Issue No. 79, WINTER 2014 AGA Ontario2014 Métis to gather IN THUNDER BAY — Read on page 3 Remembering Mandela: an honorary Métis. Métis youth ready to work Workshop on transitions to the labour market. — page 5 — page 11 MNO Canoe Appointment Expedition to University Back by popular demand! Infinite Reach The MNO Canoe Expedition Council University of Waterloo event Métis perspective is returning for a third time. a big success. — page 4 at Carleton. — page 19 — page 15 Hanging with Tiny Voyageur “We are here” “We are here” the Hendricks MNO Citizen authors Exhibit recognized by Ontario Citizen to be featured in children’s book on Museum Association. documentary. Métis history. — page 16 — page 15 — page 18 Métis Voyageur 2 Winter 2014, Issue no. 79 The Métis Voyageur FFAMILYAMILY Winter 2014, No. 79 Produced by the Métis Nation of Ontario Communications Branch: Joseph Oliver Vanessa Black Emmanuel Akohene-Mensah Alysha Akoodie Mike Fedyk Marc St. Germain Brabant – “GUS” (Bennett) passes Contributors: March 11, 1947 – September 24, 2013 he Métis Nation of Ontario Jide Afolabi Alysha Akoodie t is with immense (MNO) is sad to report that Alicia Blore sadness that we TVanessa Black (Bennett) Scott Carpenter announce Joseph passed away on February 6, 2014. Jerry Clarke I Oliver Brabant’s (Gus) Vanessa worked as a MNO Healthy Richard Cuddy Juliette S. Denis passing, in his 67th year, Babies Healthy Children Coordina- Mike Fedyk with his family by his side. tor in 2007-08. She is survived by Larry Ferris Gus will be greatly missed her daughters, Taeha and Christina, Donn Fowler and fondly remembered her mother Gale, her dad Ed, birth Greg Garratt Ginny Gonneau by his wife, Sally (nee father Erick , her partner Arliss as Louise Goulding Ladouceur), his sons well as many other family members Sheila Grantham Joseph (Lindsay), Arthur and friends. Vanessa or Nessa, as Hall. Vanessa’s family would like to Theresa Hendricks Nina Henley (Susan), and Bob (Gina), she was affectionately known, had acknowledge with heartfelt grati- Yvonne Jensen and his grandchildren a kind-hearted nature with the sen- tude the people of Sioux Narrows/ Gary Lipinski Taylor, Naomi, Benjamin, sitivity to help anyone in need. Nestor Falls. Glen Lipinski Tristan, Cali, Ryder and She had compassion and em- Special thanks to the doctors Jennifer Lord Rick Zonadah Meileur Ryann. He is survived by his held in his honour on the October pathy towards everyone and her and nurses of the 6th Floor and Guylaine Morin-Cleroux brother Marcel (Norma) and 4, 2013 at the Penetanguishene wonderful sense of humor will be ICU at St. Boniface Hospital for Joanne Myer predeceased by his parents, Legion. missed. Funeral Services will be the wonderful care they gave her Lucille Nelson Joseph and Lena, his sisters, Stella All the staff at the Métis Nation held at Brown Funeral Home & and her family. In lieu of flow- Jennifer St. Germain Fern Tremblay (Estelle), Lucy, Lorraine, Theresa of Ontario (MNO) Midland office Cremation Centre, Kenora, Ontario ers donations can be made to the James Wagar and his brother, Allan. His many will miss Gus’s visits and his cheer- at 11:00 am on February 12, 2014 St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Wenda Watteyne relatives, friends and community ful attitude. Gus was very caring with Interment to take place at the Manitoba. ∞ will dearly remember Gus, his and spent many hours as a volun- Sioux Narrows Cemetery in Sioux warm embrace and his generous teer driver for the MNO Healing Narrows with a luncheon to follow Online condolences may be made at Submissions: heart. A celebration of life was and Wellness Branch. ∞ at the Sioux Narrows Community www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com Communications Branch Métis Nation Of Ontario 500 Old St. Patrick Street, Unit D Ottawa ON K1N 9G4 [email protected] Publication #: Pm 40025265 Submission Policy: A Christmas A Métis MNO encourages contributions from MNO citizens and staff. All submissions are edited to conform to the Canadian Press Style Guide as well as surprise treasure for grammar, repetitiousness, spelling and to accurately reflect Submitted by: Jennifer St. Germain, Submitted by: Yvonne Jensen, the official names and titles of MNO Director of Education and Training President of the MNO North Channel Métis Council individuals, organizations, bodies and agencies referenced in submissions. he St. Germain-Calder fam- A wee Christmas surprise, Autumn roud parents Renee and August 18, 2013. Grandparents Excepting letters to the ily received a very exciting Rose decided to arrive a month Robert Jensen Jr., and to this little treasure are: Tim editor and submissions to the gift this Christmas, the birth early, making it a very joyous holi- big brother Cameron, and Suzanne Lamour, Region 4 family and passages sections, T P