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Tuesday October 4, 2005 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     

NAN SUPPORTS KAKEGAMIC WALK FOR JUSTICE

KENORA, ON:  Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic, together with Margaret and Isaac Kakegamic, Grand Council Treaty 3 Chief Ken Skead, and community members of North Spirit Lake First Nation gathered in Kenora, Ontario today to raise awareness of the prolonged criminal investigation of the death of Max Kakegamic and launch a legal fund and coroner’s inquest focused on moving the case forward. 

“We’re raising awareness not only for ourselves and our own quest for justice, but for all the others across the lands of the First Nations,” said Margaret Kakegamic - the mother of Max Kakegamic who was killed in Kenora October 4, 2000. “I cannot explain how saddening and frustrating it is that five years after our son’s death no one is currently being tried for his murder.  It is now time for us to take further action for justice.”

About forty people participated in a commemorative walk from Kenora Police Services to the corner of Matheson and 3rd Streets South where Kakegamic was killed five years ago today.

During a news conference at Matheson and 3rd Streets parents Margaret and Isaac Kakegamic launched the Max Kakegamic Justice Fund that will assist the family in securing a lawyer to further the investigation. 

“This Justice Fund will allow myself and my husband to seek legal consultation and develop a strategy to further our case,” said Margaret Kakegamic.  “In addition to our own local fundraising, assistance from Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal individuals and organizations across the region, will put us in a position to carry our case forward and get the answers we deserve, not only as a grieving family, but as a People.” 

The Anishnaabe Peace and Justice Coalition in Kenora is accepting contributions to the Max Kakegamic Justice Fund. 

The family also announced their request for a coroner’s inquest that they hope will eventually lead to a public inquiry into the case. 

The hearing for one of two Kenora Police Services officers charged with misconduct in relation to the death investigation and charging of Justin Carambetsos – the original murder suspect - was recently rescheduled to January 2006. 

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For more information please contact:

Jenna Young                                                   
Communications Officer
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
(807) 625 4952 (807) 628 3953 (cellular)

from http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com./story.php?id=188517

Call for coroner’s inquest
There were tears of pain and tears from the cold wind at Tuesday’s Kakegamic Walk for Justice, but everyone present shared a unity of purpose that kept every heart warm.

By Ryan Crocker
Miner and News
Wednesday October 05, 2005

There were tears of pain and tears from the cold wind at Tuesday’s Kakegamic Walk for Justice, but everyone present shared a unity of purpose that kept every heart warm.

About 40 people participated in the event, which paid tribute to Max Kakegamic, who was murdered five years ago, his body dumped on a street corner. It opened with speeches and a ceremony outside the Kenora police station, followed by a commemorative walk to the intersection of Matheson and 3rd streets, where Kakegamic was found.

“We’re raising awareness not only for ourselves and our own quest for justice, but for all of the others across the lands of the First Nations,” said Margaret Kakegamic, Max’s mother.

“I cannot explain how saddening and frustrating it is that five years after our son’s death no one is currently being tried for his murder. It is now time for us to take further action for justice.”

The family has requested a coroner’s inquest they hope will eventually lead to a public inquiry, something that usually takes a lot of hard lobbying over a long period of time to secure.

Margaret Kakegamic, with her husband at her side, also announced the launch of the Max Kakegamic Justice Fund, which will pay for a lawyer to represent the family and further the investigation.

The Anishnaabe Peace and Justice Coalition is accepting contributions for the fund.

“The justice fund will allow myself and my husband to seek legal consultation and develop a strategy to further our case,” she said.

“In addition to our own local fundraising, assistance from aboriginal and non-aboriginal individuals and organizations across the region will put us in a position to carry our case forward and get the answers we deserve, not only as a grieving family, but as a people.”

The ceremony ended with a solemn row of participants placing cedar and flowers on a concrete block, building a makeshift memorial. The cedar is tremendously important to aboriginals because it represents, above all else, strength.

Strength certainly didn’t seem to be in short supply as Isaac and Margaret Kakegamic thanked everyone for taking the time to show their support and helping in the healing process. They ask the residents of Kenora to keep the pressure on, and help them find a sense of closure.

For more information and links about past marches and articles about the Max Kakegamic case CLICK HERE

http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com./story.php?id=188770

Regional chief optimistic about First Minister’s meeting
Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse is hoping to see federal funds soon for First Nations health and housing, as well as education and economic development.

By Mike Aiken
Miner and News
Thursday October 06, 2005

Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse is hoping to see federal funds soon for First Nations health and housing, as well as education and economic development.

He’s also optimistic about the release of compensation for residential school survivors by March 31, 2006.

And all this money should go directly to band councils, he said Wednesday, during his visit to Big Grassy.

“Get it to the communities. That’s where it’s going to make the most impact,” he said.

Toulouse was selected in June to replace Charles Fox, who resigned early. He visited Treaty 3’s fall session of the National Assembly as part of consultations before the First Ministers’ Meeting on aboriginal affairs Nov. 25 in Kelowna, B.C.

The $700 million in aboriginal health money has been in the pipeline since the 2004 federal budget, and is supposed to flow to communities before the end of the year, according to Health Canada.

Similarly, $1 billion for aboriginal housing is in the works, Toulouse said.

“There’s still some hurdles that need to be overcome,” he acknowledged, noting one of the sticking points is the distribution of financing to bands in third party administration.

The regional chief is also taking up the torch on revenue sharing, and he spoke of renewing efforts to bring back Bill 97, which was quietly killed by the government earlier this year after it stalled in committee at second reading.

“In all our treaties, it speaks to revenue sharing agreements. We must have these treaties honoured,” he said.

A new $5-billion daycare agreement between the federal and provincial government also leaves room for optimism, as groups like the Sioux Lookout Area Management Board spell out how this new money could be used in Treaty 9 to alleviate some of their urgent needs.

Despite a population explosion in the North, 90 per cent of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation is without facilities, he said, criticizing the obvious discrepancies between northern and southern Ontario.

Toulouse also supported efforts to use provincial employees to help with the assessment of special needs on First Nations in Treaty 3, as long as it was clear who had the authority and jurisdiction, he cautioned.

With regards to youth, Toulouse noted the need for action on issues of importance to the new generation.

“It’s not all a lost cause,” he said, noting young people are part of the present, not just the future.

Toulouse will also hold consultations with chiefs at the end of the month in Toronto, before heading west in November. The First Ministers’ Meeting is described as the culmination of the prime minister’s aboriginal roundtable process, which started in April 2004.