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Ontario government press release ...

REPORT OF THE HATE CRIMES COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP - Provides Recommendations On Fighting Hate Crimes And Strengthening Communities

TORONTO — The McGuinty government is marking International Human Rights Day by releasing the report of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group, Attorney General Michael Bryant and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte Kwinter announced today.

“Our society has zero tolerance for hate crimes, so I thank the chair and members of the working group for their thoughtful proposals,” said Bryant. “Our government is committed to maintaining its leadership role in promoting human rights, equality, diversity and tolerance. I will also work with the federal government to consider those recommendations that fall within its jurisdiction.”

Bryant said that the Ontario government is striking an inter-ministerial team to consider those recommendations that fall within its jurisdiction and to plan the investment of $1.3 million to help strengthen Ontario’s communities by taking action against hate crimes.

“I offer my congratulations to members of the working group, who have given so freely of their time and contributed their depth of understanding of Ontario’s diverse communities to completing this report,” said Kwinter. “The government looks forward to working with community groups and stakeholders to better protect Ontarians and to prevent future hate crimes.”

The Hate Crimes Community Working Group began its deliberations in January 2006 and met with stakeholders in Toronto, Windsor, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and Kenora. More than 600 Ontarians provided input. The working group reviewed best practices in other provinces and countries and conducted an on-line questionnaire to gather stakeholder views on hate crime issues, incidents and victimization. The group provided recommendations on ways to improve services for victims of hate crimes and to prevent further victimization.

“I was honoured to have been asked to chair the working group on this very important and timely issue,” said Dr. Karen Mock. “It has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated group of individuals representing diverse communities, and to be able to reach out to so many communities and stakeholders across the province. Many communities look forward to continuing to work with the government to implement a strategy to counter and prevent hate crime in Ontario.”

International Human Rights Day, December 10, is celebrated around the world, commemorating the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly of the United Nations. This declaration affirms the human rights of people everywhere – the right to be treated with dignity, the right to freedom of religion and expression, the right to equality before the law and to protection from discrimination.

The McGuinty government has taken other significant steps to combat hate crimes, including:

• Expanding the categories of projects eligible for funding under the Community Grant Program to include community-based projects that support victims of hate crimes
• Providing specialized training in hate crimes legislation for a team of Crown counsel that provides legal advice to police and other Crown prosecutors on matters related to hate crimes
• Updating the Crown prosecution policy on hate crimes to ensure that it reflects legal developments and addresses the current social environment relating to hate activities.

The Hate Crimes Community Working Group was appointed by Attorney General Michael Bryant and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte Kwinter in December 2005. The group's mandate was to advise the ministers on approaches to address hate crimes in the province, including measures to enhance services to hate crime victims and to reduce hate crime victimization directed at both individuals and communities at large.

The 10 members brought to their task a diversity of community perspectives, expertise and experience in addressing hate crime. The working group reviewed published research, held regional community meetings and focus groups, circulated an electronic questionnaire to agencies involved in hate crime work, and met with academics, lawyers, government officials, victim services staff, prosecutors, police and educators. The working group heard directly from representatives of many victimized groups, such as the Aboriginal, African Canadian, Jewish, Arab, Muslim, South Asian, East Asian, and Lesbian /Gay /Bisexual /Transgendered /(Two-Spirited) /Intersexed communities. In all, the working group received input from more than 600 stakeholders and community members.

Proposed Strategy

The working group proposed a strategy to encourage proactivity, inclusiveness, innovation and effectiveness in response to hate crimes and hate incidents, and in support for victims of hate. The strategy goes beyond the hate offences identified in the Criminal Code. It addresses not only individual acts of hate but also attitudes, systems, structures and arrangements that may facilitate or excuse them.

The working group included goals and objective statements under each component of the strategy, and made recommendations to help achieve these. The strategy includes a broad range of areas in relation to hate and hate crimes, including the unique position of Aboriginal peoples, the role of communities, education and training for professionals who deal with victims, services to victims, response and remedies within the justice system, and public awareness and understanding.

The full report is available on the ministry website at http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/hatecrimes

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Contacts:
Brendan Crawley
Ministry of the Attorney General
Communications Branch
416 326-2210
 
Anthony Brown
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Communications Branch
416 314-7772

Joyce Atcheson (joycea@kanen.on.ca), Policy Development Officer with Ka:nen Our Children Our Future in Thunder Bay worked on getting the Summary Report translated into Cree, OjiCree and Ojibway. Click on the links below to view this summary document in these languages.

• Cree
• Oji-Cree
• Ojibway

INAC press release

Federal Government Announces $2.46 million in First Nations Economic Development Investments in Northern Ontario

Backgrounder

DRYDEN, ONTARIO (January, 18, 2007) – Mr. Rod Bruinooge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, is pleased to announce approximately $2.46 million in investments towards economic activities that will advance development opportunities for First Nations peoples in Northern Ontario.

Speaking in Dryden, Mr. Bruinooge said, "We are working with native leaders and communities to improve opportunities and provide real results for Aboriginal people. Maximizing First Nations participation in economic opportunities is important to ensure a prosperous economic future for all Canadians. Robust economic opportunities are essential to the development of sustainable, healthy communities, and Canada's New Government is pleased to be doing its part to make this happen."

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has committed to support the following projects in 2006-2007:

• $745,000 to the Attawapiskat/Fort Albany/Fort Severn First Nations to develop opportunities linked to diamond mining in Northern Ontario;
• $560,000 to the Pikangukum First Nation for the Whitefeather Forestry Project (Sustainable Forestry License);
• $317,500 to the Eabametoong First Nation for community-based resource planning at Eabametoong and Mishkeegogamang;
• $200,000 to the Seven Generations Education Institute for a Community Economic Development Officer Training Course;
• $141,900 to the Big Grassy & Ojibways of Onigaming First Nations for activities related to the Assabaska Ojibway Heritage Park;
• $100,000 to the Pic Mobert First Nation for a Forestry Situational Assessment;
• $100,000 to the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation for the Two Feather Forest Products Business Development initiative;
• $64,700 to the Ojibways of Onigaming for a Water Bottling Manufacturing Feasibility Study;
• $48,000 to the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (formerly known as Sand Point) to explore forestry initiatives;
• $48,000 to the Ochiichagwe’Bagigo’Ining Ojibway Nation to explore economic ventures;
• $40,000 to the Mattagami First Nation for mining strategy initiatives;
• $40,000 to the Pic Mobert First Nation for a Mining Sector Opportunities Assessment;
• $31,900 to the Batchewana First Nation for a Fisheries Management Plan; and,
• $25,000 to the Nishnawbe-Aski Development Fund for a Hydro Project Development Workshop.

More information on each project can be found at the INAC web site at http://inac.gc.ca

In 2005-2006, INAC Ontario Region invested approximately $15 million in economic development funding to assist First Nations to improve their socio-economic conditions to help close the gaps between First Nations peoples and other Canadians.

