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Two letters from the mining exploration company president to Chief Donny Morris of KI were shared with community members last night (see below). Threats that the government, the police and the mining community interests take precedence over access to First Nation traditional lands is made clear in the following letters to the community.

This past week, five KO First Nation representatives from Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Keewaywin, North Spirit Lake and Poplar Hill participated in a Geographic Information  Systems (GIS) workshop in the SLAAMB boardroom in Sioux Lookout. Click here to see some pictures from the workshop.

The workshop is part of the CORDA funding for the KO Traditional Territories project,  initiated by the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Public Works department, lead by Robert Hunter.

The KO Traditional Territories Project has three primary objectives:

1. to begin to increase community capacity in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technology by increasing the skills and knowledge of local First Nation Multi-Media Technicians through the delivery of basic GIS skills and software training;
2. to create foundation Traditional Territories Maps (within a GIS environment and accessible to community members on-line through their First Nation website) for the Keewaytinook Okimakanak member First Nations (Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Keewaywin, MacDowell Lake, North Spirit Lake, and Poplar Hill);
3. to generate community awareness in GIS and ownership in the content and process of the evolving KO GIS Network.

Voyageurs North owner Tom Terry lead the first day of the workshop, providing information about:

• Coordinating basic GIS skills and planning for local GIS representatives;
• Designing data collection strategies;
• Coordinating the Community GIS technicians to build awareness, determine acceptable scope, and generate ownership in the evolving direction and capability of the KO GIS Network.

The final two days of the workshop involved a ESRI trainer from Toronto providing ArcView Software training for the GIS technicians from each KO First Nation.

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug is involved in a mining exploration dispute with Platinex Inc. concerning the use of their tradtional territories. Follow the story and view the pictures of the mining camp site on the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug web site at http://bigtroutlake.firstnation.ca

from the Globe and Mail, February 22, 2006 ... click here to see the story

Stakes are high as miners and natives square off
Remote site's platinum riches touch off fight over land rights
JULIUS STRAUSS

BIG TROUT LAKE, ONT. -- It may not look like much: a white canvas tent, a five-kilowatt diesel generator throbbing on the frozen muskeg and two miners puffing in the winter air. In fact, the setup was so small that the men and their equipment had fit into the belly of a Twin Otter plane that landed on a nearby frozen lake the day before.

But this tiny wilderness camp in a forgotten corner of Northern Ontario is the scene of a dispute that may have an impact across the country.

The outcome may prove pivotal for the welfare of native communities in Northern Ontario and may set a precedent that could alter the way Canada manages its natural resources.

At stake is the notion dating back to the days of the Yukon gold rush and beyond -- the idea that anybody can stake a claim on Crown land, buy a licence and begin digging or drilling for valuable resources.

But while the miners who arrived at the site last week believe they have the right to dig, the Big Trout Lake band is arguing that aboriginals never signed away ownership of the land to the European settlers in early 20th century treaties.

Big Trout Lake, along with six other native communities in Northern Ontario, and several environmental organizations, has called for a moratorium on all mining and logging in the region until a proper land-use survey is done and a deal on resource sharing is agreed upon.

At stake is a huge amount of money. According to Platinex Inc., the Southern Ontario company that has staked and leased the remote drilling site, the Big Trout Lake claim alone could prove to be the largest deposit of platinum in North America.

The nub of the argument put forward by Big Trout Lake is that although the land is outside the reserve it is theirs, at least in part, by inheritance.

"They think they can ride roughshod over us like in the old days," said Chief Donny Morris of Big Trout Lake (the reserve has recently renamed itself the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation).

"But this is our birthright, our God-given right. The community wants to be involved."

The seeds of the current conflict were sown eight years ago when Platinex was incorporated and began seeking rights from provincial authorities to drill near Big Trout Lake.

Platinex president and chief executive officer James Trusler said he tried many times to win the approval of the band for the drilling but was rebuffed. The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in several cases that natives must be consulted in such situations.

"Some members of the band were happy with us, others were not. They just tried to get us off so they could get the land," Mr. Trusler said.

