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you can consult a professional.

If you need a medical consultation and have no flu-like symptoms or gastroenteritis symptoms or symptoms similar to COVID-19, contact: - your doctor - your medical clinic - your family medicine group - or Info-Santé 811 if you don’t have a doctor

Cough Cough into into Wash Wash Keep Keep your your your your sleeve sleeveyour your hands hands distance distance

(if less (if less thanthan 2m

to get a consultation over the phone or, if needed, in person. Wearing a mask or face covering during in-person consultations is recommended, although you mayWash be Cough Cough into into Wash Keep Keep your your your your sleeve sleeve your your hands hands distance distance asked to replace it with a procedural mask upon arrival.

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Let’s keep at it. Let’s continue to protect ourselves. Québec.ca/coronavirus 1 877 644-4545

2 the Nation June 19, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

Wear We a mask am

CONTENTS EDITORIAL

A life well-lived

NEWS

Loosening the lockdown

Closing the school year online

Prepping for re-opening

Pedagogical pivot

IN BRIEF

FEATURES

Failing grade

Half measures

Game on

Charting lost childhoods

“I Miss Being a Hero”

PUZZLES T&B

Allyship

UTNS

Feds idle on MMIWG

Banging out the words

60s Scoop settlement delayed

Politics

We can gradually restart normal activities while protecting ourselves!

Letters

Information and advice inside.

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Sasakamoose tourney goes online

Mapping the 60s Scoop

Happy Father’s Day poem

20-05-07 08:20

Photo of October 2016, MMIWG March in Montreal Photo by Trish Chiasson

www.nationnews.ca June 19, 2020 the the Nation Nation 3 3

Ernest Webb is on Facebook. To connect with Ernest, join Facebook today.

Editorial

Join

A life well-lived or

Editorial

arry House had a way of finding humour in the most serious situations. Almost 30 years ago, we were both in the United States working on the campaign to stop Hydro-Québec’s Great Whale project. We were both booked to speak at a university in Boston, Massachusetts, Larry in the morning talk and myself during the afternoon. At the time, I was organizing an international march in support of the Cree of Eeyou Istchee and our opposition to the project. I had asked the Canadian consulate for a Canadian flag as I couldn’t find one in Boston. The head of the consulate mentioned to Larry that they were giving me one. Larry’s response. “You’re giving us one to burn?” The word got around. During my address that afternoon I was asked if I was really going to burn the flag. Recognizing Larry’s hand in this, I replied “No” in a way that allowed for the possibility that Larry might have been serious.

Ernest Webb

by Will Nicholls

June 5 at 8:03 PM ·

The next day I went to collect the flag and was met with a strange reception. Normally, I was given full access to the consulate. Not this time. I was made to wait in a room surrounded by bulletproof glass and obligated to sign a statement promising that I would return the flag in the same condition I received it in. Both Larry and I had a good laugh over this. During that time, we would tell people we were trying to work ourselves out of a job so we could return and help our people in some way. Helping people wasn’t a joke for Larry. He did just that all his life, which was cruelly cut short on June 2. His presence will be missed by more than just his family and the Cree Nation. He touched many people profoundly. He was remembered during a virtual social event hosted by the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, where an honour song was performed for him. One person remembered meet-

ing Larry at Horden Hall, a residential school in Moose Factory, where, like so many of his generation, he was forced to attend. Larry wasn’t embittered by the experience, but it shaped his lifelong fight against injustice. He was known for helping people overcome the pains and problems inflicted by the residential school system while working at the Cree Health Board and by helping the Cree School Board integrate the Cree way of life into its programming. He was the Chisasibi Sundance Chief and traditional knowledge keeper. In fact, whenBertie he was youngWapachee June 4 at 2:37 AM · Larry had a big heart, a sense of er, he started the first drum group humour and a desire to heal people in Chisasibi after the public use of the right way. His insights and Ernest Webb isin the drum had been banned for many on Facebook. To connect with Ernest, join Facebook friendship will be missed by the many years by the church. He piloted many today. people he touched throughout his life. land-based programs to heal people Our condolences, prayers and in traditional ways. Larry believed love go out to his family. Rest in that a lot of the answers to the prob- peace, my friend. We know that what lems the Cree people faced could be you have built is solid. Your lifelong found in our traditions and that they contribution to our people will concould be adapted to the world we tinue. face today.

“Happy Indigenous People's Day from the Eeyou Marine Region, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the EMR Land Claims Agreement. On behalf of the EMR Wildlife Board, EMR Impact Review Board, and EMR Planning Commission, we would like to wish you well on this holiday. Meegwetch. Thank You. Merci.”

the Nation is published every two weeks by Beesum Communications EDITORIAL BOARD L. Stewart, W. Nicholls, M. Siberok, Mr. N. Diamond, E. Webb EDITOR IN CHIEF Will Nicholls DIRECTOR OF FINANCES Linda Ludwick EDITORS Lyle Stewart, Martin Siberok PRODUCTION COORDINATOR AND MANAGING EDITOR Dan Isaac CONTRIBUTING WRITERS X. Kataquapit, M, Labrecque-Saganash, P. Quinn, L. Madill, C. Miniquaken DESIGN Matthew Dessner SALES AND ADVERTISING Danielle Valade, Donna Malthouse, Melissa Juliette THANKS TO: Air Creebec CONTACT US: The Nation, 4529 CLARK, #403, Montreal, QC., H2T 2T3 EDITORIAL & ADS: Tel.: 514-272-3077, Fax: 514-278-9914 HEAD OFFICE: P.O. Box 151, Chisasibi, QC. J0M 1E0 www.nationnews.ca EDITORIAL: will@nationnews.ca news@ nationnews.ca ADS: Danielle Valade: ads@nationnews.ca; Donna Malthouse: donna@beesum.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: $60 plus taxes, US: $90, Abroad: $110, Payable to beesum communications, all rights reserved, publication mail #40015005, issn #1206-2642 The Nation is a member of: The James Bay Cree Communications Society, Circle Of Aboriginal Controlled Publishers, Magazines Canada Quebec Community Newspaper Assn. Canadian Newspapers Assn. Les Hebdos Sélect Du Québec. Funded [in part] by the Government of Canada. | www.nationnews.ca |

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4 the Nation June 19, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

CMCA AUDITED

News

Prepping for re-opening

Eeyou Istchee tourism industry hopes to relaunch after collapse by Lachlan Madill

n June 8, Eeyou Istchee began the process of deconfinement. Health and safety measures which have been in place for the past three months are slowly being lifted. The Covid-19 situation has improved in Eeyou Istchee and no new cases have been reported since May 28. Overall, there have been 10 confirmed cases in the territory. The Cree Board of Health (CBH) has tested 738 people and according to their latest update, they have the capability to test up to 50 people a week. With the improvement in the neighbouring health regions, self-isolation for 14 days is no longer required when returning to Eeyou Istchee from the Abitibi-Témiscamingue health region 8 (which includes Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d’Or, Senneterre and Amos) and the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean health region 2 (which includes Roberval, Saint-Félicien and Saguenay). These areas are no longer identified as high risk by the CBH. Travelers returning from the Nord-du-Québec health region 10 are also not required to self-isolate.

Focus on sanitation measures and keep our communities safe, then when it’s time to re-open, we will be prepared to do so - Robin McGinley, Executive Director, Cree Outfitting and Tourism Association

“The self-isolation requirement remains in place for those returning from any mine site, logging camp or Hydro camp,” stated CBH chairperson Bella Pettawabano in her June 9 update. “These camps are bringing in workers from high-risk areas such as Montreal and so anyone returning to the community after working at one of these places must self-isolate for 14 days to protect their family and community from Covid-19.” Tourism in Eeyou Istchee has been hit by Covid-19. Robin McGinley, executive director of the Cree Outfitting and Tourism Association (COTA) and Eeyou Istchee Tourism (EIT), said that while she doesn’t have the exact dollar figure on how the

pandemic has affected outfitters, she knows the impact has been huge. As a regional tourism association, COTA and EIT are part of the Quebec Tourism Alliance. McGinley said that the current situation can be put into perspective by looking at the 20082009 economic crisis. “In the hotel industry, it took four years to get back to normal. For international visitors, they’re saying it will take two to four years before that market returns.” McGinley said the tourism industry in Eeyou Istchee was experiencing an upswing before being hit by Covid. “The outfitters were doing well, we were more visible to the clients, and we started the travel agen-

cy. Things were moving forward, but now everything’s been put on pause.” However, she said that the association is working with the Cree Board of Health to prepare for reopening. “We are trying to help tourism and businesses in our region implement the right sanitation measures so when businesses re-open they can follow the right guidelines.” McGinley said the tourism industry will take time to recover. Keeping people safe, especially Elders, is the most important consideration. “If we work together, focus on sanitation measures and keep our communities safe, then when it’s time to re-open, we will be prepared to do so.”

