FEBRUARY 26, 2003 ARCHIVE
 
 
 

De-ba-jeh-mu-jig at the AGO

by Cheryl Waugh
TORONTO --- Watching Ontario's Minister of Culture David Tsubouchi 
walk in to "Audge's Place" at the Art Gallery of Ontario, sit down 
and have a bowl of corn soup with the cast of De-ba-jeh-mu-jig was a 
thrill and an emotional moment for the real "Audge", Audrey Wemigwans.
Sunday afternoon at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), the 
De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group, of Wikwemikong, began its three week 
tenure as Artists in Residence, and performed its newest production 
"Audge's Place".
The set is a literal recreation of Ms. Wemigwans home in Wikwemikong. 
De-ba-jeh-mu-jig brought to Toronto her entertainment centre, her 
cupboard doors, her family pictures, her couch, and anything else 
they could fit into their moving van. A welcome to Wikwemikong sign 
hangs outside the door to the set, and as people open the 'front' 
door to "Audge's Place," they walk into Audrey's living room.
"It was so neat," said Ms. Wemigwans. "All of my furniture was there. 
All of my pictures. It brought tears to my eyes to see my dad's 
picture hanging on the wall."
The experience of the set would make for more emotional moments for 
Ms. Wemigwans throughout the day. "I just kept thinking, 'Oh my gosh, 
there are all these people coming into my house,'" laughed Ms. 
Wemigwans, who is the associate artistic producer for 
De-ba-jeh-mu-jig. "David Tsubouchi came in, took some corn soup, sat 
down and started talking to everyone. It was just like being in Wiky. 
I was so excited because people were coming into my place."
"Audge's Place" is an improvisational performance meant to allow 
visitors to experience every day life on a reserve. The audience is a 
part of the production. As people enter "Audge's Place", they are 
drawn in by the De-ba-jeh-mu-jig cast for corn soup and conversation.
Ron Berti, artistic producer for De-ba-jeh-mu-jig, said the exhibit 
is meant to break down misconceptions about aboriginal life.
He also agreed that having the Minister of Culture step into the 
performance was a unique experience. "It was wild seeing Audrey 
giving corn soup to Minister Tsubouchi, but he's had experience with 
improvisation before. As a young man he worked with Second City, so 
he's been on stage and I think he was eager to try it again. It was 
exciting though."
"Audge's Place" had many other guests Sunday afternoon, including 
Roberta Jamieson, Chief of Six Nations, Lillian McGregor, of Birch 
Island, and Elder-in Residence, First Nations House, University of 
Toronto, and the drum group the Red Spirit Singers, among many others.
Among some of "Audge's Place" future guests will be people from 
Wikwemikong, including Dolly Peltier, Rosemary and Margaret Trudeau, 
Audrey's two best friends, and two classes from Wasse Abin High 
School, who will arrive on Friday. Shirlee Cheechoo and Drew Hayden 
Taylor are also expected to make appearances.
De-ba-jeh-mu-jig is also collaborating with Toronto artists, 
including Red Pepper Spectacle Arts, The Centre for Indigenous 
Theatre, and the Seventh Generation Image Makers.
Joining De-ba-jeh-mu-jig as artists-in-residence are renowned artists 
Carl and Ann Beam, of M'Chigeeng, and costume designer and company 
animator for De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Bill Shawanda.
Aboriginal art is also being displayed at the AGO during the three 
week festivities.
On Monday, the AGO was closed as De-ba-jeh-mu-jig helped train the 
gallery's staff, and tour guides. "We were teaching them how to talk 
about aboriginal art, and showing them some different techniques to 
bring the paintings to life. These are not just paintings hanging on 
the wall, they are much more than that," said Mr. Berti.
The technique they use is the four directions philosophy and creation 
process. Wholistic in nature, the technique recognizes that humans 
create with their entire being, the physical, the emotional, the 
intellectual, and the spiritual.
Chris Wemigwans, of De-ba-jeh-mu-jig, also used the technique as the 
theatre group continued its outreach work by conducting workshops 
with students from area Toronto high schools. He and Bruce 
Naokwegijig worked with the students between February 17 and February 
21, the week prior to the opening of "Audge's Place".
He said by using the four directions creative process, they want the 
students "to make the connection between what is not considered 
living and themselves."
"What makes a painting a painting? How does a painting feel by being 
hung on the wall? How does the painting make you feel? Everything is 
connected, and we try to help them find that connection," he said. 
"It was really beautiful working with the students. They just picked 
it up so quick , and wanted more and more."
The student workshops continue on this week, as Tammy Manitowabi and 
Ralph Courtorielle work with elementary students.
Using the four directions creation process on the AGO staff was 
"quite wild", said Mr. Bertie. "It was a learning experience on both 
sides. We want to give them a certain level of comfort when talking 
about aboriginal art."
Simply talking about aboriginal art can be a complication in itself 
because of the large list of terminology that can be used to describe 
it. Is it aboriginal art? Indian art? First Nation art? What can be 
offensive to one person may not be recognizable as such to another.
"Fortunately, we have a group of performers here who are not offended 
by any of these words," said Mr. Berti. "We want to break the ice, 
and bring this place to life in a different way."
Along with the production of "Audge's Place", De-ba-jeh-mu-jig will 
also be performing scenes from their popular summer production of 
Ever: That Nanabush! over the March Break (March 10 to 14).
"It's quite amazing really," mused Mr. Berti. "Here we are, a small 
institution working with a large institution. We knew the only way it 
would work is if we built relationships. We've stayed on that theme 
from the beginning, and because of that there is a real trust between 
us and the AGO."
"Audge's Place" runs from February 23 to March 14 at the AGO. 
Performances are from Tuesdays to Fridays at 2 pm, and Saturdays and 
Sundays at 11:30 am and 2 pm. The cost is the price of admission.
There is one evening performance on Wednesdays at 6 pm, and admission is free.
For more information, call the AGO at 416-979-6608, or visit their 
website at www.ago.net.


