Idle No More ralliesin the northPAGE 7

Feasting the Deadceremony in KIPAGE 6

Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974

January 17, 2013 9,300 copies distributed $1.50 Vol. 40 No. 2

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DJ Classic Roots chasing the dreamPAGE 11

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Spirituality on Victoria Island

Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay NewsOn a calm quiet morning, Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence finds time to feed the geese that regularly walk into the camp on Victoria Island. Spence was introduced to her people’s traditional beliefs not long after she moved to Attawapiskat. She was told before her hunger strike that birds would be appear during her fast. Four geese – which she said represents the four directions – appeared not long after and stay along the river that separates the island and Ottawa mainland.

Spence practices traditional beliefs during ‘sacred fast’

ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᑭᐃᓄᐦᐊᑲᓀ ᑭᑭᓇᐗᑕᑭᒪᑲᓀ ᐅᐅᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᕒᐃᐠ ᑫᕒᐃᐠᐗᐗᑌ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐎᐣ

ᐅᐱᔑᑯᑲᐣᐠ ᑲᐅᒋᐨ ᑲᕒᓀᐟ ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᑭᐃᓄᐦᐊᑲᓀ ᑭᑭᓇᐗᑕᑭᒪᑲᓀ ᐅᐅᒪ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐁᓂᓯᑕᐎᓂᑲᑌᓂᐠ ᒥᔑᓄᐊᐦᑭ ᐁᒧᑕᓄᑭᑕᒪᑫᐨ᙮“ᒪᐗᐨ ᑭᒋ ᐃᓀᐣᑕᐣ - ᒪᐗᐨ ᑭᑯᐡᑯᐎᓂᑯ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ , ᐁᑭᐃᓄᐦᐊᑲᓀᐨ ᒋᑕᑯᑭᒪᑲᓀᐨ ᐃᐃᒪ ᑲᐃᔑᑭᑭᓄᐦᐊᒋᑲᓀᐨ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑎᓭᒼᐳᕒ 30, 2012᙮ “ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᐃᑯ ᑲᐅᒋᐱᒪᑎᓯᔭᐣ ᑕᓄᑭᑕᐗᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯᐠ ᒥᓇ ᒪᐗᐨ ᑭᒋ ᐃᓀᐣᑕᐣ, ᐊᐗᔑᒣ ᐁᑭᐊᓂᑭᒋᓀᐣᑕᒪᐣ ᐊᐸᐣ ᑲᑭ ᐅᒥᔓᒥᒪᔭᐣ᙮ ᐁᑲᑴᒋᒥᑎᓱᔭᐣ ᐁᑯᓀᐣ ᐃᐃᒪ ᐁᑕᑯᐠ ᑕᓂᑯᐱᒋᑲᓇᐠ ᐅᐣᒋ, ᐁᑯᓀᐣ ᐅᓂᑲᓂᒥᐗ ᐁᓇᑲᑕᒪᐗᔭᐠ᙮”ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᑭᓂᓯᑕᐎᓂᑲᑌᓂ ᐅᑕᓄᑭᐎᐣ ᑲᑭᐸᑭᑎᓇᐠ ᐃᐃᒪ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐎᓂᐠ, ᐁᑭᐊᓄᑭᑕᐠ ᒋᐎᒋᐎᑎᓂᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐌᒥᑎᑯᔑᐗᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑭᑲᐣᒋᓂᔕᐦᐊᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐤ ᐱᒪᑎᓯᐎᐣ ᐃᔑᒋᑫᐎᓇᐣ᙮“ᑲᕒᓀᐟ ᑭᑭᒋᐎᒋᑐ ᑲᑭᑲᐣᒋᓂᔕᐦᐃᑲᑌᐠ ᐌᐡᑲᐨ ᑲᑭᐱᑭᑭᓂᒪᐗᑲᓀᐗᐨ ᒋᑎᐸᐦᐊᒪᐗᑲᓉᐗᐨ ᒥᓇ ᑲᓇᑕ ᒋᐎᑕᐠ

ᐅᒧᔑᑐᐎᐣ,” ᐃᑭᑐ ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᐦᐊᕒᐱ ᔦᓯᓄ᙮ “ᐅᑕᓄᑭᐎᐣ ᓂᓯᑕᐎᓂᑲᑌᓂ ᒥᓇ ᒪᐗᐨ ᑭᒋᓀᒋᑲᑌᓂ ᐅᐅᒪ

ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᐢᑭ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭᓇ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐗᐠ ᒥᓯᑌᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᓇᑕ᙮ ᐎᐣᑫ ᑌᐺ ᐱᒪᑎᓯᐎᓂᑫ ᒥᓇ ᓂᑲᓂᐢᑲᒪᑫ᙮”ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᑫᐎᐣ ᑭᑕᑯᐱᐸᐣ ᑲᑭᒪᑕᓄᑭᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐗᓂᓇᐗᑲᐣᐠ ᒪᔦᑭᐃᔑᓂᑲᒋᑫᐎᐣ ᐊᐱᐎᐣ, ᒥᓇ ᐁᑕᑯᓯᐠ ᐗᓂᓇᐗᑲᐣᐠ ᐎᑕᓄᑭᒥᑎᐎᐣ ᑲᒥᓄᔭᒋᑫᓇᓂᐗᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑲᒥᓄᐎᓀᒋᑫᓇᓂᐗᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᑕᑶᐗᐨ ᐌᐠᑲᐨ ᑲᑭᐱᑭᑭᓄᒪᐗᑲᓀᐗᐨ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑎᐯᓂᒪᑲᓀᐗᐣ᙮ ᒥᓇ ᓄᑯᒥᑫ ᐅᑭᐅᔑᑐᐣ ᐃᐃᒪ ᐱᐗᐱᑯᐠ, www.garnets journey.com, ᔭᐎᔭᐠ ᒋᐅᒋ ᐎᒋᐦᐃᑎᐗᐨ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐊᓂᒧᑕᒧᐗᐨ ᐌᐡᑲᐨ ᑲᑭᐱ ᑭᑭᓄᒪᐗᑲᓀᐗᐨ ᐊᐗᔑᔕᐠ ᐃᓯᓭᐎᓇᐣ᙮ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᐃᑭᑐ ᑲᔭᓂᒧᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑲᑭᔑᐗᓂᑐᑕᐗᑲᓀᐗᐨ ᐊᐗᔑᔕᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᑭᑭᓄᒪᐗᑲᓀᐗᐨ ᓴᓇᑫᑕᑯᐣ ᔭᐎᔭ ᑲᐃᔑ ᐯᔑᑯᐨ᙮“ᐊᓂᐣᑕ ᔭᐎᔭᐠ ᑲᐃᔑᐯᔑᑯᐗᐨ ᑭᐅᓀᐣᑕᒧᐗᐠ ᒋᐊᓂᔑᐱᒪᑎᓯᐗᐨ, ᑭᒋ ᐃᓀᐣᑕᑯᐣ ᐅᐅᐌ - ᓂᓂᓯᑕᐌᐣᑕᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑭᒋᓀᐣᑕᐣ ᐃᐃᐌ ᑲᐃᔑ ᐸᑯᓭᓂᒧᐗᐨ,” ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᐃᑭᑐ᙮ “ᐁᑯᒥᓇ ᓂᓂᓯᑕᐌᐣᑕᐣ ᒥᓇ ᓂᐎᒋᑲᐸᐌᑕᐣ ᐃᑭᐌᓂᐗᐠ ᑲᒪᔑ

ᑲᑲᐎᐣᑕᒧᐗᐨ ᑲᑭᐱᑐᑕᐗᑲᓀᐗᐨ᙮ ᒥᐌ ᐁᓀᐣᑕᒪᐣ ᐁᑭᒋᓀᐣᑕᑯᐠ ᒋᑭᑫᐣᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐁᑲ ᐁᐯᔑᑯᐠ ᒋᒥᓄᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐃᐃᐌ ᒪᐗᐨ ᐌᐡᑲᐨ, ᒥᓇ ᑲᓴᓇᑭᓭᐠ ᐃᓯᓭᐎᓇᐣ ᑲᓇᑭᐡᑲᒧᐗᐨ ᑭᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᒥᓇᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᐊᓂᑯᐱᒪᑎᓯᓇᓂᐗᐠ᙮”ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐗᐠ ᐁᐯᐸᑲᓂᓭᓂᐠ ᑲᔭᐱᓯᑲᐗᐨ ᑲ ᑲ ᑴ ᒥ ᓄ ᐗ ᒋ ᐦ ᐃ ᑎ ᓱ ᐗ ᐨ ᙮ “ᐊᓂᐣᑕ ᔭᐎᔭᐠ ᑭᒋᐊᓄᑭᐗᐠ ᐁᑲᑴᒥᓄᐗᒋᐦᐃᑎᓱᐗᐨ, ᒥᓇ ᐊᓂᐣᑕ ᔭᐎᔭᐠ ᐱᒋᓇᐠ ᐁᒪᒥᑯᐡᑲᑯᐗᐨ ᑲᑭᐱᓯᓭᐗᐨ ᐌᐡᑲᐨ,” ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᐃᑭᑐ᙮ “ᑲᑭᑲᑴ ᒪᒐᒥᐣ ᐅᐅᐌᑎ ᓂᑲᓂᐠᒥᓇ ᒋᐗᐎᒋᐦᐃᑎᔭᐠ᙮ ᓂᐎᑲᐣᒋᓂᔕᐦᐊᐣ ᒋᑲᑴᒥᓄᐗᒋᐦᐃᑎᓱᔭᐠ᙮ ᑭᒥᓋᔑᐣ ᑭᑕᓄᑭᐎᓂᓇᐣ ᐅᐅᐌᑎ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᒥᑕᓱ ᒥᓇ ᓂᔑᑕᓇ ᑕᓱᔭᑭ: ᑲᑭᑲᑴ ᓂᑲᐣ ᐃᓇᐱᒥᐣ ᒋᐊᓂᐱᒧᓭᔭᐠ ᔕᑯᐨ ᒋᑭᑫᐣᑕᑯᐠ ᐁᓇᑭᐡᑲᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑲᐊᓂᑯᐱᒪᑎᓯᐗᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐗᐠ᙮ ᑲᑭᐱᒥᐊᓄᑭᒥᐣ ᒋᑲᐡᑭᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐅᓇᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑫᐅᒋᒥᓄᔭᐨ ᔭᐎᔭ, ᒋᒧᓄᔭᒪᑲᑭᐣ ᑭᑕᔑᑫᐎᓂᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᒋᒥᓄᔭᒪᑲᑭᐣ ᑭᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᐤ ᑎᐯᒋᑫᐎᓇᐣ᙮”ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᐃᑭᑐ ᑫᑐᒋᑲᑌᐠ

