WINTER ISSUE 1 2020 THE BEAR CLAN PATROL COMMUNITIES PROMOTING SECURITY IN A NON-VIOLENT THE AND SUPPORTIVE- WAY MARTEN FALLS CIRCLEThe official publication of the Assembly of First Nations CIRCLE FIRST NATION THE COMMUNITY-LED PROCESS TO A NEW ACCESS- ROAD THE GREAT RESET NATIONAL CHIEF BELLEGARDE ON “BUILDING BACK BETTER” VOLUNTEERISM HOW FIRST NATIONS-LED INITIATIVES ARE PROMOTING LEARNING, CULTURE AND NATIONHOOD PM40787580 NEWS, OPINION, MOVIES, MUSIC AND MORE... Winter Issue 1 2020 THE CIRCLEThe official publication of the Assembly of First Nations 38 About the AFN The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) represents First Nations citizens in Canada. This means we work for you. All our efforts are mandated by leaders from across the country and the priorities for action set by the Chiefs-in-Assembly. In AFN’s The Circle, learn more about the role of the National Chief, Regional Chiefs, councils, committees, assemblies and the AFN staff. We look forward to hearing your feedback. 43 AFN Working This is a section on progress happening in the various sectors at the AFN through its work with Chiefs’ committees, First Nations citizens, tribal councils, professionals and people on the frontline. From environment and emergency services to economic development, health and language, these are the FEATURES updates on how we’re driving change based on the 65 The Great Reset priorities of First Nations. Perry Bellegarde on the unprecedented opportunity to re-align core values around the world 80 Art & Media Art, film, literature and music are all here rolled into 75 Marten Falls Community Leads one section. We tried to capture the interesting, the successful and the under-the-radar artists making Environmental Assessment Process important contributions. Words, sounds and images A change to development as usual are vital to our nations, and it’s essential that we promote our stories and storytellers. DEPARTMENTS COVER STORY 10 Message from the CEO/ Message de la directrice générale 68 The theme of this issue of The Circle shows instances By Janice Ciavaglia of volunteerism across the country. How are First Nations people donating their time to improve their 14 Message from the National Chief/ communities and help their neighbours? You will Message du Chef national read an overview of the Bear Clan Patrol, which in By Perry Bellegarde the last year has branched into two new chapters in different communities. Also included is an overview 18 Messages from the Regional Chiefs/ of four different organizations – Nimkii Aazhibikong, Neechee Studio, Think Indigenous and the Messages des Chefs régionaux Moose Hide Campaign – which seek to promote learning, culture and nationhood in communities 40 Around Turtle Island across Canada. 85 Professional Services Directory www.afn.ca 7 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO MESSAGE FROM THE CEO MESSAGE DE LA DIRECTRICE GÉNÉRALE Janice Ciavaglia ela’lioq ela’lioq It’s been said many times throughout 2020, Cela a été dit à maintes reprises tout au long de but this year has certainly been unprecedented. l’année 2020, mais cette année a certainement We’ve faced challenge after challenge globally, W été sans précédent. Nous avons fait face à de W nombreux défis au niveau mondial, national et local. De la nationally and locally. From the devastating COVID-19 pandémie dévastatrice de la COVID 19 aux manifestations pandemic to the protests against systemic racism to the ongoing contre le racisme systémique, en passant par la lutte fight for our inherent and Treaty rights to be recognized and permanente pour la reconnaissance et le respect de nos droits upheld, we have been asked to come up against many obstacles. inhérents et nos droits issus de traités, nous avons dû faire face And though it is difficult to see the positive from where we à de nombreux obstacles. Et bien qu’il soit difficile de voir les stand in the midst of these trials, there is much for us be proud éléments positifs de notre situation au milieu de ces épreuves, il of and to take pride in. y a beaucoup de choses dont nous pouvons être fiers. I see positivity in the way we have built and upheld community Je vois de manière positive la façon dont nous avons construit during this trying time. Nations have come together to support et maintenu notre sens de la communauté pendant cette période one another and ensure that we are all safe and well. Stories difficile. Les nations ont uni leurs forces pour se soutenir mutuellement et veiller à ce que nous soyons tous en sécurité et of people of all ages volunteering their time to care for their en bonne santé. Les histoires de personnes de tous âges qui ont Elders through acts of kindness – from buying and delivering donné de leur temps pour prendre soin de leurs aînés par des groceries and supplies to writing letters to stave off loneliness – actes de gentillesse - de l’achat et de la livraison de provisions