450-692-8112 • 3 Ta h i ti Restaurant Asian & Polynesian Cuisine 88 St. Jean Baptiste, Chateauguay $ Tahiti’s “Pow-Wok” 9.95 Lunch (Monday to Friday) TIÓHTON TSI NIIORA’WISTONTE The bright spot in journalism...the community newspaper RICHARD TARDIF THE EASTERN DOOR A professor of business once tionship between the reporter and our newspaper stands in the com- told me the following: the community is different at a munity. Do you like us? Can we “As a newspaper what we small paper. be better? How is our coverage? need to keep in mind is that the In J.Source.com, Hinds Do you want a more national public is being served. As much as writes, “In the smaller paper are scope? How about our local cover- journalism is the search for truth, your friends, neighbours and cus- age? Fair? Do you feel good about sometimes the economic realities tomers. It’s a much more complex writing a letter to the editor? are important. relationship than in a major urban “Look for opportunities to This is the reality. daily. talk with individuals from all age As a journalist I sometimes “If you are a columnist in the groups and find out what they put up blinders when it comes to Toronto Star or the Globe and want and need,” said the business the business of newspapers. I Mail, you’re not going to run into professor. “The better you know write. I write about the stories in the person you wrote the article the community, the better you will the community. I become part of about in your corner store or be at running a successful news- the community because, as some- RICHARD TARDIF THE EASTERN DOOR Canadian Tire.” paper. one once told me, I have become In this case, as a community So it is with my thoughts that part of the stories. That’s the nature of small blogs and web sites to post their paper, a good idea is to offer what I leave you and hope that our cov- So as business becomes a town newspapers. photographs, comments, scores the people need. We all love the erage has been right up there, at factor in newspapers I have the Many small-town papers are from sports events, even home big story, and we should go for it, the top, and I think it has. luxury of turning my back and family-owned newspapers, which videos. Small-town newspapers unless the story has no meaning or The Eastern Door strives to getting down to the writing. tend to be community newspa- are said to be the backbone of relevance. deliver community coverage and Everything is big in pers, and survive because they journalism but they may survive So we have to stay in touch, because everything is big in Kahnawake when it comes to seek the community voice. to be the dominant players.” like with our Nosy News or Kahnawake, there is so much news. A small story in In the Future of Journalism, That’s because most of them through polls or informal requests news and sports, and we some- Chibougamau, Quebec (which has journalist Michael Ray Smith are hyper-local and ask, “What is for opinions so we know what our times have our hands full - and the same population as writes, “A community newspaper the demand for news?” audience is looking for. that is a good thing. Kahnawake) would be buried on wants the conversation and they John Hinds, president of the Because we meet the people page 20, but makes page four in are doing the most to help com- Canadian Community Newspaper we write about, it is a good idea to [email protected] The Eastern Door. munities set up neighbourhood Association believes that the rela- examine, from time to time, where Nosy News Guy Eric Curotte-Ryder What would you like to see in The Eastern Door that you feel is not being covered and why? Asennaienton Diabo Darren Decaire Gary “Hucky” Two-Axe Jeffrey Diabo Shawnee Jacobs “I would like to see more “I like The Eastern Door the “I would like to see you do a “Because I’m a firefighter, we “I would like to see more sports stats like in hockey, way it is. I’m especially fond story about Queen Elizabeth II should have a little commen- positive articles on the good football, lacrosse, statistics on of the advice column.” visiting Canada and shaking tary or a blotter from the fire things our youth are our teams just to keep up on hands with Native people hall that pertains to the fires achieving.” the latest scores.” because it makes us feel here in town. We can all it noticed.” “The Hot Spot”. THE EASTERN DOOR • Vol. 19 No. 25 • July 2, 2010 • www.easterndoor.com 9 Editorial Page THE EASTERN DOOR Box 1170, Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, QC J0L 1B0 Tel: 450-635-3050 • Fax: 450-635-8479 www.easterndoor.com [email protected] • [email protected] [email protected] • [email