Anishinawbe Blog

October 28, 2006

Miigwetch mno-bimaadiziwin

Filed under: Personal — Bob Goulais @ 1:59 pm

LONDON – Just getting ready for bed tonight and wanted to share some thoughts with you.

I had an amazing day with my boyz, Zoon Gaabow and Miigwans.  We spent the afternoon at the Children’s Museum, playing and going through all of the exhibits.  I think they liked the cave exhibit the best.  The dinosaurs were a close second.

The best part of the day was just talking with them, Daddy to sons and sons to Daddy.  They had so many great questions… (why do cars have license plates).  We donated some money to the Legion Poppy Fund and I spoke to them about veterans and their contributions to Canada.  I was also proud to share with them that Anishinaabe warriors played a strong role in those wars that we remember.  They are wearing their poppys on their jackets with pride.
We had a great dinner at a local pizzeria and followed that up with a couple hours in the Lodge at our annual fall fasting camp.  I was so proud of them, shaking their shakers, dancing and singing a few words that they knew of the songs.  They were so good and so attentive.  They made me overjoyed that they were my flesh and blood.  I’m so happy to be their Dad.

I have everything a man could ever want.

Miigwetch, mno-bimaadiziwin.

October 23, 2006

‘Nationhood’ needs to be addressed: Liberal Exec

Filed under: Personal — Bob Goulais @ 2:01 pm

Goulais to introduce LPC resolution

NIPISSING FIRST NATION – “There are Nations within Canada,” said Bob Goulais, executive with the Nipissing-Timiscaming Federal Liberal Association in Northern Ontario and aboriginal member of the Liberal Party of Canada, “It will be up to the Liberal Party of Canada to debate and address these questions because the Conservatives won’t even go there.”
According to Goulais, this controversial issue has plagued the party as well as the country for far too long.
The whole question of nationhood was addressed this weekend at the Quebec assembly of the Liberal Party of Canada, where the delegates passed a resolution recognizing Quebec as a nation.
“There is no question Quebec’s nationhood status in Canada should be debated,” said Goulais, an Anishinaabe from Nipissing First Nation and Chief of Staff for the Union of Ontario Indians’ office of the Grand Council Chief.  “We all know First Nations have long sought for recognition as nations within Canada.”
Goulais announced he will table a resolution with the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission of the LPC at the Party convention which begins at the end of November and concludes with the vote for the Party Leader on Dec. 1, 2006.
“I will propose a resolution mandating that First Nations issues become a top priority of the Liberal Party of Canada including the recognition of First Nations as Nations-within-a-Nation, and the recognition of First Nations governments as a legitimate third order of Government within Canada,” he said.
Goulais is pleased to see the leadership candidates speaking out on the issue on nationhood, in this case Quebec. But First Nations nationhood also needs to be addressed and ultimately supported by the Liberals.
“Part of the solution to eliminating First Nations poverty and third world conditions is formal recognition of our governments on a Nation-to-Nation basis,” he said.
“Last year, the Liberal government had taken significant steps towards this goal which must continue with the new leader, whoever that may be,” said Goulais.
In addition to holding a First Ministers’ Meeting on Aboriginal Issues and passing the Kelowna Accord, then Prime Minister Paul Martin signed a “Recognition of First Nations Governments” Accord with the AFN in May 2005 and a “Transformative Change” Accord with the Government of British Columbia and BC First Nations in November 2005.
“This Liberal legacy needs to be seen to fruition,” concluded Goulais.