ᐅᓂᓯᑕᐎᓇᑯᐎᐣ ᐃᐃᒪ ᑭᑭᓇᐗᑕᑭᒥᑯᐎᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑲᑭᐃᓄᐦᐊᑲᓀᐨ ᑕᐃᔑᑐᒋᑲᑌ ᐅᐅᐌ ᑫᐊᓂᓂᐱᐠ᙮“ᐅᐅᐌ ᑲᑲᓇᐗᐸᑕᒪᐣ ᑭᑭᓇᐗᒋᒋᑲᐣ ᑲᐎᐣ ᑕᑭ ᐅᒋ ᐃᓯᓭᓯᐸᐣ ᑭᐡᐱᐣ ᐁᑲ ᔭᐎᔭᐠ ᐗᐎᒋᐦᐃᔑᐗᑯᐸᓀᐣ,” ᐊᐣᒋᑲᓀᑊ ᐃᑭᑐ᙮ “ᐅᐅᐌᑕᐡ ᐃᓯᓭ, ᑲᑭᓇ ᔭᐎᔭ ᑲᑭᐱᐎᑕᓄᑭᒪᐠ ᐅᐅᒪ ᑕᐎᓂᐠ, ᒥᓇ ᑲᐅᒋᑎᐯᐣᒋᑫᔭᐠ ᒥᓇ ᒥᓯᑌᑲᒥᐠ ᑲᓇᑕ, ᑲᑭᑕᑯᑭᒪᐠ ᑫᐎᓇᐗ ᑲᑭᑭᓇᐗᒋᐦᐊᐠ ᑫᐎᓂᐗ᙮ ᑲᑭᐎᒋᐎᑯᐠ ᐃᑕᐡ ᐅᐅᐌ ᑭᑭᓇᐗᒋᒋᑫᐎᐣ᙮”ᒥᐅᐌ ᐯᔑᐠ ᑭᑭᓇᐗᒋᒋᑫᐎᐣ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑲᐃᐡᐸᑭᐣᑕᐠ, ᑭᑭᓇᐗᑕᑭᐣᒋᑲᐣ ᐅᐅᒪ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑭᒪᒋᐊᐸᒋᒋᑲᑌ 1967, ᒣᑾᐨ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑲᑎᐱᐡᑲᒧᒪᑲᐠ ᒥᑕᓱᒥᑕᓇ ᑕᓱᔭᑭ, ᒋᓂᓯᑕᐎᓂᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᔭᐎᔭ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᑲᐱᒪᑎᓯᐨ ᑲᐃᔑᐗᐎᒋᑐᐨ ᐊᓄᑭᐎᓇᐣ ᑲᑲᑎᐸᐦᐊᒪᐗᑲᓀᐨ ᔭᐎᔭ, ᑲᐃᔑ ᑭᒋᐃᓀᐣᑕᐠ ᐅᑕᔑᑫᐎᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭ ᐃᔑᐗᐎᒋᑐᐨ ᐅᐎᑕᓂᔑᓂᓂᒪᐣ᙮ ᐊᐗᔑᒣ 5,000 ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐗᐠ ᑲᑭᓇ ᑲᐃᓇᑲᓀᓯᐗᐨ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ ᐊᔕ ᑕᑯᓇᐗᐠ ᐃᐃᒪ ᑭᑭᓇᐗᒋᒋᑫᐎᐣ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ ᑲᑭᒪᒋᓭᐠ ᐅᐅᐌ 1967᙮

Lac Seul’s Garnet Angeconeb received the Order of Canada on Dec. 30. See story on page 3.

Lenny CarpenterWawatay News

After a joint meeting with First Nations leaders, Prime Minister Ste-phen Harper and Govenor General David Johnston failed to materialize on Jan. 11, Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence continues her hunger strike.

But even as she entered Day 34 without eating any solid food, Spence does not fear what might happen if her demand is not met.

“I don’t even think of about death, you know,” she said in her teepee, rum-maging through her medicine boxes for sage. “I just wake up every morning and look forward to the day.”

As she takes out a dream catcher and medicine pouches to present as gifts, the interior of her teepee is adorned with hand drums, ceremonial flags, and bundles of sweet grass.

A sage bowl sits by her bed, and as she continues to rummage, she finds a pipe that was presented to her by a visitor.

“When you’re given a pipe, it means you’re on a journey,” she said. “I don’t know what will happen after all this. I’m not sure if I’ll run for chief again. But you never know.”

Her statement is a dismissal of any pessimism about her situation – the fact that her health is deteriorating as she forgoes solid food, and that there

is no indication of her desired meeting with the Crown and prime minister in sight.

Spence believes that the Creator will ensure she survives. In fact, while everyone is calling it a hunger strike, Spence considers it a sacred fast.

“I only call it a hunger strike so the white men world will understand,” she said. “It’s a sacred fast because you suf-fer for the people, and the Creator will help you. They wouldn’t understand that.”

Spence starts her day waking up to the sound of a traditional whistle blown by the sacred fire outside, fol-lowed by a drum prayer. She smudges, meditates and prays before she has her cup of fish broth and medicinal tea.

Spence said she does not necessar-ily pray to give her strength, but for the youth, and for Harper to find the com-passion in his heart to meet with her and the other chiefs.

Spirituality is not something Spence was introduced to until recent years.

Spence’s mother was a residential school survivor, and Spence herself went to St. Anne’s Residential School in Fort Albany, so Christianity was instilled in her at an early age. She even enrolled her eldest daughters in a Catholic school.

See Spiritual Support on page 8

2 Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

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INSIDE WAWATAY NEWS THIS WEEK

Classic Roots chasing his dream

Thunder Bay DJ Classic Roots, also known as a Josh DePerry of Long Lake #58 and Red Cliff band, is moving to Toronto to pursue a career.

The 24-year-old, considered one of the top three DJ’s in the city, performed at a farewell party on Jan. 12.

DePerry said he plans on doing a tour and releasing another EP while in Toronto.

A grass dancer, DePerry said he plans on going to powwows while in southern Ontario.

Classic Roots ᐅᐱᒥᓂᔕᐦᐊᐣ ᐅᐸᐗᒧᐎᐣ

ᑕᐣᑐᕒ ᐯ ᑭᑐᒋᑫᑕᒪᑫ Classic Roots, ᐃᔑᑭᑫᓂᒪᑲᓀ ᑲᔦ ᒑᐡ ᑎᐯᕒᐃ ᐁᐅᐣᒋᐨ ᑭᓄᑲᒥᐠ #58 ᒥᓇ ᒥᐢᑯᑭᐡᑲᐱᐠ ᐃᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐠ, ᐃᔑᑯᓯ ᑐᕒᐅᐣᑐ ᐁᓇᓇᑕᐌᐣᑕᐠ ᐅᑕᓄᑭᐎᐣ᙮ᓂᒥᑕᓇᔑᓂᐎᐣ ᐁᑕᓱᐊᐦᑭᐎᓀᐨ, ᐁᐃᓀᓂᒪᑲᓀᐨ ᑲᐃᔑᓂᓯᐗᐨ

ᐁᓇᑲᒋᐗᐨ ᐅᐅᒪ ᐅᑌᓇᐠ, ᑭᑭᑐᒋᑫᑕᒪᑫ ᐃᐡᑴᔭᐨ ᒐᓂᐌᕒᐃ 12᙮ᑎᐯᕒᐃ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐁᐅᓇᒋᑫᐨ ᒋᐸᐸᒥᑭᑐᒋᑫᐨ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐅᔑᑐᐨ

ᐱᑕᐌᓯᒋᑲᓇᐱᑯᓴᐣ ᒣᑾᐨ ᐊᔭᐨ ᐃᐃᒪ ᑐᕒᐅᐣᑐ᙮ᒥᔕᐡᑯ ᓂᒥᐎᓂᓂ, ᑎᐯᕒᐃ ᐃᑭᑐ ᐁᔑᐗᓇᒋᑫᐨ ᒋᐸᐸᒥᐁᐃᔕᐨ

ᑲᐃᔑ ᐸᐗᐤᔑᒧᓇᓂᐗᐠ ᐅᐌᑎ ᔕᐗᓄᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕒᐃᔪ᙮

See page 11

KI father performs Feast of the Dead ceremony for son

On the fourth anniversary of the murder of his son, Lyle, Jacob Ostaman performed the last Feast of the Dead ceremony, a tradi-tion practiced before the arrival of Christianity.

In his community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Ostaman built a scaffold designed to hold the feast’s gifts and some of Lyle’s earthly possessions and accomplishments.

At 7 a.m. on Jan. 1, Ostaman held the last feast with Lyle, who was in the middle of the Platinex-KI battle.

After the ceremony, Ostaman felt “as if the heavy load was lifted from my entire being” and called it a “final closure” on his son’s death.

ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᐅᑕᑕᒥᒪ ᑭᐃᔑᒋᑫ ᑲᐳᓂᐱᒪᑎᓯᓂᐨ ᒪᑯᔐᐎᐣ ᐅᑯᓯᓴᐣ ᐅᐣᒋ

ᐊᔕ ᓂᐎᐊᐦᑭ ᑲᑭᐳᓂᐱᒪᑎᓯᓂᐨ ᑲᑭᓂᓯᒥᐨ ᐅᑯᓯᓴᐣ, ᓬᐊᔭᓬ, ᒉᑲᑊ ᐊᐢᑕᒪᐣ ᑭᐃᔑᒋᑫ ᒪᒋᐨ ᑲᐳᓂᐱᒪᑎᓯᐨ ᒪᑯᔐᐎᐣ, ᐌᐡᑲᐨ ᐃᔑᒋᑫᐎᐣ ᐁᑲᒪᔑ ᑲᑕᑯᔑᓄᒪᑲᐠ ᐁᒣᐦᐊᑎᓯᐎᐣ᙮ᐃᐃᒪ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐠ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ, ᐊᐢᑕᒪᐣ ᐅᑭᐅᔑᑐᐣ

ᑫᐃᔑᐊᑯᒋᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᒪᑯᔐᐎᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐊᓂᐣᑕ ᓬᐊᔭᓬ ᐅᑎᐯᒋᑲᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭᐃᔑᑲᐡᑭᐅᐨ᙮ᓂᓵᓯ ᑲᑭᔐᐸᔭᐠ ᒐᓂᐌᕒᐃ 1, ᐊᐢᑕᒪᐣ ᐅᑭᑐᑕᐣ ᑲᑭᒪᑯᔐᒋᑫᐨ

ᒪᒋᐨ ᐅᑯᓯᓴᐣ ᐅᐣᒋ ᓬᐊᔭᓬ, ᑫᐎᐣ ᐁᑭᑕᑴᑯᐸᓀᐣ ᒣᑾᐨ ᑊᓬᐊᑎᓀᐠᐢ ᒥᓇ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᑲᑭᓄᒋᑭᑫᐗᐸᐣ᙮ᑲᐃᐡᑾᒪᑯᔐᐎᓂᑫᐨ, ᐊᐢᑕᒪᐣ ᑭᐃᓀᐣᑕᒼ “ᑲᑭᒋᑯᓯᑯᐠ

ᑭᐅᒼᐱᐡᑲᒪᑲᐣ ᐅᐅᒪ ᓂᐎᔭᐎᐠ” ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᐃᔑᓂᑲᑕᐣ “ᒪᒋᐨ ᑲᑭᐸᐦᐃᑲᓂᐗᐠ” ᐅᑯᓯᓴᐣ ᑲᑭᐃᐡᑾᐱᒪᑎᓯᓂᐨ᙮See page 6

Treaty #3 Elder Tobasonakwut Kinew passes

Respected Elder Tobasonakwut Kinew (Peter Kelly) was a cham-pion of educating Canadians about the Anishinabe people, rights and teachings.

The Ojibways of Onigaming citizen was born in 1936 on his father’s trap line on Lake of the Woods and passed into the spirit world on Dec. 23, 2012. As a child, he was chosen by Elders for instruction and mentoring in the knowledge and traditions of the Anishinabeg and reached an “unparalleled” level of knowledge.

Kinew served as the first Ontario regional chief, Treaty #3’s grand chief from 1972-75 and 1991-95 and his community’s chief for several terms. He was also a founding member of the National Indian Brotherhood, the Assembly of First Nations and the Native American Science Academy.

ᑎᕒᐃᑎ #3 ᑭᒋᔭᔭ ᑕᐸᓱᓇᑾᐟ ᑭᓂᐤ ᑭᐃᐡᑾᐱᒪᑎᓯ

ᐁᑭᒋᓀᓂᒪᑲᓀᐨ ᑭᒋᔭᔭ ᑕᐸᓱᓇᑾᐟ ᑭᓂᐤ (ᐱᑐᕒ ᑫᓬᐃ) ᐅᑭᑲᐡᑭᑐᐣ ᐁᑭᑭᑭᓄᒪᑫᐨ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐗᑎᓯᐎᐣ ᐅᐣᒋ, ᒥᓂᑯᐎᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑭᑭᓄᒪᑫᐎᓇᐣ᙮ᐅᒋᐺᐠ ᐅᓂᑲᒥᐠ ᐃᓂᓂᐤ ᑭᓂᑕᐎᑭ 1936 ᐅᑕᑕᒪᐣ

ᑲᐃᔑᐗᓂᐦᐃᑫᑲᓇᓂᐨ ᐃᐃᒪ ᓄᐱᒪᑲᒥᑯᐠ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᒥᓇ ᑭᐃᐡᑾᐱᒪᑎᓯ ᐊᒐᑯᑭᔑᑯᐠ ᐁᑭᐃᔕᐨ ᑎᓭᒼᐳᕒ 23, 2012᙮ ᐁᐊᐗᔑᔑᐎᐨ, ᐅᑭᐅᑕᐱᓂᑯᐣ ᑭᒋᔭᔭᐣ ᒋᑭᑭᓄᒪᐗᑲᓀᐨ ᒥᓇ ᒋᐗᐎᑕᒪᐗᑲᓀᐨ ᑭᑫᐨᒋᑫᐎᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐃᓇᑎᓯᐎᓇᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐅᐣᒋ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑭᑌᐱᓇᐣ “ᑲᑲᑎᐱᐡᑯᒋᒋᑲᑌᐠ” ᑭᑫᐣᑕᒪᐎᐣ᙮ᒪᑲᓂᐎ ᐅᐣᑌᕒᐃᔪ, ᑎᕒᐃᑎ #3 ᑭᒋᐅᑭᒪᑲᐣ ᒥᓂᑯᐠ

1972-75 ᒥᓇ 1991-95 ᒥᓇ ᑭᐅᑭᒪᑲᓂᐎ ᐅᑎᐡᑯᓂᑲᓂᐠ᙮ ᑭᐱᐎᒋᑐ ᑲᑭᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐤ ᐎᒋᐎᑎᐎᐣ ᐱᒥᐎᒋᑫᐎᓇᐣ, ᒥᓇ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᑭᒪᑲᓇᐠ ᐱᒥᐎᒋᑫᐎᐣ ᑲᔦ ᓇᐣᑐᑭᑫᐣᒋᑫᐎᐣ᙮

See page 8

Providing the best medicine: laughter

Laughter proved to be the best medicine as four Aboriginal comedians performed at a fundraiser show for the holidays.

Patrick Cheechoo, A.J Mandamin, Todd Genno, and headliner Ron Kanutski performed before a near sellout crowd in a show called Laughter: The Best Medicine Comedy Night, which was held Dec. 22 at the Paramount Theatre in Thunder Bay.

Proceeds of the show went towards the Thunder Bay Shelter House.

“I know the Shelter House will put it to good use,” he said of his donations. “I probably would have just went to yard sales with it anyway,” Genno joked.

The event was organized by the Anishnawbe Mushkiki Clinic.

ᐁᐅᑕᐣᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑲᒥᓋᔑᐠ ᒪᐡᑭᑭ: ᑲᐸᐱᓇᓂᐗᐠ

ᑲᐸᐱᓇᓂᐗᐠ ᒪᐗᐨ ᒥᓄᐡᑲᑫᒪᑲᐣ ᒣᑾᐨ ᓂᐎᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐗᐠ ᑲᐸᐱᒋᑫᐗᐨ ᐁᑭᐗᐸᑕᐦᐃᐌᐗᐨ ᐁᑲᑴᔓᓂᔭᑫᐗᐨ ᑲᑭᑭᐱᒋᓇᓂᐗᐠ ᑲᑭᒋᑭᔑᑲᐠ᙮ᐸᑎᕒᐃᐠ ᒋᒍ, ᐁᒉ ᒪᐣᑕᒥᐣ, ᑖᐟ ᒉᓄ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭᓂᑲᓂᐡᑲᐠ

ᕒᐊᐣ ᑲᓄᐟᐢᑭ ᑭᐗᐸᑕᐦᐃᐌᐗᐠ ᑲᑭᓇ ᑫᑲᐟ ᐁᑭᒐᑲᑕᐌᐗᐨ ᒋᐗᐸᒪᑲᓀᐗᐨ ᐁᑭᐃᔑᓂᑲᑌᐠ ᐸᐱᐎᐣ: ᒪᐗᐨ ᑲᒥᓋᔑᐠ ᒪᐡᑭᑭ ᐸᐱᐎᐣ ᑎᐱᑲ, ᐁᑭᑐᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑎᓭᒼᐳᕒ 22 ᐃᐃᒪ ᐯᕒᐊᒪᐣᐟ ᐗᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐠ ᐃᐃᒪ ᑕᐣᑐᕒ ᐯ᙮ᑲᑭᔓᓂᔭᑫᐗᐨ ᐃᐃᒪ ᑭᐃᔑᐸᑭᑎᓇᑲᓀ ᑲᔦ ᑕᐣᑐᕒ ᐯ

ᑲᐯᔑᐎᐣ᙮“ᑭᑫᐣᑕᐣ ᑲᐯᔑᐎᐣ ᒋᒥᓄᐊᐸᒋᐦᐊᐗᐨ ᔓᓂᔭᓇᐣ,” ᐃᑭᔪ

ᑲᑭᐸᑭᑎᓂᑫᐨ᙮ “ᑲᑭ ᓇᓇᑕᐎᔭᑕᐗᑫ ᒥᓴᐗᐨ ᑫᒋᐣ,” ᒉᓄ ᐸᐱᔑᑭᔗ᙮ᐅᐅᐌ ᑲᑭᑐᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐅᑭᐅᓇᑐᓇᐗ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᒪᐡᑭᑭ

ᐊᑯᓯᐎᑲᒥᐠ᙮

See page 5

An Idle No More rally takes place in Long Lake # 58 (top); a KI father built a scaffold for part of a Feast of the Dead ceremony for his son (middle right); Patrick Cheechoo, Ron Kanutski and Todd Genno provided the laughs at a fundraiser (bottom); and DJ Classic Roots played a farewell show before moving to Toronto to pursue his dream (middle left).

