The Northern Association of Community Councils Summer 2010 Edition

Points of Interest:

• 40th Annual AGM Updates

• A Spotlight on Matheson Island Win

• Community Festival a Support Programs $4,000

• NHFI Gardening Info. Travel Gift Matheson Island • Grants/Jobs Certificate!

• Classifieds/Events (See page 5 1 For details) • Community News

Reg Meade—President NACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS: PRESIDENT: REG MEADE (204) 689-2165 EASTERN CHAIRPERSON: HELGI EINARSSON (204) 659-5214 NORTHERN CHAIRPERSON: FRANCES MCIVOR (204) 689-2165 WESTERN CHAIRPERSON: ANNE LACQUETTE (204) 628-3275

EASTERN VICE CHAIRPERSON: CHANDLER MCLEOD (204) 947-2227 NORTHERN VICE CHAIRPERSON: GLEN FLETT (204) 359-6719 WESTERN VICE CHAIRPERSON: LARRY CHARTRAND (204) 628-3356

EASTERN SEC/TREASURER: BARBARA MARCYNIUK (204) 645-2619 NORTHERN SEC/TREASURE: MARTHA CHARTRAND (204)458-2420 WESTERN SEC/TREASURER: HARLOLD FLEMING (204) 732-2675

Enjoy this issue and please let us know if you have any comments, articles, or suggestions for the next issue of Whispering Pines.

Let us know if you require additional copies.

2 Helgi Einarsson—Eastern Chairperson Hello once again. Well it looks like Spring is here. Commercial fishing on Lake starts soon, this is the earliest that it has opened since I can remember. Lately I have been busy going up and down highway #16 going to meetings in Winnipeg. In our community we seem to have gotten things rolling again with a C.A.O. now working and finally recovering the 1st quarter. I am now looking into the Fisher Bay Park Reserve where it effects the communities of Dallas Red Rose, Fisher Bay, Pine Dock and Matheson Island. I hope all of the commercial fishers who start fishing soon have a good season and to the farmers I hope that you have a better season than last year with not as much rain. Frances McIvor—Northern Region Chairperson Its hard to imagine our communities with out volunteers. Many events will be taking place Graduations, July 1st, Fish Derby’s, ’s birthday and many more exciting events. To make these events a success we need everyone's participation. I attended a wonderful documentary film about the Mel Johnson School Gardening Project celebrating the gardening accomplishments of the youth in the community. Watching this film I could see a lot of hard work and dedication went into the gardens. My vision is to one day see our communities have market gardens. So people like me can buy their fresh vegetables, breads and jams. Everyone have a safe and great summer. See you at the 40th AGM. Congratulations to all the Graduates of 2010.

Chantel Chornoby no more pain you are with the angels, you will live on in our hearts and memories. Sleep well young warrior.

Anne Lacquette-Western Region Chairperson I attended the Executive meetings in January, February, March and April. On February 9-12, I attended the Frontier School Committee Conference in Winnipeg. I received my 25 year service Award for being a School Committee member. ’s new Chief Superintendant is Ray Derksen. On April 15 & 16 I attended Cancer Care meetings in Brandon.

I spent one week in Chicago to watch my granddaughter play hockey in the World Championships. I have been appointed to the PRHA Board by Theresa Oswald, Minister of Health. I would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer. I look forward to seeing everyone at the AGM in August, which will be held at Canad Inn Polo Park. Please send in your resolutions.