protected] ISSN: 1193-8374 • Canada Post Publication • Mail Registration No. 40009002 SERVING THE KAHNAWAKE MOHAWK TERRITORY SINCE 1992 The Eastern Door is a community-based newspaper serving the Mohawk of Kahnawake regardless of birth, sex, age, lan- guage, politics or religion. The paper strives to be a factual, balanced, authoritative source of information with access to all segments of the community. Photography equipment provided by Coté Camera Zone Image Publisher / Editor Publisher Steve Bonspiel Tracey Deer Acting Editor / Online Editor Richard Tardif Are we turning the tide on diabetes? Staff Writers RICHARD TARDIF THE EASTERN DOOR The Kahnawake Schools women in their prime reproductive cases in Canada by 2017. The study Diabetes Prevention Project work- years are hit disproportionately by also predicts more cases of diabetes ers, those with diabetes and family diabetes. will develop in Canadians who are members with loved ones struggling Incidence of Type 2 diabetes, a overweight versus obese. with diabetes, have always under- condition in which the body cannot Some 230 million people in the Steve Bonspiel Richard Tardif stood that empowerment over dia- properly store and use fuel for ener- world have diabetes, and by 2017, [email protected] [email protected] betes is through the road of educa- gy, was more than four times higher the death rate is expected to rise dra- tion and prevention. in First Nations women compared matically. If nations don’t begin now Just how much education and with non-First Nations women and to bring it under control, health care prevention was clear after the feder- more than 2.5 times higher com- programs will be overwhelmed. al government in 2010 provided an- pared with non-First Nations men, From the point of view of other $110 million in funding over says a study of cases published in an Aboriginal people, with diabetes two years for the Aboriginal August issue of the Canadian rates significantly higher on average Diabetes Initiative (ADI) to contin- Medical Association Journal. than Canadians and those globally, ue addressing and battling the high So why is the prevalence of diabetes rates in Aboriginal commu- rates of diabetes among Aboriginal Diabetes in Aboriginal communities nities could be as high as four in people. higher? every five by 2017, a devastating Funding is a good thing, and This may be due, in part, to the rate. Jordan Standup Jessica Deer we shouldn’t think that money, any availability of care. Aboriginal peo- It isn’t all bad news, however. [email protected] [email protected] amount, is too little. Just look at ple in Canada do not have the same The Eastern Door this month what our KSDPP does with a very kind of easy access to physicians, has profiled community members limited amount of funds. specialists and hospitals that most who are living with diabetes, and But $110 million is a drop in Canadians do. while there is no cure, they report the bucket when it comes to eradi- The ADI does a great job, living with diabetes is manageable cating diabetes in Aboriginal popu- given the scope and magnitude of through education. lations, and it should be seen as a the problem, in delivering culturally We all must come to under- continuation in the battle against relevant programs aimed at reduc- stand its seriousness. It is not just this devastating disease. ing the incidence and prevalence of plain “sugar,” as it has been labeled November is diabetes aware- diabetes, including diabetes aware- for many years. Diabetes is a bitter, ness month, and November 14 was ness and screening, diabetes man- devastating disease, one with a Brittany LeBorgne Diabetes Day around the world. agement, and the promotion of death sentence often attached. [email protected] While the world turns its attention to healthy living and wellness for more We have to turn the tide on dia- news articles and television reports, than 600 communities throughout betes before it is too late what is clear each passing Canada. Yes, $110 million is needed November is that the numbers of Still, the news isn’t good and and appreciated, but now is not the Production Assistant Contributing Writers those diagnosed with diabetes are doesn’t lead Aboriginal populations time for governments to cut back on Connie McArdle Kariwake:ron Montour increasing, particularly when it to think their situation will improve. funding for diabetes education and Shannon Baker Executive Assistant/Accounting comes to Aboriginal communities. New research shows nearly prevention. Our communities are Ora Morison Clerk People of Aboriginal descent nine out of every 100 Canadians counting on it.