Volume 19 Issue 9 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 November 2007 IN THE NEWS Timber COO honoured rights BRANTFORD – The Chiefs of Ontario was honoured at a banquet celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Ontario swindle Trillium Foundation. COO was cited for using a By Kirk Makin Trillium grant to develop an Globe and Mail Ontario First Nations Young TORONTO – Whitefi sh Lake First People’s Council. Nation is entitled to millions of dollars in compensation because its timber rights were sold by 70,000 apply the Crown for $316 in 1886, the OTTAWA – The federal Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled. government received The court said that Whitefi sh 70,000 applications from Lake is entitled to compensation residential school survivors based on a realistic sale price for the Common Experience and a fair assessment of what the Payment (CEP) in the fi rst proceeds would have grown to had six weeks after the process they been prudently invested. began. The court sent the case back to a trial judge to determine a fair Joe on board amount of compensation. Last man standing About 350 of the 800 citizens OTTAWA-Former Anishina- At 85, Murray Whetung is the last surviving veteran of 49 Curve Lake First Nation men who enlisted for of Whitefi sh Lake currently bek Grand Council Chief R. service in the Canadian military in the 20th century. Related stories on pages 2,8-9 and 24. live on the reserve just west of K. Joe Miskokomon is one – Photo by Mike Strobel Sudbury. In 1886, their ancestors of the fi rst seven appointees surrendered the timber rights on to the board of directors of the reserve to the Crown, which the new First Nations Sta- then sold the rights for $316. tistical Institute. FNSI–to No passports for Indians? The Conservative federal be housed on Nipissing FN government sold the rights to -will assist First Nations in OTTAWA –(CP) --Canadian seniors and registered least the summer of 2008. Canadian offi cials say it will Honoré Robillard, a Conservative meeting their information Indians shouldn’t have to produce passports when be a scramble to cut confusion and reduce damage to member of the Ontario Provincial needs while working with they cross the border by car or boat, Ottawa has told trade and tourism before the deadline. Legislature, and Joseph Riopelle, Statistics Canada to better American offi cials. There have been long delays in getting passports on head of a well-known lumbering represent First Nations in the An alternative plan for emergency workers and both sides of the border since the rules for air travellers fi rm. national statistical system. medical evacuation cases is also needed, Canada said were announced, forcing the United States to give its In January, 1889, The Toronto Globe published an article entitled in an offi cial response to U.S. plans requiring passports citizens a break until the end of September. “Swindled Indians”, which next summer from people entering the country by car Canadian seniors and registered aboriginals shouldn’t criticized the amount Mr. Robillard or boat. have to produce passports when they cross the border by had paid for the licence and the Canada objects to that deadline, saying it should be car or boat, Ottawa has told American offi cials. lack of a public auction. extended, and wants an explicit agreement that high- An alternative plan for emergency workers and The controversy deepened technology driver’s licences could be used instead of medical evacuation cases is also needed, Canada said when the new owners fl ipped the passports. in an offi cial response last week to U.S. plans requiring land for $55,000 a couple of years Ottawa is also considering whether to devise a passports next summer from people entering the country later. passport card like the one the United States is developing by car or boat. In 2002, Whitefi sh Lake sued that would cost less but provide the same proof of Canada objects to that deadline, saying it should be for compensation in the range of identity and citizenship. extended, and wants an explicit agreement that high- $23-million. However, Ontario Superior Court Judge Blenus In June, U.S. offi cials issued a reprieve on passports technology driver’s licences could be used instead of Wright granted $1,095,888 in from people entering at land and sea crossings until at passports. Expecting 40,000 compensation. TORONTO – An estimated 40,000 people Bryant can’t do it alone: Grand Chief – including 1,000 dancers – are expected to visit the 14th annual Canadian NIPISSING FN - Grand Council Nations through a single Cabinet and important fi rst step forward in Aboriginal Festival and Chief John