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driving will also be offered locally in Mistissini Chisasibi in Bus the Fall The Regional program is open to applicants fromand all communities. driving driving will will also also be be offered offered locally locally in in Mistissini Mistissini and and Chisasibi Chisasibi in in the the Fall. Fall. driving will also be offered locally in Mistissini and Chisasibi in the Fall.

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CONTENTS 10 Congratulating the grads Communal learning pays off big

EDITORIAL A little history

Doing business face-to-face

More time needed

NEWS

BRIEFS FEATURES

Future leaders

Back in the air

Funding fertile thoughts

PUZZLES REZ NOTES Community

Wandering thoughts

UTNS Whispers in the wind

FNTI returns after fire

ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ Nunavik Starts Here Nunavik Starts Here

ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᐳᖅ Nunavik Startsᓄᓇᕕᒃ Here The IPRF’s 20 new mission Nunavik Starts Here

Photo by Tatiana Philiptchenko/CBHSSJB

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24 25 26

Editorial

A little history by Will Nicholls

ational Indigenous Day is past us and Nation Indigenous Month is ending. We’ve all heard the cries for Indigenous history to be taught in classrooms. One wonders what will be taught and how it will be presented. Candy-coated with a few dark spots would be most likely. How Canada got its name, how the Injuns helped the settlers, a few wars we helped one side or the other, the fur trade, and, of course, an apologetic reference to residential schools. It would be too much to expect references to Indigenous movements such as the occupation of Alcatraz Island in the United States by Indigenous protestors in 1969. They cited the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie saying they had a right to the island after the prison was closed. Around 90 protestors arrived on the island November 20. Among them were two Mistissini residents – George and Glenna Matoush. When the protestors arrived on the island, a lone guard went on the radio and said, “Mayday! Mayday! The Indians have landed!” It was the start of a 19-month long occupation that was eventually forcibly ended by the US government. But the 1960s also saw the start of the American Indian Moment (AIM). The organization was created to address problems experienced by Indigenous Peoples. It included treaties, social prob-

lems, murdered and missing women, and police brutality as well as supporting and fostering the cultural and spiritual revival of Indigenous Peoples. One of its most famous members was Leonard Peltier. He was jailed in 1977 for aiding and abetting the murder of two FBI agents at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota in 1975. During that time the Tribal Chairman Richard Wilson created a private militia called Guardians of the Oglala Nation (GOON) that would attack political opponents of Wilson. AIM and the Lakota started what would be a 71-day siege to address what they saw as wrongful conduct. Peltier was named as one of three people wanted by the FBI. He was arrested in Canada and returned to the US to face trial. Canada’s Solicitor General would say later that he was extradited on false information. The other two people charged were acquitted on the grounds of self-defence. Peltier was tried later and didn’t benefit from the previous court case. There were many problems with the information given to the court. Initially the FBI said they were looking for a red pickup truck, but during the trial they changed it to an orange-and-white van that Peltier used. Myrtle Poor Bear claimed she was Peltier’s girlfriend and that he had planned the killings, but later admitted

she never knew him personally. Most of her testimony was used to convict Peltier. She was considered mentally unstable, and the FBI deemed her unfit to testify in court, but her written statements were still used in the trial. Bullets provided by the FBI firearms expert were used as evidence, but in later years it would be revealed that they could not have come from Peltier’s rifle. To this day the 77-year-old Peltier still languishing in prison even though he became eligible for parole in 1993. AIM has had its own difficulties with internal conflicts, mostly attributed to infiltration by FBI agents looking to discredit them. Later, the FBI and other federal agencies would label AIM as a subversive, communist and even terrorist organization. According to an AIM member, this happened after a river flooded land and members showed up to assist non-Native farmers and residents with building dikes they needed. For the authorities, this act was seen as a way to win the hearts and minds of the American public when it came to AIM. Just goes to show you no good deed goes unpunished. Just a little Indigenous history you will not likely read in the classroom curriculum.

The Eeyou Marine Region Impact Review Board has received National Geographic’s “Pristine Seas” project proposal on June 20, 2022. To assess the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the project proposal, the EMRIRB would like to hear your concerns, comments, and suggestions about the project proposal. Visit www.emrirb.ca/registry/ to view the application and submit your comments. The deadline to comment is July 12, 2021.

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 Randy Mayer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS X. Kataquapit, S. Orr, J. Janke, P. Quinn, B. Powless DESIGN Matthew Dessner SALES AND ADVERTISING Danielle Valade, Donna Malthouse 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 | facebook.com/NATIONnewsmagazine | Twitter: @creenation_news

