Indian Affairs Minister Prentice commits to help solve UCCM's land tax dilemma
by Alicia McCutcheon
AUNDECK OMNI KANING-Jim Prentice, federal Minister of Indian and
Northern Affairs, visited AOK last Friday as part of a whirlwind
tour. He didn't leave without making a promise to assist Island First
Nations in their land claims concerns.
AOK Chief Pat Madahbee explained to Mr. Prentice that an unsolved
issue dealing with local Island municipalities taxing farm acreages
abutting reserves, which the reserves have bought to extend their
land basis, is an ongoing concern.
Chief Madahbee told the minister that the majority of the problems
have been between his community (AOK) and the neighbouring community
of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, adding that the newly
elected mayor and council and the Manitoulin Municipal Association
have been very receptive in dealing with his band.
Albert (Hardy) Peltier, who oversees land claim issues for the United
Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM), of which Chief Madahbee is
chair, cited another example of land claims issues in Billings
Township the UCCM had been trying to deal with, but had been offered
a less-than-satisfactory solution.
Minister Prentice, who represents a Calgary riding, bridled at Mr.
Peltier's representation and said, "the last time I checked, I was
minister, not some guy in a municipality."
He proceeded to tell Chief Madahbee, Mr. Peltier and other band
officials that he would try to help them streamline their issues to a
satisfactorily solution.
"I don't know if I can change the time it will take, but I will
appoint a special representative to clean this whole mess up-probably
a lawyer," he committed, adding that, "I think you folks are doing a
great job with remarkable leadership."
This discussion and Minister Prentice's offer had come out of a group
discussion about the pros and cons of the First Nations Land
Management Act, with Minister Prentice wanting to know what AOK
thought of the new act.
"We're talking about it, but we do have some concerns," Chief
Madahbee said, adding that a public consultation would be needed.
Hardy Peltier asked the minister whether it would be possible for a
tribal council (like the UCCM) to deal with lands management.
"No, by band only," Minister Prentice responded.
"There are good components of the First Nations Land Management Act,"
Chief Madahbee observed. "We just need to flush them out."
He observed before talking to the ministers about current concerns
and asking for assistance, that "we've been dealing with land claim
issues since 1990...and here we are in 2007, still dealing with it,"
the chief stated.
During the meeting with Minister Prentice, Dawn Madahbee, CEO of the
Waubetek Business Development Centre, used the meeting to make a case
for the organization she heads, explaining that the business
development corporation has been given an extension to operate until
next March, or for 10 months, and she noted this business model has
been in place for the last three years.
"I would like to get a three-year approval, conditional on the
Aboriginal Business Canada renewal next year," she said. "It's hard
to run a program this way."
Ms. Madahbee noted that since its inception, Waubetek has given
between $11 and $12 million to businesses in Northeastern Ontario
with a 96 percent success rate of flourishing businesses.
"Waubetek has one of the best records in Canada," she added.
She also made it known that a business plan had been submitted to the
government for the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation as "there's a solid
case for its future."
"We've reduced its capital debt from over $1 million to $150,000,"
she said. "We would like to see the operational funding reinstated
from $105,000 to $205,000," she said, noting the funding cuts in 1995.
Minister Prentice, who visited AOK with his cabinet colleague Tony
Clement, federal Minister of Health and Minister responsible for
FedNor, also had a briefing in the nature of the community, courtesy
of Chief Madahbee who gave the ministers a short story of the First
Nation and its various names over the years, culminating in its
traditional name-Aundeck Omni Kaning.
"We call it AOK for short because we feel everything around here is
pretty AOK," he said to the delight of the ministers and their
entourage. "Our community is fortunate in maintaining good
continuity."
"We've been fairly adept over the years in making sure that members
elected to this council can bring something to the table," Chief
Madahbee continued, showcasing the various talents of his council.
The chief explained to Mr. Prentice and Mr. Clement that AOK is a
progressive community that has always had a good track record of
"sound fiscal responsibility." He cited examples of the Wabuno Fish
Farm and the struggling eco-tourism project that the band is
determined to have succeed, not to mention the 17 small businesses
the band has helped set up, ranging from "mom and pop" stores to a
used car dealership-all evidence of a community doing well for
itself, on its own.
Chief Madahbee explained to Mr. Prentice that some of the yearly
Casino Rama funds the First Nation receives goes toward an equity
fund for young entrepreneurs in the community, and AOK has also
instituted programs which focus on adult education and encouraging
adults to become retrained.
He told the group that the band has also set up a construction
business giving examples of jobs they have done, including the
Zhiibaahaasing school.
"We didn't take the tires there though," Chief Madahbee added. "No,
but we're trying to find out who did," Minister Prentice quipped,
much to the amusement of the group.
"We're always innovative in what we do here," said the chief.


