Top News - November - 2002
Susanne Rochon Burnett, president and CEO of R.B. Communications Limited, which operates Spirit 91.7 FM radio station in Welland, received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Brock University on Oct. 19.
Photo by Kathleen Orth
Island woman takes on prestigious job
Proposed pipeline raises fear of water shortages
Sudbury bands initiate crime prevention program
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Island woman takes on prestigious job
Margo Little, Birchbark Writer
Page 2
A Manitoulin Island woman has been asked to serve on the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board. Dawn Madahbee, a member of the Ojibways of Sucker Creek First Nation, was recently appointed to the prestigious post by Minister Allan Rock.
Madahbee, currently the manager of the Waubetek Business Development Commission on Birch Island, indicated she is looking forward to working in this high profile organization.
"The board will be implementing programs and policies to the federal government to provide economic development to First Nations people," she said. "Up to 20 members have been appointed to the board, a mix of Aboriginal and business people from the mainstream in Canada, such as banks and industries."
"Having worked in Aboriginal development in northeastern Ontario for the past 14 years, I will be able to have a voice at the national level, and on Aboriginal concerns. By participating on this national board, I will be able to have an influence on the local level," she said.
Proposed pipeline raises fear of water shortages
Roberta Avery, Birchbark Writer, Cape Croker
Page 3
Chippewas of Nawash Chief Ralph Akiwenzie fears a proposed pipeline that would pump millions of litres of Georgian Bay water to Walkerton and other Bruce County communities could have a detrimental effect on the band's hard-won fishing rights.
"The lake levels are already at record lows; we fear for the future of the fish habitat if the lake is drained even more,'' said Akiwenzie, leader of the 700-member community on the Bruce Peninsula.
A pipeline built in 1998 already pumps millions of litres of Georgian Bay water a day to supply the Honda plant at Alliston. But an agreement for a further 10 million litres of water a day to be pumped to Bradford has come as a surprise to Collingwood councillors and has outraged environmentalists.
Although Bradford is in a different watershed to Collingwood, under the agreement inked in mid-September, Bradford/West Gwillimbury will pay New Tecumseth as much as $14 million up front to tap into the Georgian Bay water that flows down the pipeline from Collingwood.
In 1998, Collingwood council's decision to agree to the 60-kilometre pipeline to help New Tecumseth supply water to the Honda plant was based on the fact that Alliston is in the same watershed, said Collingwood Mayor Terry Geddes.
"Collingwood is an extremely environmentally aware community and when we said we would supply water only to the same watershed we meant it," said Geddes.
Alliston is in the Georgian Bay watershed while Bradford is in the Lake Simcoe watershed.
Akiwenzie said he's not totally opposed to the concept of building a 150-kilometre pipeline from Wiarton near Cape Croker to Walkerton, but he fears there will be nothing to stop it being expanded like the Collingwood pipeline.
"If you start a trend like that it could have a big impact on our fishery," said Akiwenzie.
"Water is going to be the number one issue in the future and the Great Lakes are the last bastion of fresh water in North America. They have to be protected."
The rest of council overruled a suggestion by Walkerton councillor Chris Peabody that the Nawash band and the Saugeen First Nation be included in the pipeline talks.
"That was extremely short sighted," said Akiwenzie, who pointed out there is a major land claim for the shoreline lands that the pipeline will have to cross.
"The pipelines would absolve the local municipalities from the responsibility to provide clean water locally, and would take away the pressure to clean up local surface and groundwater, leaving the way open for further pollution of groundwater," said Akiwenzie.
The proposal, which would also provide water for many other small communities along the way, involves transporting 8 million to 12 million litres of water a day either from Wiarton or Southampton, which is close to the Saugeen Reserve.
At press time, an application to find out how much grant money might be available to help build the pipeline was almost ready to be presented to the province.
Sudbury bands initiate crime prevention program
Margo Little, Birchbark Writer, SudburyA needs assessment program focusing on community safety will be conducted in the Sudbury area over the next year. The Aboriginal Community/ Police Advisory Committee of Sudbury has received federal funds to launch a crime prevention program.
Nancy Cada, a member of the Sheshegwaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island, will co-ordinate the Aboriginal Community Needs Assessment Project. Her task will be to identify the crime prevention programs needed.
Cada, a graduate of Cambrian and Georgian community colleges, brings a background in paralegal work and business to her new post. She is currently working on a degree in law and justice at Laurentian University in Sudbury.
"I have always been drawn to this kind of work," she said. "I do what needs to be done and I do it with honesty and fairness.
"It (crime prevention) is an issue I care about. In the past two years I have seen an over-representation of our people coming through the system. Crime prevention is the only way to stop it."
The $30,000 project, supported by the Department of Justice Community Mobilization Program, will run from October 2002 to October 2003.
The Aboriginal Community/Police Advisory Committee was formed in January 2000. "The goal is to create better relations between the police department and the Aboriginal community. We also want to promote cross-cultural understanding," Cada said.
The committee, which meets monthly, is made up of representatives from across the greater city of Sudbury, and has representatives from the health, housing, child welfare, education and court sectors.
The committee works closely with an Aboriginal liaison officer hired by the Greater Sudbury Police Services in 1999.
The needs assessment will utilize a variety of research methods, Cada said. Focus groups, surveys and one-on-one interviews will be conducted with Aboriginal stakeholders. Interviews will involve members of the Whitefish Lake and Wahnapitae First Nations.
Cada intends to survey crown attorneys, youth detention centre staff, frontline workers and Elders.
Cada has observed that many community members are concerned about property crime.
"Some people are worried about vandalism and break-and-enters," she said. "Although the survey will look at all ages, we want to talk to a lot of youth. We need to find ways to keep kids from starting such activities. What can we put in place in order for them not to get in trouble?"
Cada expects to complete her preliminary research by the new year. January is the target for conducting community forums, depending on direction received from her advisory committee.