4 the Nation July 1, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

CMCA AUDITED

Doing business face-to-face Mistissini hosts Secretariat’s annual economic event in-person

by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | Photo provided by SAENCAT

he Secretariat to the Cree Nation Abitibi-Témiscamingue Economic Alliance (SCNATEA) held its 2022 annual conference in Mistissini June 8-9, the first time it was able to hold its event in-person since the beginning of the Covid pandemic. About 120 people attended the twoday event, which featured presentations on Cree Nation economic development, mineral exploration, business strategy, and tourism in the North. There was also a bus tour of the community and entertainment, including jingle dress dancers and a singer. Secretariat President Ted Moses said the highlight was the presentation by Dr. Sean Wise on business strategy and entrepreneurship. “There was a lot of information related to tourism, business start-ups, we had speakers come in locally as well as from the Cree Nation Government and outside.” He hopes that entrepreneurs and businesses will use information from the conference to develop partnerships between Cree and non-Indigenous entrepreneurs. This year’s theme was “Looking ahead together, which means understanding one another, and it has objectives to inspire and give ideas to local entrepreneurs or give opportunities to meet with the community in the spirit of discussion

for a day-and-a-half,” said Secretariat Director General Chantal Hamelin. “The Secretariat takes to heart this goal to bring people together. We were established nearly 20 years ago, so we’ve been doing this for almost 20 years,” she added. “It seeks to provide venues and opportunities for collaboration with Cree and non-Cree entrepreneurs, so that means everyone can take the opportunity to discuss that.” The organization prefers to have events rotating from community-to-community, so the Secretariat asked Mistissini Chief Derrick Neeposh to host the gathering. He made the arrangements after going through the community’s Covid committee. “We really appreciate his openness, he was a great host for our event,” Hamelin said. The last in-person gathering was held before the pandemic in 2019. Last June, the Secretariat held an environmental and energy conference virtually. But Hamelin said that people were “so happy” to be back together, seeing each other’s smiles. “Everyone left really optimistic.” For Hamelin, the highlights of the event were the people who attended and took the time to prepare presentations, exchanges and panels. “Mistissini opened up their community for us and were really great hosts,” she added. Hamelin said a challenge for businesses up North is a lack of knowledge

about how to form relationships with Indigenous communities and businesses. Moses said the best way to deal with that is the SCNATEA’s annual Business Exchange Day. He said 200-250 participants from Cree and non-Cree backgrounds attend and are set up in a “speed dating” format, taking 10 minutes to get to know each other, and then do follow-ups after the gathering. To that end, Moses hosted the first regional event in support of the Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous Peoples and Quebec in Roberval. The Circle was launched in November in Montreal as an effort to host discussions and networking between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across Quebec and spur Indigenous involvement in economic opportunities. “We’re bringing together representatives from First Nations, businesses and governments. The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs from Quebec is here, the Crees were invited,” Moses said. “I’m making the announcement that the next meeting of the Grand Circle will be in Val-d’Or” November 15-16, matching up with the Business Exchange Day. “We expect a good turnout. The Crees will be there, and I hope the Algonquins, who are our neighbours, will be there.”

www.nationnews.ca July 1, 2022

the Nation 5

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6 the Nation July 1, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

ith the July 13 deadline fast approaching to apply for the Indian day school class-action settlement, many are expressing concerns with the compensation process. According to the $1.47 billion agreement reached in 2019, former students qualify for a range of compensation between $10,000 and $200,000, based on abuse suffered. If class members identify acceptable reasons for their late submissions, it was announced June 13, they will receive a six-month extension. By that time, 150,000 people had submitted their claims, exceeding the expected number of claimants who attended one of almost 700 day schools that operated in Canada between 1863 and 2000. At their annual assembly, the Chiefs of Ontario signed a joint letter to Prime Minister Trudeau requesting a twoyear extension, in-person support, and amendments to the agreement so survivors can modify their claimed level of compensation. “When this first came out, there was a massive rush,” said Louise Mayo, a coordinator hired to assist claimants in Kahnawake, where 10 day schools operated. “A lot of people felt pushed to fill in the application when they had more to say. They realized later they should have waited and written down their narrative and applied for a higher level.” While everyone who attended the schools is entitled to a minimum $10,000, survivors making claims for levels two to five must submit a statement disclosing details of the abuse they suffered. Mayo suggested it’s prudent for those struggling with mental health issues to seek support from a therapist, who can determine post-traumatic stress disorder through a series of questions. “They’re going to ask how this affected you in long-term harm,” Mayo told the Nation. “Some people went through drinking or drugs to deal with what happened to them in school. We work with a therapist or doctor to provide the proper diagnosis and that attestation to ensure their package is complete.” Students in federal day schools suffered much of the same abuses and assimilation practices as those who were forced to attend residential school. Besides the free legal counsel provided by law firm Gowling WLG, many Indigenous communities hired coordinators like Mayo to support former students. “Our community had the foresight to see this was a very big initiative that had to be dealt with,” Mayo explained. “Knowing how to ask specific questions based on the community you’re from enhances the ability to have that person expand on their narrative. Sometimes it takes two or three sessions so we can slowly take the band-aids off.” Mayo helps survivors communicate traumatic memories and to retrieve necessary school and medical records to confirm an appropriate level of compensation. Survivors who lived until July 31, 2007, are eligible, though estate claims require additional paperwork. Then,

