of things to happen, including astatement of support from the province, federalgovernment and treaty leadership and acommitment to create the real change theyenvision. And how could any government denythem?

They want the conversation to continue, andto respect the work these young people havedone, the discussion must not be allowed tosubside. Let’s begin to stomp our own feet insupport of their initiative. If we, as individuals,can do nothing else to contribute, let us insistthat action is taken. Let them have the betterlives they are seeking. There is no good reasonnot to let them have it. Windspeaker

Dear Editor:

Wow, what a day it must have been. We hadclowns coming from the four directions. Somewere dressed up in Kainai traditional attire, somecame to see the buffoonery and the chicanery,while others thought maybe some candy apples,or cotton candy would be served.

What an embarrassment! The main clown(Harper) had a captive audience and nobodycaught on to his act. He announces more monieswould be handed over to support language andcultural retention and support. When he saidthat, he immediately receives not quite astanding ovation, but a big round of applause.

Wow, this is too good to be true. Yep, all FirstNations are going to receive billions of dollars.Yep, billions of dollars. Wow.

This is too good to be true. How can he beso generous? And of all places, right in the heartof our academic community, right in the KainaiHigh School, the very same school Paul Martinwas just at a few weeks ago.

There is, of course, a catch to all this. Thesemega bucks don’t kick in until 2015, and thelanguage and cultural cash comes into effect in2016. A federal election occurs in 2015. He’salready campaigning. Didn’t anyone catch this?Wow.

Atleo, Chief Weaselhead, grand stand ofcourse, endorsing the announcement, statingthat this is a historic day. But didn’t anybody tellthem that they don’t kick in until 2015, and thelanguage and cultural support in 2016?

Harper hoodwinked the reserve again, andto add insult to injury, he does it at an academiccenter where we are supposed to haveacademics there. Nobody questioned it. We evenhad tribal members kicked out for trying to speakout.

Wow, what a sad day. Again, promises,promises, promises. White man with forkedtongue catches Kainai asleep again.

Keith Chiefmoon

Standoff, Alberta

Letter: Circus comes to Kainai High School

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

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March 2014P a g e [ 6 ]

[ strictly speaking ]

Humour is a very serious businessAhneen, sago, tansi…

Namaste!?!?By the time you read this I will

be very far away, deep in India –an Indian amongst Indians youcould say– once again spreadingthe gospel of Native culture.Perhaps I shall be explaining whywild rice is better than basmatirice. Why bannock is better thannaan. Why I prefer a Big Macinstead of a McAlootika burger.(NOTE: Evidently it’s difficult toslaughter and cook beef in acountry where the cow is sacred,so you get a spiced potato pattyat the golden arches instead).

The reason: I have been invitedto a conference in Trivandrumcalled “Humour – text andcontext”. Basically, I am goingto have to explain the Aboriginalsense of humour. In less than anhour. To a bunch of foreignacademics. Now that’s funny!

At the best of times, exploringand explaining humour isdifficult because even whenyou’re successful indeconstructing the topic, thefinal result seldom ends up beingfunny. It’s like that old saying,‘the operation was a success but

the patient died.’ There are somejokes they might get….

Why do Native people hatesnow?

Because it’s white, and all overour land.

… even though in tropicalTrivandrum, there has neverbeen any record of snow, butthere has been, however, ahistorical influx of British andPortuguese colonizers during thelast couple hundred years. Sohopefully, the context willsurvive the explanation.

Still I am a full believer thattrue humour is universal. Whatmakes the ladies sitting on the

reserve, sharing cups of tea at thekitchen table, laugh will nodoubt make the ladies sitting inJaipur having a cup of tea laughalso. Everybody and everyculture has a funny bone. Andwhen it comes to things likehumour, metaphorically, there isno uniquely Native way to boilan egg.

There are cultural differencesand influences that do provide adifferent perspective to some ofthe humour, but essentially,making fun of the governmentor a family member happenseverywhere.

Tricksters are also quite

universal. Many cultures inIndia, Africa, Europe, China etc.have their own variation of ourbeloved Trickster, a characterwho teaches and entertainsthrough mischief. Or at least thespirit of the Trickster.

My girlfriend tells the tale ofgoing to the zoo in Delhi, on aprevious trip to India. She iswalking through the compoundand sees this one enclosure. It’sshaped like a rock cave, withchicken wire all around it,looking quite formidable andholding something dangerous.Curious to see what’s in it, sheapproaches where a crowd ofDelhian Indians were gazing inwonder at the occupant of thecage. A sign on the cage read“North American Raccoon”, andthis very confused raccoon waswalking across the enclosure.

My first time in Indiahappened to coincide with mymother’s birthday. Being a goodson, I managed to find aninternet cafÈ and send her abirthday greeting via my auntwho worked at the band office.I said something like “I am herein exotic India, having a fabulous

time. There are elephants andcamels in the streets, andmonkeys in the trees. It’s quitefabulous. Sorry I am missingyour birthday and I hope youhave a good time.”

Several days later, I got anemail back from my aunt, whowhile also marvelling at myproximity to monkeys, elephantsand camels, told me mother hada very nice birthday. “We tookher to dinner, then we went tothe garbage dump and watchedthe bears.”

As I said, many things are notthat different between cultures,if properly translated through thefunny bone. Of course this is theweirdest time for me to betravelling internationally. I havea friend at the CBC who wastalking to their reporters coveringthe typhoon in the Philippines.It seems these poor, damaged anddesolate Filipinos, when beinginterviewed, commented whenthey found out the reporters werefrom Toronto, “That’s the placewith that funny Mayor, right?”

I hope nobody asks meembarrassing questions aboutNational Chief Shawn Atleo.

THE URBANE INDIAN

Drew Hayden Taylor

By Shari NarineWindspeaker Contributor

REGINA

A TV show that was born at abackyard wiener roast inSaskatchewan is in the process ofbusting out.

“I never expected it to go biglike this. I think the sky’s the limitfor this program. I see this as anational show,” said WadePeterson, communityprogramming manager for AccessCommunications. A secondseason is already in the works.

“The Four,” which has almostreached its midpoint for showsaired, features long-time friendsShauneen Pete, Bevann Fox,Robyn Morin and ShannonFayant, tackling a wide-range oftopics. The women are allAboriginal.

“The concept … was a no-brainer for us,” said Peterson,who received the proposal abouta year ago. “Four educated ladies,well-spoken, who didn’t reallywant to talk about the hot topicissues. They wanted to talk aboutlife.”

“We were having aconversation one evening… andwe started throwing around someideas,” said Pete of how the showwas developed. “We thought ofall the topics we could imagineand I think we came up with 60.Just all those things we end uptalking about anyway when we’revisiting with one another.”

Pete’s partner recorded thediscussion on his cell phone andthe women decided to pitch theconcept as a television show. Fox

began shopping it around,including contacting networks inthe United States. AccessCommunications, which has asits mandate communityprogramming, picked it up.

Twelve one-hour long episodeswere filmed for the first season,with the first episode airing Jan.21.

“We held a premiere viewing… we had over 120 people here.We were really surprised. Wekind of thought 30 or 40 peoplewould show up. There were a

large number of people who wereour colleagues, in ourcommunity and certainly ourfamilies were present, too,” saidPete, who serves as an assistantprofessor in Aboriginal educationat the University of Regina.

The show has garnered interestfrom the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population, womenand men, some from the U.S.and some from other provinces.Responses have been positive andnumerous through social media.

Peterson thinks “The Four” has

caught on because the topics areuniversal. There’s a mix ofhumour and seriousness, thewomen have good chemistry, andthe show is inspirational for allwomen.

“We’re committed to diggingdeeper. We’re really hoping wereach some folks in ourcommunity who might not havestarted to have those deeperconversations about whatmotivates them, or how theyheal, or those kinds of things,”said Pete.

It has been a growingexperience, she says, especiallylearning to balance being whothey are but setting boundaries.

“Our first show was reallyabout fears and our owndiscussion about being ourauthentic selves on camera cameout as part of that discussion,” shesaid. “We set some boundaries,too, so that we aren’t overlyexposed in some ways. We’re stillprofessionals here, we’re mothersand we have families, so we’re stillcautious about our ownboundaries at the same timecommitting to be authentic.”

The women, who range in agefrom their early 30s to their mid-50s, all have been single mothersat one point in their lives, and allhave university degrees. Fox, whois a residential school survivorand in her 50s, just completedher undergraduate degree. Allhave connections in the FortQu’appelle area. Pete is fromLittle Pine First Nation. Fox isoriginally from the Piapot FirstNation and the Pasqua FirstNation. Morin, who is Fox’sdaughter-in-law, and Fayant, are

both Métis.“We’re also very different

personalities in a lot of differentways,” said Pete.

But while they offer varyingperspectives, the one view theyshare is that Aboriginal womenare under-represented when itcomes to leadership roles. Notonly are they showing thatwomen are capable by being ableco-hosts, they show thatleadership is there by showcasingan Elder and interviewing ayoung woman, who balances heruniversity studies with her socialactivism.

“The Four” has gone on theroad to film at powwows, on-reserves, and the First NationsUniversity of Canada, as well asdoing studio segments.

Pete says being in front of acamera is new for all of them.They now have a differentoutlook on the televisionindustry in general andcommunity programming inparticular, being in charge ofputting make-up on their guests,“mic-ing them up and gettingthem ready to go.”

With community television,said Peterson, Pete and her fellowco-hosts/creators “have editorialcontrol, the freedom to explorewhat they need… They shapeand form the show….Ultimately,the content is the heart and soulof what these ladies want to talkabout.”

“It’s exciting to think about asecond season and with thatoriginal list we had of all thetopics, there’s so much more tosay,” said Pete. Season two isscheduled to air January 2015.

Four educated Aboriginal women talk aboutthe deeper issues

Co-hosts of “The Four”: (clockwise from seated) Bevann Fox,Dr. Shauneen Pete, Robyn Morin and Shannon Fayant.

PHOTO: ACCESS COMMUNICATIONS

P a g e [ 7 ]March 2014

[ news ]

By David P. BallWindspeaker Contributor

VANCOUVER

Nearly 50 years after thecollapse of B.C.’s roe herringfishery, five First Nations on theWest Coast of Vancouver Islandhave scored a major court victoryafter they discovered the federalgovernment was set to end aneight-year closure to thecommercial harvest.

