September 2008 Eagle Staffs to Gather by Nathan Wright POKAGON – the Seventh Annual Eagle Staff Gathering Will Be Held on the Oct
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Volume 20 Issue 7 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 September 2008 Eagle staffs to gather By Nathan Wright POKAGON – The Seventh Annual Eagle Staff Gathering will be held on the Oct. 11-12 weekend hosted by Pokagon Potawatomi Nation in Dowagiac, Michigan. Co-host for the gathering is the Sault College Native Education Department. Respected Anishinabek teach- er Doris Boissoneau provides the guidance for this event, based on a recurring dream she had of these Carrying the Eagle Staff staff gatherings. Doris followed Glen Hare, Deputy Grand Chief of the Anishinabek Nation talks with former Long Lake #58 chief Veronica Waboose, her husband Ervin Waboose her vision to help bring strength to and pow-wow organizer and Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay) councillor Mike Esquega during the Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging warriors, and all Anishinaabek na- Anishinaabek Pow-wow held Sept.5-7. Deputy Grand Chief Hare accepted six summer invitations to carry the Anishinabek Nation Eagle Staff, and tions on both sides of the artifi cial “let people know we are Anishinabek, always have been, always will be.” Canada-U.S. border. – Photo by Rick Garrick Eagle staff carriers provide teachings about their staffs and the gatherings honour our past, present and our future as Anishinaabek. Anishinabek will test IN BRIEF The staffs represent a celebration of our strength in maintaining our Court rejects language and culture. As the staffs casino split and people gather, “we stand for all federal candidates unity.” TORONTO – An Ontario A majority of eagle staffs usu- NIPISSING FN – First Nations could have a greater Economic Blueprint; enhancing education and court has ruled that Mnji- ally represent a specifi c nation in impact in the Oct. 14 general election than ever training opportunities to enable Anishinabek youth to kaning First Nation is not some manner and are carried by before, says Grand Council Chief John Beaucage, in enter the skilled workforce; a treaty implementation entitled to 35% of Casino veterans. announcing two strategies designed to advance the process that includes provision for resource benefi t- Rama net revenue by vir- Eagle staffs include a long, red, Anishinabek political agenda. sharing; promotion of First Nations languages and the tue of being the casino’s felt-like rectangular cloth attached “First of all we have to ensure that our citizens establishment an Anishinabek Language Immersion host community. A dispute typically to a cedar or white pine participate in the election process so that our Institute; and adopting and implementing the United over the casino’s revenue- pole four to seven feet in length. issues become Canada’s issues,” Beaucage said, nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous sharing formula was the re-introducing the First Peoples Vote initiative Peoples. subject of a lawsuit lodged unveiled by the Anishinabek Nation in the 2007 Questionnaires will be sent out to the political by the Ontario First Nation Bryant Ontario election. The plan, including a website and parties and relevant research of party platforms will Limited Partnership on be- fl yer distribution, encourages the estimated 100,000 be added the fi rstpeoplesvote.com website. half of the other 133 First eligible First Nation, Metis and Inuit voters in the “We must ensure the candidates of all political Nations in Ontario who shuffl ed province to make their voices heard before the parties know what’s important to us,” Beaucage said. share casino proceeds. NIPISSING FN – First Na- upcoming federal election, and to cast their ballots “They need to understand -- as members of parliament tion leaders were surprised by strategically on Oct. 14. and as a government --their roles and responsibilities Largest a Sept. 18 provincial cabinet Beaucage said the eligible First Peoples voting in the process of ensuring the health and prosperity of trade show shuffl e in which Brad Duguid population is signifi cant enough – fi ve per cent of the First Peoples in Canada. NIAGARA FALLS – The replaced Michael Bryant as eligible voters -- in ten Ontario federal ridings to “A day doesn’t go by that there isn’t a national Ontario First Nations Minister of Aboriginal Af- have a direct bearing on the Oct. 14 outcome. He news report or a legislative debate dealing with our Technical Services Cor- fairs. identifi ed seven of these ridings in Anishinabek concerns – a land claim being settled, a treaty right poration (OFNTSC) is Anishinabek Grand Coun- territory: Thunder Bay-Superior North, Simcoe North, taken to the courts, a First Nation challenging the staging the 13th annual cil Chief John Beaucage said