Volume 17 Issue 10 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 December 2005 IN THE Chief Jeff at Nipissing Jeff Hutcheson, host of the popular CTV network morning program Canada AM, brought his crew to Nipissing First Nation for a Nov. 17 NEWS visit. Among the gifts presented to Hutcheson – whose hosts dubbed the popular forecaster "He Who Sees the Weather Naponse on committee Approaching" – were a Plains-style head-dress, a pair of mitts and BRANTFORD – Union of apron presented by community member Echo McLeod- Ontario Indians board member Shabogesic. Details on page 13. – Photo by Priscilla Goulais Jeanne Naponse, Whitefish Lake First Nation, will sit on a new committee advising the Ontario government on improving access for aboriginal students to post- secondary education. The province will invest $10.2 mil- lion this year- rising to $55 mil- lion by 2009-10 - to help post- secondary institutions deliver programs that improve access for groups including Aboriginal peoples. Cash for Kash GARDEN RIVER FN – Over $9,000 has been donated to a fund launched by the Union of Ontario Indians to support evac- uated residents of Kashechewan First Nation. Allan Moffat, gen- eral manager at the Anishinabek Nation Credit Union where the fund was established, says the total repressnts contributions from three First Nations, three Ontario credit unions, and the Union of Ontario Indians. More on Kashechewan on page 21. Fort William grows FORT WILLIAM FN – This Thunder Bay-area First Nation has accepted $3.4 million and 18.6 hectares (46 acres) of land at the base of Mount McKay to Grand Chief leads housing strategy settle a longstanding land dis- pute. Band membership voted to OTTAWA – The Government of Beaucage said that the “new As the senior First Nations rep- 60,000 new housing starts in the accept a deal to settle the illegal Canada and Assembly of First investment and agreement at the resentative for Housing, Grand next ten years.” seizure of the land by Ottawa in Nations have agreed on an imple- First Ministers’ meeting was a sig- Council Chief Beaucage sat at the The housing strategy also 1914.The land was used as a mentation plan to begin the process nificant beginning to improving liv- main table with the Prime Minister includes the development of a capi- rifle range by the Department of of delivering over $5 billion in fed- ing conditions in Canada’s First and the Premiers during that specific tal fund, a market-based housing National Defence until 1998, eral commitments to First Nations in Nations.” Over $5 billion in new discussion in which $1.2 billion was approach, addressing the continued when it closed. the areas of health, education, hous- investments was announced as part agreed upon specifically for aborigi- need for social housing, but also ing, relationships, and economic of a national consensus to move for- nal housing. A new investment of maintaining the status quo for those opportunities. ward in five areas: housing, health, $400 million was specifically com- First Nations who cannot support or National Chief Phil Fontaine life long learning, relationships and mitted to infrastructure in First take advantage of these significant Anishinabek Writers said this was the first step in making economic opportunity. Nations communities. developments. First Nations will a reality the commitments made by “This will certainly do a lot to “Housing is one of the best also made a significant 10-year pro- federal and provincial governments improving the socio-economic situa- examples of how First Nations have posal to administer these housing at November’s First Ministers’ tion of First Nations people across taken the lead in proposing a com- programs themselves. Meeting in Kelowna. the country,” said Beaucage. prehensive 10-year strategy to “For decades, our leaders have Fontaine also announced that he “However, that effort will have to be improve First Nations housing in called for solutions to address our and Anishinabek Nation Grand ongoing with continual vigilance to Canada, both on and off-reserve,” housing crisis, to see fundamental Council Chief John Beaucage would reviewing, assessing and monitoring said Grand Council Chief Beaucage. change in programs and to lobby for co-chair the AFN’s national housing key indicators in these areas. “These improvements include over a substantial increase in investment. strategy that was earmarked for most These achievements are just on the Put your community on the map of the $1.2 billion commitment to horizon,” he said. with stories and photos. Contact: Maurice Switzer, Editor aboriginal housing in Kelowna. One Indian, one vote? Beaucage was critical of the Telephone: (705) 497-9127 “It is a great privilege to be OTTAWA (CP) – An advisory group says the Assembly of First Nations Government of Ontario’s “new rela- Toll-Free: 1-877-702-5200 asked to play a role in an area that should elect its National Chief through a popular ballot of all eligible