- 30 -

Bob Goulais
(705) 498-5250
www.bobgoulais.com

First Nations Boycott: Update

Filed under: Personal — Bob Goulais @ 2:00 pm

“The Source (By Circuit City)” reverses their policy

Good morning Brothers and Sisters:
I’m very pleased to announce that “The Source (By Circuit City)” has reviewed and changed their Indian Tax Exemption Policy for Status Indians.  This goes to prove that we have strength in numbers and when we are united and speak out changes can be made.
This change was made because of you, the Anishinaabeg, Mushegowuk and Ongkwehone citizens.  Congratulations.
It’s still not everything we asked for as it is still a corporate policy defining our rights.  But it is a concession on their part.  Based on this development, I feel we can slowly ease the pressure off “The Source (By Circuit City)”.  I’ll leave that up to you.  Please make use of the attached document for purposes of exercising your rights at that establishment.
Rest assured, we are still advocating a First Nation Consumer Bill of Rights which will be presented to the Chiefs of the Union of Ontario Indians on Tuesday, Oct. 31.  We will still continue with the boycott concept further I’m sure.  In the meantime, please visit by website at http://www.bobgoulais.com/.
Once again, Miigwetch and thank you very much.  I Love you all.

In Nationhood,

Bob Goulais
Chief of Staff &
Executive Assistant to the Grand Council Chief

Here is the policy from “The Source (By Circuit City”.
(Click to Download.  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

October 21, 2006

Comments on the Boycott

Filed under: Personal — Bob Goulais @ 2:02 pm

“The boycott does seem to be a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to something that has personally affected you. This has been a long standing practice of many businesses across Canada that I am sure you are well aware of but you react now, when this has just affected you, and you still claim that this is not a knee-jerk reaction?”

Retort:

Miigwetch for your opinion, however unsigned.  This has not been a knee-jerk reaction.  It doesn’t personally affect only me.  It has affected every single First Nations person at one time or another.  And this isn’t just a one time scenario, this happens almost every time I produce my status card.  We have all felt the humiliation or the embarrassment, when stores have to get the manager, fill out long forms, or got forbid, have to actually leave the cash to photocopy both sides of our status card.  How many of us have ‘paid the tax anyway’ because there was a long line-up behind us and we only had a box of tissues or a candy bar? 
In this particular case, First Nations people across Ontario are getting the same tax exemption interpretation and policy from “The Source (By Circuit City)”; and now “Sleep Country Canada”.  Over the years, I have responded similarly and consistantly to all businesses that have refused my status card or have provided significant barriers to my right to tax exemption. I have always left my items at the cash, called for a manager, then told my friends and family. Then I would never return to that business. I am encouraging all Anishinaabe to do the same.   
In some bigger cases, I have gone to the media and in two instances had store employees fired.  One large retailer has improved their Tax Exemption policy immensely.  They may not all be perfect, but in these instances the situation has got a lot better.
These “long standing practices”, as you call them, have to change.
For example:  Businesses that need “proof” that I am going to consume or deliver these goods to the reserve.  In the past, some business asked me to produce a driver’s license.  (Incidentally, this is a barrier for the many First Nations elders that don’t drive.)  I’m very happy to comply and produce to them my license with my home address.  Then the cashier asks me ‘where does this say you live on the reserve’.  Well it’s right there:  my street number and street name, my town/village.  Then he/she calls the manager to interpret whether or not I live on the reserve.  Both are dumbfounded and can’t make that call.  They begrudgingly give me the exemption.  This scenario has happened time and time again.  My license says 170 Gerald Crescent, RR1, Sturgeon Falls, Ontario.  I know it’s on Nipissing Indian Reserve No. 10.  All the time, there are 5 or 6 people ‘huffing and puffing’ in the line behind me.  I not longer get embarrassed.  I make the time to draw out the scene as long as I possible can.
Sometime in the very near future, we will organize a mass demonstration at a major retailer and hundreds of our citizens will all buy something at the same time.  We will do this in front of the television cameras and the rest of the media.
Legally, they don’t have to change.  But if they want First Nations business, they will have to change.  I’m going to work hard to ensure that happens through this “First Nations Consumer Bill of Rights”.
Miigwetch.

