Page 1 Volume 21 Issue 5 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 JUNE 2009 Madahbee seeks unity on rights AAMJIWNAANG FN – Patrick years. Madahbee’s first official act as Hare was elected over Alder- Grand Council Chief of the An- ville Chief J.R. Marsden and Greg ishinabek Nation was to stage a Plain of Aamjiwnaang FN near ceremony calling for unity among Sarnia, host community for the the 42 member communities. 2009 assembly. Madahbee and re-elected Dep- Serpent River FN Chief Isa- uty Grand Chief Glen dore Day, assisting in Hare distributed squares the Unity Ceremony, of burgundy cloth bear- said the Governance ing the image of the An- Cloths were intended to ishinabek Thunderbird, symbolize “the work we along with tobacco ties, have to do together to to representatives of clarify the relationship each member First Na- we have with the British tion at the annual general Grand Council Chief Crown and the govern- assembly to remind del- Patrick Madahbee ment of Canada.” egates of their collective The ceremony began Protest growing against dump proposal responsibility “to move the rights- with the Governance Cloths placed Lorna Murray is one of a growing number of landowners supporting a group of women from Beausoleil First based agenda forward.” in a pile on the floor between fold- Nation who are protesting a proposal to create a garbage dump in Simcoe County directly above one of the The traditional stand-up elec- ed British and Canadian flags. One purest sources of drinking water on earth. Details on Page 2. – Photo by Sharon Weatherall tion process – where supporters by one Chiefs were called forward lined up behind the candidates of to accept the cloth squares and to- McIvor wins Sinclair heads their choice – selected Madahbee bacco ties. but appeals IN BRIEF new commission to his second term as Grand Coun- Beaucage, stepping down after OTTAWA – Sha- Card okay …for now OTTAWA – Mr. cil Chief over Tom Bressette, for- five years as Grand Council Chief ron McIvor will Justice Murray mer chief of Kettle & Stony Point, to focus on his campaign for the WASHINGTON D.C.–The Depart- appeal a B.C. court ment of Homeland Security (DHS) Sinclair, the first and Robert Corbiere, former chief office of National Chief, handed Sharon decision that she is allowing an extension on the use Native judge ap- of Wikwemikong Unceded Indian over the Anishinabek leadership McIvor NO HARMONY says continues to of current versions of Indian Status pointed to the Reserve. In 1980 Madahbee, a headdress to Madahbee following discriminate against thousands of Manitoba bench, Murray citizen of Aundeck Omni Kaning a traditionalIN THIS ceremony TAX conducted Cards to gain land or water entry to Sinclair women who cannot pass on their the United States. has been appointed FN, was elected at the age of 27 as by HarmonizedElder Gordon tax out ofWaindubence tune with financial of Indian status to their descendants. the new chair of the youngest-ever person to hold Sheguindahrealities facing First First Nation Nation. citizens and This extension will remain in other residents of Ontario While the B.C. Court of Appeal place, at the discretion of U.S of- Canada's residential schools the office. He subsequently served (Assembly news on pages decision found that McIvor’s truth and reconciliation com- as Chief of his community for 17 8,9.) ficials, as Canada works to imple- grandchildren qualify for Indian ment new secure cards. mission. Judge Sinclair will status, she is seeking leave to ap- be joined by two new commis- hhhhh peal the decision to the Supreme sioners – Wilton Littlechild, the NO HARMONY Court of Canada on behalf of an Alberta regional chief for the IN THIS TAX estimated 100,000 people who Assembly of First Nations and hhhhh Marie Wilson, a former region- Harmonized tax out of tune with financial are still excluded. Indian Affairs realities facing First Nation citizens and minister Chuck Strahl said the al director of CBC North who hhhhhother residents of Ontario government will re-write the defi- is married to Stephen Kakfwi, nition of Indian Status. former NWT premier. Anti-flu plan kicks into high gear UOI OFFICES – A special Community Planner has pregnant women. been hired by the Union of Ontario Indians to lessen Doreen Cachagee, who had been assisting First the impacts of what the World Health Organization Nations in Ontario to develop and test Pandemic has officially declared a world-wide influenza pan- Plans two years ago, was contracted in mid-June demic. to fill a similar role for Anishinabek communities “We just want to assure the citizens in our 42 through a funding partnership with the First Nation member communities that our staff are taking all and Inuit Health agency. precautionary steps possible to minimize the im- FNIH recently surveyed