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Death
in Wikwemikong
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by Michael Erskine
WIKWEMIKONG---The Wikwemikong Tribal Police
and the Northeastern Region Ontario Provincial Police are jointly
investigating the death of 71 year-old Jean Maiangowi of Wikwemikong
Unceded Reserve. Mrs. Maiangowi collapsed during an healing
ceremony held in the South Bay Centre and presided over by a
medicine man identified as Juan Uyunkar from Quito, Ecuador,
and his son Edgar. Mrs. Maiangowi became ill after ingesting
a substance indentified as 'natem' by Wikwemikong Tribal Police
Chief Gary Reid. "Although it is known by about 50 other names
depending on the region in South America where it originates,"
he said. Other names include yaje, caapi, pinde, karampi, dapa,
mihi, kahi, just to name a few. The substance was involved in
the two-day ceremony. A toxicology report has been requested
on the substance ingested and another "gravy-like" substance
which was involved in the ceremony. Natem's active ingredients
are known to induce vomiting and disorientation amongst its
users, and is not recommended for unguided use. The substance
can be hallucinogenic when ingested in toxic quantities, and
is known to induce violent nightmares. It is definitely not
a recreational drug and the shamen who practice its use insist
on a regime of purging and fasting prior to ingesting the material.
The incident is being examined by the coroner's office, but
the autopsy and toxicology reports have not yet been received
by the investigating bodies and no information has been officially
released on the cause of death. No charges have been laid. Mrs.
Maiangowi has been described by friends as a very active woman,
who although diabetic, was following her medical regime meticulously
and was in good health and spirits prior to the incident. Pat
Maiangowi of North Bay, Mrs. Maiangowi's daughter and family
spokesperson, described her mother as a very devote Roman Catholic
and spoke of her family's misgivings about the ceremony and
the circumstances which led her parents to partake in the event.
"My mother may have been 71, but she acted and seemed more like
a woman of 50," said Ms. Maiangowi. "She was supposed to come
up and see her new grandchild this week. It was really unusual
for them to change their minds." Ms. Maiangowi said the ceremony
was not something her parents would normally be associated with.
"I know my mom and dad well enough, this is not the kind of
thing they would have been involved in had they known everything
that it entailed beforehand. I know that for a fact." Ms. Maiangowi
said her parents developed strong misgivings about the medicinal
tea they had ingested during the first day of the ceremony.
"My mother had to be carried to bed by my son and my dad, she
was dizzy and weak after taking the medicine," she said. "She
literally had to be carried home. They had decided to not go
back when they received a call from someone who insisted that
they return and complete the ceremony." Ms. Maiangowi does not
know who made that call. "My father is not the kind of person
who would ask who was calling, it wasn't his way," she said.
Ms. Maiangowi said she has a number of questions which have
yet to be answered. "Why was there no phone? Why was there not
someone from the Health Centre there?" she asked. She said she
was told the emergency response team did not arrive until 45
to 50 minutes after her mother first collapsed, as delays in
reaching a telephone were considerable. Reports of the family's
support of the Ecuadoran medicine people are incorrect, said
Ms. Maiangowi. "That comes from how my father is dealing with
my mother's death," she said. "He is a very gentle and kind
man and he has a lot of faith in people. He does not want anyone
to feel bad. He wishes to deal with my mother's death in a positive
way and we want to respect his wishes." The Ecuadoran medicine
man and his son were welcomed to the community in a ceremony
held September 26, at Wasse-Abin High School in Wikwemikong.
A single hand-out sheet was sent home with children from school.
The flyer names Margaret Dewys as the group's interpreter and
identifies the event as being hosted by the Naadwedidaa Program,
Nahndawetchigegamig-Wikwemikong Health Centre. Reports from
a variety of sources within the community identify the number
of participants in the two days of ceremonies at 240. There
have been no official reports of illness or injury linked to
the ceremony other than the collapse of Mrs. Maiangowi. Health
Centre Director Roland Peltier described the event as "sort
of" held under the auspices of the Health Centre, but more correctly
identified it as a "community sponsored event. We do not know
much about it at the moment. We are working with the authorities."
Mr. Peltier declined further comment. "I really do not know
anything about the details of this," he said. "I would prefer
that you direct your questions to the Chief." Mr. Peltier said
he did not wish to discuss the Wikwemikong Health Centre protocols
governing the vetting of traditional healers from outside of
the community at this time. Ron Wakegijig, Director of Traditional
Healing for the Wikwemikong Health Centre was out of town during
the incident and also declined comment. "I really do not know
anything more than rumour and conjecture at this point," he
said. Dorothy Kennedy, administrator of the Naandwedidaa Program
could not be reached for comment. Chief Gladys Wakegijig also
declined to comment on the events at this time. "I really do
not wish to comment until I know all of the facts," she said.