October 20, 2006

Part 2 – The FN Boycott & “Sleep Country”

Filed under: Personal — Bob Goulais @ 2:05 pm

From: Lister, Monica
To: Goulais, Bob
Sent: 10/20/06 3:21 PM
Subject: Part 2 – The FN Boycott &”Sleep Country”

From Bob Goulais…

Greetings once again, brothers and sisters:
Please be assured that we will be putting pressure on “The Source (By
Circuit City)” and other retailers and service providers who are
specifically identified in the First Nations Boycott. I also hope to
bring this up in the media and provide a little more elaborate strategy
for all consumers to follow-up.
I would also like to identify another business who has established
significant barriers to adhereing to our right to tax exemption and
respect of our Nationhood. There has been some documentation regarding
“Sleep Country Canada”, who have either refused outright to accept an
Indian Status Card or have made tax exemption purchases consistantly
difficult.
THEREFORE, I am extending this active and punitive boycott to “Sleep
Country Canada” until they are able to produce and justify their Indian
Status tax exemption policy, demonstrate barrier-free adherance to our
right to tax exemption, and demonstrate their respect to our people.

ACTIONS: 

  1. I am respectfully requesting that all First Nations citizens:
    Anishinaabe, Haudenasaunee and Mushkegowuk alike, as well as our
    businesses, supporters and fellow consumers hereby actively boycott
    “Sleep Country Canada”. Buy your mattresses and bedding products from their competitors.

  2. Send this out far and wide, as previously.

  3. Visit www.bobgoulais.com for further updates on “The First Nations
    Boycott”.

Once again, this strategy will not be based on interpretations or
compliance with Retail Tax Guide and the Indian Act, but supporting
businesses that go out-of-their-way to respect and adhere to our
aboriginal right to tax exemption and refusing to patronize those
businesses that refuse or create barriers to using our right to tax
exemption.
Also, this issn’t a simple knee-jerk reaction. This was a response to
their change in policy, and incidents have been reported across the
Province.
Also, at the upcoming Union of Ontario Indians assembly on Oct. 31, we
will be developing a strategy for a “First Nations Consumer Bill of
Rights”, including establishing policy, standards and certification for
businesses who want to do business with us. This strategy should
include a web site where First Nations consumers can report and research
documentation regarding companies who are certified “First Nations
Friendly Business”. We will use the web site and other communications
media to promote those companies in a positive way, but also provide
alerts to those companies who are not in compliance. We hope to print a
door sticker with the Anishinabek Thunderbird indicating them as an
“Friendly Business”.
By the way, this is all a part of the Anishinabek Nation Economic
Strategy, a ten-year economic plan that will provide new economic
opportunities, a new First Nation Economic Policy within the Province of
Ontario, consumer and small business strategies, human resources and
skills development initiatives. This is expected to be a comprehensive
and practical approach to economic development, with objectives for the
UOI, the Anishinabek Nation Management Group Inc., our Anishinabek
Nation Credit Union, Tribal Councils, individual First Nations, EDOs,
business development corporations, LDMs, First Nations businesses,
Anishinabek entrepreneurs and even individual citizens and consumers.
The strategy is being co-chaired by Ray Martin and Dawn Madahbee. Our
Portfolio Chief is J. Edward Williams of the Moose Deer Point First
Nation.
There have been questions about whether I have a legitimate status card
as being the basis for the refusal, or whether I live on-reserve. The
answer for both is yes. Irregardless, for the benefit of our more than
50 per cent of our citizens who live away from their First Nation, it is
our entrenched position that our treaty rights are “portable” anyway,
and our tax exemption does not stop at the reserve border.
Again, demand that whoever you do business with respect you and your
rights. If they refuse, refuse to give them your business. 