all First Nations in the pact of any possible health emergency,” said newly- Ontario Region to see which communities would elected Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee. like further assistance. The Grand Chief said UOI health unit staff was Emergency medical supplies were purchased working with provincial and federal government two years ago and stockpiled in each First Nation officials to put in place community services and community. Supplies included disposable masks, infrastructure needed to ensure that all preventive gowns, and gloves, and each community was also ‘I’ll take two’ measures possible are in place. supplied with one folding stretcher and a pulse oxi- One of John Beaucage’s last acts Grand Council Chief was to urge In Ontario as of June 11th close to 2,000 cases of meter to record how effectively a patient’s system is Anishinabek Nation citizens to participate in a postcard-writing H1N1 influenza had been reported, including out- metabolizing oxygen.to 48 hours on a hard surface. campaign asking Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Dalton breaks on six unidentified First Nations. For further information, contact your local McGuinty to respect First Nation treaty rights to tax exemption in the Health officials say those most at risk of de- Public Health Unit, your local health care provid- event plans proceed to “harmonize” Ontario’s provincial sales tax and veloping serious complications from the flu virus er, TeleHealth toll-free at 1-866-797-0000, Tony the federal Goods and Services tax. Phoenix Sky Cottrelle, 13 months, are those with underlying medical problems such as Jocko, health policy analyst, at the UOI or visit the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, was the first in line to get a supply of the Asthma, Diabetes, or cardiac problems, as well as Health Canada website: www.hc-sc.gc.ca postcards. – Photo by Marci Becking Page 2 Anishinabek News June 2009 WALifebloodTER: of Mother Earth Farmers follow women’s lead in water protest By Sharon Weatherall fulfilling their traditional role as TINY TOWNSHIP – Public caretakers of the water, which the attention is becoming focused on Anishinabek refer to as the “Life- a plan to create a garbage dump blood of Mother Earth.” on the site of the Alliston Aquifer, Following the parking ban, the which scientists say is a source of women moved into the centre of some of the purest drinking water the roadway, offering prayers and on earth. smudging with sweetgrass, which On June 12th after Simcoe was mistaken as a bonfire by OPP County met in emergency ses- officers who later blocked both en- sion to impose a ban on protesters trances of Concession 2 due to “a parking on Concession 2 of Tiny public safety threat”. Township, the group, led by five Police asked protesters to move Spokesperson Elizabeth Brass-Elson informs police mediator Heidi Fisher on June 12th that protesters had women from neighbouring Beau- after six tandem trucks had lined decided to block truck access to Site 41. soleil First Nation, began blocking up waiting to dump loads of earth trucks from entering the proposed inside the proposed landfill site. Simcoe County administrator owned by Tiny Township resident Danny Beaton, a resident of Tiny landfill site. “They started pumping water Mark Aitken told Beausoleil coun- Art Parnell who says Site 41 is not Township. “We talked it over and the de- from the site on March 30 this year cilors that the provincial Ministry a proper site for a dump and he Simcoe North MP Garfield cision was made that the trucks and are dumping 810 litres per day of the Environment issued approv- would like to see it stopped. Dunlop -- who has spoken out are going nowhere today,” said into MacDonald Creek – I have al for the Site 41 dump. A sacred fire is burning in a against Site 41 for year -- was Elizabeth Brass-Elson, a Beauso- seen them do it,” Monague said. Construction at the site began lodge that was built for the pro- joined by council members of Tiny leil band councillor who joined the “It’s all a business transaction and in June, 2008, a permit to pump testers by local farmers, who have Township at the second tractor ral- protesters as an individual. a legal way to swindle tax dollars water was issued in December, cell demonstrated their support in ly in early June. Spokesperson Vicki Monague out of taxpayers but they are going construction began this spring, and weekly rallies involving as many “This show of community sup- said aboriginal people of the area to contaminate the water doing it – the landfill – which has cost $40 as 50 tractors. Native men are sup- port today is incredible,’ said Dun- had made it known they were the fish will die and people are at million to develop to date -- will porting the women protesters by lop.