PM#0382659799 Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974 Blending Tradition with Technology 6000 copies distributed AUGUST 21, 2020 Vol. 47 No. 8 www.wawataynews.ca Eabametoong evacuates 513 citizens due to fire NAN Rick Garrick of making decisions in order to protect Wawatay News the lives and health of our citizens,” mourns the Yesno says in the Aug. 11 press release. Eabametoong evacuated about “The main concern is environmental 513 Elders, children, medical and health related to the air quality, priority residents and their supports however the same smoke and ash passing of to Thunder Bay, Timmins and can also significantly impact any Kapuskasing after declaring a forest emergency evacuation flights if the fire and smoke emergency on Aug. 11. situation becomes more dangerous or Bill Nothing The Nipigon 45 forest fire is located severe. We are now approaching 24 about 35 kilometres southwest of the hours of waiting, and the decision has Wawatay News Matawa community. The Ministry of been made that we require emergency Natural Resources and Forestry’s forest assistance.” Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) fires webpage states the fire was not Yesno says the community suffered Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, on behalf under control on Aug. 15, but noted the loss of one of the evacuees, an of the Executive Council, sends there was low fire behaviour and Elder who was about 93-years-old, in condolences to the family, friends relative high humidity which should Thunder Bay. and community of Bearskin Lake First keep smoke issues to a minimum. “She wasn’t feeling well towards Nation following the passing of Bill “They do have nine (FireRanger) the evening and then she passed at the Nothing, one of the founders of NAN: crews in there to work on the fire,” says hospital last night,” Yesno says on Aug. “We were saddened to learn of Eabametoong Chief Harvey Yesno on 15. “So now we have to not only try Rick Garrick/Wawatay News Bill’s passing and our thoughts and Aug. 15. “It’s just a large fire, it’s about to bring the immediate relatives out, Eabametoong Chief Harvey Yesno, pictured at a Nishnawbe Aski Nation event when prayers are with his family and the 6,600 hectares. Smoke is not an issue, but also there’s some family members he was grand chief, says about 513 Elders, children, medical priority residents and entire Bearskin Lake community at this which is really good. The forecast for in Timmins and Kapuskasing so we’re their supports were evacuated as of Aug. 14 due to the Nipigon 45 forest fire, which difficult time. weather I think as well is really good, bringing those here (to Thunder Bay).” is located about 35 kilometres southwest of the community. favourable not only for the winds but Yesno says the community also had also for the crews to work on the fire.” a problem with some of the families medical services when it comes to press release. “This again puts extra The MNRF previously had nine being split up during the evacuation, hosting vulnerable populations who pressure on our emergency services “He will be remembered FireRanger crews at the fire with noting that 256 residents were may require increased medical care, during these unprecedented times.” not only for the tremendous helicopters bucketing water on hot evacuated to Thunder Bay, 168 to especially as we continue to respond The MNRF’s forest fires webpage work he did to improve the spots on Aug. 14. Timmins and 89 to Kapuskasing as of to COVID-19. We are counting on other states the status of the Red Lake “The fire is still being monitored — Aug. 14. communities to also step forward to 49 forest fire was changed to being lives of our people, but for it has grown to about 6,000 hectares “We’re trying to deal with that, it’s assist during this emergency.” held