1 Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 3

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EQUAY-WUK GATHERING 2013

Theme: “Empowering Women in the North”

Sunset Suites, Sioux Lookout February 19-21, 2013

Workshops: • Building Aboriginal Women’s Leadership

• Community Wellness

• Becoming a Board Member

• Many guest speakers - To be Announced

Tues Evening: • 6-9pm Equay-wuk Awards

& Entertainment (TBA)

Wed Evening • 6-9pm General Membership Meeting & Election of the

Equay-wuk Board of Directors

Note: Equay-wuk Awards - nomination deadline is January 31, 2013.

Nomination forms are available online at www.equaywuk.ca

Women who want to attend can download the Registration form for details.

Deadline for registrations: January 31, 2013

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Angeconeb appointed to Order of CanadaRick GarrickWawatay News

Lac Seul’s Garnet Angeconeb has been appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his years of voluntary service.

“It’s a real honour — it came as a total surprise,” said Ange-coneb, who was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada on Dec. 30, 2012. “It’s been a life-long process for me to work with people and it’s become a real passion, even more so after becoming a grandfather. I have to ask myself what’s in it for the grandchildren, what kind of future do we leave for them.”

Angeconeb was recognized for his contributions to his com-munity, for fostering relation-ships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and for helping to promote the Anishi-nabek culture.

“Garnet was a pivotal person in the movement to get residen-tial school survivors compensa-tion and a federal apology,” said Grand Chief Harvey Yesno. “His work is recognized and greatly appreciated by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation members and the indigenous community across Canada. He is a true survivor and an inspiration.”

Angeconeb was one of the founders of the Sioux Look-out Anti-Racism Commit-tee, which includes the Sioux Lookout Coalition for Healing and Reconciliation for former residential school students and their families. He also recently developed a website, www.gar-netsjourney.com, for people to engage and dialogue about resi-dential school issues.

Angeconeb said that address-ing the harms of the Indian resi-dential school legacy is difficult for many individuals.

“There are individuals who have decided to move on, and that is great — I acknowledge and honour their wishes,” Angeconeb said. “I am also very sensitive and supportive of those who have yet to deal with their issues in a meaning-ful way. I think it is important to know that there is no one solution for a very deep-rooted, very complex issue that affects

our people intergenerationally.”Angeconeb said that people

are at different stages of heal-ing.

“Some people have really worked hard to become healed, while others still feel the effects,” Angeconeb said. “We just have to keep moving for-ward and support one another. I just really encourage the heal-ing to go on. We’ve done a lot of good work in the last 10-20 years; we just have to keep mov-ing forward because there are those who are affected inter-generationally. We need to keep working at creating healthy individuals, health communi-ties and healthy nations.”

Angeconeb said the cer-emony for his Order of Canada

appointment would likely take place this summer.

“I look at this appointment and it wouldn’t have been pos-sible without the help of a lot of people,” Angeconeb said. “So in many ways, all those who I have worked with locally, regionally and indeed nationally, they are all part of this honour as well. So I share that with them.”

One of Canada’s highest civilian honours, the Order of Canada was established in 1967, during Canada’s centen-nial year, to recognize a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation. More than 5,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order since 1967.

Submitted photoLac Seul’s Garnet Angeconeb was appointed to the Order of Canada on Dec. 30 in recognition of his years of voluntary service.

Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 1

When grass is cut, how come it grows back? With most plants you remove the tips and the rest withers and dies.

Idle No More (INM) is said to be a grassroots growth. What it is and may become, fertilized to life by cybernation – a twittered, e-mailed, Facebooked manifesta-tion.

There are aspects of the ghost dance to it also – a longing for a better world we once knew, desperate to make it again all come true, despite crushing cir-cumstance.

Leaderless, scattered, remark-able, its vision yet unformed – transmitted from indigenous soul to indigenous soul, outwardly by cyberness, inwardly via a Cre-ator/Creation planted power.

Grasses can regenerate them-selves from their built in sheath. New cells, to replace any lopped or chewed off parts, originate from there. This gives them an almost unrivalled capacity for survival.

Collectively and individually each INM participant has been trampled, uprooted and taken for granted in their journey they’ve labeled as an idleness.

A U.S. senator has said of a plant common enough to just be ignored or stepped on any-time – “grass is the forgiveness of nature, her constant benedic-tion. Should its harvest fail for even a single year, famine would depopulate the world.”

How could such a power ever be idle?

According to Merriam Web-ster, idleness means “not occu-pied or employed; lazy/shiftless; having no evident lawful means of support and lacking basis or worth.”

To me this INM-styled idle is more like an engine, paused mechanically between forward and reverse.

Perhaps we are idling in neutral because the choices we have so far been offered are not enough of a cultural match to engage the true gears of our-selves?

To me then while we grass rooters might have been wast-ing our time at times in the past we’ve never been idle.

Us roots of grass have been the subject and object of enough royal commissions, apologies, claims and compensations that truth and reconciliation should have happened already.

We’ve created a $10 billion a year – save the Indians – industry that still finds us making our own case flash mobbing streets.

Merriam W. also describes grassrooted-ness as a state of being “ the very foundation or source” and “the basic level of society as viewed from higher or more centralized positions of power.”

Every First Nation organiza-tional chart puts the ordinary people on top. We are never shown how the particular pro-cess/activity is funded which always causes ordinary us to be listed last. Relative fortunes are made whether or not progress on our behalf is achieved or lost.

Are there aspects of Occupy

Wall Street here? Have enough fundamental doubts about where we are going lasted long enough to wear thin our patience and trust with the direction we have been given?

Or are these spontaneous cir-cles of hand drums, round dances and prayers only a passing sensa-tion? Will that spectacular energy instead flatline, collapsing into Harp-ness and Alteo-isms?

Are the questions being raised by INM deep enough, the sense of needing to act and continue to act inspired enough to become seeds of grass.

Is INM by stepping up to pro-tect waters and waterways that the majority of Canadians have apparently abandoned for the sake of debt reduction, instinc-tively doing what their Creator given instructions ask of us?

By continuing to defend those waterways after Bill C-45 is already passed; in defying the ominous omnibus bill tactics the Conservatives have unleashed, aren’t we protecting Canadians from themselves, their slipping grip on democracy?

Is refusing to silently approve the sale of indigenous resources to overseas interests a tipping point to anger, a level of resis-tance we have never before experienced ? The land we lost to others under suspicious cir-cumstances, now sold by them to other overseas people not even living here, is heaping insult to misery?

So what is the practical inten-tion, what outcomes are those grassroots, computer inspired relatives circling towards?

To me, unless INM actively considers what people like Winona La Duke and Honour the Earth are doing and saying in documents like “Sustain-able Tribal Economies, A Guide to Restoring Energy and Food Sovereignty in Native America.” I won’t personally be involved with INM doings.

The corporate, capitalist system we impose on ourselves daily, internally, willingly is no different than the forces you are now so bravely opposing.

Just as true however is this breathtaking, beautiful and danger-filled actions INM is accomplishing. To me to see the so-called grassroots responding is uplifting and compelling.

You are all the benediction, the forgiveness mentioned in that quotation.

In 1516, Sir Thomas More wrote about the initial encounter between the indigenous and the king of everything culture his people lived. He described how we indigenous found freedom in a system of societal sharing in balance with a Creation Europe-ans had to that point never even imagined.

These grassroots circles on digital screens are actual images of who we remain even after all these centuries.

Still offering all that to Canada and Canadians…

Idle no more, as if you ever were….

- Charles Wagamese

4 Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

Over For Tea, Part 3

From the Wawatay archives

Wawatay News archivesSachigo Lake, Baseball Tournament, 1993.

Idle No More, As If You Ever Were

16-5th Avenue North P.O. Box 1180 Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B7

Serving the First Nations in Northern Ontario since 1974. Wawatay News is a politically independent weekly newspaper

published by Wawatay Native Communications Society.

ᓂᐢᑕᑦ ᑲᑭᒪᑕᓄᑲᑌᐠ 1974 ᐁᐅᒋᐊᓄᑲᑌᑭᐣ ᑭᐧᐁᑎᓄᐠᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᑕᐃᑦᔑᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ. ᑕᓱᓂᔓᐱᒥᑯᓇᑲ ᐅᔑᒋᑲᑌ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ

ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐧᐃ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐧᐃᐣ ᐅᓇᔓᐧᐁᐧᐃ ᑲᓇᐧᐊᐸᒋᑫᐧᐃᓂᐠ ᒋᐃᔑ ᐸᐸᒥᓯᒪᑲᐠ ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓂᑫᐧᐃᓇᐣ.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER David Neegan

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERDavid Neegandavidn@wawatay.on.ca

EDITORShawn Bellshawnb@wawatay.on.ca

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHERRick Garrickrickg@wawatay.on.ca

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHERLenny Carpenterlennyc@wawatay.on.ca

STUDENT REPORTERStephanie Wesleystephaniew@wawatay.on.ca

ART DIRECTORRoxann Shapwaykeesic, RGDroxys@wawatay.on.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGNERMatthew Bradleymatthewb@wawatay.on.ca

SALES MANAGERJames Brohmjamesb@wawatay.on.ca

CIRCULATIONAdelaide Andersonreception@wawatay.on.ca

TRANSLATORSFred Jacobs

CONTRIBUTORSChris KornackiJacob OstamanCharles WagameseMario Wassaykeesic

Guest editorials, columnists and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of Wawatay News.

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The REZ radio sits on top of the entertainment centre; its obsolete cassette player is a gentle reminder of when Duran Duran or “Thriller” were on the top of my playlist.