Happy 50th Anniversary for Tony and Marie Leperre of Waterhen, and Congratulations to Dwayne and Roseanne Lacquette of Mallard and to Harold and Lorraine Chartrand of Baden for celebrating their 25 year anniversary. 3 Inside this issue:

BOARD REPORTS 2

OFFICE NEWS 4

AGM UPDATES 6

A SPOTLIGHT ON 8 MATHESON ISLAND Website Information

NEWS FROM THE 10 NHI PROGRAM

FAMIILY SECTION 12

JOBS,GRANTS, 14 & CLASSIFIEDS

COMMUNITY 16

INFORMATION

4 The purpose of NACC is to be a meaningful The Capital Approval Board and effective advocacy group. consists of the following people for the year 2010 To improve the quality of life in Northern Association Communities by having Reg Meade positive, proactive meetings with Ministers and Cabinet on issues affecting our Northern communities and to inform and involve Ken Ducharme , Cross Lake Jim Chornoby, Ilford community councils and residents in our progress. Eastern Allan Atlookan, We believe that all communities are unique Berens River and that their needs and interests should Anthony Seymour, be recognized. Seymourville

Western Louis Genaille, Duck Bay Sean Hummerston, Powell

We have negotiated rates for the Marlborough Hotel in Winnipeg, and the Burntwood Hotel in Thompson.

The Marlborough Hotel - in Winnipeg Is pleased to offer all NACC communities staff, clients, family, friends or others associated with your organization a special negotiated rate of $75.00 plus taxes per night for a Standard smoking or non-smoking room with either one queen bed or two double beds. In addition, a special negotiated rate of $80.00 plus taxes per night will apply to a Superior smoking or non-smoking room with either one queen bed or two double beds. These rates will apply both to single or double occupancy. As well, a complimentary guest room upgrade upon availability at check-in. A complimentary breakfast coupon with every night’s stay including on weekends is also offered. The guest breakfast, featuring five a la carte menu choices, is available in Joanna’s restaurant, the historic lobby level Café. When making reservations by phone please call 1-800-667-7666 or (204) 942-6411

The Burntwood Hotel – in Thompson Is pleased to offer all NACC communities staff, clients, family, friends or others associated with your organization a special negotiated rate of $89.00 plus taxes per night for a Standard smoking or non-smoking room with either one queen bed or two double beds. In addition, a special negotiated rate of $95.00 plus taxes per night will apply to a Superior smoking or non-smoking room with either one queen bed or two double beds. These rates will also apply both to single or double occupancy and a complimentary guestroom upgrade will be provided upon availability at check-in. A complimentary breakfast coupon with every night’s stay including on weekends is also offered. Our guest breakfast, featuring five a la carte menu choices, is available in Grapes Restaurant on the lobby level of the hotel. When making reservations by phone please call 1-800-442-0635 or 204-677-4551 When booking rooms, you must mention what community you are from to receive discounted rates and upgraded rooms. In either location you will also have the option of joining our Guest Links Program – providing a free one night stay for every 10 room nights used at any of our three Manitoba hotels

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“40 Years of Dedication

To the Continuing Growth of our Communities”

The Northern Association’s 40th Annual 40th Annual Trade Show General Meeting & Tradeshow: We are inviting participants to be part of our Will be held at the Canad Inns Polo Park, Tradeshow on August 17th & 18th, 2010; This Winnipeg, Manitoba on August 17, 18, and will be an excellent opportunity to market and 19, 2010. This years theme will be network with potential communities, clients, ―40 Years of Dedication To the Continuing partners and investors. Therefore we are now Growth of our Communities.‖ accepting booth exhibitors and craft peoples registrations for the trade show. A Social Evening will be held on August the 18th. Cocktail hour will be from 5:30- Booth fees (table 4” x 8”) at a rate of $200.00 6:30, Dinner will be served at 6:30. Chris If other services are needed, please make your Funk the Magician will be performing at 7, request as soon as possible. there will be a social afterwards with music Community Council’s may book their tables at and silent auction prizes. no charge. All registered delegates will be no charge, for all additional family and friends there If you are interested in becoming a tradeshow will be a $25 charge per guest. Tickets are exhibitor, or if you have any questions, please on sale at the NACC office. contact our office. Toll Free: 1-888-947-6222.

What Can You Do for the AGM?

