G'waabaamin Tobasonakwut Kinew

Date of Passing: December 23, 2012

Print this Passage

TOBASONAKWUT KINEW

TOBASONAKWUT KAAGAGEWANAKWEB PETER (KELLY) KINEW 1936 - 2012 Ahow ndinawemaaganiidog, Tobasonakwut Kaagagewanakweb Peter Kinew (Kelly), Pizhiw O'dotem (Lynx clan), made his journey to the spirit world on the morning of December 23, 2012. He was 76. Tobasonakwutiban was a well-respected member of the Anishinaabe community, whose life and work was known throughout Canada and the United States. He was a tireless advocate and teacher of civil liberties and treaty rights, indigenous language, culture, and philosophy. He was a pipe carrier, Sundance chief, and high-degree member of the Mite'iwin. Tobasonakwutiban was born on his father's trap line on Lake of the Woods in 1936 and chosen by elders as a child to be instructed and mentored in the knowledge and traditions of the Anishinaabeg. His knowledge was unparalleled. Throughout his life he loved to spend time on the lake sharing its beauty with his family and friends from all over the world. At a young age he was taken away to St. Mary's Residential School, which he was only allowed to attend until grade eight. Despite this, he pursued his education at the Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University, University of Manitoba (BA), culminating in an Honourary Doctorate in Laws from The University of Winnipeg in 2011. He encouraged many to pursue their educations, inspiring countless people to become lawyers and doctors. He also inspired many to live a life free of drugs and alcohol. In his political career, Tobasonakwutiban served as Grand Chief of Grand Council Treaty 3 (1972 to 1975, 1991 to 1995), and as the first Ontario regional chief for AFN, as well as several terms as Chief of the Ojibways of Onigaming. He was instrumental in the establishment and guidance of many organizations that advocated for language revitalization, treaty and First Nations rights. In the quest to find healing after the loss of his two sons Darryl and Danny, he continued in the Mite'iwin and other Anishinaabe ceremonies, and embraced the Lakota Sundance, becoming a powerful teacher and mentor to many in these traditions. As part of his life journey, Tobasonakwutiban strove for meaningful action and carried out traditional Anishinaabe ceremonies in the name of reconciliation, with emphasis on the residential school experience. This included giving Pope Benedict XVI an eagle feather in 2009, adopting the Archbishop of Winnipeg James Weisgerber as his brother in 2012, and sharing the Anishinaabe worldview with all peoples, Native and non-Native. Tobasonakwutiban was a profound thinker. He connected western intellectual traditions and scientific inquiry with Anishaabe philosophy and cosmology. It was his life's work to share the depth and beauty of Anishinaabe wisdom with the world. He was a founding member of the Native American Science Academy. He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He joins his mother, father, sons Darryl and Danny, twin Bineshii, and brothers Edwin and John. He is survived by his wife Kathi, brother Fred, sister Nancy, children Pat (Herman), Diane, Wabanakwut, Shawon Kiwetinashiik (Jesse), Nenaa'ikiizhikok, grandchildren Devon, Derek, Melissa, Jennifer, Daniel, Wendy, Jason, Matthew, Lisa, Peshanakwut, Mike, Dominik Oshkii'anang, Bezhigomiigwaan and numerous great-grandchildren and adopted relatives. A memorial service for family and friends will be held in Winnipeg at Glen Lawn Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 27. The wake will be held on Friday, December 28 at Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, ON. The funeral will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 29 at the Onigaming Round House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba or to the Dr. Tobasonakwut Kinew Fund for the promotion of Indigenous Culture, History and Language, care of The University of Winnipeg Foundation.

 As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on December 27, 2012

I was very fortunate to know Mr. Peter Tobasoankwut Kinew. A gentleman of great knowledge that is for sure. He will be missed by very many people. 

I think the family will not be at all surprised by the amount of people that Peter Kinew influenced in a good way. He was generous with his Teachings and his time. 

A Pipe Maker.

 

 

Killing Stephen Harper's

Killing Stephen Harper's Budget C-45 Omnibus Bill is not going to happen. The Senate passed the Bill this last week.
The  Budget Bill address's more things than what was normally found in a budget bill. Now you are getting a 457 page document that affects "64 different Acts and regulations". 

