Volume 18 Issue 1 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 January/February 2006 IN THE a shit less about Indi- ‘Wrong for Harris to be there’ ans.’’ Runci- NEWS FOREST, Ont. (CP) – Robert Run- The former premier is expected to However, Runciman testifi ed that man, while ciman conceded under cross-exami- testify at the inquiry the week of Feb. a police offi cer who told his superiors admitting Casino Rama butts out nation at the Ipperwash Inquiry that 14. Harris was a “redneck’’ who didn’t he had no MNJIKANING FN former Ontario premier Mike Harris The extent to which Harris di- respect native rights misconstrued the memory of – On June 1, 2006, should not have attended a meeting rected police operations at Ipperwash former premier’s intentions regard- Fox being Casino Rama will involving senior police offi cers the af- Provincial Park during the standoff ing a standoff that culminated in the present at be a non-smoking the meet- ternoon an OPP sniper killed unarmed has been a key issue at the judicial in- protester’s death. Mike Harris facility. CEO Art protester Dudley George. quiry into the Sept. 6, 1995, shooting “(Harris) believes he has the au- ing, said Frank said casino host “If (Harris) hadn’t been in atten- of Dudley George by a police sniper. thority to direct the OPP,’’ Insp. Ron the offi cer Mnjikaning First Nation will be dance, we may not have been sitting Only hours before the fatal con- Fox is heard telling a colleague about likely “misconstrued the intent’’ of the passing no-smoking regulations here today,’’ said Runciman, solicitor- frontation, an emergency meeting was that meeting in audiotape conversa- premier’s words. “(Harris) was ada- that mirror an Ontario law that general in Harris’s cabinet, who added held in the provincial legislature that tions already entered into evidence. mant about getting the matter resolved comes into effect on that date. that he re-evaluated the propriety of included Harris, Runciman, two other “This guy is redneck from way (using) the legal remedies available “A majority of the employees Harris’s attendance “once the con- cabinet ministers, civil servants and back,’’ Fox told Insp. John Carson, and (that should have not) been con- want the place to be non-smok- cerns were expressed that there was two Ontario Provincial Police offi cers the incident commander at Ipperwash. strued as ... telling the police they had ing,” said Frank, noting that the some sort of political inference.’’ who were not in uniform. “There’s no question. They don’t give to do anything.’’ casino will designate smoking areas outside the building. Pelletier on bench TORONTO – Joyce Lynn Pelle- tier, a lawyer and citizen of Fort William First Na- tion, has been ap- pointed a provincial judge to the Ontario Court of Justice. Called to the bar Joyce Pelletier in 1992, Madam Justice Pelletier practised in her own fi rm for several years, with an emphasis on child protection matters, custody and access, and criminal law. Anishinaabemowin Teg Inquiries regarding the 12th annual An- ishinaabemowin Teg Language Conference should Healthy land, healthy people be directed by phone to Bebamikawe Studios Expert quilter Alice Williams of Curve Lake First Nation co-ordinated the creation of a 5-by-14-foot quilt – a portion of which is shown here – that served – 705-859-2273. as a backdrop for November’s First Ministers’ Meeting in Kelowna, B.C. “The theme for the First Ministers’ Meeting had to do with health issues,” says Alice. “Our interpretation of that is: our health is intimately tied to the Land, for we are a People of the Land. If what they call the “ecology”, the “environ- More medals for Tommy ment,” is good, then our health is good.” Women from across Canada contributed squares to the quilt based on their interpretation of the connection WINNIPEG (CP) – Three medals between the Land and the People of this great and sacred Turtle Island. – Photo by Fred Cattroll for courage have completed the collection of Cana- da’s most decorated Anishinabek want Kelowna promises kept aboriginal soldier. Sgt. Tommy Prince, NIPISSING FN – Anishinabek NDP (29), and Bloc Quebecois (51). government and assist them in their mously agreed upon to move our peo- born on the Broken- Nation leaders are hoping that Can- The Liberal and NDP election plat- tremendous learning curve to under- ples out of poverty. Our citizens can head Reserve north Tommy Prince ada’s new minority government will forms both pledged to keep the Kelow- standing where we are coming from no longer wait for safe drinking water, of Winnipeg, has increase the chances that major federal na commitments, as well as an earlier and what it means to work with us on a decent housing, and access to jobs. been posthumously awarded the commitments to improve aboriginal $2-billion settlement for residential government-to-government