November 2005
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Volume 17 Issue 8 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 November 2005 IN THE Native agenda ‘transcends politics’ First Nations and Aboriginal lead- multi-lateral support for our solutions- There will be a federal election in to emerge with separate, 10-year plans NEWS ers from across Canada are concerned based plan is unprecedented in the next six months, Campbell said, for Metis, Inuit and First Nations, No food vendors that federal election fever may detract Canadian history.” Meanwhile, B.C. and while that creates some uncertain- Campbell said. from discussions of a comprehensive Premier Gordon Campbell, the host of ty, government and aboriginal leaders “Our goal coming out of the con- TORONTO – Organizers of ten-year plan to address Native pover- the Kelowna summit, says there’s con- must move forward with their plans. ference will not be to have a general the Canadian Aboriginal Festival have left traditional ty. sensus among premiers of every polit- “I think that political parties across comment that ‘We’d like to do some- food vendors with a bad taste in Anishinabek Grand Council Chief ical stripe that it’s time to close the gap the country will embrace that,” the thing,’” he said. “We want specifics in their mouth. The vendors have John Beaucage was urging all four fed- between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Liberal premier told reporters as spec- each of the categories.” received notice that they are no eral political leaders “to reconsider Canadians. ulation continued that Martin’s govern- There is also support for an annual longer allowed to participate at any decision that would ... sideline our Campbell, who was headed for ment could fall in the coming weeks, review to track progress, he added, the Nov. 25-27 event staged in pro-active health and social agenda” to Ottawa to discuss aboriginal issues possibly derailing the two-day First since much work remains to be done Toronto’s SkyDome. A letter be discussed at a Nov. 24-25 First with Prime Minister Paul Martin, said Ministers Meeting in Kelowna, B.C. across the country to help Natives. sent to the vendors cites the Ministers Meeting in Kelowana, B.C. the major challenges facing Native “I believe this transcends the gen- Seventy per cent of First Nations major reason being stricter “The First Ministers Meeting is the people transcend politics and changes eral politics of the country,” said students on-reserve will never com- health regulations. most significant opportunity that First must go ahead despite the recent polit- Campbell, on the last leg of a cross- plete high school, according to the As a result, the Festival will Nations have to raise these issues at ical upheaval in Ottawa. country tour that included meetings Assembly of First Nations, and the be host to two professional such a high level,” Beaucage said. “Governments will change – that with provincial and territorial leaders. aboriginal unemployment rate is dou- Aboriginal caterers offering This fundamental opportunity and happens,” the B.C. premier said. Provincial and Native leaders want ble the rate of non-aboriginals. their food restaurant-style or buffet style. Indian mascots out Kash INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Carthage College teams in Wisconsin will drop the name proves “Redmen” and use of Indian mascots and logos, to comply with the NCAA’s new policy water regarding American Indian mas- cots. Keeper a candidate point NORWAY HOUSE, Man. (CP) – Tina Keeper, a member NIPISSING FN – The emer- of Norway House Cree Nation gency evacuation of Kashechewan and star of the popular televi- First Nation demonstrates the sion series North of 60, will be a need for First Nations citizens to Liberal candidate for a northern be more involved in government Manitoba riding in the next fed- decisions directly affecting them, eral election. says Grand Council Chief John Diamonds held Cree Beaucage. TORONTO (CP) – De Leaving Kashechewan “We are extending support to Beers has signed a deal promis- Canadian Rangers William Nakogee and Irving Wesley and Junior Canadian Ranger Chelsea Goodwin, 14, our Mushkegowuk cousins during ing $10 million in benefits to the load evacuees’ baggage at Kashechewan airport. Over half of the 1900 residents of the Cree community on the this trying time,” said Grand Attiwapsikat Cree First Nation west coast of James Bay were evacuated to Sudbury, Ottawa, Peterborough, and Cochrane after the commu- Council Chief John Beaucage, in the development of Ontario’s nity’s supply of drinking water was found to contain E-coli bacteria. The Rangers are aboriginal reserves of the “and one of the best ways we can first diamond mine. Canadian Armed Forces. More on page 2. – Photo by Sgt. Peter Moon, Canadian Rangers do that is to continue to challenge the government of Canada to work Vine Deloria passes with us to seek comprehensive DENVER – Author and