REPRESENTING OFF-RESERVE STATUS & NON-STATUS INDIANS, MÉTIS AND INUIT OF SOUTHERN LABRADOR THE INDIGENOUS OICEVOLUME 2 Issue 2 V 2018 A Dance of Reconciliation A New Generation of Cultural Sharing The Winding Road to Success An Indigenous student’s story of resilience and determination VOLUME 2, Issue 2 contents on the cover Photo Credit: Anna Uliana Special Reports CANADA'S RESPONSE 06 to the Descheneaux Decision What Happens Next? Marah (Miigwans) Smith-Chabot THE NEW FACE OF BUSINESS: Features 08 The Social Enterprise MELISSA GILPIN – Aboriginal WELCOME MESSAGE 17 Youth Achievement Award 05 National Chief Robert Bertrand Recipient THE WINDING ROAD TO SUCCESS REMEMBERING CHIEF DWIGHT 11 An Indigenous student’s story of 20 ALLISTER JOHN DOREY resilience and determination “ALL OF OUR RELATIONS”- A DANCE OF RECONCILIATION: 21 Student support centers 14 A New Generation of Cultural assisting post-secondary Sharing. Aboriginal students. THE REBUILDING OF OUR THE TORCH; BE YOURS TO HOLD NATIONS 18 IT HIGH: 25 Remembering Our Indigenous AT YOUR SERVICE Veterans 32 The Congress of Aborginal Peoples ASETS program THE INDIGENOUS VOICE SUMMER 2018 3 THE INDIGENOUS VOICE The Indigenous Voice is the official publication of the Congress Of Aboriginal Peoples. As one of only five national Aboriginal representative organizations recognized by the Government of Canada, CAP advocates for the rights and interests of Métis people, non-status/status Indians living-off reserve and the Inuit of Southern Labrador. CAP represents the interests of its provincial and territorial affiliate organizations. Published Triannually For: Congress Of Aboriginal Peoples 867 St. Laurent Blvd. Ottawa, ON K1K 3B1 Tel: (613) 747-6022 Toll Free: 1(888) 997-9927 Fax: (613) 747-8834 Website: abo-peoples.org Publisher Walter Niekamp Executive Editor Robert Russell Editor Thomas Pashko Graphic Design Specialist Carolyn Beck, B.Des., Beck Designs Sales Manager John Pashko Published by: Publishing Inc. P.O. Box 165 Middle West Pubnico, NS B0W 2M0 Tel: 902-762-0124 [email protected] All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the Congress Of Aboriginal Peoples. Published June 2018 4 THE INDIGENOUS VOICE SUMMER 2018 Welcome to our latest edition of the Congress of We are eager to share this pour les étudiants autochtones. Aboriginal Peoples’ magazine – The informative publication with you and Le Congrès a toujours été un ardent Indigenous Voice. hope you enjoy the many articles défenseur de l'éducation et, depuis We are so very pleased to present about the work we do. It is also our la création de notre programme this magazine to the general public and hope this magazine will give you a d'emploi et de formation, nous avons in particular to the Métis, Non-Status / greater awareness of our people and aidé plus de quatre mille (4 000) Status Indians and Inuit peoples living help you on your personal journey of étudiants à réussir leurs études. off-reserve whom we represent. reconciliation. Bien que nous ayons fait des gains This edition focuses on education substantiels; les étudiants autochtones and its importance to our people. continuent d'avoir besoin d'un appui Inside you will find articles around Magwitch, supplémentaire et en matière des taux the successes of Indigenous youth in Chief Robert Bertrand d'obtention d'un diplôme d'études their pursuit of higher education. You secondaires et post-secondaires will also hear about the exceptional demeurent toujours inférieurs la work being undertaken by Colleges moyenne nationale. and Universities to create a culturally Bienvenue L'éducation des jeunes autochtones relevant and respectful environment à notre dernière édition du magazine est la responsabilité de tous les for Indigenous students to learn. du Congrès des peuples autochtones - Canadiens et nous savons que The Congress has always been a The Indigenous Voice. l'investissement dans ces programmes strong advocate for education and Nous sommes très heureux de bénéficiera considérablement since the inception of our employment présenter ce magazine au grand l'économie canadienne dans son and training program we have public et en particulier aux Métis, aux ensemble. Notre succès est le succès supported over four thousand (4,000) Indiens non-inscrits et aux Indiens du Canada! students in achieving educational inscrits vivant hors réserve que nous Nous sommes impatients de partager success. Though we have made représentons. cette publication informative avec vous substantial gains; Indigenous students Cette édition se concentre sur et nous espérons que vous apprécierez continue to require additional support l'éducation et son importance pour les nombreux articles sur le travail que and still remain below the