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From Timmins Daily Press ...

Mattagami First Nation, Liberty Mines sign MOU
Michael Peeling, The Timmins Daily Press - May 04, 2007

A First Nation and a junior mining company signed the beginnings of a partnership Friday.

Mattagami First Nation Chief Walter Naveau and councillors met with Edmonton-based Liberty Mines Inc. president Gary Nash at the community hall to sign a memorandum of understanding.

The memo signifies both parties' commitment to developing a long-term agreement to keep the Redstone nickel mine in production and start the McWatters mine on Mattagami lands, ensuring the lives of the mines for years to come.

"We just had some recent drill results (at Redstone) about half an hour ago, which proves that the mine is going to have an extended life," Nash said. "That's excellent for what we're doing here today to develop our company and Mattagami First Nation and our growing relationship as partners."

Mattagami's resource liaison Chris McKay says Liberty has done a good job recognizing that the nickel deposits to be mined are located on the First Nation's traditional lands.

Naveau believes Liberty's project in the area has already benefited his community.

"It's created a good working relationship," Naveau said. "And it's helping us as a First Nations community to achieve our dreams and goals in terms of education for our young people."

Naveau emphasized council's appreciation of Nash coming to Mattagami to share Liberty's discoveries in the land.

Other companies mined 276,700 tons of nickel from Redstone, located 24 kilometres southeast of Timmins, from 1989 to 1996.

From Owen Sounds News ...

Tory slams McGuinty for inaction on Caledonia
By Jim Algie - May 04, 2007

Ontario Opposition Leader John Tory slammed Premier Dalton McGuinty for inaction on Six Nations land claims at Caledonia and promised a more active approach if his Progressive Conservative party wins the October election.

“Simply standing by and allowing land occupations and railway blockades that defy court injunctions just cannot be an option,” Tory told delegates to the annual convention of the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards, Friday, in Owen Sound. “The premier of Ontario must be prepared to vigorously pursue new tools and new measures to ensure all parties comply with the rule of law,” he said.

It was part of what Tory described to police board delegates as his party’s “rule of law platform.” It includes more justices of the peace, tighter bail and sentencing measures, social programs to address poverty and solutions to justified Aboriginal land claims and legal complaints.

Tory also spoke of a more “businesslike” process for setting police budgets in Ontario. Current police spending often represents a “political bidding process in which parties bid against each other to see who can promise more police officers,” he said in an interview later.

“No one is below the law. No one is above the law.
No one is beyond the law,” Tory told his audience of about 300 police board members. “The common theme here is simple, there must be one and only law for all.”

In his prepared remarks, Tory criticized Premier McGuinty for inaction during the Caledonia standoff. He described the continuing conflict as “a miscarriage of justice” which has “torn apart an entire community” and “placed police officers in a completely untenable situation.”

At the conference opening day, Thursday, Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino lashed out at critics of police management of the Caledonia protest which has emphasized public safety over law enforcement. Aggressive police intervention under the former Conservative government of Premier Mike Harris was an issue during a recent public inquiry into the shooting death of a First Nations protester by OPP during the Ipperwash protests of 1995.

Tory said his “one law” concept doesn’t involve more aggressive police tactics. In prepared remarks, he spoke of the need for “new tools and new measures to ensure that all parties comply with the rule of law.”

“Political direction to the police is unacceptable,” Tory said. He endorsed the use of “non-confrontational methods” in the absence of violence.

Interviewed later, the opposition leader spoke of potential remedies in civil court for controlling disruptive protests and labour disputes. A lawyer by training and a former chief executive officer of Rogers Inc., Tory said substantial fines against organizations responsible for breaches of the law would help limit illegal protests.

“A lot of the organizations that end up behind these actions are organizations that have assets and money . . . We say we’re going to fine and substantially fine those involved organizations that, in effect, are not obeying the law.”

“I think there can be a lot of consequences that are non-confrontational that don’t even involve the police. They involve the courts and they’re saying to people there is going to be a price to be paid for not following the law.”

It was a campaign-style speech delivered during breakfast for a convention whose delegates were to hear at lunch from current Ontario Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter. It came six months ahead of a new, legislated election call at four year intervals.

Although Premier McGuinty’s government recently announced a Sept. 10 kickoff to the formal campaign period, campaigning has clearly begun. Tory introduced delegates to a premier’s office employee who has begun auditing all of the opposition leader’s public appearances.