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Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!

Cree School Board completes a unique academic year during pandemic

hile in-class instruction for this school year was suspended in March, the Cree School Board (CSB) has remained busy supporting students throughout this unprecedented period. With a new online learning platform (OLP) and other support services to administer, it has been a learning experience for everyone. The submission deadline for Secondary 1 to 3 OLP assignments was June 5, though it was extended an extra week to June 12 for Secondary 4 and 5 students. As an extraordinary measure, certain students in these upper levels who are very close to completion also received extra in-class tutoring support. “The executive committee passed a resolution to allow certain students into the schools to get some in-person support with teachers,” said CSB chairperson Sarah Pash. “We worked that out with public health and have really strict protocols in place to do that. This is a special measure so that we’re able to reach every student we possibly can before we have to submit their results to the ministry for this term.” Public health agreed that this was an essential service because it involves people’s futures. To ensure

6 the Nation June 19, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

adequate physical distancing in respect of pandemic precautions, there was a very limited number of students involved with close supervision of handwashing and contact with classroom materials. While Pash hopes these additional efforts will get as many students as possible on track for graduation, it’s less clear how the CSB will support those still needing credits. Quebec’s Ministry of Education is not offering their typical makeup exams this summer and in-class summer school is not yet possible. Although most students impressively adapted to online learning when Covid-19 arrived, about one-quarter of Sec 5 and a larger number of younger students haven’t engaged with the OLP. This is partly a result of technological barriers, such as lacking home internet access, but some students and their parents have decided to wait until in-person classes resume. “Online learning is not for everybody and we recognize that,” Pash told the Nation. “It’s not ideal as the sole way of offering learning experiences – that’s something we need to respect. We’re here to meet the needs of diverse learners and we have to support each individual student in the best way possible.”

by Patrick Quinn

As the school year wraps up, the CSB is entering an evaluation period to determine which students were able to engage, which supports helped them and what improvements could be made to overcome barriers. An important discovery is that a significant proportion of students do enjoy online learning and alternate paths to meeting course requirements. “This period has shown us we need to broaden our ways of offering education,” said Pash. “I think that moves us forward into next year from a real position of strength because we’ve learned how to do it. Even if we’re largely back to normal and able to offer in-person classes, we’ll still be able to offer options for online learning and alternative ways of obtaining credit.” Pash believes Sabtuan Adult Education is well equipped to continue General Education online if necessary. A partnership between the CSB, the Eeyou-Eenou Community Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation has yielded a generous supply of laptops and technical support for adult ed students. Distance learning resources have been available for all General Education and some Vocational

Pedagogical pivot Training courses on an optional basis committing to exclusively online edusince May. The future of the latter, cation for next fall, the CSB must which often requires greater hands- re-examine its policies. “This period is forcing us to think on support, will depend on the evolving pandemic situation. creatively and innovate in so many “We have various scenarios and different ways,” Pash explained. “In I’m very confident we’ll be able to a lot of ways, it’s forced us to come move into the start into the present of school with a because we weren’t plan in place,” able to offer online asserted Pash. learning opportunities before. It’s “We’re looking at probably someways to offer some thing that all school sort of virtual experience if we need boards should be to and protocols to able to do and we bring people into know online options Vocational Training have been available situations in-perin post-secondary son safely.” studies for a number of years now.” With so many The dedication unknowns about with which teachers how the pandemic and other employwill impact soci- Sarah Pash, eties in coming ees have embraced CSB chairperson months, the CSB the changing circumstances has is planning for different possibilities been particularly encouraging in each of its education sectors. For as the CSB faces instance, post-secondary students an uncertain future. Administration are normally funded to go to their staff have tirelessly developed and place of study, but with numerous maintained the OLP, ensuring stucolleges and universities already dents can access the resources they

This period is forcing us to think creatively and innovate in so many different ways

need – even printing out packages and delivering them to students when necessary. “We’ve seen so many actions of real love and caring for the community and students,” said Pash. “We’ve seen teachers sitting outside of students’ houses reading stories, teachers participating in drive-bys, principals delivering work to students and encouraging them to keep going. That’s the kind of thing that’s kept us going during this time.” Although there remain many unresolved questions regarding the upcoming school year, this crisis has undoubtedly created exciting opportunities that can only strengthen the CSB in the long-term. Pash feels that expanding learning options enables them to improve student engagement, which will make a real difference to completion rates at all levels. “I’m grateful that we’ve moved through this period with our communities being minimally affected by the virus,” she said. “But I’m also grateful for the opportunities it’s given us to be innovative and take a real problem-solving approach to the ways we’ve been doing things and what makes sense going forward.”

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HAPPY FATHERâ€™S DAY!

May this Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day be a day of celebration for all.

Denis Lamothe MNA for Ungava 418 748-6046 (Chibougamau) 819 755-2506 (Lebel-sur-QuĂŠvillon) denis.lamothe.unga@assnat.qc.ca

In Brief Cree Secretariat hosts webinar series The Secretariat to the Cree Nation Abitibi-Témiscamingue Economic Alliance (known by its French acronym SAENCAT) is launching an online webinar series aimed at charting an economic recovery from the pandemic in a northern context. The series will be broadcast in English and French. Its first instalment is set to take place June 17 and will examine waste management and its solutions. The English-speaking presenters feature Karl Côté, an engineer and business developer, and Élisabeth Morin, an “Écoleader” with SAENCAT. Then, on June 18, the French portion of the series will focus on energy initiatives of northern Quebec. Leading off will be Université de Sherbrooke lecturer Denis Audette and Isabelle Leblanc, also a SAENCAT Écoleader. “We are looking at having the French presentations translated into English,” SAENCAT Director General Chantal Hamelin told the Nation. “We won’t be able to do it live, but we’re seeing if we can have the recording translated and put online.” Hamelin is receiving many suggestions for presentation topics from people within the Cree Nation as she continues to reach out to as many English-speaking presenters

as possible. The next round of the webinar series is set to take place in August. Presenters and topics will be announced later.

Call for Inuit women’s shelters Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, a national not-for-profit representing Inuit woman in Canada, called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau June 2 to implement one of the 46 Inuit-specific recommendations stated in last year’s Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The group is asking that the recommendation to build five new shelters in Inuit Nunangat and in Ottawa be honoured immediately. The request came days after $100 million was announced in funding for the construction and operation of 12 new Indigenous shelters – but Pauktuutit noted that none of the funding was allocated for Inuitspecific shelters. “In 2015, Prime Minister Trudeau made a commitment to ensure the equality of all women in Canada. This must include Inuit women,” said Rebecca Kudloo, President of Pauktuutit. “Last week’s announcement is deeply disappointing for Inuit women whose mothers, daughters, grandchildren and friends have been

missing or murdered and who live with the fear and devastation of the highest rates of domestic violence in Canada. It’s like Inuit women have again been forgotten and our voices have fallen on deaf ears.” Pauktuutit is asking the federal government for $20 million to start construction on the new shelters.

CNG announces millions for home ownership The Cree Nation Government (CNG) has created a $100 million fund to help Cree build homes in Eeyou Istchee. The Private Housing Initiative Fund was announced June 2 and is intended to stimulate the housing market by helping potential homeowners with the added costs of constructing homes in the North. According to a CNG press release, the Covid-19 pandemic factored into the creation of the fund, as the housing shortage in the Cree nation increased the risks associated with the virus. “I am grateful that all the Cree Chiefs of Eeyou Istchee unanimously supported the creation of this fund, giving all our community members the opportunity to become proud homeowners and, in turn, free the resources needed to help other families access the appropriate housing

to match their income and needs,” said Grand Chief Abel Bosum. “The fund also represents an opportunity for our young Cree professionals and workers and their families to come home and contribute to their community and find the financial security and growth in family wealth that comes with owning your own home.” The CNG said the added equity coming from private ownership in Cree communities will also contribute to the recovery of the overall Quebec economy, “while improving the lives of the people of Eeyou Istchee.”

