Volume 1 - No. 3 - July-August 2004

In This Issue...

Aboriginal Science Fair

Editor's Note

Management Training

Civil Engineer

First Nations Police Governance Authorities

Eagle Village New Houses

Lac Simon's Pow Wow

Aboriginal Women & WW II

Wapikoni Mobile

Church burns down in Long Point

Tribal Council Annual General Assembly

Science and Technology - Indigenous knowledge in Action

That was the theme and motto under which the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg hosted the fourth edition of the Provincial Aboriginal Science Fair, April 20th and 21st. The event this year was sponsored by the Canadian Aboriginal Sciences and Engineering Association (CASEA) and the Kitigan Zibi Education Council. The main purpose of the event is to promote science and engineering to Aboriginal people.

For the 2004 edition, about ten (10) communities participated for a total of 22 teams presenting projects in one of the three categories: Experiment, Popularization (Study) or Innovation (Conception). Prizes were determined by a judging committee and given to the participants with the best projects. The winners were all students ranging from grade 5 to secondary 5.
More than 200 visitors attended the event in addition to school groups. The fair was a success.

Here's the list of the winners of each grade:

Grade 5-6 Category
1st Place: Amanda Quinn/Patricia Voyageur, Mistissini, Naturally clean
2nd Place: Kaitlyn Barnaby/Shera Wysote, Listuguj, Hydroponic garden
3rd Place: Sheldon McGregor, Kitigan Zibi, The effect of angle on distance

Sec I-II Category
1st Place: Alexandra Bedard-Daigle/Vincent Jeannotte , Wendake, Le lunch masque
2nd Place: Candace Polson/Karen McBride, Timiskaming, Sand versus Sugar in Glass Making
3rd Place: Kane Dumont/Evan Thran, Kitigan Zibi, Burping

Sec III-IV Category
1st Place: Dakota Joe Whiteduck, Kitigan Zibi, Bridges put to the test
2nd Place: Shannin Chiskamish/Deborah Pask, Chisasibi, L'évolution des êtres humains
3rd Place: Lee Thomas George, Whapmageostui, Wooden Trap

Sec V Category
1st Place: Caitlin Tolley, Kitigan Zibi, Puckology
2nd Place: Samantha Coonishish, Mistissini, Cree Archeology

Communications Award
Caitlin Tolley, Kitigan Zibi, Puckology

Cultural Heritage Award
Bertie Kawapit, Whapmageostui, Traditional Medicine
Winners of the Provincial Aboriginal Science Fair 2004

Editor's Note

Hi,

You'll see that our newsletter summer edition has a variety of content where you can learn about different projects going on in the communities, meet the Tribal Council's new civil engineer, learn about the First Nations Police Governance Authorities… in short, plenty of interesting news.

Hope you enjoy reading this edition of our newsletter, but mostly I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Jaelle, Information Agent
jaelled@anishinabenation.ca
819.449.1225

First Nation Management Training

The Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council is proud to announce the success of the first Management training module: “Roles and Responsibilities of the Manager”; delivered to the member communities in Val d'Or in May of 2004. Two groups of participants (one in English, the other in French) began to receive training in the area of First Nation Management; this two day module was the first amongst twelve modules to be delivered by the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council. In all, twenty-four managers, directors, supervisors etc. from Eagle Village First Nation, Abitibiwinni, Kitcisakik, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Long Point First Nation and Lac Simon began their journey to improve and/or update their existing knowledge to increase their professional skills and qualifications. The second and possibly third module will be delivered in the fall of 2004, the exact dates are yet to be determined.

The training was delivered in collaboration with the COSE consulting firm, the participants seemed satisfied with the course contents, as well as, the pertinence of the training in regards to their existing management positions.

The following are quotes from the participants of both groups:

« This course is a fine addition to my professional development. This course offered me “food for thought” and time for reflection on my management practices. Great homework!”

“Results obtained are very good, excellent material, explanations etc… This training session will definitely be an asset of attaining the good of being an efficient and effective manager - looking forward to the next modules. I must add that I have attended similar trainings - this one was much better than those other trainings.”