Volunteer to help during the AGM. NACC was founded in 1970 and Incorporated in November 1971. Donate an item to the Silent NACC is celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year. Auction Draw. The first Executive Committee of the NACC was elected at Take photos of your community the first annual meeting, consisting of the following and send them to us by individuals. either e-mail or snail mail. President: Kip Thompson of Ilford, Send in your ideas for training Northern Chairman: Don McIvor of Wabowden, sessions or volunteer to lead a Eastern Chairman: Bill Bennett of Matheson Island, training session. Western Chairman: Delphis Flamand of Camperville.

6 SPONSORSHIP Win a $4,000 ANNOUNCEMENT Travel Gift Certificate NACC would like to invite your The Northern organization to become a Association of Corporate Sponsor for our 40th Community Councils is having a Annual General Meeting & fundraiser with the prize being a Tradeshow. With your ―$4,000 Travel Gift sponsorship you can contribute to Certificate.‖ make our AGM a success for Manitoba’s Northern Communities. Tickets are available now and you can pick them up from one of your local board Gold Sponsor $3,500.00 Announcement at the (AGM) members or at the NACC office directly. of sponsorship Call toll free at 1-888-947-6222 or 947-2227 Reserved spot in the Tradeshow Acknowledgment in the AGM program Draw to be held on August 19th, 2010 at the 40th Appreciation of sponsorship Annual AGM, being held at Canad Inns Polo Park. on the NACC Website and in the Whispering Pines Newsletter Tickets are $20.00 each. Link to your website from the Special Thanks NACC website Signage - Acknowledgment on to our NACC banner displayed at the AGM Prize Supplier: 6 – Tickets to the NACC Social Gathering ―Einarssons Dreamcatcher Silver Sponsor $2,000.00 Announcement at the (AGM) of sponsorship Reserved spot in the Tradeshow Acknowledgment in the AGM program Appreciation of sponsorship on the NACC Website and in the Important Info: Whispering Pines Newsletter Signage - Acknowledgment on NACC banner displayed at the AGM Registration Reminder: 4 – Tickets to the NACC Social Gathering

The registration forms have been sent out to each Bronze Sponsor $1,500.00 Announcement at the Community Council. Please mail them back to us as (AGM) of sponsorship soon as possible. If your community has not yet Reserved spot in the Tradeshow for your organization received your forms, please let the NACC office Acknowledgment in the AGM program know. Also resolutions should be submitted to Appreciation of sponsorship on the NACC Website NACC by July the 15th. Advertisement of sponsor in the Toll Free: 1-888-947-6222 Whispering Pines Newsletter 2 – Tickets to the NACC Social Gathering

7 Matheson Island is located in the northwest corner of the Lake Winnipeg Narrows area. Its location at this strategic point on the lake has given the island and its people a rich history for over 100 years. Lake Winnipeg has played a vital role in shaping the island community of Matheson Island right from the beginning of time, and it continues to do so even until the present. Matheson Island was recognized as a community in 1969, and is The Harbour represented by a mayor and council under the Northern Affairs Act. The people of the area most commonly called it ―Snake Island‖ because of the thousands of garter snakes that used to thrive along the rocky shoreline of the island. Present economic activity centers around commercial fishing, followed by trapping, some saw-logging and local services. Approximately 117 people live on the island.

Each year Matheson Island hosts an annual fishing derby. They use the revenue from this fishing derby to help the community reach its 20% of locally generated revenue for their budget. They have used some of this revenue in the past to build a sun shelter at the beach, purchase welcome signs, street signs, flower planters, picnic benches and they also had a mural painted on the rink. They have also built bat houses and bird houses. You can find out the winners of this years fishing derby and more information on Matheson Islands new website: http://www.mathesonisland.ca/.

Beach at Matheson Island 8 Beach during low water The Community Council has a community hall available for rent, equipped with tables, chairs, kitchen facility, and air conditioning.

Book your meetings away from the big cities/ towns and come enjoy our secluded area and beautiful scenery of Lake Winnipeg, along with the local sand beach. Accommodations are available 20 km away at Jackpine Resort ~ (204) 276-2450. Community Hall

Matheson Island is located at the end of Provincial Road #234, which connects with Provincial Highway #8.

