Top News - December - 2003
Project encourages traditional healers
Riel would be proud of Métis remembrance
Lacrosse players shine at SkyDome
This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the December 2003 issue of Birchbark. If you are not receiving your own copy of Birchbark, then you have missed out on a lot.Click here for Birchbark subscription information.
Project encourages traditional healers
Margo Little, Birchbark Writer, Manitoulin
An innovative project on Manitoulin Island may produce the next generation of traditional healers. The M'Skwaa Miikan traditional medicine program is in its fourth year of operation in M'Chigeeng First Nation.
The purpose of the program is to ensure that knowledge of medicinal plants is not lost. Apprentice youth are taught to harvest the healing herbs and to create extracts and concentrates. Community members who wish to avoid Western medications and treatments have access to the alternative medicine.
According to program co-ordinator Falcon Migwans, the program has been successful in bridging the gap between youth and Elders. "An active group of Elders whose experience includes enduring the residential school systems while maintaining their culture have assumed the direction of this project," he said.
"This group of seven now assumes the responsibility of giving direction to the co-ordinator and making certain that the project continues to follow its founding purpose of culture renewal."
Migwans trained for three years under the direction of Elder Derick Pitawanakwat, and he now conducts information sessions throughout the Manitoulin district. In his view, the project shows "great promise" as a vehicle for future healing in the community.
Although the current funding for the project is coming to an end, he anticipates that the work will continue.
At a recent chiefs' assembly, Migwans was complimented for his achievements. "You are doing an excellent job," Chief Patrick Madahbee of Aundeck Omni Kaning told Migwans.
"We need people like you; you play a very important role in our community development. We are very proud of you."
Riel would be proud of Métis remembrance
Suzanne Methot, Birchbark Writer, Toronto
Louis Riel Day was celebrated in Toronto on Nov. 16 with two events: a flag-raising and sunrise ceremony at Toronto City Hall, and a commemorative march and moose-meat feast at Queen's Park, the site of the provincial legislature. It was the 10th year of the Toronto gathering, and the 118th anniversary of the Métis leader's execution by the government of Canada.
Marchers gathered at the flagstaff on the west grounds of the legislature, then walked east to the Northwest Rebellion monument, where a framed photograph of Riel was displayed along with a wreath, fiddle, and Métis sash. The procession was accompanied by the Todmorden Colour Guard and the Scarborough Red Hackle Pipes and Drums. Several marchers also played fiddle and acoustic guitar as they walked to the monument. The small crowd of 25 people-many dressed in Métis sashes, hats, and Hudson's Bay Company coats and blankets-grew to approximately 50 people by the end of the ceremony.
Métis Elder Marion Larkman delivered the opening prayer for wisdom and remembrance of Métis soldiers "who did not come back from war."
As subway trains rumbled underfoot and people lined up 10-deep on the surrounding sidewalks for Toronto's annual Santa Claus parade, various speakers addressed the crowd, including Earl Commanda, grand chief of the Anishinabek Nation/Union of Ontario Indians, and Tony Belcourt, president of the Métis National Council.
"Riel's mission was his cry of justice for the Métis Nation," Belcourt said in his speech. "The Métis were dispossessed of their lands ... and continue to fight for their rights in Canada today."
Belcourt mentioned the R. v. Powley decision of Sept. 19, 2003-in which the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the hunting rights of the Métis as Aboriginal people-as a modern victory in the Métis fight for recognition. But Belcourt also said that current actions against Métis fishermen by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Provincial Police are reminiscent of the tactics the Canadian government used in the 19th century to turn public opinion against Riel.
According to Jason Madden of the Métis National Council, the bounty Canada put on Riel's head has never been removed.
"We have rights and we have a place in this country," Madden said. "We cannot continue to be ignored."
"I'm looking forward to the day when we will finally see change," Belcourt said. "I hope this is the last time I have to stand in front of the Northwest Rebellion monument and fight for justice for our people."
The monument at Queen's Park was created to honour Canadian troops who fought against the Métis in the 1885 rebellion. Madden expressed his hope that "someday, we will have a monument to the Métis people, because we are so much a part of the fabric of this country."
That importance was recognized in a City of Toronto proclamation issued on Nov. 16 by outgoing mayor Mel Lastman. The proclamation, which officially declares Nov. 16 "Louis Riel Day" in Toronto, calls Riel "a great humanitarian, Elder and leader," and recognizes Riel's "contribution to the building of Canada."
MPP David Zimmer, parliamentary assistant to Attorney General Michael Bryant (who is also the minister responsible for Native affairs), attended the commemorative march on behalf of Bryant and Premier Dalton McGuinty. In a short address, Zimmer talked about changing the relationship between the province and the Métis, and said his government would work to "implement" the Powley decision.
Métis lawyer Jean Taillet, Riel's great-grandniece and a member of the legal team that worked on the precedent-setting Powley case, also spoke to the assembled crowd.
"I'm not sombre today," Taillet said in reference to the anniversary of Riel's execution. "I'm celebrating."
Taillet held a copy of the Powley decision in the air and said, "This is for you, Louis," before placing the scroll on the monument next to Riel's photo. Her comments ended the ceremony.
The Métis and their supporters then gathered in the eastern block of the legislature overlooking the University of Toronto campus to feast on roast moose, sweet and sour moose, moose stew, wild rice and water chestnuts, bannock, frybread, and roasted parsnips and carrots. After the meal, the celebration continued with fiddles and guitars and impromptu jigs.
Toronto Métis Association president Francis Cadeau, whose volunteer-run organization deals with issues of local governance as well as training, education, and other issues, said Canada must learn to "embrace" the Métis contribution to the country. He was confident that Riel Day could educate people about Métis issues.
"Métis people were here 250 years ago, but that history is unknown," Cadeau said. "Our sense of place is much different than recent immigrants to Canada."
This year's Riel Day celebrations were sponsored by the Métis Nation of Ontario, the Métis National Council, the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the city of Toronto. Riel Day celebrations across the country included ceremonies in B.C., Alberta, and Manitoba.
Lacrosse players shine at SkyDomeSam Laskaris, Birchbark Writer, Toronto
Some up-and-coming lacrosse stars once again displayed their skills at a big-time venue.
About 50 youngsters participated in an amateur lacrosse skills competition held on Nov. 29 at SkyDome. The event was part of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival.
This marked the fourth straight year a lacrosse competition has been held in conjunction with North America's largest multi-disciplined arts event.
A pair of professional lacrosse players-Tom Montour and Chris Driscoll-were on hand to help out with the event and to hand out the awards. Both Montour and Driscoll are members of the defending National Lacrosse League (NLL) champion team Toronto Rock.
Also lending a hand was Stu Montour, a Toronto Rock draft pick.
Although the skills competition was open to all players, most of those who competed were Native athletes.
"There's a lot of good talent here," said Tom Montour, who is gearing up for his sophomore season with the Rock.
Participants were divided into novice (9-10), peewee (11-12) and bantam (13-14) categories. Though there were some tyke (7-8) players who had pre-registered for the event, a snowstorm in parts of Ontario prevented them from making the journey to SkyDome the morning of the competition.
The skills event featured five categories, including one just for goalies. The top three performers in each event were presented with medals; the winner also received a lacrosse jersey. Several other prizes were awarded, including Toronto Rock tickets.
One of the events was a timed agility competition in which participants had to run through an obstacle course while performing certain moves. The clock stopped in that event after the player scored a goal into an empty net with the ball that was being carried.
There was also a shooting accuracy competition. Players had to try to hit a pair of designated targets attached to a net.
Other events included a hardest shot competition and a breakaway segment in which players had three chances each to score on a goalie.
As for netminders, their event consisted of making the saves on the breakaways.
Thirteen-year-old Kraig Maracle of Six Nations won the bantam breakaway category.
Initially he scored on two out of his three breakaway attempts. But a tiebreaker was necessitated because two others also scored a pair of goals.
The tie-breaker went four rounds before Maracle was able to score a goal-ironically on his brother Klayton. The brothers are half of the Maracle quadruplets. Brother Kasey also took part in the skills competition but sister Kassandra did not.
Although he also participated in the skills competition a year ago, Kraig Maracle said it was once again a rather nerve-wracking experience competing in the facility which is home to major league baseball's Toronto Blue Jays as well as the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts.
"I was still pretty nervous until I started concentrating on what I was doing," Kraig Maracle said.
Tom Montour had a bit of advice for those competitors hoping to follow in his footsteps and play pro some day.
"Work at it as hard as you can," he said. "If they love it enough, they'll get there."
As for Driscoll, who is entering his twelfth NLL season, he thought it was a unique experience for the participants.
"This is kind of awesome-being able to be at the SkyDome," he said, adding he never had the opportunity to compete in a lacrosse skills challenge while he was growing up.
Although their lacrosse seasons had wrapped up a few months beforehand, Driscoll was happy to see the participants come out to showcase their skills.
"Most of these kids probably play hockey," he said. "And they don't pick up a (lacrosse) stick much in the winter. So this gives them a chance to do so and they can come here and see how they compare to other kids at their level."
Even though he would have been happy to offer any tips, Driscoll admitted nobody was asking him for any.
"A lot of them are focused on what they're doing," he said. "I don't think they're here to see me."