Beaucage says that he portfolio,” said Grand Council building a stronger relationship. I Pow-wow in the Rogers is looking forward to working with Chief Beaucage speaking from the look forward to working closely Centre (SkyDome) Nov. a new Ontario Cabinet and the new southwest region of the Anishinabek with Minister Michael Bryant in 30-Dec. 2. The Union Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Nation. “Premier McGuinty, as bringing the issues and needs of of Ontario Indians again but stressed that the McGuinty a leader must step up and show a Ontario’s First Peoples to Premier invites all Anishinabek government, and Premier Dalton government-wide commitment to McGuinty and his new Cabinet.” Nation citizens and festival McGuinty in particular, need to “step addressing First Nations issues and The Hon. Michael Bryant is attendees to visit our booth. up” to advance their relationship moving forward on a government- not new to the Aboriginal Affairs Festival details are online with First Nations in Ontario. to-government basis.” portfolio, having served as the at www.canab.com “This Government needs to “The stand-alone Ministry of Minister Responsible for Aboriginal move beyond dealing with First Aboriginal Affairs is a positive Affairs from 2003 to 2005. Hon. Michael Bryant Page 2 Anishinabek News November 2007 Ogitchidaa/Warriors Curve Lake veteran: Last warrior standing By Mike Strobel World War I, all 20 young men the foot of Curve Lake Rd., he met American Revolution. Maybe it Lake’s banner, an eagle bearing a Toronto Sun of the reserve went over. Two re- reserve men heading out to hunt. was loyalty to Canada, despite peace pipe. CURVE LAKE FN – Every man of upped, in their 40s, to fi ght Hitler. “Leave me a canoe,” he said, everything. Murray Whetung, last of 50 fi ghting age in this Ojibwa reserve So, 100% turnout in two wars. and ran home to trade his army Maybe it was the lure of brave men, laid a wreath.wearing volunteered for World War II. Still think native Canadians aren’t bags for a rifl e. Next morning, he adventure and paycheques when the buckskin suit he and Elva Every single one. Fifty men. too committed to this country? bagged three deer. reserves were at their hard-bitten stitched 40 years ago. For years, Actually, 51. But Cliff Whetung From across Canada, 12,000 Life goes on. Murray, who worst. native garb was barred at any was allergic to the dyed wool of natives fought. became a United Church minister, On Sunday, Nov. 11th at the Remembrance Day ceremony. army uniforms. Swelled up like a More than 500 were killed, is the last of those 50 warriors. cenotaph, the Maple Leaf fl ew Those medals sure look good balloon. So his war ended after a including two of Murray’s (A female veteran who married with the Union Jack and Curve on buckskin. week, in a Peterborough hospital. childhood friends. Muriland Knott, into the reserve after the war also The last of the 50 is Cliff’s kid 15, lied about his age to sign up. He survives.) brother Murray, 85 and sharp as a died last summer, Murray tells me, Last year, Murray declined an hunting knife pointing to a white frame house a invite to the Juno Beach Centre’s “Must be the whisky,” he tells hop, skip from the cenotaph. “Voices of the First Peoples of me, eyes twinkling like the dark, Signalman Murray Whetung Canada” exhibit. shallow waters of Chemong Lake. landed on Juno Beach, D-Day plus One tour of Europe was We are drinking green tea in three. enough, he tells me. his kitchen, deep in the woods. The Allies often used native Lung disease took Elva a Oaks, maples, ash, in all the hues soldiers as snipers or scouts. “Code decade ago. They had 13 kids. NDP (Nanaimo) of autumn, sweep down to the talkers,” mostly Cree, befuddled Curve Lake swarms with their shore. Nazi spies. great-grandkids. It was called Mud Lake back Tommy Prince, a Manitoba Would they all sign up to fi ght then and 300 Ojibwa lived on a Ojibwa, joined the Devil’s Brigade World War III, God forbid? spit of nine square klicks, in the and won the Military Medal and And why is so little known, by curve of adjoining lakes, minding the U.S. Silver Star. the rest of us, about what their kin their own business. Murray strung telephone lines. did for king and country? Murray Whetung hunted deer, Juno Beach to Germany. “First Nations traditions are fi shed walleye, trekked out to A crack shot, he never had oral,” former chief Gary Williams, jobs in Peterborough and wooed a to use his Sten gun in anger. But 47, tells me at the band offi ce. beauty named Elva. he dodged German patrols and “We’ve never written down our But not even Curve Lake was artillery trying to blow up his history.” safe from the Nazis.