What would I do differently if I were part of Council in Sagkeeng.

I think in our Election that should be the first question. There is a reason that people are asking for changing the status quo. If you are not willing to work differently what is the point of being in office, only thing different is who receives services.

That is something. I think everyone has ideas. We all want our community to do well. Or we want to help the people. Everyone has an idea on what can be done to make the Reserve a better place to live. I think it is not enough to have good thoughts, you have to the ability to do what needs to be done. You know the three "A's" to be successful in the position: Affability, Availability and Ability. That is your Council should be approachable and easy to talk with, be there when the community needs them and have the education, experience to know what decision and action should be made. Not be driven by adhoc choices or emotional decisions.

I have heard this quite a bit, "the Chief and Council don't help me". Indian Reserves are different than town. Our Council must have an individual approach in dealing with people. We have come to expect that the Chief and Council must address the issues personally. I can see it is important to people. "Come and see how my house is". That is one of the big issues in First Nations communities. The housing issue. There is the job or lack of jobs in Reserves. There are also a host of other issues that is not discussed on the campaign trail but in the homes; like violence, drinking, drugs, gangs, the pill popping, the mediocrity of people doing just enough to get by in a job. People would like a visible Council. I can understand that. However, we should also realize that there is much do in a position of leadership. That is why Chief and Council must depend on their department staff/people. Program staff must be able to deal with everyday issues that arise. Council can not second guess every decision made at the program level. That is why you have competent staff. Staff that are equipped to meet the challenges of the job.

I think that the Council is in a Trust position with an obligation to EVERYONE. That is not just putting one person ahead of the other person. I know that equality is not easy in society. One of the things we can strive for is equity. Being able to speak and share information with everyone. That is key in a Reserve. People want to know what is going on. Gate keeping is an aspect of keeping power, when really the power is in the people. Sounds like rhetoric I know, but it is true. Sharing information can drive any leadership. Being open to ideas is another thing. It does not matter who came up with the idea, if it is a sound and good concept, let's try it. We need to encourage our people to get involved with what happens in the community. That means trying to get everyone involved from the daycare people, to our schools, our Care Home, our business people and our program people. Lot of ideas out there from people in the everyday business of living Indian life.

Hockey: a part of Indian Reserves

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I was never a good hockey player, but I loved hockey. I was lucky enough to get to play a couple years of organized hockey. Although some of the kids and their older siblings were mean to me, because I was no good, I have some fun memories. But it is funny how your memories are. Sometimes we remember the bad times easier than the good times. My parents never went to my games. Just the way it was. My Dad was a good hockey player in his young days; also a jigger and a guitar player. I think really that I was a disappointment for my Dad in my athletic ability. Although he never overtly said anything about it, so I may be wrong. He never made me feel bad about hockey. In any case I remember one time that my shoes were stolen at the rink. It made me feel bad, and to make matters worse the coach's older son, told me I wasn't suppose to play because I was no good. His family were good hockey players.

As a young guy (in the late 1970's) I did help with hockey and other sports (like baseball) in the Reserve. I drove kids to the games for my cousin who was coach. I also helped coach kids in hockey. It was there that I really saw how the kids like hockey in the Reserve. It makes me think about my boys and how hockey was a great time for them and especially for me. Minor hockey is a good thing (and other sports) for kids. It is fun.

I have some good memories of watching Hockey Night in Canada with my Dad and my brothers. One of my brothers was a real Montreal fan while we were Toronto fans. We were pretty lucky kids because our parents got us one of those hockey games that you play on a table. Where you pull levers to control little hockey men on a table game. It was really fun and we got to play lots and have little tournaments with our cousins coming over to play. We played hockey down the bank at our place on the river ice. In the summer time we played ball hockey at different yards. We would go over to "Morrisseau-ville" (a family who lived down the river from us) to play hockey with those guys. And a bit away was "Down the river", to play hockey with our cousins. Up the road to play with the Spences. Lot of kids did that on both the north side of the river and the south side of the river. The Winnipeg River separates our Reserve into two parts (north and south).

