June 2008 in the NEWS Anishinabek Nation Will Decide Who Are Citizens by Michael Purvis Citizenship
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Volume 20 Issue 5 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 June 2008 IN THE NEWS Anishinabek Nation will decide who are citizens By Michael Purvis citizenship. Grand Council Chief John Sault Star The law proposes to do Beaucage said it’s time First There’s something troubling to several things, chief among them Nations start looking at citizenship Wayne Beaver about the high rate throwing out in the same way as nations like at which Alderville First Nation the concept Canada do. members are marrying people of status and “Right now we somewhat from outside the community. replacing buy into the aspect of status with It’s not the fact that youth are it with the Indian Act: Our membership looking to outsiders for mates citizenship clerks fi ll in the federal government that raises alarm bells — that’s akin to that forms and send them in to Ottawa expected, Beaver said, in a of the world’s and people get entered into a list,” community of just 300 people. sovereign Wayne Beaver said Beaucage. The problem is, if what the nations. “Well, once we have our studies say is true, Alderville “Under the present defi nition, citizenship law, we’re not going faces a future without any status the grandchildren of women such to do that; we’re not going to fi ll Indians as long as the federal as me, who marry non-Indians, those forms in and send them in Barack Black Eagle government’s defi nition of Indian will lose their status,” said to Ottawa.” MISSOULA, Mt.– Democratic party presidential candidate Barack status continues to hold sway, he Corbiere-Lavell. How that affects the Obama was adopted into the Crow Nation during his visit to a said. The Anishinabek Nation’s relationship between First Nations Montana Reservation. Obama was adopted by the Black Eagle “The government has always solution is a law that will determine and the federal government is family, and given a Crow – or Apsaalooke – name that translates used status to control our numbers, citizenship based on the lineage of “more their problem than ours,” as “That Person Who Goes Throughout Our Land and Tries to Help and that’s not conjecture, that’s at least one grandparent. said Beaucage. People.” Crow Tribal Chairman Carl Venne told the Illinois Senator:. just history,” said Beaver, a band “Instead of pouring billions of dollars into Iraq and quadrupling councillor for Alderville, just foreign aid to Africa, we need to spend money taking care of our south of Peterborough, Ont. needs at home, especially the forgotten fi rst Americans.” The Anishinabek Nation says many, if not all, First Nations face a similar dwindling population It’s Chippewas of Rama again problem due to an amendment to ORILLIA – The Chippewas of Rama have voted to drop the name the Indian Act in 1985 that was Mnjikaning and return to the name the band acquired in the 1800s meant to remove discrimination when it moved to Rama Township from Orillia. against women, but which created Mnjikaning, which means fi sh fence in Ojibwe, was adopted as the a two-generation status cut-off band’s offi cial name in the mid-1990s. Supporters of the change to for native people who marry non- Mnjikaning wanted to link the native community on Lake Couchi- natives. ching to the historic fi sh weirs at The Atherley Narrows, where The Anishinabek Nation stakes have been found dating back 4,500 years. took another step in its effort to French explorer Samuel de Champlain observed the Huron net- change that situation. It named a ting fi sh at the weirs in 1615. Whether the Chippewa, who moved commissioner who will work to into the area after the Huron nation crumbled, used the weirs in the create a citizenship law for its 42 same way is a matter of debate. member First Nations. In a referendum 162 band members voted for Chippewas of Jeannette Corbiere-Lavell, Rama,Chippewas of Rama Mnjikaning received 82 votes, and who led a Supreme Court Chippewas of Mnjikaning received just 24. challenge in the 1970s against the status system when it stripped Anishinabek News her of membership in her own community, will hold a series of now available online consultations aimed at creating www.anishinabek.ca consensus on how the Anishinabek Grand Council Chief John Beaucage with Citizenship Commissioner Nation will take control of its own Jeannette Corbiere-Lavell. More citizenship stories on Pages 10-11. Time will prove apology’s sincerity: Beaucage CHIPPEWAS OF RAMA “Our fi rst thoughts today are was sincere when our citizens Strahl with a proposal to fund – Canada needs to demonstrate for our Elders,” said Beaucage. have access to the same homes, a language strategy that would the sincerity