The company has spent $600,000 on the claim and expects to spend $1.5-million by the end of winter, he added.

The company has decided to push ahead without the title dispute being settled. But Big Trout members cite examples from Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Atlantic Canada in which courts have ruled that the native communities must be allowed to benefit from the resources of the land.

The band says that under the Treaty of Adhesion in 1929, when Big Trout Lake reached a deal with the Crown, it agreed to share the land with the settlers -- not forgo its rights to it.

The land staked by Platinex is also subject to a treaty land entitlement claim by the Big Trout Lake band.

This land redistribution process, which has been going on for years, stems from recognition by the federal government in the 1980s that it cheated the natives out of some of the land it promised them in treaties.

Based on experience, native groups fear that if mining and logging is allowed to go ahead willy-nilly, the environment will be ruined.

The last company to drill near Big Trout Lake, for example, dumped large boxes of core samples on the fragile muskeg when it packed up and left several years ago.

"About 20 years ago, mining exploration destroyed an important area for hunting and fishing sturgeon. We have no assurances that new exploration will not bring similar problems," Allan Beardy, an elder with the nearby Muskrat Dam First Nation, said in a letter signed by seven native groups, calling for a moratorium on mining exploration and forestry in Northern Ontario.

"First nations are not anti-development. They are anti-development that is destructive and doesn't benefit them," said Francis Thatcher, a Thunder Bay lawyer who represents many native communities.

"Northern Ontario is a generation behind in terms of the government response. The first nations were getting more respect in the 1980s."

Frank Beardy, a former chief of Muskrat Dam, explained the native opposition to such ventures as drilling, mining and logging. "There are millions of dollars out there and we live in islands of poverty. We're not against development. We just want a piece of the action. And we want some environmental protection," he said.

"We've been after revenue-sharing for countless numbers of years. Now we need to evict the intruders until the matter is resolved," Mr. Beardy said.

Environmental groups have also weighed in, criticizing Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty for his failure to live up to promises he made while in opposition to institute comprehensive land-use planning.

The Wildlands League has called on the Premier to protect Ontario's huge boreal forest, which is home to woodland caribou, wolverine and many other species of wildlife at risk.

Last week, native leaders who had been watching the winter road for signs that Platinex might try to truck in a drilling team against their wishes were caught unawares when the company flew a team in.

By the time Big Trout Lake members reached the remote spot the next day -- a draining journey by truck and snowmobile in temperatures of -30 -- the first two-man Platinex construction team was in place.

David Sainnawap, 46, who works for the band, was one of the scouts. "I've always had a deep feeling that this is ours. They shouldn't just come and take something that doesn't belong to them," he said.

Platinex has refused to call off drilling operations and the band leadership has become increasingly frustrated.

The Ontario Provincial Police flew in an extra man, Inspector Darrell Smiley, to try to smooth over the differences, but he met with little success and left late last week.

Mr. Trusler said this week that his workers had been threatened but that he was planning to proceed regardless.

"We've informed police and government we've received threats but we're proceeding. I hope to start drilling soon," he said.

The tactics of both sides will be dictated by climate and geography as much as any legal considerations.

Band officials say that mounting a protest at the site in current frigid temperatures is not workable, but they may try to block the winter road to prevent a heavy drill from arriving.

Members of Big Trout Lake say that they eschew violence but are determined to resist the drilling.

"Our people have already given up a lot. We've already lost a lot," said John Cutfeet, who is in charge of environmental issues on the Big Trout reserve.

"The whole idea of the treaties was that we live in peaceful co-existence and share resources. That never happened."

Click here to see Platinex's response to this Globe and Mail article dated February 22.

February 20 2006 marked the graduation of  3 dedicated Deer Lake Homecare workers from the Personal Support Worker Certification program.

Martha Meekis, Home and Community Care Coordinator, Annie Anysanabe, Home and Communiy Care PSW and Doris Meekis Home and Community Care Homemaker all completed the 500 hour course.

Their studies included all areas of caring for community members who need assistance. Hygeine, mobility, medications, mental health, documentation, ongoing conditions, abuse, interpersonal skills, care planning, first aid, CPR, death and dying, bedside care individuality of the person, role of the worker, household management and meal preparation were some of the topics studied by these hard working ladies over the past 3 years.