All my relations,

Bob Goulais
Chief of Staff &
Executive Assistant to the Grand Council Chief

Matthew elected leader of Cultural Education Centres

Filed under: Anishinabek — Bob Goulais @ 2:03 pm

WINNIPEG, MB – Today, I attended the Annual General Assembly of the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres in Winnipeg, MB. I was the proxy on behalf of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation. Today, the election for the President of the FNCCEC took place. I supported and Seconded the nomination of Chief Keith Matthew of British Columbia. I felt that he could understand the diversity and challenges that we were experiencing in Ontario. As a First Nations leader, he would be well placed to bring our issues forward both to the government and to our own First Nations leadership forums, such as the AFN.
Also nominated by incumbent President Gilbert Whiteduck. Gilbert has led this organization for a number of years and did not want to seek re-election. However, during the regional caucuses, Gilbert was approach by Alberta and Saskatchewan to carry on. He was presented with tobacco and reluctantly accepted the nomination. When Keith was nominated, Whiteduck steped up to the microphone and explained he would indeed step down now that a candidate was vying for the office. It was a touching moment with Chief Matthew embraced Gilbert in a fitting tribute to his leadership.
Gilbert Whiteduck has been, and will continue to be the strongest advocated for cultural edcuation centres in Canada and we wish him all the best.
Congratulations Chief Matthew. You are going to do well, and it was a pleasure to bring you our support from Ontario.

Cynthia Bell, Cultural Programmer from the Wikwemikong Heritage Organization.

October 18, 2006

Supporting the First Nations Boycott

Filed under: Personal — Bob Goulais @ 2:07 pm

—–Original Message—–
From: Goulais, Bob
To: Cmandoka@aiai.on.ca
Cc: rpitt@aiai.on.ca; dstonefish@aiai.on.ca; cmccormick@aiai.on.ca; leg_jam@hotmail.com; beajoh@anishinabek.ca
Sent: 10/18/06 8:08 PM
Subject: Re: Call for First Nations’ Boycott of “The Source (By Circuit City)”

Hi Cathy and friends at AIAI:

Miigwetch for your thoughts. Yes, we will be putting pressure on “The
Source (By Circuit City)” as you described. I also hope to bring this
up in the media and provide a little more elaborate strategy for all
consumers to follow-up. This strategy will not be based on rule of law,
tax law interpretations or compliance with Retail Tax Guide and the
Indian Act, but supporting businesses that go out-of-their-way to
respect and adhere to our aboriginal right to tax exemption and refusing
to patronize those businesses that refuse or create barriers to using
our right to tax exemption.

FYI: “The Source” is well in their rights to create and define their
policy related to administration of the RST Exemption. My philosopy is,
we don’t have to patron their store if we don’t like their policy.
We’ll find more friendly businesses to support.

This wasn’t a simple knee-jerk reaction. This was a response from their
expected change in policy, and incidents have been reported across the
Province.

At the upcoming UOI assembly, we will be developing a strategy for a
“First Nations Consumer Bill of Rights”, including establishing policy,
standards and certification for businesses who want to do business with
us. This strategy should include a web site where First Nations
consumers can report and research documentation regarding companies who
are certified “An Anishinabek Friendly Business”. We will use the web
site and other communications media to promote those companies in a
positive way, but also provide alerts to those companies who are not in
compliance. We hope to print a door sticker with the Anishinabek
Thunderbird indicating them as an “Anishinabek Friendly Business”.

By the way, this is all a part of the Anishinabek Nation Economic
Strategy, a ten-year economic plan that will provide new economic
opportunities, a new First Nation Economic Policy within the Province of
Ontario, consumer and small business strategies, human resources and
skills development initiatives. This is expected to be a comprehensive
and practical approach to economic development, with objectives for the
UOI, the Anishinabek Nation Management Group Inc., our Anishinabek
Nation Credit Union, Tribal Councils, individual First Nations, EDOs,
business development corporations, LDMs, First Nations businesses,
Anishinabek entrepreneurs and even individual citizens and consumers.

The strategy is being co-chaired by Ray Martin and Dawn Madahbee. Our
Portfolio Chief is J. Edward Williams of the Moose Deer Point First
Nation.

