Swimming pool part of gym plan for M'Chigeeng

Full-sized pool to be Island-wide resource

by Lindsay Kelly

M'CHIGEENG-The M'Chigeeng First Nation has received the go-ahead for an expansion of the community's fitness facility, and when construction begins next year plans will include additional exercise space, fitness rooms for men and women and a full-sized pool.

Since the gym's inception in 2005, it has been the vision of the community to expand the facility, noted M'Chigeeng Fitness Facility manager Geraldine Ense-McGregor. Three years later, with membership topping 140 people and new members joining all the time, chief and council have given their consent to the expansion and plans are now under way.

"We're looking at building a brand-new building, and looking at expanding the space we have now," Ms. Ense-McGregor explained. "It will incorporate the Manitoulin Physio Centre, it will have fitness rooms for men and women and it will have a full-fledged pool."

Additionally, the gym will bring in more equipment like Bosu, medicine and exercise balls, and may even have room in the budget for some additional cardio equipment, she added.

The community is aiming to begin the project, which comes under the M'Chigeeng Health Services program, in May 2009, but it's currently very much in the preliminary planning stages, and reaching that start time hinges on finalizing some key elements.

The biggest decision is location. Currently the community is looking to build on the property adjacent to the baseball park near the former Sunshine Alley bowling alley, although planners must first ensure that there is a big enough land base to house the facility, Ms. Ense-McGregor said.

This would be an ideal property, since its location near the road is visible and easily accessible to members; however, the planners want to ensure that there will be enough room to incorporate all the elements of the new space-specifically the pool.

"We're looking at something similar to the one in Espanola," Ms. Ense-McGregor said. "Something along those lines, but we have to make sure it's conducive to the facility."

The community is working with Perry + Perry Architects of Sudbury on the layout, and "the wheels are in motion" to get a preliminary design in place, she added.

Though expansion was always part of the plan, the community made the decision to expand at this time because membership numbers kept growing. Facilitating the increase in numbers, in part, was the closure of Jaz's Gym in Little Current, but members also travel from as far as Gore Bay, Manitowaning and Tehkummah, as well as Mindemoya and Providence Bay to use the facility.

"There are people in here at 5:30 in the morning and they have to come in early so that they can access the equipment," Ms. Ense-McGregor said. "That's why we needed to look at expanding, because we cannot meet the numbers. We're scrunched like sardines in our little building."

The community also wanted to ensure long-term sustainability by purchasing its own building, since it currently rents the space in the M'Chigeeng Community Complex, she added.

The response to the fitness facility has been "overwhelming," especially since membership numbers have remained well over 100 since it opened three years ago, and clients range in age from elders to adults to youth and are both Native and non-Native, Ms. Ense-McGregor said. That so many people are taking advantage of the facility to improve their health is a welcome sign to the healthy living advocate.

"We're using healthy initiatives to try and entice the younger generation to take over in their health," she said.

The First Nation is aiming to reduce instances of diabetes, obesity and cardiac problems amongst its community members, but Ms. Ense-McGregor believes the expansion is good news for both the Native and non-Native communities across the Island.

In three years, Ms. Ense-McGregor has seen some exciting success stories amongst gym members. One high school student, who has worked out steadily during that time, has lost 100 pounds, while another community member has lost more than 100 pounds through using the facilities regularly.

"It's such a reward, because we can see the actual benefits," Ms. Ense-McGregor said. "And having state-of-the-art equipment so we can move ahead of the times-that in itself is a big success."

Birch Island Health Centre opens with firm committment

to healthy community practices

by Michael Erskine

BIRCH ISLAND-Chief Franklin Paibomsai called upon his community members to set forth on a new day as he cut the ribbon to officially open the Whitefish River First Nation Health Centre.

"It was you the community members who decided to put this facility in this place. Now it is built," he said. "Only you, the community members, can make the decision to rid our community of drugs and alcohol. In a poll of the youth of our community that was the wish expressed by 90 percent of the youth."

The problems will not go away by denying them, said the chief. The problems will only be dealt with when the community acknowledges the issue and takes steps at the community level to deal with them. "We must accept that there is a problem and do something about it-the choice is yours."

