October 2008
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Volume 20 Issue 8 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 October 2008 IN BRIEF Saskatchewan first province Film school launched Treaty education mandatory TORONTO– With files from the Office of the Treaty Commis- Artist and film- The Leader-Post sioner (OTC) and the Federation maker Shirley REGINA – Saskatchewan be- of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Cheechoo has came the first province to imple- (FSIN). It came as a result of the fulfilled her ment mandatory treaty education 2007 Throne Speech, in which the dream of launch- on Sept. 15, which was also the provincial government commit- Shirley ing a film and ted to mandatory treaty education Cheechoo 134th anniversary of the signing television train- of Treaty 4. for children from kindergarten ing centre for Native youth Under the new agreement, ev- through to Grade 12. and people of diversity. The ery student in the province will be Speaking for the 42 member Weengushk Film Institute educated about the true meaning communities of the Anishinabek will be located on Manitoulin of the treaties and what it means to Nation, Grand Council Chief Beau- Island. be treaty people. cage applauded the Saskatchewan “This is exactly what we’d initiative, but said it shouldn’t have like to see happening in our ter- taken the establishment of a treaty Fire funding ritory and across Canada,” said commission to make it happen. Anishinabek Nation Grand Coun- “The Ipperwash Inquiry rec- out of date cil Chief John Beaucage. “Un- ommendations call for the estab- By Margaret Hele less today’s students who will be lishment of a treaty commission SAULT STE. MARIE – Fed- tomorrow’s political and business in Ontario,” Beaucage noted, “but eral funding for First Nation leaders understand the foundation we’re glad to see that the prov- firefighting has not changed of Canada’s relationship with First ince’s ministry of education for almost 30 years. Eugene Nations, discussions about lands has already launched a new Mc Pherson, President of the and resources will evolve into an dren, hung directly behind those of the whole project is the fact it Aboriginal Education Strategy for Ontario Native Firefighters’ endless cycle of confrontations seated at the head table and that will be available in all schools this school year” Service, told the organiza- and court cases.” sentiment was echoed by all the throughout the province. He noted that the Union of tion’s 18th annual conference Provincial and First Nations speakers. Beaudin said because she’s a Ontario Indians has been work- that the Indian and Northern leaders were on hand to sign the Susan Beaudin, who was the primary school educator, it was ing with provincial educators on a Affairs Canada funding for- historic agreement at St. Augus- principal author of the material, not as difficult writing the curricu- variety of educational initiatives, mula covers about 10 per tine Community School. said it was truly a historic event lum for Grades K to 6. She worked including a series of cross-cultural cent of the cost of maintain- It was witnessed by a gymna- and was honoured to have been closely with teachers and elders to training workshops for teachers ing fire protection servicers sium filled with school children, given the privilege of creating the ensure that everything was done in last spring. on First Nations. elders and educators. A brightly- new curriculum. a “good way.” “It’s never too late or too early coloured banner displaying the “It was a very emotional and The curriculum was made pos- for teachers and students to learn phrase “We are all Treaty People,” fulfilling day,” said Beaudin. sible through a joint initiative be- the true story of contributions First Tourists told She said the most amazing part tween the Ministry of Education, ‘it’s scalp night’ created by some of the school chil- Peoples made to Canada.” LITTLE CURRENT – A visitor inquiring about ac- Calendar celebrates ‘spirit’ commodation on a First Na- tion was told by Manitoulin By Marci Becking women “of all shapes and sizes” were chosen as Tourism Association staff UOI OFFICES – The N’ginaajiw (My Spirit is models for the campaign. that it was “scalp night” and Beautiful) self-esteem campaign for First Nations “N’ginnajiw is one of the most wonderful her “hair was just right.” women is now in full swing with the launch of a things that we need to acknowledge in our dai- The incident was condemned calendar – inserted into October’s issue of the An- ly lives,’ says Cotter. “One of the most amazing by Dawn Madahbee, former ishinabek News – and a public service announce- things about your spirit is that no matter what situ- manager