Editorial News

More time needed First Nations express concerns with day school compensation by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

there are those who need many attempts to complete their applications because of the harm they experienced. “When you’re digging up all those old ghosts, it’s hard,” said Robert Maytwayashing, an Anishinaabe Elder from Lake Manitoba First Nation. “That’s why a lot of people are just going for that 10 grand, because it’s too painful.” While class counsel encourages taking your time before submitting, that response rings hollow for Saskatoon lawyer Nicholas Racine, who has assisted over 400 survivors with their claims. On behalf of client Mary Rose Naytowhow, Racine successfully won a court order in 2020 enabling day school survivors to hire legal counsel of their choice. “It’s as if time will magically provide clarity and proper guidance,” said Racine. “Some claimants have literally been working years on their application with a profound amount of anxiety to relive the abuse. It’s not time that’s needed – it’s direct individualized attention from someone who can provide knowledge and experience about the process.” Racine was also one of two lawyers who filed motions with the Federal Court last September asking that claimants be able to file additional information and

modify their claim level before receiving a decision. These motions for ongoing progressive disclosure were dismissed and are currently being appealed. “It’s heartbreaking to tell survivors who received far less than they deserved they have no recourse when it’s not their fault,” Racine told the Nation. “So far, the parties have refused to take any steps to remedy the deficiencies in this process. It seems their main concern is expediency, just get it over and done with, to the detriment of survivors.” Despite difficulties getting information from Gowling’s call centre, Racine urges survivors to demand from class counsel the direct legal advice that they’re entitled to. Mayo also criticized the impersonal system in which claims regularly go missing and encourages community members to confirm their submissions have been received. Although Mayo understands that some will refuse on principle to apply for this “cheap gift from the federal government”, she believes it’s important that survivors force the country to acknowledge this dark chapter of its history. With the second largest number of day school students in Canada, this process has provoked profound emotions in Kahnawake.

“All this trauma has been held in a very tight bottle for many years, in my case 50 years,” shared Mayo. “It has been this huge pink elephant in the community that people said we didn’t see but now we do. It’s empowering, but at the same time, it’s sad.” Mayo described culture and language loss that disconnected students from their families and the stolen potential from being made to feel inferior. She said abuse became so normalized that survivors only realized years later after having their own children. As her community establishes support groups to address this trauma, Mayo is now witnessing former students reminiscing about school experiences on the street and even exchanging letters that support each other’s abuse claims. “I want to encourage people to not sit in silence,” Mayo concluded. “If you need help, get out and ask for it. So many people have stuck that inner child deep inside their core. That child needs to be addressed for healing to begin.” • • •

Class Counsel: 1-844-539-3815 Claims Administrator: 1-888-221-2898 Hope for Wellness: 1-855-242-3310 or online at hopeforwellness.ca.

www.nationnews.ca July 1, 2022

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#newsmatters FEATURE

REACHING 384,000 OF READERS ACROSS ALL ENGLISH QUEBEC COMMUNIT Y NEWSPAPERS

WHY THIS COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER MATTERS:

Local businesses get post-pandemic lift from community papers BY RUBY IRENE PRATKA

or small businesses around the country, the first abrupt lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic came as an existential shock. Restaurants had to shutter their dining rooms, and thousands – nearly 3,700 across Quebec at last count – closed for good. The hasty closures had a crippling effect on advertising, forcing many publications to cut costs – and, in turn, content.

This

Quebec Community Newspaper Association special feature is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors.

In Brief AFN National Chief Archibald suspended The Assembly of First Nations is in turmoil following the suspension of National Chief RoseAnne Archibald after the FN launched an external investigation over bullying and harassment allegations from four staff members. Sources told CBC that shortly after Archibald took office last summer, the workplace became toxic, with some staff members reportedly reduced to tears by Archibald yelling at them. Some objected to Archibald’s alleged introduction of the Hawaiian ho’oponopono (“set right”) practice during weekly meetings and being re-traumatized by being asked to share childhood traumas. Archibald struck back with allegations that the complaints only surfaced after the staff members had tried to secure $1 million in contract payouts. She said she’s been “undermined, discredited and attacked” in her efforts to address corruption in the AFN. To that end, Archibald is requesting a forensic audit into the organization’s past eight years. The AFN executive committee voted to suspend Archibald and prohibit her from attending the Annual General Assembly and Chief’s Assembly meeting in early July. “It is regrettable that we had to take this severe action, but we had no other choice,” stated Nova Scotia/ Newfoundland Regional Chief Paul Prosper. “The National Chief has committed serious breaches of her obligations to

the AFN through unfounded and unsubstantiated public attacks on the integrity of our organization and our employees that will only serve to undermine the good work we do as we continue to serve our First Nations communities.” A leaked copy of a draft resolution calls for her removal as AFN leader because she only received 50.5% of votes in the last election whereas AFN election procedures specify a national chief must receive 60% to be declared winner. At the time of election, Archibald was facing an investigation into allegations of harassment and bullying from her time as Ontario Regional Chief. Archibald said being locked out of her work email and phone “signalled the beginning of a seemingly staged coup” and called it a “manufactured distraction” from her requests for transparency in the organization. Alleging that Regional Chiefs don’t have the power to suspend a National Chief, she is threatening to launch legal proceedings to oppose this action.