On Feb. 21 a federal judgegranted five nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council aninjunction against re-openingthe commercial fishery after aninternal memo revealed thatFisheries Minister Gail Shea hadgone against the advice of herown ministry’s scientists in herpush to open fishing in threeregions.

Herring have been off-limitssince 2006 because of depletedstocks, and Nuu-chah-nulth longargued against commercialfishing because the populationwas still too vulnerable.

Shawn Atleo, National Chiefof the Assembly of First Nations,attended the court hearing inVancouver to show his supportfor the case, and told reportersthat herring stocks shouldcontinue being protected. Hesaid the injunction is the latestin a long chain of First Nationscourt victories that havereminded Canada “that ourrights are real.”

“First Nations up and downthe coast are standing firm intheir resolve to see that thiscommercial harvest not goahead,” Atleo told Windspeakeroutside Vancouver’s federalcourt.

The controversial documentwhich bolstered the case againstthe government was penned bythe Department of Fisheries andOceans’ federal herringcoordinator and signed by theministry’s associate deputy

case said they don’t oppose allherring fisheries, but suggestedthat commercial roe herringcould be opened off the coast ofPrince Rupert or in the Strait ofGeorgia, “where herring stocksare abundant.”

The DFO has come underincreasing scrutiny in recentmonths after scientists’allegations that troves of scientificdata relevant to fisheries andwaterway protection were beingdiscarded and destroyed as thegovernment shutters fisheriesresearch libraries across thecountry.

The government says it ispreserving the data digitally, butwith no public records of whatwas saved or discarded, a numberof researchers have raised alarmsover what they likened to book-burnings.

Commercial herring fisherieshave long been a source oftension in B.C. After thepopulations plummeted in thelate 1960s, the governmentinstituted a three-year banstarting in 1968. But stocksremained unstable and in 2006another halt was imposed on thecommercial fishery.

Nuu-chah-nulth win injunction in herring fishery case

PHOTO: DAVID P. BALLAFN National Chief Shawn Atleo

ministry.Minister Shea signed off on the

document as well – but added inhandwriting: “The ministeragrees to an opening at aconservative 10-per-cent harvestrate for the 2014 fishing season.”

It is not the first time a federalCabinet member has overruledtheir staff at last moment. In2009, disgraced internationaldevelopment minister Bev Odacame under fire for cancelling afunding approval for the churchaid group Kairos — and wasridiculed in Parliament forordering the word “not” to beinterjected into her department’srecommendation.

Shea’s surprise reversal of theherring ban came on Dec. 23,2013, and Nuu-chah-nulthlaunched their lawsuit on Feb. 9.

Tribal Council President DebFoxcroft applauded JudgeLeonard Mandamin’s decision infavour of a continuedcommercial ban, claiming theminister had refused to discussher nation’s conservationconcerns.

“I don’t understand why shedoesn’t understand that ‘nomeans no,’” Foxcroft said. “Wedo not want a commercialherring fishery in our traditionalterritories. She’s not listening toconservation in terms of how theherring affects our salmon and[other] sea life in our traditionalterritories. She’s totally rejectingthat – she’s not listening.”

For Atleo, the case serves as arebuke to the “unilateral”approach to First Nationsterritories, and he called on thegovernment to change coursetowards recognizing tribal self-determination.

“It’s part of a pattern ofunilateral decision-making onthe part of governments, in thiscase the Department of Fisheriesand Oceans,” Atleo said. “Theymust respect the rights of theNuu-chah-nulth, the Haida, andother nations on the West Coast,

and listen to what it is we’resaying: Protect the vulnerablestocks of herring. Let them fullyrecover.

“Our people have been sayingthis for a long time. We areurging the minister to listen,strongly. We should not have torepeatedly go to the courts.”

In a statement, Foxcroft allegedthat Shea’s decision to end thecommercial closure reflects a“short-sighted commercialfishing opportunity demandedby the herring industry.”

The five Nuu-chah-nulthnations which launched the court

March 2014P a g e [ 8 ]

[ news ]


OTTAWA

The 2014 federal budget is agood start for Aboriginal peoples,but it’s not enough.

“First Nations have beenworking to lift the two per centcap since it was brought in backin 1996 and it’s not justeducation, it’s across the fullspectrum,” said Assembly of FirstNations National Chief ShawnAtleo.

But that didn’t happen in thisbudget, although concessionswere made in a number of areas.The budget included continuedfunding for the First NationsWater and Wastewater ActionPlan; $66 million to renewcommercial fishing enterprises inthe Atlantic and Pacific; and atwo-year renewal of $22.2million for the Aboriginal JusticeStrategy.

The budget also includedfunding for Aboriginal Skills andEmployment Training Strategy,and Skills and Partnership Fund,which the Congress of Aboriginal

Peoples called “key programs thatwill … provide training-to-employment opportunities forAboriginal Peoples living off-reserve.”

The budget also commits to$305 million in funding over fiveyears to improve broadband inrural and northern communities,which, as part of thegovernment’s focus on the northwas “both welcome and positive,”said Terry Audla, president of theInuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

Audia said in a news releasethat the ITK would continue towork with the government onaccess to adequate housing. Thatis an area in which the CanadianAssociation of Social Workers hasslammed the government for notdoing enough in this budget.

Funding of $1.7 billion foraffordable housing operatingagreements is set to expire andthis latest budget did not commitmore dollars.

Without this commitment,housing affordability will be lostfor many Canadians, includingseniors, single-parenthouseholds, people withdisabilities, Aboriginal people,

new Canadians and the workingpoor, said the CASW in a newsrelease.

This is “absolutely a concern,”said Atleo, noting that anestimated 130,000 housing unitsare required for First Nations.

“I do think there is a major,major crisis in the area of housingin this country and there has tobe a major response to it thatmatches the depth of the crisis,”said Atleo.

The Native Women’sAssociation of Canada said the“budget does not go far enoughto address violence againstAboriginal women in general” asthere is no commitment toundertake a national publicinquiry. The budget does,however, commit another $25million starting in 2016 toreduce violence againstAboriginal women and girls aswell as commits to creating aDNA database.

“We’re going to keep pressingfor (a full national publiccommission of inquiry),” saidAtleo, who adds that thecontinuation of the all-partycommittee on the issue of

violence against Indigenouswomen and girls is “a welcomereflection that parliament isbeginning to understand howimportant” the situation is.

However, NWAC presidentMichèle Taïna Audette says thereis not enough in the budget forAboriginal women, noting thatonly $150,000 was allocated toStatus of Women Canada in2014–15 to increase mentorshipamong women entrepreneurs.

The government has alsocommitted $40 million to on-reserve emergency management,although the dollars do not comethrough until 2015 and it isunclear as to whether theapproach being entertained bythe federal government is theprovincial/reserve emergencymanagement agreements thatAboriginal Affairs and NorthernDevelopment Canada MinisterBernard Valcourt announced lastNovember. While the additionalfunding is welcomed, Atleo saidthe control needs to be put in thehands of First Nations and notgiven to the provinces. He givesa nod to the Alberta model usedafter spring flooding.

Federal budget misses the mark on Aboriginal needs


OTTAWA

Some friendship centres stillhave Native or Indian in theirtitles, but they have been servingthe entire Aboriginal populationin urban centres for decades.

And with a new agreementsigned between the federalgovernment and the NationalFriendship Association ofCanada, that overallcommitment has been steppedup with significant federalfunding, said NAFC executivedirector Jeff Cyr.

Cyr met with Métisgovernments in British Columbiaand Alberta following the federalgovernment’s announcementthat Aboriginal Affairs andNorthern Development Canadahad realigned its funding for theUrban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS)program. With the newalignment, $43 million of a$50.8 million budget would be

distributed by the NAFC. Theremainder will be dispersed byAANDC.

The announcement was notwelcomed by the Métis NationalCouncil.

“In cities with the largestAboriginal population inCanada, such as Winnipeg andEdmonton, the Métis are theclear majority of that population,yet once again we are beingignored,” said MNC PresidentClement Chartier in a newsrelease.

Métis delivery of UASprogramming “should have beena consideration for the largerpopulation of Métis in thoseurban centres,” said BruceDumont, president of MétisNation British Columbia, whoadds there is some concernwhether money will be meted outfairly to Métis economic projects.

“It’s no different. We’ve had tocompete for those dollars (withthe federal government),” saidDumont. “It can’t be any worsethan it was.”

Changes to urban funding concerns MétisDumont, along with the

provincial youth chair and youthdirector, met with Cyr to discussthe revamped UAS program,which includes a variety ofAboriginal youth-orientedprograms and funding. Dumontsaid the MNBC, which has astrong focus on youth, regularlyran into problems with thefederal government in gettingapproval in a timely manner.Dumont notes that MNBCalready has a good workingrelationship with the BCAssociation of FriendshipCentres and will continue tobuild on that.

The new UAS is comprised oftwo programs, UrbanPartnerships and CommunityCapacity Support. According toa government news release, thenew delivery model wasdeveloped in collaboration withthe NAFC. This change “willresult in more dollars goingdirectly to supportingcommunity organizations andprojects.”

“What I witnessed was in somerespects what I would hopewould be the beginnings of it,when you have provincialministers, federal ministerssitting with chiefs directly, faceto face, talking about designingsolutions that will work for thecommunities themselves,” saidAtleo.

That approach, he added, isalso needed when it comes toresource development.

Although the federalgovernment committed tosupplying $28 million over twoyears to the National Energyboard to review pipelines, it didnot offer any money to ensureconsultation with First Nationswas enhanced.

“Current initiatives or process,including the energy board,including the assessment reviewprocesses, do not meet thestandard of the right to free priorand informed consent,” saidAtleo.

“The budget has to go so, somuch further and not only theresources but the way in whichgovernments’ respond,” headded.

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The details of the revampedUAS are still being worked out,said Cyr, but once the programgets underway, he expectsapproval for applications to gofaster than they would with thefederal government.

“It isn’t just about efficiency,”said Cyr. “It’s also about doing itbetter in terms of sharedobjectives.”

Cyr points out that the NAFCalready has memorandums ofunderstanding with the MétisNation of Alberta and theManitoba Métis Federation andhas decades of experiencedelivering a wide variety ofservices from coast to coast tocoast to all Aboriginal peoples.He also notes that manyfriendship centre boards haveMétis members. He hopes tomeet with all the Métisgovernments, including theMNC, as well as the Inuit TapiriitKanatami, Assembly of FirstNations, and Congress ofAboriginal Peoples to discusscollaboration.