Tory introduced David Penfold by name and asked him to stand. He then advised delegates to bring their complaints about provincial police policy to Penfold for quick referral to the premier’s office.

Part of the Conservative public safety policy involves new protection for “the disenfranchised, the poor, the vulnerable portions of our population,” Tory said. That includes renewed housing stock, better support for single parents and new after-school programs for youth.

Tory acknowledged long-standing grievances among Ontario First Nations.

The provincial government must “be a better friend to the Aboriginal people in this province.”

However, he also said “there needs to be a better way to manage dissent.”

“What I think we can’t do is what Mr. McGuinty has done which is nothing,”

Tory said in an interview. “He has just allowed an occupation to go on for more than 400 days and I think that we can’t allow the principle to become entrenched in our system that people can do whatever they want when they have a grievance or a complaint.”

Government press release ...

Federal Government Supports CreeFest 2007

KASHECHEWAN, Ontario, May 8, 2007 - On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Federal Economic Development Initiatives for Northern Ontario, today announced funding of $50,000 for CreeFest 2007, the Mushkegowuk Treaty Council's 5th annual outdoor summer festival.

"Since its creation, the Mushkegowuk Treaty Council has felt strongly about promoting traditional and contemporary arts and enhancing the cultural vitality of Kashechewan and the surrounding region," said Minister Oda. "This is why our Government is proud to support this year's CreeFest."

"The government is pleased to support projects that offer the people of northern Ontario access to rich, cultural experiences," added Minister Clement. "We are committed to ensuring that all Canadians are able to celebrate the talents of our artists and enjoy the diversity of our culture."

"We are thankful for the continued funding assistance from Canadian Heritage through the Arts Presentation Canada program," said Terry Metatawabin, Executive Director of the Mushkegowuk Treaty Council. "This funding will assist Mushkegowuk Council in hosting the 5th annual 2007 summer CreeFest in Kashechewan First Nation. Without this funding, the festival would not be able to showcase performances by regional talent and professional First Nations artists that make CreeFest successful year to year."

Presented annually by the Mushkegowuk Treaty Council, CreeFest 2007 (Inininew Makoshwein) will take place in Kashwchewan, a remote fly-in community, 480 kilometres from the nearest urban centre of Timmins, Ontario. The summer festival will take place in July, and performances will be held outdoors at the Kashechewan arena and community school. Programming will include Swampy Cree (Omushkego) artists in traditional and contemporary art forms, including storytelling, visual arts, music, and dance.

The government has provided this financial assistance through the Arts Presentation Canada program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to give Canadians more access to direct experiences of the diversity and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentations of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences.

Information:
Véronique Bruneau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Status of Women
819 997-7788

Eric Waddell
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
613 957-0200

Jaime Burke
A/Manager
Communications
Ontario Region
Canadian Heritage
416 973-2050

Call For Submissions: APTN Funding For Music Videos

May 4, 2007

The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network wants to help 5 Aboriginal recording artists and/or groups from any part of Canada produce music videos for broadcast on their station and they are currently accepting submissions.

The details are included in the GUIDELINES and APPLICATION forms, but the basics are:

DEADLINE: June 30, 2007

AMOUNT: up to $20,000 per artist/group for production costs
FOR: One song on a current CD or a CD that is soon to be released

INFORMATION: Rebecca Morris + Tel: 888.278.8862, ext. 234 + E: rmorris@aptn.ca.

Guidelines:
www.aptn.ca/opencall2007/documents/APTN_Open_Call_guidelines.pdf

Application:
www.aptn.ca/opencall2007/documents/APTN_OPEN_CALL_APPLICATION_FORM.pdf

You can also visit the APTN Open Call website for more information: www.aptn.ca/opencall2007/

Please feel free to contact the Aboriginal Music Program Coordinator if you live in Manitoba and you need help completing your submission.

Alan Greyeyes
Aboriginal Music Program Coordinator
Tel: 204.975.0284
E: alan@manitobamusic.com

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Call for Submissions

October 17-21, 2007
Toronto, Canada

Call for Submissions Deadline June 1, 2007

The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is an international festival that celebrates the latest works by Indigenous peoples on the forefront of innovation in film, video, radio, and new media. We are currently seeking features, shorts, documentaries, dramas, comedies, animation by international and Canadian Indigenous filmmakers and producers. We invite all genres and lengths and encourage submissions from first-time and emerging directors.