The call to action came near the end of what had seemed to be a typical grand opening ceremony, one of many that have become especially familiar in this small community that has seen over $17 million in infrastructure building take place over the past couple of years.

It was stunning not so much for its content or revelations-those being fairly steady fair in committee rooms and workshops on Native issues-but rather for its direct, simple acknowledgement that the solutions to the problem must be dealt with at the grassroots community level-not imposed or dictated by the upper levels of government or even local chief and council. Those entities can help and provide support for community action, said the chief, but real change can only come from within the community members' hearts, only by taking ownership over the issues and by taking control of their own lives will real change come.

The opening ceremony began with a prayer by elder Lillian Pitawanakwat, who foreshadowed the chief's words as dispelled the "fear of acknowledgement" and pointed to all kinds of illness in the community, which called for the need of a health centre. "Inside there will be trained people to help and serve our community," she said. 'Courage is hard to come by when you are sick," she continued. So she sang a song calling on all of the grandfathers, the great-grandfathers, the spirits of those who have gone on before to look down in pride upon their grandchildren and to support and guide them onto the right path to a healthy life. She also called upon those spirits who have guided her people through the centuries. "I call upon the rock people, the fish people, the tree people, all of these spirits to come together and pray for man. Man is not dead, but his spirit has been weakened."

Ms. Pitawanakwat then sang her prayer, an Eagle honour song, with the assistance of the students of the Shawanosowe school singers.

Chief Paibomsai thanked all of the people who made the project possible, particularly the construction company formed by the Whitefish River First Nation which "brought the project in under budget and on time." He also thanked Health Canada as well as former councils for their vision and foresight in setting the project in motion.

Valeria Gideon, regional director for Ontario, was on hand to offer her congratulations and to thank chief and council. "The words of the chief ring very true," she noted. "This is the beginning of the work, not the end."

The health centre was built with the aid of $1.3 million from Health Canada, but Dr. Gideon noted that Health Canada's responsibilities did not end there. "We must remove the barriers that stand in the way of communities taking control," she said. Traditional values, she noted, had "re-inspired" the community-noting that the opening ceremonies were taking place on an auspiciously historic day, alluding directly to the residential school apology taking place in Ottawa later that afternoon. "This is a very emotional time for many people," she said.

Jamie Adams, zone director for Health Canada, thanked the other members of the project management team including Chief Paibomsai; Don McGregor, the band's executive director; Gordon Gowan, regional project manager at Health Canada; Pierrick du Plessix zone property officer; and Lynn Baxter, program manager.

Mr. Adams also thanked the design and construction team, including Murray McGregor and Derek McGregor of Whitefish River capital projects, Howard Chambers project manager from HG Chambers Ltd. and Chris Perry of the architectural firm Perry and Perry Architects.

When it came to the furnishings, Mr. Adams made mention of Sharon Wynn, material management Health Canada; Rose Pitawanakwat, Whitefish River NNADAP worker; receptionist Cathy McGregor and Adrienne Abbott, president of At Work Interiors.

The ribbon was cut with elders, project managers, and Health Canada officials taking part along with students Darcy Shawanda and Madeline McGregor helping out.

With the formalities concluded, the 200-odd people in attendance made their way into the building where they were gifted with a small gift bag, an offering of sacred medicines and invited to partake in a feast.

Prime Minister apologizes to Canada's First Nations citizens

First step in the Truth and Reconciliation process

by Michael Erskine

OTTAWA-Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stood before a packed House of Commons at 3 pm on June 11 to deliver an apology for the Canadian government's role in the residential school system. It was an apology delivered to First Nations people, Inuit and Metis, and one which may well prove to be the most historically important address in this country for the the 21st century. Or maybe not.

Most first-hand observers have said they felt that the apologies of Mr. Harper-and indeed those of all of the party leaders which followed-were sincerely given. Certainly Mr. Harper did not shirk away from the duty, nor did he mince words or equivocate in dealing with the damage caused by the residential school system. He said it clearly. He said it fully and he asked for forgiveness and the opportunity to move forward into the future.

Mr. Harper cited the history of the system, how an obligation of the federal government to provide education to the First Nations was used to isolate children from their families, language and culture in a misguided effort to assimilate them into mainstream culture. He cited the phrase "to kill the Indian in the child." His assessment of that policy was clear, straightforward and brooked no doubt: "Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country."