Meet the Tribal Council Civil Engineer

To increase your knowledge and understanding of the services and people working at the Tribal Council, we are today featuring our new Civil Engineer, who started work in January, Claude Rollin.

Claude is from Gatineau and studied at Ottawa University to graduate as a Civil Engineer in 1974. He then worked, for three years, for a consortium in Hull as a construction site supervisor. He then launched his own business in Caraquet, New Brunswick. In 1980 he moved to Mont-Laurier and started working for Fondex limité until 1996. The company then shut down, but Claude restarted it under the name Fondex des Hautes-Rivières.

During his twenty-four (24) years in the region, Claude has worked on numerous projects some of them with the communities of Kitcisakik, Kitigan Zibi and Barriere Lake. The mandates that he was given were varied, ranging from expansion projects, to road construction, water systems, dump sites, etc.

Claude is a member of l'ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO).

With such a successful career why did Claude decided to apply with the Tribal Council? Claude explains that it was first out of curiosity, to see if he would be contacted for an interview. Also, to be your own boss is very demanding and he felt like diminishing his responsibilities and having more time for himself. The Tribal Council not only called for an interview but also offered him the position.

Everything then happened really fast because he had not planned it. He decided to accept the offer and to put his business up for sale. He started work full time for the Council in April and sold his company during the same period.

At the Tribal Council he is in charge of urban planning, water resources, roads, bridges, ditches, garbage disposal, management projects, construction supervision, etc.

So far what he likes the most is the more regular schedule. Also the work atmosphere is a lot less stressful than it was at his previous job.

In the upcoming months Claude will continue to visit the member communities to meet people and help them with their projects. If you need to reach him, feel free to do so at 819.449.1225 or by email at clauder@anishinabenation.ca

First Nations Police Governance Authorities

The National First Nations Police Governance Authorities (FNPGA) Steering Committee was established in the fall of 2002. The Steering Committee is represented by members from Western Canada, Quebec and Ontario. Each member is familiar with the policing environment in each of these regions where self-administered policing exists. The purpose of the FNPGA Steering Committee, who meets on a bi-monthly basis, is to provide direction to the FNPGA Secretariat toward the development of training seminars, training workshops, and regional conferences for self-administered First Nations Police Governance Authorities/Commissions/Public Security Committees. The training is determined by the FNPGA Steering Committee based on evaluations submitted by training seminar participants, national trends in First Nations Policing and community need. The last training, held in Toronto June 3rd and 4th, had an attendance of more than a hundred. Last year one was held in Ottawa in January and another on In Calgary in September.

Through training seminars held nationally, the Committee also provides assistance to Police Governance members from across Canada who may be newly appointed to a First Nations Police Governance Authority, Police Commission or Public Security Committee in self-administered First Nations Police Services.

The FNPGA Steering Committee members meet to discuss the current status of First Nations police governance generally, trends in First Nations policing nationally, topics of interest to First Nations police services, police governance boards, commissions and public security commissions toward developing training workshops on current issues affecting them nationally.

The FNPGA found it necessary to add additional resource people to ensure that the Steering Committee would function at full capacity and to ensure that training workshops and promotional activities would reflect community needs.

Therefore, a communication position has been developed to assist the FNPGA Secretariat and FNPGA Steering Committee with the preparation and distribution of reports relating to the Committee's activities. The Communication Consultant also functions as a facilitator to liaise with invited speakers/presenters responsible for delivering training initiatives.

A Conference Coordinator has also been contracted to coordinate the logistical arrangements for delegates attending the training initiatives.

As a result of the enhanced role of the FNPGA Steering Committee to provide training, it was necessary for the Secretariat to dedicate staff and resources to the FNPGA Steering Committee goals and objectives. Therefore, an FNPGA Secretariat was established with its head office being housed in conjunction with the office of the Six Nations Police Commission. This is the direct link to the office of the Aboriginal Policing Directorate through an identified protocol between the two organizations.

The FNPGA Steering Committee also has a member who attends and participates on the Canadian Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (CACOLE). Its mandate is to increase public awareness and understanding of civilian oversight of law enforcement, among other things.