Missing 1880s papers repatriated to Expositor archives
Your community newspaper turns 128 this week
by Lindsay Kelly
MANITOWANING-When Peter Cox was invited by a friend to peruse some
old postcards in the hope of adding to his collection, he never
imagined what additional treasures he would find waiting for him.
A long-time collector of postcards from the Golden Era-the 1900s to
the 1920s-Mr. Cox was looking to add to his collection of more than
400, but he was astonished to instead come across some old bound
editions of Manitoulin Expositor newspapers that were published in
the years 1882, 1883, and 1884.
"It's absolutely miraculous," he said of the find, which coincides
with the Expositor's annual volume change, being observed this week.
"It really is amazing to find these things. And these are the
original bound editions."
The collection was found while Mr. Cox's friend was going through her
mother's estate in Nairn Centre. They could have easily ended up at
the dump if no-one else wanted them, so "we're lucky she recognized
that they were from the Island," Mr. Cox said.
The oversized broadsheets are bound into three collections, although
it's evident their age has required that some repairs be done over
the years to keep them intact: the spines have been reinforced with
long strips of silver-coloured duct tape.
But other than a few frayed edges-peeking out from between the
hardcover casings, a state that is likely a result of the binding
coming loose over the years-the fragile collections are in pretty
good shape, for newspapers that are up to 125 years old.
And it's quite a find for the Assiginack Museum, too. The museum
keeps bound copies of the Expositor going back to its inception when
the newspaper was published in Manitowaning, noted museum board chair
Dave Smith, and Mr. Cox has donated the newly found editions to the
collection.
"All the '80s are missing," Mr. Smith said, noting that the
newspapers were originally bound year by year, and then later bound
with three or four years together. "For most of the papers, we don't
have another copy. They've been borrowed over the years, and they're
slowly disappearing."
Because of this, people are no longer permitted to take the old
papers out of the museum, although they can look through them in the
museum's research room.
The old newspapers, along with other delicate artifacts, are kept in
the museum's special artifacts room. Kept at a constant temperature
and monitored daily, the room is designed to protect items that could
be damaged if not protected from the elements, such as paper.
While most antique collectors are focused on preserving china or
furniture, Mr. Smith said he thinks it's equally, if not more,
important to keep a paper trail of the history of an area, and that's
why he's always on the lookout for old receipts, calendars,
newspapers and other paper items from across the Island.
Expositor publisher Rick McCutcheon said he was pleased to receive a
call last autumn from Mr. Cox, who enquired about whether the
newspapers had any monetary value. Although the papers wouldn't fetch
a significant price on the antique market, their historical value is
considerable, Mr. McCutcheon said.
"This fills a significant gap in the Expositor's early archives when
the papers were still being published in Manitowaning where it was
founded," he said. "I'm hoping this will be the start of other,
similar finds, because there are several volumes of the early papers
that have also gone missing from the archives."
Like Mr. Smith, Mr. McCutcheon believes the papers were likely loaned
out in good faith over the years, and people have forgotten to return
them, while the Expositor office has lost track of their whereabouts.
They may have been missing for 50, 60 or even 70 years at this point,
he added.
"We're missing several other years of the complete publishing history
of the Expositor, most notably the last three years of the First
World War-1917, 1918, and 1919-which we would dearly love to have
back, and we would like to have it in our collection, which is now
housed at the Assiginack Museum in Manitowaning," Mr. McCutcheon
said. "There are also other full volumes of years missing, but if
anyone knows, or thinks they know, of any annual collections of
Expositors, please contact me at the Expositor office."
The tradition of binding of the newspapers continues, and a
collection of 2006 papers, which has just returned from the bindery,
will now be added to the Assiginack collection. Newspapers are also
available for perusal on microfiche at the Little Current Public
Library.
"I'd like to thank everybody concerned with this for their
donation-both Peter Cox and the anonymous donor, who recognized there
was some historical value to the community," Mr. McCutcheon said. "I
think that's important."
Interestingly, while some things about the newspaper business have
changed over 125 years-most notably the technology-some things appear
to have remained the same.
In an August, 1882 edition from the collection, the front page was a
mix of social news and hard news, in addition to some creative ads.
Some of the names remain the same, while others have disappeared from
the Island lexicon entirely.
"You just don't see a lot of these names around anymore," Mr. Smith
noted, scanning the page. "See, like Stinton-and that was a big store
at the time."
Purchasing the paper off the newsstands would cost a reader $1.25,
whereas subscribers only had to pay $1.
The newspapers will now be wrapped in tissue paper and added to the
Expositor archives, filling a considerable gap in the history of the
paper and of the Island. The newspaper moves into its 128th year
starting this week. It was first published on May 24, 1879.
Mr. Cox may not have found what he was searching for, but he's always
on the lookout for more postcards to add to his collection, and he
encourages people to call him at 859-2410 if they have any they are
considering selling or donating.
In the meantime, he said he was happy to donate the newspapers,
knowing they have been returned to their rightful owners and taken
their proper place in local history.
"I'm glad to donate them," he said. "They finally came home."