Regional input will beimportant in establishingprograms, said Cyr.

“It will be very specific to theregions. The needs in NovaScotia are different from theneeds in British Columbia,” hesaid. “We always allow room forthat regional flavour to come inbecause you get basically moreeffective projects. It also allowsyou to spot opportunity andsupport opportunity.”

Chartier was also critical of thefederal government givingfunding for an economicprogram to what he considers a“provider of cultural-basedprograms.”

NAFC has a strong foundationof delivering economic programs,said Cyr, adding, “Culture canform a part of every part of yourprogram. It is not necessarily theoutcome… (but) culturebecomes the method by whichwe do everything.”

Funding under the new UASwill not be available until afterApril 1.

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P a g e [ 9 ]March 2014

[ news ]

Windspeaker News BriefsWITH 1,700 KM AND 49 DAYS BEHIND THEM,the Omushkegowuk walkers arrived at Parliament Hill Feb. 24 with amessage for government: Take action on treaties. Danny Metatawabinled the group. He stood with Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spencelast year as she went on a hunger strike to bring attention to theconcerns of First Nations peoples. “The time to reconcile Aboriginalissues is now,” Matatawabin said. “…from lack of infrastructure,housing, missing and murdered women and girls, the list goes onand on. We have to reconcile those now to live in harmony on anation-to-nation basis.” Walker Brian Okimaw, who took part in thetrek, said the journey was a spiritual one. “Our grandfathers signedthose treaties,” Okimaw said. Broken treaties have led to an Aboriginalpopulation that is poorly educated, poorly housed, and a disrespectfor Aboriginal women who are going missing and are murdered inastounding numbers.

THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF ALBERTA AND THE NORTHWESTTerritories have apologized to First Nations people who attendedresidential schools. “We also express our apology and regret forCatholic participation in government policies that resulted in childrenbeing separated from their families, and often suppressed Aboriginalculture and language at the residential schools,” reads the letter. Theletter was read out at Ben Calf Robe School in Edmonton Feb. 24.Archbishop Richard Smith said “We’ve come here, in the presenceof these children, so that they see that we take these words seriously.And we do want to reach out to them, and to those who’ve gonebefore them, and to work with them in the future to continue theprocess of healing and reconciliation that has, in fact, been going onfor some time.”

IF YOU’VE BEEN SEEING PHOTOS SHOW UP ON SOCIAL MEDIAsites with a blue dot on them, you are being invited to join the BlueDot Movement. The blue dot is a symbol of protest against exclusion,and was inspired by a “historic” event held at Kainai in southernAlberta, where Prime Minister Stephen Harper and National ChiefShawn Atleo jointly announced a new agreement on education. Atthe event, those who were invited to attend the announcement wereled into one room while those who arrived at the event without aninvitation were given a card with a blue dot on it and moved into adifferent room where the announcement could be watched ontelevision. The blue dot on photos has come to represent those whoare being sidelined by government and First Nations leadership. It isalso an extension of last year’s Idle No More protest movement. ArtistChristi Belcourt began to post old photos of vocal historical figureswith a blue dot on them to represent the voices and opinions of peoplewho disagree with government being silenced.

GRAND CHIEF STEWART PHILLIP IS WARNING OTTAWA THATfunding cuts to Aboriginal Affairs’ specific claims research may createa similar environment to the one that sparked the Oka crisis. Thecuts come as the federal government works to “identify efficienciesand streamline departmental operations” and has resulted in someFirst Nations claims research organizations seeing upwards of 60per cent funding loss. “These massive funding cuts signal clearly theHarper government’s intent to walk away from specific claims,” saidPhillip, who is president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.“These are the same circumstances that preceded Oka: Canadawalked away from the federal duty to address specific claims andwas dismissive of First Nation grievances.”

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA INDIANChiefs is no stranger to making news on the political stage, but afrightening incident during his travels in mid-February saw him makingnews of a different kind. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip was travellingalone outside of Hope, B.C. when his vehicle slid on black ice andsnow, left the highway and crashed into the rock face. The ChevroletTahoe was flipped onto its roof. Phillip was transported to FraserCanyon Hospital where he was admitted with non-life threateninginjuries. He was later transferred closer to home to Penticton RegionalHospital and now has been released home to further convalesce.

MANTO SIPI CREE NATION AND MATHIAS COLOMB CREE NATIONin northern Manitoba have stated their opposition to mineralexploration in their traditional territories. In a press release Feb. 18Manto Sipi said it would block mineral exploration and work permitsand will not consult with the provincial government until land disputesare addressed. “I have been given a strong mandate to initiate legal,political and defensive action against outside encroachment,” saidManto Sipi Chief Michael Yellowback. He said the nation hadexhausted all avenues in dealing with Mineral Resources MinisterDave Chomiak. Manto Sipi has a land claim on an expired mineralclaim and the nation refutes the minister’s legal position and opinionon the Godslith Claim. Manto Sipi will be taking the issue to court.On Feb. 19, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation issued its own press releaseproclaiming its moratorium against mining activities on its traditionalterritory was still in effect. “The sovereign nation of MissinippiNehethowak, as represented by Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, hasalways and continues to assert our full sovereignty, jurisdiction, rightsand responsibilities over our extensive traditional territories,” saidMathias Colomb Cree Nation Chief Arlen Dumas. “We have ongoinglegal, political and cultural obligations to protect our water, land, plants,and animals within our territories on behalf of past, current and futuregenerations and we will live up to that obligation.”

Atleo receives pushback oneducation agreement


KAINAI FIRST NATION,Alta.

The First Nations Control ofFirst Nations Education Act,announced Feb. 7, has notreceived a better reception thanits predecessor, the First NationsEducation Act, proposed lastOctober.

Even before Prime MinisterStephen Harper unveiled the newproposal at the Kainai HighSchool, Treaty 7 grand chief andchief of the Kainai First NationCharles Weaselhead wasdistancing himself from theannouncement.

“We agreed to host thisnational announcement, but inno way endorse the proposedlegislation in its present form,”said Weaselhead in acommunique to Kainaimembers.

Then less than two weeks later,the Assembly of the First Nationsof Quebec and Labradorsubmitted a request for a judicialreview before the federal courtchallenging the consultationprocess leading to the FirstNations Control of First NationsEducation Act.

AFNQL says the Assembly ofFirst Nations, which had come toan agreement to work with thefeds on the Act, cannot signagreements on behalf of theQuebec and Labrador FirstNations. AFNQL leadership saythey were not privy to discussionsbetween AFN and the federalgovernment.

Vocal opposition from FirstNations about the new proposedlegislation centres more on howthe agreement came about thanon the specifics of the agreement.

Response to an email issued byAtleo announcing that “tentativeplans are underway for anannouncement of (federalgovernment) investment and a

framework to support FirstNations control of First Nationseducation” was met with tweetsof dismay, ranging from “I mayhead down to protest this” to the“AFN has no jurisdiction… toagree to any legislation on behalfof First Nations people inCanada. There is no democracyin the ‘Top Down’ approach tolegislation inflicted on FirstNations people.”

When Aboriginal Affairs andNorthern Development CanadaMinister Bernard Valcourtintroduced the First NationsEducation Act last fall, Atleo,chiefs and education advocatesslammed the government fortaking unilateral action andproposing a one-size-fits-allapproach to on-reserveeducation.

The bill was also criticized fornot including dollar figures andfor giving the minister controlover First Nations education.

Now, many are accusing Atleo,and select members of the AFN,of taking the same unilateralaction on the second run at a FirstNations education bill.

In an interview withWindspeaker, Atleo said Harperwas moving forward on fiveconditions that “chiefs expressedin assembly…. The chiefs pushedback and said this has to be abouttrue First Nations control of FirstNations education.”

Those conditions wereoutlined in an AFN resolution21/2013 entitled, “Outlining thePath Forward: Conditions for theSuccess of First NationsEducation,” and adopted byconsensus at the AFN SpecialChiefs Assembly in December2013. The resolution calls forguaranteed funding, FirstNations control of education,meaningful consultation,protection of Indigenouslanguages, and joint oversight ofthe program.

Said Atleo in the face of thecriticism, “My commitment

stands firmly behind theresolution the chiefs passed inDecember.”

What has been establishednow, he said, is a framework withdollars attached that allows FirstNations to develop solutions thatmeet their own needs. Regionaland provincial agreements thatalready exist will be enhanced bynew federal legislation, which willprovide funding to emphasizecultural and languagedevelopment.

The proposed legislation willalso commit new monies to FirstNations education and does awaywith the two per cent cap oneducation funding. The 2014budget confirmed the federalgovernment’s commitment toFirst Nations educationestablishing core funding of$1.25 billion from 2016-18 withan annual growth rate of 4.5 percent; $160 million over four yearsstarting in 2015-16 for anEnhanced Education Fund; and$500 million over seven yearsbeginning in 2015-16 for a newFirst Nations EducationInfrastructure Fund.

Many chiefs have expressedcautious optimism about thefigures.

“It is a positive that Canada hasconceded to a significant fundingcomponent, however… ananalysis will need to beconducted further to break downthe allocation of dollars, then andonly then will the First Nationsbe able to draw an informedconclusion,” said Fort WilliamFirst Nation Chief GeorjannMorriseau in a news release.

The 2014 federal budget didnot offer transitional dollars to fillthe gap before the new fundingkicks in.

“We did press for all theseresources to be made availableright now as we do every singleyear,” said Atleo. “I’m not the onewho writes up the language in thebudget.”

( See Atleo on page 24.)

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt (left) Blood Tribe ChiefCharles Weaselhead (centre) and Prime Minister Stephen Harper announce the First NationsControl of First Nations Education Act.

PHOTO: DARLENE CHRAPKO

March 2014P a g e [ 10 ]

[ news ]


MONTREAL

Assembly of First NationsRegional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould admits the Liberals stillcarry some unfortunate baggagein Indian Country — particularlya bitter taste from Jean Chretien’sWhite Paper in 1969, when hewas Indian Affairs Minister —but she maintains that a crucialway to change the system is stillfrom the inside.

Invited to co-chair the party’snational convention in Quebec inlate February, the We Wai KaiNation councillor (also known byher Kwakwaka’wakw name,Puglaas) downplayed mediareports that she would run as a2015 Liberal candidate, tellingWindspeaker she hasn’t yetdecided.