solutions to such life-threatening activist Vine Deloria, Jr. passed ‘Hung out to dry by INAC’ situations.” over to join his ancestors By Rick Garrick to federal jurisdiction is dealt with by the implementation November 13, 2005. During a special assembly of He wrote Custer Died for THUNDER BAY – Fort William First Nation’s foray of a Site Specific Risk Assessment and an Environmental First Nation Chiefs in Regina, Your Sins in 1969, the first of his into the sawmill leasing business is being derailed by the Priority and Action Plan designed by INAC in 2003, two Beaucage was asked to participate scores of books and scholarly federal bureaucracy. years after construction on the Bowater sawmill in a comprehensive national articles in confronting the “We worked hard to get the Bowater project began. review of First Nations drinking racism of U.S law and policya- done right, and we succeeded,” said Fort Shortly after the sawmill was completed, the water across Canada. The gainst Indian peoples. William First Nation Chief Peter Collins. “Our tax assessment on the property increased and the Anishinabek leader, who holds the local partners have been professional, and a City of Thunder Bay began efforts to collect AFN Ontario portfolio for Capital pleasure to do business with. But bureaucrats those taxes from the band, eventually culminat- and Infrastructure, called for strin- from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada have ing in a court battle this past January which the gent national standards for drink- Anishinabek Writers hung us out to dry.” city won, giving them the right to seize ing water on First Nations. “The Fort William First Nation got involved in the Bowater’s $104,000 monthly lease payments to Bowater sawmill project in 2001, two years after the band for rental of the sawmill building and new First Nations’ standards Chief Peter would exceed the minimum regaining about 1,100 acres of the Railway Collins property. The Royal Bank, the sawmill building Taking Lands expropriated by the federal gov- mortgage holder, continues to draw its mortgage provincial standards for clean ernment from the band in 1905, when they were ensured payments from the band’s operating funds even though the drinking water,” he said. by then Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada band no longer receives the monthly lease payments, Just last month, Beaucage pub- Bob Nault that he would “expedite” the ATR (Additions to which is causing the band financial problems. licly urged federal officials to Reserve) process for the land. “Our membership feels frustrated,” Collins said. “It’s a heed warnings in a report by “Minister Nault promised the sawmill site would be tough situation to be in.” Canada’s Commissioner of the Put your community on the map returned to reserve status long before any property taxes Gordon Manuel, director of government affairs at Environment and Sustainable with stories and photos. Contact: Maurice Switzer, Editor would be payable,” Collins said. “That was the underlying Bowater’s corporate office in South Carolina, has Development which expressed Telephone: (705) 497-9127 economic premise that all parties proceeded on.” expressed Bowater’s concern about the situation to the fed- concern about the lack of laws and Toll-Free: 1-877-702-5200 But the federal government’s Justice Department eral government and wants to see the situation resolved. “If regulations governing the provi- E-mail: [email protected] stalled the ATR process until a Regulatory Gap in environ- it doesn’t, Bowater is at risk,” Manuel said. sion of drinking water to First mental legislation as the land is transferred from provincial More on page 16. Nations residents. Page 2 Anishinabek News November 2005 Kashechewan Gull Bay evacuees have spent two years in Thunder Bay hotels GULL BAY FN (CP) – Hundreds of kilometres dozens of cases of respiratory ailments ranging from from the media scrutiny, political pressure and emer- mild bronchitis to severe asthma, and it’s only going gency evacuations of Kashechewan, residents of this to get worse, said Elaine Milne, the reserve’s health Julian Fantino, second from right, Ontario's commissioner of emergency tiny northern Ontario reserve live in mould-infested manager. management services, thanks Canadian Rangers armed Forces reservists for the work they are doing during the evacuation crisis at Kashechewan homes, bleach the tap water clean with Javex and “You have mould sitting around in the edges and First Nation. – Photo by Sgt. Peter Moon, Canadian Rangers wonder when anyone will come to the corners . you breathe it in, in it their rescue. goes and down into your lungs,” said Nearly 40 residents of the Gull Milne, adding that dozens of homes Anishinabek launch fund Bay reserve have spent the last two need to be repaired or replaced for the NIPISSING FN – The Anishinabek Nation Credit Union is assisting years crammed inside hotel rooms sake of the community’s health.