Do you know where to find the missing
volumes of Expositor newspapers? Missing years include:

* 1888
* 1889
* 1909
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1921
* 1924
 

'Mum's the word' following Manor's meeting with MOH

by Tom Sasvari

MANITOULIN-Members of the Manitoulin Centennial Manor board met with representatives of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care last week to discuss the current status, and future operations, of the facility.

"It was a positive meeting, and other meetings will be held with the ministry representatives," Manor board chair Leslie Fields told the Expositor last Friday, following the meeting which took place earlier in the week.

Ms. Fields decline to provide further details about the meeting. However, she did read a statement on behalf of the Manor Board of Management which stated, "the Board of Management of the Manitoulin Centennial Manor has met with representatives of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), CUPE  (Canadian Union of Public Employees) 2165, and Jarlette Health Services to review our current situation and discussion our ongoing endeavours to ensure the well-being of our residents and the long-term stability of the Manitoulin Centennial Manor. Other meetings will follow."

Sue Cronk

clerk at Bridal Veil Esso,

Kagawong

I'm your neighbour

If you've dropped by the Bridal Veil Esso in Kagawong, chances are you've seen Sue Cronk at work. It can be a busy place at times and she's quick at the till and quick with a quip.

Over the years, Ms. Cronk has seen a lot of changes at the Esso. "I came to work here for Sharon and Dave Montgomery as a waitress when it was a gas station with a garage and a restaurant. We served a full menu and had a lunch counter with about six tables," she said. Eventually she left and went to work down the road at Needles Restaurant and for a while at the Busy Bee in Mindemoya.

About eight years ago, Ms. Cronk returned to the Bridal Veil Esso to work for the new owners Brad and Debbie Graham. As it happened, the Grahams had purchased the place from Ms. Graham's parents, the Montgomerys.

The Esso had undergone renovations and Ms. Cronk found herself working at the attached Mandy's Snack Shack and then in the store during the winter months. The Snack Shack is gone now, but Ms. Cronk is still there.

"My favourite time has got to be the summer, she said. "I enjoy meeting all the new people and it's great to get re-acquainted with people who return year after year. We really like to try and have a visit with everyone. Even when it's busy, there's always time for a little chit-chat and I think that people like that we take the time to talk."

Today the Esso has expanded to include an LCBO agency, cottage supplies, a garden centre, hunting and fishing licenses, propane, high-speed Internet, gifts and ice cream as well as groceries. Homemade soup and sandwiches are available at lunchtime and Ms. Cronk keeps herself occupied baking cookies and muffins that are sold at the store. If you are around on Friday at lunch, try a slice of homemade pizza.

"Sure things have changed a lot around here, but it's still a great place to work," said Ms. Cronk. "Debbie is by far the best boss I've ever worked for and the staff are all great to work with. It really is like a big family here."