The community is connected with the mainland by the Ingemar Carlson II Cable Ferry, or in the winter months by a winter road. It's only a short ferry ride across, or a 1.6 km winter road. Ingemar Carlson 11 The Cable Ferry runs daily (7am-11pm), Cable Ferry weather permitting.

A summer project—Enter our ―Photo Contest‖

The Whispering Pines Newsletter is having a photo contest. Send us photos of your community and if you are the winner your photo will be printed on the front cover of the next Whispering Pines issue and your community will be spotlighted. We will also add your photos to the NACC website. We ask that the photo’s be taken in communities that belong to NACC. Please give a description of where the photo’s were taken. You can e-mail your pictures to [email protected] or mail them to: The Northern AssociationPage 9of Community Council’s, 750-331 Smith Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2G9 Dauphin River 9 Hello Whispering Pines readers, gardening season is upon us and it is time for us to get outdoors, get our hands dirty and plant our vegetable gardens.

As the Project Coordinator for the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative (NHFI), I am in charge of making sure that each community is equipped for the start of a new garden season. This includes making sure that all garden tools and seeds have been purchased and delivered. Along with my role as Project Coordinator I am also committed to expanding my knowledge of gardening and other food related issues. I was invited to attend Root Camp 2010 hosted in Leaf Rapids in mid February and jumped at the opportunity. This two day workshop included presentations on garden soil preparation, fertilization, cold frame construction, raised bed construction, planting techniques, seedling care and composting. I learned a lot and met a lot of incredible people.

The month of May was particularly eventful for me and included a week and half week road trip and an additional three day excursion. I visited the 14 communities that are involved in the NHFI and conducted gardening kick-off events in each community. I visited Barrows, Baden, Pelican Rapids, Mallard, Crane River, Camperville, Duck Bay, Meadow Portage, Spence Lake, Rock Ridge, Dauphin River, Berens River, Matheson Island and Princess Harbour. I had been anticipating my Northern adventure for months and was not disappointed. The communities were welcoming, members of the community were extremely responsive and the scenery along the way was breath taking. Amy at Camperville Beach As a result, I have returned to Winnipeg with a soft spot in my heart reserved for . Thank you and I look forward to coming back!

If you or your community would be interested in starting a garden or would like any additional information related to the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative, please feel free to contact me toll free at 1-888-947-6222 or by email at [email protected].

Talk soon, Amy Yonda

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It is barbeque season and it is important to be aware of how to grill meat and seafood on the BBQ properly and safely!

FOLLOW THESE BASIC TIPS: Low (Below 300°F) Preheat the BBQ grill before putting food on it, this will destroy any bacteria that may have been on the grill Used to BBQ meats that are high in fat or that are Always keep the BBQ grill area clean large in size. It is best not to cook meat at a Sanitize all cutting boards, dish cloths, and utensils which have been temperature that is lower in contact with raw meat, fish or poultry. Clean in hot soapy water and rinse in a bleach solution (5mL of bleach to 750mL of water) than 225°F

Marinade meat in the refrigerator overnight or at least a couple of Medium hours before grilling. Dispose of any leftover, unused marinade (Between 300°F - 400°F) Minimize the amount of times that you turn meat. Cook This is the most commonly the meat to the point of being about 40% done, flip it used temperature setting once and cook the other side until the meat is and is used to grill completely cooked through poultry, burgers and hot dogs Do not add salt to the meat while barbequing as salt will soak up the juices. Also avoid pressing down on the meat, both will dry out the meat High (Above 400°F) Always test the meat with a thermometer to ensure it is thoroughly cooked. Wash and sanitize the thermometer stem after use. Meats This high temperature is should be cooked to the following internal temperatures: used to sear meat. This is Beef, veal, and lamb 63-77°C (145-170°F) Pork 71°C (160°F) done when meat is first Chicken 77°C (170°F) put on the BBQ and Whole chicken 82°C (180°F), in the breast should only be done for a Ground beef 71°C (160°F) and ground poultry 80°C (175°F) few minutes. After, the Steak 60°C (140°F) (rare), 71°C (160°F) (medium) and 77°C heat should be turned (170°F) (well done) down to medium. Searing gives the meat a tasty Always cook ground meat and poultry until the meat is no longer pink grilled taste and the juices are clear