In their responses to the prime minister's speech, the opposition leaders offered, in part, their own versions of the apology.

Leader of the Opposition Stephane Dion took the important step of apologizing for his own party's role in the residential school system, recognizing that for many years Liberal governments ruled through a time in which the system, and its regrettable mindset flourished.

NDP leader Jack Layton also delivered a speech in which he cited the horrors inflicted upon the Indigenous peoples and voiced his hope the apology will help lay the foundation for a better Canada.

A telling point with the apology, as historic though it may be, is that many First Nations communities did not set up any communal celebration or event-with the notable exception of M'Chigeeng-to mark what should have been an important event. Many First Nation survivors contacted felt the apology had taken too long in coming, and were well aware that the current government preferred to end the truth and reconciliation process with the apology, rather than lead with it. Others doubted the sincerity of the apology being given, especially in light of numerous unresolved issues that remain stalemated in the halls of power.

For Mr. Harper and the Canadian people, the process has truly just begun, and how the future unfolds will dictate the sincerity with which history recalls the moment.

As a key part of this process, all of the leaders speaking to the issue in parliament cited the upcoming Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a beacon of hope which will help guide the nation towards a meaningful apology-but for too many people words spoken by politicians of all stripes can only be measured by the actions that follow.

There have been too many fine-sounding words, too many promises spoken and broken that cited blowing winds, flowing grass and running water. For many of the older and wiser among them, a 'let's see what really happens' attitude prevails.

"I have my Anishnaabe radar on," laughed one elder.

That cynicism should be forgiven in its turn, for travelling into the urban south in the wake of the apology, except for the front pages and lead stories in the national media-the apology was hardly even on the radar. Even though the vast majority of Canadians polled showed a strong approval of the apology and recognized the need for it to be voiced, in the everyday confines of the coffee shop in downtown Toronto, there was hardly a ripple.

While the political will may be there to deliver fine words, for most Natives who have witnessed the past 50 years or so of such government words, doubts remain about the political will to turn those fine words into action.

St. Francis Church has seventy-fifth anniversary

by Lindsay Kelly

MINDEMOYA-In 1933, the congregation of St. Francis of Assisi Anglican Church in Mindemoya dedicated the cornerstone of their place of worship, and on June 15, they reiterated their commitment with a service of thanksgiving on the dedication's 75th anniversary.

To kick off the festivities, the congregation gathered on the church's front lawn, where guest homilist the Most Reverend Percy O'Driscoll rededicated the building's cornerstone, following which the congregation was invited to reassemble inside for the morning's service.

Over the course of the morning, the Reverend Canon Bain Peever rededicated the lecturn and pulpit, as well as the font, before the Most Reverend O'Driscoll delivered the service as guest homilist.

The retired priest currently makes his home in London, Ontario, but originally hails from Ireland, and before his retirement he served as Archbishop for the Diocese of Huron and Metropolitan of Ontario for the Anglican Church of Canada. In his warm, Irish lilt, he joked of being asked to give the sermon: "It's easy to be generous when your arm is up behind your back."

In fact, the guest homilist said St. Francis of Assisi evoked warm memories for him.

"I saw the St. Francis of Assisi window at the back and was reminded of my mother who said I would always be a fortunate person because I was born on October 4, St. Francis of Assisi Day. St. Francis has been good to me in many ways."

The Most Reverend O'Driscoll then told the story of Margaret Devina, a young woman who lived on the west coast of Ireland and, as she set out to make her fortune from the family home, was given a knife by her brother by which to remember her family. As she sailed she would often take out the knife and look at it, but she was only ever reduced to tears at the thought of her family, who she doubted she would see again.

When the ship she was on-which turned out to be the Titanic-foundered and she was placed in a lifeboat with the other women and children, the sailor in charge of evacuation found himself without a knife to cut free the ropes that bound the lifeboat. Margaret pulled out her knife and the sailor was able to cut free the ropes.

"As bad as it was, and as blunt as it was, the sailor was able to use it and free the lifeboat, and all those people-about 60 or so-were saved," the Most Reverend O'Driscoll said.