Williams Lake opens unique weed store Williams Lake First Nation has opened Sugar Cane Cannabis,

a revolutionary enterprise providing the “freshest” cannabis in British Columbia and the sensory experience of being able to see, smell and touch their product before purchasing. It will be the first farm-togate marijuana distributor in the province, meaning that the cannabis is grown, processed and sold at the same location. BC introduced the concept in 2020 and Williams Lake was the first to obtain licensing and infrastructure. Compared to the product offered by most cannabis stores that is six or seven months old, Sugar Cane’s weed will be sold less than a month after processing, stated chief operating officer Daniel Penny. Sales are projected to be between $2-$6 million annually. The revenue will be channeled back to the community by funding university tuition, trade programs and Elders’ support, while creating job opportunities. The company’s founders hope to educate buyers on the thousands of years that First Nations have used cannabis for medicine and ceremonies. “We have a seat at the table and continue to give advice on how [the industry] can be better,” explained Chief Willie Sellars.

In Brief

It will be the first farm-to-gate marijuana distributor in the province, meaning that the cannabis is grown, processed and sold at the same location

The CMEB Aims to

• Assist the Crees in accessing mineral exploration opportunities. • Facilitate the development of mineral exploration enterprises with Cree entrepreneurship. • Help encourage the Crees and Cree enterprises to beneﬁt from Quebec’s regular funding programs as well as other provincial assistance allocated to mineral exploration activities. • Act as the main intermediary between offers and demands of services made to Cree enterprises in matters relating to mineral exploration.

www.nationnews.ca July 1, 2022

THE CREE MINERAL EXPLORATION BOARD 21 Hilltop, P.O. Box 150 Wemindji, QC J0M 1L0 T: 819-978-0264 x327

cmeb.org

the Nation 9

Features

10 the Nation

Future

leaders New programs celebrate Cree post-secondary graduates

by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | Photos by Tatiana Philiptchenko/CBHSSJB

s graduation ceremonies were being planned at schools throughout Eeyou Istchee, two events in early June celebrated milestones in Cree post-secondary education that leveraged online resources to enable students to advance their studies close to home. On June 8, 15 Cree teens marked their completion of the inaugural Iyeskuwiiu springboard program at John Abbott College near Montreal. The next day, the Cree health board commemorated 35 employees who recently finished a range of university programs as part of its Talent Development Program, intended to nurture future leaders in the organization. The Iyeskuwiiu Springboard to DCS program was developed specifically for Cree students through close consultation with Cree Elders, educators, students and subject-matter experts. Cree School Board leaders said the completion of this first cohort is an important milestone in the Cree Nation’s pursuit of in-community post-secondary education. “The content is informed by the expertise of our people, and it is offered to students in their home communities,” explained Sabtuan Adult Education Services Director Nian Matoush. “John Abbott has shown an immense respect for the perspectives of our people. This type of collaboration shows what reconciliation can look like, reclaiming and reframing education in the Eeyou or Eenou way.” The unique one-year program enables students to acquire CEGEP prerequisites and valuable study and life skills that support their often-challenging transition to schools in the South. Mistissini student Ethan MacLeod appreciated this customized in-community education after earlier dropping out of college in Ottawa. “Everybody was in isolation, so I was completely alone plus I was not doing well mentally,” MacLeod shared. “This program changed everything for me. What I take away from this program is initiative, leadership and responsibility. That’s going to help me when I continue my studies.” With a newborn bab, MacLeod is glad he could spend this time near his family and friends. He enjoyed deepening his knowledge of the Cree culture and way of life, partic-

www.nationnews.ca July 1, 2022

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SOM E OF THE 2022 GRADUATES

12 the Nation

ularly during the land-based physical education component, which was the only time the students from seven different communities could meet prior to the convocation. “It was not like anything I’ve ever experienced,” MacLeod told the Nation. “I’m very grateful for sharing that with people from other communities who don’t have the opportunity to go out on the land. I was shown how to trap, gut and skin beaver, which I won’t forget because my girlfriend loves beaver.” Matoush said that reinforcing Cree identity through these types of courses builds students’ self-confidence, which empowers their transition to studies beyond Eeyou Istchee. At the ceremony, she declared this initiative was an “extremely meaningful step towards a Cree-centred post-secondary education that many of us in the Cree Nation have dreamed about.” CSB chairperson Sarah Pash said the program is part of capacity building and self-determination. She described her own education journey, and credited her mother’s

12 the Nation May April20, 22,2022 2022 www www.natio .nationnew nnews.ca s.ca

fierce devotion for helping her finish high school after having dropped out. “She actually took a leave from her work and decided I would be her job,” Pash recalled. “I learned what the support of family can do when our young people are getting where they want to be. Whatever happens along the way, there will always be people to support you – you have all of us behind you.” Pash referenced former Grand Chief Billy Diamond, who would tell young people they have leadership within themselves, and that it was their responsibility to discover what that leadership was. During a June 9 graduation event in Montreal, the Cree health board celebrated future leaders who completed the Talent Development Program. The initiative to advance Cree employees into management roles is part of the larger Cree Succession Leadership Framework. Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB) employees also completed these programs online in their own communities. Beginning in 2016, 33 Cree students followed health and social services management programs from McGill University and other educational partners.