cit- tionship” which appears to lump E-mail: [email protected] has such an impact on First Nations izens. A renewal commission appointed 18 months ago to examine the First Nations, Métis, service citizens,” Beaucage said. “Good way the national First Nations organization operates released a 300-page providers and even certain illegiti- housing is an essential component of report listing 47 recommendations for reform. mate aboriginal interests into the good health, and at the same time The report, called A Treaty Among Ourselves, says the Assembly’s decision-making process. Canada making represents capacity-building and National Chief, who now is elected by 633 chiefs, should instead be cho- “The pan-aboriginal approach restitution for economic benefits for our communi- sen through a ballot of one million First Nation citizens. Ontario is taking does not respect ‘dark chapter’ ties. “The citizens of our 42 member communities have said they want a the Nation-to-Nation relationship Beaucage was the lead First say in the selection of Grand Council Chief,” said Anishinabek leader that is expected between the govern- ... $2 billion for Nations representative for Housing John Beaucage, “and our Chiefs are clear in their mandate to us to act as ment and First Nations. This residential schools at the First Ministers’ Meeting and their political advocates. We have also established councils of women, homogenous approach to imple- Details on page 17. sat on First Ministers’ Working youth, and Elders to ensure that all our citizens have a voice in our plans menting the First Ministers’ agenda Groups on Housing and and deliberations.” is not going to fly,” added Beaucage. Relationships. More on pages 17, 22. Page 2 Anishinabek News December 2005 Indian Country Aboriginals top AIDS agenda TORONTO (CP) – Toronto will thought to be living with ond-class citizens, with infection welcome some of the world’s top- HIV/AIDS, and about 17,000 don’t rates rivalling those in developing scientists, experts and journalists know they are infected. countries, he said. next summer when it hosts the Experts are concerned that one- “All too often we have cultural International AIDS Conference, third of Canadians infected with problems, problems of despair which will address the uniquely HIV are aboriginals. among aboriginal Canadians that Canadian issue of the alarming “We as Canadians dropped the may involve leaving their families,” number of aboriginals infected with ball by continuing to allow our first he said. HIV/AIDS. citizens to suffer so much, and not “We have a definite dispropor- The unveiling of the conference to have benefited from the scientif- tionate number of young aboriginal and logo coincided with World ic and educational advances that Canadians who run away from Tony Belcourt, recipient of a 2006 National Aboriginal Achievement Award speaking with John Beaucage. AIDS Day, an annual event to raise have been served to the benefit of so home.” awareness of the 40 million people many Canadians from coast to “The opportunities to succumb worldwide suffering from HIV or coast,” said conference co-chair Dr. and become HIV-infected are very Métis leader Belcourt AIDS. Marc Wainberg. great. It’s all very sad, and we have among 14 achievers About 56,000 Canadians are Aboriginals are in effect sec- to do a much better job.” TORONTO – Tony Belcourt, the diversity of our peoples and president of the Metis Nation of speak to potential realized. They Ontario, is one of 14 recipients of are fantastic role models for our the 2006 National Aboriginal Aboriginal youth and all Achievement Awards. Canadians.” Belcourt has been actively The 2006 National Aboriginal involved in politics since 1969, Achievement Award recipients are where he was elected as vice-pres- Jim Sinclair, Lifetime ident of the Métis Nation of Achievement, Métis, Alberta. Saskatchewan; Andrea Dykstra, In 1993, he was instrumental Youth, M’ikmaw Nation, Pictou in forming the Métis Nation of Landing, Nova Scotia; Taiaiake Ontario, which won the landmark (Gerald) Alfred, Education, 2003 Powley case in the Supreme Kaien'kehaka, Mohawks of Ontario Power ad Court of Canada that recognized Kahnawake; Dr. Herb Belcourt, and affirmed the existence of Housing, Métis, Alberta; Tony 6” x 10” Métis Constitutional rights in Belcourt, Public Service, Métis, Canadian law. Ontario; Bernd Christmas, The National Aboriginal Business and Commerce, Achievement Awards are taking M'ikmaw, Membertou First place January 27, 2006 at the Nation, Nova Scotia; Gladys Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Taylor Cook, Heritage and Vancouver, British Columbia. The Spirituality, Dakota, Sioux Valley 13th annual awards can count a First Nation, Manitoba; Myra number of firsts. Shirley Firth Cree, Media and Larsson, the twin sister of an Communications, Mohawk, Oka- equally successful 2005 NAAA Kahnesatake; Billy Day, recipient, will be presented an Environment, Inuit, Inuvialuit, award for sports.