January 2010
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Page 1 Volume 22 Issue 1 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 JAN/FEB 2010 Anishinabek declaring war on proposed HST By Maurice Switzer for our aboriginal and treaty rights UOI OFFICES – The 40 mem- at places like Oka, Ipperwash and ber communities of the Anishin- Caledonia," the Grand Council abek Nation have launched a Chief told a Jan. 18 gathering at comprehensive information and the North Bay Indian Friendship direct-action campaign against Centre. "But they seem to have the proposed Harmonized Sales a blind spot when the rule of law Tax, which Grand Council Chief confirms indigenous rights. The Patrick Madahbee has labelled "il- Royal Proclamation of 1763 and legal and immoral". the 1764 Treaty of Niagara recog- "In our eyes it is illegal for nized our peoples as distinct Na- Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, right, joined Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee Jan. 28 as the Canada to continue to try and tions. Anishinabek Nation launched a campaign against the proposed Ontario/Canada Harmonized Sales Tax. The force its legislation on our people "From Tecumseh to Tommy two leaders displayed the 1764 Covenant Chain Wampum Belt given by the British Crown to the Anishinabek without even consulting us, not to Prince, the Anishinabek have been to seal the previous year's Royal Proclamation which confirmed that North American Indians were to be mention without our consent," said staunch allies of the Crown in treated as sovereign nations. A new Facebook page promotes the campaign. –Photo by Marci Becking Madahbee, citing recent Supreme Canada, said Madahbee."But we than the jurisdictional issue was Policy Alternatives says First Na- ing social scientists say that it is Court decisions and international have never agreed to be her sub- the economic impact that piggy- tions citizens 'will be subject to immoral for wealthy nations like law requirements that govern- jects, and we have no treaties in backing the 8% Ontario retail sales the full impact of the HST without Canada to permit extensive pover- ments accommodate the interests which we agreed to be subject to tax and 5% federal Goods and Ser- any of the offsetting benefits'. Our ty within their borders, especially of First Peoples. her taxes.We have been the first to vices Tax would have on Anishin- analysis predicts that there will be when public policy actually con- "Canadians are fond of talking defend Canada in foreign wars, but abek households. a negative financial impact in the tributes to poverty, as will be the about how important "the rule of this time we are definitely on op- "Governments call this tax range of $100 each week for each case with the HST." law" is when they complain about posite sides." "revenue-neutral", said Madah- Anishinabek family." See www.facebook.com and add First Nations peoples standing up Of more immediate concern bee, "but the Canadian Centre for "More and more we are hear- Anishinabek Nation as a friend. Chippewas of Rama receive 35-year lease on casino life TORONTO–Anishinabek Grand against Rama's claim that it was communities fix their broken in- Council Chief Patrick Madah- entitled to 35 per cent of the ca- frastructure, allow more citizens bee is hopeful that First Nations sino's net profits in perpetuity, in- access to post-secondary educa- in Ontario and their relationship stead of for the first five years of tion, address housing problems with Chippewas of Rama First operation, as lawyers for the other and give them a chance to put their Nation will improve now that a 133 First Nations in the province economic development plans in new agreement has been signed had argued. motion," said Madahbee. "Our between the host community for "This money will help our communities need the funds in Casino Rama operations and the these tough economic times to get Ontario Lottery and Gaming Cor- on the road to self-sustainability." poration (OLG). Chippewas of Rama – which The 20-year agreement, with was known as Mnjikaning when additional 10 and 5 year options, the litigation began in 2001– Skating on thin ice takes effect August 1, 2011 when withdrew from the Union of On- Favoured to win an ice dance medal at the upcoming Vancouver the current agreement ends, and tario Indians in 2004 and have not Olympic Games, Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia will provide additional financial since been active members of the are drawing criticism from Indigenous groups for costumes featuring benefits for Rama First Nation, in- 40-community Anishinabek Na- brown-skinned coloured body stockings, loin cloths and Aborigine-style cluding one-time funding of $2.3 tion. patterns, and a routine they say was based on traditional practices