basis. Anishinabek chiefs did not agree to Combat Infantry Badge for being living conditions will be acted upon in school survivors. “Under this tenuous minority Par- endorse any single political party be- under hostile fi re with the enemy, the next Parliament. “We are taking steps to form a new liament, it would not be advisable for fore the election, instead empowering the Canadian Korean Volunteer “Our main task now is to do our relationship with the new government Stephen Harper’s government to undo their leadership to launch a campaign Medal for service in the Korean utmost to ensure that the leaders of all and the Conservative cabinet,” Beau- the work that First Nations, provincial urging Anishinabek citizens to partici- War, and a Presidential Unit Ci- political parties keep the commitments cage said. “We will work with the and federal governments have unani- pate in the voting process. Following tation for extraordinary heroism made by the Federal Crown at the First the First Ministers Meeting, the Union against an armed enemy. Ministers’ Meeting in Kelowna,” said of Ontario Indians designed and dis- Grand Council Chief John Beaucage, a Whitefi sh Lake wins case tributed over 5,000 brochures titled Indian new president key participant in the November sum- Bezhbiihged:The Anishinabek Nation TORONTO (CP) – Whitefi sh Lake First Nation has won compensation mit that agreed to invest $5.2 billion Votes to all 134 First Nations and 28 LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) – Evo Mo- for losses it suffered from a timber deal awarded to a Tory politician with the for aboriginal health, education, hous- Friendship Centres in Ontario. rales, Bolivia’s fi rst Indian presi- blessing of former prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald. ing, and economic development. The four-page brochure identifi ed dent, took offi ce A judge awarded the Sudbury-area band $1.1 million plus court costs for Beaucage was referring to Con- key issues for First Nation voters to with a promise to the timber rights Ottawa sold on its behalf in 1886 for $316. servative Stephen Harper’s campaign consider: health, water and infrastruc- lift his country’s The band argued that fair value was as much as $40 million. comment that, while he endorsed the ture, self-government, recognition struggling indig- In 1886, Honore Robillard, an Ontario MPP who later served as a member Kelowna principles, he was not com- and implementation of aboriginal and enous majority of Macdonald’s Conservative federal government, obtained with a partner the mitted to the funding level agreed to by treaty rights. The brochure reminds out of centuries timber rights on the band’s land for $316. The men sold the rights some 10 outgoing Prime Minister Paul Martin Anishinabek Nation citizens that their of poverty and months later for up to $55,000, according to the band. and the provincial premiers. The Con- ancestors “fought hard” for the right discrimination. But the judge found that the estimate of $55,000 was “inherently unre- Evo Morales servatives won the right to form the to vote, which was not achieved until The 46-year-old liable’’ as it stemmed from Liberal MP John Barron, who made allegations next government – the fi rst Tory ad- 1960, and says “Whatever party takes son of a peasant farmer, Morales about the sale in the House of Commons at the time. ministration in 13 years – but their 124 power following the federal election, vowed that his socialist govern- The judge ruled that the fair value was $31,600. seats won in the Jan. 23 federal election it is important that the commitments ment would reshape Bolivia. He rejected the band’s argument that it should earn compound interest on are not beyond the reach of alliances given at the First Ministers’ Meeting the money. Instead, he awarded it simple interest. between the opposition Liberals (103), are lived up to.” Page 2 Anishinabek News January/February 2006 Million watch One Dead Indian Ipperwash TORONTO – The Jan. 4 premiere of the original movie One Dead Indian at- tracted an audience of over one million viewers to the CTV two-hour network special. The movie, based on Toronto Star reporter Peter Edwards’ book of the same name, aired just as a provincial inquiry resumed its investigation into events surrounding the Sept. 6, 1995 shooting death of Dudley George at Ipperwash Provincial Park. The MP’s phone ringing about Ipperwash inquiry has heard over 90 witnesses, and sometime in February is expected to hear FOREST, Ont. (CP) – The for- ment in Toronto, he said. that reason, he felt it was a federal testimony from former Ontario premier Mike Harris, who maintains that he never mer member of the legislature for the “I don’t think Queen’s Park ap- government issue when fi rst told gave instructions forOntario Provincial Police to remove unarmed Native protesters.