The not so fun thing about hockey is playing in other towns. The rival towns of hockey. Normally it is the way things are, but with Indians there is always the race issue. Some parent, or coach of the other team will make it known that we are Indians. Usually it would be racist taunts or just out right cruelty.

Seems the times have not changed. I was watching my nephew, Junior Daniels play hockey last week. Junior is a pretty good hockey player. He plays high school hockey now. In their play-offs they have to go out of the city to play in an outskirts town of Lorette. Mostly french background town. Anyway when Junior was touching the puck, parents (yes parents) would start making the woo-woo-woo-woo sound. You know, the old Hollywood Indian image. The White parents of Juniors went up to his Dad and said do you hear that? My cousin stands off to the far end of the rink normally and doesn't interact with opposing fans. He was not surprised at the taunts. His son has played with and against other kids of colour. The kids of colour get it from the fans and other players. There is this one kid on an opposing team, who's name is Mustafa. The coach at the time (last year) told the kids on his team to get that "terrorist". Man, what a coach.

Yesterday I was visiting my cousin in the Reserve and he coaches the pee-wee hockey team. They are in the play-offs. They played in this little town. At the end of the game, which was won by the home town that they played, they shook hands. At the hand shaking the coach of the town team said to my cousin, "you're a bunch of savages". My Cousin said he got mad but held it in, and said to him, "what did you say?". The coach repeated it again, "you're a bunch of savages". I laughed because this what the kids went through when I was helping coach and coaching over 30 years ago. I got scared at some of the games, because it seemed like the parents and coaches were going to go wild on us. I thought it was worse then, but nope the trend continues.The kids would it get it real bad. Even if they were in the penalty box the time keepers would say all sorts of rude and racist things to them. The poor goalie would be a target every time. One time our goalie was being harassed so much he skated to the bench to tell me he was not a savage. Then he went back to the goal. The fans were behind the goal area and were saying all sorts of racist things to him. This was in the 1970's, and so it was normal for this to occur. In today's world it still happens.

It is too bad a good thing for kids is spoiled by ignorance, intolerance and just plain hate. Oh well, that is the way of life. Hockey and sports meant to be fun. Hate always there to ruin things.

The powers to be have no incentive to change the situation. The situation is the game is a Whiteman's game. So other kids of Colour are just lucky to be there. When there is a complaint filed with the hockey god's, the complaints are usually filed away as a disgruntled team who is losing. The deep rooted racism is never addressed. So hockey is a sport people love, but it is still a sport where it is not inclusive.

Hanging out in Sagkeeng Ojibway Nation.

I am not a fan of the "First Nation" handle that many Aboriginal (not a fan of the term Aboriginal either) communities go by. It does make sense in some way, but I prefer to be Anishinaabe or Ojibway Nation, perhaps even Saulteaux Nation. Indian Nation is old but I am comfortable with the term Indian. Grew up with it, so used to it. Not many people like the term. Ideally we should be called Anishinaabe.

 The New Health Centre of Sagkeeng. The staff are just moving in this week.

 The atrium of the Health Centre.  Executive Director Ken along with a number of the community members and staff of Sagkeeng.

 A Piece of art by Spotted Wolf to be hung at the new health Centre. Symbolic of the Seven Teachings.

 Alvin and Ken at the new staff lounge of the health centre.

 A blanket with the Seven Teachings represented on the edges.

Darlene Hope at the new Health Centre

 A cloth hanging of the Turtle one of the Teachings.


Danny and my niece Heather at the Wolf FM radio station in the Rez.

My cousin Shigun at the Wolf's Den Restaurant.

Gerry Sinclair teacher at the high school.  Karen Courchene at the Sagkeeng Arena.
High School students speaking with Dad.
My Cousin Marie at the Multi-plex finance office.


Students at the high school hallway. My cousin Allan Randy, the principal of the High School.

