Message from Chief Echum A New Opportunity The TransCanada

A New Opportunity
The TransCanada
Pipeline Project
Community First
A U G U ST 2 0 1 3 — PO W W O W S PEC I A L
First Nations across Canada expect to have their
conditions met before TransCanada Corporation is
given permission to proceed with its $12-billion westeast pipeline project. The company proposes to convert roughly 3,000 kilometres of natural gas pipeline
on its existing Canadian Mainline route from Alberta
to New Brunswick so it can carry crude oil – a total of
1.1 million barrels per day.
Message from Chief Echum
Chief Echum is working with the other Matawa First
Nations discussing revenue sharing from the pipeline or an equity buy-in for the FNs to acquire some
ownership on the project and reap some profits.
Chief Echum also asked for resources so that the
grassroots people can be informed and engaged
properly in this project.
CHIEF AND
COUNCIL
Chief Celia Echum
The proposed pipeline project will have to go through
Ginoogaming First Nation traditional territory as well
as some of the other Matawa First Nations.
Councillors
Jerry Echum
Sheri Taylor
Ginoogaming is concerned that if there was ever a
spill, the environmental impacts from crude getting
into ground and surface water and soil, can be many
times more devastating than a leak of gas.
Gabriel Echum
Joanne Towegishig
Blaine Martin
Maurice Waboose
It is this increased environmental risk that warrants a
high degree of consultation and accommodation.
Chief Echum met with lawyers and Trans Canada on
July 16 in Toronto to begin the consultation process.
this issue
Environmental Monitoring P.2
Investing in our Peoples P.3
Woodlands Operations P.4
Ginoogaming First Nation
P.O Box 89, 101 Poplar Crescent, Longlac, Ontario, P0T2A0
Phone: 807-876-2242
Fax: 807-876-2495
www.ginoogaming.ca
Gin o og am in g F irst N at ion N ewslett er
Our Community Photos P.5
Bob Rae Visit P.6
Ring of Fire Training P.7
TransCanada Pipeline P.8
Boozhoo! As we do every Pow-Wow
I would like to present our special newsletter. I would also like to acknowledge
our Elders, Youth, Women, Council,
Committees, Trustees, Staff, Students.
Families and visitors.
This is just a brief update of some of the
projects we have been working on in
housing, education, employment and
training, community building and economic development. There are many
more projects to highlight that could not
fit in one issue but can be viewed on our
website www.ginoogaming.ca
outside our community. Ginoogaming currently employs over 60 band members plus
10 Carpentry Trainees. This number will
continue to grow with new training and business projects in Forestry with woodlands
operations, Mining with Premier Gold and
the TransCanada Pipeline Project.
I will continue to make sure our community
is engaged in all these processes and that
our community protocol is respected by GovWe are proud to support and invest in our
ernment and Industry. We have to make
youth and adults with learning initiatives
sure that no development occurs without
through the Aboriginal Workforce Develconsultation and accommodation and our
opment and Maintenance Program
free prior informed consent is issued. We
(AWDMP) and KKETS. Congratulations
have to protect our Aboriginal Treaty Rights.
to all the learners and trainees that are
creating their own pathway to a brighter
Thank you for your ongoing support and I
future.
look forward to listening to all of your concerns to map out our priorities for the next
I am also proud of the capacity that we
year. I’m optimistic that we can continue to
are building here at the community level
build a healthy,safe and prosperous commuwith environmental monitoring, economic
nity for all of our peoples.
development, band management staff,
and training. I am happy to see our own
Meegwetch
peoples gaining experience so we don’t
Chief Celia Echum
have to rely too much on others from
APTN profiles
Environmental
Monitoring
A BRIGHTER
FUTURE
Program features Environmental
Monitoring on First Nations
Traditional Territory and
Denny Michano
The KIIKENOMAGA
KIKENJIGEWEN
Employment and Training
Services(KKETS) Aboriginal
Skills Advancement
Pilot Program (ASAPP) is
for adult learners aged 22
and above. It is a one year
course with 25-week upgrading and job specific certification. Marianne Echum
completed the program in
June and will be attending
Confederation College this
fall to study environmental
technician.