Never put cooked meat back on the same plate that was used to transport the raw meat, unless it has been washed

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These tender, juicy beef skewers are wonderfully simple, marinated in zesty lime juice and onion with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Add cherry tomatoes, zucchini, peppers or other seasonal veggies if you like. Ingredients  2 pounds beef tenderloin (can substitute deer/moose/caribou meat)  1 onion, chopped  1 tablespoon salt  1 pinch ground black pepper  1/8 cup fresh lime juice

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cut beef into cubes 1x1/2 inch. Add to a medium mixing bowl along with the onion, salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate overnight. 2. Lightly oil grill, then preheat grill for high heat. 3. Thread beef on skewers, 6 to 8 pieces per skewer. 4. Cook kebobs for 3 to 4 minutes per side, 12 to 16 minutes total.

What you’ll need: • Empty quart sized cardboard milk carton  Scissors  String or cord  Hole punch or pencil  Bird Seed

How to make it: 1) Have an adult help you cut a hole in the bird feeder—it should be big enough so a bird could come and sit and eat the feed, but not to big or the carton will become unstable. 2) Have an adult help you cut a hole using the hold punch in the top of the milk carton and put a string through the hold. Alternatively, you can poke a hold on either side of the flap at the top of the carton by poking a pencil through the top. 3) Tie a knot in the string. 4) Fill the carton with bird seed until it reaches the top of the hole 5) Hang the cart on a tree branch and watch the birds enjoy their snack. 12 13 Upcoming Events: Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Tony and Marie Leperre from Waterhen - Day Celebrations July 1st. Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary - 6th Annual ―Under the Porcupine‖ Lorraine and Harold Chartrand from Baden Celebration of Music, July 7th-10th in Barrows, Manitoba. This is the ultimate Dwayne and Roseanne Lacquette music camp for all ages held in Manitoba. Don’t From Mallard miss out on the daily workshops in fiddle, guitar, vocals, dance, mandolin and bass lessons with some of the best instructors in Can- ada. Lessons are available from the beginner to the advanced from 9 am-4:30 pm daily. For more information phone: Brenda The Staff of Mel Johnson School and 1 (204) 545-6215 or Email: [email protected]. the Community of Wabowden would like to Congratulate all the Graduates of 2010.

Canada’s first IIHF World Championship

Brigette Lacquette named best defenseman as Star leads Canada to world under 18 Championship.

Its very likely that there is no better teenaged hockey player in Canada than Mallard, Manitoba’s Brigette Lacquette.

Lacquette, Manitoba’s Tom Longboat Award winner as 2009 female athlete of the year, was both the scoring and defensive leader as Canada’s national under 18 women’s hockey team won the IIHF World Championship with a 5-4 overtime victory over the United States in the final.

Lacquette who was named the Best Defenseman, set up Jessica Campbell with the winning goal in overtime, her second assist in the gold medal game, as Canada won its first IIHF World Under 18 women’s Championship.

Lacquette scored two goals and added 11 assists in the tournament. Congratulations Brigette we are all so very proud of you!

Brigette will return to play for Team Manitoba at the National Championship in May and finish her season at Pursuit of Ex- cellence School in Kelowna. Next year, she will play defense for the University of Manitoba Bison's.

14 Community Festivals Manitoba Healthy Living Support Program Manitoba in Motion The Community Festivals Support Program Funding is available to help community provides financial assistance to rural and partnerships plan and implement ways to northern community festivals in Manitoba increase physical activity among citizens of all ages. which are recognized as being signature Funds can be used for a wide variety of annual events to support the efforts of activities that help increase physical activity. Some volunteers in organizing their community’s examples are: developing an action plan to become a signature annual festival or celebration. ―Community in motion‖, increasing the awareness among citizens of the health and personal benefits of The deadline is November 1st for festivals active living, removing barriers to physical activity, taking place between January 1 and March developing ways to reach inactive groups of people, 31st. April 1st for festivals taking place providing new or expanded opportunities for active between April 1st and December 31st. living, and creating local policy, plans and programs There is more information about this grant for physical activity. on the NACC website: http://nacc.cimnet.ca There is more information about this grant on the or call you can call the NACC office NACC website: http://nacc.cimnet.ca or call you can at 1-888-947-6222. call the NACC office at 1-888-947-6222.

