Matawa Messenger - December 2014 Issue

IN THIS ISSUE:

Regional Strategy Update

Matawa at CAMA 2014

Land Use Planning

KKETS Update

more....

MATAWA M E S S E N G E R

December, 2014

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page 8“Living With Us...Coo Coo Coo”

Community Driven Regional Framework Update:The First Nations continue to engage their communities regarding the Regional Framework Process. Presently, First Nations are focusing on the four main pillars identified in the framework agreement: Environment, Infrastructure, Socio-Economic, and Revenue Sharing. Currently, our communities are gathering information and developing their internal processes to ensure the negotiation phase is community-driven.

The “Four Pillars of the Community Driven Regional Framework“ illustration provides a visual overview of some of the main topics identified by the communities in the Regional Framework.

Recently, our First Nations each appointed a “Regional Framework Communitiy Representative” to provide additional community support. The Community Representatives are assisting with the Regional Framework negotiation process and will be representing their Community at the negotiation table.

“Four Pillars of the Regional Framework” Illustration by Pamela Hubbard

For more information please contact:

Kathy Brady, Regional Framework Project Manager807.346.6522

[email protected]

Matawa Mineral Technical Committee Meeting Update

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Matawa attends the 2014 CAMA Conference in Toronto

November 16 to 18, 2014 - Matawa First Nations Management (MFNM) staff and delegates travelled to Toronto, Ontario to attend the 2014 Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association Conference.

Coordinating activities and information to support and assist our communities to mazimize benefits from the potential developement of the Ring of Fire.

The Regional Framework Project, within Matawa First Nation Management, coordinates the gathering, preparation and sharing of information related to mineral exploration, mining development, infrastructure, environment, socio-economic and revenue sharing.

This is in support of the 9 member First Nations of Matawa to ensure their rights and interests are protected and that they are informed on the decisions. It also assists Matawa Chiefs in negotiations with government and industry as requested.

Matawa Chiefs meeting during the CAMA conference. Chiefs discussed numerous topics and met with the Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario with regards to encouraging more Federal involvement with the Ring of Fire.

The Matawa Mineral Technical Committee (MMTC)continues to meet on a regular basis to address Mineral Exploration and Mining topics within the Matawa region.

If you have questions regarding Mineral Exploration and Mining in your area please contact your community MMTC representative.

Regional Framework Project

Matawa First Nations staff promoting Matawa services at the booth. This year, Matawa has showcased the new branding and visual identity, including the new tradeshow booth.

For more information please contact our Communications department at Matawa

807.346.65052 3

Listen to our radio broadcast at 2:30pm/1:30pm EST

UPCOMING BROADCAST DATES:

January 6January 20February 3

February 17

Listen at www.wawataynews.ca/radio89.9 FM in Sioux Lookout

106.7 FM in TimminsBellTV Channel 962

Economic Development Committ ee Meets in Thunder Bay

The Matawa Economic Development Committee meets in Thunder Bay (November 25-27, 2014) to discuss community development initiatives with Jason Rasevych, Matawa Economic Development Advisor. The group is working together to build capacity while providing strategic advice to the Matawa Chiefs Council in several areas including mining, tourism, forestry and energy.

For more information please contact Jason Rasevych, Economic Development Advisor

at 807.346.3653

13th Annual First Nati ons Northern Housing Conference

Upcoming Event - 13th Annual First Nations Northern Housing Conference held in Thunder Bay, February 10-12, at the Vallhalla Inn.

For more information, please visit the conference website at:

www.northernhousingconference.com

or contact Saverio Rizzo, Housing Inspector/Coordinator at Matawa.

Eabametoong Holds Informati on Meeti ng for Off -Reserve Members

On December 2, 2014, Eabametoong First Nation held an information meeting on the Treaty Land Entitlement Negotiations in Thunder Bay for the off-reserve community members. For more information on the gathering please contact Liz Wapoose at 807.345.4418

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Merry Christmasfrom the Matawa Chiefs,

Board of Directors

and Management Staff...

and Happy New Year!

Community Based Land Use Planning Workshop

Share Informati on on the Community Cultural Portal

Have a community event you want to share? Do you like to take pictures of your community?

Have you been working on any special community projects?

If you would like to share this information to the web, please contact the Matawa Communications

department at 807.346.65054 5

From December 2 to 4, 2014, Four Rivers hosted a Community Based Land Use Planning Workshop in conjunction with Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry at the Matawa office. Workshop participants included community members from all Matawa communities and Land Use Planning team members from the 7 communities involved in land use planning as well as government representatives and Four Rivers staff.