In a second story, the priest told of his neighbour, Jim Brennan, who, despite the lack of traffic travelling along the country roads of Ireland, would stop at a crossroads before moving into the intersection. "He would look at the crossroads expectantly, but nothing ever came," he said.

In celebrating the 75th anniversary of the church's cornerstone dedication, the congregation should keep in mind these two stories, because they offer a lesson, the Most Reverend O'Driscoll said.

"The trouble with cornerstones is that they become milestones and all we do is look back at the 75 and not forward to the 125, or whatever it may be," he said.

"In the story of Margaret, the knife reminded her of the past, and all it did was bring her tears," the reverend continued. "When it became something of the future, it was able to cut the rope and able to save all those people."

Margaret's situation mirrors the church's in that "we need to cut the suffocating ropes that tie us back there," and the church needs to look to the future, the reverend said.

In the case of Jim Brennan, although no traffic came to the crossroads, he knew there was a possibility that it could, and that "allowed him to move forward with confidence," the reverend said. "That's what we are asked to do: move forward every day with confidence."

People can be imprisoned in many ways, and our job is to go out into the world surrounded by God's love and "lift others up and change lives as best we can," he added. "That's what we want to do when we think of the next 125 years, and not only dwell on the past 75."

Following the service, the congregation gathered for a celebratory luncheon, and it's the first of several celebrations to be held at St. Francis of Assisi surrounding the 75th anniversary. Everyone is welcome to participate.

EDITORIAL

Aboriginal apology a necessary step in future-building

Last week's apology by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on behalf of the government of Canada to residential school survivors and their descendents had about it the ring of sincerity.

Mr. Harper, in his speech in the House of Commons, acknowledged that the policies of government in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that sought to extinguish First Nations culture and customs from several generations of young people were wrong and misdirected and that this policy has had a detrimental effect on succeeding generations.

Mr. Harper's speech was followed by those of several national and regional First Nations leaders who also spoke in the House of Commons.

Mr. Harper offered a formal apology and, just as importantly, the aboriginal leaders accepted it on behalf of their constituencies.

Naturally, there have been some misgivings associated with the process and the most oft-heard of these is simply, "why did it have to take so long?"

There is no real answer to this particular question; or perhaps there are several.

We can glibly say simply that "it was time" or, with probably more accuracy, we can say, "we put it off as long as we possibly could".

In any event, a sincere apology that recognized the misguided attempts of previous governments, in most cases using church organizations as allies to carry out the policy of cultural eradication, is a necessary and important prelude to the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that was announced earlier this month and that was commented on in this space at that time.

It was also important that the country heard not only from the leader of the political party presently in government but also from the leaders of all of the other political parties that make up our national governing body in Ottawa, and that all of them, also with clear sincerity, each in their own way echoed Mr. Harper's statement of apology.

Last Wednesday, June 11 was an important day for all Canadians, not only those of First Nation descent.

It showed that Canadians, as a people, are prepared to admit to the previous wrongdoings of times past in order to build a better future for all.

Letters to the Editor

Income splitting levels field in Ontario households

Private member's bill's time has come

To the Expsoitor:

Re: Reaction to Bill 88, private member's bill  by MPP Tim Hudak in Ontario to permit income splitting, June 12, 2008

It's about time that Ontario provides income splitting as a tax option. It is a way many governments around the world recognize when income is shared within a household and is a way therefore to create tax fairness.

It levels the field so households earning equally are taxed equally, removing the current penalty against one adult earning only part-time in order to be an unpaid caregiver to others. The option to split income recognizes the lower paid or unpaid worker as a full partner in the household and not just a dependant.

It ensures adequate financial means to households with children and is a dramatic way to reduce child poverty. In a country that has no birth bonus, no universal child deduction and very few tax benefits for child rearing or care of the elderly, it is a strong message to value those roles.

It is a fair bill in that it does not take sides. It neither encourages nor discourages full-time paid work for women. It neither encourages nor discourages choices about having a child or elderly relative in informal, kin-based or more formal institutional settings. It simply allows households to have enough money to make their own decisions about care and helps them fund those decisions.

Income splitting has long been proposed in Canada. This is a strong move to push it onto the public agenda. Our conference in January 2006 on Parliament Hill showed the other merits of the plan

The bill removes some of the shock to a household budget of sudden loss of income due to accident, job layoff or sudden illness of a family member and their need for care. Ontario residents would doubtless appreciate government recognition of their unforeseen circumstance in this regard.