For Indian people this just might be the final insult to them.  Years of insults from a government and a country that is basking in the Land's riches can do that to a people. The Canadian people are reaping (and raping) the benefits of all the vast resources the land has. Land that is not theirs. So what are the Indigenous folk to do? Be standing by and let Canada tell the world that we Indians are getting "hand outs" and everything for free?

I don't think anyone in their right mind would stand for that. Trouble is, we have been at the end of a losing battle. Canada continues to play the game that they are in fact the good guys. We Indians are the bad guys. It is not the truth. Truth is that Canada knows it is doing wrong. They continue to use their laws to break the Indian.  Canada as a whole is not doing right by the Indian.

If Canada did right, it would acknowledge the fact that the Land was not theirs to begin with. Sure they have the deal (Treaties) with many Tribes but the deal is not followed. Canada did not negotiate for the resources. Canada did not get the Traditional Lands used by the Indians. Canada lies to the public about what the Treaties mean.

In any case if you really truly think about it, Canada knows it is not behaving honourably.

So what now. Canada's head is Prime Minister Stephen Harper. An individual with no conscience. He is going to further take more from the Indian. Harper and Canada continues with the Big Lie. The Big Lie is that Indians should sell their Land. This is suppose to give them some benefit and make them more "equal" with the rest of Canada. Truth is, Canada is living the lie. Canada is the one that has no right to sell the resources and the Land. They started cheating the Indians from contact and are continuing today. Look at the way they do it. With laws like the Natural Resources Transfer Act (NRTA). They gave the Land to the provinces. Just so they could get it away from the Indians. Plain and simple.  There are endless examples of the tactics used by Canada to dismantle the Indian. Bill C-45 is the latest example. I think Harper with his 'attitude' and comments is actually trying to goad the Indians into a war.

I hope that doesn't happen but it is an inevable conclusion. People are going to start realizing the Big Lie will never stop. Canada knows this. Canada has been preparing for this for a long time. CSIS is watching. 
CSIS is the Canadian spy agency. They are watching Indians. Indians that are speaking about the Big Lie.

Harper has stirred up the nest. The young are going to get busy.

They will soon realize the action of protests and education is not going to work on Harper. He is the voice of Canada. Canada speaks loud against the Indian. So what is an Indian to do? Become another FLQ? Thing is Indians are all about peace. So what will they do? Another Oka?

I really think Harper is wanting to eradicate the Indian once and for all. He will not care if it is done through policy, law or by the gun. In fact he would prefer the gun. This would give him the "rationale" to end the Treaty and Unceded land obligations.

Canada is going to have to deal with the fall out of Harper's actions to "kill the Indian".

Look at Chief Theresa Spence and her noble act of courage. Harper could give "two-shits" about whether she dies or not. He is not the type to listen to anyone. So how do you get a person to listen?  Or even worse have someone change their mind?

If someone put a gun to my head I would change my mind I bet.I don't know the answers to dealing with the type of hate that Harper has been showing towards Indians.  You know some people only respond to gunboat diplomacy. Don't know the answers to addressing the Harper's of the world, but someone does.

And I bet it is the young people and the women.



“ The past cannot be changed, the future is still in your power. ”
— Hugh White 

"Our Hearts Are Broken"

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/12/16/connecticut-school-shooting.html

"Scripture...heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds." President Obama

Like all of you I can't help but keep thinking about those poor sweet babies and the brave Women that were brutally murdered in Newtown, Connecticut.

They are just babies. The manner in how they died is straight horror.

What can anyone say? There is nothing that can ease the pain. I cannot imagine the pain, the sorrow, the hurt, the loss, the isolation, the anger, the grief going on in that community right now. 

• Charlotte Bacon, 6
• Daniel Barden, 7
• Olivia Engel, 6
• Josephine Gay, 7
• Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
• Dylan Hockley, 6
• Madeleine Hsu, 6
• Catherine Hubbard, 6
• Chase Kowalski, 7
• Jesse Lewis, 6
• James Mattioli, 6
• Grace McDonnell, 7
• Emilie Parker, 6
• Jack Pinto, 6
• Noah Pozner, 6
• Caroline Previdi, 6
• Jessica Rekos, 6
• Avielle Richman, 6
• Benjamin Wheeler, 6
• Allison Wyatt, 6
• Rachel Davino, 29
• Dawn Hocksprung, 47
• Anne Marie Murphy, 52
• Lauren Russeau, 30
• Mary Sherlach, 56
• Victoria Soto, 27

