Matawa Messenger – Winter - Matawa » First Nations Management

MATAWA MESSENGER | WINTER 2011
WINTER 2011
Four Rivers hosts First Nation Environment Conference
Four Rivers, Matawa Environmental Services Group hosted
the 2011 Northern Ontario First Nation Environment
Conference in early October at Fort William Historical Park in
Thunder Bay.
This year’s conference was very well attended and included
workshops on environmental issues relating to mining,
land-use planning, values collection, environmental monitoring, community gardens, source water protection, indoor
air quality, fuel handling and storage, environmental assessments, waste site and hazardous waste management,
environmental health, recycling programs, energy and
much more. The conference also hosted a trade show
which gave delegates the opportunity to network with
companies from the environmental industry.
Kyle Maclaurin of Matawa Four Rivers Enviromental Group
(centre) trains delegates on GIS; Geographic Information Systems.
Mark Your Calendars! Important Dates
Tune in to Matawa Radio
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KKETS Working Words Program
January 9 in Thunder Bay, Ontario
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Longlac Prescription Drug Abuse Conference
January 24 -27 in Long Lake #58 First Nation
Every month Matawa hosts a radio program live,
featuring interviews with guests who talk about topics of
interest to Matawa First Nations. Our Wawatay time slot is
changing in the new year.
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10th Annual First Nations Northern Housing Conference
February 14-16 in Thunder Bay, Ontario
Matawa Launches Gathering of Rivers
Please note the show will air every 2 weeks starting in
January. Our first show of the new schedule will air
Tuesday January 10, 2012 from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
Check www.matawa.on.ca for more info.
Stay up to date on upcoming events
by visiting the Matawa website at
www.matawa.on.ca
relationship building can
Aboriginal youth gain respect
around the world and have a
voice,” said David Paul
Achneepineskum, CEO,
Matawa First Nations
Management. “Our young
people need to believe that
they have a choice; that
they can be anything they
want to be.”
The Matawa Radio show hits airwaves on Wawatay Radio:
89.9 FM in Sioux Lookout, 106.7 FM in Timmins.
Or listen live on-line at:
www.wawataynews.ca/radio
The Matawa Chiefs, Board of Directors and Staff would like to wish everyone
a safe and happy holidays! Merry Christmas!
In November, Matawa First Nations proudly launched a
new charity called Gathering of Rivers for Community
Care (GRCC).
Created to support and improve the lives of
Aboriginal children, youth and families, Gathering of
Rivers for Community Care will use charitable
donations to drive initiatives that further the
economic, social, and cultural development of
Matawa First Nations Communities.
The Gathering of Rivers for Community Care will also
generate much-needed financial assistance to
establish Learning Centres in each of its First Nations
communities, helping young Aboriginal people gain
access to education, providing them with the chance
to stay in school and graduate, and ultimately, to
realize their full potential.
“Only through understanding, communication and
IN THIS ISSUE:
Ring of Fire Update
New Health Centre Opens
in Eabametoong
KKETS Recognizes
Trainees
Wayne Moonias, president of
the new charity, said that
education is the key to success
for Aboriginal youth. “Advancing the aspirations
of our youth is very important for our
communities to prosper.”
The occasion was also celebrated with the charity’s
first major donation, contributed by IBM Canada Ltd.
The technology giant has provided 10 new Young
Explorer computers to the Gathering of Rivers for use
in several communities in the Matawa First Nations.
Marilyn Boyce, a student at the Matawa learning
centre was present to accept the donation on
behalf of the children who will receive the computers.
Boyce, a member of Eabametoong First Nation said of
the computer, “(It will) let them know that there are
people that care about them, that they’re needed in
the future.”
For more information on Gathering of Rivers, or to
donate to the charity please visit:
www.gatheringofrivers.com or call (807) 344-4575 or
toll free 1-800-463-2249.
Matawa First Nations | 233 S. Court Street | Thunder Bay, ON P7B 2X9 | Tel: (807) 344-4575 | Fax: (807) 344-2977 | Toll Free: 1-800-463-2249
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MATAWA MESSENGER | WINTER 2011
Ring of Fire Update
First Nations and timelines that reflect the needs of our
communities.
On November 15, the CEAA announced a Comprehensive Study EA for the Noront Eagle’s Nest Project and
intends to proceed with the Comprehensive Study EA for
the Cliffs project. The Chiefs and our people have been
calling for a Joint Review Panel EA since last spring, but
the government is still not listening.