STEP Services provides a central contact point for students who are interested in working with the provincial government and related organizations such as Manitoba Hydro. Students will also be considered for other employment opportunities with the provincial government in their community. Most of the jobs occur during the summer months, cooperative education work terms occur year round and part -time jobs are available to post– secondary students during the school year. In order to be considered for referral to these jobs, students must register with STEP Services at : http://www.gov.mb.ca/educate/studentjobs/ Students must be 16 years of age or older on or before the first day on the job to register for these jobs. Priority is given to Manitoba students who are attending school full-time this year and returning to full-time studies in the next academic year. As well, local students are given priority for the jobs in their community.

Call Before You Begin A Project Summer is finally here and more than one construction project is under way. Whether you’re planning to drill a well, dig postholes for a fence or start some other kind of project requiring excavation, plan ahead and call before you dig. Call 1-888-MB HYDRO for locating gas and electric underground lines or cables. Manitoba Hydro’s trained personnel will mark the locations of underground power lines and gas lines and buried installations such as vaults containing transformers or electrical switchgear.. By calling before you dig, you prevent damage and save the costs of unnecessary repairs. More importantly, calling before you dig will prevent the loss of live, injury, environmental pollution, equipment damage, product losses and service outages. Don’t forget to call other utilities such as the telephone or cable company to receive their clearance. And remember that overhead power lines also need to be respected on any job site. 15 Legislative Assembly Honours Memory of Chantelle Chornoby

Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson today led members of the legislative assembly in honouring contributions of Chantelle Chornoby, a young Manitoban from who dedicated much of her life to improving Aboriginal registration rates for bone marrow and stem cell donation until her death on May 9 at the age of 21.

Chornoby first beat cancer when she was 10 years old but was diagnosed again in 2007 with a rare form of leukemia that can only be treated and cured through bone marrow transplants. Bone marrow transplants require a complicated set of matched genetic markers, usually from a donor of the same ethnic group. ―Chantelle Chornoby was a true warrior in every sense of the word and her determination to help other people and persevere inspired everyone who had the privilege of meeting her,‖ said Robinson. ―I urge all Manitobans, particularly those of Aboriginal descent, to honour Chantelle’s tremendous legacy by registering to donate with Canadian Blood Services.‖ The Canadian Blood Services One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network has about 220,00 people registered to be potential donors, but less than one per cent are Aboriginal. Recognizing the great need, Chornoby setup a Face book group called Chantelle’s Promise to raise awareness and recruit Aboriginal people to register as donors.

Chornoby was enrolled in the addictions and community services diploma program at CDI College with the intent of graduating and giving back to her home community of War Lake First Nation. CDI College held a mass registration event for One Match in Chantelle’s honour. Those interested in participating can visit www.blood.ca and follow the links to register for the One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network online.

A Gold Medal Stacy Parker plays hockey for the ―Winnipeg Aces‖ The nest issue of the hockey team. Whispering Pines Her team won the Western Shield Tournament. Newsletter will be sent The Western Shield is the highest level of Canadian female out in September. hockey for teams playing below the AAA level of hockey. Please have your It brings together individuals from articles submitted by the western provinces: August the 15th. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Send to: Stacy is from Wabowden, Manitoba. [email protected] 947-2227 Congratulations to the ―ACES‖ 1-888-947-9446 who captured gold this past April in Victoria British Columbia.