These are the days of the endless summer
These are the days, the time is now
There is no past, there's only future
There's only here, there's only now

Oh your smiling face, your gracious presence
The fires of spring are kindling bright
Oh the radiant heart and the song of glory
Crying freedom in the night

These are the days by the sparkling river
His timely grace and our treasured find
This is the love of the one magician
Turned the water into wine

These are the days of the endless dancing and the
Long walks on the summer night
These are the days of the true romancing
When I'm holding you oh, so tight

These are the days by the sparkling river
His timely grace and our treasured find
This is the love of the one great magician
Turned the water into wine

These are the days now that we must savor
And we must enjoy as we can
These are the days that will last forever
You've got to hold them in your heart.

"Not for Free Loading Indians"

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/12/14/braydon-mazurkiewich-racist-facebook-twitter_n_2303383.html


WINNIPEG - The head of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative party's youth wing was ousted Friday after posting an admittedly racist comment about aboriginals on his Facebook page.
Braydon Mazurkiewich was upset about a planned urban reserve in Winnipeg when he wrote that the site, which sits on a former military base, was "built for hardworking men and women of the military, not freeloading Indians."
 ...
Mazurkiewich handed in his resignation and apologized for the comment, but maintained his opposition to the reserve in suburban Winnipeg.
"What I did write was racist and I do apologize for that," he said.
"But my feelings about the reserve going in ... I don't think that would fit well in that community at all. You know, you hear on reserves all the time, people are burning down their own homes. There are shootings and stabbings, and we don't need to bring more of that to Winnipeg."
------------------------------------------------------------
Holy heck this is so fucking funny!  I laughed. This stupid young racist man, didn't have enough sense to keep his feelings to himself. By hey, he is going places. You will see this type of person is readily accepted in Canadian politics. He is a poster boy for what is really going on in Canada. You know Canada? The place of great moral regard for the world?

Canada is filled with a bunch of spoiled privileged white people; yes yuppies and hipsters.     They will stand up and condemn Israel, Palestine, Egypt, war torn Africa, and any other place that doesn't fit with their clean world.  Canada will condemn ever place in the Sun that they feel is not as good as old Canada. They want the leaders of those countries to respect and honour the Rights of their own people. Canada will send money, even send their warriors, police, engineers to go and make sure that the world is complying with their beliefs of respect and honour. I get that. That is a noble thing to do and strive for. Canada is indeed the moral Chief in the world.  Canada can say it believes in the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  That is awesome. Wonder why Canada, the superior moral Chief of the World voted against the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?

It is because of the fact that Canada does not like Indigenous People. Plain and simple. People believe and promote the idea that Indians in Canada are a bunch of Free Loaders and Indian Givers. We are looked at with disdain, contempt and pure hatred. No doubt about that. The young leader, Mazurkiewich is just a product of the hate that Canada has for Indigenous people.

The truth is that Canada, although they want to be the face of morality in the world, they are in fact two faced.  Canada has it real good. They have a sweet heart deal when it comes to the natural resources. They have it good when it comes to dealing with the Indigenous folk. They just keep stringing the Indians  along with the notion of "Rights Recognition". That is so funny. The Indians know they are screwed but they keep hoping that Canada will live up to its deal that was negotiated and signed. And where there is no deal, the Indians believe that Canada will leave their land alone or negotiate in good faith for the resources.

No such luck. Canada despises Indians. Indians are no good for nothing free loaders. "sigh". Its too bad that Canada doesn't realize how good they got it. They can play the good guy image all they want on the world stage, but behind the curtain, Canada is still what it is, a land of hate filled spoiled rich white people.

Sadly, they are the people that run the country. And why should Canada change? No reason to. They got it all. As long as they keep selling the "goods" about Indians receiving hand outs, people will not know that Canada is a cheat and dishonourable nation. There is no incentive to deal honestly with the Indigenous people in Canada (and the U.S., New Zealand, Australia).