For more information, please contact:

Linda Britt, Communications Officer
INAC Communications
(807) 624-1559

Chief Andrew Solomon
Fort Albany First Nation
(705) 278-1044

Chief Roy Gray
Fort Severn First Nation
(807) 478-2572

Chief Bobby Kelly
Ojibways of Onigaming
(807) 484-2162

Chief Esther Pitchenesse
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
(807) 938-6684

Chief Charlie O’Keese
Eabametoong First Nation
(807) 242-7221

Chief Connie Gray-McKay
Mishkeegogamang First Nation
(807) 928-2414

Mr. Mike Fox, Sector Specialist
Nishnabe-Aski Nation Development Fund
(807)623-5397

Mr. Delbert Horton
Seven Generations Education Institute
(807) 274-2796

Chief Charles Pascal
Pikangikum First Nation
(807) 773-5578

Chief Jeffrey Florent Desmoulin
Pic Mobert First Nation
(807) 822-2134

Chief Vernon Barry Henry
Ochiichagwe’babigo’ining First Nation
(807) 548-5876

Chief Dean Sayers
Batchewana First Nation
(705) 759-0914

Chief Albert Comegan
Big Grassy First Nation
(807) 488-5614

Chief Willis McKay
Mattagami First Nation
(705) 894-2072

Kristen Sills
University of Windsor
(519)256-3113 ext 25

Ms. Audrey Gilbeau
Economic Development Officer
Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek
(807) 623-2724

AFN Press release ...

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine Statement Regarding Appeal by Attorney General of Canada on Residential Schools Settlement Approval by Saskatchewan Court

OTTAWA, Jan. 17 - "We are very disappointed to learn that the Attorney General of Canada has appealed part of a Regina Court decision to approve the Indian residential school class action lawsuit. We strongly encourage the Government of Canada and the Saskatchewan Court to sever this legal issue so that the $1.9 billion settlement process can proceed without further delay in settlement payments for survivors."

"We have now heard from all nine courts. All agree the settlement agreement is fair and just. Some courts have raised some concerns that need to be addressed immediately to ensure survivors get their money in a timely fashion. Compensation payments for the approximately 80,000 residential school survivors should likely begin later this summer."

"We want to emphasize to the courts and the government the importance of getting this historic settlement completed in a timely matter. Many of the survivors, who are elderly and sick, are dying at a rate of four a day. We all agree we want to see an end to this sad chapter of Canadian history."

"The courts certification also means the Truth Commission will be starting its work next summer. The Truth Commission will ensure that all Canadians will understand the significance of the serious harm done to our people. First Nations are determined to send the message to the world that "Never Again" will such actions be tolerated in Canada."

"A comprehensive communications outreach plan to inform survivors of their rights to compensation is expected to begin once the court certification process is completed."

--National Chief Phil Fontaine

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

For further information: contact: Bryan Hendry, A/Director of Communications, (613) 241-6789, ext. 229, cell (613) 293-6106, bhendry@afn.ca;. Nancy Pine, Communications Advisor to the National Chief, (613) 241-6789 ext. 243, cell (613) 298-6382, npine@afn.ca.
 
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From http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2007/01/17/residential.html

Ottawa fights decision on residential school legal fees
January 17, 2007 - CBC News

Visit http://www.classactionservices.ca/IRS/Phase/PDFs/DOJNoticeofAppealSask.pdf to see the Attorney General of Canada's notice of appeal.

Courts across Canada have approved a multibillion-dollar residential school deal, but Ottawa wants to appeal part of one decision relating to a Regina lawyer's fees.

Canada's attorney general filed documents with the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, seeking to appeal a ruling about the fees of a Regina lawyer.

And that isn't going over well with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, who's worried about delays in getting money to former residential school students.

"We are very disappointed," Fontaine said in a news release Wednesday.

"We strongly encourage the government of Canada and the Saskatchewan court to sever this legal issue so that the $1.9-billion settlement process can proceed without further delay in settlement payments for survivors."

Saskatchewan Queen's Bench Justice Dennis Ball ruled last month that the Merchant Law Group, headed by Tony Merchant, should receive $25 million to $40 million, with the exact amount to be negotiated or decided through the courts.

Merchant, a Regina lawyer, has represented thousands of former residential school students and has argued he deserves to be fairly compensated.

However, the attorney general of Canada says Ball made legal errors and wants the legal fees portion of his decision set aside. The government applied to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal for leave to appeal this week.

The residential school agreement is designed to bring closure to a painful chapter in Canadian history. Some 80,000 aboriginal Canadians attended residential schools in the 20th century. The schools were typically run by churches but were the responsibility of the federal government.

More than 12,000 former students have filed lawsuits alleging various forms of abuse, including physical and sexual.

The deal offers $10,000 to each former student for the first year attended at a residential school, plus $3,000 for each year after that. Worth an average of $25,000 per student, this segment of the deal is worth $1.9 billion. The deal also offers extra compensation to students who were physically or sexually abused while students.

Reconciliation process
The entire deal, which also includes money for memorial projects and a reconciliation process, is estimated to cost between $4 billion and $5 billion, according to court documents filed in Saskatchewan.

The deal had to be approved by courts in nine jurisdictions across Canada.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories, the last of the nine to weigh in, announced it had approved the proposed compensation package.

All nine judges agreed the package is a reasonable settlement.

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NDP condemns government’s stall tactics regarding residential school compensation - Wed 17 Jan 2007

DUNCAN, BC – Jean Crowder, MP for Nanaimo Cowichan and the NDP’s critic for Aboriginal Affairs expressed her dismay at the Conservative government’s appeal of the residential school settlement decision in a Regina court.

“All nine courts across Canada had ratified this settlement agreement and survivors were finally expecting to see some compensation for the abuse and loss of culture they suffered at residential schools. Ordinary Canadians understand this is a grave injustice.” said Crowder.

“Now the Conservative government is slowing down the whole process by appealing the agreement on lawyer’s fees. That is not fair to the First Nation, Métis and Inuit families affected by residential schools,” said Crowder.

“People are waiting for the Common Experience Payment, but they’re also waiting for the Truth Commission to start its work, so all Canadians can hear what happened behind the doors of these schools. And First Nations, Metis and Inuit are all waiting for an apology from the Prime Minister for this assimilationist policy,” said Crowder.

“At the least, the Department of Justice lawyers and the courts in Regina should agree to deal with this matter separately from the rest of the agreement. The Residential Schools Agreement is a step forward in recognizing the ill-treatment of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. It should not face any further delays,” said Crowder.

Federal government press release ...

Federal Government Supporting Northern Ontario First Nations

KENORA, ONTARIO (January 17, 2007) - Mr. Rod Bruinooge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, announced a $18.6 million investment to northern Ontario First Nations, to upgrade infrastructure for power generation and to assist with pressures caused by remote and seasonal issues.

"Canada's new government is determined to ensure that First Nations peoples have the same access as other Canadians to the key elements of healthy and fulfilling lives," said Bruinooge. "This funding addresses the very real challenges faced by northern communities, especially remote and isolated First Nations in the Kenora region."

Canada's New Government has provided:

• $8.6 million upgrade to the Wunnumin Lake diesel generating station. The upgrade will consist of building a new, larger diesel generating station near the community's airport that will allow more power to be generated to meet the current and future needs of the First Nation. The new facility will also allow for future expansion as required. Materials are being moved to the community on this year's ice road to allow construction to being this summer.
• $4.7 million to 11 First Nations with independently-operated diesel generating systems (those operating outside Ontario's regulatory framework), in recognition of the impact of rising diesel fuel costs on generating and distributing electricity.
• $3.5 million in one-time emergency funding to assist First Nations with the financial pressures associated with last winter's road conditions. Unseasonably warm temperatures delayed the opening of some winter roads, and caused load restrictions on others, which resulted in higher transportation costs for essential fuel and building supplies. This funding was transferred through the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund.
• As part of an Ontario-wide program, INAC is also providing $1.8 million to 75 northern Ontario First Nations for the operation of designated community buildings and vehicles, in recognition of the impact of rising diesel fuel costs on First Nation communities.