“We have a crucial role to play in preparing the path of succession for the generations to follow,” explained graduate Nicholas Ortepi, a specialized IT analyst and the board representative for non-clinical staff. “It is our sacred obligation to make decisions that are based around creating and protecting opportunity for our youth. We need to mentor them, to ensure they are prioritized for hiring.” For grads like Rachel Martinhunter, it was a far more positive experience than moving to Gatineau for college a decade ago with her father and two young sons. Martinhunter’s additional education has already resulted in being promoted to coordinator of federal programs and services – 22 other graduates in the group have also earned promotions so far. “I was able to stay connected with my culture,” Martinhunter told CBC. “I was able to practice my culture. I was able to go to the bush.” As gatherings were limited by the pandemic, the celebration combined graduates from several years, including 20 who completed certificates and 13 who completed diplomas in a range of university programs through evening and weekend classes. Daniel St-Amour, CBHSSJB executive director, said that having more

Cree representation in management would have beneficial impacts throughout the organization’s services. “I see the future leader of the Cree health board in this room,” said St-Amour, who has said he hopes to be the board’s last non-Indigenous executive director. “You are the future of this organization. How proud I am of all of you.” The event also commemorated Helen Belanger Shecapio-Blacksmith, who received her master’s in public administration in an Indigenous context from the École nationale d’administration publique, and her cousin Nancy ShecapioBlacksmith, who earned a bachelor’s in integrated nursing from McGill. All graduates received beaded medallions made by Vivian Jerome, homemade treats backed by CBHSSJB clients in Montreal and professional portraits. Entertainment was provided by fellow graduate Deanne Moore along with bands Scott-Pien Picard, Maten and Ninan. “It feels good, like the future of your organization is in good hands,” said CBHSSJB chairperson Bertie Wapachee. “The dream is to make this organization the most progressive Indigenous health and social services organization in the country, but also the world.”

www.nationnews.ca July 1, 2022 the Nation 13

July 13, 2022

is the last day to submit a claim Its free, confidential and supports are available for you For information or legal support visit: indiandayschools.com or call 1-844-539-3815 Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310

Summer activities are back in Val-d’Or Beauce Carnaval Festival d’humour A-T FRIMAT

June 30th to July 3rd July 5th to 10th July 21st to 23rd

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tourismevaldor.com

www.nationnews.ca July 1, 2022

the Nation 15

ck Ba in the air

FNTI aviation program takes flight again after devastating fire by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

hen a massive fire destroyed its hangar and aircraft fleet February 24, the future of First Nations Technical Institute’s (FNTI) popular aviation program looked uncertain. However, the aerospace community’s generous support has enabled students to continue their flight training while the school recovers. “Everybody started reaching out and we executed this plan fairly quickly so now all our students are flying, both on and off campus,” said FNTI aviation dean Jo-Anne Tabobandung. “It was very daunting to even decide what the next steps would be, taking stock of not only what we lost but, more importantly, what we’re grateful for.” Constructed to train pilots during World War II, the hangar collapsed in flames only minutes after responders from multiple fire departments arrived on the scene. The disaster destroyed 13 airplanes, five of which had been recently purchased, along with FNTI’s maintenance operations and dispatch services. The estimated loss is in the tens of millions of dollars, but the school is grateful nobody was injured. Winds drew the flames away from nearby student residence and other campus buildings. Nine students in residence were taken

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to a local hotel where they were provided mental health and cultural support. “We have a huge student support section,” Tabobandung told the Nation. “Our cultural advisor provided sharing circles, something I personally needed to start moving forward. These ceremonies reinforced our strength. Indigenous people are inherently hardwired to be resilient – that’s how we roll.” Located in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ontario, the country’s only Indigenous aviation college program has trained aspiring pilots from across Canada since 1989. As a student in one of the program’s first classes, Tabobandung met her husband and was married in the hangar destroyed in the fire. Less than a week after the disaster, students near graduation were sent to Cornwall and Kingston to complete their training. With the support of industry partners, FNTI arranged for students who couldn’t return to campus to continue

their flight training closer to their home communities. “The aviation sector is such a small community, we all contribute to filling that critical pilot shortage,” explained Tabobandung. “WestJet is flying students, me and a cultural advisor out to Medicine Hat this summer where three of our female Indigenous students are currently flight training.” By the end of April, FNTI had leased two Cessna-172 aircraft from Seneca College in Peterborough and another from a local operator in Kingston train 20 students on campus. From the ashes of tragedy, new relationships are being formed that may cultivate long-term benefits. “The outreach and compassion exhibited by Seneca to ensure that we can complete our students’ flight training is extraordinary,” said FNTI president Suzanne Brant. “We would like to share our gratitude to Seneca and their compassionate, enthusiastic and friendly staff.”

18 the Nation July 1, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

In May, Brant unveiled a proposal for a new FNTI that would consolidate its two campuses with an academic and administration building, new air hangar and student accommodations, renovated runway and taxi, and Indigenous Learning Centre. Within a decade, this proposal is projected to double or triple enrolment for FNTI’s numerous Indigenous-focused programs. “All of FNTI’s programs are oversubscribed,” confirmed Cathie Findlay, FNTI’s government relations and communications director. “Aviation is not alone in that area – Indigenous people want to come to school at an Indigenous institute. We’ve had to limit the intake in the aviation program for a few years now. That’s not due to the fire – that’s just the demand.” FNTI’s promotion of an inclusive learning environment leads to a much higher proportion of women than in the overall industry. While Tabobandung remembers being the only female during her studies, Indigenous women now represent nearly

