Top News - December - 2002
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Vernon Roote and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Robert Nault signed a comprehsensive education agreement-in-principle Nov. 29. The final agreement will give the Anishinabek full control over education policy and delivery of education to their 7,000 students. Remembrance Day celebrated
Many nations move towards control of education
Spectacular night for Pappy Johns Band in Toronto
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Remembrance Day celebrated
Ted Shaw, Birchbark Writer, Cape CrokerThe War Memorial on the Chippawas of Nawash reserve at Cape Croker is surmounted by the statue of a soldier. He wears the uniform of the 1914-1918 war. He is bare-headed. His rifle is at rest.
On the plinth below are inscribed the names of those who gave their lives. The names of wars are also there. War of 1812, 1914-18, 1939-45, Korean War, and Desert Storm.
In a patch of grass at each side stand 129 plain white wooden crosses. Upon each is a warrior's name, and the red poppy of Flanders.
One of the crosses has the words "Chief James Nawash 1812 War."
On a gray overcast morning, about 150 people, including veterans, gathered for the Remembrance Day ceremony at the War Memorial. Just before 11 a.m., two columns of veterans lined up in front of the bare-headed soldier.
The ceremony began. It started to rain. The traditional two minutes' silence honored the fallen. And under the wet of the weeping skies two flag bearers unfurled their flags, and dipped the colors of Canada and the United States to the ground in homage to the dead.
The sound of the Last Post echoed through the deep silence. On the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, the Nawash community was remembering.
Wreaths were laid. Isabel Millette, member of the Nawash Band Council placed a wreath representing the Silver Cross Mother.
The veterans marched past in a final salute.
Chief Ralph Akiwenzie returned the salute. The outside ceremony closed. The rain stopped.
Jean and Jennifer Borrows remained for a while looking at the white crosses.
Some of them bore names of their relatives. In a reference to the First Wold War and Second World War, Jennifer said that "more went from this reserve than any other in Canada."
The people gathered in the adjacent community centre, and following a prayer, luncheon was served. Kyle Boortz, a Grade 7 student of Cape Croker Elementary School, gave a reading of Col. John McCrae's poem In Flanders' Fields.
Many nations move towards control of education
Inna Dansereau, Birchbark Writer, Mnjikaning First NationAnishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Vernon Roote and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Robert Nault signed an education self-government agreement-in-principle (AIP) Nov. 29. This is the largest agreement on education ever signed, and one of only two in Ontario. It was endorsed by 27 of the 43 Anishinabek First Nations covering a large portion of the province.
The other AIP was signed by eight Fort Frances area First Nations on Nov. 12.
The Anishinabek Nation represents about 30 per cent of the total First Nation population in Ontario and has about 7,000 students.
The AIP sets the foundation for the negotiation of a final agreement that will recognize the participating First Nations' jurisdiction over primary, elementary and secondary education for First Nation students living on reserve.
"This agreement brings us one step closer to exercising our inherent right to determine the education of our people, which is fundamental to our identity as a nation," said Roote.
The final agreement, which will be "ratified by the membership of each First Nation, regardless of residence," according to an Indian Affairs background paper, will give First Nations law-making authority, enabling them to preserve, promote, develop and deliver Anishinabek culture, spiritual practices and language programs through their own education system.
The formulas for establishing funding levels, and an implementation plan, will be negotiated for the final agreement.
The final agreement will remove participating First Nations from under the education-related sections of the Indian Act, and will recognize Anishinabek education laws.
"This agreement demonstrates the government of Canada's commitment to work in partnership with First Nations to strengthen First Nations' capacity to govern themselves through control of their education systems and institutions," said Robert Nault.
The Anishinabek began negotiating an education agreement with Canada in 1998 under the federal Aboriginal self-government policy, in which Canada recognizes that the Aboriginal peoples have the right to govern themselves in matters related to their unique cultures, identities, traditions, languages and institutions.
The Anishinabek Nation territory includes First Nations along the north shore of Lake Superior and surrounding Lake Nipigon, the north shore of Lake Huron, Manitoulin Island, east to the Ottawa River valley, and through the south-central part of Ontario to the Chippewas of Sarnia First Nation.
Tribal groups represented include the Odawa, Ojibway, Potawatomi, Delaware, Chippewa, Algonquin and Mississauga.
The Fort Frances area First Nations signed a similar AIP last month following seven years of negotiations. The eight signatories are Big Island, Rainy River, Naicatchewenin, Stanjikoming, Couchiching, Lac La Croix, Nickickousemenecaning and Seine River.