Emma Saganash honoured for journalism The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) bestowed its lifetime achievement award on Waswanipi’s Emma Saganash June 9 for her outstanding contribution to journalism during her 40-year career at CBC North. “I am thrilled that Emma is being so rightly honoured for her work and leadership,” said RTDNA Canada President Fiona Conway. “Emma’s work is at the very foundation of Indigenous journalism in Canada. Her storytelling was done with a deep humility and a sense of humour, and I am told she is still missed at CBC North since her retirement. Her legacy continues with the many journalists she mentored.” Saganash retired in 2018, but her contribution to the Cree community as a mentor to young Indigenous people in the field, as well as her role in expanding Indigenous journalism in Canada as a whole, continues to be felt.

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Features

Photos by Trish Chiasson of the 2016 MMIWG March in Montreal

he Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) has given the federal government a failing grade based on its handling and response to the final report from the national inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). June 3 marked one year since the report was released and still the government has not come up with an action plan based on the recommendations in the report. The organization created a report card based on the government’s response – or what NWAC President Lorraine Whitman calls a “lack of response” to the report over the past year. The marks show a failing grade. “We had looked at the 231 Calls to Justice. We just went into four separate fields. Those were with health, culture, security and justice to see what had been done in those areas. There was nothing that was done in those areas,” expressed Whitman. The government stated late last year that a national action plan would be in place by June of this year. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett recently announced that because of the Covid19 pandemic, the action plan has been delayed and therefore the timeline for the creation of the document is open. Whitman said it is inexcusable that after a year the government still does not have any sort of action plan. “That doesn’t hold water in my mind,” she commented. “Covid has been around only for three months so they had by Lachlan Madill nine good months to do some work on it. Even if they had a partial document, it would be a living document.” Whitman said the government’s only response has been to continue consultations with various organizations across the country. During the pandemic, she said they are being done via Zoom and often include hundreds of people on the calls. “When you’ve already done three years of consultation and have a 1,200-page document which at the end says ‘genocide’, would you not want to start making the wrongs right?” She pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic has also exacerbated the situation of Indigenous women. According to a survey on the NWAC website, which has over 800 respondents, 17% of Indigenous women in Canada have experienced violence in the past

failing grade Photos by Trish Chiasson

The federal government slow in tackling the MMIWG issue

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CREE NATION OF MISTISSINI The Cree Nation of Mistissini wishes everyone a Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day! Let us continue to keep our culture and traditions alive and strong.

Celebrate this day with pride!

ᒥᔅᑎᓯᓃ ᐄᓅᒡ ᐧᐄ ᐧᐋᒋᒣᐅᒡ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐊᐧᐁᔫ ᐅᔫ ᐄᓅ ᒌᓯᑳᐤ ᐅᑕ ᑲᓇᑖ ᐁᑳᐧᐄ ᐴᓃᐧᑖᐤ ᐁᓅᑯᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᓀᔥᑦ ᐁᐧᐄ ᔮᔨᒋᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᒋᑎ ᐄᓅ ᐃᐦᑑᓅᐦ ᓀᔥᑦ ᒋᑲᔅᒋᐦᐆᓅᐦ

ᒦᐧᐋᑎᒧᒃ ᐆ ᐊᓐᒌᔅ ᐁᒌᔅᑳᒡ ᐁᒋᔅᑌᔨᐦᑕᒣᒄ ᑖᓐ ᐁᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᔦᒄ

Thank you! Meegwetch! Merci!

ᒋᓂᔅᑯᒥᑎᓈᓐ! ᒦᐧᑳᒡ! ᒥᕐᓰ!

We want to acknowledge our frontline workers here in Mistissini for the tremendous work that all are doing during this pandemic. We are so grateful for your efforts, dedication, courage and care. You are all heroes and heroines!

ᓂᐧᐃᐦᑖᓈᓐ ᐋ ᒋᐦᑳᔮᐱᒥᒋᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᒌ ᐧᐋᒋᐦᒡ ᐋᐱᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᒡ ᐅᑎᐦ ᒥᔅᑎᓯᓃ ᓈᔥᒡ ᐋ ᒥᔅᑎᐦ ᐋᐱᑎᓰᒡ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐅᑎᐦ ᐆ ᐸᒥᐱᔨᐦᑯᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᓈᔥᑖᐦ ᓂᔅᑯᒧᓈᓐ ᐊᔥ ᑐᑎᒫᒃ, ᐊᐱᒋᔅᑎᓂᓲᔮᒄ, ᓲᒑᔨᒧᔮᒄ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐋ ᓈᓂᐦᐋᐧᐃᐦᑰᔮᐦᒡ᙮ ᒌᔨᐧᐋᐤ ᒥᓯᐧᐋ ᓂᑭᔅᒋᐦᑖᓯᒥᓈᓂᒡ!

12 the Nation June 5, 19,2020 2020 www.nationnews.ca www.nationnews.ca

It’s time to stop consulting. It’s time for action to stop the violence - Lorraine Whitman, NWAC President

three months. In the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, it’s 18%. Whitman spoke about Chantel Moore, the 26-year-old Indigenous woman who was shot and killed during a wellness check by a police officer in Edmundston, New Brunswick. The incident happened on the anniversary of the release of the final report on MMIWG and the same day that the national action plan was expected to be ready. “It’s time to stop consulting. It’s time for action to stop the violence, the discrimination and MMIWG. Here we are, it’s the date of the anniversary and another woman has lost her life,” said Whitman.

The government should work collaboratively with NWAC to create an action plan, but Whitman says this is not happening. The organization has already reached out to the government to contribute ideas. In May, a document was sent to the government with an eightpoint plan outlining how NWAC could participate in addressing the 231 Calls for Justice. NWAC is asking Ottawa to implement certain measures immediately, one of which is establishing a national task force of independent investigators to review or investigate unresolved MMWIG cases. They are also calling for a national database to get an accu-

rate number of MMIWG, as well as a national educational campaign on raising awareness on racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia. “We gave them that information so that they would be able to use it and implement it into their plan, but they didn’t even acknowledge that they had received it at that time,” said an exasperated Whitman. Whitman said it’s time to stop talking and for the government to walk the walk. “We all need to be part of the solution to do what’s right. It’s not only our duty, it’s our obligation. We need to be out there to stop the violence and discrimination to end MMIWG and gender-based violence.”

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Our best health and success wishes to all Indigenous peoples on this very special National Indigenous Peoples Day 2020 We are driven by the same passion every day: supporting dynamic local businesses in their growth. Sylvain Faucher, Partner Val-d’Or oﬃce: 819-825-6226 faucher.sylvain@rcgt.com

Mario Proulx, Partner Montréal oﬃce: 514-878-2691 proulx.mario@rcgt.com

Annie Dubuc, Partner Montréal oﬃce: 514-878-2691 dubuc.annie@rcgt.com

Richard Rémillard, Consulting Partner Montréal oﬃce: 514-878-2691 remillard.richard@rcgt.com

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On National Indigenous Peoples Day, and everyday, we celebrate and honour First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples achievements, contributions and vibrant culture.

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!

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Message on National Indigenous Day 2020

Unity has always been a great strength for the people of Eeyou Istchee. In times of difﬁculty, unity is what helped us weather the storm when we needed to be mindful of our more vulnerable community members, like our Elders. The unprecedented events brought by the pandemic have proven that unity remains our force. We can be proud of the Cree Nation. We have come together to help protect our loved ones with the right tools to keep us safe and healthy. We are thankful to our past leaders, our Elders and their legacy for the resources and knowledge needed to get through times like this. Over 45 years ago, our young leaders had the vision for a self-governing nation with services adapted to our environment. The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement has allowed us to put in place what we need to protect our families. Ac Across the country and the world, the pandemic has brought to the forefront the inequalities that still exist for Indigenous Peoples with many disposing of limited resources, which puts them at greater risk. On this National Indigenous Day, and every day, we stand in unity with Indigenous Peoples across Canada as we continue the ﬁght for justice and equality. We are stronger together.