Day one of the workshop started with a morning of sharing about land use planning by community members. This was followed by a presentation by MNRF about the Far North Land Use Planning Strategy. The day concluded with an overview of Four Rivers and introductions of staff.

The second and third days of the workshop involved concurrent Information Sharing Sessions by MNDM and MNRF specialists on a range of topics relevant to land use planning —geology, hydrology, mercury,

Throughout the second and third days of the workshop, community members also had the opportunity to participate in community shared areas meetings with other First Nations. Four Rivers displays were also manned by our staff on these two days.

biodiversity, Far North Land Use Strategy, Ring of Fire, and the integration of processes (environmental assessment, infrastructure, energy/power, plans and permits). There was also a display table about Matawa First Nation Broadband Project.

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Jada Sofea was a recipient of the 2014 James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative writing award. Jada is a grade 8 student at Simon Jacob Memorial Education Centre in Webequie, Ontario. She was one of six Ontario recipients chosen from 250 applicants to receive special recognition and a monetary award of $2500. This initiative honours young Aboriginal youth from across the province for writing outstanding essays and poems that celebrate their cultures. Jada’s literary contribution and her sharing of creativity and courage inspires Aboriginal voice with a persistent excitement for the special gift that the power of words can contribute in realizing dreams and promoting cultural diversity. SJMEC congratulate Jada and celebrate with her in enhancing and inspiring student success!

Churchill student honoured with provincial award - Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute Grade 12 student Steven Okeese was one of six young Aboriginal writers from across the province to receive the prestigious James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Award. The award celebrates Aboriginal youth for their creative writing efforts and provides an opportunity for them to showcase their work to a broader audience. Steven received his award at a ceremony at the Ontario Legislature on Thursday, November 6, 2014.

“We are extremely proud of Steven for the recognition that he has received as a gifted young writer,” says David Isherwood, Principal of Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute. “It is a significant honour for a student to be one of six award winners from across the province.”

Steven received the James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Award for his short story about same-sex relationships and acceptance from family.

James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Award was named to commemorate the term of Hames Bartleman as Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor. During his term the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable James Bartleman implemented four literacy initiatives for Aboriginal youth across Ontario. Since its inception in 2008, 42 Aboriiginal youth have been awarded the James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Award.

Matawa Educati on Department Launches New Website

In early November 2014, the new Matawa Education Department website was launched! The newwebsite offers information on the departments advisory services and programs, news, contact information, galleries, etc.

Please check out the website at education.matawa.on.ca

Matawa Educationeducation.matawa.on.ca

28 N. Cumberland Street, Suite #500, 5th FloorThunder Bay, ON P7A 4K9

Tel: 807.768.3300 Fax: 807.768.3301

Webequie First Nati on Student Wins Creati ve Writi ng Award

Churchill Creati ve Writi ng Success Student from Eabametoong

ASAP 2014 GRADSOntario Secondary School Diploma

& Post Secondary Requirements

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We are half way through the 2014/15 fiscal year agreement with Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and all 100 seats in the Aboriginal Skills Advancement Program have been filled. Students are working hard towards completing their OntarioSecondary School Diploma (OSSD) and Post-Secondary Entrance (PSE) requirements. As of October 29, 2015 the program has 28 students who have completed their high school diploma (OSSD) and/or/both post-secondary entrance (PSE) requirements. Matawa First Nation Management, Lakehead Adult Education Centre, KKETS’ staff and its Board of Directors congratulate the following students for achieving their education goals.

Currently, there are many more students working on completing their high school graduating and post-secondary entrance requirements. We look forward to assisting these students in reaching their education goals! The graduating students will be recognized at a formal ceremony in Thunder Bay, March 2015 (stay tuned for a determined date).

For more information on the Aboriginal Skills Advancement Program, please inquire with your

First Nation Employment Community Coordinator or by contacting Carolyn Zadnik, ASAP Project

Coordinator at (888)688-4652.

or visit the KKETS website:

www.kkets.ca

APTN Visits KKETS

During late September 2014, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), visited the offices of Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen (KKETS) to interview the staff about the programs and services, as well as the students in regards to their experiences with the programs offered. APTN is currently working on a documentary series on the Ring of Fire and it’s different perspectives.