It's a good bill.

Beverley Smith

Past-president Kids First Parent Association of Canada

Calgary

Letter writer continues to 'stir the pot' on housing issue

Project is the result of dedicated, altruistic people

To the Expositor:

It has been with great interest (and if I'm to be honest, a hefty portion of annoyance as well) that I have been reading letters to the editor, written by Perry Anglin, ever since I moved back to Manitoulin over 13 years ago. In the past, Mr. Anglin has addressed various issues, both local and otherwise, and it seems to me that the common purpose of each of these letters has been to, as old Aunt Mae used to say, "stir the pot." Unfortunately, the latest issue Mr. Anglin feels is in need of his whisk and spatula is the seniors' apartment complex to be built in Mindemoya.

I have a personal stake in this building in that it will one day be home to an amazing man, a man I am lucky enough to call my Dad and whom my daughters are lucky enough to call Grandpa Lew. I can think of no greater reward for a life well lived than to be able to take up residence in a building built specifically for people your own age, with the same needs and abilities; a building close to the children and the grandchildren that you love; a building on the most beautiful Island in the world.

There has been a committee of amazing, dedicated and altruistic people working tirelessly for well over a year in hopes of seeing this dream come to fruition. It is a shame you feel the need to continually raise the caution flag, Mr. Anglin. It is my hope that the municipality of Central Manitoulin and those in leadership continue to see through all of your theatrics and stay the course.

Sincerely,

Susan Lanktree-Van Horn

Mindemoya

Children's Aid Society stretched to the limit

Ombudsman should have power to investigate

To the Expositor:

Few people in Ontario realize how overworked and stressed to the limit our Children's Aid Society is. Their resource worker burnout is off the end of the scale. This overwork causes hardships for the worker in the field and the family/child involved. Ontarians read in the media of children whom they are responsible for, dying at the hands of people whom the Children's Aid services have entrusted to care.  How can we expect these dedicated individuals to make life-altering decisions when maxed to the limit with crushing caseloads? Children's lives are lost.

Ontario is one of the few provinces that does not have independent oversight of child welfare administration.

All other provincial Ombudsmen first identified child protection as a priority issue in 1986 and still Ontario does not allow the Ombudsman to investigate people's complaints about Children's Aid Societies (CAS) decisions.

People wronged by CAS decisions concerning placement, access, custody or care are not allowed to appeal those decisions to the Ontario Ombudsman's office.

Bill 88 is being re-introduced in Ontario. Let the government know that too many families and children's lives have been destroyed by an unaccountable child protection system.

I ask that you support the Ombudsman having the power to probe decisions and investigate complaints concerning the provinces Children's Aid Societies (CAS) by fixing your name to the petition on the following web site:

www.ipetitions.com/petition/childrensaidoversight/index.html

Larry Killens

South Baymouth

Ken Recollet

Henley Boats

Manitowaning

I'm your neighbour

Boss Dave Ham of Ham's Marine and Henley Boats in Manitowaning describes employee Ken Recollet as "a friendly fellow" and judging by the wide smile on his face, that's exactly what he is.

Ken said he began working for Henley Boats almost a year to the date and enjoys what he does. Ken and the rest of the crew build the sturdy steel boats as well as some repairs. Formerly a steel welder in southern Ontario, Ken said he was pleased with the chance to mover closer to his Whitefish River First Nation home to work. As his mother and her boyfriend work in Wikwemikong, he explained that the three are able to carpool to and from work to help with the expensive cost of fuel.

"The job keeps me busy," Ken said. "There's lots of cutting and welding and grinding."

As many of Henley's boats are custom made, things are always different on the job too, he said. "And everything is done by hand."

"We've got a good crew here," Ken said, pointing out his workmates. "And a few new guys started just last week."

When Ken's not busy making boats, he said he likes to keep busy, doing odd jobs for people around his community.

"Anything from cutting grass, carpentry or even masonry. I stay busy so I stay out of trouble," Ken said with a laugh.

Supporting local businesses like Henley Boats provides lasting employment for people like Ken Recollet.