                     

              

      

        
        

          
                Charter boat safety training arose from Providence Bay 
                tragedy

        

          by Michael Erskine

          MANITOULIN--- It has been 10 years since Gaston Henri, 40, Helen 

          Henri 47, their son Paul Henri, 18 and the operator of a 25-foot 

          chartered fishing boat, Jacques Clement, of Sudbury's Co Hoe Charters
          

          lost their lives in a tragic boating accident off the shores of 

          Providence Bay.

          It was a Canada Day weekend tragedy which cast a pall across the 

          Island, with the survival of Nicole Henri, 19, and Marc Chaisson, 19,
          

          the only bright spot in the day's tragic sequence of events. They 

          spent nearly two hours in the 10 degree waters before they were able
          

          to make their way to shore to seek help. All but Mr. Clement had been
          

          wearing life preservers.

          Tragedy too often points out the shortcomings in the way things 'have
          

          always been done,' and so it was with the regulations governing 

          charter boat operators on the nation's waterways. An inquest into the
          

          tragedy was held by Dr. Shelagh McRae, of Gore Bay, and one of the 22
          

          jury recommendations from that inquest called for the licensing of 

          all operators of boats over 12 feet in length and with motors of over
          

          10 horsepower.

          The first batch of local fishing and charter boat crewmen have passed
          

          through a Marine Emergency Duty (MED) course, a course designed in 

          part in response to the incident in Providence Bay and the 

          recommendations of the inquest jury.

          Dr. McRae recalled the inquest into the tragedy and the 22 

          recommendations which came out of her jury's examination of the 

          events leading up to the deaths.

          The family of Gaston and Helen Henri had chartered a boat from 

          Jacques Clement of Sudbury's Co Hoe Charters to take in a day of 

          salmon fishing. Mr. Clement was a retired INCO worker whose 

          retirement dreams included running a fishing charter business. 

          Unfortunately, without guidelines and regulations to guide him, the
          

          boat he used for the charter was designed for inland water use, not
          

          the high swells typical of the big water.