16 Quilt made in Wabowden has crossed the ocean to Holland

Silver and Gold Club of Wabowden-Quilt made by the club has been taken to Holland. In 2002 Dawny Bayer, Wabowden’s Recreation Director at that time, had a group of seniors who called themselves the Silver and Gold Club. These wonderful women made a quilt with the help of Vicky Fleming. This quilt has designs and pictures that reflected the history of Wabowden. The quilt was then donated to the Mel Johnson School to be raffled off for some playground equipment. A group of seniors from Winnipeg called the ―Seniors on the Run‖ raising money for the Children's Hospital in Winnipeg passed through Wabowden and the winner of the quilt was won by Mr. Hennie Van Gerwin one of the runners of Marquette, Manitoba.

This past month Hennie reported to us that he went back to his homeland of Holland. While he was there he gave his God Daughter the quilt for her 40th birthday. A big thank you to the Silver and Gold Club, Community members and everyone else involved in the making of the quilt.

A Northern Woman who has truly Did You Know that given back to her Community NACC Florence Hamilton was Wabowden’s midwife, in spirit and in practice. Is on the WEB? Now in her 91st year, she can lay claim to having borne 17 children and http://nacc.ciment.ca delivered 43 babies. She has 189 grand-children (including great and great-great) of her own, Florence has no shortage of people calling her mom and Granny. Florence Hamilton had her first experience with delivery when she was 15 years old, and ever since then she has been helping and doing her own. She was 17 years old when she delivered her first baby. Florence inherited the gift of midwifery from her Aunt whom she was close to. Aboriginal midwives have passed their teachings and experiences down through generations, regarding the event as sacred and treating it as such. Florence has delivered babies on almost everywhere including trains and planes. Drawing into her bank of teachings and a lifetime of skills, Florence has had a successful career of midwifery. Florence's daughters and granddaughters are not the only ones who now value their matriarch's knowledge of midwifery. So, too, do the elders and administration of the University College of the North. So much so that they have used her teachings as part of the curriculum used in their Aboriginal Midwifery program. In fact, two of Florence’s own family (one granddaughter and one grand-niece) are currently enrolled in the college’s study of traditional birth. Florence has led a long and blessed life, raising a large, happy family and sharing in the joy of many beautiful births. Florence is Reg Meade the president of The Northern Association of Community Council’s mother. 17 THE NORTHERN ASSOCIA TION OF COMMUNITY COUNCILS

Canada Day is an opportunity to gather in our communities, from coast Whispering Pines is a quarterly publication of The to coast, and to proudly celebrate all we have in common. It is an Northern Association of Community Councils, which opportunity to celebrate our achievements, which were born in the provides an essential means audacious vision and shared values of our ancestors, and which are of communication between isolated communities and voiced in nearly all of the languages of the world through the regions. contribution of new Canadians.

WHISPERING Pines has been Canada Day is a time to celebrate the heritage passed down to us through serving as an information tool of northern communities since the works of our authors, poets, the early 1970’s. artists and performers. It is a time to

We encourage community rejoice in the discoveries of our council members and members of the community to scientific researchers, in the success submit comments, of our entrepreneurs, and to suggestions, articles, and ideas to the editor. commemorate our history—a history

When submitting letters and in which each new chapter reveals articles please include the itself to be more touching, more author’s name, address and telephone number . fascinating than the last.

Letters may be edited and As we look ahead, we have every reason to face the future with represent the opinions of their confidence and enthusiasm. writers, they do not reflect the opinions of the Whispering Pines or its staff.

Whispering Pines is printed by Esdale Printers of Winnipeg, Canada’s Birthday Manitoba. Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada), formerly

Dominion Day (French: Le Jour de la We look forward to hearing Confédéduration), is Canada’s national day, a from you. federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the 1 July 1867 enactment of the joining of the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province NACC of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada 750-331 Smith Street Winnipeg, Manitoba being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec). R3B 2G9 Canada Day observances take place throughout Canada as well as internationally. What events does your community have Phone: 204-947-2227 Toll free: 1-888-947-6222 planned? Fax: 204-947-9446 Email: [email protected] 18