The graduation ceremonies were held at the Deer Lake School. Thanks to so many caring people in the community, the event was a huge success.

After an opening prayer by Elder Virginia Meekis, Assistant Health Director Jill Quill, Elder Obeik Koostachin, Chairperson of Health Zack Meekis and Band Councilor Oscar Meekis all helped to present the certificates and honour the graduates with kind words.

Past and Present Home and Community Care Nurse Supervisors, Nancy Muller and Sylvia McPherson as well as LTC Nurse Phyllis Choweniec travelled to Deer Lake for the event.

The PSW certificate is recognized by Homecare and Hospital facilities and is a prerequisite for many jobs in the health care field.

These 3 caring workers are proud of their accomplishment and plan to use their new skills to improve the Deer Lake Home and Community Care program. 

Click here to view photo album of this special event

The Canadian Cancer Society's 2006 "Driven to Quit Challenge" is offering a top prize of a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid or 1 or 7 Sony 32" Widescreen LCD HDTVs for smokers who want to quit and are able to go smoke-free for the month of April. Visit the contest web site at http://www.quitsmokingontario.ca/english/home for more information.

Deadline for entries is March 31,  2006 ... check out the steps to enter this contest ...

• Find a buddy who will support you as you go smoke-free.
• Buddies can win too! To be eligible for a prize valued at $250, buddies must be 19 years of age or older and a non-smoker.
• Get tips on how your buddy can help.

• Register free of charge by March 31, 2006.
• Only one entry per person is permitted.

• Quit smoking by April 1, 2006 and remain smoke-free until May 1, 2006.
• Call the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers' Helpline to increase your chances of quitting at 1 877 513-5333 (optional).
• Names will be randomly drawn on May 1, 2006.
• If selected, both you and your buddy will be contacted and asked to answer a skill-testing question.
• Buddies will be asked to confirm that you have remained smoke-free for April.
• To verify smoke-free status, the potential winner will be asked to take a urine test.
• Smoke-free means no use of tobacco products of any kind. You are allowed, however, to use nicotine replacement therapies (e.g. patch, gum or inhaler) and a doctor's prescription to help you quit.
• Winners will be announced in May 2006.

Asheweig River Camps, a Kasabonika Lake First Nation owned business, launched their new website for its' remote outpost camp on Straight Lake.

http://www.asheweigriver.com offers a glimpse into the Aboriginal Tourism industry for Kasabonika Lake First Nation and the Kasabonika Community Development Corporation.  Since its' first full season in 2005, this operation on Straight Lake, part of the Asheweig River system, strives to offer anglers a remote treat.  Based on a Community Tourism Strategy, KLFN expects to build a tourism sector in its' traditional territory with additional modern amenities on several lakes over the next 5 years for fishing, hunting and ecotourism.

Equay-wuk (Women's Group) is hosting:

2006 Violence Awareness & Prevention and Cultural Awareness for Caregivers Forum

March 21-22, 2006

Forest Inn & Conference Centre

Sioux Lookout, ON

Are you a

• Community Health Representative (C.H.R.)?
• Addictions Counsellor/N.N.A.D.A.P worker?
• Mental Health Worker?
• Health Director?
• Any other health & wellness field worker?

If so, Equay-wuk (Women's Group) invites you to participate in the 2006 Violence Awareness and Cultural Awareness for Caregivers Forum.

Equay-wuk (Women's Group) is able to provide travel, accommodations, and meals for one community representative to attend the forum.  Register today!!

For a registration form and more information, view

http://www.equaywuk.ca/poster.htm

Contact:

Chris Angeconeb     or     Jennifer Derosier
Phone:         807-737-2214
Toll Free:   1-800-261-8294
Fax:           807-737-2699
Email:         equaywuk@nwconx.net
Website:     www.equaywuk.ca

Aboriginal Tourism Canada in collaboration with Société touristique des autochtones du Québec (STAQ) is holding a training conference at the Hotel Hilton, Québec City on March 6-8, 2006. The conference theme is "Our Culture, Our Economy - Let's Create a Future". Click here to visit the conference web site.