ᒋᔅᒋᒧᐧᐁᐧᐃᓐ ᐆ ᐊᓂᒌᔥ ᐁ ᒌᔑᑳᒡ ᐁ ᒌᐦᑳᔮᐸᒫᑲᓅᐧᑖᐤ ᐄᔨᔫᒡ ᐁᑎ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᐧᑖᐤ ᐆᑦᐦ ᒥᓯᐦᑌᔅᑲᒥᒄ 2020 ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐁ ᒫᒨᑳᐴᐧᑖᐤ ᐄᔨᔫᒡ ᐅᑦᐦ ᐄᔨᔫ ᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡ ᐁᑯᑦᐦ ᐧᐁᐦᒋᐸᔨᒡ ᒪᔅᑯᓰᐧᐃᓐ᙮ ᐋᔨᒥᐦᐆᐧᐃᓐ ᐁ ᑖᑲᐦᐆᑰᔨᐦᒄ, ᒥᒄ ᒫᒃ ᐁ ᒫᒨᑳᐴᔨᐦᒄ ᐁᑯᑦᐦ ᐧᐁᐦᒋ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᒉ ᒌ ᔖᐳᔥᑲᒥᐦᒄ ᐆ ᒉᐧᑳᓐ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᐁ ᐄᔑ ᓂᑐᐧᐁᔨᐦᑖᑯᓯᔨᐦᒄ ᒉ ᒌ ᒋᔅᒋᔨᐦᑕᑑᐧᑳᐤᐦ ᐊᓂᒌ ᐁ ᐃᔮᒥᓰᐧᑖᐤ ᒋᑎᔨᔭᒥᓅᒡ/ᒋᑎᓃᒥᓅᒡ, ᐊᓂᒌ ᒋᒋᔐᔨᔨᒥᓅᒡ ᑲᔭᐹ᙮ ᐊᓂᔫᐦ ᒉᐧᑳᔫᐦ ᐁᑳ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐯᔓᐧᐁᔨᐦᑕᒥᐦᒄ ᒉ ᐃᔅᐸᔨᐧᑳᐤᐦ ᐊᓂᑦᐦ ᐅᐦᒋ ᑳ ᒥᓯᐦᑌᐸᔨᒡ ᔦᐦᔦᐧᐋᔅᐱᓀᐧᐃᓐ ᓅᑯᓐ ᒋᒪᔅᑯᓰᐧᐃᓂᓅ ᐁ ᒫᒨᑳᐴᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᑖᐧᐯ ᒋᑲ ᒌ ᒪᒥᐦᒋᓰᓈᓅ ᐄᔨᔫ ᐁ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓰᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᒋᒫᒨᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑑᓈᓅ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔪᑲᓇᐧᐁᔨᒥᐧᑳᐤᐦ ᐊᓂᒌ ᑳ ᓵᒋᐦᐄᐧᑳᐤ ᐊᓂᔫᐦ ᐁᑎ ᐋᐸᑎᓰᔥᑕᒥᐦᒄ ᒉᐧᑳᔫᐦ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔪᑲᓇᐧᐁᔨᒥᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᑲᔦᐦ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔪᐱᒫᑎᓰᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᒋᑲ ᒌ ᓈᔅᑯᒫᓅᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᓂᒌ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ ᑳ ᐯᒋ ᓃᑳᓂᔥᑳᑯᔨᐦᒄ, ᒋᒋᔐᔨᔨᒥᓅᒡ ᑲᔦᐦ ᐊᓂᔫᐦ ᑳ ᐄᔑ ᐯᒋ ᓇᑲᑕᒫᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᓂᔫᐦ ᒉᐧᑳᔫᐦ ᐁᑎ ᐄᑖᐸᒋᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ ᑲᔦᐦ ᐅᒋᔅᒉᔨᐦᑕᒧᐧᐃᓇᐧᐋᐤ ᐁ ᓂᑐᐧᐁᔨᐦᑖᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᔖᐳᔥᑲᒥᐦᒄ ᐆ ᒉᐧᑳᓐ ᐁ ᐃᔅᐸᔨᐦᐄᑯᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᐃᔥᐱᔥ 45 ᓀᒥᑎᓅᓂᔮᔪᐳᓐᐦ ᐅᑖᐦᒡ, ᐊᓂᒌ ᑯᔅᒋᓃᒌᒥᓅᒡ ᒌ ᐧᐋᐸᐦᑕᒥᒡ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᐄᔑ ᓃᔥᑖᒥᐦᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐱᒥᐸᔨᐦᐄᑎᓲᐧᑖᐤ ᐄᔨᔫᒡ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᒋᔮᓅ ᐁ ᐄᔑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᔨᐦᒄ ᒉᐧᑳᔫᐦ ᐊᓂᑦᐦ ᓈᓂᑕᒻ ᐁᑎ ᐄᐦᑖᔨᐦᒄ᙮ ᐊᓐ ᒉᐃᒥᔅ ᐯᐃ ᑲᔦᐦ ᒋᐧᐁᑎᓅᑖᐦᒡ ᑯᐯᒃ ᓂᔅᑲᒧᐧᐃᓐ ᒋᒌ ᓈᑕᒫᑯᓈᓅ ᒉ ᒌ ᓂᐦᐄᐸᔨᐦᐧᑖᓱᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᓂᔫᐦ ᒉᐧᑳᔫᐦ ᐁ ᓂᑐᐧᐁᔨᐦᑖᑯᐧᑳᐤ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔪᑲᓇᐧᐁᔨᐦᒥᐧᑳᐤ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐹᐦᐯᔭᑯᑌᓅ ᐄᔨᔫᒡ᙮ ᐆᑦᐦ ᐁ ᒥᓯᐦᑌᔅᑲᒥᑯᑳᐦᒡ ᑳᓇᑖ ᑲᔦᐦ ᐆᑦᐦ ᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡ, ᐊᓐ ᔦᐦᔦᐧᐋᔅᐱᓀᐧᐃᓐ ᒌ ᒌᐦᑳᓈᑯᓐ ᐁ ᒨᔅᒋᐸᔨᐧᑳᐤᐦ ᑲᔦᐦ ᐁᔥᒄ ᐁ ᐃᐦᑎᐧᑳᐤᐦ ᐊᓂᔫ ᐁᑳ ᑖᐱᑑ ᐄᔑ ᑲᓇᐧᐋᐸᒫᑲᓄᐧᑖᐤ ᐄᔨᔫᒡ ᐁ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᐧᑖᐤ ᐊᐧᐁᓂᒌ ᐁᑳ ᓂᐦᐋᐤ ᐃᔥᐱᔥ ᐃᐦᑎᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᒉᐧᑳᔫ ᐁ ᓈᑕᒫᑯᐧᑖᐤ, ᐁ ᑯᔅᐱᓂᓰᐧᑖᐤ ᐁ ᐃᔑᓈᑯᓰᐧᑖᐤ᙮ ᐆ ᐊᓂᒌᔥ ᐁ ᒌᔑᑳᒡ ᐁ ᐄᔑ ᒌᐦᑳᔮᐸᒫᑲᓅᐧᑖᐤ ᐄᔨᔫᒡ ᐁ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓰᐧᑖᐤ ᑲᔦᐦ ᒥᔑᑯᒻ ᒌᔑᑳᐤᐦ, ᒋᑲ ᐧᐄᒋᑳᐴᔥᑐᐧᐋᓅᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᓂᒌ ᑯᑕᑲᒡ ᐄᔨᔫᒡ ᐁᑎ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᐧᑖᐤ ᐆᑦᐦ ᒥᓯᐦᑌᔅᑲᒥᒄ ᑳᓇᑖ ᐁᑎ ᒫᔅᒉᔨᐦᒄ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᐄᔑ ᐧᐃᔮᔅᑯᓂᒉᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑲᔦᐦ ᑖᐱᑑᓰᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ᙮ ᒋᒪᔅᑰᓰᓈᓅ ᐁ ᒫᒨᑳᐴᔨᐦᒄ᙮