In its infancy, the FNPGA Steering Committee has identified the need to investigate and research the capacity level that it may find itself functioning at and the capacity level that it will be able to assist with in the area of training First Nations Police Governance members.

The Director General of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council, Norm Odjick is the Quebec representative on the Steering Committee. Should you have any questions regarding the FNPGA or issues related to police governance, feel free to contact him at 819-449-1225 or by email normo@anishinabenation.ca

Source: First Nations Police Governance Authorities 2003-2004

Eagle Village / New Houses

In the year 2003 - 2004, Eagle Village First Nation built eight houses and two duplexes in a new division. The new division was developed in 2002, which included 21 lots for housing and 1 larger lot for the upcoming daycare center.

The are three ways to finance your home in Eagle Village, one is through subsidy assistance through CMHC's article 95 program which is geared toward low income recipients, another is through the Housing Initiative, and then Build on your Own.

The two duplexes are CMHC article 95 subsidized homes for low income families, and are rent to own units. The homes are subsidized on a monthly basis. The Band's decision to build two duplexes was to accommodate single families, which are the majority of the applicants.

The Housing Initiative is assistance available through the Band, which consists of a grant provided by the Band and HRD (human resources development) funds, when available, are directed towards labor. The bulk of the financing is through a Ministerial Guarantee whereas the Band takes on the primary responsibility of borrowing the money for the homeowner then collecting rent until the amortization period is over and the loan paid in full. The Build on your Own financing is based on the Ministerial Guarantee to pay for the full financing of the construction of the home. At times when there are HRD funds available that year, this assistance is also being offered to the recipient.

The lots are developed by the Band with road, water and sewer infrastructure.
The lots are supplied to the recipients who receive and accept to build their home based on the date of application, the needs of the family and the choice of financing. If the recipients can qualify for the Build on your own financing, they may receive a building lot faster.

The beautiful appearance of Eagle Village's streets, infrastructure and houses demonstrates the administration's ability to accommodate their people, as well as the peoples respect for their homes.

First Edition of Lac Simon's Pow Wow

Lac Simon is hosting its first annual competitive Pow Wow from July 30th through August 1st at the polyvalente le Carrefour in Val d'Or. Everyone is welcome to the traditional Pow Wow activities. For more information you can call Roger Anichinapéo or André Papatie at 819.736.4501.

Looking for Women who participated in World War II

A student from Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Grace Poulin, is currently working to gather testimonies and pictures of Aboriginal Women who took part in World War II.

The experience of these women is hardly known and almost no material exists. Grace Poulin would like to meet these women or talk with people who knew them. She is willing to travel to conduct an interview to compile their stories and pictures of that era.

If you know any of these women you can contact Grace Poulin by email at grace_poulin@hotmail.com or you can contact Jaëlle at the Tribal Council to obtain her phone number.

Wapikoni Mobile

On June 17th in Montreal during the « First Peoples' Festival », a press conference to launch the Wapikoni Mobile was held.

Wapikoni Mobile is an audiovisual production unit that will be touring six Aboriginal communities (Abitibiwinni, Kitcisakik, Lac Simon and three Atikamekws communities) by bus this summer. It will offer the opportunity to youths in participating communities to learn and produce, alone or as part of a group, videos and/or musical recordings.

The bus will be touring the participating communities until fall 2004.

The French program of the National Film Board of Canada and Les Productions des beaux jours are the project's instigators and a number of partners joined the initiative along the way, including the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council.

Church burns down in Long Point

The church burned down in Long Point, early morning June 10th. Residents woke up the priest that was sleeping in his apartment (which was attached to the church), by knocking on his window. Some of the books that were stored in the church basement had to be thrown away because they were damaged by water when the fire was contained. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident. When this text was written, the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.

Tribal Council Annual General Assembly

We want to inform you that the Tribal Council General Assembly will this year be held in Lac Simon, August 12th, 13th and 14th.
Although we know many activities will be taking place, the agenda for the three days is not finalized yet. More detailed information will be sent out as soon as possible.