October 25,2010

To: Chief Louise WapacheeCouncil lors, Anthony HughboyDarlene $hecapio BlacksmithGerry BosumSam R. EosumPatrick MianscumJanie W. Mequish

From: Redfern Mianscum. Band Member

Re: Concerning the Petition about the Sweat Lodge

I am writing this letter concerning the petition that was passed around our community about thesweat lodge that I built at Lana Wapachee's place.

I would like to take this opportunity to explain why I build the sweat lodge in our reserve. lfeellike I was not given the chance to explain what this ceremony is about. We use this sweat lodgeto cleanse our minds, body and spirit, as well as to pray and talk to God. The lodge was build ?orhealing purposes for our people. lt is a place of prayer and healing, we all agree that there isonly one God and we all pray to him in our own way.

Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ggy.y,Sgtq_d$.$;-g,{$ clearly explains therights of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and the protectionof multicultural heritage etc. As well as the Quebec's Charter of Human RightsW$/sl${.p$j",,*"q,ee. The GCCEI and CRA recognize and respect the resolution 2010-08, thateach individual has the right to freely practice their religious and spiritual beliefs within theEeyou lstchee, therefore; I have the right to practice my spiritual beliefs that have helped mewith my healing journey and the healing methods of our ancestors which I respect and shouldbe protected.

I as a person have nothing against any other belief or religion, I believe that any way is right if itmakes a person better and brings him or her closer to God or Creator, We as children of Godshould respect each others beliefs, ways, and should put the importance on the work we do onourselves and not judge others, god does not judge for what we do here on earth but gave usthe free will to do what feels right by listening to our hearts.

I am requesting a meeting if we need to discuss this important matter any further, I can bereached at 418-774'9924 and by email, fSM

Thank you for your understanding and hoping to hear a favourable reply

Yours respectfully' i - ,

, i . . l , , t J { i i L l t i i r1 : ' i : . . ' : i ' * ; " : i " i

Redfern Mianscum

5t Barnabas' Angliran Church3 Aspen l lest,lIVnswanipi, QuebecJoY 3C0

0ctober 26, 2010

Church Phoner819-75$-2559ft ectory Phone:819-7$3-I422

emai l : r@r^ yr-n rtr + y k ;,r'c;i*1$) y,-ih C /J . C(r,"-i

To: Chief Louise Wapachee & Members of Ouje Bougarnau Cree Nation Council

Re: Sweat Lodge in community of Ouje Bougamou

I am writ ing this letter at the request of Redfern Mianscum, whom I understand has buil t asweat lodge in the Ouje Bougamou territory for the purposes of prayer and healing. I alsounderstand that the presence of the sweat lodge in the community has caused great concernamong a number of the community members, to the extent that a petit ion has now beenpresented to you, calling for the removal of the sweat lodge.

I am a priest of the Anglican Diocese of Moosonee, and have served God's people in Creeterri tories around James Bay and inland Quebec since 1994" Before that I served as a priest onManitoulin lsland for 5 years. In this period of t ime, while working as a Christ ian pastor amongOjibway and then Cree peoples, I have been privi leged to accompany many on the spir i tualjourney in l i fe. l have been honoured to hear many stories of people f inding healing andwholeness in Jesus Christ. I have also been made a\,r/are that tradit ional ceremonies such as thesweat lodge have been and continue to be powerful vehicles of healing in the lives of manyindividuals. Sometimes they are even a part of the healing journey in l i fe of persons whom Iexperience as strongly Christ centered people,

I am certain that as a Council you are al l concerned to see the very best for the people of yourcommunity, and are distressed to see the division and bitterness which have arisen alongrel igious l ines on the issue of the sweat lodge" Hence I would encourage you to work for asolution to this division which wil l respect and honour the special gif ts of healing in the way ofthe sweat lodge, and all the special gifts of healing which are at work in the lives of the peopleof the community"

Thank you for hearing my voice.

May you know God's guidance and wisdom as you deal with this issue.

Yours sincerely,

t{$i,ri ,}.The Rev Canon Cliff Dee.Rector, St Barnabas' Church

Sent by Email

October 27,2010

Redfem MianscumCommunity Member Otlje-Bougonmou

The present is in support of your choice to util ize the "mitutsaan" sweat lodge in yourpersonal healing; our elders have taught me that the creator has gifted us witheverything we required to live full healthy lives with a strong sense of identity.This Self-awareness is integral to being a well balanced individual, Many times we usedtraditional healing ceremonies for "therapy" the sweat lodge or steam tent is just oneexample, which is used forhealing that is spiritual, physical and emotional in nature.There many ways on how the sweat lodge may be used, I was taught by many eldersin our communit ies that sometimes the individualwent in alone, or just the conductorand the individualthat was sick. Today I feel that we have so much to deal with thatthe use has evolved into how it is used today.

The impacts of our colonial history need to be understood by our people, a by-productis "lateral violence", and this must also be understood by our people. In understandinglateral violence and how we internalized the worst values of the Oppressor we willbegin to understand and be aware and free ourselves from this dynamic.

This is one of the most important issues to be overcome by our people presently. Itmanifests in all the prevailing social problems we face today, domestic violence, suicide,all dysfunctions that affect us as individuals, families'communities and also ourinstitutions'.