On August 14, 2013, Aboriginal Peoples Television
Network (APTN) aired a short story on their national
news cast about Community Based Environmental
Monitoring and Matawa’s Four Rivers.
The story featured Denny Michano of Ginoogaming
First Nation who graduated from the BEAHR Environmental Monitoring training program delivered through
Four Rivers, and who now works as a Community
Environmental Monitor.
Denny Michano is one of four Environmental Monitors from Aroland First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation and Long Lake #58 First Nation, that Four Rivers
trained last year. Part of his role involves monitoring
the environment around an advanced exploration
mining project near his community. Deny was part of
a team including Troy Echum that is working on:



A Traditional Knowledge
Study for Ginoogaming
First Nation
Environmental Monitoring
at Premier Gold Mines
Hardrock Project Site
Mapping/Gathering Traditional Values for
Ginoogaming First Nation
Community First
GFN Member Completes
KKETS program
The Cultural impact Assessment (CIA) helps community members understand the impacts arising
from Premier Gold’s Advanced Exploration activities, and to ensure that Ginoogaming First Nation
has made an informed decision and was able to
weigh all the risks.
The CIA also that focuses on the relationship of
cultural values and cultural impacts.
Ginoogaming weighs the potential effects, risks,
gains, mitigation effectiveness and compensation
with community involvement.
It also provides the opportunity for Ginoogaming to
lead and direct projects by being actively involved
in decisions of support or non-support.
Building capacity at the community level to identify
and protect the traditional lands and territories
within Ginoogaming First Nation and ensuring that
the lands and waters are protected for future generations while enabling Elders to provide direction
and inspire the youth is important to the project’s
success.
For more info:
Contact: GFN CIA office at (807) 876-2242
Page 2
Chief Echum helps Announce Ring of Fire
Aboriginal Training Alliance (RoFATA)
On August 8, Chief Echum helped announce the Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training
Alliance which will cover training for up to 260 students living in Matawa communities. The program is a partnership between Noront Resources, Confederation College and the Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services
(KKETS) and is all about creating stronger communities. KKETS is Matawa’s employment and training corporation which was established in 2010. Chief Echum
was apart of the working group that develop the concept of the corporation.
Echum said in her community, like in many other remote First Nations, most people are without work and don’t have the necessary training and skills to land Ring
of Fire positions when the mining finally does get under way. “We have an opportunity today to participate in a new economy that will develop as mining comes to
our region,” she said. “For many years we watched the forest companies take the
trees from our traditional territories and we got almost nothing in return. “This time
things will be different. This time our people will be part of that development.”
The project coordinator for the alliance is Peter Rasevych and it will be promoted
in Matawa communities, and includes a number of different career pathways.
Among the courses being offered through RoFATA are mining essentials, environmental monitoring, basic line cutting, remote camp cook, heavy equipment operator, pre-trades carpentry and electrical and underground diamond driller helper.
Conrad Chapais is the community representative for the KKETS Board of Directors.
Page 7
I feel this program is the
best decision for my family
and me. I just encourage
others to get educated or
trained. Apply for the next
intake!” Marianne Echum
August / 2013
Matawa Chiefs’
Ginoogaming invests in its
people with training to
employment program
Lead Negotiator
Bob Rae visits
Ginoogaming
Aboriginal Workforce Development and
Maintenance Program is back in Action!
Community members voice
issues and interests
Ginoogaming First Nation has embarked on an ambition training program to afford development and employment to several band members. The first part is
building houses on the reserve which will eventually
lead up to other employment opportunities such as
sawmill, mining and forestry.