half of enrolment, including seven of 13 students in the most recent cohort. “When everyone feels welcome, naturally more women apply,” Tabobandung suggested. “When someone goes solo for their first flight or gets their licence, we celebrate their achievement through Facebook. Indigenous youth looking at these pictures think she looks like me, maybe this is something I can do.” Former Tyendinaga Chief Earl Hill created FNTI’s aviation program after recognizing how few First Nations pilots were serving remote northern Ontario communities in the 1980s. Now, most FNTI students come from remote communities across Canada, and feed the air industry with talent. “The major airlines hire from northern airlines then those need to hire,” explained Tabobandung. “It seemed like there was a lull during Covid, but the shortage didn’t go

away. We feed that need. Instead of pilots who go north for 18 months, we have pilots from these communities who go home to fly, and they stay.” While the three-year aviation technology program includes all the essentials for pursuing a pilot’s licence, it also features courses in winter survival, cultural studies and Indigenous worldviews. Cultural advisers share Indigenous teachings throughout the program. “We do a lot more than train people how to fly airplanes,” asserted Tabobandung. “Knowing yourself and understanding where you come from in your culture helps inform decisions. Decision-making is key when you have the responsibility of flying an airplane with cargo and passengers in the back.”

“Indigenous people want to come to school at an Indigenous institute” - Cathie Findlay, FNTI’s government relations and communications director

www.nationnews.ca July 1, 2022

the Nation 19

Community

Funding fertile ground

Indigenous grants organization seeks to support communities and organizations by Ben Powless, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

n December 2019, a couple blissful months before a global pandemic ravaged the world, Wanda Brascoupé was discussing with philanthropy experts how to better distribute resources to both on-reserve and urban Indigenous communities. Their conversations plotted out what would later become the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund (IPRF). Brascoupé says that everyone thought it was a good idea, but some worried that things were moving too fast. “At that time, we had advisors, including [now Canada’s GovernorGeneral] Mary Simon, who said that when a whale comes into the community, you don’t pick the time,” Brascoupé shared. “The whale is in the community, and everyone just needs to do their part.” Then the world shifted with Covid19, and the IPRF was given a new mission and a new urgency. The IPRF then found fertile ground, supporting everything from non-profits to charities to First Nations themselves. “The consensus was: let’s do it in the least harmful and most efficient way possible to support the ideas and brilliance communities have in answering wherever their community is at,” she added. Even with a Covid focus, the funding was open to just about anything. “We never pre-described what a community could apply for,” she said. “We focus on ideas rather than resources. We ask people to come like

Members of the IPRF

they’re hunting or fishing. Take what you need, leave some behind so we can reach more people. Unlearn that we have to ask for three times what we want so we get a quarter of what we need. We simply say we trust you. You tell us what you need.” The IPRF accepts requests for funding – what they call bundles – from $5,000 to $30,000, up to twice a year – meaning groups can access up to $60,000 a year. Brascoupé describes the funding as fitting primarily into three areas: food sovereignty, food justice

20 the Nation July 1, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

and food security; wellness, cultural and mental health; and connectivity and capacity building. As the world entered lockdowns and work-from-home orders and meetings and education moved online, the IPRF was able to respond to a dearth of internet infrastructure in communities and organizations, including in health care. Since its first round of funding in July 2020 until the end of 2021, the IPRF has supported 316 communities and organizations, according to its annual report. In 2021, that meant giving

out over $4 million to Indigenous communities and groups. Including groups whose applications were not approved, Brascoupé says that they’ve engaged with over 800 Indigenous-led non-profits and charities. Brascoupé says one way the fund began operating so quickly was to bring in people who knew the charitable sector and their communities as part of their advisory council and reviewer circle. They meet monthly to review applications from their areas. Tina Petawabano, President of the Eenou-Eeyou Community Foundation, is one such representative on the advisory council, while Joshua Iserhoff, originally of Mistissini, is the fund’s Quebec representative. Iserhoff says he was originally involved with the Eenou-Eeyou Community Foundation before joining the IPRF. “I remember years ago there was research done that looked at philanthropic funding given to the general public, and less than 1% went to Indigenous communities,” he said. “That sparked my attention to fix it, so I joined this organization.” That percentage has grown in the two years the foundation has operated. “Western” donors used to tell communities how to spend their money, Iserhoff says, but now “they give us free rein to spend however the funds could be spent.” “When we looked at the pandemic, there are so many projects that are Elder oriented, continuing services no longer carried through because of the pandemic, supporting programs to get wi-fi started, tablets to help Elders stay in touch with society,” Iserhoff shared. Another project that touched his heart was helping a community in Quebec rebuild a traditional lodge and learning centre that burned down. Iserhoff wants to see even more funding reach northern communities, including the Cree. According to the IPRF annual report, only 6.45% of its funding in 2021 made it to the North, but the organization hopes to get the word out with a new website coming in the fall that will feature Cree, Inuit and French translation.

He sees many potential projects for those who want to better their communities, pointing to an example from Lac Simard, which erected a totem pole as a sign of resilience. Iserhoff encourages those wanting to support their community to go online and look at the IPRF application, which he says is simple and easy to navigate, or to write to him directly at josh@iprfund.ca. Applications are due by the last Friday of every month and funding is awarded monthly, a stark difference

from most funding models. Iserhoff encourages people to apply more than once if their project isn’t initially accepted, since the IPRF receives hundreds of applications every month. As for thinking beyond the pandemic, Brascoupé says that this summer the group plans to reach out to communities and organizations to find out what kind of supports they need moving forward, and that by September or October applicants will be able to apply much more broadly to support their communities.