Shopping at local businesses like Bridal Veil Esso provides lasting employment for people like Sue Cronk.

EDITORIAL

Northeast Town council needs subtle leadership

More and more often these days, it's tempting to think that the amalgamation of Little Current, Howland and the unorganized township of McGregor Bay and the Islands was perhaps not such a good idea a decade ago.

From the Northeast Town's first elected council to the present one (that's four elected councils, if anyone's counting), citizens have been treated to a series of divisive, argumentative groups that tend to vote in blocs.

The recently-elected council is no exception and the fact that the mayor allowed a debate to continue for at least a half-hour between two councillors about the provenance of donated picnic tables says much about the council.

At the very least, time was being wasted that, we hope, could have been spent much more effectively by all of the parties concerned.

But of far more importance is the fact that for the mayor to allow this kind of protracted wrangling to go on and on simply cements in the minds of citizens who hear about it the notion that a stint on town council is not particularly rewarding and is best left to those who have nothing better to do than sit and argue/debate about small things for a long time.

Reference was pointedly made to the mayor in the previous paragraph for the reason that in the case of a seeming impasse between or among two or more council members, it is certainly the mayor's job to deftly steer the discussion away from personalities and perhaps refer it to a committee (or for staff input) and in so doing allow for tempers to cool and, hopefully, for compromises to be found.

The evening of the public meeting on a proposed trail in the municipality is another example: a majority of councillors wanted to turn the information evening into an impromptu meeting and to pass a resolution in front of a large crowd.

This they did.

However, if the situation had been managed in such a way as to refer the matter back to a committee of council, which would consider the evening's input, the result would have been exactly the same, but council would have had the advantage of not looking as though it was responding in knee-jerk fashion to a boisterous crowd.

There are other examples but clearly this is a council that requires some subtle and thoughtful management on the part of Mayor Stringer.

For a start, Mayor Stringer could end the practice of always (or certainly usually) voting as a council member when recorded votes are called for.

Granted, this is his right. But it isn't his obligation.

A more common (and in our opinion more useful) practice is for the mayor to withhold his vote and only cast it to break a tie...and only then when all attempts at reaching consensus have failed and if he has determined that further study and input will serve no useful purpose.

But when some councillor feels so strongly about a particular issue that he or she calls for a recorded vote, the matter on which council is voting is usually a contentious one.

For the mayor to involve himself in touchy issues, not as a tiebreaker but to take a side, has some peril for the office he represents.

It is not for nothing that, in most formal municipal council chambers, the mayor's/reeve's seat is set slightly higher than those of the councillors.

This is by way of a reminder to not only councillors and elected staff but also to citizens attending council that it is the important duty of the mayor to preside over his council, and to direct its discussions in productive ways.

That, in our opinion, should be the primary focus of this mayor with this particular council.

And that could also go a long way to ending the rancour and wrangling that have, to a greater or lesser degree, characterized councils since the Northeast Town was born 10 years ago through the process of municipal amalgamation.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Island students urged to attend June 3 remembrance ceremony

Students should remember pledge made in 2002

To the Editor:

While attending a breakfast meeting at Central Manitoulin Public School, an event put on by the principal and staff to honour their school volunteers, Mr. Allan Tustian, a veteran of the Second World War, stood up and spoke briefly. He requested that the people present would encourage students of Manitoulin to attend their Decoration Day ceremonies slated for June 3. When he spoke, it was from the heart and sounded more like a last request than a passing comment.

I am reminded of the 2002 activity in which our students made yet another first in the Dominion of Canada by making a pledge to war veterans to "remember them," and in honour of that pledge a monument is erected at the Manitoulin Cenotaph.

I respectfully request each of you to remind students everywhere of the commitment made by past students and encourage them to make every attempt possible to be at the Manitoulin cenotaph on that day in June.

I ask that student councils, parent councils and individual classes be reminded of that commitment made five years ago, and hopefully it can be renewed.

If there is anything I can do to return a sparkle to the eye of a veteran that I saw back in 2002 when the kids showed up en masse, I would like to be part of it. My first effort is by sending out this request to ask for your help.

Thanking you in advance for your assistance.