We are also seeking radio programming and new media works made by Indigenous producers and artists. Radio and new media submissions are presented at a Mediatheque centre during the festival.

• Click here for online submission forms
   
• Click here for downloadable submission forms
   
• Click here for the 2006 imagineNATIVE website
  

PRESS RELEASE ... May 4, 2007

The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled yesterday Aroland First Nation member and beneficiary of hunting rights under Treaty No. 9 Howard Meshake can hunt on the traditional territory of his wife, Jeannie Carpenter, a member of the Lac Seul First Nation, a signatory to Treaty No. 3. 

Mr. Meshake was hunting moose near Sioux Lookout in Treaty No. 3 Territory, outside the boundaries of Treaty No. 9.  The Court of Appeal has ruled that in accordance with Ojibway custom, an Aboriginal person may shelter under the treaty rights of another First Nation in cases like Meshake’s where there is a kinship connection.  The Court found that the evidence supported a finding that Aboriginal Peoples travelled to other communities to marry, and continued to hunt, and that sharing community harvest through kinship was in harmony with the Ojibway custom of sharing harvests between First Nations and families.  This evidence allowed the court to conclude that Mr. Meshake was entitled to hunt because he had been accepted within the Lac Seul community, and welcomed to hunt with the Carpenter family.

This ruling recognizes that Treaty Rights may not be limited by the geographical boundaries identified in the Treaty, as has been the long-standing position of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.  “This decision is very important for my 10 year old son, Skyler, and for our future generations.  We must ensure that they can continue to practice our traditions.  I hope this case will be a stepping stone for our people in re-establishing our right to practice our life style as aboriginal people.” stated Mr. Meshake.

For further information or to talk Howard Meshake, please contact Julie or Linda at Beamish, MacKinnon Law Office 807-737-2809

We are very happy that our 10 1/2 year legal battle for the recognition of our rights is over.  We feel relieved that we can hunt in accordance with our traditions without fear of being charged by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 

We also are proud to be a part of the re-establishment of the rights of the Nishnawbe People to legally practice our way of life.  We believe it is important for our son Skyler and for all the future generations to be able to pursue their traditions and their Nishnawbe lifestyle. 

We would like to thank Grand Chief Stan Beardy of Nishnawbe Aski Nation for his support of our case.  We would also like to thank Chief Sam Kashkeesh of Aroland First Nation, Chief Clifford Bull of Lac Seul First Nation, former Chief David Gordon of Lac Seul First Nation, and former Grand Chief Leon Jourdain of Grand Council Treaty No. 3, for their support during our long court case.

We would also like to thank our parents, Howard and Elsie Meshake, and Isabella Carpenter for teaching us our traditions, and making us strong enough to stand up for our way of life. 

Finally we would like to thank our lawyers, Lou Strezos and Bill Henderson, who argued in the Ontario Court of Appeal, and Catherine Beamish, who supported us from the time of the charge until the final decision of May 3, 2007. 

For further information or to talk to Howard Meshake, please contact Julie or Linda at Beamish, MacKinnon Law Office 807-737-2809

From the Associated Content online ...

Ralph Rowe Pleads Guilty to 20 Charges of Sexual Offenses
By Znuage - May 08, 2007

On Monday, May 7, 2007, the trial of a convicted sex offender Ralph Rowe, who was once an Anglican minister, began at the Superior Court of Justice in a Northwestern Ontario city. Rowe plead guilty to 20 charges of sexual offenses involving First Nation boys in Northern Ontario between 1977 and 1987. The counts are 10 counts of sexual assault and 10 counts of indecent assault.

There were actually 24 further counts involving the same victims, but since Rowe's guilty pleas were to one count for each of the 20 victims. The Crown decided that there was no point in getting into a fight over a line in his criminal record. The trial will instead focus on 12 counts involving five different complainants, which was whittled down from a total of 56 charges originally on the indictment. The victims are from First Nation communities such as Muskrat Damn, Wunnumin Lake and Big Trout Lake.