Here is a quote from the movie the Grand Canyon;  in the scene a tow truck driver Simon is hooking up a car that has been broke down. The car owner is facing some bad gang guys Rocstar in the neighbourhood. The tow truck driver is trying to safely get the car owner out of the situation:

Simon: I've gotta ask you for a favor. Let me go my way here. This truck's my responsibility, and now that the car's hooked up to it, it's my responsibility too.
Rocstar: Do you think I'm stupid? Just answer that question first.
Simon: Look, I don't know nothing about you; you don't know nothing about me. I don't know if you're stupid, or some kind of genius. All I know is that I need to get out of here, and you got the gun. So I'm asking you, for the second time, let me go my way here.
Rocstar: I'm gonna grant you that favor, and I'm gonna expect you to remember it if we ever meet again. But tell me this, are you asking me as a sign of respect, or are you asking because I've got the gun?
Simon: Man, the world ain't supposed to work like this. I mean, maybe you don't know that yet. I'm supposed to be able to do my job without having to ask you if I can. That dude is supposed to be able to wait with his car without you ripping him off. Everything is supposed to be different than it is.
Rocstar: So what's your answer?
Simon: You ain't got the gun, we ain't having this conversation.
Rocstar: That's what I thought: no gun, no respect. That's why I always got the gun.

What does the quote tell you?  It tells you that no respect can come without a threat of force behind it. That is the reality of the situation around the world and in Canada.

Chief Spence Hunger Strike

Jingle Dress Dancing For Chief Spence\

 

To raise money for traveling costs for the traditional sacred Jingle Dress dancers and song carriers from Whitefish Bay, ON, to get to Victoria Island to honour Chief Theresa Spence.

http://www.gofundme.com/1o8je0

  http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2012/12/12/support-pours-in-for-attawapiskat-chief-theresa-spence/

By Annette Francis
APTN National News
"In the light of the crescent moon the Sunrise Ceremony begins marking the start of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s hunger strike Tuesday in Ottawa.
Spence is holding the hunger strike to force a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper or the Queen to have them respect treaty rights.
First Nation peoples across the country have expressed support for Spence, some deciding to fast for a day in solidarity. The Samson Cree Nation scheduled to hold an hour blockade of a highway in support Wednesday as well.
“I think that’s what keeps me going,” said Spence who is holding her hunger strike on Victoria Island that sits below Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada. “All the support and kind words and all the prayers I’m going to be doing, especially with this ceremony that happened this morning, it keeps me going.”
Jason Arbour was at the ceremony Tuesday to show his respect for Spence.
Arbour said Harper isn’t handling things properly.
“Again, he’s making legislation without any presence which is illegal and repugnant to English law. I believe he needs to sit down with the people and do things properly,” he said.
Ken Billings said legislation like Bill C-45 is concerning not only for First Nations, but all of Canadians.
“I think it’s a grave concern that our government is not listening to our voices and not respecting our rights and it’s come to this and if it doesn’t spark Canadians I don’t think nothing will,” said Billings. “This is our basic rights and clean water and food is everybody’s concern.”
Spence will be living in a teepee during her protest.
She’ll refuse food until her demands are met. Her last meal was an eight ounce steak and baked potatoes. She also said the housing crisis in her community, that made headlines around the world a year ago, remains unresolved.
But the parliamentary secretary of Aboriginal Affairs said it’s unfortunate that Spence has taken this measure of protest.
Greg Rickford said the department wrote Spence last week offering to visit Attawapiskat to ensure the community has what it needs as winter approaches.
“We’ve made repeated requests and offers including support to work with the community to help develop a long-term housing strategy and we’re waiting for that report, this is a governance issue and we hope that Chief Spence and her council put that housing strategy out to us,” said Rickford.
Spence will be monitored by the close eye of an elder. The RCMP isn’t too far away either.|"

Don't fool around on an Indian Woman.

In our Reserve if you "fool" around on your wife or partner, you are in trouble.

You will suffer the consequences and deservedly so.

One night a bingo a woman scorned, walked in to the crowded hall and threw some shitty underwear on the table where another woman sat. The scorned woman said "You want to take my man? Well you take his shitty shorts and you wash them."

Another fellow had his car windows smashed up. All of his lights were busted out. The woman went crazy on the car. She went back into the house, got his clothes and cut them up. She was berserk. She was like dancing around. The neighbors just watched as it played out. They had seen this before. The couple re-engaged many times even wanting to get married. They finally went their separate ways.

Yep, you want to fool around on an Indian woman, you take your chances.

Never heard of anyone getting sliced though. The attacks usually are on the clothes or on the man's pride.

Some women are pretty nice about it, they will just throw his clothes all over the yard. The really really nice wants will actually put the clothes in a garbage bag out in the yard.

:D

Of course these same women almost always take their man back.  :D