 

Was visiting in the Reserve and wanted to see our new Health Centre. It is an awesome looking building and it should serve our people well.  So here are a few pictures of today's going around the Rez.The old health centre is still a very good building, I think the doctors office and dentist will stay at that building. While administration and other community based programs will be in the new centre.
I stopped in at the restaurant, the Wolf's Den. My cousin Claudette and her husband Renee run the food business. I hope they make good. It's difficult to have a successful business in the Reserve. I sat with my cousin Shigun and visited. He might be heading out to see his wife in BC Hazelton Reserve.  I ran into my good buddy Danny Fontaine. He is currently doing a DJ stint at the local radio station. The Wolf FM radio of Sagkeeng.

Picked up my Dad and we went over to the high school. There is a teacher there, Liz Gray, that takes an interest in local history and tries to get her students to learn as much as possible. I like that idea. Lot of old people are gone now, and with them goes the knowledge of the community.


My Dad and I like to visit at the High School. My Dad likes to talk about the Reserve and the old days to the young people.  Young people do have the best smiles. We need to listen to them and talk WITH them about life and the opportunities that they have. Education is important and I hope they grasp that.

I have some very talented, gifted and generous relatives. They make me laugh with their stories. I was sitting with my cousin and like me, he talks about anything. He likes to make Traditional gifts for the people. He does not charge for his talents. Especially when people are using those gifts (like fans and rattles) for ceremony.  Sometimes people will give him offerings for his gifts. He was telling me that a few members in the Reserve saw him with some of his gifts and wanted some. So he made some. He was telling me they ask how much? Of course he says I can't charge you. But if you want to give something that is up to you. So people did him some offerings and payment for his gifts. He was telling me, "holy, they gave me lots" for those stuff" and he told me how much. I told him "holy, you are going to be shown, that your getting to big."  He laughed and said this old lady went to his sisters looking for him. He was asked to make a fan for her. So he did. By this time he was use to getting some high offerings for his stuff. When he gave her the fan, she was overjoyed and said "wait here". She went out to her car. Anticipation, (wonder what she will give?)  She came back into the house, opened her bag and started to dig in it. She pulled out a pouch of tobacco, opened it, and pulled out a pinch and put it on the table. She went into the bag and started to dig again, this time she pulled out a wooden spoon. She put it on the table. He was telling me "what am I going to do with a wooden spoon?" All the while he was laughing. Laughing at how a Windigokan can come see at the right time. Stopped his head from swelling and showing him what was important.  I like my cousin.

The Hidden Legacy of Residential School

This week a conference/gathering was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba for Survivors of the Residential School system. If one thing came out of this well organized gathering is that the effects are multi-generational.  The conference was initiated by The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.  They did a masterful job in getting people involved and having people take part. This is how a Gathering is done right. There were so many  speakers and topics that anyone could have benefited in the Gathering.
I was but an eavesdropper in the seminars going on. It was a chance to see old friends, tease other Neechies and shop or wish at the crafts booths.  It was also a reflective time. Many people are re-living the horror of abuse and want to try shed themselves of that hurt. I do not know how that can be done. The hurt carries on in their children.
Stories from the old people and from the not so long ago about how hard it was to live with the effects of ridicule, abuse, hurt, shame, and constant negative self-imagery can not be erased like a chalk board. It will take effort to fill the void that the Residential school system has caused in the social, cultural, spiritual psyche of the Indian.

This young man Wab Kinew was on hand to show case his family documentary. A very powerful portrait of the effects of abuse in the Residential School system. Take a look for yourself. I admire the courage of Elder Tabosonakwut and his family  for their honesty.

Chief and Council Elections in Sagkeeng, Manitoba.