million for a new training and de- "As far as our relationship goes of Australia’s indigenous people. One Australian Aborigine called the velopment centre. with Chippewas of Rama, they are This is what a $4700 routine offensive, and First Nations spokesmen in British Columbia are The announcement came in Anishinabek and a part of our fam- complaining about the skaters' use of stereotypes. (Reuters photo) mid-January, just days after the quillbox looks like. – See ily," said the Grand Council Chief. Ontario Court of Appeals ruled Page 29. "They have good leadership." Page 2 Anishinabek News January-February 2010 Oodewin Gichi-ooenawan/Urban Rez Vendors Feds want proof dislike of aboriginalness OTTAWA – When people apply for jobs targeted for aboriginal peo- ple, the applicants in the past just verbally declared their aboriginal Hamilton status. By Jorge Antonio Vallejos But effective Jan. 1, they have to fill out and sign a form declaring HAMILTON – At 2 p.m. Pa- their native affiliation, said Maria Barrados, president of the Public tricia Eshkibok sat alone at her Service Commission. booth waiting for customers. The new form requires aboriginal job applicants to say if they're Leather gloves, moccasins, an Indian, Inuk, or Métis, declare which First Nation they belong to jackets, and homemade one of and which land claim agreement they're a beneficiary of, if any. a kind jewelry hung above, and The co-chair of the National Aboriginal People's Circle, part of in front of her. The only sound the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Patty Ducharme says the new around was the big drum over the form discriminates against aboriginal people. speaker system and dancers rega- "They haven't chosen workers with disabilities, women, racial- lia whispering in everyone’s ears. ized people — they've just targeted aboriginal people," she said. Patricia Eshkibok, a deerhide artisan from Wikwemikong, was among Open since the morning, Eshki- But Barrados said the policy is being implemented in response to the vendors unhappy with the relocation of the Canadian Aboriginal bok had not sold a single item. complaints from Métis groups. Festival to Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. “I don’t like it here. And I’m "Because of these complaints that people were falsely declaring not coming back!” Eshkibok was 20 years ago Eshkibok said, “I at least I want half my money that they were aboriginals, we set up a new procedure," Barrados talking about Copps Coliseum in learned the long, hard way.” back,” said Eshkibok. said. Hamilton, the new home of the “I’ve always been interested Paying $600 for a 10 x 10 Ducharme said she hasn't heard any complaints of false declara- Canadian Aboriginal Festival. in sowing and making things. booth, almost always selling out tions and plans to consult with union members about how to deal “I did far better at the Toronto Then I got into the leather busi- at Rogers Centre, Eshkibok did with the new policy. Rogers Centre than I am doing ness about 18 years ago. Through not see herself making her money at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. trial and error I started making back in Hamilton. In Toronto, people like spending deerhide jackets for men and A Cree vendor from Sas- their money. Hamilton is no- women. I learned by myself,” katchewan broke down the costs where. Toronto is central,” said said Eshkibok. that won’t see him return to Eshkibok. This sentiment was Designing “classic cut jackets Hamilton either. His booth cost felt and repeated by many ven- that never go out of style” Eshki- $600, his hotel room was $400, dors throughout the day. bok takes three full days to make and depending on the person, Eshkibok was among 200 each jacket. Five years ago the travel expenses can range from vendors at this year's event, Chancellor of Germany bought $50 to $500 or more. This does much lower than the anticipated a jacket from Eshkibok; she tells not include meals throughout the 300-400. A festival spokesper- the story with pride. weekend. son confirmed that 25,000 people “Buckskin jackets are my spe- On top of all this vendors attended last November's event. cialty. The beadwork, the fringe, have to deal with the current re- down from the 30,000 who paid the cross-stitch, I’m evolving cession. “I’ve lowered my prices admission last year at Toronto's every year, they’re getting better but my costs are still the same,” Rogers Centre. and better,” said Eshkibok. said Eshkibok. A citizen of Wikwemikong Her hard work and determi- Festival organizers were Unceded Indian Reserve, Esh- nation has loyal customers look pleased with the first-year turn- kibok was raised in Sault Ste. for her at the Rogers Centre ev- out in Hamilton, noting that this Marie and now works as a Native ery year.