The 20 counts Rowe pled to on Monday involved the fondling of and having boys masturbate him. The age of the boys range from five to fifteen years old. In most incidents, Ralph Rowe was the boys' care giver, and the boys would frequently sleep overnight at his Anglican Church Mission House in the communities. On these nights, he would pick different boys to come and sleep in his bed each night. Rowe was also a Boy Scout Master, and would sexually assault the boys on Boy Scout camping trips.

"They were young kids, they had faith in the church and a belief in Mr. Rowe and it's been a real betrayal of trust," Alvin Fiddler, deputy grand chief for the Nishnawbe Aski Nation told CBC News.

In 1994, Ralph Rowe, who now lives in Surrey, B.C., also faced similar sexual offenses involving 16 aboriginal boys between 1976 and 1982. He faced the charges at the Wunnumin Lake courtroom, and was sentenced to six years of jail time. He only served four and a half years. Superior Court Justice Erwin Statch announced that because of the plea agreement made in 1994, Rowe will not be sentenced to additional prison time for these twenty convictions, only concurrent time on his previous jail sentence. However Statch said for more serious charges, he could impose additional jail time if Ralph Rowe is convicted.

Justice Erwin Stach adjourned the proceedings until this morning, Tuesday, May 8 2007, where the victim impact statements from many of the twenty victims will be read in court.

+++++++

From CBC New online ...

Trial begins for ex-minister facing 56 sex charges
May 7, 2007 - CBC News

The trial of a former Anglican minister facing 56 sex-related charges involving children started Monday in a court in the northwestern Ontario community of Kenora.

The charges date as far back as the 1970s, when Ralph Rowe was a minister and a Boy Scout master in several remote First Nations communities in northern Ontario.

The trial, which is by judge alone, revolves around acts alleged to have taken place with boys aged six to 16.

Five men who say they were abused by Rowe will testify at the trial, while 25 others are expected to give victim impact statements.

Rowe, now 69 and living in Surrey, B.C., is expected to plead guilty to 20 of the charges against him, his lawyer told CBC News. His lawyer says there are plans for the Crown to withdraw more than 20 charges, while Rowe will go to trial with regard to allegations from five victims.

In 1994, Rowe was convicted of 27 counts of indecent assault and one count of common assault after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 16 boys during the same time period, and in many of the same communities.

He served three years of a six-year sentence in prison for those convictions.

Canada.com Network article ...

Native status card fraud costs taxpayers $33M a year
Paul Samyn, CanWest News Service

OTTAWA - Fraud and misuse of Indian status cards - which entitle natives to everything from free drug care, to tax-free purchases, to jobs in the United States - have been costing taxpayers an estimated $33 million a year.

Federal documents show the Indian Affairs Department has been working on a plan to stem the problem that has allowed non-natives to not only tap into a number of government benefits but also forego paying federal and provincial taxes.

But the bill to fix the problem won't be cheap. The department estimates it will cost $30 million over five years to come up with a new high-tech form of native identification to replace the roughly 763,000 easily forged paper cards now in use.

"The old card is basically 1960s technology and, as we found out, people can easily replicate it," said Ray Hatfield, a senior official at Indian Affairs.

Hatfield said the department has been aware since the mid-1990s that rights and benefits such as on-reserve housing, education and federal and provincial tax exemptions were being accessed by non-natives.

"We became aware of fraud and misuse through cards that would be turned in and there would be individuals trying to claim benefits they were not entitled to," Hatfield said.

"Once we realized that and it was brought to our attention that this was occurring, we looked at a way of improving the security of the card and the system as well."

The department said it does not have a breakdown of how much money was lost to fraud and what portion was due to misuse.

The push for a secure form of identification for Canada's natives has the backing of the Assembly of First Nations, which wants to ensure natives can continue to pass freely across the border and even work in the United States as part of a long-standing treaty.

"We, as First Nation people, value our rights to cross the border so we don't want anyone to misuse our rights," said Grand Chief John Beaucage.

Beaucage said the assembly has been working with the Indian Affairs Department to develop a card which might include features such as biometrics that it hopes will be made freely available to status Indians.

"I have heard of some fairly large numbers of cards stolen or being forged by non-native people getting tax benefits as well as using the cards for (free) pharmaceuticals," he said.

"Once obtained, they could also be used for illegal crossing of the border."

The AFN also wants the new status cards to meet the requirements the United States is imposing for entry into the country and has had discussions with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials on whether it could allow natives to cross the border without a passport.

