Top News - May - 2002
Tia Smith, 21, from Six Nations, won the Miss Indian World title on April 26 in Albequerque, N.M. She hosted a community dinner on May 2 at the Six Nations Community Hall for all the people who helped her on her journey to win the title. More than 100 people attended. Tia holds the Miss Six Nations title as well.Photo by L.M. VanEvery
Lieutenant governor confirms attendance at celebration
Still no action on Ipperwash inquiry
Sudbury student voted National Métis Youth Role Model
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Lieutenant governor confirms attendance at celebration
Birchbark Staff
James K. Bartleman will celebrate his first National Aboriginal Day as lieutenant governor of Ontario with the Anishinabek people.
He has confirmed his attendance as the Queen's representative at June 21 ceremonies being held at Nipissing Anishinabek Nation headquarters on the Nipissing First Nation. The reserve is situated on Highway 17 approximately 5 km west of North Bay.
Bartleman himself is a member of the Mnjikaning First Nation and is the first Aboriginal person to hold the post of lieutenant governor.
Grand Chief Vernon Roote said, "This is an occasion where we give honor and recognition to the outstanding contributions of Anishinabe people. We honor him for ascending to such a respected leadership level, and in turn we are honored by his decision to spend this special day with us." He added, "This day has so much significance. We celebrate Mr. Bartleman's investiture as the Queen's representative in Ontario, and commemorate the original spirit of first contact, where Anishinabek and Canadians walked hand-in-hand in the development of this country.
Since 1996, National Aboriginal Day has been an official holiday. It is set aside as the day to acknowledge the cultures and contributions of Métis, Inuit and First Nations peoples.
Bartleman has been invited to preside over the launch of a public education initiative known as the Niijii Circle. He will also witness the presentation of Anishinabek Nation Lifetime Achievement Awards and a brand-new award called the Debwewin Citations for Journalism, which will recognize non-Native journalists for excellence in coverage of Native issues.
Still no action on Ipperwash inquiry
Birchbark Staff
New Ontario Premier Ernie Eves says he "is open" on the issue of whether to call a public inquiry into the shooting death of Dudley George, but he's steering away from an accounting any time soon.
Eves cites the wrongful death law suit against former premier Michael Harris and others in the matter as a reason to put an inquiry on hold.
"There is a civil lawsuit going on that precludes an inquiry from being called," Eves said at his first cabinet meeting in mid-April. After the civil proceedings conclude, it seems to depend on whether or not cabinet believes there is any information still to come out that Ontarians are "entitled to hear."
Some provincial police officers are said to be calling for the probe, since one of their members, Kenneth Dean, obtained a conviction for criminal negligence causing death and was made to quit the force after he shot George, 39, on Sept. 6, 1995.
Dudley George's brother Sam is disappointed. Five members of the family involved in the civil action have offered to suspend legal proceedings if they can have a public inquiry.
The attorney general has nixed that. David Young says too much effort has been expended in moving the civil action forward.
Sudbury student voted National Métis Youth Role ModelInna Dansereau, Birchbark Writer, Vancouver
She has been acutely aware of her culture since a very young age. She has cherished this knowledge and passed it on to other youth. Her name is Melissa Bromley.
The 21-year-old from Sudbury is one of five 2002 Métis youth role model winners announced at the National Métis Youth Conference in Vancouver April 26.
Bromley, the winner in the Métis culture and heritage category, is a student in the Native Child and Family Worker program at Cambrian College.
She also works at the Sudbury Métis Youth Centre, where she is the youth facilitator for the Youth-to-Youth Environmental Health Audit.
Bromley said she weaves the Métis culture into their meetings because she believes it is important for the youth to know their culture.
"I do what I do because I respect youth, I learn from them and they never fail to teach me something new. I teach them the Métis culture because you have to know where you come from before you can know where you're going. For me, learning my culture has helped me grow and become a proud Métis woman," said Bromley.
Bromley's co-worker, Patsy Mott, nominated her for the program. Mott said Bromley was one of the first youth who participated in the centre's program and has had a great effect on youth.
"She is very proud of her culture. She's a very, very enthusiastic young lady," said Mott. "She's a great role model for the youth."
The National Métis Youth Role Model Program-similar to the National Native Role Model Program for First Nations and Inuit-is now in its second year.
"The Métis youth decided to have their own type of role model program . . . it's designed to get youth out there to live healthy, positive lifestyles. The youth that are selected get to attend different conferences, to facilitate workshops . . . it's kind of networking where they encourage other youth out there within the same field whether it's athletics or arts," said Pauline Huppie, director of Youth Initiatives with Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres.
The program has seven categories: Métis culture and heritage, volunteer service, academic achievement, athletic excellence, personal achievement, career advancement, and the Gabriel Dumont Award for Valour, which goes to a youth who displays courage or who carries out a selfless act that benefits others.
One winner is selected in each category by a seven-member committee made up of Métis citizens from all walks of life, said Huppie.
There were no nominees in the athletic category or in the Gabriel Dumont Award this year, Huppie said.
People nominating a youth for an award have to write a two-page description about why they feel this youth would fit into a certain category. The nominated youth, aged between 16 and 29, has to fill out an application form, provide three letters of support from their teachers or other authorities, and provide other supporting documentation like a video or a piece of artwork.