Nominations were held this week in Sagkeeng Manitoba, for Chief and Council. The positions are held for two years and follow the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Election codes. In Sagkeeng there are currently six people vying for the Chief position and 36 people seeking the positions of Council member. There are four positions open for Councilor.
The job of the Chief and Council is a tough one. You can measure the amount of responsibility a Chief and the Councilors have as that of a Mayor, or a Minister.  However, you can not measure the Role of the C & C based on main stream politics and ideals. The Chief and Council have a (in my opinion) a different if not harder position. You are governing (and many times managing) community dysfunction. It is not unheard of for people going to your home at all hours seeking some type of remedy for their problems. Whether it be gas money to get to an appointment in the city or someone looking to let off some steam about the housing situation.
Jobs in the Reserve are scarce. And everyone is looking at you at how the jobs are given out or won at a competition (if one occurs). Nepotism is a part of the community being and history. It is good and bad. People want to help their relatives, that is only natural. But in a Reserve, the optics are magnified. So everything that happens in the Reserve looks bigger than it normally is. Like positions given or won in main stream politics. Most of the appointed high ranking jobs do go to "friendlies" of the ruling party. That is how it works. It can't be like that in the Reserve because the pool of jobs is smaller and the optics or results are bigger. The biggest thing that the C & C have to deal with is the overwhelming atmosphere of discontent.
I don't believe the C & C have an easy job.
It is quite interesting that people are always, always talking about change. But I don't think people really know what that is. If there is change it has to come from the community. And for that to happen there has to be a real awareness of how they have been affected by history; the colonialism, the paternalistic operation of the government, the effect of cultural loss, language loss, family disconnect due to the policies of government and the religious imprint left on the people.
We are a people with deep internal conflict. We take that conflict and push it forward on ourselves, our brother and sisters, cousins, friends.  We use that conflict on our Leaders. We push them until they give in to our demands, our conflict, our dysfunction.
It will take a hard turn to affect change. First thing is to recognize the dependency on the Band office. Everyone and their dog goes to the Chief and Council for remedy.  It has to start there. Everyone expects the C & C to fix their problems. INDIVIDUAL issues and problems. Never mind the community. We need to start being a community and not an island of individuals. The common good is what we need to tackle.
It is hard because a lot of the common good may be inconflict with our individual needs.
I do not know if things will change in our lifetime, but it has to start somewhere. The first step is to have a good foundation for the community. I think that foundation is a strong Indian spiritual belief system. Having that in the schools. Having it in our assemblies, and most important in our homes.

I have my name in for the position of Chief. I don't know what the future holds, but I like to say my piece and this is just another way to go about it. In any case I look forward to the end of the month and see how it goes. The current Chief is a strong contender.

So what are my reasons for putting my name in for Chief?

Bringing Ceremonies to the Youth: Turtle Lodge Dave Courchene Jr.

"Built in 2002 based on a vision received, the Turtle Lodge is founded upon spiritual, land-based teachings that bring balance to life. It has been built for our children ~ the center of our lives. Our fundamental goal is Mino-Pi-Mati-Si-Win – A Good and Peaceful Way of Life. The Turtle Lodge is based on the Seven Sacred Laws and the Eight Paths of the Medicine Wheel, the ancient universal values of the Anishnabe People of Turtle Island (North America).

The Turtle Lodge offers Children, Youth, Adults and Elders the opportunity to come together in a sacred environment for:

• Traditional teachings
• Ceremony
• Healing
• The sharing of Indigenous perspectives on how to have a good and peaceful life.

The Turtle Lodge is a place for sharing our universal and ancient knowledge, and also, a place for sharing among people of all races and nations."

David Courchene  (Nii Gaani Aki Innini – Leading Earth Man)
Anishnabe Nation, Eagle Clan (Manitoba, Canada) 


"Dave Courchene - Nii Gaani Aki Innini (Leading Earth Man) has travelled internationally, carrying a message of hope and peace.  Dave shares ancient Indigenous knowledge that he believes can act as the foundation in supporting the New Life that Mother Earth is now entering, and that the Elders have confirmed has arrived.

He has created a special place for sharing ancient Indigenous knowledge - the Turtle Lodge - built based on a vision he received many years ago. Indigenous people have always relied on visions and dreams to give guidance and direction in life.