NDP native affairs critic Jean Crowder, who obtained the federal documents under the Access to Information Act, said she is worried the department has been dragging its feet on fixing the problem with the cards.

"It shouldn't have taken them this long," she said.

Hatfield said a pilot project underway with Alberta bands on a new secure card is proceeding well and that a new card could be officially rolled out next year.

The department says the redesigned and modernized card will meet federal and international standards for identification cards and will incorporates the latest security features.

paul.samyn@freepress.mb.ca

From Angus TeleManagement Group's Weekly Newsbulletin ..

CRTC RELAXES TELCO PRICING RULES: In Telecom Decision 2007-27, released on Monday, the Commission allows much greater pricing flexibility for still-regulated services provided by Bell Canada, Bell Aliant, MTS-Allstream, SaskTel, and Telus, beginning June 1.

• Targeted pricing – even individual rates for individual customers – is permitted, as long as the price is above cost.
   
• Prices for optional services (e.g. call display, voicemail) and service bundles are no longer capped.
   
• Basic standalone residential local rates are capped at current levels, except in high-cost rural areas, where rates may rise by inflation or 5%, whichever is less.
   
• Overall rates for business local and other capped services may rise by inflation, or a maximum of 10%/year for individual rate elements. (This rule is unchanged.)
   
• Payphone charges can rise to 50 cents a call, $1 for a non-cash call.
   
• The deferral accounts established in the 2002 price cap decision are discontinued. [NOTE: these deferral accounts were to be used by the telcos to provide the dollars necessary to upgrade services in rural and remote regions, ie. the high-cost serving areas]

Commissioner Langford issued an extensive dissent. In his view, the majority lost sight of the fact that “market forces cannot be relied upon to protect consumer interests in places where little or no competition exists,” and ”the majority decision equips incumbent telephone companies with pricing and marketing tools powerful enough to halt dead in its tracks any future rollout of competition in their territories.”

TELCOS HAPPY, PIAC OUTRAGED: The incumbent telcos were predictably thrilled by the CRTC’s new pricing rules, but consumer advocates were not.

• Bell said the ruling “sets Canada firmly on the path to a modern and efficient telecom policy framework."
   
• Telus said that as a result of the decision, “consumers will soon enjoy the flexibility and innovation fostered by a competitive telecommunications marketplace.”
   
• In contrast, Michael Janigan of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre said: “The CRTC has given Bell, Telus, and the other big phone companies the green light to raise your local telephone rates. We think the CRTC has abandoned Canadian telephone customers.”

Press release ...

Province wide Aboriginal Energy Conservation Program to be launched in Thunder Bay

First Nation delegates from across Ontario will be in Thunder Bay on May 8th and 9th for the "Mana-cha-toon Wash-ti-ni-gun," or the "Conserve the Light" Gathering, at the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites.

The conference will launch the Ontario Power Authority's Energy Efficiency & Conservation Measures for Aboriginal Communities (EEMAC) program for all 134 First Nation communities across Ontario.

WHAT:  

Launch of Aboriginal Energy Conservation Program and unveiling of Household Energy Conservation Kits

WHEN:  

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007, 10:15 AM

WHERE: 

Provincial Room, Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites, 17 North Cumberland St., Thunder Bay, Ontario

WHO:            

• Jan Carr, CEO, Ontario Power Authority
• Angus Toulouse, Ontario Regional Chief
• Charles Fox, Program Manager, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Measures for Aboriginal Communities Program

Media are also invited to the opening session on Tuesday, May 8th taking place in the Provincial Room from 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM.

Participants in the opening session will include Chief Harold Pelletier, FWFN; Mayor Lynn Peterson, City of Thunder Bay; Jan Carr, CEO, Ontario Power Authority; Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse; Grand Chief Stan Beardy, NAN; Grand Chief Arnold Gardner, Treaty #3; Tim Pile, MNO; and Charles Fox, Program Manager, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Measures for Aboriginal Communities Program

For more information, please contact:

• Tim Taylor, Ontario Power Authority, 416-969-6353
• Don Huff (on-site Tuesday), 416-805-7720

In pursuit of its mandate of ensuring an adequate, long-term supply of electricity for Ontario, the Ontario Power Authority creates and implements conservation and demand management programs, ensures adequate investment in new supply infrastructure, performs long-term electricity system planning, and facilitates the development of a more sustainable and competitive electricity system.