Dr. Abel Bosum Grand Chief/Chairperson

Mandy Gull Deputy Grand Chief/Vice-Chairperson

ᐊᔨᐱᓪ ᐳᔑᒻ ᒋᔖᐅᒋᒫᐦᑳᓐ/ᑖᐦᑎᐳᐧᐃᓐ ᐅᒋᒫᐤ

ᒪᓂᑏ ᐧᑳᓪ ᒋᔖᐅᒋᒫᐦᑳᓐ ᑎᔮᐦᒋᔅᑯᐧᐋᑦ/ᑖᐦᑎᐳᐧᐃᓐ ᐅᒋᒫᐤ ᑎᔮᐦᒋᔅᑯᐧᐋᑦ

www.nationnews.ca June 19, 2020 the Nation 15

Sixties Scoop settlement brings survivors mixed emotions

Half Measures by Patrick Quinn

Photos left-top: Katherine Legrange; left bottom: 2018 Bi-giwen Gathering

16 the Nation June 19, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

ith the Covid-19 pandemic slowing administration of Canada’s $875 million class-action settlement agreement with Sixties Scoop survivors, a federal judge has approved interim payments of $21,000 to the 12,500 people already deemed eligible, as well as to those approved in the months ahead as the review process continues.

According to the agreement signed in November 2017, First Nations and Inuit children who were systematically removed from their homes and placed with non-Indigenous foster or adoptive parents between 1951 and 1991 are to receive their share of $750 million, depending on the number of eligible claimants. Reviewing the 34,767 claims submitted by last year’s deadline took longer than anticipated, leading the Federal Court on March 27 to order the distribution of final payments to those accepted once 4,767 applications had been rejected. However, with the provincial archives needed to assess applications closed during the pandemic, the number of rejections remained stuck at 1,400. “We recognize the huge emotional toll this process and delay has had on applicants,” said Doug Lennox, a lawyer with one of the four law firms that helped negotiate the settlement. “The interim payment is about keeping that process of justice moving. It’s the right thing to do.” During this period of uncertainty, no claims will be denied, and deadlines have been suspended. This means those who received rejection or “intent to reject” letters have more time to support their claims. They are encouraged to seek guidance that may demonstrate their eligibility from one of the firms at no additional cost. This new arrangement came after pressure from advocacy groups, which emphasized financial worries during the pandemic. “There’s a huge sense of relief that the court heard us, heard the class and the need for getting this settlement moving,” said Katherine Legrange, director of the 60s Scoop

Legacy of Canada, a support and Delorme, who hopes to launch a advocacy organization based in 60s Scoop Legacy affiliate in the Manitoba. “We advocated hard for Northwest Territories. “But, as I’ve a resolution to the stalemate that discovered from other survivors happened in March. We’re really glad across Canada, the resiliency and tenacity are so profound.” that payments are moving forward.” Like many survivors, Delorme Now that interim payments have been approved by the Federal Court struggled with depression and idenand Ontario Superior Court, where tity issues as she worked to unravel the original lawsuit was filed, com- the mystery of what happened to her. pensation should begin arriving from She eventually began healing after claims administrator Collectiva in the reconnecting with her Indigenous coming weeks. The lengthy delays roots as an adult. While the settlehave caused immense frustration ment compensation is welcome, it’s among survivors, many of whom are less than it cost her to return to her traditional territory in financial distress. in 2014. “A lot of retraumatization has hap“It couldn’t “It’s taken so long to pened through this come soon enough get to this point and process,” Legrange for this survivor it’s not even a told the Nation. of the North,” “There were no Delorme said. “Will full payment” healing or cultural it get me running - Colleen Hele-Cardinal, supports in place so water and [home] Co-Founder, Sixties Scoop folks who were sent insulation? No, but Network rejection notices are it will help pay off quite distraught. One some of my debts gentleman threatened to commit sui- so I can at least move forward on my cide on our Facebook page, which I plans. It doesn’t give back that which also said to the court.” was taken.” While survivors have worked The government’s settlement offer together to overcome their forced was initially dismissed as insufficient removal from their birth families, there by the Sixties Scoop Network, formeris also much division and “lateral ly the National Indigenous Survivors violence”. Legrange reminds herself of Child Welfare Network. However, that “hurt people hurt people.” Métis as it became apparent that this was and non-status survivors, such as probably the best deal they would Legrange, have been excluded from get, co-founder Colleen Hele-Cardinal this settlement and have their own came to realize that it might bring relief to many. unresolved legal battles. “I think a lot of people are disap“Yes, I have nightmares of the monster that Canada has been, but pointed, but we have no choice but now I have nightmares about the to accept it,” acknowledged Helelateral violence that happens with- Cardinal. “I don’t really feel like it’s a in our organizations trying to regain victory. It’s taken so long to get to this that which was lost,” said Nadine point and it’s not even a full payment.”

Hele-Cardinal lamented the lack of transparency throughout the settlement process. She also says many survivors will be forced to use the money for living expenses rather than something special to enhance their lives. She has recently stepped back from her organization, feeling burnt out from dealing with so many angry people, and looks forward to moving on to other projects (read about her group’s GIS mapping project in this issue). With $50 million from the settlement allocated to a healing foundation dedicated to reconciliation initiatives, there is hope that new resources will become available for helping survivors connect with adoption records and family members. Legrange learned she had five siblings, four of whom she’s never met, through a genealogy study using DNA. While Legrange sees last year’s Bill C-92, which recognizes Indigenous jurisdiction over their child and family services, as a step in the right direction, she still feels there are many unresolved issues regarding Sixties Scoop survivors. Although there has been growing awareness about Canada’s residential school system, for example, far fewer people know about the tremendous harm done by the Sixties Scoop. “We never learned our languages, didn’t have our siblings,” said Legrange. “Lots of us are still looking for family members or may not even know we were part of the Sixties Scoop. One thing I think we’ll focus on is an inquiry. I feel there’s a lot of education and awareness that needs to happen about the significant effects of that complete removal.”

www.nationnews.ca June 19, 2020 the Nation 17

Letâ€™s continue to protect ourselves and consult health professionals! If you feel the need or if you or a family member has a health problem or a psychosocial problem, you can consult a health or social services professional, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is especially important to go to your health or psychosocial follow-up appointments if you or a family member have: a chronic disease (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, degenerative disease, etc.); a mental health condition (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, etc.);

cancer; or any other disease, condition or situation that requires regular follow-up with a health or social services professional.

At any time, you can call Info-SantĂŠ staff if you have questions or concerns about your health, or Info-Social staff if you need psychosocial support.

20-210-192FA_Hebdo_Guide9_DoublesPages_En_5juin_.indd 24

How do I consult a health professional? Consultation by telephone or in person

You must first determine whether you have flu symptoms, gastroenteritis symptoms or COVID-19 symptoms.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of the reason for

your consultation in family medicine, call 418 644‑4545, 450 644‑4545, 514 644‑4545, 819 644‑4545 or 1 877 644‑4545. For the hearing impaired (TTY), call 1 800 361‑9596 (toll free). Your health condition will be assessed and you will be referred, if necessary, to a designated assessment clinic or another resource where you can be seen safely during the pandemic.

Often, consultations with a health or social services professional can be done over the telephone. Telephone consultations are being prioritized during the pandemic (depending on your condition).

If you do not have any of these symptoms and you need a

consultation, proceed as follows:

If you have a family doctor

•

If you have to go to your consultation in person, rest assured that the necessary measures have been taken to ensure your safety and staff safety. Anyone who goes to a health care facility, such as a hospital, a clinic, a doctor’s office or a family medicine group (FMG), should wear a homemade mask (face covering) or procedure mask. This recommendation applies to both the patient and the person accompanying the patient. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, the staff might ask you to wear a procedure mask.

•

Contact the clinic or family medicine group (FMG) that you usually go to to make an appointment. You can check whether your clinic or FMG offers medical and psychosocial consultations by searching your clinic or FMG’s name on the Finding a Resource page: sante.gouv.qc.ca/en/ repertoire‑ressources

If you do not have a family doctor

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Call Info‑Santé or Info‑Social at 811 for advice or to be referred to an appropriate resource.