In 2006-2007, INAC is providing more than $946 million to Ontario First Nation communities and organizations for the delivery of basic services for First Nations on reserve (such as education, income assistance, infrastructure and First Nation government support), as well as for claims and self-government agreements.

For further information, please contact:

Tony Prudori
INAC Communications - Ontario Region
(807) 624-1535

Press Release

McGuinty Government Investments Link Remote Communities

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
January 16, 2007 - 014

Construction Begins On Winter Roads In Ontario’s Far North

SUDBURY – Construction of nearly 2,940 kilometres of winter roads to connect remote communities in the province’s Far North is underway with the help of an Ontario government investment, Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci announced today.

“The economic and social importance of the winter roads to isolated northern communities that are accessible only by air during other times of the year cannot be overstated,” said Bartolucci. “We appreciate that our government’s contribution to the Far North’s winter roads network is critical for lowering transportation costs and providing alternative access during the winter.”

In November, the minister announced that the McGuinty government had committed $3.5 million for this winter’s seasonal roads network, enabling 21 First Nations organizations and the Town of Moosonee to build 2,940 kilometres of seasonal roads.

The roads are built over frozen ground and waterways to connect communities in the Far North to the province’s permanent highway and rail systems. Weather permitting, the winter roads are in use from freeze up until late March. In most cases, the communities cost-share and manage the construction. Since 2003, investments in infrastructure, postsecondary education, research and innovation and key economic sectors have helped strengthen Ontario's economic foundations and continue to build opportunity.

Information on winter roads conditions is available from each community. A list of road construction projects is attached, and a map of the winter road network and community contacts may be found at: http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/nordev/wroads/default_e.asp

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Contacts:

Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454

Terry Bryson
MNDM – Sault Ste. Marie
(705) 945-5926

Backgrounder / Press Release

2006-2007 WINTER ROADS PROGRAM

Twenty-one First Nations organizations and the Town of Moosonee are using an Ontario government investment of $3,480,700 to build 2,940 kilometres of seasonal roads this winter.

1. Asheweig Winter Road Corporation - $556,500 - A 474-kilometre winter road network connecting the communities of Big Trout Lake, Wapekeka, Kasabonika Lake, Wawakapewin, Wunnumin Lake and Kingfisher Lake First Nations to the Pickle North all-season road.
2. Bearskin Lake First Nation - $111,300 - A 106-kilometre winter road running northeasterly from Muskrat Dam to the community.
3. Cat Lake First Nation - $183,750 - A 175-kilometre winter road from Pickle Lake to Cat Lake First Nation.
4. Deer Lake First Nation - $110,775 - An 88-kilometre winter road running west from North Spirit Lake to Deer Lake.
5. Fort Severn First Nation - $245,700 - A 234-kilometre winter road from the community to the Ontario border near Shamattawa, MB.
6. Keewaywin First Nation - $96,600 - A 92-kilometre winter road beginning at Magiss Lake and stretching to the community on the east end of Sandy Lake.
7. Koocheching First Nation - $21,600 - A 12-kilometre winter road to connect with the Keewaywin road.
8. Matawa First Nations Management - $596,925 - A 511-kilometre network of winter roads and trails connecting Nibinimik (Summer Beaver), Neskatanga (Lansdowne House), Eabametoong (Fort Hope) and Marten Falls to the all-season roads system.
9. Moose Cree First Nation - $25,200 - An eight-kilometre winter ice road to connect to Moosonee. 
10. Muskrat Dam First Nation - $170,100 - A 108-kilometre winter connector road from Muskrat Dam to Round Lake.
11. North Caribou Lake First Nation - $57,750 - A 42-kilometre winter road from the end of the Pickle North all-season road to Round Lake and across the lake to the community.
12. North Spirit Lake First Nation - $182,700 - A 116-kilometre winter road running northward from the end of the Nungessor all-season road.
13. North West Angle First Nation - $38,800 - A 70-kilometre winter road from Windigo Island to Kenora.
14. Pikangikum First Nation - $51,975 - A 33-kilometre winter road from the Nungessor all-season road to the community.
15. Poplar Hill First Nation - $51,450 - A 49-kilometre truck-standard winter road to connect into Pikangikum. 
16. Sachigo Lake First Nation - $73,500 - A 70-kilometre winter road running northwesterly from Muskrat Dam to the community.
17. Sandy Lake First Nation - $115,500 - A 110-kilometre winter road connecting with the Deer Lake road at Duckling Lake.
18. Temagami First Nation - $12,600 - A 12-kilometre winter road from Temagami Access Road to Bear Island.
19. Town of Moosonee - $18,300 - Two ramps required for the winter road to Moose Factory Island.
20. Webequie First Nation - $115,500 - A 110-kilometre winter road from Neskantaga to Webequie.
21. Weenusk First Nation - $210,000 - A 200-kilometre winter road from Peawanuck to Fort Severn.
22. 3981584 Ontario Inc. - $434,175 - A 320-kilometre truck winter road from Moosonee to Attawapiskat via Fort Albany and Kashechewan.

Assembly of First Nations Bulletin A Communiqué from National Chief Phil Fontaine January 2007

The Assembly of First Nations issues regular updates on the National Chief’s activities and work underway at the national office.

More information can be found on the AFN’s website at www.afn.ca.

New Challenges for 2007

A new year is upon us and with it come new challenges and new opportunities. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments. Among these is the agreement reached for Residential School Survivors. The court ratification process is almost wrapped up, and the courts that have given decisions so far have been very supportive of the settlement. We will soon be in a 5 month court mandated review period allowing survivors the opportunity to assess the agreement. I, personally, and the AFN as a whole, continue to believe that this agreement is just and fair and is essential for survivors to begin the process of healing, recovery and wellness for the future.

First Nations were deeply disappointed about the federal Government’s decision last year to not support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. AFN is continuing to work internationally to advance First Nations interests. If you would like to send a letter to the UN to express your concerns about Canada’s stance on the Declaration, a template and contact information is available on our website (www.afn.ca).

The Government’s approach to changes to section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act and Matrimonial Real Property (MRP) also cause concern. The AFN supports changes in both of these areas, however, we are adamant that such changes must be pursued respectful of the duty to consult and in a manner that recognizes and supports the jurisdiction of First Nation governments to protect the collective and individual human rights of their citizens. The Government’s approach to these two issues may be characterized as an attempt to achieve a quick fix rather than working with First Nations to find substantial and enduring remedies.

In November, I co-chaired the National Aboriginal Health Summit with Premier Campbell where all governments reaffirmed their commitment to close the gap in health status between First Nations and other Canadians. Premier Gary Doer will host a second Health Summit later this year where further progress on First Nations health interests is expected to be made. To ensure that the federal government is fully engaged on advancing First Nations health priorities, I signed a joint health work plan with Health Minister Tony Clement at our December Special Chiefs Assembly. Our work with Minister Clement will improve access and the quality of health services, and ensure that essential changes are made in the federal system to provide greater control to First Nations.

First Nations scored a major victory in the Supreme Court of Canada late last year. The AFN intervened in two cases, Sappier-Polchies and Gray. These cases involved individuals charged with a forestry offence. The court decision established that Maliseet and Mi’ikmaq have an Aboriginal right to harvest wood for domestic purposes on their traditional territory. In this context, the AFN was able to raise several original arguments that were adopted by the court, including the scope of the Aboriginal right (“domestic use”) and the failure of the Crown to show that Colonial legislatures ever had the authority to extinguish Aboriginal rights. The AFN continues to monitor and be involved, where possible, in relevant Supreme Court of Canada business.