I hope this provides you with a little more information. I’ve copied
Grand Chief Denise Stonefish and Deputy Grand Chief Chris McCormick on
this e-mail. The UOI and AIAI have always worked well with each other
on many different issues. We certainly hope that AIAI would understand
our philosophy and support our work in defending our right to foreign
taxation.

To answer the question below, yes I live in my home community of
Nipissing, work in my home community and work hard for the rights of all
our people. I also spend a lot of time doing traditional work in the
London-Kettle Point area.

Finally, I do recall the issue regarding the OHIP Premium – which is
most definitely a tax. I fully agree with you on this issue. Cathy,
let’s talk about this some more. Perhaps our respective Grand Chiefs
can come together and give this issue a lot more prominence. You have
my word on that.

I hope you are all doing well.

Bob Goulais
Chief of Staff &
Executive Assistant to the Grand Council Chief

The Best and Brightest in BC

Filed under: Anishinabek — Bob Goulais @ 2:06 pm

Above: Grand Council Chief John Beaucage and Dave Porter of the First Nations Summit.

Below:  Chief Judith Sayers of the First Nations Summit and Allan Dokis.

Our Mission to B.C. – Day 3

VANCOUVER, B.C. — There was one thing that was common throughout our entire mission to BC: each First Nations organization we met with had an inordinate amount of wisdom and true leadership vision.  Not to say that there isn’t vision and wisdom in Ontario, but that we met with the best and brightest people that British Columbia has to offer.
Today was a great case in point.  The morning involved a visit to the West Vancouver offices of the First Nations Summit.  It was a pleasure to meet the formidable, no-nonsense approach of Dave Porter.  Mr. Porter is a member of the Political Executive of the First Nations Summit.  His experience as a Cabinet Minister and government Associate Deputy Minister and his various forays into First Nations politics commands a great deal of respect.  He was able to provide answers and resources for all of our questions about the New Relationship and Transformative Change that is happening between government and BC First Nations.  We also met with the equally wise and fiesty Chief Judith Sayers, who is also on the First Nations Summit Executive.  She has an excellent grasp of the community and provides a great balance between her political role and her heartfelt responsibility for her community.
We had the pleasure of meeting Chief Commissioner Steven Point of the BC Treaty Commission. His Honour Mr. Point has been a provincial court judge since February 1999. Judge Point served as the Tribal Chair of the Sto:lo Nation from 1994 to 1999 and elected Chief of Skowkale First Nation for 15 years between 1975 and 1999.  He is a great choice for Chief Commissioner and has an unmatched grasp of the treaties and constitutional law.

Grand Council Chief Beaucage, Communcations Director Brian Mitchell and Chief Commissioner Steven Point of the BC Treaty Commission.

October 17, 2006

Osoyoos wine, dine and the golf is fine

Filed under: Anishinabek — Bob Goulais @ 2:09 pm

Our Mission to B.C. – Day 2

OSOYOOS, B.C. — The Osoyoos Indian Band’s land base consists of over 32,000 acres of British Columbia’s most beautiful land with potential for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and Eco-tourism development.
Grand Council Chief John Beaucage spend the night in the Osoyoos Indian Band’s Spirit Ridge Resort last night, and took in a tour of the Nk’Mip Winery, Nk’Mip Desert Golf Course, and the Nk’Mip Cultural Centre and a number of other band owned businesses.  These are all owned and operated by the Osoyoos Indian Band.

Above:  Grand Council Chief looking over the Okanagan Valley during his visit to Osoyoos Indian Band.  Below:  Grand Council Chief Beaucage and Osoyoos Chief Clarence Louie.