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You can also contact a clinic that provides services to people who do not have a family doctor, such as a super clinic.

If you are unable to reach your clinic or FMG, call Info‑Santé or Info‑Social by dialling 811.

Québec.ca/coronavirus 1 877 644-4545

20-06-03 14:20

GAmeON Photos courtesy of EA Sports

20 the Nation June 19, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

By Lachlan Madill

Fred Sasakamoose hockey tournament goes online

“I spoke with my dad, who’s 86, and explained to him that it’s a video game played on a PlayStation... I asked a few teams and people I know, and they told me to go for it - Neil Sasakamoose

he Fred Sasakamoose “Chief Thunderstick” National Hockey Championship in Saskatoon is one of the biggest events for Indigenous players in the country. This year’s edition, which is usually held at the end of April, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Organizer Neil Sasakamoose, who is Fred’s son, said it was a tough decision. “This would have been the fifth year. When it was cancelled, we were pretty glum because this year we would have had 40 teams from across Canada and eight women’s teams. It would have been the largest ever contact tournament in Indigenous hockey,” said Neil Sasakamoose.

The tournament was started by Fred Sasakamoose, the first Indigenous person to play in the National Hockey League when he suited up for the Chicago Black Hawks on February 27, 1954. Since it began in 2016, the event has grown every year. After the cancellation, Sasakamoose says some Innu players from Maliotenam asked him to consider hosting the tournament online with EA Sports NHL 20. “I spoke with my dad, who’s 86, and explained to him that it’s a video game played on a PlayStation,” he recounted. “I asked a few teams and people I know, and they told me to go for it.” After posting a call-out on the Chief Thunderstick Facebook page to see if there

was any interest, Sasakamoose received more than 160 responses from Indigenous communities across the country within the space of a few hours. With so much interest Sasakamoose decided to go ahead with the tournament, even though he had never done anything like it. Tristan Keshane, an Indigenous online entrepreneur in Saskatchewan who owns Treaty 4 Esports, contacted him with an offer to help. The company runs online tournaments for Indigenous communities, and Keshane was supposed to be playing in the tournament before the cancellation. “He said he would do it for free just so we have something to do,” said Sasakamoose.

www.nationnews.ca June 19, 2020 the Nation 21

With so many entries, organizers had to choose 64 teams, which were picked randomly. Because it was an invitational, there was no entry fee. “It’s a tradition on the plains that when you invite people to come, you make it easy for them. You’re inviting them, so you’re responsible as a host. It’s how we do it here… it’s our culture,” Sasakamoose explained. He said that tradition was integrated into the Chief Thunderstick Championship. Players just had to promise to play fairly and with integrity while following the rules. One of the teams that entered were last year’s champions, the Waswanipi Chiefs. Chiwetin Blacksmith was the captain of the winning team in 2019. Although he was disappointed that this year’s on-ice tournament was cancelled, he was happy to participate in the online version. “Every community was allowed a team with six to eight players, so I invited four guys who were on last year’s winning team,” explained Blacksmith. “There were three forwards, two defense-

In the end, the Listuguj Warriors won by defeating the Maliotenam Warriors. The winners took home $2,000, while the runners-up walked away with $1,000. Sasakakamoose said the Listuguj team will also receive a trophy while noting, “There’s only one other in existence, and that’s in Waswanipi with the Chiefs.” Cooper said he was happy how this year’s event turned out. “With the hard times we are going through with the pandemic, the organizers continued on and found a way for players to enjoy the event and honour Fred Sasakamoose. He’s a legend.” Neil Sasakamoose said his father watched the games at home and was very impressed. He added that organizers expect the 2021 edition of the tournament will return to the ice next April 23-25. Sasakamoose said the online event was a huge success and opened his eyes to gaming and the many

Listuguj Warriors defeating the

won by

Maliotenam Warriors

man and one goalie. We couldn’t find a goalie for the longest time, so we asked two guys from our community to play who were pretty decent at NHL 20.” The other Waswanipi players for the online championship were Joshua Blacksmith, Silas Mattawashish, Austin Cheezo, Mispun Cooper, Kyle Blacksmith and Sammy Blacksmith. Notably absent from the Waswanipi Chiefs was Chris Cooper, who hung up his skates this year because he wanted to “make room for the younger guys.” Cooper picked a good year to leave the team as many of the younger players are pretty good gamers and play NHL 20. “I don’t [play video games], but my sons do,” laughed Cooper. “I have to give Neil Sasakamoose credit for finding a way to bring us all together and to continue playing anyway we can. We all love hockey.” This year however, the Wikwemikong First Nation knocked the Waswanipi Chiefs out of the tournament. Despite that, Blacksmith said it was a good experience. “It brought all the communities together without actually being together. I think that was the best thing. It got us all involved and got our minds off Covid-19.”

22 the Nation June 19, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

opportunities it offers. Then he ambitiously added, “We’re definitely hosting another online version of the tournament again. I see us setting up a league for the communities towards the end of summer with an NHL-style winter schedule with divisions, games and a playoff championship tournament.” When asked about the possibility of another online tournament and winter league, Blacksmith said, “That would be pretty cool – I would definitely like to join it for sure.” As for the on-ice championship, Blacksmith said he is already planning to make the trip to Saskatchewan next year with the Chiefs.

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If you are an Indigenous woman of Eeyou Istchee and you are seeking safety and support, we are here to help you!

ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ Nunavik Starts Here

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www.nationnews.ca June 19, 2020 the Nation 25

Politics

Charting lost childhoods GIS mapping project will visualize 60s Scoop displacements by Patrick Quinn

hile the recent announcement of interim payments for eligible Sixties Scoop survivors as part of a $750 million class-action settlement may bring some a sense of closure, there remain many unresolved issues for those whose traditional culture and homeland were taken from them during childhood.

Dr Raven Sinclair and co founders of Sixties Scoop Network Elaine Kicknosway and Colleen Hele Cardinal

26 the Nation June 19, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

From the 1950s until well into the International will soon be launching the 1980s, tens of thousands of Indigenous project in partnership with the Sixties children were systematically removed Scoop Network, formerly known as from their homes and families, placed the National Indigenous Survivors in foster homes and eventually adopted of Child Welfare Network, and Dr. out to white families Raven Sinclair’s from across Canada Pe-kīwēwin Project. and beyond. A new “I know there’s Visualizing this project intends to a need to show data in an interacraise awareness what it actually tive world map is about the worldlooks like trafficknot only eye-openwide scope of this ing Indigenous ing for website displacement while children from one providing important place to another,” viewers but also resources for surviexplained Sixties enables researchers vors. Scoop Network and Indigenous In our own co-founder Colleen communities to Words: Mapping Hele-Cardinal. “I identify regional the Stories of 60s think once people trends about where Scoop Survivors see that, they’ll get children were taken Diaspora is an innoit. They’ll be like, vative Geographic ‘How could Canada and where they Information System do this?’” ended up (GIS) mapping platThe voluntary form to help surproject enables vivors share their survivors to directly stories and visualize their move- input the amount of biographical informents around the world. Amnesty mation they are comfortable with and

to decide if it will be publicly accessible. Their section can include short videos, pictures and a brief narrative. They also have the option of uploading pictures or other details about family members they may be seeking. Visualizing this data in an interactive world map is not only eye-opening for website viewers but also enables researchers and Indigenous communities to identify regional trends about where children were taken and where they ended up. There are already points showing adoptees across Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia and even India. “We’ve had folks taken all over the world,” Hele-Cardinal said. “A lot of adoptees taken to Europe try to repatriate but still have not been successful. Some don’t even know they were part of the Sixties Scoop because they’ve been so assimilated – they might not even know they’re Indigenous.” Hele-Cardinal didn’t know she was Indigenous until informed by her adoptive mother when she was 12 or 13. She was just a baby when Canadian government authorities took her and her two older sisters from their home in Alberta’s Saddle