of the Great Spirit ment which will be aired this month on CTV’s ation you are in you will always have your spirit. Circle Trail tourism initia- northern Ontario stations and the A-Channel. No one can take that away from you.” tive by eight Manitoulin-area “I’m very excited about the project,” says Heather Naveau, Mattagami First Nation, First Nations, who said the Jody Cotter, HIV/AIDS program coordinator at wrote and composed the music for the 30-second association’s staff should the Union of Ontario Indians. “The self-esteem public service announcement. be “well-educated on First campaign is based on the Thirteen Grandmother “Heather has been playing music for over Nation activities, especially Moon teachings and we incorporated the teach- eight years,” says Cotter, “she plays the guitar, since the Great Spirit Circle ings into the calendar.” piano and is learning to play the violin. I wanted Trail has been a paying mem- The teachings come from Arlene Barry’s series to tap into her talent for N’ginaajiw.” ber for the past nine years.” of compiled teachings called “Kinoomaadiewinan Nadya Kwandibens was the calendar’s graph- Anishinaabe Bimaadinzinwin”. First Nations ic designer. Calendar inside this issue. Page 2 Anishinabek News October 2008 on the road for the past two years tions of him as a Native role mod- to leave, get an education and do is nothing new to him. el. His main advice for youth is, what you got to do, then come Yellowbird soft-spoken He talks with youth as much as “Never give up. The whole world back to help out”. for a very good reason can, trying to live up to expecta- is not the reservation. You need By Jennifer Ashawasegai to anybody.” PARRY SOUND – He walks casu- In his younger years, Yellow- BAD ally over to the patio of a restaurant bird says his speech therapist made GOOD bar in Parry Sound to meet with him sing his sentences to avoid Call the CAR CREDIT Vince Chechock of stuttering, and as long CREDIT Rez 91, a radio station as he had a beat, he on Wasauksing First wouldn’t stutter. EXPERTS Nation. No one would His stutter was not ever suspect that this apparent at all when guy in sandals, shorts speaking with him en and a baseball cap is route to his Wasauk- 1-800-461-4900 a rising country mu- sing stopover before sic star, with several an Aug. 17 concert at number-one hits and the Stockey Centre in a few awards under Parry Sound. He even his belt. confessed about his Shane Yellowbird Shane Yellowbird speech problem to is an easy-going, down-home kind his audience when he stumbled of guy, with a modest demeanor. over his words a couple of times. Yellowbird was a guest of Rez He also made light of it, with an 91 Radio owner Vince Chechock, anecdote about meeting Mel Tillis, who quipped to his special guest an American country singer with that a nearby parked Anishinabek big hits in the 1970’s, who also Police Services cruiser was there stuttered. Yellowbird says it was NEW AND PREOWNED TO CHOOSE FROM in case he needed help “to beat the the longest conversation he has girls off.” ever had, and with so few words! There is a reason why the During the concert, between songs, 29-year-old Cree who grew up when Yellowbird was interacting in Hobbema and Ponoka, Alberta with the audience, the band kept is so soft-spoken. While singing playing in the background to help comes naturally to him, talking is keep his speech intact. another matter. Yellowbird says he’s a true Yellowbird says he can’t even cowboy, unlike some other coun- talk some days because his stutter try singers, who he says just put 3 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BETTER is so bad. cowboy hats and call themselves “ I have my ups and downs, cowboys. He grew up on a ranch SPRAGGE ESPANOLA ELLIOT LAKE and have good days and bad days. in Alberta and followed the rodeo 705-849-2227 705-869-3000 705-848-2227 And on bad days I can’t even talk circuit with his parents, so being Appointments only. If you live in the Algoma district call: October 2008 Anishinabek News Page 3 Anishinabek Wakegijig’s persistence led to traditional healing lodge WIKWEMIKONG – Ron retirement at age 65 by the band’s including asking Wakegijig’s personal struggle 38-family satellite community Wakegijig, elected chief for six official employment policy. Heriditary Chief to bring traditional medicine of Kaboni in the mid-1970s. A terms of the largest Anishinabek Chief Hazel Fox-Recollet said Wakegijig to into a co-operative association commission subsequently found Nation community and descended she recognizes the uniqueness of continue on a with western medicine in his that the root cause of the suicides from four generations of hereditary the role of medicine people in the part-time basis.