On October 20, the Chiefs of Matawa met with the
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA)
and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
(MNDM) in regards to the Ring of Fire (ROF)
developments. In early October, the CEAA announced a
Comprehensive Study Environmental Assessment (EA)
for the Cliffs Chromite project. The Chiefs have been
demanding a Joint Review Panel EA since May 2011.
A Matawa delegation of Chiefs, accompanied by
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy
and Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Stan Louttit, met in
Ottawa from November 1 - 3 with federal MPs and
committees, as well as National Chief Shawn Atleo,
Assembly First Nations (AFN), Regional Chief Angus
Toulouse, Chiefs of Ontario (COO) to lobby for a
negotiated Joint Review Panel EA.
On October 21, the Chiefs held a media conference to
announce they are withdrawing support for development in the Ring of Fire (ROF) because a Comprehensive
Study EA is inadequate. A Joint Review Panel EA is critical
for both the Cliffs and Noront projects.
On November 7, the Chiefs filed for a Judicial Review of
the EA process in Federal Court. The lack of consultation
and accommodation on the part of the government is
in breach of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights. The purpose
of the Judicial Review is to force the government to
initiate a Joint Review Panel EA. The case will most likely
be heard in the Spring or Fall of 2012. In the meantime
Chiefs are lobbying government and industry to move to
the negotiated Joint Review Panel EA as soon as possible.
The Chiefs sent a letter to Prime Minister Harper and
Premier McGuinty “...offering to enter into negotiations
towards a Memorandum of Agreement with Canada and
the province that would establish a single coordinated
EA process for the ROF developments.” That would
include appropriate consultation and accommodation of
The nine First Nations have signed the
Mamow-Wecheekapawetahteewiin (or “Unity Declaration”) which states they will stand together to ensure
their nation is protected and that their written consent
will be required before any development activity may
proceed.
KKETS Delivers Training & Builds Skills for First Nation Members
On December 7 and 8, Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen
Employment and Training Services (KKETS) in partnership
with Northwest Employment Works (NEW) and Matawa
Learning Centre, delivered a workshop where participants
learned about resume and cover letter writing, job search
strategies, effective self-marketing and interview skills.
Also on December 8, KKETS held a luncheon to
recognize the accomplishments of five trainees who have
recently completed the Underground Hard Rock Miner
Common Core and Surface Diamond Drilling Training.
The graduates of the training programs are:
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Terrance O’Keese, Eabametoong First Nation
Chris Towegeshig, Ginoogaming First Nation
Clifford Reuben, Constance Lake First Nation
Randy Wesley, Aroland First Nation
Andrew Waboose, Ginoogaming First Nation
KKETS is a Matawa organization that runs the
Aboriginal Skills Employment Training Strategy (ASETS)
program on behalf of Matawa First Nation Management
as an agreement holder with Human Resource Skills
Development Canada (HRSDC).
NEW! KKETS Working Words Program
Participants will develop skills for employability in the new
resource sectors
Start Date : January 9, 2012, Mon-Fri 9:30am to12:00pm
Location : Matawa Building
Duration : 6 weeks plus job placement
The potential for excellent job opportunities will be
available to people who can:
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On October 25, dignitaries and community members cut
ribbons to launch the opening of a new health centre in
Eabametoong. A feast took place afterwards to celebrate.
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Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity
for a foot in the Door for employment
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KKETS provides service delivery of employment & training
services and programs, and
administers funds to onreserve and
off-reserve members of
Aroland, Marten Falls,
Eabametoong, Neskantaga,
Constance Lake, Nibinamik,
Ginoogaming and
Webequie.
Register by December 21 to avoid losing your spot!
Eabametoong Opens New Health Centre
Chief Harry Papah said the health centre is just one of the
initiatives improving life here. “We see ... programs being
opened for people and we see our detox centre open for
community members. So we are seeing changes.”
Training grads Terrance O’Keese and Chris Towegeshig
write clear and concise documents like reports, letters,
and presentations.
communicate well with colleagues and your new boss.
demonstrate strong organizational and interpersonal
skills.
For information, or to register contact Dawn Desmoulin at
807-346-6503 or e-mail: [email protected]
“Working Words” Training Program has been made possible
through joint partnerships with Lakehead Adult Education
Centre and Service Canada.
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