submissions should not be of their beautiful baby girl. day. Happily she was a healthy 6.2 all from Métis Nation of Councillor Ernie Gatien and Bob written in the first person. Daughter of MNO Director pounds at birth. Ontario (MNO) North Channel and Yvonne Jensen, President of Submissions written in the first of Education and Training Jen Congratulations to the Métis Council, welcomed the MNO North Channel Metis person will either be changed to the third person or not St. Germain, Autumn Rose was St. Germain-Calder family! ∞ their little girl Morgan born Council. ∞ published. born December 25 at 2:21 am. The recommended length for a submission is between 400 and 600 words. Submissions longer than that may be edited for length. 2014 submission deadlines: March 7, 2014 May 2, 2014 September 5, 2014 November 1, 2014 Métis Voyageur Winter 2014, Issue no. 79 3 NATION The 2014 AGA THUNDER BAY, AUGUST 22-25 he 2014 Métis Na- tion of Ontario (MNO) Annual General Assembly (AGA) will be hosted by the Region Two MNO Chartered Commu- nity Councils in Thunder Bay. The formal AGA will start the evening of Friday, August 22 with the traditional Tarrival of the voyageur canoes and con- tinue all day Saturday and Sunday be- fore wrapping up around noon on Mon- day, August 25. “We are very excited to bring the AGA back to Thunder Bay,” stated Region Mural painted on the outside Two Councillor Cam Burgess. “We have of the MNO and the MNO had many great AGAs here in the past and we are confident we will be continu- Thunder Bay Métis Council ing that tradition this year!” building in Thunder Bay “We are very pleased that the three Region Two MNO Chartered Community Councils are coming together to host this year’s AGA,” MNO President Gary Lipinski stated. “The Greenstone, Su- perior North Shore and Thunder Bay Métis Councils will each bring something special to their role as host and this kind of regional cooperation is great to see.” Thunder Bay is an excellent location for an AGA as the area has been impor- tant to Métis for centuries; going back to its earliest history when it played a piv- otal role in the fur trade to more recent times such as in 2004, when the MNO and the Ontario government signed the Interim Harvesting Agreement at the AGA that year. Today, Métis are impor- tant players in the culture and economy of Thunder Bay through Memorandums of Understanding between the MNO and resource companies such as Osisko, Detour Gold and Union Gas as well as with similar agreements with educational institutions such as Lakehead Univer- sity and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. It is through agreements like these that the MNO contributes to build- ing a stronger future for Métis people in Ontario. During their stay in Thunder Bay, MNO citizens can explore spectacular natural wonders like Eagle Canyon and Kakabeka Falls, sail on the waters of Lake Superior, and golf at the luxurious Whitewater Golf Club. They may also unwind from outdoor pursuits by visit- ing art galleries and museums or taking in musical and stage shows. And don’t forget to travel back in time at Fort Wil- liam Historical Park - the world’s largest reconstructed fur trade post! Mark your calendar for the 2014 AGA and look for announcements about AGA registration, activities, venues, accommo- dations and meals on the MNO website and Facebook page. ∞ Collage of images from the 2013 MNO AGA held in Ottawa. Métis Voyageur 4 Winter 2014, Issue no. 79 BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND... MNO Canoe Expedition t was recently announced that connect with nature and their heri- the third Métis Nation of Ontario tage as well as re-live the past through I(MNO) Canoe Expedition will experiences similar to those of their take place this summer. MNO Canoe Métis ancestors. Expeditions celebrate Métis history “I never felt more alive than I did and culture and inspire Métis pride when I was on the Métis Canoe Expe- across the homeland. Expeditions pro- dition,” wrote Ginny Gonneau who vide Métis youth with a unique, once participated in both previous expedi- in a lifetime opportunity to follow tions. “I was living the adventure of a in the shadows of their ancestors by lifetime, seeing all the most beautiful retracing the historic Métis voyageur and pristine parts of Ontario’s wilder- trade routes. ness.” Past expeditions took place in the A major component of the expedi- summers of 2003 and 2005. The 2003 tion is the promotion and celebration expedition traced the old North West of Métis people in Canada’s history. Company trading route from Lachine, Along their route, the youth will be Quebec towards the Great Rendezvous visiting communities to share their at Old Fort William in Thunder Bay, experiences and provide educational Ontario. In the 2005 expedition, youth sessions on Métis history and culture.