and 100 per cent contained on the way he overcame many now,” Yesno says on Aug. 14. “They very difficult,” Yesno says about the Norm Gale, city manager with Aug. 15. The fire received significant of the challenges that have are doing some measures to try to separated families. “We may have Thunder Bay, says the city had rainfall over the 48 hours up to Aug. contain it, there are some suppression a parent here and the children in discussions with Dr. Janet DeMille, 15, including 30 millimetres overnight, strengthened our Nation...” measures but also they did some Timmins or vice versa.” medical officer of health with the which resulted in the fire exhibiting – Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler what they call (controlled) ignition Thunder Bay also received about 54 Thunder Bay District Health Unit, minimal fire behaviour. It was 552 of fuel. They kind of do a backwall or evacuees from Red Lake as of Aug. 12 regarding the arrival and hosting hectares in size on Aug. 14, but the firebreak.” due to the Red Lake 49 forest fire. of additional people within the city FireRanger crews established a hose Bill was one of the founders of our Yesno says the community was “Thunder Bay is a willing partner during a pandemic. line around the entire fire and were Nation and was instrumental in the concerned that smoke from the fire in responding to the needs of our “COVID-19 prevention measures are working inside the perimeter of the fire early days of Grand Council Treaty No. would affect the health and safety of neighbours as they face this dire in place in Thunder Bay and evacuees on Aug. 15. The fire had 24 FireRanger 9 and the declaration of Nishnawbe residents when they decided to declare situation,” says Thunder Bay Mayor will abide by the health and safety crews committed to suppression, Aski Nation in 1977. He was a talented the forest fire and smoke emergency. Bill Mauro in the Aug. 12 press measures in our community to keep six sustained action crews and four and unique individual - a Residential “Eabametoong First Nation like release. “We have, though, advised the evacuees safe, given that they helicopters continuing to support School survivor who refused to allow all other remote communities across the province of our limitations due have no active COVID-19 cases in their crews on the fire line on Aug. 15. the trauma he endured as a child to Ontario continue to face the challenge to the strain on our emergency communities,” Gale says in the Aug. 12 overshadow his hope for a better future for First Nations across NAN territory. Bill always opened his heart and his home to anyone in need, but what really set him apart for many of the ᑲᒪᐡᑭᑭᐊᐧᓄᑭᑕᒪᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒥᓇᐊᐧᐠ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᑕᒪᑯᐃᐧᐣ leaders he worked with was his sense of humour. No matter how difficult or challenging the situation, he could ᑲᑭᐊᓄᑲᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧᑭᑫᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ always find a way to ease the tension. ᕑᐃᐠ ᑲᕑᐃᐠ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑭᒪᐃᐧᓂᐠ (SLFNHA). ᑕᐡ ᓂᐱᒥᓇᓇᑲᒋᑐᒥᐣ ᐊᑎᐟ ᐃᓀᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ CO2 ᐃᐡᐸᐱᑭᑕᒪᑲᐠ, ᐊᒥ Bill touched many lives in many ᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭᒋᐦᐊᐃᐧᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᔑᐃᐧᒋᐃᐧᑎᒪᑲᓄᐊᐧᑫᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᐁᔑᐃᐧᐣᒋᑫᒪᑲᐠ ᐁᐧᓴ ᐁᐅᓴᒥ ᒥᔑᓄᐊᐧᐨ meaningful ways through his ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᐃᓀᑫ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔑᐃᐧ ᐅᐸᑭᑕᓇᒧᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᑯᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑲᐅᒋᐸᑭᑕᓇᒧᓇᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐅᐦᐸᓂᐠ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑲᐡᑲᓇᒧᒪᑲᐠ ᐱᑎᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ compassion and professionalism. He ᒥᓄᔭᐃᐧ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑕᐡ ᓂᑭᐃᐧᒋᑕᐧᒥᐣ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᒣ ᐁᐃᐧᑲᑫᐧ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᑯᓯᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ. ᒋᑭᒥᓄᑐᑕᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᑲᔭᐊᐧᐨ ᐱᑎᑲᒥᐠ,” will be remembered not only for the ᑲᒪᒪᐊᐧᓄᑲᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᓄᑯᒥᑫ ᑭᒥᓇᐊᐧᐠ ᓂᓯᑕᐁᐧᑕᒪᐠ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᔑᓇᑲᐧᓄᐊᐧᑫᐧᐣ ᐃᐁᐧ ᑕᐡ ᓂᑭᐃᔑᒥᑲᒥᐣ ᑲᒥᔑᓄᐡᑭᓀᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑭᑐ ᑯᐯᓯ. “CO2 ᑲᐊᐱᑕᐱᑭᐡᑲᒪᑲᐠ tremendous work he did to improve ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᑕᒪᑯᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᑭᐊᓄᑲᑕᒧᐊᐧᐸᐣ ᐱᑎᑲᒥᐠ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᐊᑎᐟ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᐅᒋᐊᓂᒥᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ.” ᑭᓇᑲᐧᐣ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑭᒋ ᐃᐡᐸᐱᑭᐡᑲᒪᑲᐠ ᒥᔑᐣ the lives of our people, but for the way ᐅᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧ ᑭᑫᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧ ᐱᑎᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᓄᑲᑕᒪᑭᐣ.” ᑯᐯᓯ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐃᓀᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ.” he overcame many of the challenges ᐁᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐸᑭᑕᓇᒧᓇᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᓂ ᑕᐧᑦ ᑯᐯᓯ, ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔑᐃᐧ ᑲᐱᐊᐧᓯᑭᐣ ᐃᐡᐱᒥᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᓭᑭᐣ ᑲᐧᕑᑎᐣ ᐃᑭᑐ ᓄᑌᓭᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ that have strengthened our Nation.” ᒥᓇ ᐊᓂᐣ ᐁᑐᑕᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᓂ ᑲᑕᓇᓄᑭᐨ ᑭᒋᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᑌᑲᓇᐱᑯᐠ, ᐊᑲᐧᑯᔑᐠ ᒥᓇ ᐱᑎᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᒥᓇᐧᔑᑭᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᐁᐧ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ Bill served NAN in many roles ᐅᐸᑭᑕᓇᒧᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓇᐣ ᐊᐧᐸᓄᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ (CHEO) ᒥᓇ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᑲᐱᐊᐧᑯᑌᑭᐣ ᑭᑎᐸᑭᐣᒋᑲᑌᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᐱᒥᔭᒪᑲᐠ ᑭᒋᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᑯᐱᐟ - 19. including Deputy Grand Chief (1982- ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ. ᐅᑫᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧᑭᑫᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐊᓄᑲᑕᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐃᔑᐱᒥᓂᔓᐱᐳᐣ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᑲᐱᒪᓄᑲᑌᐠ “ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐅᐁᐧ ᑲᐱᒥᔭᒪᑲᐠ ᑭᒋᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᐣ 1984) and Executive Director. Early in ᑲᑭᐊᓄᑲᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧᑭᑫᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ, ᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧᑭᑫᒋᑫᐃᐧ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ, ᑭᐃᑭᑐ ᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧᑭᑫᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ. ᒥᓯᐁᐧᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᐱᒥᓇᑭᐡᑭᑲᑌᐠ, ᐊᓂᒧᒋᑲᑌ his career he worked on housing and ᑲᑭᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐊᐧᐨ ᐱᑎᑲᒥᐠ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐅᓀᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧᑭᑫᒋᑫᐃᐧᓇᐣ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ “ᐃᓀᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᐱᐊᐧᑯᑌᑭᐣ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᓄᑌᓭᑭᐣ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᐁᑲᑫᐧᐊᓄᑲᑕᒪᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐸᑭᑕᓇᒧᓇᓄᐊᐧᐠ ᒣᑲᐧᐨ ᐱᒥᐊᓄᑲᑌᐊᐧᐣ ᔕᑯᐨ ᐃᓀᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᒪᑲᑭᐣ ᐃᐡᑯᑌᑲᓇᐱᑯᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᑭᐃᔑ ᑲᑫᐧᐊᐧᐃᐧᒋᑐᔭᐠ justice issues under Andrew Rickard, ᑲᑕᔑᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ 101 ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐊᓄᑲᑌᑲᐧᐸᐣ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᑲᐱᐊᐧᑯᑌᑭᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᐧᐣ ᓇᐱᐨ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᑲᑭᓇ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓇᐣ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᐧᕑᑎᐣ. NAN’s first Grand Chief. He retired as ᓂᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓇᐣ, ᒥᓄᔭᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᑲᑭᐅᒋ ᒋᑭᐅᒋᐱᐊᐧᑯᑌᑭᐣ, ᐃᐁᐧ ᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ “ᑲᒥᔑᓄᐡᑭᓀᐊᐧᐨ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᒥᓇ NAN’s Bilateral Protocol Director after ᑭᐅᒋᓂᓯᑕᐃᐧᓂᑲᑌ ᐅᐁᐧ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᐣ ᐸᑭᑎᓂᑲᑌᑭᐸᐣ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᐣ ᓂᔓᔭᑭ ᐃᐡᑯᑌᑲᓇᐱᑯᐠ ᐁᔑᒋᑲᓱᐊᐧᐨ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᐸᑭᑕᓇᒧᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐊᑯᓯᐊᐧᐨ ᒥᐦᐅᒪ leading several governance initiatives. 2020 ᑲᓇᑕ ᑲᐅᒋ ᐊᓂᑫᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐨ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑭᒥᑭᑫᒪᑲᐣ ᐁᓂᑕᐃᓇᐱᓀᐊᐧᐨ ᑯᐯᓯ. “ᐃᐁᐧ ᑕᐡ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᑲᔭᓂᒥᓴᐦᐃᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᔑᑭᒋᐊᓂᒥᓭᐊᐧᐨ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ He helped establish Tikinagan Child ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧᑭᒪᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᐧᒋᑕᒪᑯᐃᐧᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐅᐸᑭᑕᓇᒧᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐃᐧ ᑲᐊᑲᐧᑯᔑᐊᐧᑭᐣ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ - ᒥᔑᓇᑐᐣ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐅᒋ ᑲᑭᒋᑎᓂᑯᐊᐧᐨ ᑭᒋᐊᑯᓯᐃᐧᓂ & Family Services and was Board Chair ᑲᑭᐊᓄᑲᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᓇᓇᑲᒋᒋᑫᐃᐧ ᐊᓄᑭᐃᐧᓂ. ᐊᐊᐧᔑᔕᐠ. ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᑲᐊᑲᐧᑯᔑᐊᐧᑭᐣ.” ᑯᐱᐟ - 19 ᐃᒪ ᐅᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ, ᒪᐊᐧᐨ when Tikinagan received its mandate “ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ “ᒥᑕᐡ ᐊᔕ ᓂᔕᐧ ᐁᓇᐱᐊᓄᑲᑕᒪᐠ ᑯᐯᓯ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐅᑭᐊᐸᒋᑐᓇᐊᐧ CO2 ᐃᑯ ᑕᐸᐸᓯᓭᓂ ᒋᑲᑫᐧᐅᐣᒋᑕᒪᐃᐧᑕᐧᐸᐣ as the first Indigenous child welfare ᓂᑕᓇᐱᐃᐧᓂᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᐧᐣ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᒋᔑᓇᑲᐧᓂᑭᐣ ᐅᐁᐧ ᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧᑭᑫᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑕᐡ ᑲᐊᐱᒋᒪᑲᐠ ᑎᐸᐸᒋᑲᓂᐠ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᑲᐧᔭᐠ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᐣ ᑫᒥᓇᐧᔑᓂᑭᐣ ᑫᐃᔑᑲᐯᔑᐊᐧᐨ.” agency in Ontario. He also served as ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐁᐧᓴ ᒥᔑᓄᐡᑭᓀᐊᐧᐠ ᓄᑯᑦ ᐃᒪ ᐱᑎᑲᒥᐠ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐃᔑᓇᑲᐧᓄᑫᐧᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᐸᑭᑕᓇᒧᓇᓂᐊᐧᐠ con't on page 2 a board member with the Nishnawbe ᐸᐯᔑᐠ ᐊᐧᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᒐᓂᐟ ᓂᑎᔑ ᓇᓇᑕᐃᐧᑭᑫᑕᒥᐣ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐃᒪ ᐱᑎᑲᒥᐠ. Aski Police Service. ᑲᐧᕑᑎᐣ, ᑲᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐨ ᒪᐡᑭᑭᐃᐧ ᐊᓄᑭ ᐅᐣᒋᒪᑲᓄᑫᐧᐣ ᑲᐅᒋᓂᑕᐊᑯᓯᓇᓄᐊᐧᓄᑫᐧᐣ “ᐃᐁᐧ CO2 ᒪᔭᑦ ᐅᒋᒪᑲᐣ ᐱᑎᑲᒥᐠ ᐱᒧᒋᑫᐃᐧᓂᐠ ᐃᒪ ᐊᐧᓂᓇᐊᐧᑲᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐸᑭᑕᓇᒧᐃᐧᓂᐠ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑯᐯᓯ.