Community in mourning

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Nibinamik First Nation, formerly known as Summer Beaver, is still reeling from the disastrous Sept. 11 plane crash that took the life of seven community members and the pilot, just 10 km from the landing strip.

A Wasaya Airways Cessna Grand Caravan was on its way from Pickle Lake to Nibinamik, about 480 km north of Thunder Bay, when it went down. There were no survivors.

The village of only 380 people mourns deputy chief Lawrence Yellowhead, 37; band councillors Mike Wabasse, 64, and Richard Beaver, 47; lands and resources chief negotiator Leonard Sugarhead, 46; Wabasse's sister-in-law, housekeeper Violet Wapoose, 54; her seven-year-old grandson, Nathan Wapoose; and heavy equipment operator Rudy Neshinapaise, 28. Pilot Jonathon Hulls was also killed.

A funeral was held for the seven Nibinamik members Sept. 19. More than 1,300 people converged on the reserve for the service held outside St. Barnabas Anglican Church, which was presided over by Bishop David Ashdown of the Keewatin diocese. The church's priest, Rev. Georgina Neshinapaise, lost both her brother and brother-in-law in the plane crash.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy attended, along with Bentley Cheechoo, tribal chair for Matawa First Nations Management.

Ontario Regional Chief Charles Fox, Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault, Transport Canada accident investigators, and many other First Nations people and dignitaries from across Ontario also attended.

Nibinamik Chief Roger Oskineegish issued a statement Sept. 23 thanking everyone who had come out to support them.

"But we are still in need of support in the areas of crisis support workers, carpenters and administration staff to help rebuild our community. We only have two crisis teams and that's not enough. A lot of people have left and issues are starting to arise as our grieving occurs."

Ontario's Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman was among those who visited Nibinamik to offer condolences and support before the funeral. Bartleman stayed five hours and visited four homes of the deceased, according to Canadian Rangers' military public affairs aide, Sgt. Peter Moon.

Moon said they brought food, as a result of Bartleman having consulted with his mother about what was appropriate.

"In all traditions, when there is a death in the family, people bring food," said Moon, and that is what Bartleman's mother advised him to do.

They found 30 to 40 people in each of the homes they visited; about 100 tents were erected to hold additional guests. Services were taxed to the limit with just two diesel generators providing power for the reserve.

The Red Cross sent five people in following the tragedy to help.

Bruce Visitor, director of operations for Matawa First Nations Management headquartered in Thunder Bay, said on Sept. 18 that they had been trying to co-ordinate relief efforts through Emergency Measures Ontario, but the remoteness of the community had made that very difficult.

The community had already spent $200,000 by that date to house, feed and provide amenities for relatives and support workers who had flown into Nibinamik, Visitor said.

More money is needed to pay the incurred costs of demobilization, and to provide health and infrastructure support for at least three months following the funeral, Visitor told Birchbark.

Donations can be made to the Matawa First Nations Management-Nibinamik first Nation Emergency Fund account at any branch of the Royal Bank of Canada.

The cause of the crash is still undetermined and federal Transportation Safety Board officials are investigating.