Today, in my Aunty’s place, it strums out an acoustic guitar along with an Anishinabe voice, singing out the familiar Anishi-nabe language.

My Aunty is comfortable in her REZ house, comfortable enough to converse and to speak in the Anishinabe language to those around her. I’m not the only visitor today; my cousin and a few round baby faces are present. I’m not familiar with the gawking faces, but I’m sure they’re wondering who I am as well. I am the walking dude, with a big plastic cup of Red Rose Tea (with no Carnation Milk or “shu-gaw”).

From time to time, the music abruptly stops and an announcer speaks loudly through the speakers of the obsolete cas-sette player’s radio waves. She listens, and so do I, to what is

being announced over the cold airwaves. I wonder if those announcements conference along with the billowing white smoke in the midst of the Janu-ary (or was it December?) morn-ing weather.

The living room is indeed living, and lived in, and very lively. There are two dressers, perhaps filled with clothing, fabric and other Aunty items. They stand proud and strong of a dark maple walnut, bought at an overpriced amount from the local Northern store. They serve as storage units, but also a place to put things on as well. My eye spies on blocks of fabric from a box on top of the dresser, as to be readied for a quilt in the future. Maybe it is already pieced together.

The living room walls are a mural of colourful pictures, pictures of colourful peoples that I may be related to. Most of the pictures are of children. Their dark eyes staring into a camera-man’s camera, then the image is projected to mine. They watch me from the wall: the walk-ing dude, or the visitor, or the guy with the large plastic cup of REZ tea? I can’t date these pictures so I don’t know how current those photographs may be, but there is a wide range of frames that home the pictures.

The walls also serve as hanging items; perhaps reminders of quilts to be made. I cannot know for sure unless I ask.

My Aunty continues to speak, conversing with her daughter (and with me from time to time), as I occasionally sip on my treasured REZ tea. Their dialogue is colourful, filled with the Anishinabe language. Each sound is a musical note, lulling me back and forth, from the present to the past.

As a child, I remember stay-ing over at my Aunty’s place and sleeping all clustered together in the livingroom floor. The quilted and layered warm blan-kets; the foam mattress, covered up in a plaided or floral design sheet; the wind howling outside, beckoning to get in; a kerosene lamp makes the walls orange and casts of shadows. The tick-tocking of the wind-up clock displays white numbers on a black background; it’s accompa-nied along with other items on the table. But I can remember sleeping with the last sound of a tick-tock before I drifted off. It is a very homey memory from my childhood.

As an adult, I sip my tea, and converse with my Aunty. She is inquisitive to the on-goings of the outside world, the world beyond the REZ. Being that I am

visiting, and do live in the fast-paced city, my vast knowledge of beyond the REZ can be of a vital importance to my Aunty. I am always happy to oblige with an answer.

Occasionally I am stumped on a few of my Aunty’s questions on how to answer them. Appar-ently I may not be too current with my CBC intake; but I do try. From the small fly-in REZ of Poplar Hill, you really don’t expect too much newsworthy conversation like you would see a group at a local Tim Horton’s, giving their thoughts of the hot items in the Canadian world-view. I guess since my childhood, we have upped the comforts of REZ life with CBC and electric-ity. Still, a tick-tock clock hangs from one side of the wall. No longer is it a sitting piece on a table, but it hangs on a wall.

All the questions are nicely surface ones and are easily answerable. Questions about my schooling, where I’ve been, and when I plan on returning for another visit are important ones; will 2012 really happen; the flooding in Manitoba, etc. The one that always is an important one remains. My Aunty contin-ues to converse and I continue to sip on my treasured REZ tea, still black. I can see that she wants to ask.

Mario Wassaykeesic

GUEST COLUMNIST

Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 5

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Providing the best medicine: laughterStephanie WesleyWawatay News

Laughter proved to be the best medicine as four Aborigi-nal comedians performed at a fundraiser show for the holi-days.

Patrick Cheechoo, A.J Mandamin, Todd Genno, and headliner Ron Kanutski performed before a near sell-out crowd in a show called Laughter: The Best Medicine Comedy Night, which was held Dec. 22 at the Para-mount Theatre in Thunder Bay.

“I agreed to be a part of the show because I was asked by my good friend Terri Magis-kan,” Kanutski said, adding that Magiskan is the tradi-tional healing coordinator at the Anishnawbe Mushkiki clinic in Thunder Bay. “I find that laughter brings true healing as it energizes the body, heart, mind and soul simultaneously.”

Kanutski said that he real-ized when he engages or interacts with people, laugh-ter brings trust and connec-tivity into the relationship.

“Laughter is the medicine!” Kanutski said. When the show got off to a half-hour late start, he suggested to the crowd that they were running on “Anishinabe time.”

Patrick Cheechoo opened the show to what Kanutski

called a “great start for his first time on stage.”

The show itself was close to being sold out, and Kanutski was pleased with the out-come.

“Doing stand up comedy is a rush because you feed off the energy and laughs of the audience,” he said.

Kanutski said that the show had a great audience that night and he hopes for more successful shows like it in the future.

Cheechoo was followed by Mandamin, a comedian from Ottawa, then Thunder Bay’s 2012 Comic Idol winner Todd Genno took the stage.

“He pleased the crowd with his Facebook and relation-ship humour,” Kanutski said of Genno.

Genno was also approached by Magiskan to perform at the show.

“I jumped at the opportu-nity,” Genno said, adding that he was excited at the prospect of working alongside other Anishinabe comedians.

“I was also excited to try out new material.”

“I learned that laughter is a powerful medicine,” Genno explained. “It’s a natural medicine that is inside all of us. Everybody has a sense of humour, especially our Native people. We laugh at anything and anyone.”

Genno was very happy with

the show.“A lot of people came out

and we all laughed together.”Genno and Cheechoo

donated their share of ticket sales to the Thunder Bay Shelter House.

“Altogether, with donations taken at the door, I brought $580.30 to the Shelter House,” Genno said. He said he felt that by donating his share he was using his gift of laughter and comedy to help out the less fortunate espe-cially at a time like Christmas.

“I know the Shelter House will put it to good use,” he said of his donations. “I prob-ably would have just went to yard sales with it anyway,” Genno joked.

Kanutski is looking forward to working with Anishnawbe Mushkiki again in the future. “We are exploring its possibil-ities and benefits,” Kanutski said.

Kanutski was the final act of the show. His 11-year-old son, Bonawbae, introduced him to the crowd by as “the most disgusting and funniest man I know, my father.”

“My son is showing an interest in comedy,” Kanutski said. “It’s amazing how as parents we provide encour-agement and direction to our children. Too bad I wasn’t a doctor.”

Lac Seul chief discusses Idle No More movement

More than 100 people, includ-ing Lac Seul Chief Clifford Bull, attended a Dec. 21 Idle No More rally in Sioux Lookout, which was accompanied by prayers, traditional drumming and the Round Dance.

After the rally, Geoff Shields spoke to Bull about his thoughts on the current situation and what effect it would have on the First Nations communities, in particular Lac Seul.

Geoff Shields (GS): How do you think today’s rally went?

Clifford Bull (CB): I was very happy with the response, the nationwide response that was good. When I first drove by there earlier, there was a table and one person standing there and as the deadline to 12 o’clock gathering started, I noticed people were starting to gather. I found it very encouraging. I felt that we sent a strong message, sent a strong statement. I felt it was very worthwhile.

GS: How do you feel about the protests, is this the way to approach this?

CB: When people are united in solidarity, and (it’s) nation-wide, First Nations people com-ing together in a common cause I believe that we send a strong statement to government.

GS: How do you see them moving forward in 2013?

CB: I anticipate that the movement can only get big-

ger. I mean there was actions right across Canada, and also as I understand it in the United States, Cairo, and Lon-don. I think it’s going to gather momentum in Europe when the New Year comes in.

GS: How does Lac Seul plan to make its voice heard in the New Year?

CB: Well for starters I want to acknowledge Chief Theresa Spence, who is fasting at this very moment on her eleventh day and I would like to go to Ottawa and support her and have already met with our local (Kenora) MP Greg Rickford this past Monday and talked to him about the sense of frustration by First Nations people right across Canada with some of the new legislation that has been put forth by his government.

GS: The Bill C-45 that has just been passed, in the long-term, affects all Canadians, would you agree?

CB: I agree and I think all our brothers and sisters includ-ing non-First Nations should be standing with us and support-ing us, it affects all Canadians not just First Nations.

GS: How do you feel about the fact that the government just went ahead with the Bill without prior consultation with the First Nations chiefs?

CB: Again its something that we are very concerned

about, we feel that we were not consulted and it was rushed through the omnibus bill and we are very concerned about it for sure.

GS: The Bill C-45: is this a positive change for the indig-enous people of Canada and how do you see this helping them to be more independent?

CB: Well to me I see it dif-ferently, I think it makes par-ticular amendments to bring the resources on the land and water and I think it we are losing the grasp of our land I think with this new bill.

GS: This bill has seen First Nations people from across Canada and the U.S. speaking as one voice instead of many, do you think this could lead to the formation of one Nation?

CB: For me I don’t see it hap-pening at this moment but any-thing is possible in the future.

GS: Do you feel that the escalating protest movement will get any response from the government?

CB: Well I know that Theresa Spence is doing a valiant effort for the cause of all First Nations and if something were to hap-pen to her, there will be a lot of concern by all First Nations and a rally to be more vocal and even go through further radical approaches for getting our voice heard.

Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 16 Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

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Feast of the Dead ceremony honours sonKI father finds closure in fourth and final memorialJacob OstamanSpecial to Wawatay News

Today started with a rather saddened heart to face my late son’s anniversary day of his mur-der which falls on Jan. 1.

It’s Dec. 30, 2012, three days before my late son Lyle’s fourth and final year of memorial. It’s also the ninth day of winter sol-stice here in Kitchenuhmaykoo-sib Inninuwug (KI).