"The police report has not come back yet and all we have at
the moment is hearsay and rumours. We will release a statement
when we are assured of the facts." The invitation to participate
in the ceremony from a band sponsored body has divided many
in the community. Ms. Maiangowi echoed the statements of a large
number of people contacted in the community about the event
who refused to be identified when she said, "I do not know why
they brought people into the community from outside. We have
our own medicine and our own healers. It must have cost a lot
of money to bring these people here, why do we not spend the
money locally, invest in our own medicine and our own people?"
Concerns about the invitation to South American traditional
healers were brought to chief and council, Wikwemikong Health
Committee members and others by community member John Fox, prior
to Mrs. Maiangowi's death in a letter dated September 26 and
also date stamped the same day as received at the band offices.
Although not wishing to comment further than the contents of
his letter for fear of the repercussions from the community,
Mr. Fox says, "I still do not have an answer." The letter outlined
three concerns with the apparent sponsorship of the healing
ceremonies and what he said he perceived as a lack of concern
by the band office about the event as well as the lack of information
about the individuals involved. The letter conveyed Mr. Fox's
"displeasure at outside resources being utilized to conduct
ceremonies in our community." "I believe there should have been
some general information on this individual, some information
on what he does and more background of his community," read
the letter. The letter goes on to suggest local resources should
be recognized and respected elders, spiritualists and band members
who have experience and knowledge in the area of traditional
healing should be consulted. The letter continues, expressing
disagreement over his children, students in the Junior and Pontiac
Schools, bringing home such advertisements. The letter also
outlined concerns in almost prescient terms, "as a caution that
fallout from these experiences could have a detrimental effect
on band members and this community. I would not want our community
members traumatized by experiences that were meant to be healing
which turns out to be negative." Supporters of the healing ceremonies
were quick to respond to criticisms of the program, turning
out in force to an elders meeting in South Bay following the
death of Mrs. Maiangowi to discuss the event and express support
for the individuals involved. Local supporter Gerry Kaboni was
adamant the ceremony had no connection to Mrs. Maiangowi's death.
"She died of natural causes," he said. "It was her time, she
would have died anyway." "A lot of people are saying that it
was my mother's time," said Ms. Maiangowi. "My sister and I
do not believe that. It wasn't her time. I believe that if she
had not gone to that ceremony, she would be here with us today."
Mr. Kaboni said the concerns over the ceremony were centered
on one individual. "You should talk to this guy that is causing
all the trouble," he said. "They (the Ecuadoran medicine men)
have a lot of support." "You want to talk about one person who
died at our ceremonies?" he told the Expositor. "Why don't you
talk about the 240 people who they cured. The Manitoulin Health
Centre has had lots of people die, write about that." Mr. Kaboni,
a strong advocate of traditional healing practices, noted how
often he has observed people being sent home from hospitals
and who then died. "Write about that," he said. Mr. Kaboni said
he was concerned about the effects the controversy would have
on the credibility of traditional healing. "For 50 years we
have worked to bring this up to this level and then bang, a
stroke of the pen and it is all undone." Those guys from MCTV
had no business coming out here. They should be doing a story
on the person causing all the trouble," he said. (Mid Canada
Television from Sudbury has carried stories on the controversy.)
A band meeting held immediately after the death of Mrs. Maiangowi
was dominated completely by discussion of the community's concerns
and issues flowing from the healing ceremony, with no time available
for other band business on the agenda, according to band member
Jean Trudeau who attended the meeting, but by this Monday, October
29, the business of the band was again moving forward as the
matter was deemed to have been "discussed in depth." It may
be some time before the cause of Mrs. Maiangowi's death is known
for certain. Although the presiding coroner, Dr. Barry McLellan,
deputy chief coroner of Forensic Services said he was confident
the report would return quickly, other reports indicate it can
take up to six months to receive a toxicology report. "It is
too early to make a decision on an inquest because we don't
have all the information," said Dr. McLellan. He suggested more
information would be forthcoming by the middle of next week.
Rumours of the Ecuadoran's passports being seized are not true.
"The Ecuadoran's are voluntarily remaining," said Chief Reid.
"There were some difficulties with their passports, which originated
at the issuing office in Ecuador. It was routine. I do not have
the authority to seize their passports." "I don't care how long
it takes," said Ms. Maiangowi. "We have questions and we want
them answered. I am prepared to stay or if need be come back
to get those answers." Ms. Maiangowi is studying Aboriginal
Law in North Bay.
