Government funding restored to Aboriginal healing group

Posted April 27, 2010 By móniyáw

The Charlottetown-based group Aboriginal Survivors for Healing will resume its work this week after a one-month hiatus that it was forced to take when its government funding was cut.

The group, which provides counselling to survivors of the residential school system and their families, had been getting $200,000 a year from the federal government through the Aboriginal Healing Foundation for the past 10 years, but that funding ran out at the end of March.

. . .

“Traditional services are not available anywhere else in this province,” said project co-ordinator Tarry Hewitt on Monday. “After 100 years of residential schools, they expected those issues to be addressed in 10 to 15 years. It’s just not realistic.”

Canada’s church-run, government-funded residential schools, which operated from the 19th century up until 1996, aimed to assimulate aboriginal children into white society. Children were not allowed to speak their native language and often endured physical and sexual abuse.

Categories: Health
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Study explores the traditional knowledge of First Nation children and their perceptions about health, food, and activity

By móniyáw

In a study conducted by Dr. Sharma’s student in Alberta Diabetes Institute’s Research seminar was on both quantitative and qualitative analysis of overweight and obesity amongst First Nation children living in an on-reserve Cree community in Alberta.

The qualitative part of her study included exploring the children’s traditional knowledge, perceptions about health, food and activity and to better understand their food and activity preferences.

. . .

In the qualitative study, which included having kids drawing pictures and sorting them into healthy and unhealthy piles, it became evident that the children had a strong identification with their traditional cultures and values. There was a great importance of both traditional foods and their role at cultural events as well as on hunting.

The children often cited their mothers or grandmothers as their source of health information and gained their beliefs from older relatives.

The study shows that among the sample group almost half of the children were obese, and only 36% met the daily step requirements. Traditional food does not seem like it would cause diabetes; I am not certain if there was such a thing as diabetes among Aboriginal people prior to Europeans coming to North America — definitely not at the levels seen today.

The entire news post is here.

Categories: Diabetes, Health, Obesity
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Does your community have emergency response and recovery services?

Posted April 20, 2010 By móniyáw

The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that marks another step forward in providing emergency response and recovery services in First Nation communities in Nova Scotia.

“Our Government is pleased to be working in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia and the First Nations to provide services to their communities,” said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. “When emergency situations occur, the proposed agreement will ensure that Nova Scotia First Nation communities have access to the same level of service as all communities in Nova Scotia.”

The MOU provides a framework for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia to develop a Service Agreement for the provision of emergency management services to Nova Scotia First Nations. The Service Agreement will establish the terms for the province to deliver emergency management programs to First Nation communities on behalf of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

According to the Constitution Act of 1867, the Province has exclusive jurisdiction for matters of property and civil rights and for all matters that affect the public health, safety, and environment of the province.

The entire news post is here.

Categories: First Nation, Health
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Improving health of Aboriginal Children and Youth

Posted April 15, 2010 By móniyáw

Ontario has appointed John Beaucage as Aboriginal Advisor to the Minister of Children and Youth Services Laurel Broten. Mr. Beaucage will help improve services for Aboriginal children and youth, both on and off reserve by providing advice on Aboriginal child welfare issues for a period of one year. He will also be available as an expert resource to the Commission to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare.

A former Grand Council Chief of the Anishinabek Nation and current Chief Executive Officer of the Lake Huron Anishinabek Transmission Company, Mr. Beaucage is a strong advocate for First Nations health, environmental responsibility and child welfare.

The appointment of an Aboriginal Advisor continues Ontario’s efforts to improve supports for Aboriginal children and youth to ensure they have every opportunity to succeed.

“By reaching out to Aboriginal communities and continuing to build trusting relationships, we will find solutions to strengthen services and supports for Aboriginal children and youth. I am looking forward to working with Mr. Beaucage and our Aboriginal communities to ensure we have the supports in place to help Aboriginal children and youth reach their full potential.” – Laurel Broten, Minister of Children and Youth Services

A quote from the end of this article:

QUICK FACTS
· Aboriginal children and youth account for approximately 35 per cent of the Aboriginal population in Ontario
· The Aboriginal Advisor will facilitate discussions with Aboriginal leaders on Aboriginal child welfare issues, and provide advice on Aboriginal child welfare policy matters
· Approximately 21 per cent of Ontario’s 9,000 Crown wards are Aboriginal children and youth of Indian or native heritage
· Six Aboriginal children’s aid societies (CASs) provide Aboriginal child protection services in Ontario. Aboriginal children may also be served by non-Aboriginal CASs.

The entire article is here.

Categories: First Nation, Health, Youth
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John Beaucage to advise on needs of aboriginal youth

By móniyáw

For the first time, Ontario has appointed a special advisor to the government on the plight of aboriginal youth.John Beaucage, former grand council chief of the Anishinabek Nation, will be the aboriginal advisor on child welfare, reporting to Children and Youth Services Minister Laurel Broten.

“This is a very important step and reflective to the significance we place on finding solutions to the very challenging issues that do exist, both in the north but also in our urban centres,” Broten told the Star.

Staggering youth suicide rates in remote northern communities and funding problems among First Nations children’s aid societies will be a focus for Beaucage. His one-year appointment coincides with an ongoing review of the Child and Family Services Act. The review hones in on the situation of aboriginal kids.

It would be a mistake to believe all the problems among First Nations children could be solved in a year, said Beaucage. Children in the north often grow up in Third World conditions, coping with poverty, substance abuse, inferior education and despair. Those problems often follow aboriginals off the reserve and into the cities.

The entire post is here.