          "There was only an 11 inch freeboard on the vessel," said Dr. McRae.
          

          "It was inadequate for the task." The jury determined the boat had 

          been designed for Florida's inland waters.

          The boat left the dock at 8 am on Sunday morning, and it was barely
          

          out in the four-foot swells of Georgian Bay, somewhere between 

          Providence Bay and Timber Bay, when the Henris and a family friend 

          dropped their lines into the water hoping for an exciting salmon hit.

          Instead, the lines became tangled in a commercial fishing net, and in
          

          an attempt to loosen lines, the boat was backed towards the tangle.

          The vessel quickly swamped, and Mrs. Henri and her son Paul were 

          trapped in the cabin as the boat went down. Divers recovered their 

          bodies the next day. Mr. Henri was found floating in the water near
          

          where the fishing boat went down, and it was two weeks before the 

          final body, that of Mr. Clement, was found.

          Transport Canada regulations now mandate that small vessel operators
          

          complete a MED course by July 30, 2003 and they must complete a full
          

          safety training program by April 1, 2007.

          Any crew member on a fishing or non-pleasure craft of 150 gross tons
          

          operating not more than 20 miles off-shore must complete the MED 

          training within six months of coming on board.

          "Safety at sea is a serious subject that is constantly evolving," 

          said MED Instructor and Manager of the Marine Training Centre at 

          Georgian College, Archie Dickson.

          Mr. Dickson taught the course in Espanola where 14 crewmen from 

          Manitoulin and the North Shore received their training.

          "The marine training centre is committed to improving the safe 

          operation of vessels, whether constructed of thousands of tonnes of
          

          steel or a few hundred kilograms of fibreglass. Our instructors are
          

          from the marine industry and they have seen first hand that far too
          

          many human casualties, as well as lost or damaged vessels, are 

          experienced each year due to ignorance, incompetence or lack of sea
          

          faring knowledge."

          Fisherman and proprietor of North Channel Sightseeing and Fishing 

          excursions, Gary Green, of Little Current, took the course and found
          

          it to be highly informative.

          "I took training through the Manitoulin Power Squadron locally," he
          

          said. "Then I signed up for the eight-hour course put on by the Great
          

          Lakes International Marine Training Centre. There is some 

          duplication, but overall it is very educational. They teach you a lot
          

          of prevention techniques to use in emergencies."

          One of the key elements of the training course centres on the 

          importance of onboard drills and constant training.

          "One of the most notable skills gained by students is the need for 

          conducting emergency drills on board that deal with maritime hazards
          

          such as fires and rescues at sea," said Mr. Dickson.

          "It is a very beneficial course," agreed Mr. Green. "It helps you 

          react fast in case something happens on the boat. Practicing the 

          drills keeps you sharp. Some of the most valuable facts I learned 

          concerned hypothermia and the reality of cold water shock. I'd 

          certainly recommend it the training for all operators."

          Mr. Dickson uses training materials developed by Navigators Marine 

          Services Inc. An Ottawa-based company which employs experienced 

          ship's captains, merchant marine operators and hovercraft pilots as
          

          instructors. The company specializes in offering accredited Transport
          

          Canada MED A3 and MED A4 courses for small vessel operators.

          The course covered various types of emergencies which can develop 

          on-board vessels, including the different classes of fires and 

          essential principles of extinguishing.

          Types and usage's of standard signals and alarms also formed an 

          important part of the course material as did a refresher segment on
          

          life jackets, life rafts and rescue equipment.

          At the end of the course, a 25 question multiple choice questionnaire
          

          is completed by each student, and upon successfully providing the 

          correct answers, each is issued a Transport Canada EXN 24 training 

          certificate.

          The courses are being offered as close to participant's home 

          communities as possible, although Mr. Dickson noted that in some 

          cases mitigating circumstances might lead to the granting of an 

          extension on the deadline for individuals unable to attend.