Prime Minister Harper recently shuffled his cabinet. Indian Affairs Minister, Jim Prentice, and the Minister of Health, Tony Clement, remain in their current positions -- AFN plans to continue to build on our relationships with them. We also anticipate working closely with the new Environment Minister, John Baird. As you know, environmental issues such as global warming, pollution, and contamination directly impact many First Nation communities. We cannot let another year, another season, pass without taking immediate steps to deal with these dire concerns. The AFN expects to become much more involved in this issue over the coming year.

At our Special Chiefs Assembly in December, we saw that many other important issues remain to be resolved, and a number of important events will take place over the next few months to address several of them:

• January 23-25 will see the National Aboriginal Economic Development Symposium take place in Saskatoon;
• On February 6-8 the National Housing & Water Policy Forum will take place in Toronto; and
• A National Aboriginal Women’s Summit will take place in June in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

AFN is also expecting to hold a special forum on Matrimonial Real Property in the very near future, as well as a national conference on Historic Treaties. Information on these and other events will be sent to communities as it becomes available and will be posted on our website. I should also note, as I had committed at our last Special Chiefs Assembly, you can expect to see significant changes in how our Assemblies are run in the future. We are working to establish more effective ways of conducting our Assemblies, including how we effectively deal with resolutions.

As I look to the coming year, there will continue to be a range of challenges and opportunities. There will most likely be another federal election sometime this year. First Nations’ voter participation increased by 8 percent in last year’s federal election. Last month, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Elections Canada to enter into the second phase of a voter education campaign for First Nations. The goal of this campaign is to create educational tools and opportunities for First Nation citizens to make a choice about participating in electoral processes. I feel strongly that First Nations can make a difference by exercising their right to vote.

Regardless of whether or not an election takes place, the AFN continues to advance a set of priorities with which ever government is in power. We launched the Make Poverty History for First Nations campaign last fall, and as a part of this we undertook a wide range of initiatives that continue to drive us in the New Year. Central to this is the First Nations Plan, which builds on the resolutions and the policy positions adopted by the Chiefs-in-Assembly. In the coming months we will turn our energies to Creating Opportunities for our communities, opportunities for hope and success.

We saw an example of the potential of First Nations youth early in this New Year when millions of hockey fans in Canada and around the world witnessed the incredible goaltending of Carey Price as he led Team Canada to its third consecutive championship at the World Junior Hockey Tournament. Carey’s mother is Chief Lynda Price of the Ulkatcho First Nation at Anahim Lake in northern British Columbia. Carey is now 19 and playing Junior hockey for the Tri-City Americans in Oregon, and has been drafted by the Montreal Canadiens. Most importantly, Carey is an inspiration and a role model for all First Nations youth. Congratulations are due to Carey and his family! We look forward to seeing him on the national and international stage for many years to come.

I want to take this opportunity to wish you the very best in this New Year and reaffirm my commitment to work on your behalf to the utmost of my abilities.

Meegwetch and Happy New Year!

Assembly of First Nations, 473 Albert Street, Suite 810, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5B4 Tel: (613) 241-6789 Toll-free: 1-866-869-6789 Fax: (613) 241-5808 www.afn.ca

FN Power Summit -Opponents, Proponents or Partners?

March 9 & 10, 2007— Calgary Sheraton Suites

Jim Prentice, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Premiers, Hydro companies and Alternative Energy Companies will present at the “FN Power Summit” conference in Calgary. The conference runs March 9 &10, at the Sheraton Suites Hotel, and is expected to draw over two hundred people, so register early.

Canada is an emerging energy superpower. First Nation land and water provide unique operational and financial leverage. The conference will explore:

• What leads to successful relationships between First Nations, Power companies and governments?
• What principles and models lead to opportunity and wealth?
• How can First Nations help develop energy projects “Opponents, Proponents or Partners”?
• What is the role and direction of Provincial and Federal Governments' long-term energy plans?
• What are the implications for the production of electricity?

“We are pleased to announce that our program co-chairs will be Willie Littlechild, Elmer Derrick, Strater Crowfoot and Matt Vickers,” stated Ken Thomas, CEO of First Nation Network and host of the conference.

Who should attend: First Nation leaders and managers, Chiefs, Councilors, Tribal Councils, Provincial and Territorial Organizations, AFOA members and CANDO members. Ministers, Policy Advisors and Analysts as well as executives and managers of Power Utilities, significant energy consumers, independent power producers and marketers, lawyers, consultants and government employees are also invited.

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For further information, please contact:

Ken Thomas, CEO, First Nation Network,
E: ken.thomas@sasktel.net.
T: 306.241.5655, F: 306-664-7176
Website: www.firstnationnetwork.com

Indigenous Film Network - The Tour
is coming to Sioux Lookout
January 21 and 22
at the Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship Centre.

PAMELA MATTHEWS, from the Sachigo Lake First Nation, is an accomplished director, filmmaker and actor and she will host MOVIE NIGHTS in Sioux lookout!

Pamela recently appeared as Denise David in "Indian Summer: the Oka Crisis" and as Carolyn George (Dudley George’s sister) in “One Dead Indian”. Her other television roles include Renegadepress.com, The Rez, Destiny Ridge, Street Legal and North of 60, for which she was nominated for a Gemini Award for her guest starring role of Suzie Muskrat. Pam has also appeared in theatres across the country, most notably in “The Rez Sisters” at Alberta Theatre Projects, Sunshine Theatre and Theatre Aquarius.

Sunday January 21st   - 8:00PM

~ The Journals of Knud Rasmussen by Zacharius Kunuk and Norman Cohn ~

Monday January 22nd  – 8:00PM

• ~ Smudge by Gail Maurice ~
• ~ The Winter Chill by Paul M. Rickard, starring Dakota House and Glen Gould ~
• ~ A Shot in the Dark by Pamela Matthews ~

Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship Centre
 
TICKET PRICES – One Purchase for all Screenings (4 films)

• $10.00       Single Ticket
• $15.00       Couple
• $20.00       Family Pass [2 Adults 2 Kids]
• Free          Elders & Youth

Doors Open 7:30pm

Need info? Call Laurel Wood at 737-2174

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KUNUK COHN PRODUCTIONS
IGLOOLIK ISUMA PRODUCTIONS
BAROK FILM
PRESENT

A FILM BY ZACHARIAS KUNUK AND NORMAN COHN
“THE JOURNALS OF KNUD RASMUSSEN”

After completing “Atanarjuat The Fast Runner,” set in the mythological past in a community whose balance of life had not changed for 4,000 years, Zacharias Kunuk and Norman Cohn chose to depict a series of events that took place in 1922, when Shamanism was replaced by Christianity – and the balance of life was changed forever.

Kunuk was inspired to make the film for “a first audience that is Inuit: elders who are still alive and young people looking for a future beyond boredom, unemployment and suicide. It tries to answer two questions that haunted me my whole life: Who were we? And what happened to us?” Cohn adds “If the Inuit of “The Fast Runner” ended up in church, then the Inuit depicted in the “The Journals of Knud Rasmussen” have ended up in today’s headlines, all too often living desperate lives on the margins of society.”

For the team at Igloolik Isuma Productions, the best result of making “The Fast Runner,” was that many Inuit in the community discovered great things could be accomplished today through the same collaboration and teamwork on which the very survival of their people had once depended. The central rule of life, anchored in collaborative community effort, had not often been demonstrated since the changeover took place in 1922.

Igloolik Isuma’s mission begins and ends with the community. Depicting the lives of ancestors of people who worked on the production recognizes, dignifies and honors people who had a good sense of the world and their place in it, and thereby draws renewed sustaining energy into our world.