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Post
office closed after suspicious powder found
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by Tom Sasvari
GORE BAY - With the fear of possible anthrax
contamination running high in North America, the Canada Post
office in Gore Bay was closed nearly all of last Monday after
a suspicious white powder substance was found. "My understanding
is that employees of the post office found a white powder in
and around two mailboxes," said Francois Legault, a media spokesperson
for Canada Post in Ottawa. Postal workers found the white powder
substance around the mail box area in the lobby of the Post
Office at 8:30 am Monday (October 29) while opening the building
for the day. They called police immediately and reported the
findings. Al Boyd, Community Services Officer with the Manitoulin
Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, said the incident
has been taken seriously by police. "We're treating all cases
as serious at this time. We're treating it as a serious anthrax
scare," he said. "But chances are it is going to turn out to
be nothing." OPP officers immediately responded to the scene
and in the interest of public safety the Post Office was closed.
A professional cleaning company, Philip Emergency Response Services
was called in from Sudbury to remove the substance from the
building. Police have obtained a sample of the substance and
it was sent to Toronto to be analyzed as to its contents. A
representative of the Philip cleaning company said it will take
a couple of days for the tests to be completed. "A suspicious
white powder was found. We have gathered up the substance, decontaminated
the area, and have sent the substance for testing." "Our procedures,
if we find anything suspicious like this, is to find the source
and to follow a series of steps which includes contacting the
authorities," said Mr. Legault. "We are not taking any chances.
We are being cautious and being vigilant in our handling of
these type of incidents," he stated. Mr. Legault stressed that
although there have been similar incidents investigated in the
past few weeks, "there hasn't been a single case of anthrax
confirmed in Canada. There has been a lot of scares in the country
during the last few weeks, but no confirmation of anthrax. However,
in any event, we are taking all precautions, which includes
having this substance analyzed by an environmental firm laboratory."
"Everybody is concerned with this type of incident, especially
the employees who are first exposed to anything in the post
office. But, everything we have seen and heard leads us to believe
the U.S. is the main target," said Mr. Legault. "But definitely
we are worried in Canada as well." Mail that had been in the
mailboxes will be quarantined until the substance is found not
to be anthrax. The post office was reopened at 4:15 pm on Monday
after Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Regional Medical Officer of Health,
gave her approval that the building was safe. An investigation
on the substance left at the post office has been initiated
by police. Officer Boyd pointed out that "there have been numerous
similar occurrences throughout the province recently. The Post
office in Powassan was shut down for a couple of days, but it
was found the suspicious substance was just dust."
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Fire
destroys Sheguiandah Health Centre
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by Michael Erskine
SHEGUIANDAH---The Noojmowin Teg
Health Centre and Mnaamodzawin Health Services building in Sheguiandah
was destroyed in a fire on the morning of October 26, but disruption
of services to the seven First Nation communities served by
the Health Centre will be minimal. Approximately 40 employees
from both organizations worked out of the centre, but many of
the services were delivered off-site and interim locations for
those services which were delivered from the Health Centre site
are being established. "We all suffered a terrible loss with
the loss of our beautiful health facility and it certainly set
us back a bit in the area of health care, no doubt," said Martin
Bayer, Tribal Chair of the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin.
"However, we can re-build our health care facility and our communities
are served by some very talented, dedicated and caring people
and our gratitude goes out to them for their work and determination
to ensure that essential health services will continue to be
provided to our people during this difficult time." The fire
was responded to by the Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands
(NEMI) Fire Department at 4:15 am, Friday morning, and they
requested the assistance of the Sucker Creek Fire Department
under the Mutual Aid Agreement. Four trucks were on the scene
within minutes of receiving the call and the fire was quickly
suppressed by the fire crews which responded to the scene. "The
local fire services did a very good job," said Wayne Romaine,
a Fire Investigator from the Fire Marshal's Office surveying
the site. "We took the fire from three sides," said NEMI Fire
Chief Rick Milne. "We did have a little problem with the water
supply from Sheguiandah, but we put our pumper in and that rectified
the situation." "A big thank you has to go out to the numerous
fire departments that responded to the fire call, not enough
thanks is given to brave firefighters from Sheguiandah, Little
Current and Sucker Creek. Thanks to you, important computer
data was preserved and this helps ensure continuity of essential
health services while we begin the work of re-building our beautiful
health care facility," said Mr. Bayer. Although the roof of
the building has been completely destroyed and the wood siding
which graced the building's sides was consumed in the fire,
most of the offices within the facility are, aside from water
and smoke damage, in nearly pristine condition. Members of the
public are asked to refrain from entering the site for safety
reasons and donations of office equipment would be greatly appreciated.
Investigators from the Fire Marshal's Office had not yet determined
the cause of the blaze by press time and members of the UCCM
Tribal Police are maintaining a watch on the site until the
investigation has been completed.
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