          Not everyone is universally enthralled with the level of 

          certification which is now required, and some charter boat operators
          

          question the value of the EXN 24 level training, citing a lack of 

          hands on physical training or practical safety work. It just doesn't
          

          go far enough toward providing the training to avert tragedy, they 

          feel.

          "You don't ever have to set foot on boat to pass the questionnaire,"
          

          said Manitou Fishing Charters owner Bob Lewis, who said he would 

          prefer to see a more in-depth training program like the Power 

          Squadron course he took over a four-month period. "Even after being
          

          on board for 50 years, as you take the course you quickly learn how
          

          uninformed you are."

          Mr. Lewis said he believes the current regime amounts to little more
          

          than another tax grab.

          Still, whatever shortcomings of the training requirements, the 

          situation is far ahead of that which reigned 10 years ago in the 

          charter industry, when tragedy cut short the dreams of both the Henri
          

          and Clements families. Sadly, tragedy often precedes the 

          implementation of regulation which might have prevented it, the price
          

          is measured in personal tragedy and heartache.

          (With files from Margo Little)

 		
        

        

          
                

                  
Fish and game clubs frustrated by lack of progress on 
                  cormorant issue

                

              

        

          
                by Neil Zacharjewicz and Tom Sasvari

                MANITOULIN - An announcement by Minister of Natural Resources 
                Jerry 

                Ouellette that the oiling of adult double-crested cormorant eggs 
                in 

                the North Channel will continue as scheduled for 2003 is drawing 
                the 

                ire of local fish and game enthusiasts.

                Area residents were hopeful the provincial government would take
                

                further action this year to address what they believe has become 
                the 

                most serious factor impacting upon the decline of fish stocks in 
                Lake 

                Huron.

                "This is an election year, so you know nothing was going to 
                happen. 

                It's very aggravating," stated Rick Fogal, of the United Fish 
                and 

                Game Clubs of Manitoulin.

                Mr. Ouellette, was one of the guest speakers at the Ontario 

                Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Annual General Meeting 
                and 

                Wildlife Conference, held last week in Hamilton. He spoke on the
                

                issue of cormorant controls to conference participants.

                Gord Prisco, assistant to the Minister, said that "basically Mr.
                

                Ouellette said he was the one that pushed for controls on 
                cormorants, 

                and the egg oiling program will continue again this year. 
                Cormorants 

                are threatening fish populations, and this is something that is 
                of 

                great concern to the Minister and the ministry, and he indicated 
                this 

                is why the five year control program has been undertaken."

                "Mr. Ouellette said that it is known that the egg oiling program 
                is 

                having an affect on the cormorants, and everything will continue 
                on 

                course this year. He will be waiting for the results of this 
                program, 

                and also said that the affects on the cormorants has been good 
                so 

                far," continued Mr. Prisco. "He also told the conference that he
                

                knows that people in different areas like Manitoulin are 
                concerned 

                with cormorants, and that is why this program is in place. And, 
                the 

                program will be followed through."

                The North Channel is in the fourth year of a five year 
                experimental 

                egg oiling project, in an effort to help control the cormorant
                

                population which has increased dramatically over the last 
                decade. In 

                the first year of the study, the MNR undertook a baseline study,
                

                including a near-shore analysis of the state of the fishery on 
                Lake 

                Manitou.

                In the summer of 2001, the second year of the program, the MNR
                

                attempted an experimental program to harass cormorants off of 
                their 

                rookeries by means of noise. This was done on Lake Mindemoya, 
                Lake 

                Manitou and Lake Kagawong. If successful, the system would have 
                been 

                used in the much larger North Channel rookeries. However, the
                

                experiment was deemed unsuccessful.

                In the third year of the program, the MNR oiled an estimated 
                8,000 to 

                9,000 cormorant eggs in the North Channel, an effort they intend 
                to 

                continue this year.

                However, many local fish and game enthusiasts believe the 
                ministry's 

                program is not effective enough, and that fish stocks will be
                

                decimated before Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) officials 
                will 

                ever act on what they believe is ample proof of the impact of 
                the 

                double-crested cormorant.