The event will bring together First Nations, Inuit and Métis tourism business operators to share information and bring attention to successful trends, products and services. Special emphasis will be on youth entrepreneurs and professional development. The benefits of the forum will be for knowledge sharing on product development, marketing skills, training and human resource development at the individual, community and regional level.

For information : Melissa Guedes, info@Aboriginaltourism.Ca
Linda Webber, lwebber@AboriginalTourism.Ca
Aboriginal Tourism Canada
275, rue Slater, suite 820
Ottawa (Ontario) K1P 5H9
Tél : 1 800 724-7872 ext. 221
Fax : (613) 235-0396
Email : info@AboriginalTourism.Ca

At last week's Sioux Lookout District First Nations Teachers' Conference in Winnipeg, Lt. Gov. James Bartleman announced his plans to expand the delivery of the Summer Literacy Camps to 25 First Nations. Below is a story in today's Toronto Sun about this work and the stories from last summer's camps in 5 Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities.

From the Toronto Sun at http://www.torontosun.com/Lifestyle/2006/02/19/1451149-sun.html

Hope for Native youth - Literacy programs are key
By SYLVI CAPELACI, TORONTO SUN - Mon, February 20, 2006

First Nations youth may be fluent in their indigenous languages of Cree, Ojibwe and Oji-Cree, but it's English they need to speak, according to Frontier College's Philip Fernandez, administrator of the Lt.-Gov.'s Aboriginal Literacy Summer Camps.

English is their springboard to career opportunities within their own communities and to the outside world -- to places far beyond their remote towns tucked away in northwestern Ontario, says Fernandez.

Given the right literacy tools, children of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation will see old age. For many, English is a synonym for survival -- a lifeline from death.

"Every other week, a Native child kills themself. One girl hung herself on a tree in front of the school. It's a real tragedy," says Lt.-Gov. James K. Bartleman.

Soaring suicide rates and their high-level of illiteracy are key reasons he initiated the 2005 summer literacy camps in North Caribou Lake, Kingfisher Lake, Muskrat Dam, Neskantaga and Fort Albany.

"Very few children make it through high school. Those that do are about five years behind other Ontario children," Bartleman says of this struggling population in transition from a traditional to modern society.

The five camps, staffed with 20 councillors recruited from Southern Ontario and about 40 from Native communities, hosted a three-week literacy program for 365 kids between the ages of 4 to 14.

Last July, Bartleman visited the camps and found the children dispelled stereotyping:

"They were really anxious to read and to learn. Even though we brought sports equipment, we found them drifting away from the ball diamonds and going back to the books. "  

Already big plans are in the works to run camps in 25 communities this coming summer and Bartleman has pledges from sponsors to pay for summer programs for the next five years.

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PHOTOSENSITIVE

Capturing the essence of the Lt.-Gov.'s camps is a compelling photographic exhibition, Summer of Hope, on view until Friday at The Allen Lambert Galleria in BCE Place (or visit website http://www.photosensitive.com/ps/).

The collection of poignant black and white images of First Nations children were taken by five top Canadian photojournalists who belong to PhotoSensitive -- an organization of volunteers who donate their time and their talent to raising awareness towards global and national issues.

"People think it's hopeless, this (the exhibit) shows that it's not. It shows the joy of life in the communities and that's why it's called Summer of Hope." says Bartleman.

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LT.-GOV.'S INITIATIVES

• In 2004, a program was launched that collected more than 1.2 million books for First Nations school libraries.
• To enrich learning and communication skills, a twinning program was created pairing kids in native and non-native schools.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

The Amick (beaver in Ojibwe) Book Club will supply books to aboriginal youth through the months in between summer camps. The Lt.-Gov. urges all Canadians to get involved:

"A $100 donation or even 10 individual $10 donations will pay for a child's participation for one year in the club." With this funding, each child will receive six books a year plus a magazine that they will be encouraged to submit stories to.