In most communities, we have high alcohol abuse, drug abuse, suicide rates, sexualabuse dysfunctional families and hopelessness; only we can do something about this.And it is apparent that these issues haven't found a vehicle towards reaching positiveforms of resolution and reconciliation.

In The Spir i t of Heal ing

Lawrence House, Community Member Chisasibi

Tu:

Octcber 16,lnl$

ehief and Council, Oui*bcug*umsu €res First l*atin*Oulebougaurncu Sand

Fr m: Marjorie lcebound, $upporter of f,ree $pirituatity & Traditicns82A Pine StreetWaswanipi, Qc JOY SCOCellula r phone: {SlS}.8S0-156g

Watchia,

I am wrhing this letter on behalf of Redfern Mianscum and the $weat Lodge he built ln your community,In Waswanipi, we have a swaat lodge for sur community rnernbers for nearly t*n y€afs noru; we makethis *vailable for nur c*mrnunlty healing. The lodge itself repr*s€nts a place of prayer, a natural churchwhere p*ople c*n rtceive healing, guidance, forgiveness, and underutanding of the imBrrtanc* of Lif*and Sod.

We teach pecple abnut $acredness of the land, GOD, Love, ftespect, Cornpaorinn, Humility, Truth,Hon*sty, Wisdom, Caring, Sharing and many more taaching$ thst coms rrith our $piritualteachings"

A re$ponsibility is given ta the perscns that take care of the ladger, *lsn cornes th$ duty of Humankindness, Family, Cornmunity. and Hation" These values havs restored individuals. and familier fromalcoholism, drug addictions, family vinlence, suicide idaations, mental health, etc".. Today in ourg€neration; we utilire these ladges for healing purBose$, whils nur grandfathers used thenr tn lo*k fnrfood beca$se of starvations, the hardships that sccurred in their time.

Ws are taught to respect all Heligions, and all &nliefs fcr thsy atl 6ood and alt arn frnm 6od"

Supporter: MichaelGrant,53 Tamarack $tieetWaswanipi, QC JOY 3C0

Marjorie lcebound

Hsrne phone: {819}-753"2161

Abel5. K i tchen77 Spruce Street

Waswanipi, QuebecJOY 3c0

Phone: 819-753-2097 [- ma i | : gbeltkfrshs"*#"x|1a,f3{sgfrXj$nffi

October 26, 201^0

Redfren MianscumOu je-Bougoumou

Re: Comrnunity petition on Sweatlodge

Dear Redfern,

T.his is further to oLrr meeting yesterday regar,ding the petition, which your cornrnunity mernbors havesend to you regarding the sweatlodge located in the comrnunity, and your request for support.

I am aware of the confusion and fear attached to this issue of Indian belief systems, as I encounteredthis when I was working for the Cree Health board to introduce traditional medicine into the healthservices, There wa$ one directive that was very clear from the elders that I consulted and lncluded theconceptthatthis was a community issue and each cornrnunity should decide on how lndian beliefsystern$ should be developed and implemented locally, They stated that each community is differ,entand each would probably want something unique to their cornmunity. They emphasized that the elder,sof the community, who are aware of our ceremonies, should be involved, and provide direction to thecornmunitv members, As a person, involved and walking this road, I have approached this matterofnative spirituality and its evolution on this base,

ln view of the above, it would be inappropriate for me, as an outsider to interfere and be involved at thistir*e, except to offer my voice and understanding in the future upon an invitation frorn the community"

As this isthe root of lndian culture, I sentyou prayers and al l my best wishes tCI you and yourcornmunity for a decision inspired by God, which wil l meet al l your needs and aspirations,,ry, K;:)

,Y

t Kitchen

October 26, 2010

To: Chief Louise WapacheeCouncil lors, Anthony HughboyDarlene $hecapio BlacksmithGerry Bosum$arn R. BosumPatrick MianscumJanie W. Meguish

From: Fritz Matti, Custom Gunsmith, and Teacher.

Re: Goncerning the Fetition about the $weat Lodge

I am born in Switzerland, baptized protestant. We were called heretics by certain people of ourtown often judged and cursed severely just for what we were.After more than half a century gone by I know that those people at that time only believed tounderstand but really had no understanding about the teaching of the Christ or the $pirit of Godat that time. I hope they opened the heart and learned on their way thru Life to comprehend andlive the wonderful teachings of Love, Truths, Respect, Harmony, Wisdom and Humil1y.

Teaching since the end of winter in Waswanipi I was invited several times to a Ceremony by myCree friends and was well introduced to the symbolism and teachings of the old ways, theHeritage of the Aboriginal Peoples.

I found nothing bad or evil for that matter, only sincerity towards God the Creator, harmony withnature and everything there is. I found a sincere desire to help the young and old, praying tohelp the lost, to find themselves and lead them to a better life.One day in my work as a teacher I received a thaught, the definition of the word discriminationthat goes as follows:Discriminatlon rs the non acceptance of the difference!This is in no way a judgement; just a thought and I hope my words will bring about a peacefulsolution to this situation" Anybody can contact me for more information.

0c (819-463-0075