Lake Cree Nation and placed them with a white family in Ontario, who had selected them from a catalogue. The sisters suffered physical, emotional and sexual violence from their adoptive father. One after the other, they fled the home by the time they had turned 15. When Hele-Cardinal joined an older sister who had found their birth parents in Edmonton’s downtown skid row, it confirmed the worst stereotypes about Indigenous people she had internalized growing up. “The reality is those reunions are not happy endings,” said HeleCardinal. “There’s a huge culture shock going from a middle-class home to where everyone who looked like me was on the street drinking. It wasn’t until I went back to college at 28 that I had my first taste of culture. It filled a space in my heart that I didn’t even know was missing.” After moving to Ottawa, she gradually met several other Sixties Scoop adoptees and in 2014 they decided to host a gathering, drawing 65 survivors from across the country. As she contacted thousands of survivors across the world during four national gatherings, she was inspired

to create a visual tool to track their displacements. “This mapping project is very dear to my heart,” Hele-Cardinal said. “It’s been a labour of love but it’s hard to get funding for GIS mapping. People don’t see it as valuable because it’s technology. It’s not considered storytelling as an art form, which it is. We’re in the final phase of making sure it’s working, embedding all the sponsors, things like that.” It is intended to expand over time with resources for survivors to find support in repatriating, counselling, locating other Sixties Scoop groups across Canada and reclaiming culture. Hele-Cardinal asserted that the latter is a scary prospect for many adoptees after so many years of assimilation. “When you’ve been brainwashed to be a white person, you have to work every day to remember who you are,” she emphasized. “It doesn’t come naturally. For most of my life, I’ve performed as a white person so I could fit in. After a while, you start to hate yourself because you don’t even know who you are.” Working with Amnesty International provides a global plat-

form to bring attention to this enormous injustice. While prime ministers have apologized for the residential school system, Hele-Cardinal feels the Sixties Scoop has yet to be properly acknowledged. She wants Canada to ask for forgiveness from survivors. “More work needs to be done in policy, driven by folks with lived experience,” she asserted. “Residentialschool survivors suffered tremendous abuses, but at least they got to keep their name and see other brown kids. We were literally plucked out of our environment. We have no connection to our kinship or our land.” Hele-Cardinal has recently stepped back from the Sixties Scoop Network and is returning to school to study criminology. She’s interested in exploring the disproportionate imprisonment of Indigenous people with unresolved trauma resulting from the child welfare system. However, her heart will always be with Sixties Scoop survivors, ensuring their stories are heard and advocating for justice. A second stage of the mapping project involves handson workshops in cities where adoptees are known to have been taken, using this visual tool to represent their lives and perhaps regain some of which was lost. “In some ways I’ve had closure in my own personal life,” observed Hele-Cardinal. “In order for us to heal, we need to share our stories and work together to learn from this. I really feel like culture saves life. Being reconnected to culture can fill that void in our life that we may not even realize is missing.” www.sixtiesscoop.geoforms.ca

www.nationnews.ca June 19, 2020 the Nation 27

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Letters

I Miss Being a Hero A poem by Clarence Miniquaken

his April, Nation reader Clarence Miniquaken was inspired to compose a poem to mark Father’s Day. In sending it to us, he mentioned that he hopes it will inspire other dads to express their feelings for their children, as he did with this poem.

I miss being a hero I still remember the times they would run to me and I was the strongest man in the world I was able to heal a scraped knee or an elbow they banged at The times I would wake up to pour them a bowl of cereal, I was the hero the corner of the dining room table just by holding them The times I would build or set up a new toy, I was the hero I miss being a hero I miss being a hero I miss ensuring their safety while they slept I miss the times they would scream out “Dad!” if they were The times I would attend their events, I was the hero afraid of the dark I was the hero to turn on the night light or hold them until I was once a hero to all my kids they fell asleep Today, they are becoming heroes to their younger siblings or children I miss being a hero I’m happy knowing I passed the torch of being a hero I was the greatest if I took the time to watch their favourite shows or movies But most of all, I was even greater if I made popcorn I miss being a hero

the Nation 29

www.creejustice.com

If you need more information or have additional questions, contact our office in Val-dâ€?Or.

By phone: 819-874-2600 By email: justicevaldor@cngov.ca

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June 2020 - Issue 2

Puzzles

Crossword

SUDOKU Very Hard

2 4

Previous solution - Tough

1 2 9 3 5 7 4 8 6

5 7 5 4 2 7

5 6 3 5

9 3 8 7

– ngle number can r column. But... are divided by black artments. These with numbers that t’. A straight is a set gaps but can be in ,5]. Clues in black umber as an option umn, and are not part nce at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. are formed.

3 9 6 1

9 1

8 5

1 8 9 9 8 6 7 7 4 4 5 4 5 6 5 3 7 6 3 8 9

No. 970

3 6 5 4 8 2 7 1 9

4 8 7 9 1 6 3 5 2

2 5 6 7 4 8 1 9 3

7 1 4 2 3 9 5 6 8

8 9 3 5 6 1 2 4 7

9 4 1 6 7 3 8 2 5

6 3 8 1 2 5 9 7 4

5 7 2 8 9 4 6 3 1

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

STR8TS

SUDOKU

No. 970

Medium

Previous solution - Easy

2 3 9 1 4 2 7 2 1 4 4 5 3 5 6 6 7 9 8 8 7

8 3 9 6 8 5

1 4 2

4 5 6 3 7 4 5 5 3 6 8 7 8 9 9 2 7 3 9 6 4

1 8 9 9 8 6 7 7 4 4 5 4 5 6 5 3 7 6 3 8 9

2 4

3 6

1 3 1

7 8 6 8

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

5 15

32 the Nation June 19, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

22 24 26

37 40

39 42

41 43

25 30

55 56 57 58

"Hold on a ___!" 31 Part to play Watergate, e.g. 32 Pub orders Places for pins 35 Layette item Bullet material 36 Sluggers' stats Caroled 38 Burn slowly Anagram for 39 Prefix for green "neat" or glade DOWN 19 "Hip hip" 41 Moving 1 Statue of Liberty follower 42 To excess feature 21 Grow weary 44 Puccini work 2 "Famous 24 Police officer's 45 Witches' group Potatoes" state "tin" 46 Current style 3 One of Canada's 26 VP after Biden 47 And others, for maritime 27 Absolutely short Previous solution Tough Very Hard necessary provinces 48 Serpent of 1 3 4 2 7 8 9 6 5 4 Enter illegally 28 Wedding cake Hindu myth 2 6 8 5 1 9 4 3 7 5 Grand Canal site layer 49 Line on a graph 9 5 7 6 4 3 1 8 2 6 Came up 29 Counter current 50 Like an oxeye 3 4 9 7 2 5 6 1 8 7 Point at the 30 Surveyor's map window 5 8 1 4 3 6 7 2 9 dinner table? 7 2 6 8 9 1 52 3 Little 5 4 rascal Fertile earth Equally matched Surgical beam Broadway production 59 Email action

8 9 10 11 12 13

5 7

3 5

9 1

8 7

3 9 6 1

4 7 3 1 to 5 Crossword: 2 8 9 6 Solution

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that PREVIOUS complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set SOLUTION: of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. see how ‘straights’ are formed.

5 4 2 7

Easy

I A N S T H O

A C E S

G O A T

ere’s another edition of the Nation’s puzzle page. Try your hand at Sudoku or Str8ts or our Crossword, or better yet, solve all three and send us a photo! As always, the answers from last issue are here for you to check your work. Happy hunting.