                In 1997, statistical evidence shows that there were between 
                6,300 and 

                6,700 nesting cormorants in the North Channel area, not 
                including 

                juvenile birds. Each of these adult birds eats an estimated one 
                pound 

                of fish per day, and fish and game enthusiasts are quick to 
                point out 

                that this amounts to approximately five to seven million pounds 
                of 

                fish leaving the North Channel annually. However, MNR officials 
                have 

                been quoted in the past as admitting the increase in the 
                population 

                since 1997 has been in the area of 64 percent, and the growth of 
                the 

                cormorant population in the North Channel is not estimated to 
                peak 

                until 2007.

                Local fish and game enthusiasts have been calling for an 
                experimental 

                cull of double-breasted cormorants in and around Manitoulin for 
                the 

                last few years.

                "One of the MNR solutions to fish populations decreasing is 
                dropping 

                angler limits, instead of doing something that will really have 
                an 

                affect. It also tells us that there are no fish out there, 
                compared 

                to the past," continued Mr. Fogal.

                "I would be very curious to know what they are going to do with
                

                commercial fishing limits," said Mr. Fogal. "If there are 
                angling 

                limits, there should be commercial fishing limits. I don't 
                disagree 

                with dropping limits and shutting down the fishing during the
                

                spawning season of pike. But, they should do the same for perch, 
                as 

                they are doing for bass. Protecting the fish during their 
                spawning 

                season is absolutely necessary."

                Mr. Ouellette has stated in the past, however, that it is 
                important 

                the Ministry establish statistical proof that cormorants are 

                negatively affecting the fish population. He has said that, in 
                other 

                jurisdiction where action preceded any statistical data, natural
                

                resources officials were taken to court due to a lack of 
                science.

                "We need the information from studies like the egg oiling, 
                before 

                going ahead to control the populations so we don't go through 
                these 

                (court) challenges. We want the statistical information before 
                we go 

                ahead with any control measures," said Mr. Ouellette. "We don't 
                have 

                enough results concerning cormorants for Ontario."

 

        

          
                Little progress made on resolving issues around 1990 land 
                claim

        

          
                by Neil Zacharjewicz

                MANITOULIN - It has been nine months since the United Chiefs and
                

                Councils of Manitoulin enlisted the aid of the Manitoulin 
                Municipal 

                Association in its efforts to resolve the issues surrounding the
                

                taxation of properties purchased by First Nations as it relates 
                to 

                the 1990 Manitoulin Land Claim Agreement, and things appear to 
                be at 

                a standstill.

                Recently, the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat (ONAS) sent a 
                letter 

                to the M'Chigeeng First Nation, explaining that the band was 
                required 

                to pay back taxes on two properties within Billings Township 
                prior to 

                the property being moved into tax-free status as part of the 
                reserve.

                Billings Reeve Aus Hunt indicated Billings council also received 
                a 

                copy of the letter, but noted while these properties in question 
                do 

                have back-taxes owing, they are but two of several. The letter 
                from 

                the ONAS suggests the two properties in question are not part of 
                the 

                1990 Manitoulin Land Claim Agreement, and therefore the taxes 
                must be 

                paid upon these properties. He stated it is a separate issue 

                altogether.

                M'Chigeeng Chief Glen Hare sympathized with the situation of 
                Reeve 

                Hunt and his council, who have been put in an awkward situation 
                by 

                the province of Ontario, but disagreed with the position put 
                forward 

                by ONAS.

                "They are penalizing us (the band), but they are penalizing the
                

                township too," explained Chief Hare, who said he fully expects 
                the 

                reeve to stand by his position that M'Chigeeng must pay the back
                

                taxes just as he intends to stand by his position that the band 
                does 

                not owe back taxes, as the property in question has become part 
                of 

                the reserve under the 1990 Manitoulin Land Claim Agreement.