There are six modules or booklets in the AWDMP
and include learning and developing the following:
 Work skills
 Life skills
 Basic skills
 Job search skills
 Personal development
There are currently 56 homes occupied with an additional 12 units under construction. The training and
construction of the houses is provided by Errington
Lumber of Geraldton who has two first class trainers
and certified project managers.
Community First
Page 3
In Ginoogaming strong arguments were made about:



Revenue Sharing for First Nations
Employment, Training and Business Opportunities in the Ring of Fire
Environmental & Cultural Values Protection
The Matawa Chiefs Council developed the MamowWecheekapawetahteewiin (Standing Together)
There is still much work to be done but the communiRegional Process asking the Government of Ontario
ties feel they are in a much better bargaining position.
to join the First Nations governments in a communitydriven regional negotiation process that will set
Grassroots' Voices, Future Choices: Guiding Our
development in our territories on a new path.
Chief Negotiator
Ginoogaming with partners KKETS, GFN housing,
and the Economic Development Corp. restarted the
AWDMP in April and have trained 10 Ginoogaming
members who graduated on June 21, 2013.
Ginoogaming First Nation developed the workforce
development and maintenance modules known as
(AWDMP) during 1996 – 2006. Our First Nation administered and delivered the AWDMP for the past
number of years at the Longlac sawmill with tremendous success and will be replicated on future endeavours.
On July 5, 2013 Mr. Bob Rae, former federal leader
of the Liberal Party and former Premier of Ontario
visited Ginoogaming to listen and answer questions
about the Ring of Fire mining development.
Bob Rae is the Chief Negotiator for Matawa First Nations during regional strategy negotiations. Mr. Rae
is doing his first set of visits to all the Matawa communities.
The AWDMP is managed by Ginoogaming First Nation and the program is delivered by local band member John O’nabigon.
Ginoogaming is planning on training more people 36
more people from August to Novermber. This will
improve our peoples quality of life when they are
learning and earning at the same time.
The community members reiterate their call for both
levels of government to ensure that environmental
assessment processes in their traditional territories
provide for full participation by First Nations in a culturally appropriate manner and in their native languages.
Page 6
A 30 minute video was also developed that showcases Mr. Rae’s visits to all the Matawa communities.
The video has community input on a wide range of
topics including the land, infrastructure, traditional
way of life and more.
If you want to view the video you can watch it on
youtube on the internet by going to
www.ginoogaming.ca
August / 2013
Ginoogaming moving along
with Woodlands Operations
Partnering with Aroland, Long Lake #58
and Constance Lake to govern the
Kenogami Forest
The Kenogami Forest is located approx. 300 kilometers northeast of Thunder Bay and has long been
home to Aroland, Constance Lake, Ginoogaming and
Long Lake #58 First Nation.
Logging of the Forest began in the 1930s. In late
2012 the MNR issued an Enhanced Forest Resource
Licence to Nedaakiimenaan Inc., a newly formed entity of Aroland, Constance Lake, Ginoogaming and
Long Lake #58 First Nation.
With Nedaakiimenaan, the First Nations are building
capacity in Forest Management. This presents a renewed opportunity to benefit economically from the
business side of the forestry sector as well.
Ginoogaming workers have cut layout, water crossing
location and trucking portion of operation.
Through GDC and our harvesting contractor we’ve
delivered 26,000 cubic meters of wood from January
to April 2013.
In additional GDC has obtained a contract for to deliver 50,000 cubic meters of wood to March 31, 2013.
Ginoogaming is committed to looking into potential of
owning and operating operation and woodlands harvesting operation and ownership/operation of a
sawmill .
Ginoogaming signed an agreement with AV Birla Terrace Bay that will allow the First Nation to harvest
wood from areas that are the band’s traditional territory.
GInoogaming started Giizhagaakwe Development
Corporation (GDC) to sell the timber to the Terrace
Bay pulp mill that restarted its operations last fall.
GDC’s goals are to generate revenue for the First
Nation, create employment opportunities Nation and
capacity building in the forestry business.
Community First
Page 4
Page 5
August / 2013