ACROSS 1 Salon request 5 Vintner's vessels 9 Spicy dip 14 Bloodhound's clue 15 Cleveland's lake 16 All washed up? 17 High praise 18 Cool 20 Scold severely 22 Anxious 23 Home for the sick 24 Whodunit discovery 25 Part of TLC 26 Flea, to a dog 30 Poetry's counterpart 32 Bicycle part 33 Day or night starter 34 Quite a bit 35 Dull and dirty 36 Mimicked 37 Ryan's "Love Story" co-star 38 On account of 39 Part of EGBDF 40 Rice, to Montana 42 Walkie-talkie word 43 Klutz's cry 44 Ham it up 47 Make possible 50 Tomlin's Ernestine No. 970 51 1976 De Niro film set in NYC 53 Yield to pressure 54 Like a gymnast

by Margie E. Burke

8 5G R R I S T

O O M Y

8 1 5 9 6 4 2 7 3 A M I T H A T W A 6 9 2 3 8 7 5 4 1 T I C R I C E I D To complete Sudoku, O N E U S E fill D the R A board by entering 9 P E C H E S numbers T B 1Eto G such each D that U E L row, Icolumn M A and G E 3x3 box contains every number O B I O C A S A uniquely. N S E R V E N E U T C Hmany Lstrategies, E T U hints P and G A For tips, E Rvisit E www.sudokuwiki.org O A N O R E X I D O L A W E I If Str8ts W EoutSour T A you N like D M A check books, iPhone/iPad Apps and C K Y S P A R T A C much more on our store. U S E R A L E T A R I L E T O N U G N E T S E N T P E

R E F E R

N A T T Y

E V I L

R E A L

U R G E

S T A R

Tea

& Bannock

Allyship

by Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash

owe a lot of my healing, well-being, best activism days, resilience and strength to the Black community. I owe a lot of my knowledge and education to Black creators, from the poetry and books I read, the music I listen to, the clothes I wear, to the movies I watch and the memes I share. Every single time I speak out about Indigenous rights, the Black community is always there to support me. Black women have taught me how to organize and to protect myself while defending my rights. Most likely, it’s the same for you, whether you know it or not, because the contribution of the Black community to society is huge although often erased. The uprising over police brutality around the world is also great news for Indigenous peoples. I’m not going to be part of the gang that is bitter because the Black community gets more media coverage than us right now. That’s because we will most likely benefit from this. And from my

own experience, Black people have always made space for us in their movement. When we’d organize events for Native women, they always showed up. From the start, Black Lives Matter has acknowledged that we are also among the populations that are more likely to die at the hands of cops. It’s now our turn to acknowledge that some First Nations have done harm to Black people. We tend to forget the fact that Native Americans from the “Five Civilized Tribes” also owned slaves and how the constant use of the N-word in our communities still shows how little respect some of us have for Black people. We still have work to do, and it’s easy to see when we look at the words that we use in our own languages to describe them. Ideas that were deemed too radical are now being seriously considered. Finally, we can discuss defunding and dismantling the police. Many

police forces have little training on how to de-escalate a situation or how to deal with vulnerable populations. Add weapons and racial bias to the equation, and you get the perfect recipe for disaster. The current situation is absurd. Doctors and nurses are running out of protective gear during the Covid19 pandemic while heavily armed cops and tactical units shoot on protesters with weapons that are internationally banned in warfare. In Canada, the RCMP keeps promising that they’ll do better, but what are we really expecting from a police force that was created to terrorize and control Indigenous people? The Black community is speaking, and we must listen and reflect on how we can support them. Feeding divisions is exactly what colonizers want. For people saying, “All lives matter”, all lives will not matter until Black lives matter.

From my own experience, Black people have always made space for us in their movement .

May this Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day be a day of celebrations with friends and family. ᐆ ᐋ ᐅᑎᐦᒋᐱᔨᒡ ᒥᓯᐦᑖᔅᑭᒥᒡ ᐄᔨᔨᐅᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐄᔅᒋᒫᐅᒡ ᐋᐦ ᒌᐦᑳᔮᐱᒫᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐅᒌᔑᑳᒥᐧᐋᐤ, ᑭᒫ ᒌ ᐃᔑᓈᑯᐦᒡ ᒑ ᒌ ᒧᒋᒑᔨᐦᑎᒫᒄ ᒋᑐᑖᒥᐧᐋᐅᒡ ᑭᔮ ᒋᐧᐋᐦᑯᒫᑭᓂᐧᐋᐅᒡ᙮

- From the Cree Trappers Association

819-977-2165 | creetrappers.ca www.nationnews.ca June 19, 2020 the Nation 33

Under the Northern Sky

T B UTNS

www.underthenorthernsky.com

Banging out the words by Xavier Kataquapit

have just come in from doing some repair carpentry to my front porch. It needed it but I have been busy for months and just did not have the time. When I am not sitting at my desk in my office writing or working on video projects, I escape to the world of wood, saws and hammers, and searching for creative solutions to making things fit in an old house. My work with wood, surrounded by all kinds of tools and the focus of making something stronger and better is the break I need from the world of research, analysis and writing. Sometimes I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs and banging a hammer hard on some inanimate surface. I look forward to figuring out how to make something fit that just does not want to. In the real world, other than witness all the craziness and documenting it, there is little that I can do. Right now, I just want to scream and bang on something with the visions of the racist images I am seeing in the news, in print and on social media. I have lived racism firsthand

most of my life and I am here to tell you it is real and it all boils down to if you are white in this world you have it made, but if you are not then the road is more difficult and twisted. I find myself banging on these keys right now with the memories of all the Indigenous women who have been murdered, the young men and women oppressed, incarcerated, beaten and killed for so many decades in this country. I want a way forward from the protesting and violence happening now in the United States, Canada and across the world. Police forces all over the world are becoming more militarized and that has more to do with right-wing governments and movements bullying their way into our countries, our lands, and our communities. It is not a police problem, but a political one. I am very worried about all the protesters out in close quarters during this pandemic and I fear that we may lose many bright, capable activists who are now on the front lines of these demonstrations.

Maybe now is the time for all of us who really want change to become involved in helping more liberal, social democratic parties get elected into government. Let’s turn our anger and frustration into becoming involved in political reform from the bottom up in every city and town in Canada. Let’s get to work to make sure the very best of my people get elected to leadership in Indigenous political organizations. Let’s get behind Indigenous leaders and promote them to become more involved in government as much as possible. If you want to do something about racism, then work for a political voice that will provide a solution. Compared to many other countries in the world we are lucky to have strong, fair leadership for the most part. I know for sure that although things are not perfect under the current government, Indigenous people across Canada have received more attention, funding, consultation and reconciliation in the last few years than ever before. That matters. It has not been perfect, but the alternative is the return to very right-wing govern-

ment that ignores or is openly hostile to First Nations. To deal with any major issue while fighting a pandemic, it breaks my heart to think that many more will die of Covid-19. The world’s top epidemiologists and virologists are telling us we will be getting sick and dying from this disease for the next year or two and possibly more. Yet, governments are pushing us all back to thinking the danger has passed. It has not and I plead that people continue to be careful this summer, practice safe distancing, wear masks when entering a grocery store, hardware store, office building, mall or anywhere inside. Wash your hands often and stay on guard. If you are joining in protests, do your best to stay safe because we need you to survive and help us all move into a more progressive, fair and just world. I think I should go back out now to the old porch and bang on some boards with extremely loud music in the background to drown out my discontent.

We have been present since 1939. All members of the large Deshaies' family are by your side today and will also be for the better days to come.

34 the Nation June 19, 2020 www.nationnews.ca

Your Northern Airline of Choice creebec

Air Creebec is operating by respecting and exceeding the rules with extensive cleaning and disinfecting of the aircraft, social distancing on board and at all service counters. We encourage everyone to respect the rules and to stay safe.

For the latest Air Creebec updates, please visit aircreebec.ca/covid19

ᔦᐦᔦᐙᔅᐱᓀᐎᓐ ᐁ ᐋᔔᒦᑐᓈᓅᒡ

COVID-19

IN JUNE 2020, EEYOU ISTCHEE STARTED THE GRADUAL PROCESS OF DECONFINEMENT

DECONFINEMENT PHASE

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, CAMPS, AND ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES PRACTICED ON THE LAND WILL RESUME, WITH LIMITS ON THE SIZE OF SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

SMALL-SCALE OUTDOOR PRIVATE GATHERINGS

THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATING IN OUTDOOR EVENTS/GATHERINGS IS LIMITED TO TWO.

SOME NON-ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE

(AND OTHER PUBLIC) SERVICES: MEDICAL SPECIALIST SERVICES, DENTISTRY, OR OTHER SERVICES DEPENDING ON LOCAL CMC CAPACITY WILL RESUME. THIS COULD INCLUDE REOPENING OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES BASED ON LOCAL PRIORITIES.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DECONFINEMENT PROCESS IN EEYOU ISTCHEE? 18TCR.PHCOVIDTEAM@SSSS.GOUV.QC.CA 1 866 855-2811