show the true resilience and solidarity that we, as First Nations, et de fournitures à la rédaction de lettres pour éviter la solitude are known for. Each act of giving back is an act of love that - montrent la véritable résilience et la solidarité pour lesquelles Continued on page 12 suite à la page 12 Disclaimer: • The advertisers herein are not supported by or endorsed by the Assembly of First Nations • While we are grateful for the support of all of our advertisers, they are in no way affiliated or endorsed by the Assembly of First Nations The Circle is printed Editor: Published by: President: The contents of this publication may annually for the Justyne Essery Kevin Brown not be reproduced by any means, Assembly of First Senior Design Specialist: Senior Vice-President: in whole or in part, without the prior Nations. 33 South Station Street Krista Zimmermann Robert Thompson written consent of the association. North York, Ontario M9N 2B2 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1600 Design Specialist: Marisa Giesbrecht Phone: 1-866-480-4717 Director, Publication Mail Agreement Ottawa, ON K1P 6L5 Business Development: Contributing Writers: [email protected] #40787580 Phone: 613-241-6789 Michael Bell Ashley Albert, Nikita Day, Toll Free: 1-866-869-6789 531 Marion Street Please Return Fax: 613-241-5808 Christine Miskonoodinkwe-Smith Branch Manager: Winnipeg, MB R2J 0J9 Undeliverable Copies To: www.afn.ca Sales Executives: Nancie Privé Toll Free: 1-866-201-3096 Assembly of First Nations Bill Biber, Brenda Ezinicki, Published December 2020 Publisher: Pat Johnston, Dawn Stokes, Fax: 204-480-4420 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1600 Maurice LaBorde David Tetlock www.mediaedgepublishing.com All rights reserved. Ottawa, ON K1P 6L5 THE CIRCLE is printed on 10% post-consumer FSC certified paper using soya based inks. When necessary to mail an issue in an enclosure, we use an environmentally-friendly, 100% oxo-degradable poly-wrap. MESSAGE FROM THE CEO reminds us all of the importance of staying connected and nous, les Premières Nations, sommes connues. Chaque acte checking in with each other. de générosité est un geste d’amour qui nous rappelle à tous l’importance de rester en contact et de s’entraider. The months to come will present their own challenges, so I encourage each and every one of you to find something that Les mois à venir présenteront leurs propres défis, c’est pourquoi brings you joy. Reconnect with your community – your family, j’encourage chacun d’entre vous à trouver quelque chose qui your neighbours, your First Nation. In order to build back vous apporte de la joie. Renouez avec votre communauté - better, we must first take care of ourselves. Across the country, votre famille, vos voisins, votre Première Nation. Pour mieux First Nations are committed to this healing journey through reconstruire, nous devons d’abord prendre soin de nous mêmes. connection or reconnection with culture and tradition, heading Partout au pays, les Premières Nations s’engagent dans cette démarche de guérison en établissant ou en rétablissant des liens out onto the land and giving their time and effort to ensuring avec la culture et les traditions, en allant sur le terrain et en the safety of others. donnant temps et efforts pour assurer la sécurité des autres. Together, we will move forward and continue to build ourselves Ensemble, nous allons aller de l’avant et continuer à nous into Nations that are thriving and high-achieving. I am proud construire en tant que nations prospères et performantes. Je of the things we have been able to accomplish, both at the suis fier des choses que nous avons pu accomplir, à l’Assemblée Assembly of First Nations and elsewhere, in spite of the des Premières Nations et ailleurs, malgré les difficultés que nous hardships we’ve been asked to endure this year. I know that avons dû endurer cette année. Je sais que nous continuerons we will continue to achieve our goals and go beyond what is à atteindre nos objectifs et à dépasser les attentes. Nous en expected. We will emerge stronger together. sortirons plus forts ensemble. Janice Ciavaglia Janice Ciavaglia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Directrice générale (DG) Assembly of First Nations Assemblée des Premières Nations 12 The Circle Winter Issue 1 2020 MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL CHIEF MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL CHIEF MESSAGE DU CHEF NATIONAL Perry Bellegarde he ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a pandémie de COVID 19 qui se poursuit nous a appris many things, perhaps none greater than the value beaucoup de choses, la plus importante étant peut être la of community and how much stronger we are valeur de la communauté et le fait que nous sommes plus when we pull together, even when we have to stay forts lorsque nous nous serrons les coudes, même si nous Ttwo meters apart.