Iserhoff encourages those wanting to support their community to go online and look at the IPRF application, which he says is simple and easy to navigate, or to write to him directly at josh@iprfund.ca.

www.nationnews.ca July 1, 2022

the Nation 21

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On this National Indigenous Peoples Day, Troilus recognizes and celebrates the unique heritage, culture and outstanding contributions of the Cree Nation. We are grateful for the friendship we share and look forward to many years of successful collaboration. June 2022 - Cree Student Site Visit to the Troilus Project

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the Nation 23

Puzzles Crossword

PREVIOUS SOLUTION:

Solution to Crossword: B A I T

A L S O

A L G A

N E O N

R E L U C T A N T

T A M P

S O N A R

O U T D O

B A E C E C C H E H O L V E D E R A E E A T P L E F A R N E L I B E D A

G A R D E N L E A P Y E A R

I L E R O L E W S W E R A E T I V E N E R T R E S U R E N N I M A S E T O N E N T

STR8TS

No. 603

S T A G

L I S T E N E R S

N E A N P O W I N

E N T E R

S T E R N

T O W N

F A I R T R A D E

U R G E

L E N D

T R E S

S E A T

Previous solution - Easy

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

6 2 9

3 9 2 7 4

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

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

39 43

25 29

30 36

67 Like an untended 8 garden 68 "NFL Live" 9 carrier 69 Coral formation 10 11 12 DOWN 13 1 Sandpaper 18 surface 22 2 Middle child on 24 "The Simpsons" 3 Perched on 26 4 Burke sitcom, 27 "_____ Women" 5 Bar stock 28 6 "Melting Watch" 29 artist 7 "Working Girl" 30 character Trask

No. 603

Very Hard

8 5 3 7

9 2 8 1 4 5 3 6 7

7 6

9 6

7 8 3 2

48 49 51 53 54 55 56 58 59 60 63

Jetsons' dog Sand bar Scented splash Fit together Overlook's offering Holiday entree, often Till stack Like some jackets Tobacco wad Place for an ace Bearded flower Walk unevenly Go to the polls "Green Gables" girl Plant part Restroom sign

Previous solution - Tough

7 9

32 33 37 40 43

Like some changes Color in a Hawthorne title Cocoon contents Submerged Very shortly ____ and now Caked deposit Long, long time Base or case closer Counter worker One more than 34-across Cutting-edge Like some temperatures Wreck beyond repair

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 complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set 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.

24 the Nation July 1, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

21 23

6 9 2 3 7

SUDOKU

Medium

7 3 8

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 Kitchen bag brand 5 Elvis, once 9 Partially melted snow 14 ____ of passage 15 "Fame" singer 16 River craft 17 Kind of triangle 19 Enthusiasm 20 Rhino relative 21 Mediate 23 Doublemint, e.g. 25 Grinder 26 Done secretively 31 That ___ then... 34 Caesar's 66 35 Glowing sign 36 Talk bad about 38 Actress ____ Rachel Wood 39 "The Lost City" actor 41 Sgt. Snorkel's dog 42 Gymnastic apparatus 44 Overfill 45 Hospital fluids 46 Hobby shop buy 47 Fried foods are high in it 50 Gather bit by bit 52 Chop down 53 Knight's garb 57 Academy in Maryland 61 "Stormy Weather" singer 62 Symbol of biblical wrath 64 Church leader 65 Green shade 66 Sicilian volcano

by Margie E. Burke

7 6 3 9 8 2 5 4 1

4 1 5 3 6 7 9 8 2

8 9 6 2 1 3 4 7 5

5 3 2 7 9 4 8 1 6

1 7 4 8 5 6 2 3 9

6 4 9 5 7 8 1 2 3

3 8 1 6 2 9 7 5 4

2 5 7 4 3 1 6 9 8

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.

T&B

Wandering thoughts

Rez Notes

by Sonny Orr

he clock clicked a minute passed midnight and, as if flipping a switch, the hot summer days were blown out by a mere five-minute decrease of our daily dose of sunlight. Yep, summer solstice ended and now the days will start getting shorter until they practically disappear in six months’ time. Why is it that when time is measured, there is never enough of it? As I hypothesize a breakdown of the summer days that remain, I wonder if all the ice hanging around has anything to do with it. Yep, foggy summer days arrive on schedule, about half an hour before flights arrive. Ahh, the sounds of low-flying aircraft in zero-zero weather buzzing the homes of those fortunate enough to survive near misses always gives me a thrill or a chill when a close call is imminent. Isn’t there radar for this type of weather or at least some sort of simple application that we can download? Oh well, pilots being pilots I guess, what’s the thrill in having to always have perfect sunny weather to fly in. Nothing like the occasional drop in a midair flight to jostle one’s fear of flying vertically and inverted. That’s pilot talk for those who have queasy stomachs and bone-crushing hands that grip the next passenger’s body like it was a life-support raft. Arrg! The agony! But for most of us who are just landlubbers and prefer to stay that way, the land yacht – a large SUV capable of carrying a hockey team or two – is the way to go these days. Back in the day, the station wagon, believe it or not, was a road