“I know the media arereporting that I’m running as acandidate in the next election,”she said, chuckling quietly, “butto be honest I haven’t made anydecision if that’s going to happenor not.

“I haven’t ruled out thepotential of running for federalpolitics. If and when I make sucha decision, I’ll certainly have tohave a conversation with mychiefs back home.”

Other First Nations leadershipsources, however, toldWindspeaker it’s highly unlikelyshe would choose otherwise. Onedirection she hopes the party willtake – and which gained supportfrom convention delegates afterbeing proposed by the Liberals’Aboriginal caucus – is torecommit to the principles of ex-Prime Minister Paul Martin’sKelowna Accord, a multi-billiondollar funding agreement withFirst Nations which was scrappedas soon as the Conservatives tookoffice.

On the thorny matter of theWhite Paper, a proposal passed onthe convention floor symbolicallydistancing the party fromChretien’s attempt to solve the“Indian problem” by dissolvingthe Indian Act and absorbingIndigenous peoples into theCanadian politic four decadesago. That initiative led to massiveresistance from First Nationsacross the country, includinggalvanizing protests and thefounding of most of today’sAboriginal advocacyorganizations.

Wilson-Raybould said thattoday’s protest movements, suchas Idle No More, havereinvigorated such activism forIndigenous rights, but she hopespeople will also engage inchanging the political landscapeitself.

“For me, what Idle No Moremeans is that our citizens aredemanding change,” she said.“There’s always time to protest.

“But with the huge challengeswe have in this country, it’s timeto translate the victories we havewon, to translate protest into

actions on the ground, and torebuild our nations as Aboriginalpeoples.”

She said she felt complimentedto be invited to co-chair theconvention by Liberal leaderJustin Trudeau, whose father wasPrime Minister when the WhitePaper was introduced. Askedabout the current party head’spolicies on Aboriginal affairs,Wilson-Raybould said shebelieves “in him as a strongleader” with a “strong vision” forthe country. She said she hasheard him speak about “the needto hear from Aboriginalcommunities and to be inclusive–to ensure that our Aboriginalpeople are dealt withappropriately and with respect.”

First elected AFN’s regionalleader in 2009, the formerprovincial Crown prosecutor andtreaty negotiator was re-electedtwo years ago.

Although Trudeau has spokenlittle publicly about Aboriginalissues, his support for twocontroversial pipelines fromAlberta’s oilsands has irked manyFirst Nations vowing to resistthem being built through theirterritories.

In a Jan. 22 interview withMetro Calgary, Trudeau said oneof the Prime Minister’s mostimportant jobs is “to make surewe can get our resources tomarket” — but that it must be“sustainable” and havecommunity “buy-in.”

“Because of that I have been astrong promoter of the KeystoneXL pipeline,” he said. “For similarreasons, I’m not a proponent ofthe Northern Gateway Pipeline ...which runs through the GreatBear Rainforest, which hasspectacularly failed at gettingcommunity buy-in from FirstNations communities and fromlocal communities that could bepotentially affected by it.

“I am, however, very interestedin the Kinder Morgan pipeline,the Trans Mountain pipeline thatis making its way through. Icertainly hope that we’re going tobe able to get that pipelineapproved.”

Wilson-Raybould toldWindspeaker she saw the Liberalconvention as “a tremendousopportunity to highlight theissues and challenges that we asIndigenous people across thecountry are facing,” but also toshowcase efforts at nation-building in many First Nations.

“My approach to political officeis I want to be where I believe Ican make a difference,” she said.“To put more emphasis onAboriginal issues into amainstream political party andconvention is a huge opportunitynot only for aboriginal people butfor Canadians in general.”

Speaking by phone from theconvention as it kicked off, shesaid many there were discussingthe idea of improving a“partnership” betweengovernment and First Nations.But while divisions simmerwithin the AFN itself over how

to deal with Ottawa, and Idle NoMore ponders its next steps,Wilson-Raybould saidIndigenous peoples should notdismiss “public service” inCanadian politics outright.

Regional chief co-chairs Liberal convention

“It’s a challenging endeavour,but we need to have youngpeople, old people, and every typeof person engaged in our politicaldiscussions,” she said. “I gotinvolved because I wasn’t happy

with the way things are.“If you’re not happy with the

way government is running, youhave to get involved. Your voiceis important and needs to beheard.”

Jody Wilson Raybould PHOTO: DAVID P. BALL

P a g e [ 11 ]March 2014

[ news ]

By Barb NahwegahbowWindspeaker Contributor

TORONTO

About 500 people attended theFeb. 14 Strawberry Ceremonyheld in Toronto to honour themore than 600 Aboriginalwomen who are missing or havedied violent deaths, and to seekjustice for the women with callsfor a national inquiry.

UN special rapporteur on therights of indigenous people,James Anaya, who touredCanada last year, said the federalgovernment should set up anational inquiry into the“disturbing phenomenon” ofmissing and murdered Aboriginalwomen. The Harper governmenthas so far not heeded the call.

It was the ninth year for theceremony, which took place infront of Toronto PoliceHeadquarters on College Street.Signs with photographs andnames of the women printed onthem were a bleak reminder ofthe vulnerability of Aboriginalwomen.

daughter’s body was found on aconstruction site, stuffedheadfirst into a hole where shedied of asphyxiation. Holding upa picture of her daughter,Carpenter said, “She had justgiven birth to a beautiful littleboy, now 22, and was only withhis mother for six weeks.”

A coroner’s inquest ruled herdaughter’s death an accident.Carpenter doesn’t accept this.The system, “…just wrote heroff,” she said. If there had been aproper investigation, Carpentersaid, they would have ruled thedeath a homicide.

It was the violent andsuspicious deaths of three youngAboriginal women in Torontowithin the space of three monthslast year that promptedCarpenter to share her story.

“I said to myself, ‘I gotta speakup and say something becausethis is totally uncalled for,shouldn’t be happening…I gottaspeak for them because they can’tspeak for themselves now.’”

The ceremony gave specialhonour and recognition to thethree Toronto women who died.

Twenty-five year old BellaLaboucan-McLean plunged toher death from a 31st floorToronto condo last July. A recentgraduate of Humber College’sFashion Arts program, she wasgoing to study for a year inLondon, England beforeembarking on a career. Herfamily is confident she didn’tcommit suicide. The police areinvestigating it as a suspiciousdeath. Laboucan-McLean was amember of the Sturgeon LakeCree First Nation in northernAlberta.

Terra Gardner was just 26 yearsold when she was killed by a trainin Toronto the night of May 14in 2013. The police ruled therewas no foul play in her death.Gardner, a member ofNigigoonsiminikaaning FirstNation near Fort Frances, Ont.was homeless in Toronto, livingon the streets and in shelters. Shehad reportedly talked to friends

about receiving death threatsbecause of her impending role asa witness in a murder trial.

John Fox, the father of the lateCheyenne Fox, led the marchfrom police headquarters, alongCarlton Street to a feast at 519Church Community Centre.More than 200 people stoppedtraffic as they marched andpaused to drum and round danceat two major intersections. Foxcarried a sign with a picture ofhis 20-year-old daughter,Cheyenne, that also containedhis sentiments about how thesystem failed her.

Fox describes Cheyenne as, “avery, kind, caring, lovingperson.” On the evening of April24, 2013 she fell to her deathfrom a 24th floor condo inToronto’s Don Mills. Fox is notsatisfied with the policeconclusion that his daughtercommitted suicide.

What Fox knows, without adoubt, is that the system,including the police, failed hisdaughter. The police admitted asmuch when Fox met with themlast November. At a meeting withFox and supporters on Nov. 21,Staff Inspector Tony Riviere of33 Division said, “What’s goingon with Aboriginal folks, is notjust in the city of Toronto. It’spart of a larger problem.”

Audrey Huntley is co-founderof No More Silence whichcoordinates the event. She’spleased that the numbers ofpeople attending has grown fromabout 100 in the first year to over500 this year. It’s a sign ofgrowing awareness and concern.

“I thought this year’s event wasthe most powerful yet,” she said,“maybe because the spirits ofCheyenne, Terra and Bella arestill so close. I just feltsurrounded in so much love. Itwas really special.”

More than 60 Aboriginal andnon-Aboriginal groups endorsedthis year’s event, includingcolleges, universities, unions,religious groups and communityagencies.

Strawberry ceremony honours Aboriginal women

The Toronto march for the missing and murdered Aboriginal women on Feb.14.PHOTO: BARB NAHWEGAHBOW

“We’re here in love, not anger,”said Elder Wanda Whitebird tothose gathered, as strawberriesand water, the women’smedicines, were given out.

For 63-year-old JoyceCarpenter, the ceremony markedthe first time she spoke in publicsince the death of her 14-year-olddaughter Trish 21 years ago. Her

March 2014P a g e [ 12 ]

FSIN delays decision onfunding for organization

The Federation ofSaskatchewan Indian Nationshas delayed its decision to dealwith funding of the organization.The issue was debated and anumber of options put forwardat the Winter LegislativeAssembly, but a decision putoff. FSIN has experiencednearly $2 million in funding cutsin the past two years. Amongthe options discussed were touse contributions fromSaskatchewan’s First Nations,using casino profits from theSaskatchewan Indian GamingAuthority or diving into the FSINtreaty protection fund. “Therewill always be an FSIN, but itsstructure and shape willevolve,” said FSIN Chief PerryBellegarde. The issue will bediscussed again at a specialchiefs assembly in March.

SIGA unable to purchasecasinos

The Saskatchewangovernment will not be sellingCasino Regina and CasinoMoose Jaw to theSaskatchewan Indian GamingAuthority despite amemorandum of understandingthat SIGA buy the two casinos.

Past offers to purchase thecasinos have been met withgovernment rejection.However, recently PremierBrad Wall started consideringthe option, stating that revenuefrom the casinos would provideeconomic opportunities for FirstNations. The Crown OwnershipAct sets out conditions beforea Crown corporation can besold and was voted inunanimously. The NDP saythey’re not opposed to lookingat selling the casinos to FirstNations, but they will notsupport amending the act toallow this particular deal to beexempt. “Basically, I’mextremely disappointed anddisheartened in the way that theleader of the NDP hasapproached this. There was nosecret, backdoor deal.Everything was transparent andopen,” Chief Perry Bellegardetold Global News.