“We believe happy people should not worry about hidden things. Our spirits are offended if we think too much.” Avva

The words of the last great Iglulik shaman, Avva, and his life story, were recorded by the Danish adventurer Knud Rasmussen on his 5th Thule Expedition across the Canadian Arctic. Avva followed ancestral rules and taboos because they worked to protect human kind. They came out of life and were turned toward life.

SYNOPSIS

Iglulik, 1922-23. Real people, Actual events.
The great shaman, Avva, and his family are living on the land some distance from Iglulik, his home community that lately has taken up the teachings of Christian missionaries.

Explorer/adventurer Knud Rasmussen pays Avva a visit, accompanied by two fellow Danes: trader Peter Freuchen and anthropologist Therkel Mathiassen. Rasmussen hears and records Avva’s life story and that of his wife Orulu.Their son, Natar, impulsively agrees to guide Freuchen and Mathiassen north to Iglulik.

After a celebration, Rasmussen leaves to head west while Avva, facing strong headwinds, sets out with his family and guests en route for home. His beautiful daughter, Apak, has troubling dreams about the road ahead. In an oral culture that never anchored its history with pen and paper, digital technology today affords new opportunities for storytellers.

High-definition cameras are particularly well suited to the ancient art and values of Inuit storytelling, which invites viewers directly into a world of sentient beings – with no introductions – welcome to watch, listen and think for themselves.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ISUMA and "The Journals of Knud Rasmussen", GO TO: www.isuma.ca

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A Filmmakers Journey through Ipperwash
and the Murder of Chippewa activist Dudley George

Dudley George was the first person killed in a land claims dispute in the 20th century.

On September 4, 1995, Dudley George was one of thirty or so unarmed protesters, including Elders, women and children, who peacefully occupied Ipperwash Provincial Park to protest the destruction of their burial ground and a fifty year delay in returning their tribal land.

The Ontario Provincial government immediately ordered the Ontario Provincial Police to take steps to remove the Indians from the park. 

On the evening of September 6, under the cover of darkness, two hundred members of the heavily armed Tactical Response Unit moved in on the protesters.

The filmmaker’s journey:

Pamela spent many childhood summers camping at CFB Ipperwash where her father was the resident doctor for the cadets in training. Of course, she had no idea of the on-going land dispute. Then, on Labour day weekend, 1995, she met Dudley George during the peaceful occupation of the park – only to find out two days later that he had been killed by the OPP.  Soon after, Pam was hired by the George legal team to help on the case - and, in 2004, she played the role of Carolyn George in the CTV movie, “One Dead Indian”.

Produced, Directed, Written and Edited by
Pamela Matthews 
for York University’s MFA Master’s Thesis in Film Production
Thunderbird Productions     (DV/DVD 58min)
590B Roehampton Avenue,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada    M4P 1S8
(C) 416.997.3046     (T) 416.481.2848
Email:  pamelamatthews@sympatico.ca         
Website:   www.pamelamatthews.ca

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Upcoming scheduled visits to the remote northern First Nations include:

Indigenous Film Network Tour Schedule

TEAM A – Pamela Matthewa, Kyle Corston

Bearskin Lake 

Mon 15 – JKR
Tues 16 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark

Sachigo Lake 

Wed 17 – JKR
Thurs 18 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark
Fri 19 – Atanarjuat

Sioux Lookout 

Sun 21 – JKR,
Mon 22 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark

Big Trout 

Tues 23 – JKR,
Wed 24 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark

Wapekeka 

Thurs 25 – JKR

Cat Lake 

Fri 26 – JKR,
Sat 27 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark,
Sun 28 – Atanarjuat

TEAM B – Gail Maurice, Shawn Henry

Kingfisher 

Mon 15 – JKR
Tues 16 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark

Wunnumin 

Wed 17 – JKR
Thurs 18 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark

Weagamow Lake  

Fri 19 – JKR
Sat 20 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark
Sun 21 – Atanarjuat

Fort Hope 

Tues 23 – JKR
Wed 24 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark

Poplar Hill 

Fri 26 – JKR
Sat 27 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark
Sun 28 – Atanarjuat

Pikangikum 

Mon 29 – JKR
Tues 30 – Winter Chill; Shot in the Dark

Deer Lake 

Wed 31 – JKR
Thurs FEB 1 – W. Chill; Shot in Dark

North Spirit Lake 

Fri FEB 2 – JKR
Sat FEB 3 – Winter Chill; Shot in Dark
Sun FEB 4 - Atanarjuat

Workshops will be held in some communities.
Call Jacquie Carpenter, tour manager for more info. 416 535 1962 acquiec@isuma.ca

From http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/News/280768.html

Whitedog school closed until further notice
By Mike Aiken - Miner and News - Monday January 15, 2007

Roughly 230 students at Wabaseemoong First Nation School have been told to stay home this week as the community addresses air quality issues in the facility.

Band councillor Waylon Scott said they’re concerned about illnesses related to mold and airborne asbestos.

“The principal’s been flooded with calls from concerned parents,” he said Monday morning.

The beleaguered building has been the subject of studies and makeshift repairs in recent years, as the First Nation and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada argued over plans for new construction.

National Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations and Treaty Grand Chief Arnold Gardner have both been involved in lobbying efforts to speed up the approval process, after overcrowding forced a teacher to give up the front room of their home to make way for a classroom.

The staff room has also been converted to a special education room for 12 children, as staff tried to deal with 320 students last fall. Scott said some students may be staying home because they weren’t getting enough help with their lessons, while parents may be keeping their children home over health concerns.

Complaints have included headaches and nausea, with adult staff also reporting concerns, Scott added. The principal had recommended the closure of the school. His decision has since been supported by band council.

Scott also said the air quality concerns were part of a report done for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada two years ago, which were confirmed by a new independent study.

Indian and Northern Affairs spokesman Tony Prudori confirmed the situation at the school, saying it would be closed from Jan. 15 to 19 for repairs. He noted Health Canada had been called to help deal with the air quality issues.

Prudori noted the department had made $220,000 available for repairs to the school, which were completed before the end of 2005 and included the heating and ventilation system. Indian Affairs has also offered to pay for a portable in order to ease overcrowding, he said.

Prudori added the department is continuing to work with the First Nation, in light of the most recent report, again offering financial assistance to carry out repairs.

A spokesman for the minister’s office in Gatineau, Que., Patricia Valladeo, said they were hoping to schedule a meeting later this week, but weren’t able to release details. She also wasn’t able to comment on the details of the reports, but said she would be looking into both matters.

A new building to replace the 34-year-old school could cost $18 million, with design and tendering processes yet to be completed. The existing structure was built on clay, which means the foundation is sinking, leading to problems with shifting walls, bent door frames and the electrical panel separating from the wall in the maintenance area.

Problems with heating led to burst pipes last Christmas, which meant there was a flood in the gym that led to the buckling of wooden floorboards.

The Treasury Board Secretariat was expected to provide preliminary project approval by the end of January, setting the stage for detailed design work and more precise cost estimates.
The process was not supposed to be delayed by the recent cabinet shuffle, in which former president John Baird made way for Vic Toews.

Whitedog is a community of about 1,700, including 878 living on-reserve, which is located about an hour’s drive northeast of Kenora.

