Yet another new Aboriginal Affairs minister to train

A number of weeks ago, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty shuffled his cabinet, moving the very capable Michael Bryant, minister of Aboriginal Affairs, up the food chain to Economic Development.
The former attorney general of the province had been appointed the first ever minister of the newly created Aboriginal portfolio in October of 2007. Less than a year!
Since nature (and politics) hates a vacuum, Brad Duguid, former Labour Minister, rushed in and is now thumbing through paint swatches for his new office.
As with both provincial and federal governments, the Aboriginal portfolio's theme song is that old classic Trooper tune "We're here for a good time, not a long time."
Several Native leaders are upset with the shuffle, saying that they will have to go back and start training the new guy again. Sometimes it seems these White boys can't hold down a job for very long. Two to three years is the average life span for such ministers.
Most appointees spend their time accepting gifts of tanned, smoked moose hide beaded gloves, traditional Native carvings and paintings, and cool leather fringe jackets from Aboriginal bigwigs before being hustled out. If you're looking for cheap Native arts and crafts, check eBay after each shuffle.
Still, I want to be fair to Brad Duguid. He's got a bit of a roller coaster coming up. Good luck with what Bryant leftover, Caledonia.
With such a frequent and rapid turnover, it concerns me that these new ministers might not be fully informed about the complex and varied cultures and characteristics of Ontario, and Canada's Aboriginal people. For one thing, he might not be aware that we are not all one people. It's true. I have it on good authority.
So I would like to suggest to Premier McGuinty that he prepare some sort of exam for people in Duguid's situation. One that would inform us of his overall knowledge of the people he will be responsible for, negotiating with and about.
Here are 24 suggested questions dealing with Ontario Native arts and culture, and also several exploring a much broader national perspective, since no doubt, Duguid will occasionally find himself talking to First Nations people in other provinces. No province or minister is an island (except Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, of course).
If Minister Dugiud gets 20 or higher, start sending him the birch bark bitten wall hangings. Fifteen or higher, send him a dreamcatcher. Ten or higher, a seagull feather. Anything less, a bus ticket out of the province.
QUESTIONS - EASY
1. What language is spoken in Kasechewan?
2. What does Nunavut mean in English?
3. What does Canada mean in English?
4. George Ryga wrote the play, "The Ecstasy of Rita Joe." Was he Native or not?
5. What's the Indigenous name for the Queen Charlotte Islands?
6. What year did Native people get the right to vote in federal elections?
7. What was the name of Nick's Native best friend in the Beachcombers television series?
8. What is the name of the Dene community in North of Sixty?

QUESTIONS - Moderate
1. Who coined the phrase "My heart soars like an eagle?"
2. Who is the only First Nations person to win an Academy award?
3. What town does Tom King's Dead Dog Cafe take place in?
4. What Ontario community was the actor that played Tonto, Jay Silverheels, from?
5. Which of the following crops were not originally cultivated by Ontario Native people: Wild Rice, Barley, Squash?
6. In the movie Dances With Wolves, what was the name of the character of Ontario's own Graham Greene?
7. What language do the Metis speak?
8. What Ontario First Nation community has laid claim to a portion of Caledonia for the past two years?

QUESTIONS - DIFFICULT
1. In the classic Star Trek episode, the Paradise Syndrome, where Captain Kirk lost his memory and was adopted by a Native tribe, what name did they call him?
2. What is Tommy Prince most known for?
3. What year did the Red River Rebellion take place?
4. Name the two members of Kashtin.
5. Name Ontario's only Native Lieutenant-Governor.
6. What is the name of the Cleveland Indians Baseball team's mascot?
7. What did the Vikings call the Indigenous people of the newly discovered Vinland?
8. What American Tribe's language bares a substantial similarity to that of the Dene?

ANSWERS - EASY
1. Cree;
2. Our land;
3. A village or group of houses;
4. No;
5. Haida Gwaii;
6. 1960;
7. Jesse Jim;
8. Lynx River.

ANSWERS - Moderate
1. Chief Dan George;
2. Buffy Sainte-Marie;
3. Blossom, Alta.;
4. Six Nations, Ont.;
5. Barley;
6. Kicking Bird;
7. Michif;
8. Six Nations, Ont.

ANSWERS - Difficult
1. Kirock;
2. Canada's most decorated soldier;
3. 1869;
4. Florent Vollant and Claude McKenzie;
5. James Bartleman;
6. Chief Wahoo;
7. Skraelings;
8. The Navajo.