Peterborough, Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, rights of corporations to unilaterally harvest resources edition of Canada’s larg- “Our offi ce will do whatever Nickel Belt and Sault Ste. Marie. from their traditional territories,”’ said Beaucage. est First Nation technical we can to help bring him up The Grand Council Chief also released a “We’re defi nitely on the agenda...and we are seeing conference and trade show to speed so there are no delays White Paper on Election Issues, identifying fi ve political parties making our issues an essential part of Oct.7-9. Guest speakers in the momentum that began priorities on which Anishinabek Nation leaders are their platforms.” include National Chief with the creation of this minis- seeking commitments and support from candidates “We are at a place where First Nations can be Phil Fontaine. try on the recommendation of and parties in the federal election: elimination of incredibly infl uential, not only with regard to the the Ipperwash Inquiry.” poverty through implementation of the Anishinabek political agenda, but to the outcome of elections.” EElectionlection DDayay – OOctoberctober 114,4, See22008 pages00 318 Page 2 Anishinabek News September 2008 Anishinabek Comment Urban `Nish learns about the land By Rick Garrick al sturgeon fi shing grounds. from Marathon to Pickle Lake and Don’t First Nation leaders THUNDER BAY – Steve Baran- “That was the big excitement,” the friendly people he met in KI. yai discovered just how important Baranyai says. “All the geese fl y- “The community is interesting also have duty to consult? Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug’s ing up north.” in the way that they all have their traditional territories are to them Consultation could save a lot of when the family improved the road During his journey to KI, Ba- fi rst language ... and are mostly miscommunication, frustration and to his mother’s property, resulting during his six-week journey to the ranyai stopped in Thunder Bay to Christian,” Baranyai says. “There disputes on First Nations. A recent in an angry response from the band remote fl y-in community. isn’t anyone to teach the drum or situation in Wasauksing First offi ce. “When you live in the city, the traditional ways.” Nation is a perfect example He says band staff told you don’t understand what the On his fi rst evening in the of what happens when band the family in mid-August that land means when it’s your grocery community, a group of six men councils don’t keep citizens his mother’s property was no store,” Baranyai says. “They need and youth met with Baranyai to fully informed about their longer under consideration that lake, the fi sh and the geese. I learn a few songs on his hand plans. for installation of an intake saw how dependent they are on the drum. The group grew to 10 the Wasauksing’s Chief and pipe. However, three lines land and water.” next night and then to 30, ranging Council have been drawing were clear-cut in the bush The Serpent River First Nation up a design brief for the de- to the beachfront while Rev. in age from eight to about 40, over velopment of a water treat- Jennifer Rice was in hospital for tests. citizen walked 2,100 km from his the next few evenings. ment facility. That’s a good Ashawasegai He says surveyors ceased ac- home in St. Catharines to Pickle thing. But instead of inform- tivity on the property after Lake, the most northerly point on ing community members about the he requested that council provide a Ontario’s highway system, and Milltown project to hear feedback and con- formal letter respecting his mother’s then continued his journey on to cerns, the process proceeded on what land and outlining plans for the wa- KI by plane to give support to the appears to be a “hush-hush” basis. ter treatment plant. KI6, the community’s chief and Two years ago, says John Rice, He says Wasauksing is operating fi ve councillors who had been motors a member of council approached his with an outdated land-use policy as incarcerated due to contempt of mother, Rev. Aileen Rice, then 75, a result of not approving an updated court convictions for refusing to to ask permission to install a water plan 30 years ago. allow junior mining company 2x4 intake pipe on her property, which Chief and Council formally re- Steve Baranyai is also adjacent to Town of Parry sponded to the Rice family concerns Platinex to drill on their traditional Sound property. Mr. Rice says his following a Sept. 2 community- territories which they derive much meet the KI6, who had just been mother did give the initial go-ahead council meeting, issuing a written of their livelihood from. released from jail a few days ear- to the request, but did not get proper assurance that the water treatment Baranyai was invited out on lier, and to participate in a May 29 information about the project’s im- project will not encroach on Rev.