                Chief Hare explained the First Nations wanted to see property
                

                purchased adjacent to a reserve by a band become part of the 
                reserve, 

                and therefore of tax-free status. The land claim agreement 
                provided 

                them with this opportunity for a period of 25 years. It was an
                

                integral part of the 1990 Manitoulin Land Claim Agreement, he 
                said.

                "It was the deal breaker," he stated.

                However, he indicated in late '90s, the Mike Harris government 
                put in 

                place legislation which suggested property purchased by bands
                

                adjacent to reserves would not receive tax-free status.

                "What weight does an agreement hold if it can be changed 
                mid-stream?" 

                Chief Hare questioned.

                Chief Hare explained last week he met with representatives of 
                the 

                Ministry of Finance, and explained the band's situation. Those
                

                representatives indicated they had heard of M'Chigeeng's 
                situation, 

                and agreed to take another look at the issue.

                Billings Clerk-Treasurer Alton Hobbs explained while he is not
                

                completely privy as to the reasons behind the decision made by 
                ONAS, 

                he believes the property in question may have been purchased 
                prior to 

                the signing of the Manitoulin land claim agreement.

                Rosemary Sampson, Manager of Communications with ONAS, explained 
                the 

                situation related to the 1990 Manitoulin Land Claim Agreement is 
                an 

                extremely complicated one, with many lawyers involved.

                "We are aware of (the First Nations') concerns," Ms. Sampson 

                indicated. However, she said when a decision is made, it will be
                

                through discussion with the First Nations and municipalities, 
                the 

                groups affected.

                "ONAS is well aware of the concerns the chief (Hare) has with 
                regard 

                to the land claim, and all of the peripheral issues that go with 
                it," 

                Ms. Sampson said. "Everybody does want to resolve it, but these
                

                things do not get resolved over night."

                Ojibwes of Sucker Creek Chief Pat Madahbee indicated it has been 
                some 

                time since any progress has been made on the issue of the 1990
                

                Manitoulin Land Claim Agreement. He explained the last time the
                

                United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM) met to discuss 
                the 

                issue with ONAS representatives was on April 23, 2003. It was
                

                following that meeting UCCM approached the Manitoulin Municipal
                

                Association (MMA), at a meeting held on May 8, to request the 
                Island 

                municipalities pressure the provincial government into fully 

                implementing the 1990 Manitoulin Land Claim Agreement.

                The 1990 Land Claim Agreement was reached between the NDP 
                government 

                of Bob Rae and the Island First Nations, negotiated against the
                

                backdrop of the Oka Crisis, in which the Mohawk First Nation of
                

                Kahnawake and Canadian Forces were locked in an armed stand-off 
                for 

                three months. The land claim agreement covered unsold 
                surrendered 

                lands, held in trust by the Crown, for which the First Nations 
                had 

                never received proper payment.

                The agreement stemmed from a 1980 claim by the First Nations 
                that 

                some lands had remained unsold, and in which they asked that 
                they be 

                sold, and the funds credited to the First Nations, or that the 
                lands 

                be returned as reserve land.

                The 1990 Manitoulin Land Claim Agreement was hailed at the time 
                as a 

                first for provincial-First Nations relations, marking the first
                

                bi-lateral agreement between a First Nation and a Canadian 
                province. 

                The agreement passed first, second and third readings in the 

                legislature and was passed to the Lieutenant-Governor, where in 
                the 

                normal course of events it would be signed and passed into law. 
                In 

                the interim, the Harris government was elected and that 
                signature and 

                proclamation never took place.

                Chief Madahbee indicated while it was his understanding the MMA,
                

                following the meeting of May 8, had struck a committee to strike 
                up 

                discussions with the province on the issue of the 1990 agreement 
                and 

                liase with UCCM, that was the last he heard on the issue from 
                either 

                the province or the municipalities.

                According to Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands Mayor Ken
                

                Ferguson, one of the municipal representatives who agreed to sit 
                on 

                the MMA committee to raise the concerns to the province, the 

                committee has attempted to strike up discussions with the 
                province, 

                but as of yet, no meeting has taken place.