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Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Update (KKETS) Update

Laurie DePerry Long Lake #58 Kenny Towegishig Long Lake #58Jason Hardy Long Lake #58Terri-Lynn Towegishig Long Lake #58Ricky Mattinas Constance Lake Amie Bunting Constance LakeCamille Ferris Constance LakeRebecca Sutherland Constance LakeAxel Magiskan ArolandDerek Meshake ArolandDaniel Therriault ArolandTracey Wapoose Neskantaga Darren Sakanee NeskantagaRyan Moonias NeskantagaLeslie Atlookan EabametoongBarbara Hardy EabametoongCorinne Moonias EabametoongCorey Kwandibens EabametoongRosemary Wapoose EabametoongChris Waswa EabametoongDevin Legarde GinoogamingDonald Gagnon GinoogamingOlivia Achneepineskum Marten FallsRuth Jacob Webequie Faron Moonias NibinamikPeggy Sofea NibinamikIvan Wabasse NibinamikDiane Beaver Nibinamik

Matawa First Nations | 233 S. Court Street | Thunder Bay, ON P7B 2X9 | Tel: 807.344.4575 | Fax: 807.344.2977 | Toll Free: 1.800.463.2249w w w . m a t a w a . o n . c a

The Boreal Owl is a small owl, yet the female is much bigger than the male. They have yellow eyes and white spotting on the tops of their heads. The Boreal Owl finds its prey by sound, it can even locate mice under snow! The owl’s ear openings are asymmetrical, with one opening high up on its skull and the other much lower. The different positions of the ear holes help the owl find exactly where a sound comes from; gauging both height and distance. Sometimes the Boreal Owl stores extra food in the cold weather and later thaws it out by sitting on it.

Did You Know… Informati on, training and outreach is a part of all of Four Rivers’ programs. If you want to know more about birds like the Boreal Owl, or other interesti ng critt ers, Four Rivers can help! Four Rivers facilitates, hosts or parti cipates in numerous informati on sharing, outreach and training workshops throughout the year, targeti ng all age groups within the member First Nati on communiti es.

For more informati on please visit www.fourriversmatawa.on.ca

Living with Us… Boreal Owl (Coo Coo Coo)

Matawa First Nati ons Management Welcomes New Staff

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Matawa First Nations ManagementAdministrative Assistant Youth Experience, Rachelle Quisses

Hi, my name is Rachelle Quisses and I’m from Neskantaga First Nation. I graduated High School back in 2009. My goal is to attend University or College to obtain my Nursing Degree. I’ve been hired as the Administrative Assistant Youth Experience program here at Matawa First Nations

Management. Matawa is friendly and is a good working environment to work in. I look forward to helping in any way that I can.

Four Rivers Environmental Services GroupEnvironmental Office Research Assistant, Hayley King

Hayley King is proud to have recently joined the Four Rivers Environmental Team. She has a B.Sc. from Lakehead University and is currently completing an undergraduate degree in Water Resource Sciences. Her first independent project was a study of heavy metal accumulation in benthic

invertebrates downstream of Bowater Mill. She has also worked overseas in New Zealand volunteering with a watershed scale stream assessment using benthic identification as an indicator of stream health. When not in streams or behind microscopes, Hayley enjoys traveling and takes any opportunity to explore new places. Prior to joining Matawa and Four Rivers Hayley spent 7 years working with the Royal Canadian Navy as a department head and instructor, sailing on the western seaboard from Alaska to Mexico. She is excited to put her skills and experience to good use working for Matawa Communities.

Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training ServicesASAP Trades Officer, Andy Nieweglowski

Andy Nieweglowski was born and raised in Thunder Bay. As a dedicated father of three, he is aware of the challenges that youth face. He believes that this is their time to embrace the future of our region and capture the opportunities to benefit themselves, their families and the community.

A Journeyman Tradesman himself, Andy went on to Queen’s University to become a Certified Technical Teacher but realized the bigger classroom was in industry. His compassion to lead and mentor others took him into Project Management where he gained notoriety the respect of his colleagues. The journey for Andy did not end there as he realized the need for talented tradespeople was growing larger. To make change he had to be a part of it. His compassion to lead and mentor has afforded him the position as the new Aboriginal Skills Advancement Trades Of-ficer. In his off time he enjoys time with his dogs, fitness, motorcycling and pool (“rack um up” if you dare). Andy is honoured to be chosen as a team member and looks forward to meeting each and every one of you.

Four Rivers Environmental Services GroupEnvironmental Projects Officer, Dawn Desmoulin

Boozhoo, My Name is Beedahbin Desmoulin, many know me as Dawn Desmoulin. I have been with Matawa since 2009, most recently I have become apart of the great staff at the Four Rivers Environmental Department. I am looking forward to this new exciting path in my career as I look forward

to continued work with communities and members specifically in the environmental sector. Our communities are based in a vast and beautiful territory rich in natural resources, that I have a deep appreciation for as a nishinawbe kwe, mother and community member. Miigwetch.