VICTORIA, B.C. — Myself, Allan Dokis and Jamie Restoule took a day trip to the capital of British Columbia, the beautiful city of Victoria.  The hour-and-a-half ferry trip on the Spirit of British Columbia was a great time to enjoy the scenery, the Pacific Ocean and reflect on our upcoming meeting with the BC Government.  Today, we met with Associate Deputy Minister Mike Furey and Director of Social and Economic Initiatives John Harper.  We discussed, at length, the new relationships between First Nations and the provincial government, the $100 million First Nations New Relationships Trust, self-government, treaties and economics.  We came away with a great number of goals for a new relationship with our own provincial government.  At the end of the day, it is political will that is driving the “new relationship” and reconciliation between BC and BC First Nations.  That political will has to come from the top, in this case, Premier Gordon Campbell.  Also, the entire government has to play a role, not just the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

Sasquatch.  Photos By Greg Plain

Boycott of “The Source (By Circuit City)”

Filed under: Personal — Bob Goulais @ 2:08 pm

Taking Steps towards an Anishinabek Consumer Bill of Rights

Today, myself and Arnya Assance of Beausoleil First Nation launched a First Nations boycott of “The Source (By Circuit City)”.  I’ve sent out an e-mail, far and wide. (see below).
In addition, I’ve given direction for the Union of Ontario Indians to include this issue to the agenda of the Special Grand Council Assembly, October 31-November 1, 2006.  Further, I’ve asked our staff to develop a strategy paper and a resolution for an “Anishinabek Consumer Bill of Rights”. This will include a vision statement and standards policy. It will also include a certification process that will put the onus on the company to become certified with a “Anishinabek Trademark Brand” that will ensure they are recognized as supporters of our rights and our Nation and provide “barrier-free” tax exemptions. Part of this new strategy will include a new website called the Anishinabek Consumer Standards Organization (ASO) which will provide an e-mail alert notification and a central list of certified suppliers and service providers.

We can refer to this initiative as the very first “Anishinabek Standard
1001″ or ASO 1001.

BOB….

  __________________________________________ 


Good day brothers and sisters:

This concerns the thousands and thousands of First Nations citizens
including Band Councils, Tribal Councils as well as our affiliated
social, health and economic non-governmental organizations.

This is to alert you to the fact that my status card was refused by “The
Source (By Circuit City)” when attempting to make a purchase this
weekend. This took place at the Galleria Mall location in downtown
London, ON.

The reason for this “alert” and my recommended course of action is
because this is about more than just ignorance, but an apparent change
in company policy that undermines our treaty right to tax exemption and
serves to dishonour and disrespect all Anishinaabe, Haundenasaunee and
Mushkegowuk people. 

I’m a firm believer that our people, businesses and First Nation
administrations/governments should support businesses that respect us,
honour our treaty rights and support our Nationhood. It is abundantly
clear that the actions of “The Source (By Circuit City)” are not
consistant with this philosophy. 

THEREFORE, I am encouraging an active and punitive boycott of “The
Source (By Circuit City)” until they are able to produce and justify
their Indian Status tax exemption policy, demonstrate barrier-free
adherance to our treaty right to tax exemption, and demonstrate their
respect to our people.

ACTIONS: 

(1) I am respectfully requesting that all First Nations citizens:
Anishinaabe, Haudenasaunee and Mushkegowuk alike, as well as our
businesses, supporters and fellow consumers hereby actively boycott “The
Source (By Circuit City)”. Buy your electronic products from their
competitors who honour our right to tax exemption; and

(2) That our Band Councils, administrations and organizations who
presently deal with “The Source (By Circuit City)” pass purchasing
policies, by-laws and resolutions supporting this boycott and find
alternative suppliers who support and honour our rights.

(3) Take action, write your own letter or e-mail in support of this
boycott.

(4) Finally, although I dislike “spam” and forwards, please share this
with your friends, family and supporters of our Nation.

My brothers and sisters, our people and our rights are important. We
spend millions of dollars on home, business and personal electronics
each and every year. Demand that whoever you do business with respect
you and your rights. If they refuse, refuse to give them your business.

Forever to the seventh generation.

Bob Goulais
Chief of Staff &
Executive Assistant to the Grand Council Chief

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