Dave was recently honoured by Indigenous leaders and Elders at the 2010 International Indigenous Leadership Gathering for the work associated with his message and vision, including the work he has done inspiring young people.  His recent work has involved initiating International Roundtables Supporting Ancient Indigenous Knowledge at the Turtle Lodge (May 2010) and the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC (September 2010), which have been co-led by US Congressman Dennis Kucinich. He delivered the Opening Keynote and conducted the Opening Ceremonies at the 2010 G8 Summit on World Religions.  In the Spring of 2011, Dave will be initiating Makoose Ka Win and the Vision Quest rites of passage to take young people of all cultures entering adulthood back to the land and the Elders to find their uniqueness and promote peace."
 Taken from the Turtle Lodge Web site: http://theturtlelodge.org/index.html
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Dave will be holding the Makoose Ka Win and the Vision Quest this coming June 10 to June 14, 2011 in Sagkeeng, Manitoba. The ceremony will be a Right of Passage for the young woman and man.

This is something that our community (the Indian community) truly needs. For years the act of "killing the Indian" through main stream government policies and institutionalized religion has been practiced  on the Aboriginal community. It is because of Dave and other Teachers, and Elders that Indian people are still able to feel good about who they are. This ceremony and gathering is something that I hope the youth will embrace.

Good for you Dave and keep up the journey.

The Basket Social at Thunderbird House. Anishaa

Just an idea that I will send to Stephanie, Chrissy and Rose over at the Thunderbird House. 

Basket Social Thunderbird House.  Anishaa (for the fun of it)

Rationale: A Basket Social is a social event that brings people together to share their talents and their goods with the community. People make and decorate baskets of various sizes, styles, shapes and fill those baskets with all sorts of amazing goodies, gifts, food and prizes. People in the crowd bid on the Basket as the auctioneer rattles off the amounts. The Basket is carried and even danced around the community hall or house for people to see. The Basket Social has not always been part of the Aboriginal culture, but it was embraced in the Aboriginal community. The Basket Social brings the opportunity to have fun, socialize and to support each other in the Aboriginal Community.

The Basket Social has been dying out in the Aboriginal community. A number of Aboriginal communities still have Basket Social events  but there has been little activity in the City of Winnipeg for a Basket Social. Thunderbird House is going to bring back the Basket Social and invites the wider community to take part. Another opportunity for the main stream and Aboriginal community to come together.

Thunderbird House will not only bring the larger community together with the Aboriginal community through the Basket Social but TBhouse will use the event to launch their fundraising strategy.

Activity:  Stephanie, Chrissy and Rose will send out a public announcement and invitations to various entities in the City of Winnipeg, seeking their participation in the Basket Social. Public and Private sector will be challenged to make baskets for the event.  The making of the Baskets will be fun for the organizations and individuals participating. It is a chance to be creative with the basket design and have groups trying to see who makes the “best” basket. Think of it as a parade with baskets, instead of great floats you have great baskets. The ‘surprise’ factor is another element of the Basket Social. The great gifts inside the baskets could range from chocolates to vacation trips, flashlights, shoes, artworks, socks, IPODS, colouring books, jewelry, moccasins and a host of other surprises.

Entertainment of fiddle music and singers will be asked to set the mood of the event. Ray St. Germaine will be asked to play music at the social. The event is not a dance but will have a “smattering” of music for entertainment.   Some jigging will also take place with the crowd encouraged to dance.  Clarence TwoToes will be asked to act as the auctioneer of the baskets. Once the participants have been confirmed, a media release will be sent out to various media outlets. TBH will get 40 confirmed basket makers.

At the mid-way point of the Basket Social, Stephanie and the Board of TBH will make the announcement of their fund raising strategy. They will announce their “celebrity faces” for the strategy. Rosanna Deerchild, Wab Kinew will be the face of the Fund Raising Strategy. TBH will have their financial statements available for public, a list of activities, a Board and company profile.  TBH will seek audience and partnerships with various philanthropy organizations for their support and technical guidance.

The target goal of the 2011 to 2012 year will be outlined. (for example a goal of one million dollars)

*names are examples of who could be asked to participate as MCEE or Auctioneer, or be the face of the fund raising strategy.

Invitations: the key to a successful event is participation, confirmation of participation, and confirming by contact of participants. Contact requires follow-up, i.e. personal contact.