Larry Killens

Rainbow District School Board trustee

Mindemoya

Education needed surrounding Whitefish Lake First Nation land purchase

Cottagers, residents should remember Aboriginal people were there first

To the Expositor:

(This letter is a response to the article "Land sale worries residents," which appeared in The Sudbury Star on May 9)

When it comes to the Whitefish Lake First Nation land purchase, education is the key. One has to realize that the Whitefish Lake First Nation is buying back land that they have traditionally owned and utilized prior to the arrival of Europeans and thus prior to the arrival of the residents on the nearby land in question. What more do people want from the people of the Whitefish Lake First Nation? Chief Petahtegoose has already stated, in the public record, that the land purchase is for economic development and eco-tourism. The purchase is not intended to restrict access. If non-Aboriginal property values are affected, then perhaps it is incumbent upon the affected residents to be complaining to the Eurowestern-created Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources must give the green light and final approval for the purchase. Technically, such approval is unconstitutional in light of section 91 (24) and section 35 (1) of the 1982 Constitution Act of Canada. According to this, the fundamental law of Canada, Indians and lands reserved for Indians are a federal responsibility and Aboriginal and treaty rights are now recognized and affirmed. This begs the question, "Why are First Nations dealing with Junior federal representatives, otherwise know as the provinces?" But First Nation concession seems to be the order of the day. I think that the Whitefish Lake First Nation has been more than generous with its intention to purchase the land in question. I only wished that the same consideration could have occurred when early colonial Europeans came to dismantle Aboriginal culture and usurp Aboriginal territories and resources. Indeed there is a strange irony to the entire issue.

Al Walker, from the Panache Lake Campers Association, indicates that such a purchase would restrict camping, hiking, fishing, and snowmobiling in the area. No such consideration was afforded to the first people living in the area during the height of colonial activity. Aboriginal people at that time effectively utilized the natural resources in the area for survival purposes, as opposed to utilizing land for recreational purposes as pointed out by Mr. Walker. It is great that Mr. Walker can afford a camp and has the financial resources to view land-use for recreational purposes. The Whitefish Lake First Nation purchase would increase community economic development so that the Whitefish Lake First Nation residents can afford the same things that Mr. Walker may now take for granted. Overall, it may not be far off the mark for Mr. Walker to take advantage of a Native Studies course or two in order to increase his own awareness of the issues.

Rob Pineo, an Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) member has stated that the Whitefish Lake First Nation sale would "be a loss to the general public." Indeed, it is a loss-it is a loss to the people who had originally owned it in the first place. Mr. Pineo and the OFAH have to realize that with the arrival of the Europeans to the Americas, illegally acquiring Aboriginal territory was indeed a loss to the interests of the First Nation public; however, the opposite was true when Aboriginal people constituted the majority and were kind enough to share the bounty that Mr. Pineo and OFAH now enjoy today-I think that a great big "thank you" to the Aboriginal people of Ontario by Mr. Pineo, the OFAH, Mr. Walker, and his 1,000 or so petitioners are in order!

Needless to say, Mr. Pineo and the OFAH need to learn more of their Canadian history to understand that all Crown land is First Nation territory under the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the treaties. How would Mr. Pineo and his OFAH affiliates like it if they had to buy back something that they had already owned? The idea is ludicrous and a reflection of the level ignorance that may exist within the OFAH and within pockets of Canadian society.

I view OFAH similar to the War Hawks of the 1800s who had a hand in the war of 1812. The War Hawks wanted to control all of North America, only today, the OFAH seems to think that by taking a "governmental control of crown land" stance, the OFAH, as a lobby group, can continue to maintain a degree of control over such lands for the exclusive use and benefit of OFAH members.

Certainly, when Aboriginal land claims are solved, the OFAH may be inclined to change their position on treaties. The OFAH's view is "...that treaty Indians do not possess any exclusive claims to Crown land or resources within the geographic boundaries of Ontario." This view is archaic and lacks the understanding needed to move ahead in the 21st century.

In the end, I think that the non-Aboriginal residents of the land in question would benefit significantly as a result of such a purchase. Education is a major part in understanding the issues. An increase in education would also create positive relations with the largest land owners in the area.

Patrick Corbiere

Birch Island