Today, we brought in poles to make a scaffold for our memorial ceremony. The scaffold consists of four upright poles with cross poles extended between and poles across the upright poles with a platform designed to put the feast’s gifts and some of Lyle’s earthly possessions and accom-plishments.

We arranged that the scaf-fold would meet the four direc-tions. We visualized that the head and feet would go from north to south direction so that the body of it would lay towards the west direction in a fetal position. The visualization of what we had in mind would match the way our ancestors did when they laid their dead to make way towards the western doorway leading to the Spirit World.

On the east side of the scaf-fold, we placed a fire for all night lighting, visitation and gift bringing. I arranged to have two people look after the fire and to keep it going until the Feast of the Dead Ceremony had been completed.

We arranged four poles with eagle feathers and colored rib-bons — blue, purple, black and yellow. These are the colors he wore at his burial on Jan. 7, 2009. Blue representing a clear blue sky of the day he left us; purple rep-resenting the deep purple bruise from the cold sharp steel stab; black representing the night he lived for the last time; and yel-low representing his love for the sun, hence the color of such high solar intensity that distinguished his life.

I remembered the words of my grandparents about how our peo-ple would assemble themselves for the final feast of the dead cer-emony. In the ceremony, there would be friends and relatives coming from all over the direc-tions to come and mourn for the deceased and honour the family of the deceased. The speeches were made by the leaders of the day praising the departed ones for the good life they showed to their kin. They also brought comfort by way of counsel to the living. Along with the feast, a birch bark plate was placed for the memory of the deceased,

the giving of the gifts and some-times games. This is pretty much the Feast of the Dead Ceremony process done in KI area before Christianity came, according to the Elders.

The Feast of the Dead Cer-emony was observed for four years in memoriam usually on or around the anniversary date of people who passed on. The feast consisted of fish, moose or cari-bou; corn or manomin; and vari-ous berries.

It’s Dec. 31, about 6:05 a.m., the 10th day of KI Winter Sol-stice. I woke up from my moth-er’s humble abode where I have been sleeping for the past couple of nights. I went outside and stood in the quietness of cold KI

morning. I breathed in a surgi-cal cold air into my lungs and it made me cough unceasingly.

Occasionally, I heard a crack of icicles falling down from the roof of the building and made me aware that the blustery win-ter has come upon me. Then, the coldness of the air entered me and pierced my heart and, along with my teary eyes, it turned into icicles. I thought to myself this is the same feeling I had on the day when my son got murdered.

Without comprehension, I picked up myself just a few feet away from where I was originally standing and then I realized I fell down seconds earlier. I went back inside for warmth and comfort without being hurt.

My entire morning brought me to my knees with phenom-enal plea to my Creator as I struggled to go through the pain of my murdered son. I tried to get away from it all but it kept com-ing to me, flashbacks of my son’s bloody body laying on the road. I cried and cried until I was all dried of tears.

I sang and chanted:Nii Koosiis LyleKii wii chii wiin,Nii Koosiis Lyle

Kii wii chii wiin,Kii wii chii wiin sahKii wii chii win sah:Nii Koosiis LyleKii saa kii hiin sah,Nii Koosiis LyleKii saa kii hiin sah,Kii wii chii wiin sahKii wii chii win sah.

My chant along with the words brought me comfort and solace despite the emotional pain that I just went through.

As the morning went, my mother and I sat together talking some things that mattered to us. I asked my mom if she heard of the Feast of the Dead Ceremony. Knowingly and with regret, she replied with soft words that her understanding was limited to that kind of ceremony. Knowing also that she’s a devoted Angli-can, she didn’t say much about it. I then asked her what she thought of me what I’m about to do for the ceremony. Her reply was that whatever we do we must do according to the Cre-ator’s way and that we must have a meaning within our hearts.

I went to the radio station and explained what I was going to do today and tomorrow. The Feast of the Dead Ceremony was essen-

tially a mark of the day to release Lyle’s spirit after we eat with him so that he will move on to the Spirit World.

At 5 p.m. today, my lead cere-mony conductor Chris Anderson came to the site for a pipe cer-emony. He explained the impor-tance of pipe ceremony and the benefits of having it when it is followed accordingly. My partici-pation in the pipe ceremony was in fact awesome and I had some-what regained my strength from this morning’s emotional pain and tumble!

Throughout the remaining evening, thoughts of Lyle came to me especially how he died of a stab wound right through the heart. Thoughts of anger contin-ued and ensued around me to think something else to do. But, I was also eager to participate in the upcoming events such as drumming and talking circle.

It is Jan. 1, the 11th day of Winter Solstice, Lyle’s day of death. A cold chill followed me around and I was not sure if I was coming down with a flu or some-thing. At 2 a.m., the drumming started and I was glad to hear the beat of the drum and it reminded me of my own heartbeat full of gladness.

I heard other participants talk about Lyle and how he was portrayed as a leader and war-rior. I was thinking for a moment where he would be by now in terms of his leadership role in the community and to help out his fellow KI citizens.

We honored his life as a war-rior and fighter for Indigenous rights to the lands and resources. Lyle was at a forefront when the KI-Platinex battle erupted over the fight against platinum mining in the KI territory. He never com-plained about going to the plati-num site even if he was charged with trespassing. His land mat-tered to him because it is the Creator’s land and that it must be respected. Lyle surely wanted to protect the land from being harmed and poisoned.

It’s 7 a.m., we held a feast with him for the last time. I brought in a plate to him that consisted of meat, rice and corn. My last time to eat with him was breathtak-ing. I couldn’t stop shaking out-side and inside of me — truly it was awe-inspiring! The burning sensation within me was so exu-berant that I wanted to laugh or cried out.

Instead, I chanted once again, this time in my spirit:

Nii Koosiis LyleKii wii chii wiin,Nii Koosiis LyleKii wii chii wiin,Kii wii chii wiin sahKii wii chii win sah:Nii Koosiis LyleKii saa kii hiin sah,Nii Koosiis LyleKii saa kii hiin sah,Kii wii chii wiin sahKii wii chii wiin sah.

I felt better after the ceremony was over and it’s as if the heavy load was lifted from all my entire being.

How grateful I am today. From the construction of Lyle’s scaf-fold to my mother’s conversa-tion, and to the highest ceremony ever, comes my consolation and ending of my four-year grief for Lyle. The Feast of the Dead Cer-emony is a final closure for me and I have to release Lyle’s spirit for the good of all including Lyle’s mother, siblings and his two chil-dren, Lada and Nathaniel. We will miss you Lyle … good bye and farewell!

I know he will journey on to the Spirit World and to live with his Creator with eternal happi-ness. The happiness that we all aspire will be there and waiting for us also. Meegwetch!

Niin Wabanwaanagoosh (Jacob Ostaman)

Submitted photoJacob Ostaman of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug built a scaffold for the Feast of the Dead ceremony he had for his deceased son, Lyle, who was murdered on Jan. 1, 2009. It was fourth and last ceremony he held annually, sending off Lyle’s spirit and providing closure for Ostaman.

I heard other participants talk about Lyle and how he was portrayed as a leader and warrior. I was thinking for a moment where he would be by now in terms of his lead-ership role in the com-munity and to help out his fellow KI citizens.

Prepared by Lorraine Land, Liora Zimmerman and Andrea Bradley Dec. 20, 2012 of Olthuis Kleer Townshend - LLP

Bill C-38 Budget Omnibus Bill #1

This 450-page bill changed more than 70 federal acts without proper Parliamentary debate.

This bill dramatically changes Canada’s federal environmental legislation, removing many pro-tections for water, fish, and the environment.

The changes were made with-out consulting First Nations.

Bill C-45 Budget Omnibus Bill #2

This second bill also exceeds 450 pages, and changed 44 fed-eral laws, again without proper Parliamentary debate.

This bill removes many fish habitat protections and fails to recognize Aboriginal commer-cial fisheries.

Changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act reduce the number of lakes and rivers where navigation and federal environmental assessment is required from 32,000 to just 97 lakes, and from 2.25 million to just 62 rivers. This means 99 per cent of Canada’s waterways lost their protection for navigation and federal enviro assessment purposes.

These changes were made without consulting First Nations.

Bill C-27 First Nations Financial Transparency Act

This bill imposes standards on First Nations governments that far exceed those for municipal, provincial and federal officials in

other jurisdictions.It requires First Nation owned

businesses (unlike non Aborigi-nal businesses) to publicly report income and expenses, thus undermining competitive-ness.

It adds additional bureau-cracy to the existing require-ment that each First Nation pro-vide Ottawa over 150 financial reports each year, contrary to the recommendations of Can-ada’s Auditor General and the Treasury Board.

The First Nations Private Property Ownership Act

(Proposed)

The government intends to introduce this legislation, but it hasn’t yet.

The Act would permit pri-vate property ownership within reserve boundaries. Individual bands would be able to adopt the legislation on an optional basis.

A private property system is contrary to the goal of many First Nations to protect Aborigi-nal lands as a collective resource.

The Act would allow the small existing Aboriginally-owned land base to be sold to non-Aboriginal buyers, forever losing these lands as Aboriginal lands. This is particularly a risk for impoverished communities who may be forced by economic des-peration to sell their own lands for short term gain.

First Nations need more options to use their lands for economic development pur-poses, but this simple “one size fits all” fix is dangerous. The government should instead work with First Nations to address real self sufficiency by ensuring Aboriginal control over

resources extracted in their tra-ditional lands, and addressing educational, health and other social development.

Bill S-2 Family Homes on Reserve and Matrimonial Interests or Right Act

There are currently no laws that determine how property on reserve is divided up when mar-ried couples divorce. This bill addresses that “gap”, but does so without recognizing First Nations’ jurisdiction over reserve property.