Categories: Health, Youth
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Sto:lo ‘healing village’ opens

Posted April 10, 2010 By móniyáw

The long-held vision of Sto:lo leaders for a village to heal at-risk aboriginal youth opened today in the Chilliwack River Valley.Starting in May, 10 aboriginal girls between 13 and 17 years of age will stay at the Stehiyaq Healing and Wellness Village for up to one year while they make positive changes in their lives.

B.C. Children’s minister Mary Polak said it’s important for aboriginal people to “design and deliver their own services in their own ways” and the village-like healing centre will deliver a unique treatment program for aboriginal youth struggling with addictions and physical or emotional trauma.

. . .

Located on the site of an ancient Sto:lo village, and in more contemporary times the Centre Creek youth detention centre, the property was transferred two years ago to the Ch-ihl-kway-uhk Tribe Society by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell.

The province provided about $5-million in land and cash for the village, and the society invested about $1.5 million in renovations. The Children’s ministry is also providing $350,000 annually for operations.

“Two years ago, Premier Gordon Campbell empowered us to take responsibility for the health and well-being of our children,” said Chief Frank Malloway, chairman of the society. “Today, we are doing exactly that.”

Review the entire news post here.

Categories: Health, Youth
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Slow poisoning for Grassy Narrows First Nation community

Posted April 7, 2010 By móniyáw
Wabigoon River

Wabigoon River

The health impacts of mercury poisoning in a northern Ontario First Nations community are worse now than when fishing in waters contaminated by the substance was first banned there 40 years ago, according to a report released in Toronto Tuesday.

It was exactly four decades ago, on April 6, 1970, that fishing was banned on the Wabigoon River because of mercury contamination caused by a paper mill upstream in Dryden, Ont. — owned by Reed Incorporated and subsequently Great Lakes Forest Products Limited.

The mercury poisoned fish in the Wabigoon and English river systems and continues to harm the health of more than 100 people living on the Grassy Narrows First Nation, Japanese mercury expert Dr. Masazumi Harada concluded in his report.

Harada also examined the effects of mercury contamination in another community that uses the same river system — the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations (formerly known as Islington and Whitedog).

The National on CBC showed a story about Wabigoon River and the Grassy Narrows First Nation that goes into greater depth. The government and people of Ontario should be ashamed at the damage and ongoing cost in human misery that is allowed to impact this small community. There is little evidence that the government and Great Lakes Forest Products Limited have done much beyond give some small monthly payout, but this does little to bring alternative food and water to this community, and does nothing to protect future generations. If fishing is banned, how are the people of this area going to provide for themselves and their children?

The entire news article is here. There is an effort to help Grassy Narrows First Nation here.

Categories: Crime, Culture, Environment, First Nation, Health, Water
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With summer coming, state of emergency worsens for First Nations communities

Posted April 5, 2010 By móniyáw

Most Northerners are excited by an early spring, but for residents in remote First Nation communities, the warm weather could mean a state of emergency.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy, along with other First Nation leaders, has declared an official state of emergency due to the short lifespan of the winter roads.

Of the 49 communities that fall under NAN’s political territory, 29 of them depend on winter roads to transport goods and materials needed throughout the winter months.Due to lack of cold weather this past winter and the shortness of the season, NAN says the winter roads were only open for three weeks. It was not enough time to make sure everything needed for the summer gets to these communities.

“Our remote communities are facing extreme shortfalls of fuel to run schools and homes, as well as a shortage of housing supplies for building and renovating,” said Beardy in a press release. “In some cases, these communities will now be forced to pay upwards of $3,000 for one mid-sized aircraft to transport essential goods to their communities.”

How long have these communities existed? This seems like something that should have been managed by the community or the government a long time ago. The article goes on to say:

In addition to the lack of winter roads, spring is often a time when many communities up the James Bay Coast experience flooding. For a number of years, communities such as Kashechewan and Fort Albany have been evacuated as water flooded their homes.

The spring break up of the Albany River is a worrisome time for residents up the coast. In Kashechewan a dike separates the community from the river, but for a number of years, the water has breached that barrier.

A community cannot exist in a state of yearly evacuation. If the area is not safe for the community to thrive, then the government, the community, or both need to work to re-establish the community at a safer location. The entire news article is here.

Categories: Environment, Health
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Wealth beneath the Tsilhqot’in People?

Posted March 19, 2010 By móniyáw

Teztan Biny is More than just a Lake - It's Part of Our Culture

The Chilcotin plateau in mid-western British Columbia, Canada stretches from the mighty Fraser River west to the Coast Range mountains. It is a sparsely populated country with stark beauty. The lakes and rivers are renowned for fishing and wildlife of all kinds wander the forests and ranchlands. It is a rich land shared by ranchers, loggers, hikers, hunters, cowboys & Indians. A great variety of First Nation’s people share this “unceded” land with their neighbours from Bella Coola to William’s Lake. The Tsilhqot’in people of Xeni (also known as the Nemiah Valley Indian Band) live near the pristine Chilko Lake area. They have hunted, gathered and fished there for many generations. But..time’s are changing and a dark shadow may fall across their sunlit lakes. Prosperity looms large in their lives today. (more…)

Categories: Environment, Health, Mining
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Parallel between Avatar and Alberta Oil Sands

Posted March 5, 2010 By móniyáw

Watching the scenes in the movie Avatar depicting ‘unobtainium’ mining felt eerily like reliving my trip to the tar sands – the pristine forests being torn away to create ugly strip mines, the giant trucks, the obsessive drive for a dwindling resource. The only thing missing from the theatre were the toxic fumes so prevalent when flying over the tar sands. (more…)

Categories: Business, Health
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