Aboriginal representation inSaskatchewan Book Awards

Aboriginal writers andAboriginal topics are well-represented in this year’s list ofSaskatchewan Book Awardsnominees. Lisa Bird-Wilsonleads the way with fivenominations for her first fiction

book Just Pretending: Book ofthe Year, the Fiction Award,Saskatoon Book Award,Aboriginal Peoples’ WritingAward and Aboriginal Peoples’Publishing Award. MétisSoldiers of Saskatchewan:1914-1953 by Cathy Littlejohnis also nominated for Book ofthe Year, Aboriginal Peoples’Publishing Award, and Awardfor Publishing in Education.Marie Battiste’s DecolonizingEducation: Nourishing theLearning Spirit is nominated inthe Aboriginal Peoples’ WritingAward category and AboriginalPeoples’ Publishing Award, aswell as for the Award forScholarly Writing. Leah MarieDorion, Michif Translation byNorman Fleury The DiamondWillow Walking Stick: ATraditional Métis Story AboutGenerosity was nominated inthe Children’s Literature Award.Breathing Life into the StoneFort Treaty: An AnishinabeUnderstanding of Treaty Oneby Aimée Craft was nominatedfor the Aboriginal Peoples’Publishing Award. JamesDaschuk’s Clearing the Plains:Disease, Politics of Starvation,and the Loss of Aboriginal Lifewas nominated for the Non-Fiction Award, First BookAward, Regina Book Award,

Award for Scholarly Writing,Ministry of Parks, Culture andSport Publishing Award andPublishing in Education.

Transfer of communitypastures land concern FirstNations

By the end of March, thefederal government will havetransferred all land held underthe Community PasturesProgram to the province andFirst Nations are concernedthat the history of that land willbe lost to ranchers who will buyor lease it. Tomasin Playford,executive director of theSaskatchewan ArchaeologicalSociety, is worried that the loss

of federal protection willcompromise historical sites andartifacts that document howFirst Nations groups lived. Shesaid the land contains burialsites, tipi rings and buffalojumps, among other historicitems. “The way the pastureswere managed in the past hadpotentially less impact thanthere may be in the futurebecause we don’t know whatthe future holds,” Playford toldPostmedia News. The land wasnot made available for FirstNations to acquire through landsettlement agreements, saidFederation of SaskatchewanIndian Nations Vice-ChiefBobby Cameron.

choosing to study here because of our reputation. The U of S is aplace of integrity and honour and I hope that our students feel that andbenefit from that, but they also know they contribute to that.”

Find every Sage article online:www.ammsa.com

P a g e [ 13 ]March 2014

March 2014P a g e [ 14 ]

JOHN RUSTAD, B.C.’SMINISTER OF ABORIGINALRELATIONSHIPSand Reconciliation, was in FortSt. John to talk about theprogress made at the FirstNations LNG Summit. He saidliquefied natural gas providesa big opportunity to theprovince and there is a chancefor First Nations to participatein the industry. “There’s beena series of summits to discusswhat liquefied natural gas isand to answer some basicquestions, get into details, andcreate networkingopportunities,” Rustad said.The minister said governmentwants to hear from FirstNations about their concernsand to encourage sensitivity toissues regarding heritage andthe environment. “We are veryinterested in engaging withFirst Nations. We have beennow for quite some time. It’sabout building that respectand finding out the issues thatneed to be taken intoconsideration and trying toencourage the proponents tobe sensitive to culturalheritage and environmentalconcerns that are broughtforward,” Rustad said. “InBritish Columbia we areprobably the envy of manyjurisdictions in the world. Wehave some of the higheststandards anywhere withregards to natural gasextraction and ourenvironmental standards andwe’re very proud of that.”Assembly of First NationsNational Chief Shawn Atleospoke to the summit on thefinal day. He said he supportsFirst Nations leaders howeverthey decide to proceed onLNG. “For far too long,industry and government havebeen ignoring our rights andexploiting the resources in ourtraditional territories,” saidAtleo. “Our nation and ourrights are a reality. Theypresent unlimitedopportunities, if we get thisright.”

THE FORMER LIEUTENANTGOVERNOR OF BRITISHCOLUMBIA, STEVEN POINT,has been appointed as a judgein Abbottsford in the FraserValley Region. He was one oftwo judges to be appointed tothe British Columbia ProvincialCourt to help alleviatecaseload pressures andimprove access to justice,Attorney General and Ministerof Justice Suzanne Antonsaid. Judge Point’sappointment is effective March3.

THE THIRD ANNUALMOOSEHIDE CAMPAIGN TO ENDVIOLENCEagainst Aboriginal women andchildren took to the steps ofthe BC legislature Feb. 20.Men from both the Aboriginal

and non-Aboriginalcommunities came together todenounce the violence andpledge to speak up againstviolence in their communities.The event was organized bythe B.C. Association ofAboriginal Friendship Centre.Men wore moosehide patchesand many fasted for one dayto show solidarity. “All of us inthis room love our mothers,our sisters and our daughters,”said executive director PaulLacerte. He said Aboriginalwomen are five times morelikely to see violence towardsthem than non-Aboriginalwomen, and five times morelikely to be murdered. “I carryan incredible sadness in myheart to know how muchsuffering there has been forwomen in our community,”Lacerte said.

FIRST NATIONS LEADERS ONTHE SUNSHINE COASTare calling for Ottawa to studythe impact of Fukushimaradiation on the West Coastfishery. A March 2011 tsunamiin Japan resulted in acatastrophic failure of theFukushima nuclear site andradiation has been detected(barely) in BC coastal waters,said an ocean science divisionmanager with the Departmentof Fisheries and Oceans(DFO. The federalgovernment has tested fishspecies in 2011 and early2012, but Canada’s FoodInspection Agency reports that“further testing of imported ordomestic food products for thepresence of radioactivematerial is not required.” In aletter last month to Assembly

of First Nations Chief ShawnAtleo, Tahltan Central CouncilPresident Annita McPheewrote “We cannot sit by andwatch and wait to see what thefull impacts of the Fukushimadisaster will be on our salmonand our way of life. To date,we have not seen or heard ofCanada taking this issueseriously and working in a realway to address it.” Tla’amin(Sliammon) First Nation ChiefClint Williams is also pushingfor the testing. “Our peoplereally cherish salmon. It hasalways been part of ourculture… We want to makesure our food is safe. And it’snot just salmon either. It’sclams, geoducks, seaurchins.”

THE HAISLA FIRST NATIONWANTS OTTAWA TO DELAY

a decision on the NorthernGateway pipeline because aquick approval “would beillegal,” without meaningfulconsultation with Aboriginalgroups. A decision onGateway is expected by July,following a report last year thatfound projected economicbenefits from the projectoutweighed environmentalrisks. Environmental groupsand First Nations — includingthe Haisla — have challengedthat decision in federal courton grounds the report ignoresthe adverse effects of oilsands development. Thefederal government nowwishes input from FirstNations about the potentialimpact of the pipeline whichwould connect Alberta’s oilsands with Asian markets.

P a g e [ 15 ]March 2014

March 2014P a g e [ 16 ]

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P a g e [ 17 ]March 2014

March 2014P a g e [ 18 ]

By Barb NahwegahbowBirchbark Contributor

TORONTO

Honouring IndigenousWomen: Hearts of Nations, Vol.2 was launched Feb. 12 at theToronto Birth Centre in the city’sRegent Park. The book is acelebration of Indigenouswomanhood – the joy andstrength, the pain and sadness,and the challenges. The launchwas presented by MuskratMagazine, the Toronto & YorkRegion Metis Council, and TheSound of My Heart Collective.

The book features a collectionof stories, poetry, essays andvisual art by more than 60 artistsfrom across Turtle Island. Manyof the contributions tell of thejourney to recognize howIndigenous women have beenshaped by colonialism and thecontinuing and enduringstruggle against its insidious andtragic effects.

Rebeka Tabobondung,publisher of Muskrat Magazine,is from Wasauksing First Nationnear Parry Sound, Ont. She wasthrilled when Muskrat was askedto present the launch because “Isee the power that writing holdsfor the individual, to help themdeal with difficult stuff, but alsoto express love and strength,” shesaid. “It’s very symbolic to holdthis launch in a birth centre,” sheadded, “because what we aredoing is re-birthing a healthynation.”

Pei-ju, co-founder of TheSound of My Heart Collective,said she started learning aboutAboriginal people andcolonialism when she moved toCanada from Taiwan a few yearsago.

“I had no idea of theIndigenous struggle here,” shesaid.

One of the issues that touchedPei-ju was the extent of theviolence against Aboriginalwomen and how the mediacontributes to this by reinforcingnegative stereotypes.

“I wanted to create a tool toraise awareness and where thewomen could speak forthemselves,” she said. “I wantedto help create something to showthe strength of Aboriginalwomen to counter what themedia does.” She received morethan 100 submissions when sheput out the call, a sure sign thatIndigenous women are anxiousto tell their stories.

Faith Turner, a member of theMoose Cree First Nation inOntario, drove eight hours, oneway, to be at the launch. Thesuicide rate among the youth inher community was so high, she

told the audience, that a state ofemergency was declared. Sheread An Indigenous Woman’sPrayer, that says in part:

“We are looking to the darkclouds to subside.

Many of our lives have beenshattered, broken andbent...please build us upstronger.”

The care and concern forfamily and the collective inTurner’s poem resonatesthroughout the selections, bothin the written pieces and thevisual art selections. These comefrom women who aren’tconcerned just about themselves.They’re working towards thesurvival of Indigenous nationsand Indigenous culture.

The authenticity of the voicesis breathtaking in its bravery andits beauty.

Special guest Audrey Huntley,co-founder of No More Silence,spoke about the community database she’s developing, primarilyfor Ontario of women who havedied violent deaths or aremissing. Out of 70 females whodied between 1970 and 2013,the oldest was 72 and theyoungest was two years old.About 18 were from the 1970sto 1990s. The bulk of the nameswere after 2000, “so it’s notdecreasing,” Huntley said, “eventhough the silence is broken. Weall really need to keep talkingabout this.”

A free copy of the book maybe downloaded at:www.ipsmo.wordpress.com. It isalso available for $10 to $20(sliding scale based on income)by emailing: [email protected] from sales will gotowards printing more copies.

Rebeka Tabobondung, Publisher of Muskrat Magazine speaking at the Feb.12 Toronto book launch of Honouring IndigenousWomen: Hearts of the Nations-Vol.2.