---

To make a donation, mail to: Club Amick, The Southern Ontario Library Service, 111 Peter St., Suite 902, Toronto, ON, M5V 2H1, or call 1-800-387-5765.

This past week's gathering of Aborginal Community Coordinators at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) was another step in the preparation for first year medical students who will be moving to their four week Aboriginal community placements at the end of April. The meetings took place in Thunder Bay and Sudbury (click here to see the NOSM press release about this gathering).

From Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal news online, Sunday, Feb 19, 2006 - http://66.244.236.251/article_4232.php

Med students in for remote experiences
By JONATHAN WILSON

The future doctors of Northern Ontario could be in for a major culture shock this spring.

Northern Ontario School of Medicine students will be leaving the relative comforts of Thunder Bay and Sudbury for remote First Nations in mid-April for a month-long immersion program. 

“For most of these students, it will probably be their first time in an aboriginal or First Nation or Metis setting,” Orpah McKenzie, NOSM’s director of aboriginal affairs, said Thursday.

“It’s a variety of experiences, and it’s all going to happen in four weeks.”

The 56 first-year medical students will be sent in pairs to 28 communities from Moose Factory to Muskrat Dam to Sucker Creek.

Besides their clinical training, they’ll each be equipped with laptop computers and Internet access to continue their regular classroom studies for 12 hours each week.

Another 12 hours will be dedicated to participating in cultural activities unique to the remote North.

“Our community, they do a lot of fishing and hunting,” said Don Sofea, director of health and social services for Nibinamik, also known as Summer Beaver. “You would hunt moose and possibly geese.

“I think it’s going to be a fabulous four weeks for them, and a fabulous four weeks for us.”

The First Nations placement program was one of the primary components envisioned when the medical school was being developed, to help introduce future physicians to the realities of Northern medicine.

“It’s a major reason why this school exists,” said Joel Lanphear, NOSM’s associate dean of undergraduate medical education for the Lakehead University campus.

“The real value is immersion in the culture, as part of our social accountability mandate.”

The two students in Nibinamik will likely reside at Amik Lodge, a sort of hotel-overnight unit for resource people who come into the community, or in the teacherage next to the community’s school.

“In some places, they’ll be in the chief’s home,” Lanphear said.

Nibinamik’s population is mostly Ojibwa-speaking, and Sofea said the med students will be encouraged to explore the area and mingle with residents and elders.

They’ll also be challenged to quickly figure out what their patients are trying to tell them about their conditions.

“They’re going to have to really learn about us,” Sofea said.

Translators will be available, along with each community’s regular nursing staff, nurse practitioners and travelling physicians.

McKenzie said the students may also learn from traditional healers about alternative health care, and partake in traditional ceremonies and feasts.

Health co-ordinators from the 28 communities toured the med school facilities in Thunder Bay and Sudbury this week, the latest step in a two-year process to develop the student placement program.

The group which toured LU also met with some of the students who will be placed in their communities from mid-April until mid-May.

“I think they’re going to have a very enjoyable experience, they’re going to get an eye-opener from this,” said Dean Wilson, office manager of the Gizhewaadiziwin health access centre near Fort Frances which co-ordinates health care in several communities from Lac La Croix to Big Grassy First Nation.

The two students placed at Gizhewaadiziwin will travel to all its communities during their four-week placement and learn about the unique challenges of rural transportation.

“People in Lac Le Croix have to drive 2 1/2 hours one way just to see a doctor,” Wilson said.

“The students are going to see what the difficulty is of getting around in Northwestern Ontario, how difficult it is for these people to access some of these services and what they have to go through.”

McKenzie said the First Nations officials themselves are also learning about what the med school students need to advance their education.

The overall goal is to provide an enriching experience, and convince at least some of the students to return to the First Nations later in their lives.

“Hopefully, exposing students at an early stage in their career to Northern communities, rural communities . . . in the end they will stay and practice,” McKenzie said.

“If we get five or six new doctors in the next few years,” added Wilson, “for Northwestern Ontario, that’s very important.
“We’ve got four weeks to sell them.”

The First Nations placements will continue throughout the four-year program, Lanphear said, adding the cultural component is also a part of the students’ everyday learning.