There are many issues associ-ated with matrimonial property on reserve, including violence against women, housing avail-ability, self government rights, capacity to develop and enforce laws, and access to justice. These issues have been disregarded in the interests of a “simple fix”.

The provisional laws in this legislation will infringe on First Nations’ inherent self govern-ment rights. The legislation will also make it difficult for people to ensure the laws are enforced, as they would have to go to a provincial court, which can be difficult due to distance and expense.

Bill S-6 First Nations Elec-tions Act

This Bill provides an alter-native elections regime to that under the Indian Act.

Although this will affect all First Nations, there was inade-quate consultation about it.

It is positive that this bill allows First Nations to opt into an alternative regime for elec-tions. The Minister can, how-ever, simply impose an election process against the will of a First

Nation community, and at the discretion of the Minister (if the Minister decides there has been a problem with an election). This can lead to political inter-ference with First Nations elec-tions.

Bill S-8 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act

This Act will allow Canada to over ride First Nation bylaws, BCRs and policies that protect safe drinking water.

The Minister will now have the power to require First Nations to charge fees to mem-bers for receiving clean water.

The Act allows the govern-ment to annul or destroy Aborig-inal rights and treaty rights “to the extent necessary to ensure safe drinking water.” This is a limited power but is concern-ing in principle, especially when the government was not able to

provide any justification why it needed this power.

Bill C-428 Indian Act Amendment and Replacement Act

This is a private members bill that is a substantial piece of legislation which would impose sweeping changes to the Indian Act. Yet there has been no proper consultation with First Nations about it.

First Nations support the need to abolish the Indian Act. Any discussion about legislation to replace the Indian Act, how-ever, needs to fully involve First Nations. Yet there has been no substantial consultation on this bill.

Bill S-207 An Act to amend the Interpretation Act

This Bill says that no legis-

lation will be interpreted as annulling or destroying Aborigi-nal or treaty rights. However, if another Act showed a clear intention of destroy such rights, this Act would not prevent that from happening.

Bill S-212 First Nations Self-Government Recognition Bill

This legislation has been introduced for the fourth time.

This Act would make it pos-sible for First Nations to take on much of the authority currently given to provinces (such as fish-eries, wildlife and habitat man-agement, education, child pro-tection and adoption, and health care).

If the government intends to support or proceed with this Act, however, there must be consul-tation with First Nations as the impact on First Nation commu-nities will be profound.

Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 7

Why proposed federal legislation concerns First Nations

Idle No More gatherings across northwestern Ontario

Photo credits: Ronnie Martin, left photo; Rick Garrick/Wawatay News, centre photoIdle No More rallies were held in Wunnumin, left, Thunder Bay, centre, and Long Lake #58 over First Nation concerns about federal legislation impacts to treaty rights.

Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 18 Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

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Elder Tobasonakwut Kinew of Treaty #3 passesRick GarrickWawatay News

Respected Elder Tobason-akwut Kinew (Peter Kelly) was a champion of educat-ing Canadians about the Anishinabe people, rights and teachings.

“Today, First Nations from coast to coast to coast mourn the passing and honour the legacy of Dr. Tobasonakwut Kinew, a man who dedicated his life to the cause of the Anishinabe and First Nations and educating all Canadi-ans about our people, our rights and our teachings,” said National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo. “He was a pipe carrier, sun dancer, a man deeply immersed in the knowledge of the traditional Anishinaabe Mite’iwin. His insight into the connec-tions between traditional knowledge and contempo-rary teachings allowed him to reach across cultures and generations to build bridges of understanding.”

The Ojibways of Onigaming citizen was born in 1936 on his father’s trap line on Lake of the Woods and passed into the spirit world on Dec. 23, 2012. As a child, he was cho-sen by Elders for instruction and mentoring in the knowl-edge and traditions of the Anishinabeg and reached an “unparalleled” level of knowl-edge.

Kinew attended residen-tial school until Grade 8 and pursued his postsecondary education at the Coady Inter-national Institute at St. Fran-cis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and at the University of Manitoba, where he earned a

BA. He also received an hon-orary doctorate in laws from The University of Winnipeg in 2011.

“Dr. Kinew was a true leader,” Atleo said. “He served as chief of his com-munity, grand chief of Treaty #3 and regional chief for the Chiefs of Ontario. Many will remember also that he was the Elder that accompa-nied former national chief Phil Fontaine in their private audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in 2009. Dr. Kinew made a powerful impression by bringing into the meeting with him tradi-tional sacred items and gifts from First Nations across the country.”

Kinew served as the first Ontario regional chief, Treaty #3’s grand chief from 1972-75 and 1991-95 and his com-munity’s chief for several terms. He was also a found-ing member of the National Indian Brotherhood, the Assembly of First Nations and the Native American Science Academy.

The University of Win-nipeg recently established a $10,000 fund in honour of Kinew, who performed multiple roles as Elder and instructor in the Master of Arts in Indigenous Gover-nance and Master’s in Devel-opment Practice with a focus on Indigenous Development.

A memorial service for family and friends was held at the Glen Lawn Funeral Home in Winnipeg on Dec. 27 and a wake was held on Dec. 28 in his home community.

Kinew’s funeral was held on Dec. 29 at the Onigaming Round House.

Spence gains spiritual support in her sacred fastCont’d from page 1

But after moving to Attawapiskat, Spence was intro-duced to her people’s tradi-tional beliefs.

“I was taken to my first sweat,” she said, and it grew from there. “I’m still learning.”

Spence has a jingle dress and has so far danced twice.

“I still need to practice,” she said.

Since arriving at Victoria Island, Spence has a received a lot of support.

“When I got here, I prayed to the Creator to send me helpers and supporters,” she said. “Sure enough, not long after, Jean showed up.”

Jean Sock is a M’kmaq Elder from Nova Scotia. Not long before Spence made headlines, Sock said he had a vision that he could not understand. But when he heard about the hun-ger strike, he made his way to

Victoria Island. He has been fasting with Spence since Day 4.

Meanwhile, as Spence was deliberating about her hun-ger strike, an Elder in another province was having similar thoughts after hearing about

the omnibus Bill C-45, which he felt would ruin his and his descendants’ way of life.

Raymond Robinson of Cross Lake First Nation began his fast 10 hours after Spence began hers. On Dec. 31, he made his

way to Ottawa as well to join Spence and Sock.

And other supporters have been visiting Spence from the start.

Thomas Louttit of Moose Cree First Nation started the

sacred fire that continues to burn outside the teepee. He comes to Victoria Island nearly everyday to keep the fire and help with any other tasks.

Meanwhile, Theland, a nine-year-old from Walpole Island visits everyday.

According to his mother, The-land came to Victoria Island on Dec. 10, the day before Spence began her fast, to sing songs. He said he has been drumming since he was 15 months old.

“He promised her that he would come everyday to sing his songs and support her,” she said.

True to his word, Theland is a regular fixture around the sacred fire in the evenings, sing-ing songs on either his hand drum or round drum.

“I tell her I love her,” he said of Spence and the reason he vis-its.

And other visitors come in everyday to see Spence, often providing gifts of tobacco, sage, sweet grass, bundles and pipes.

Ceremonies occur every day,

either by songs or pipe.Prior to the Jan. 11 meetings,

a group of Crees from Treaty 6 in Alberta brought a sacred bundle and pipe. The sacred items, passed down five genera-tions, were present during the signing of the treaty in the late-1800s.

“I bring these sacred items in honour of Chief Spence, for she is suffering so that the trea-ties will be honoured,” an Elder said.

Support also came in the way of spirit animals.

Spence said she was told before her fast that birds would appear. Not long after, four geese began to come into the camp from the river.

“They represent the four directions,” Spence said.

And so with no end of her fast in sight, Spence reiterates that she is not worried.

“My time has been set from when I was born,” she said. “The Creator has determined my journey. If it’s my time, so be it.”

Jean Sock (left with wing) and Raymond Robinson (far right), shown marching in the Jan. 11 rally, are Elders that have joined Theresa Spence on Victoria Island and are fasting alongside her.

Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 9

Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship CentreExecutive Director Job Posting

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL POSTINGEXECUTIVE SEARCH

KEY DUTIES AND FUNCTIONSUnder the authority of the Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre Board of Directors:

of the Friendship Centre and administers the day to day

Ensures that priority issues and concerns for the NGFC

Secures funds for the Centre buy fundraising, identifying new

QUALIFICATIONSGraduation from a recognized post secondary institution

Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre is committed to serving

Deadline for Application: 4:30 p.m. January 31, 2013Salary: To commensurate with experience

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Personnel CommitteeNishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre

We wish to thank all those who have applied, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Job Posting – Executive AssistantWINDIGO VENTURES GENERAL PARTNER LIMITED requires an Executive Assistant who will be responsible for a wide variety of administrative duties in support of the General Manager and other senior management members. Duties include but are not limited to reception, arranging travel plans, meeting minute-taking and distribution, scheduling appointments and drafting both internal and external correspondence. The Executive Assistant is also

employees, management and the public. Other duties shall be assigned as necessary.

WINDIGO VENTURES GENERAL PARTNER LIMITED offers competitive salary packages, an engaging work environment, and career advancement opportunities.

WINDIGO VENTURES GENERAL PARTNER LIMITEDDebbie Korobanik, General ManagerP.O. Box 307, 160 Alcona DriveSioux Lookout, Ontario. P8T 1A5Phone: 807 737 1585, x 7705Email: dkorobanik@windigo.on.ca

Finance ManagerThe Finance Manager reports to the Business Manager and is

David Neegan, CEOWawatay Native Communications SocietyBox 1130, Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B7Fax: (807) 737-3224

WNCS thanks those who apply. However, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

EMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITY

ExcitingHealth Care

Opportunities

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTFull time (Non-Union)

:

th

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted, we thank all others for their interest.

The successful candidate will be required to provide a criminal records check.

The Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre is a scent free facility

EMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITY

Finance Clerk Wawatay Native Communications Society is seeking an energetic, motivated and reliable individual for the position of Finance Clerk. Wawatay has the mandate to provide access to communication technologies and services to the people of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation utilizing various media to preserve, maintain and enhance indigenous languages and culture.

Duties and Responsibilities:Maintain all Accounts Payable invoices, statements and vendor

Process MasterCard and Visa transactions and provide copies for

All data entry required for the invoice and payment modules of a computerized accounting system and the maintenance of all required journals.Responsible for the maintenance of purchase orders and petty cash and the tracking, replenishing and reconciling as required.Prepare and process the bi-weekly payroll of all employees and

documentation.

claims and monthly employee leave stats for overtime, sick and holiday leaves.Assist with the annual audit.Be in charge of the company vehicle, including tracking and maintaining vehicle keys and company gas cards.

accounting environment.The ability to work independently, to meet deadlines and maintain

Must possess good interpersonal communications skills and maintain professional courteous relations with all coworkers and suppliers.Valid Ontario Driver’s license.The ability to speak Cree, Oji-Cree or Ojibway is an asset.Successful applicant must pass a Criminal Reference Check and must provide a copy thereof.

Location:Salary: Apply Before: Friday, February 1, 2013

Please send resume and three letter of reference to

David Neegan, CEOWawatay Native Communications SocietyBox 1130, Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B7Fax: (807) 737-3224

WNCS thanks those who apply. However, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Letter the the Editor: in response: Wawatay News, Dec. 20, 2012 commentary Urban Indian 2, Richard Wagamese

Given the vast circum-stances and/or reasons why someone does not speak any Anishinabe language — is up to the Individual!

As for myself, I was in the Indian Residential School (IRS)systems from 1961-69, as we all know we were not allowed to speak any Anishi-nabe language. The will of survival away from family and community, I made my own exceptions — when it was recess, outdoor recre-ational activities or in the dormitory — was that a pre-cious window of opportu-nity for me to JUST speak, joke, laugh or cry in Ojibwa. Those were the breaks that I needed to keep me living in my own language. Today, it is inside of me always, my life and how I think is always in Ojibwa, first!

I agree that many students lost personal identity. Cul-tural ideas and traditional teachings were put away

for the duration of the IRS era, as well as the Ojibwa, Oji-Cree or Cree languages of northwestern Ontario. Armed with these very per-sonal emotions I chose to become a professional teacher with an Anishinabe language specialist back-ground. I have many oppor-tunities to teach all interest groups from four years old to seniors for the past 15 years. For me, I attribute that intrinsic will to be holistic, physical, mental, spiritual, emotional and language. I am so very proud to speak Ojibwa.

It is up to the individuals themselves to find that cir-cumstance and/or reason to begin to learn to speak any Anishinabe language.

Gii chi miigwech!Esther Lachinette-DiaboWhitesand First Nation

ving

only those

OOnly thcon

T

The

Wawatay Radio Networkis broadcast on

89.9 FM in Sioux Lookout and 106.7 FM in Timmins to 38

community-based affiliated radio stations.

WRN is also distributed nationally on

Bell TV Channel 962.

Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 110 Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

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Bad Credit, Bankruptcy or have No Credit? Let our Financial Services manager, Joanna work with you to find the right payment and guide you through the process of re-establishing your credit. Together we will get you into the right vehicle today! Contact Joanna today toll free at 1-800-465-1144 or email joanna@bayview.toyota.ca

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Health Services

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Weeneebayko Area Health Authority Cancer Care Project Wachay, WAHA and the Colon Cancer Check program are looking to increase the number of men and women who are being screened for colorectal cancer in Moosonee, Moose Factory, Fort Albany, Attawapiskat, Kashechewan and Peawanuck. If you are aged 50 – 74 and have never been screened or it has been more than two years since your last one, please see your doctor or nurse to get your FOBT kit. All men and women who participate from the communities mentioned will receive a $25 Northern Gift Card (while quantities last) and a chance to win monthly prizes. Check your behind and remind your loved ones to! Sure it takes a little courage to scoop your poop on a stick but cancer is scarier. For more information, please visit www.weeneebaykohealth.ca and click on the Cancer Care Project page. You can also visit us on Facebook on our Weeneebayko Cancer Project page.

Weeneebayko Area Health Authority Cancer Care Project Wachay, WAHA and the Ontario Breast Screening Program are looking to increase the number of women from Moosonee, Moose Factory, Fort Albany, Attawapiskat, Kashechewan and Peawanuck to get screened for breast cancer. If you are a woman aged 50 – 74 and have never been screened or it has been more than two years since your last one, please see your doctor or nurse to arrange for a mammogram. Please, help us to put the squeeze on breast cancer. For more information, please visit www.weeneebaykohealth.ca and click on the Cancer Care Project page. You can also visit us on Facebook on our Weeneebayko Cancer Project page. Meegwetch

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Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News

A view from the steps from Parliament Hill during the Idle No More rally in Ottawa on Jan. 11. The rally began on Victoria Island, in which Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, who is on a hunger strike, asked that it be a rally based on peace and love.More than 4,000 people took part in the march. Prior to marching to Parliament Hill, the crowd had gathered around the Langevin Block where a small group of First Nations leaders were meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. They then proceeded peacefully to the Hill where several speeches were made, followed by a march back to Victoria Island.

Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ 11

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DJ Classic Roots chasing a dreamStephanie WesleyWawatay News

Electronic dance music (EDM) deejay Classic Roots, also known as 24-year old Josh DePerry, is packing up his equipment and cardigans this month.

The Long Lake #58/Red Cliff band member is making the move from Thunder Bay to Toronto in search of bigger things.

During a packed going-away party on Jan. 12 at a local club, fans and friends bid farewell to deejay Classic Roots, whom Walleye Magazine recently rated one of the three best dee-jays in Thunder Bay.

Classic Roots has been a well-known social nightlife fig-ure in the city and surrounding

areas for the last two years. He has been both a producer and a creator of EDM.

Classic Roots feels he has been involved with music in one way or another all of his life.

“I started doing hip hop music when I was 12,” Classic Roots said.

He credits the hip-hop genre as a big stepping-stone along his journey towards the EDM.

“I started producing music six years ago, but I began creat-ing my own two years ago.”

Classic Roots has released an EP entitled Addiction that was well received in the city of Thunder Bay. He considers releasing the EP to be his great-est accomplishment so far in his musical career.

“Completing that EP and

then seeing many people sup-porting what I do was really great,” he said.

The video for the song “Scream,” which was fea-tured on Classic Roots’ EP, was directed by Thunder Bay locals Jason Spun and Uriel Lubuk. Scream came out in the sum-mer of 2012 and has received over 15,000 plays on YouTube.

Although Classic Roots has spent countless nights playing music for people in Thunder Bay’s bar and club scene, he abstains from both drugs and alcohol.

“In a way, music is my drug. I’m there for the music so peo-

ple have something to dance to and feel good about,” Classic Roots once said. “I know what it’s like to be affected by drugs and alcohol, it can ruin many lives.”

The cultural teachings Clas-sic Roots takes with him where he goes are having self-respect and also learning from past mistakes. Along with pursuing his musical ambitions, Classic Roots also hopes to partici-pate in powwows in southern Ontario. Powwow dancing is something he has been involved with. He wants to help keep the Anishinabe cul-ture and heritage alive.

Classic Roots considers him-self a bit of a role model. He said that it was important for First Nations youth to have positive role models because “people need someone to look up to.” Classic Roots’ personal role model is the late American civil rights leader Malcolm X.

Although he does tribute listening to various genres of music as his inspiration, one of his major inspirations and role models for music is EDM dee-jay Steve Aoki.

“I want to get to where he is now one day,” Classic Roots said of Aoki and his interna-tional success in the genre of

EDM.

“I want to go on tour,” Clas-sic Roots said about his future goals when it comes to music. “I also want to network with new artists in Toronto, and hopefully complete another EP.”

Although he is nervous and excited about his upcoming new life in the city of Toronto, Classic Roots is very hopeful and happy that he is pursuing his dreams.

“Keep pushing (for your dreams)” he said. “Never give up on them.”

Head Office: 1100, av. des

Canadiens-de-Montréal

Suite 300, P.O. Box 211

Montreal, Qc, H3B 2S2

OSISKO HAMMOND REEF GOLD LTD.

Regional Office:101, Goodwin Street, P.O.

Box 2020

Atikokan, ON P0T 1C0

www.osisko.com

Contact:Alexandra Drapack

Director Sustainable DevelopmentHammond Reef Project

adrapack@osisko.com

Publication of Draft EnvironmentalAssessment Report Planned for February

OHRG plans to publish a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Assessment

(EIS/EA) Report in February 2013. We have begun our internal Osisko review of the report with a

submission of the report to the Osisko Board of Directors, and will continue to have meetings with

our executives throughout January.

The report is a culmination of over 2 years work including:

Once our internal Osisko review of the report is complete, a seven week public review period will

begin. A formal “Notice of Submission of Environmental Assessment” will be issued and the draft

report will be made available on our website and in local libraries. This review period will also

include a series of presentations to share the results of our assessment with Aboriginal groups,

the public and the government.

We are very happy to be moving forward in the environmental assessment process and look

forward to your comments and feedback on the EIS/EA Report.

Photo by Day Vid Z PhotographyDressed in his regalia, Classic Roots (Josh DePerry) stands in the Spirit Garden at Prince Arthur’s Landing in Thunder Bay, ON.

12 Wawatay News JANUARY 17, 2013 ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ

WE’VE CERTIFIED 100% OF THE WOODLANDSWE MANAGE TO INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZEDSUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT STANDARDS.

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We protect and preserve the natural resources in our care and fully support our other valuable resources – our employees and the communities where we live and work.

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Richard Garneau, President and Chief Executive Offi cer

WE PLANT OVER 60 MILLION SEEDLINGS A YEAR.