The following seven stories from the Sun Media highlight the challenges faced by Aboriginal people in Canadian society thanks to racist attitudes and systemic discrimination. The titles of these six stories that appear today in different Sun Media online news sites are:

• Borne the brunt - Aboriginals target of racism, stereotyping
• History lessons a textbook case of racism, Ottawan says
• Love ... and hate - 9/11's echoes and mixed bliss
• Canadians admit racist tendencies
• Natives say they get no respect - Cultural stereotyping rampant
• Aboriginal women gain job, life skills - The potential for profit
• 'Still a lot of racism' - But City of Edmonton trying to remove barriers for aboriginal people: expert

From http://winnipegsun.com/News/Canada/2007/01/15/3382356-sun.html

Borne the brunt - Aboriginals target of racism, stereotyping
By JOYANNE PURSAGA, STAFF REPORTER - Mon, January 15, 2007

As a teenager, he learned a brutal lesson about racism.

"We were sitting in a park and a bunch of non-aboriginal guys came and beat the hell out of us," recalled David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation. "At that time we found out the reason they beat us up was because we were a bunch of natives sitting in a park. Where does this hostility come from?"

Linda Simard faced similar hostility, although less overt, when her skin didn't match job interviewers' expectations.

"They would talk to me on the phone, but in person I could guarantee I wouldn't get a job. The enthusiasm just went away," said Simard, a 57-year-old Metis woman who has been looking for work the past two years. "I think it's a big problem for Metis people, unless the person can pass themselves off as white."

On this, Day 2 of a six-part Sun Media series on racism and tolerance, Chartrand and Simard's stories illustrate how Canada's aboriginal people have borne the brunt of prejudice through the years.
 
Poverty rates remain high in aboriginal communities, fueling social problems and feeding harmful stereotypes. The 2001 census found 32.5% of the country's aboriginal population had low-income status, compared with 27.2% of all visible minority people and 12.4% of the non-aboriginal population.

And while racism has become more subtle, it's still around, said Chartrand.

"A lot of times the colour of your skin and the way you're dressed leads people to come to conclusions quite quickly," said Chartrand.

He said tolerance is increasing but some stereotypes die hard.

"If you're aboriginal, you fall into these categories of welfare recipient and drug abuser. All these images flash into the eyes of the judge, without knowing the person," said Chartrand. "We're slowly clawing our way out of there, but it is slower than we expected."

He said education is the key to change.

"To combat racism, you have to build self-esteem in your people and ensure they feel equal in society," said Chartrand. "We need to understand and educate more."

Behind bars

One place where aboriginals aren't a minority is in many Canadian prisons. Wendy Whitecloud, a law professor specializing in aboriginal issues at the University of Manitoba, said aboriginal people are greatly over-represented behind bars.

Nationally, aboriginal people made up 2.7% of the Canadian population but account for 18.5% of the federal prison population, according to the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. In Manitoba, aboriginals make up 70% of the total prisoner population, according to Statistics Canada. In Saskatchewan, that figure is a staggering 77%.

Whitecloud said such facts can trigger racist attitudes, when people fail to seek out the root causes of criminal acts.

"It's something that seems to be really ingrained in the West that aboriginal folks just don't have the respect of the larger community and stereotypes fit into that process," said Whitecloud.

Yet some aboriginal people believe the focus on racism would be better directed to address immediate social problems for the community.

"The issue of racism has gotten out of hand. It baffles me that we focus on that when we need to get our children to school and kids shouldn't be having kids. Those are things we should focus on rather than racism," said Madeline Hatch, an aboriginal Winnipegger.

Hatch said over-sensitivity can lead too many issues to be defined as racially motivated.

"A lot of times people yell out 'racism' when it has nothing to do with racism," said Hatch.

Hatch says people should stop focussing on racism and start addressing social problems affecting the aboriginal community.

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From http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2007/01/15/3382752-sun.html

History lessons a textbook case of racism, Ottawan says
By LAURA CZEKAJ, OTTAWA SUN - Mon, January 15, 2007

A young Jerry Lanouette learned about his Aboriginal ancestors in Ottawa schools from textbooks that called them "savages" and "killers."

"A lot of our textbooks taught us that Indians were savages and pagans and that we scalped settlers without provocation. That we went on war parties and burned and pillaged settlers' villages," recalled the now-46-year-old.

"But nowhere in the history textbooks do they mention how Aboriginal people actually saved the lives of many settlers and showed them how to live in the harsh climate and conditions."

It hasn't been that long since those overtly racist lessons were being taught in Ottawa and in cities across the country, Lanouette, who is the executive director of the Odawa Native Friendship Centre, pointed out yesterday.

"A lot of our so-called Baby Boomers are about my age, so they were also taught the same things through our education systems," he said. "So most of our policy-making and decision-making bureaucrats that are in government today are products of that era and that environment. So you wonder how much of that train of thought and perception is really deep-rooted in their beliefs and if their actions are affected."
 
Following the recent murder of Kelly Morriseau, a young Native woman who was found dead in Gatineau Park, Lanouette said, the media and the public seemed to focus more on the police comments about her possible involvement in prostitution than on the fact that she was a young woman whose death left her children motherless.

"To me, that's just going into that stereotypical approach of what a Native is," he said. "A lot of people see us as lazy, uneducated drunks with social issues."

But there is hope for the next generation to learn from mistakes made by their predecessors, said Lanouette.

"I think it's (the Aboriginal community's) responsibility to educate and raise awareness of Aboriginal people within mainstream society," he said. "But again, that's an arduous task without the proper resources."

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From http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2007/01/15/3382753-sun.html

Love ... and hate - 9/11's echoes and mixed bliss
By VIVIAN SONG, NATIONAL BUREAU - Mon, January 15, 2007
 
The news didn't come as a surprise but the expectation didn't dull the sting of the truth either.

When told that a Leger Marketing poll for Sun Media revealed that Canadians have the lowest opinion of the Arab community, Khaled Mouammar didn't pause or express alarm.

Instead there was a slight sigh of resignation as the president of the Canadian Arab Federation -- who is not Muslim -- launched into a frank dialogue on the state of Arab-Canadian relations.

"What you're saying confirms that when people have low esteem of an ethnic group, they're not going to hire them, or socialize with them," Mouammar said. "This is why young Arabs and Muslim youth are facing issues of low self-esteem, alienation and marginalization."

Little more than half of Canadians polled had a good opinion of the Arab community at 53%, while other groups received majority approval.
 
Mouammar pointed to a recent 2006 report from the Canadian Labour Congress that found unemployment rates were highest among Arab and West Asian populations in Canada at 14%, followed by Blacks at 11.5%.

His concerns were echoed by the executive director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, who also called for less talk and more implementation of antiracism legislation such as the Employment Equity Act.

"Canada on the surface has viable legislation that deals with racism but the implementation side is lacking," said Ayman Al-Yassini.

"Members of racialized groups are not getting jobs they're qualified to fill because of stereotyping."

The latest annual report out of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, in 2005, chastizes the public sector for continuing to underutilize visible minorities. They hold just 8.1% of all public sector jobs, while the private sector was applauded for its overall representation.

The stunning arrests of 17 terror suspects in Toronto last summer also brought the Anti-terrorism Act to the fore.

The act is an institutional form of discrimination, Mouammar charged.

"Instead of saying these are accused, alleged suspects, Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulated the security forces. He really convicted them publicly before they were tried in courts."

But not everyone agrees.

"We demand that Charter rights be granted to all and that people be presumed innocent. But we don't think the Canadian government has acted contrary to that at all," said Munir Pervaiz, secretary of the Muslim Canadian Congress.