No rent, no hydro, no land lease, no slum lord, no evictions and if you don’t like your neighbours, you can just drive off

monster in disguise. It could transport a load of adults and kids in relative comfort, with all the doodads (old-school term for devices) and several jerry cans of gas. As long as you occasionally emptied the ashtray full of stinky butts and added oil every thousand miles or so, you could go on any adventure. The next upgrade in comfort is the family recreation vehicle or RV, which are just mansions on wheels or for the unfortunate, a mattress and tent on the truck bed out back. Monster RVs could be the alternative to meeting our housing and transportation woes all at the same time. Now, parking is another matter, but anywhere there’s land or a strip of gravel, you could live in your RV. Then there’s the added benefit of staying forever in any Walmart parking lot in the country. No rent, no hydro, no land lease, no slum lord, no evictions and if you don’t like your neighbours, you can just drive off. Plus, there’s no need to set up camp on your favourite beach or backyard of a family member. Today, your RV can be completely autonomous, internet included. The only thing I guess is to be in a local service

area if you happen to call for takeout from some delivery service. “Yeah, just down the creek a bit and behind the large willows. Watch for fast-flowing waters and stay away from foraging bears” would be the only additional instruction I would give the poor delivery person. “Oh, I forgot, bring your own bug spray.” On my road trip last month, I was wondering if I would reach town in time to get some real food, as we’d been living on gas-station munchies for most of the travel days. Forced to drive at a highly efficient speed on the newly repaired highway, I couldn’t stop thinking about having to pay highway robbery rates in gasoline. I started to miss the old station wagon days when those spare jerry cans were part of your travel arsenal in getting from point A to point B. I guess we will have to wait for the new electric charging stations to avoid paying out for all this non-renewable fluid we call gasoline. Too bad we are dependent on someone else on the other side of the world, when we have the largest generating stations in our backyard. Who is waiting for who?

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www.nationnews.ca July 1, 2022

the Nation 25

www.underthenorthernsky.com

UTNS

Under the Northern Sky

Whispers in the wind by Xavier Kataquapit

ational Indigenous Peoples Day took place June 21 while the month’s National Indigenous History Month in June is also a significant time for Indigenous people in Canada. The Canadian government established the event in 1996 as a symbolic national holiday to celebrate the unique heritage, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. In 2009, the House of Commons passed a motion to designate June as National Indigenous History Month to honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Before this special holiday and month were recognized, Indigenous people were seen as insignificant communities that occupied the fringes of society and did not require any special status or recognition. It was far worse in my parents’ and grandparents’ time when they were basically looked upon as a forgotten people and savages who did not really exist in any meaningful way. There is a great amount of Indigenous history in this country to be acknowledged. If it weren’t for Indigenous leaders fighting to protect their homelands, so much of the northern wilderness would have been destroyed by mining, forestry and hydro development without any regard for the protection of the environment, ecology or even the people who lived on these lands. If First Nation leaders had not spoken up, the terrible history that my parents and others had to live through would all have been forgotten. There would have been no sense of justice or acknowledgement for the suffering my people had to endure for the simple

We all share the historic benefits and burdens of this country fact that we happened to be a different culture than the one that colonized this country. This year’s events are sad for myself and the people of my home community of Attawapiskat. In rapid succession within a month, we lost three prominent Elders – my aunt Martha Paulmartin, and Anna and Dominic Nakogee. These individuals grew up in a traditional lifestyle on the land and were raised by parents and Elders who only knew an old and ancient way of life on the James Bay coast. These Elders fluently spoke the James Bay Cree dialect and they knew so much of the history, traditions and customs of our people. I am comforted and reassured in the fact that they all raised a prominent group of sons and daughters who all carry their language and the histories of their families. The great legacy that these Elders leave behind is in their humble nature and their never-ending sense of kindness, warmth and strength. Even after having endured periods in their youth of difficulty, discrimination and poverty, they still shared a sense of joy and happiness with others. Whenever I met these Elders, they were always happy to share a bit of history of our families, to speak our language and to make everyone laugh with the fun stories they shared. Through laughter and

fun, they made every bit of knowledge a memorable experience. Their passing reminds me how we should all remember their example of love and inclusion in the face of adversity. Even as the world changed in so many ways, Elders Martha, Anna and Dominic were always there to remind those around them to stay close to the land, to remember one another and to live life as harmoniously as possible. Their example reminds me to always remember my past, to remember where I come from, but also to stay strong and resilient to fight for future generations. We all share the historic benefits and burdens of this country, and the recognition of Indigenous peoples’ history is just a step in the right direction of that shared past. This national holiday is a way for us to move out of the darkness of the past and walk together into a brighter future as a more inclusive nation of what we call Canada. Whether we know it or not, we all rely on one another to build this country while at the same time hearing the voices of our ancestors whispering in the wind to protect the land, the water, and the very air we breathe. That spirit of cooperation and the memory of my Elders and my ancestors is what this holiday and this history means to me.

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26 the Nation July 1, 2022 www.nationnews.ca

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