Anishinawbe Blog

The Parry Sound North Star

PARRY SOUND – Former Wasauksing First Nation Chief John Beaucage was acclaimed as the Anishinabek Nation grand Council Chief earlier this month, for a second term.
“I think it is time to be ambitious in our goals; that we have to be ambitious because we can’t always rely on the provincial and federal governments to carry us. We have to do the job ourselves,” said Mr. Beaucage.

One of the issues Mr. Beaucage rededicated himself to is the eradication of poverty, both cultural and financial, within the Anishinabek Nation.

The first steps of which have already been taken to fulfill this goal.

“The Anishinabek already dedicated, as of last week, the anishnabemowin (Ojibwa) language as our official language,” said Mr. Beaucage.

“So we are undertaking a program that will have language immersion for the people in the office and political people and will work to have the laws in place to make it the official language and alter our education system.”

The goal is to have anishnabemowin the language of choice in schools and work places within 10 years. Out of 50,000 Anishinabek members he said about 20 per cent speak anishnabemowin at this time.

Also on his agenda is the community taking control of its own children’s aid, by creating an Anishinabek Children’s Aid Society and becoming a provincially recognized service provider. This project, he said, is about two years away from being fully realized.
The Anishinabek Nation includes 42 communities and spans from Thunder Bay, in the north, to Sarnia, in the south, and to the Ottawa Valley, in the east.

VANCOUVER, BC (July 12, 2006) – First Nations in Ontario are rejecting arguments that favour a confrontational and violent means of dealing with Native demonstrations and civil disobedience at Caledonia, and that the tact chosen by OPP top brass should be considered shameful.

“We applaud Commissioner Boniface’s courageous and diplomatic approach. She has the utmost confidence and support of First Nations leadership,” said Grand Council Chief Beaucage, leader of the 42-member First Nations of the Anishinabek Nation.

“It is evident that the OPP have learned from their past mistakes and Commissioner Boniface wants to ensure those mistakes are not repeated.” Beaucage was speaking from the annual general meeting of the Assembly of First Nations in Vancouver.

Chiefs attending the Assembly have expressed concern over criticism of Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Gwen Boniface’s handling of the Caledonia situation and suggestion that she should resign.

“The Ontario Provincial Police are acting as true ‘peace officers’ in their role at Caledonia. There is great honour in restraint and making good decisions,” said Grand Council Chief Beaucage. “Being a peacekeeper shouldn’t be considered by anyone to be shameful, a sign of weakness or supporting lawlessness.”

“There is a certain, small element of society that would advocate police violence, confrontation and ignorance of First Nations land rights rather than the chosen approach of the government and the police, said Grand Council Chief John Beaucage. “We have all seen the tragic results of this approach, most recently at Ipperwash in 1995.”

“Negotiation and level-headedness is the only way to resolve these types of sensitive flashpoints to avoid unnecessary violence,” concluded Beaucage.
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The Anishinabek Nation incorporated the Union of Ontario Indians (UOI) as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 42-member First Nations across Ontario . The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

Vancouver, BC.  Day 1

Arrived in a Vancouver a little late for the annual general meeting of the Assembly of First Nations.  My original flight from North Bay, yesterday at 3:25 was cancelled as was the next flight out at 8:30 p.m.  Apparently thunderstorms and tornado warnings closed Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto yesterday afternoon and early evening.  I’m just glad I didn’t get stuck in Toronto.  Left at 6:10 this morning and landed in Vancouver at 10:30′ish.

Upon arrival at the Vancouver Convention Centre, I quickly went to work to set up a Union of Ontario Indians’ caucus that will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m. local time.  I spoke with both National Chief’s candidates to ensure they would attend our briefing meeting.  Also re-acquainted myself with Larry Sault who is working for Bill Wilson’s campaign.  Allen Luby and Marsha Smoke were taking the reigns of Fontaine’s campaign.

As I am writing, the debate between Bill Wilson (BC) and Phil Fontaine (MA) is heating up.  Wilson gave a very strong speech that will distance his more hardline, treaty-based approached from the more conciliatory incumbent.  Of course, Fontaine bestowed the virtues of his solutions-based approach and the successes he has obtained in the past term.�
Fontaine, the most eloquent speaker of the two, used his twenty minutes to maintain his support base.  Wilson attempted to go for the throat with assertions that these negotiated approaches of Fontaine is treachery.  Most delegates missed his dig.

Finishing a news release supporting Commissioner Gwen Boniface.  The embattled OPP boss is being targeted by the Caledonia Citizens Coalition and some others within her ranks.  They feel she should resign and the OPP should be more forceful.  First Nations leadership disagree with this Harris-like approach.  The news release will go our tomorrow morning.

NIPISSING FIRST NATION — Anishinabek Nation leaders and Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources have created a joint process to resolve issues of concern related to natural resource management.

A Letter of Intent outlining the process was signed today by Grand Council Chief John Beaucage, on behalf of 42 Anishinabek Nation communities, and Minister of Natural Resources David Ramsay.

“We are pleased this Ontario government understands the importance of working with First Nations on natural resource issues, which represent the link between our historic treaties and our future economic prosperity,” said Beaucage. “Since we first discussed this process, Minister Ramsay has endorsed co-operative and respectful dialogue when dealing with issues involving First Nation jurisdiction and aboriginal and treaty rights.”

“I am pleased to join Grand Chief Beaucage in signing this agreement, which will help address Anishinabek Nation concerns about natural resource issues,” said Ramsay. “By working together cooperatively, we can move forward on common priorities and seek mutually agreeable solutions.”

The process envisages a “solutions-based approach” that would revitalize the Anishinabek/Ontario Resource Management Council process that was established six years ago. The Council has a mandate to finalize a work plan within 120 days to begin addressing six priority issues: harvesting, the Great Lakes Charter Annex, resource benefit-sharing, incidental cabins, a forestry framework and enforcement.

The signing took place at the first annual Anishinabek/Ontario Leadership Forum, which brought together the four Anishinabek Regional Chiefs, as well as Elders, Women, and Youth council members, and senior staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Under the agreement, an annual Leadership Forum would be held to monitor Resource Management Council progress and identify new priorities from emerging natural resource issues.

The Anishinabek Nation incorporated the Union of Ontario Indians (UOI) as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 42-member First Nations across Ontario . The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

Media Enquiries
Barry Radford
Communications Services Branch
416-314-2103

Bob Goulais
Anishinabek Nation
info@anishinabek.ca
705-497-9127 / 705-498-5250 (Cell)