In fact, Pervaiz called on Muslim-Canadians to do their part in educating Canadians, saying that instead of showing the diversity of the Muslim world they've chosen to "Arabicize" themselves, feeding the confusion.

"It's our duty to let Canada know what the true face of a Muslim is. It's very diverse, multinational and comes from a community as diverse as Canada now -- the Far East, Turkey, North Africa, India, and Sri Lanka."

NOT TRUTHFUL

Meanwhile, 47% of Canadians may admit to being somewhat racist, but one expert questions if the 51% of people who believe they're not are being truthful to themselves.

"We may not see ourselves as racist but we all have some kinds of racist attitudes to some extent," said Tuula Heinonen, an associate professor at the University of Manitoba specializing in cross-cultural adaptation.

Respondents likely interpreted the label differently, she explained, with some linking "racist" with behaviour -- never having assaulted someone because of their race may be enough for some to shirk the label.

"I think it's a good thing to realize you might be racist and that maybe you should think about it," she said. "If people are willing to admit, they might be more willing to do something about it."

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Scott Young and Helen Kim, a mixed race couple, relax in their Toronto home with son Noah, 2. "Intermarrying is the last frontier in social integration." says Anne Millan, author of the 2004 report Mixed Unions.

It's called yellow fever.

A social phenomenon that describes the preference -- usually among men -- for Asian partners.

And it was precisely Scott Young's immunity to the "fever" that Helen Kim, a Canadian-Korean, felt drawn to him, she says laughing.

"Part of what attracted me to him was because he had never dated an Asian before," she says in her Toronto-area home with son Noah, 2, in her lap.

"There was no legacy of yellow fever here," Young jokes in return.

Theirs is becoming an increasingly common story in Canada where mixed unions are on the rise.

According to Statistics Canada, interracial couples made up 3%, or 452,000, of Canada's married or common-law couples in 2001 -- that's up 35% since 1991.

But while the majority of respondents had no problem dealing with a taxi driver, doctor, supervisor or neighbour of another ethnicity, their response was markedly different when asked how they would feel if their child were to intermarry.

Sixteen per cent say it would depend on the race, and 9% said they would react negatively.

"People in mixed unions tend to be younger, live in urban areas, and tend to be highly educated," said Anne Milan, senior analyst at StatsCan and author of the 2004 report titled Mixed Unions.

Experts attribute the rise to Canada's growing diversity.

And some sociologists, like University of Toronto professor Monica Boyd, describe the growing trend as a barometer of social tolerance since marriage is such a binding union between two separate identities.

"Intermarrying is the last frontier in social integration," she said. "It's an intimate fact that produces the next generation. It's one of the most important indicators of acceptance and integration into an ongoing social world."

SMALLER POOL

Milan's study found that the Japanese are the most likely to partner outside their group. The long Canadian heritage of the Japanese community partially explains why they have the highest proportion of mixed unions, Milan says. But unlike the Chinese and South Asians, who are among the least likely to intermarry, the Japanese also have a smaller pool of eligible partners within their own group to choose from, she added.

And what of the children born of these mixed unions? It's often said mixed babies make for beautiful children and Noah is no exception. His features are distinct, a hypnotic blend of Caucasian and Asian traits: Dark, round eyes set in almond hollows, soft chestnut hair and impossibly porcelain skin.

But if intermarriages result in mixed children, is there a fear of cultural and ethnic dilution?

"The only thing I'm more worried about is if he gravitates more towards one culture," Young said.

Noah is a bright young tot with a growing vocabulary -- an English one.

He is already well-versed in hockey jargon -- and deft with a stick-- but only recently learned from his grandmother how to count in Korean.

Kim likens Noah's mixed heritage to her own identity as a Canadian-Korean: She takes the best of both worlds.

"I'll sign him up for Korean lessons but I won't force him. Just how I'll sign him up for French and Spanish," Kim said.

She's already anticipated a scenario in which Noah will be forced to gaze back at himself.

"I asked Scott how he would handle it when Noah comes home crying because someone called him a Ch---," she said.

For now, Noah sits quietly in his mother's lap.

His parents, too, have fallen into a brief silence when asked if it would bother them were their adult son to come home with a partner of another race.

Kim comes back with a resounding "no," while Young offers a more cautious response.

"I have no issue with ethnicity. I have an issue with personality. If it's a culture that forces him to change and become different, we probably wouldn't want that. As long as he can make his own decisions."

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From http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2007/01/15/3382754-sun.html

Canadians admit racist tendencies
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, NATIONAL BUREAU - Mon, January 15, 2007

OTTAWA -- Shattering the myth of Canada as a colour-blind nation, nearly half of Canadians admit they're at least a bit racist, a startling Sun Media poll reveals.

The sweeping survey of attitudes toward immigrant ethnic communties, conducted by Leger Marketing, produced eyebrow-raising results by asking Canadians to take an honest look in the mirror.

While 51% insist they aren't at all racist, another 47% confess they harbour at least some racist views -- and that their prejudice is planted firmly at the door of Arab minorities.

"Canada prides itself on being an accepting country that is a number of different ethnic communities coming together, and obviously immigration is a big part of where we've come as a country," said Dave Scholz, vice-president of Leger Marketing.

"But , that being said, almost half of us still believe that there are some racist undertones within our behaviour."

Our bigotry doesn't evenly blanket all minority groups.

The survey found most Canadians hold a high opinion of Italian, Latin American, Asian, Jewish and Black communities, yet only 53% said they think well of members of the Arab community.

Those figures suggest a post-9/11 backlash that is unfairly tarring all Arabs with the same brush as the Taliban, Scholz said. They also reflect the power of media coverage and world affairs in shaping personal views of our neighbours at home.

"I find it worrisome that coverage could potentially lead the Canadian population to be prejudiced or racist against an entire group," he said.

The poll also shows that while most Canadians would vote for a prime minister from an ethnic group other than their own, 21% believe some races are more gifted than others. And while we're okay with a taxi driver, supervisor, doctor or neighbour who's of another race, we're ill at ease with the idea of our son or daughter entering a cross-cultural marriage.

"With politics, it's more about how you deal with people and who you are than about what ethnic community you come from. But when you start to personalize it ... then that's a different case," Scholz said.

REDNECK

The poll also proves Alberta's "redneck" image is undeserved, with 6% fewer people than the national average saying they hold some racist views. Ontarians are also less racist than most Canadians, while Prairie dwellers are 2% higher than the average.

Because Sun Media's Racial Tolerance Report was compiled through an online survey, Scholz said results are even more accurate than if carried out by other methods that provide less anonymity.

This online Leger Marketing poll, commissioned by Sun Media, surveyed a representative national sample of 3,092 adult Canadians between Dec. 27, 2006, and Jan. 5, 2007. Responses are considered accurate within plus or minus 1.8 percentage points 19 times out of 20.

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From http://torontosun.com/News/OtherNews/2007/01/15/3382689-sun.html

Natives say they get no respect - Cultural stereotyping rampant
By BRETT CLARKSON, TORONTO SUN - Mon, January 15, 2007

As the only aboriginal kid in school, Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux was frequently called a "squaw" and a "darky" by the white children.

"I'm resilient, so I fought my way through it and I survived it," she recalls.

Growing up in a home fraught with alcoholism and violence, she dropped out of high school at 16, only to return to university and finally completing her PhD in anthropology in her 40s.

Now Wesley-Esquimaux teaches aboriginal history and culture courses at the University of Toronto and Laurentian University to students of all backgrounds.

She says younger aboriginals are only recently beginning to show signs the community is recovering from the cultural stereotypes promoted by Hollywood and the trauma of the residential schools suffered by the older generations.