of its apology for “Many of them have suffered life- jobs, education and health care as include the establishment of a the legacy of Indian Residential long physical and emotional pain all Canadians,” said Beaucage. new immersion language institute Schools by including First Nations because of their residential school The Grand Council Chief said that would help undo the loss of people in the country’s future. experiences.” the Prime Minister’s apology language experienced by most Anishinabek Nation Grand “We are so proud that many sounded genuine and he was of the 80,000 residential school Council Chief John Beaucage Anishinabek lived long enough looking forward to upcoming survivors. joined thousands of Canadians to hear Canada’s apology to them. bilateral discussions about “The devastating loss of who watched Stephen Harper’s But the true test of Mr. Harper’s Anishinabek Nation priorities. language and culture suffered 3,600-word apology on June words will be his government’s Following the upcoming by First Nations people is one of 11, to First Nation, Metis and actions to help our children have a Anishinabek Nation Grand the most tragic and long-lasting Inuit people for what the Prime better future than their parents and Council Assembly in Whitefi sh effects of the Indian residential National Chief Phil Fontaine Minister called “a sad chapter in grandparents.” River FN, Beaucage will present school system,” said Grand responds to the Prime Minister’s our history”. “We will know the apology Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Council Chief Beaucage. apology on June 11. Page 2 Anishinabek News June 2008 Eshki-bmaadzijig/Youth Boot camp recruiting By Mekwan Tulpin SAULT STE MARIE – On July 7-9 this summer, Turtle Concepts youth empowerment program will be hosting their 3rd Annual Boot Camp. “General”David Jones assures parents that his summer staff will again stimulate children’s minds and help develop skills in the areas of leadership, teamwork, and overall fun. “Enlisted kids” participate in tug-of-war, fear factor foods, scavenger hunts and trust-building activities and individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, spirit and improvements will be receiving prizes donated by local businesses. Each participant will be guaranteed a certifi cate for surviving three days of the summer boot camp. The number of participants undertaken this year will be a maximum 60 (30 Junior: Ages 6-12, 30 Senior: Ages 13-18). To register or receive more information, contact Turtle Concepts at A junior platoon stands at attention for ‘General Jone’ during one of last year’s Turtle Concepts Summer (705) 945-6455. Boot Camps. RBC 6x10 National Aboriginal Day Student producers Christian Island citizens Josh McGregor, Hillary Smith, Glenn Copegog and Brent King attended a CTV Aboriginal Youth Communication Camp in Sudbury May 13th and collaborated with 16 other Native youth in writing, producing and acting in a television public service announcement. The commercial was to promote First Nations Day and the young producers created a theme and hiked into the bush with video and sound equipment to fi lm the commercial. Hillary Smith, an aspiring actress, said:“It was a lot of fun and a great opportunity because we learned more than what I expected. We got to see what goes on behind the scenes when they are fi lming a commercial for television and there is a lot more work involved than just acting.” – Photo by Sharon Weatherall AFN 4x4.5 Phil Fontaine June 2008 Anishinabek News Page 3 Anishinabek BRIEFS New at AEI My name is Jan McLeod. I’m so thrilled to have been hired OCF busy as the Offi ce Assistant for the M’CHIGEENG FN – These Anishinabek are busy times for The Ojibwe Educational Cultural Foundation. Institute. The24- I am a year-old member of the M’Chigeeng- Nipissing First based OCF Nation where was shortlisted I live with Jan McLeod for the Ontario my partner, Premier’s Doug Archer Award for signifi cant and the youngest of my three World War II Aboriginal servicewoman Marion Miller Hill receives her gift package, which included a fl eece children, 10-year-old Wylden. contribution to the arts by jacket with a WWII Aboriginal Women Veterans crest. an organization. The winner My eldest is Kerry Kaboni, will win $50,000 and the fi ve she is the mother of my three runners-up $ 2000 each. Women warriors fi nally honoured grandchildren. My second OCF has also received oldest is my son, Jamie a grant from the Ontario By Rick Garrick women to do whatever they want in the Canadian Tierney. Trillium Foundation to host THUNDER BAY – That was the message in the Forces,” says Eisan, a 33-year veteran with the I look forward to working the Anishinaabe Summer Art lyrics of a song by popular World War II singer Canadian Forces.