New book authentic and inspiring

Find every Ontario Birchbarkarticle online: www.ammsa.com

P a g e [ 19 ]March 2014

[ sports ]

By Sam LaskarisWindspeaker Contributor

CHILLIWACK, B.C.

And you thought you werebusy. Well, it takes several breathsto list the various jobs andresponsibilities of DarwinDouglas.

The 41-year-old, a member of

the Sto:lo Nation who lives inChilliwack, B.C., is probablysomebody you don’t want to messwith. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)is something he doesprofessionally.

Douglas and his wife Francinealso own the Four DirectionsMartial Arts Academy inChilliwack. Besides owning andhelping run the gym, Douglas

Sports BriefsBy Sam Laskaris

Award winners announcedThe Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council has

announced its top Aboriginal athletes and coaches for 2013.Christie Lavallee, who won her share of medals at archery

events, was chosen as the top female athlete. Braeden Boschman,a talented volleyball and hockey player, was selected as the topmale athlete.

Also, Trisha Wilson and Farron Cochrane were named as thetop female and male coaches, respectively.

Lavallee, who is from St. Ambroise, had her share of impressiveresults this past year and was also named Manitoba Archer ofthe Year. Her highlights included winning a gold medal at thenational indoor championships and a silver medal at the outdoornationals. She also captured gold medals at Manitoba’s indoorand outdoor championships and racked up 11 gold medals atregional competitions.

As for Boschman, he was a member of the men’s volleyballsquad at Alberta’s Olds College. Later in the year the Brandonnative cracked the roster of the Lundar Falcons, a Junior B squadthat competes in the Keystone Junior Hockey League.

Boschman was one of the team’s scoring leaders andcompeted in the league’s all-star game.

As for Wilson, who lives in Winnipeg, a highlight in her coachingcareer occurred this past year as she was a wrestling coach atthe Canada Summer Games held in Sherbrooke, Que. Wilsontook part in the Games as she was part of the Aboriginal ApprenticeCoach Program. In 2013 she was also named as the grassrootsco-ordinator for the Manitoba Amateur Wrestling Association.

Cochrane coached his hometown team, the Peguis Juniors,to a Keystone Junior Hockey League championship during the2012-13 season.

The Peguis side finished atop the regular season standings ofits nine-team league after winning 33 out of its 36 matches. Theclub then won all 11 of its playoff contests en route to capturingthe league title. Cochrane has coached the Peguis Juniors since1994.

Kahnawake hosts nationals againThe Quebec Mohawk community of Kahnawake will once again

host the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC). The13th annual NAHC will begin on April 27 and continue until March3.

Kahnawake also hosted last year’s tournament as well as the2006 championships. As was the case a year ago, the 2014 eventwill feature 16 participating clubs, eight in the female division andeight in the male category.

The tournament primarily features bantam- and midget-agedplayers. But teams in the female division are allowed to carrysome overagers as well. The host Quebec squads are calledEastern Door and the North (EDN).

Also taking part this year will be female and male teamsrepresenting the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba,Ontario and Saskatchewan.

And there will also be clubs representing Team Atlantic, fromthe Maritime provinces, and Team North, representing thecountry’s territories. The host EDN female squad will be seekingits third consecutive national title at this year’s tournament.

And the British Columbia entry will be hoping to defend itscrown in the boys’ category.

Police investigate youth gameWinnipeg police were called in to investigate following some

ugly incidents at a recent Aboriginal youth hockey game. Thematch, held at the Southdale Community Centre on Feb. 16,featured teams from the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation andSagkeeng First Nation competing in the annual SoutheastAboriginal Tournament.

Following a skirmish on the ice, a 12-year-old player incurredvarious injuries, including a broken wrist, when a refereeapparently slipped and fell on top of the youngster while attemptingto break up a fight.

A video of the ensuing melee, which was uploaded to YouTubeand had received more than 130,000 views in less than a week,showed a coach running onto the ice and attacking the refereewho fell on top of the youth.

The video also shows a handful of other adults from bothbenches coming onto the ice and pushing s and shoving near theref who was attacked. A player also whacks the ref from behindwith his stick. No charges were laid immediately following thegame but police were continuing their investigation.

Bear stars for T-BirdsDespite being one of the team’s youngest players, Ethan Bear

has been more than holding his own in his rookie Western HockeyLeague season. Bear, a 16-year-old defenceman fromSaskatchewan’s Ochapowace First Nation, is a member of theSeattle Thunderbirds.

Bear was third among blueliners in team scoring, havingcollected 18 points in his first 46 contests with the T-Birds. Hewas also third in scoring among rookies for the Seattle club inaddition to being the top-producing first-year defenceman.

also frequently visits variousAboriginal communities where hespearheads a MMA YouthLeadership Program.

The husband-and-wife duoalso organize MMA events. Andthe couple recently startedCheam Trading Inc., a salmonand seafood company.

Discipline and balance thekey to fighter’s success

Francine Douglas, Kajan Johnson (middle) and Darwin Douglas Sr.PHOTO: SUPPLIED

( See Discipline on page 24.)

March 2014P a g e [ 20 ]

[ education ]Federal inmatesconstructing homesfor First Nationcommunities

By Martha TroianWindspeaker Contributor

MUSKEG LAKE CREENATION, Sask.

For decades, housing problemshave plagued First Nationcommunities across the country.In 2001, the Auditor General ofCanada reported a shortage of8,500 units on First Nationcommunities with about 44 per

cent of existing units in need ofrepairs.

Since then, the Indigenouspopulation has ballooned to 1.4million, up 20 per cent since2006, according to the 2011National Household Survey.

But a unique partnershipbetween Correctional ServiceCanada (CSC) and First Nationcommunities is helping to alleviatesome of these housing shortages.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

A unique partnership trains inmate for re-entry into the labourforce, and provides much needed housing on reserve.

( Continued on page 21.)

P a g e [ 21 ]March 2014

[ careers & training ]Constructing homesfor First Nationcommunities

The community is gettingprison inmates, many of themFirst Nation people, to constructbadly needed houses.

Muskeg Lake Cree Nation,located 130 kilometres northeastof Saskatoon, is one First Nationcommunity benefiting from thishouse building partnership.

And it couldn’t come at a bettertime.

“A lot of people want to moveback home, but we’re short onhousing,” said Chief CliffordTawpisin Jr.

Muskeg Lake Cree Nation has2,000 members, but only 130homes on-reserve.

“It [also] made it a goodopportunity to provide low,affordable housing for lowincome.” All communitymembers pay rent on-reserve.

The construction is part ofCorcan, a rehabilitation programof the CSC. Corcan providesoffenders with the employmentskills to reintegrate into thelabour market.

Offenders can benefit frommanufacturing, construction,textiles, and services through on-the-job training and third-partycertification.

Operating within 39 federalpenitentiaries and community-based operations across thecountry, Corcan employs morethan 2,000 offenders every day.

The first house buildingpartnership between Corcan andFirst Nations was in 2010.Iinmates at Riverbend

Institution built a two-storeyhouse for La Ronge Indian Bandin Saskatchewan.

Learning from La RongeIndian Band, Muskeg Lake tookit upon themselves to becomepart of this unique partnership.

This is the first time forMuskeg Lake Cree Nation towork with Correctional ServiceCanada, a ‘win-win’ foreveryone, said Chief Tawpisin.

“These inmates are about to bereleased so picking up a trainingprogram so that they haveopportunities when they’rereleased, it’s that much moresuccessful, ” Tawpisin said.

[And] the quality of thehousing is fantastic.”

To date, Corcan has built atotal of four houses for FirstNation communities: one for LaRonge Indian Band Reserve, twofor Muskeg Lake Reserve, andone for the Mohawk Bay ofQuinte (Tyendinaga)community.

In addition, two houses are inthe process of being built insideSaskatchewan Penitentiary forMuskeg Lake Reserve.

Corcan is also building a two-storey duplex at FrontenacInstitution and a bungalow atBeaver Creek Institution for theOjibwas of Whitefish River FirstNation, Ontario.

Both units are scheduled to beshipped to the Ojibwas ofWhitefish River First Nation thisfiscal year.

CSC said other partnershipsare currently being explored.

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( Continued from page 20.)

March 2014P a g e [ 22 ]

loved life on the land

[ footprints ] Willie CourtoreilleBand councillor

When the long-awaited Elders’care centre in Fort Chipewyan,Alta., opens this spring, theMikisew Cree First Nation willdedicate it in memory of WillieCourtoreille.

The facility’s family room willbe named after the long-timeband councillor, who talkedabout his community needingthe facility for the past threedecades.

Sadly, Willie was killed in avehicle accident before he couldsee his dream come true. He losthis life on Dec. 10, 2013Highway 63 about 40 kilometressouth of Fort McMurray, a routemany say should be twinnedbecause so many have lost theirlives travelling it.

“My dad was headed toEdmonton on council business,as he did so often, when his truckwas hit head on by an armouredvehicle,” said son PeterCourtoreille. “He was always onthe go, either for the band or forhis family, even though he was73. I don’t know where he got hisenergy.”

The driver of the armoured carwas also killed, and his passengerwas injured.

Peter said it was also typical ofhis dad to want the best for others– in this case for the Elders ofFort Chipewyan to becomfortable and to be able to stayin their own community as theyaged.

“He was very dedicated to hisfamily and community,” saidSteve Courtoreille, chief of theMikisew Cree First Nation andWillie’s brother, in an articlepublished in the NorthernJournal.

“This centre is the perfect wayto honour him. He was veryknowledgeable in our traditionalknowledge and culture, which

By Dianne Meili

Willie Courtoreille

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lives in our Elders,” Steve said,adding his brother was hismentor and friend, oftenadvising him in leadershipmatters with wise words.

In earlier years, Willie’sknowledge of the land and waterwas invaluable to Wood BuffaloNational Park’s fire responseteam. He also worked for ParksCanada giving interpretive toursand revelled in sharing hisfamiliarity of the natural worldwith visitors.

“He knew which portages weregrown in, and which were stillopen, stuff like that,” explainedPeter. Willie grew up on the landat Birch River, about 70kilometres west of FortChipewyan, and trapped for aliving as a young man, he added.

“Even after he started working,his free time was spent hunting,hiking and fishing. He was thebest trapper in Fort Chip and hewanted to teach that knowledgeto all of us. He wanted our familyto keep the traditions alive. Eventhough I work at Shell, I try tohonour what he inspired in us.”

Jumbo Fraser, a friend ofWillie’s, told Peter an anecdoteabout his father’s lack of faith inmodern inventions.

“They were hunting aroundUranium City, west of here quitea ways, and it got a little late. Acouple of the guys had a GPStracking system to find their wayhome, but Willie said ‘I don’tneed that, my GPS is in myhead’. Well, sure enough, hepulled back into Fort Chip agood two hours ahead of thoseother two.”

David Poitras, who attendedFort Chipewyan’s Holy Angelsresidential school with Willie,shared an amusing story abouttheir youth.

He told the Northern Journal

that one year, a visiting priestissued the students a challenge:the boy or girl who could write“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray forus” the most times would win apure white sled puppy he hadbeen breeding.

“We were all writing in everyspare minute we had. We allwanted that puppy,” Poitrasrecalled.

When it was announced thatWillie had won the puppy,disappointment descended onthe other students who had beenwriting their fingers to the bone.But, 40 years later, when Poitrasmet up with Willie around acamp fire in Wood Buffalo Park,he asked him what it had beenlike to own the puppy everyonewanted to take home.

Willie’s response startledPoitras. “He said, ‘It didn’t do me

any good to win it,’ and so Iasked him, ‘How come?’ He said,‘It died a month after I got itbecause I cheated. I had twoother guys writing for me, too!’”

Despite his childhooddeceitfulness, from all accounts,Willie grew up to be anupstanding community member.

“He was an awesome fatherand he phoned me just aboutevery day. People, not just ourfamily, went to him when theyhad a problem. And he’d give youthe last dollar he had in hispocket if you needed it,” saidPeter.

“He was outspoken, but heknew a lot about life in a spiritualway. He was only one person, yethe shared his big heart witheveryone.”

An acquaintance from Torontotold a story about Willie at his

funeral, attended by about 600people, demonstrating the bandcouncillor’s intolerance forbullying, according to Peter.

“He said he was in a meetingwith my dad when a lawyerhired by the government startedto use big words and speak in acondescending way to theAboriginal people in the room.Apparently my dad just staredthis lawyer in the eyes and thenhe stood up. That’s all. He justgot up from his chair. My dadwas not a small man and I guessthe lawyer just shut up andnever said another word.”

Willie was born on Feb. 16,1940 and is survived by his wifeof 53 years, Mary, sevenbrothers, nine children, 39grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

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P a g e [ 23 ]March 2014


VANCOUVER

Two Indigenous filmmakersfeature prominently in thismonth’s Vancouver InternationalWomen in Film Festival.

But despite theirdocumentaries’ strikinglydifferent topics – one a profile ofGemini-winning actor MichelleThrush, the other about thehistory of a B.C. First Nation –both spoke to Windspeakerabout the importance ofhonouring their subjects’ stories.

The festival’s March 9screenings include ShannonKaplun’s film Michelle Thrushabout the Arctic Air Cree star,and Lisa Jackson’s How a PeopleLive about Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw nation. The ethicsof documentary filmmaking alsoemerged as common themes inthe work of both.

“It is a huge responsibility,”Kaplun told Windspeaker. “It’s ahuge trust relationship, and Ialways try to honour the peoplewhose stories I help facilitate ina way that honours their truespirit.

“In my whole career, any timeI could, I try to find inspirationabout women. Indigenouswomen are the most vulnerablein our society, but they’re alsosome of the strongest. But youdon’t hear the strong stories; youhear the sad and tragic stories.”

Kaplun’s profile of the Calgary-based Cree actor – who hasappeared in films with JohnnyDepp and Benicio Del Toro, andcurrently stars in AboriginalPeople’s Television Network’sBlackstone – is part of a series ofwomen’s profiles soon to air onAPTN, but premiering inVancouver.

“I wanted to put these womenup to show the world,” she said.“I’m proud to call them myfriends.

“But I really felt Michelle[Thrush]’s story was one ofstrongest. She gave all of herselfto me in our interviews. I have ahuge admiration for her. Shemade herself vulnerable to meand her audience.”

Thrush’s story follows her pathafter a childhood surrounded bypoverty and stereotypes. Kaplun’sfilm addresses the actor’sstruggles to believe in herselfbefore discovering her talents.But even then, Kaplun said, “shedidn’t go down the traditional

Hollywood route” but “carvedout her own path.”

“Michelle is not just anamazing Aboriginal actor,” sheadded, “she’s an amazing actor.

“We all know about thedespair, downfalls and strugglesthat people have. But we wantedto inspire our audience.”

The film is part of a seriesKaplun has directed about someof the most high-profileIndigenous celebrities –including musician Buffy SainteMarie, model Ashley Callingbulland hockey player Jordan Nolan.

Another Indigenous-madefilm screening at the festival isHow a People Live, which usesoral story-telling and archivaldocuments to explore the historyof the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw, aremote First Nation in B.C. whowere forced to move in 1964.

But today the communitycontinues to honour and reclaimtheir history, and celebrate theircoastal culture. As the film’sdirector, Jackson said that wateremerged as the film’s centralmetaphor and is featuredthroughout, and helps frame thepowerful narrative.

“These people have beenthrough incredible adversity,”Jackson told Windspeaker, “butthere’s such a joyfulness aboutthem.

“They’re such great story-tellers, there’s such a family love.That was one of the mostamazing things. They’re stillstruggling with so many thingsas a community, but there’s somuch strength and love amongthem.”

The film’s screening will beattended by members of the FirstNation, including its chiefnegotiator Colleen Hemphilland Port Hardy councillor JessieHemphill. But despite beingcommissioned by the band todocument their history, Jacksoninsisted she had the freedom totell the community’s harrowingstory in her way.

“Technically, it was acommission,” she said. “But, ina lot of ways, I had the mostcreative freedom I’ve ever had.They just said, ‘We’re on boardwith what you’re trying to do, wetotally trust you.’”

The end result is adocumentary that deftly weavestogether contemporary footageof Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw life,story-telling Elders, archivalfootage and primary documents,including diaries of thegovernment’s Indian Agent.

One of the challenges ofhistorical films is ensuring thatwhat she called “colonialdocuments” aren’t given moreweight that oral stories andtraditions.

“One of the things that I amproud of in the film is theinterweaving of historicalnarrative and the traditionallifestyle,” she explained. “There’ssometimes a sense (indocumentaries) of privileginghistorical documents.

“The importance of oralhistory was on my mind. It’salways been others saying whattheir culture was like. It was clearthese people were amazing story-tellers themselves... Very oftenhistorical archive materials areseen as the colonial view. But Ithought, ‘How can these imagesbe used in a way that isappropriate to help tell their ownstory?’”

Jackson’s film also discusses thedevastating 1862 smallpoxepidemic, which historiansbelieve killed one-third of theB.C. Indigenous population.

Asked about her documentaryfilmmaking influences, she citedtwo celebrated National FilmBoard of Canada directors:Donald Brittain, whose 1965film Memorandum followed aHolocaust survivor’s journeyback to a concentration camp;and Abanaki director AlanisObomsawin, whose 1993 filmKanesatake: 270 Years ofResistance drew widespreadacclaim for telling the story of theOka Crisis.

“She tells people’s stories in aparticular way – with respect,”she said of Obomsawin. “She hassuch an abiding respect for hersubjects and the people she dealswith.”

Jackson also credited theImagineNative festival withnurturing many Indigenouswomen directors.

“There’s always the statisticsfrom the industry about howthere are so few femalefilmmakers,” she said. “But inthe Indigenous filmmakingcommunity it’s more than 50 percent, and in generaldocumentaries have a lot morewomen – I don’t know why.

“The film industry, bynecessity, is quite military instyle. You have to pull off a lot ofbig things, it has to be structured... I’ve been inspired byfilmmakers who are able to bringdifferent styles to theirfilmmaking.”

Indigenous womenfilmmakers celebrated withfestival screenings

Health WatchSinclair’s family pulls out of inquestBrian Sinclair’s family and Aboriginal groups have pulled out of thesecond phase of Judge Tim Preston’s inquest, which has narrowedits scope to look at wait times in emergency rooms and not thetreatment of Aboriginal patients. The inquest is the result of thedeath of Brian Sinclair, The man was left unattended in the HealthSciences Centre’s emergency room in Winnipeg on the afternoonof Sept. 19, 2008. Thirty-four hours after he arrived at the hospitalhe was found dead in his wheelchair after midnight. He had notbeen triaged and he did not receive any care during his time there.Aboriginal Legal Services and Ka Ni Kanichihk have also withdrawnleaving only the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and theManitoba Nurses’ Union as participants. The second phase of theinquest was scheduled to last three weeks.

Girl’s suicide death underscores problems in federal, BCservicesA report by Children and Youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond on the 2011 suicide death of a 14-year-old Aboriginal girl onreserve slams the British Columbia Ministry of Children and FamilyDevelopment for its failure to protect the child. “This tragedy mightwell have been prevented had we at least tried to provide someservice to a child in distress,” Turpel-Lafond writes in the 110-pagereport, Lost in the Shadows. Turpel-Lafond said the ministry’sregional office was in disarray and the local Aboriginal agency didnot have funding to go on-reserve and support the girl with mentalhealth services. “A situation developed where no one reported abuseand no one investigated it,” the report said. “This dangerous situationoccurred during the period of highest need of this child.” Turpel-Lafond also criticized the federal government for ignoring its legalduty to deliver services to on-reserve children with special needsand mental health issues.

Study shows contaminants found in game meatA study undertaken by the University of Manitoba has found highlevels of mercury, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons inorgans and muscle tissues collected from moose, beavers, muskratsand waterfowl near Fort Chipewyan, Alta. Contaminants found inthe organs of the animals traditionally eaten by First Nations peoplewere high enough to be dangerous for regular consumption,although muscle tissue was low enough to be relatively safe, saidlead researcher Stephane McLachlan. The correlation between theoilsands industry and heavy metals found in the animals is strong,considering “the oilsands is the largest emitter of arsenic andmercury” in Alberta, he said. The study is part of a holistic researchproject analysing First Nations in northern Alberta and incorporatinglocal traditional environment, food sources and health.

Test project sees increase in cancer screeningThe Under/Never Screened test project, out of the cancer centre inSudbury, encouraged people in more than 20 First Nations to bescreened for breast and colorectal cancer. About 1,700 people tookadvantage of the screening program during the past three years,increasing rates of breast cancer screening 13 per cent andcolorectal screening eight per cent, said Natalie Aubin, a directorwith the Northeast Cancer Centre. Through collaboration amongAboriginal health organizations, the communities, and the cancercentre, officials said the project identified barriers to cancerscreening, such as lack of transportation and culturally appropriatematerials and came up with solutions that directly addressed thosebarriers. “This project represents a major step in ensuring that ourcitizens are afforded the opportunity to be screened much earlier,and with resultant better outcomes,” said Grand Council Chief PatrickMadahbee of the Union of Ontario Indians in a press release.

N.W.T. commits to anti-poverty action planThe government of the Northwest Territories will invest $2.6 millionin actions that are being taken now or will be taken to addresspoverty, including supporting day shelter programs in Yellowknifeand Inuvik, building new housing in small communities and providingnutritious food directly to children and youth through establishedprograms. “Government alone cannot eliminate poverty,” saidMinister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy, in a newsrelease. “The GNWT is committed to continuing our work inpartnership with non-government organizations, community andAboriginal governments, business and industry and other partnerstowards the development of a multi-stakeholder N.W.T. action plan.I am confident that working together will bring us closer to our goalof eliminating poverty in the Northwest Territories.”

MOU focuses on midwifery care for the marginalizedA memorandum of understanding has been signed between theNative Youth Sexual Health Network and the National AboriginalCouncil of Midwives that will improve access to midwifery careamongst younger parents and marginalized members within theirnetworks, like people who are incarcerated, within the criminal justicesystem or child welfare system, HIV-positive, Two Spirited, Transand gender non-conforming. Among the goals is to help bridge thegap between culturally safe sex education and midwifery care. Theteam will mutually support increasing education and the sharing ofskills, while collaborating to jointly offer workshops to theircommunities.

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March 2014P a g e [ 24 ]

By Barb NahwegahbowWindspeaker Contributor

TORONTO

The primary focus of Universityof Toronto’s newly-opened Officeof Indigenous Medical Education(OIME) is “to provide awelcoming home for Indigenousmedical students,” according toMark Hanson, associate dean ofUndergraduate Admissions andFinances.

At the opening on Feb. 3,Hanson admitted “our numbersare small right now.” Whenpressed for numbers, he said theyhave just more than fiveIndigenous students in theirmedical school. This isn’t at allsurprising considering the highdrop-out rates among Aboriginalyouth, combined with the well-known deficiencies in fundingprovided by the federalgovernment for First Nationseducation, and the lack ofAboriginal physician role models.

Not only does U of T want tochange this, but they also want toensure the provision of a higherquality of health care toIndigenous people.

They’ve staffed the OIME withfour Aboriginal people, includingelder Cat Criger. Rochelle Allan,a member of the Chippewas ofNawash First Nation, is theIndigenous PeoplesUndergraduate MedicalEducation Program Coordinator.Dr. Jason Pennington is workingwith Dr. Lisa Richardson asCurricular Co-leads forIndigenous Health Education.Richardson is Anishnawbe from

Killarney, Ont. Pennington is amember of the Wendake FirstNation in Quebec and a graduateof U of T’s medical school. He’salso a general surgeon atScarborough General Hospital.

“We’re introducing Indigenoushealth and experiences,” saidPennington, “including the socialdeterminants of Aboriginal health.We’re giving a little bit of a historylesson, talking about residentialschools, poverty, poor waterquality. We’re also talking aboutwhat is probably the largest factorthat affects all these things - thelack of self-determination andtreaties not being honoured.”

“We also want to bring inAboriginal health concepts like themedicine wheel,” Penningtoncontinued, “that can beincorporated into medicine.” Hebelieves that Aboriginal peoplehave a lot to teach westernmedicine about healing and about

treating the whole person, ratherthan the disease. Theadministration is very open to this,he said.

A session on cultural safety isbeing introduced to teach medicalstudents, “how to provide care ina culturally safe manner,recognizing their biases to thepatient’s background or religion orrace or sexual orientation, beingaware of it so that their interactionwith the patient can be muchmore therapeutic. Make thepatient feel much more safe intheir interaction with the doctor.”

Pennington acknowledges thatthe school drop-out rate and thepoverty among Aboriginal peopleneeds to be addressed. Outreachto the communities to showyoung people the possibilities fora career in medicine is imperativeand “that’s one of the things ouroffice wants to do,” he said. But,“it takes time and a lot of hours

and a lot of people to do that. It’sgoing to be a long process.” Whathe hopes is that physicians trainedat U of T will take action to fightfor social change once theybecome aware of the issues facingAboriginal people.

The Summer MentorshipProgram in the Health Sciences isanother way, said Mark Hanson,that U of T tries to level theplaying field. A four-weekprogram for students ofAboriginal or African ancestry, itincludes job shadowing, lecturesand hands-on activities inDentistry, Medicine and Nursing.Applicants have to be at least 16years of age and are required tohave completed a Grade 10 or 11Science course, or a Grade 10 or11 Social Sciences andHumanities course.

There are also a number ofbursaries and scholarshipsavailable to indigenous students.

The OIME, said Hanson, willmake sure Indigenous students areaware of these opportunities, aswell as the financial aid availableto all students with high financialneed.

Pennington said there are noplans to teach specific Indigenoushealing methodologies. “It’s goodfor the students to learn aboutIndigenous healing concepts,” hesaid, “but actually to make themthink they’re going to betraditional healers? No, I don’tthink so!”

Music for the opening wasprovided by the Metis FiddlerQuartet and women’s hand drumgroup, Spirit Wind.

For more information about theOIME, [email protected]. Toapply for the Summer MentorshipProgram, visitwww.ohpsa.utoronto.ca/smp.

University opens Office of Indigenous Medical Education

And not to be forgotten is thefact Douglas is also a councillorfor the Cheam First Nation. He’sin the first year of a two-yearterm, having made a return topolitics after an absence of abouta decade. He had previouslyserved three terms as a councillorfor his First Nation.

Douglas believes the reason hecan juggle his numerous dutiesis because of what he’s learnedfrom his athletic pursuits.

“The greatest thing aboutmartial arts is the discipline andthe balance,” he said. “We’reincredibly busy but I give a lotof credit (for the juggling I cando) to the training.”

Though he had dabbled inkickboxing and Muay Thai(Thai kickboxing) in his teenyears, it was less than a decadeago that Douglas becameinvolved with MMA.

“Some people would think it’sa little late to be getting into itin my early 30s,” he said. “ButI’ve always been athletic. I’vealways done other sports. Andit didn’t take me long. I wastraining for about a year-and-a-half before I had my first fight.”

Douglas was victorious in hisfirst pro event back in June of2008. His pro record currentlystands at 4-6.

Douglas’ most recent fight wason Jan. 18 at the River RockCasino Resort in Richmond,B.C.† He defeated Bill Fraser ofComax, B.C.† in that three-round bout.

With that victory, Douglas,who competes in the lightheavyweight category, was alsoable to avenge a loss he hadsuffered against Fraser in Augustof 2011 during a bout inVernon, B.C.

Douglas’ next fight is expected

to be May 29, also at the RiverRock Casino Resort. But anopponent for his bout has yet tobe announced.

Despite his age, Douglas ishoping to continue fighting fora few more years.

“My body is in good shape,”he said. “There are younger guysin their early 20s and mid-20swho are way more banged upthan I am.”

Though he coaches and trainsothers in the gym and passes onwisdom through the MMAleadership programs, Douglasdoes not hide what he enjoysdoing most.

“I like the fighting,” he said.“There’s nothing quite like theexcitement of getting in a cageand fighting. It’s a good exercise.It builds character and you learna lot about yourself.”

Not surprisingly, both ofDouglas’ children spend some

time at the gym as well.Darwin Jr., who is 10, is into

Muay Thai. He has already beenpart of various demonstrationevents.

“It’s really nice to pass downsome knowledge and to see himfight,” Douglas said.

His five-year-old daughter Avais also a regular at the gym. Shepractices jiu-jitsu.

“The gym is a big part of ourlives,” Douglas said. “It alsogives us a healthy lifestyle.Fighting is only part of it.”

Even a few years ago FrancineDouglas didn’t think the gymwould play such a huge role inher life as it does now.

Her husband had beenspending countless hours at thegym.

“Eight years ago when hestarted training at the gym Inever saw him,” she said.

She didn’t hesitate though

when the opportunity arose tobuy the gym about three-and-a-half years ago. At the time itwas called Revolution MartialArts.

When they took it over theDouglases changed the name.

“Four Directions meansbalance,” said Francine Douglas,who handles the scheduling andbookkeeping at the facility.“That’s what this gym does forus.”

As for her husband, he saidthese days he’s finding he ishaving to defend his sport lessand less.

“It’s gotten a lot better in thelast two, three years,” he said ofthe MMA awareness. “Even fiveyears ago there was a very badstereotype of the sport. Moreand more people though arelooking at it and realizing MMAfighters are the best conditionedathletes in the world.”

(Continued from page 19.)

Discipline and balance the key to fighter’s success

He said he will continue toadvocate for transitional fundingas there are a number of FirstNations that are ready to moveahead now with changes to theireducation systems. However, healso noted that some First Nationshave indicated to him that they

need time to hold roundtableswith membership to get guidance.

That the federal government’sfunding commitment doesn’t kickin until after the next election isnot a concern to Atleo.

“Now we’ve got this budgetcommitment and I see it as animportant commitment. I believe

the opposition leaders haveexpressed support for thisannouncement as well… so youwould expect then going forward,regardless of what happens in thenext election, this announcementof this budget will be honouredby the federal government,” hesaid.

(Continued from page 9.) “That’s what I would expectand continue to press for.”

Reform of First Nationseducation came under the title of“Training the workforce fortomorrow” in the 2014 budgetand not under the budget sectionentitled “Supporting families andcommunities.”

Atleo said that while thegovernment may view educationof First Nations people as a meansto fill workforce shortages, “ourpeople recognize this as beingmulti-faceted. We want our kidsto be educated and not just to feeda labour force, but to receive thelanguage and culture.”

Spirit Wind sings at the Feb. 3 opening of U of T’s Office of Indigenous Medical Education (OIME). Rochelle Allan, IndigenousPeoples Program Coordinator for the OIME is second from the left.

Atleo receives pushback

Windspeaker mar 2014 final

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Transcript of Windspeaker mar 2014 final