"The aboriginal community is stereotyped as uneducated for the most part, and that's certainly an issue we're grappling with," Wesley-Esquimaux says. "You know, that they don't like to work, that they're lazy, that they work on 'Indian time', that they only come in when they feel like it. There's all kinds of biases and stereotypes."

Wesley-Esquimaux, who lives on the Georgina Island reserve in Lake Simcoe, said the sad scenes of native men staggering drunk on Toronto streets misleads the public to believe all aboriginals are alcoholics.

The reality is that most aboriginals are invisible to the mainstream population because they're too busy working and living like everybody else, she said. But the stereotypes still loom heavily.

"Because they're the only ones who are really visible, that's what people think Indians are," Wesley-Esquimaux says.

"And the reality is that alcoholism rates in a lot of communities are way, way down. This generation, who have pretty much begun the recovery process from the residential schools experience and a lot of that trauma, are just not drinking like that (anymore)," she said.

These days, Wesley-Esquimaux says, there's a heightened interest in the native community among both aboriginals and non-aboriginals. She also said she's rarely been the victim of any kind of racism in Toronto during her adult years.

Still, the community knows that great social challenges still exist and that poverty rates remain high. The 2001 census found 32.5% of the country's aboriginal population had low-income status, compared with 27.2% of all visible minorities and 12.4% of the non-aboriginal population.

STILL HAS OBSTACLES

And even if tolerance and education are on the rise, racism towards native people is still out there, even if it's subconscious, Wesley-Esquimaux says.

"If you're obviously, identifiably native, if your hair is long, people will have a tendency, whether they're conscious of it or not, to equate that with something in their own unconscious, their own biases," she says.

Wendy Whitecloud, a University of Manitoba law professor specializing in aboriginal issues, says the aboriginal community still has obstacles to overcome.

"It's something that's really ingrained in the West that aboriginal folks just don't have the respect of the larger community, and stereotypes fit into that process," Whitecloud says.

Wesley-Esquimaux says public stand-offs like the Caledonia conflict are frustrating to the community because it wants the federal government to step in and help resolve the situation in a positive way.

PAST INJUSTICES

She added there's some resentment in the community towards various levels of government for past injustices, and also because of the recent Caledonia and Deseronto land claim disputes.

Aboriginals need to rise above this resentment and sense of victimization, Wesley-Eaquimaux says. The community needs to foster a sense of pride in itself if it's going to overcome the social challenges it still faces, she said.

"Aboriginal people need to see themselves as victors, not victims," Wesley-Esquimaux says.

"Because they're still here in 2007... They've retained their cultures and spiritual values, and they did that in spite of so many different kinds of efforts, legislation, laws, and attempts to take it all away from them."

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From http://winnipegsun.com/Business/2007/01/15/3382345-sun.html

Aboriginal women gain job, life skills - The potential for profit
By JOYANNE PURSAGA, STAFF REPORTER - Mon, January 15, 2007
 
Two years into a fruitless job hunt, Linda Simard feared her working life was over.

Simard had held a job through most of her adult life, but after losing an office position, she was forced to collect welfare.

"I was feeling down because I couldn't get hired," said the 57-year-old Metis woman. "I felt like giving up."

Fast forward to today and Simard is preparing to launch her own business.

The recent graduate of the Self Employment Program for Aboriginal Women (SEPAW), offered at Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc., an aboriginal support centre in Winnipeg, hopes to launch a full-time cleaning and organization service within the next few months.

She said the program allowed her to see the profit potential in her own tidy habits.

SELF-SUSTAINING

"You don't always see yourself in a positive way when you're not working," said Simard.

Only low-income aboriginal women living in the Winnipeg area are eligible for the program. It aims to teach students how to start their own business and become self-sustaining.

The next course will last 21 weeks. It begins Feb. 5. The process includes life skills training and a 15-week period to develop a business plan.

Information sessions for applicants will be held Jan. 17 and 24 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the McDermot Avenue centre.

Ka Ni Kanichihk's executive director Leslie Spillett said the program offers a unique focus.

"Right now, we are the only self-employment program that focuses on aboriginal self-employment in Winnipeg," said Spillett. "We found current programs didn't seem to stay connected to aboriginal people in the same way."

Spillett said SEPAW allows women to learn in a space that adheres to aboriginal culture. A sacred area, for example, allows women to practice traditional tobacco ceremonies and prayer.

"Everything we teach centres around aboriginal methods," added Sharon McIlraith, the program's manager, noting the course includes an overview on First Nations and Metis culture.

The program is funded by grants through Service Canada, a federal government department, and is provided free to participants.

Spillett said the program teaches women to discover their full potential.

"A lot of women have a natural skill, so they need the ability to get someone to pay for this labour," said Spillett. "It's to get people to understand their life experiences can be turned into something positive."

The six participants who completed the last round of classes are now preparing to launch businesses in crafts, catering and fashion design.

Each will have financial support from social assistance for one year following the program's completion to allow them to invest in their businesses.

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From http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2007/01/15/3382542-sun.html

'Still a lot of racism' - But City of Edmonton trying to remove barriers for aboriginal people: expert
By AJAY BHARDWAJ, EDMONTON SUN - Mon, January 15, 2007

Lewis Cardinal has heard all of the stereotypes about aboriginal people.

They're lazy, uneducated, unemployed, can't hold down a job and usually have criminal records.

He shakes his head.

"Over 70% are employed," he says.

Nonetheless, Cardinal, an aboriginal consultant who worked on the Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Accord, says racism towards aboriginal people is just as prevalent now as it was years ago.

"I still experience it today," said the 44-year-old PhD student who hails from Sucker Creek First Nation in northern Alberta.

"There's still a lot of racism. I take calls from people who've been turned down for apartments. They'll go to get a place and soon as they there, they'll say it's taken."

As part of the second day of a week-long series on racism, the Sun turns its attention to the prejudice aboriginal people face.

Cardinal and Muriel Stanley-Venne, president of the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, say racism towards Canada's indigenous people has been ingrained over generations of government policy.

"Aboriginal people have had very few rights," said Stanley-Venne.

"All the discriminatory things that have happened, happened because of government legislation.

"How do you fight the government?"

The systemic discrimination includes an education that has taught students little about aboriginal history, philosophy and ways of life, said Cardinal.

"People don't know who we are," he said.

Poverty rates remain high in aboriginal communities, fuelling social problems and feeding harmful stereotypes.

The 2001 census found 32.5% of the country's aboriginal population had low-income status, compared with 27.2% of all visible minority people and 12.4% of the non-aboriginal population.

Yet some aboriginal people believe the focus on racism would be better directed to address immediate social problems for the community.

"The issue of racism has gotten out of hand. It baffles me that we focus on that when we need to get our children to school and kids shouldn't be having kids. Those are things we should focus on rather than racism," said Madeline Hatch, an aboriginal from Winnipeg.

Hatch said over-sensitivity can lead to many issues to be defined as racially motivated.

"A lot of times people yell out 'racism' when it has nothing to do with racism," said Hatch.

And there's hope.

In 2004, the city established the Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Accord Initiative to make the city known as a place that "welcomes, supports and embraces aboriginal contributions toward Edmonton's culture and economy."

"It's an earnest attempt by the City of Edmonton to remove barriers," said Cardinal.

"It's a document about relationships and how you create relationships."

The accord sets the stage to talk about issues of the past and move towards correcting them, said Cardinal.

"We need to do something to bring down these barriers. The way you start to correct historical injustices is to give people a place to come talk about the issues."