national notre peuple. À l'intérieur, vous nous faisons. Nous espérons également average in terms of secondary and trouverez des articles sur les réussites que ce magazine vous donnera une post-secondary graduation rates. des jeunes autochtones dans leur meilleure conscience de notre peuple The education of Indigenous youth is poursuite de l'enseignement supérieur. et vous aidera dans votre cheminement the responsibility of all Canadians and Vous entendrez également parler du personnel de réconciliation. we know investing in them will benefit travail exceptionnel entrepris par les considerably to Canada’s overall collèges et les universités pour créer economy. Our success is Canada’s un environnement d’apprentissage Magwitch, success! culturellement pertinent et respectueux Chief Robert Bertrand THE INDIGENOUS VOICE SUMMER 2018 5 Canada’s Response to the Descheneaux Decision The Descheneaux Case téphane Descheneaux, a member Committee on Indigenous and During the CAP PTO Forums, a of the Abenaki community of Northern Affairs (INAN) and the broad range of issues relating to Indian SOdanak, claimed Canada Standing Senate Committee on registration, band membership and discriminated against descendants of Aboriginal Peoples (SSCAP). citizenship were discussed. Indian women, launching the court For Indigenous Peoples, Bill S-3 fell Participants expressed hope that case Descheneaux c. Canada. short of fully addressing sex-based through the consultation process, Descheneaux’s Indian status originated discrimination in the Indian Act. In issues of identity, Indian status, First from his Indian grandmother, who lost May 2017, the SSCAP amended Bill Nation citizenship and band her status when she married a non- S-3 to include a clause referred to as membership would be addressed by the Indian man. Had she been a man, his “6(1)(a) all the way”. The amendment collaborative process. Some issues of Indian status would not have been was intended to promote equality interest from CAP constituents include: revoked and would have been passed under the law for Indian women and on to his wife, their children and men and their descendants born prior • categories in Indian registration grandchildren. to April 17, 1985, under paragraph 6(1) provisions; In August 2015, the Superior Court (a) of the Indian Act. The Government • issues relating to adoption; of Québec ruled that the registration of Canada did not support this provisions of the Indian Act amendment and felt more consultation • 1951 cut-off date for eligibility unjustifiably violate section 15 of the was necessary. for registration; Canadian Charter of Rights and The bill also mandated the design Freedoms. The provisions constitute a and implementation of a “collaborative • second-generation cut-off; disparity in treatment in eligibility to process with First Nations and other • issues relating to enfranchisement, Indian registration between women interested parties on issues relating to including band enfranchisement; and men, and their respective Indian registration and Band descendants. membership.” In October 2017, the • unstated and unknown paternity; The court suspended the Government of Canada began implementation of its decision to allow engaging with Indigenous stakeholders • voluntary de-registration; and Parliament to make the necessary on the co-design of the collaborative • First Nations jurisdiction to legislative amendments to address process, which is slated to begin in determine membership inequities in Indian registration, April 2018. or citizenship. including those beyond the scope of On Dec. 12, 2017, Bill S-3 received the Descheneaux case. In response, the royal assent. CAP recognizes that the Government of Canada introduced Bill In March 2018, CAP, in partnership collaborative process is only an initial S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act in with its eleven Provincial and step to addressing the detrimental response to the Superior Court of Territorial Organizations (PTOs), effects of the Indian Act legislation on Québec decision in Descheneaux c. hosted community forums to share generations of Indigenous peoples and Canada in October 2016. information with its constituents and to communities. We continue to work In November 2016, Congress of discuss how the collaborative process diligently for all our constituents, Aboriginal Peoples’ (CAP) National will take shape, what subject matter especially for those who continue to Chief Robert Bertrand gave testimony will be discussed, and what activities be excluded from government services on Bill S-3 to both the Standing will be undertaken. and programs. 6 THE INDIGENOUS VOICE SUMMER 2018 — CAREER DECISIONS BASED ON EXPERIENCE. TRADES DISCOVERY FOR