"After several years of negotiations with Canada, we are delighted to sign this agreement. The great work and perseverance of all those involved has produced a document that will undoubtedly change the landscape of First Nations education," said Richard Bruyere, executive director for the Fort Frances Chiefs' Secretariat.
About 650 students will come under their final agreement. About one-third of Fort Frances-area students attend First Nation schools; the others attend schools off their reserves.
With First Nations standards, the students will be able to transfer to other education systems without academic penalty.
Spectacular night for Pappy Johns Band in Toronto
Sam Laskaris, Birchbark Writer, TorontoFaron Johns has a tough time explaining his success.
The 49-year-old is the lead singer and songwriter for the Pappy Johns Band, which stole the spotlight by winning four trophies at the fourth annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards held on Nov. 28 at Toronto's SkyDome.
Johns was selected as the best male artist at the awards. The Pappy Johns Band also received awards in the best duo/group and best song/single (Blame it on Monday) categories. Band members were also honored, in conjunction with Alec Frasier, for being the best producer/engineer for their CD also titled Blame it on Monday.
The Pappy Johns Band had received five nominations at the awards show. The only accolade it didn't win was in the best songwriter category, which was captured by Leela Gilday, from Yellowknife, N.W.T., who won three awards, including the best female artist.
"I would have been happy with one," said Johns, a Cayuga tribe member who was born in Six Nations but now lives in the state of New York. "It was our first time ever submitting anything to any type of awards show. And we lucked out."
Johns has been singing in various bands throughout southern Ontario and New York for more than 25 years. He finds it tough pinpointing a reason for the success of the Pappy Johns Band, whose roots trace back to 1998.
"It is strange the way things are going," he said. "When I mention there is something about it that is spiritually guided, I'm not lying when I say that. I've been around a long time and nothing has ever happened like this to me like it is happening now."
Johns added there wasn't one particular award that he was most proud of.
"As far as I'm concerned they're all equal," he said. "They're just like your kids. You're not going to say one is better than the other. You don't. They're all the same."
Johns didn't have to venture far to receive his awards. That's because he was on stage that evening performing as part of the awards night orchestra.
"When they hired me to do the thing with the orchestra, I thought, oh well, maybe I didn't win any awards," Johns said. "And I thought this was the consolation prize. But I ended up getting the best of both worlds."
Another group, Bear Creek, also won two awards. The 17-person Ojibway group based in Sault Ste. Marie was honored for having the best contemporary powwow album and also the best tradititonal powwow album. Both of those awards were for their work titled Live.
Gilday, a 27-year-old Dene Nation singer, received the best songwriter award her first full-length CD titled spirit world, solid wood that combines rock, jazz and blues elements. Spirit world, solid wood was selected as the best folk album.
Alberta's popular rapping WARPARTY also had a couple of reasons to celebrate on awards night. WARPARTY's Exclusive Rez was chosen as the best rap or hip hop album. And the band also took home the best music video award for The Reign.
The band also made some history earlier this year, as they were the first Native rappers to have a video played on Much Music.
The two other winners in the 13 award categories were the late Art Moosomin and Pam Whitecalf.
Moosomin, a Saskatchewan native who died recently, was honored posthumously for One More Time, which won the best drum songs album.
Whitecalf received her award for the best album cover design for her work on the self-titled CD from Spirit Whistle, a Saskatchewan-based group.
The awards night also featured recipients of awards in three special categories.
A special accolade was the Lifetime Contribution to Aboriginal Music Award. That award was presented to family members of the late Sidney James Hill, a Mohawk from Six Nations who died in 2000.
During his career, Hill influenced and inspired numerous guitar players throughout Ontario and New York.
The Keeper of Traditions Award was presented to Ontario's Mnjikaning Singers. The group consisted of Lorraine McRae, Irene Snache and the late Shirley Shilling, who died earlier this year.
The Mnjikaning Singers have maintained their long-standing committment to preserve and nurture the Ojibway language through song. Over the years they performed at countless concerts and even developed a curriculum for a school board in which Ojibway was taught through songs.
Winnipeg's David McLeod was presented with a Music Industry Award for his tireless work to promote Native talent on the airwaves. McLeod is the manager and program director at Native Communication.
For the past dozen years McLeod has helped develop a Native Top 30 play list. He's also created a youth program called Rez Nation, that features Native rap and hip hop artists. He also spearheaded the design of a website, which provides Canadian Native music resources.
