MNBC 2012 Winter Edition

Winter Issue #4
MNBC REGIONAL INFORMATION SESSION
THOMPSON/OKANAGAN (KAMLOOPS)
Inside this issue
President’s Message
2
Vice President’s Message
2
Children & Families
3
Children & Families
4
Captain’s Corner
4
Natural Resources
5
Industry Engagement & 5
Partnerships & Education
Health Surveillance
Program
6
Operations
7
Back Cover Contacts
8
MEDIA CONTACT
An incredible turnout in Kamloops on November 24, 2012 for the official kick off of the Fall/
Winter MNBC Regional Information Sessions across the province . Métis chartered community leaders, members, citizens and MNBC leadership and staff gathered. MNBC staff presented
on various ministry programs and services. Comprehensive overviews were presented on citizenship, harvester cards, health, children & families, natural resources, veterans, youth, sport
opportunities for youth, aboriginal skills & employment, industry engagement partnerships and
the senate. MNBC Executive Director Dale Drown provided a very informative overview of
the operations and finances of the MNBC and MPCBC. Just under 75 people were in attendance, it was a huge success, kicking off the first of several more regional information sessions
to take place across the province this season. BC Métis Communities represented: Kamloops,
Kelowna, Grand Forks, Salmon Arm, Merritt
Check our website homepage www.mnbc.ca for our next Regional Information Session
location or call Tracey at 1-800-940-1150
Tracey Thornhill
Executive Assistant &
Communications Officer
traceyt@mnbc.ca
The full version of this
newsletter can be
found on the MNBC
homepage at
www.mnbc.ca
For environmental consideration
this
newsletter has been provided in
short form.
Issue #4
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Tawnshi Kiya’ wow
The holiday season is upon us and this brings about a time of reflection on the past year. It has been a
challenging year for the Metis Nation, but we have taken major strides in getting our Nation back on
track.
I want to thank all of our Staff for their dedication, hard work and loyalty to the Métis Nation.
Without the strong leadership of our Board of Directors, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Senior Staff and support staff, the growth and changes of this past year would not have been possible. I am grateful for the continued support of the Métis Peoples throughout the Province and their
strong commitment to work diligently to move the Nation forward. The Chartered Communities and
their elected Métis Leaders are an integral part of our Metis Nation.
I am excited about what the New Year will bring to the Metis Nation. I have enjoyed meeting many new people and reconnecting with community members these past few months. The Regional Information Session in Kamloops this past November was
very successful and there were many great comments and excellent and thoughtful dialogue that came from the audience. I am
very excited about the next several sessions across our province. I look forward to meeting many more new faces during these
times.
It was an honour to have been invited by the Cranbrook students and school district to join with them as they celebrated an
historical moment in our Métis history, the proclamation signing and flag raising on November 16th where I signed a proclamation with the Mayor of Cranbrook officially declaring November 16th to November 23rd “Louis Riel Week”.
Enjoy the Festive Season with your families and friends. Travel and stay safe.
My family and I wish you a very Merry Christmas! Manitou Kesi’kaw / God’s Day / Merry Christmas
and an exceptionally Happy New Year Ocheem Kes’kaw / Kissing Day
Ki’nass koumitinowow!
Bruce Dumont, President
Minister for Natural Resources and National Minister for Culture, Heritage and Language
Tansi
Christmas is fast approaching. It is a good time for this mother, grandmother and great grandma to
reflect back and be thankful for family and all my loved ones. Instead of all the last minute shopping
mania, I will again take the time to ring the Salvation Army kettle bells and greet all who generously give
to the less fortunate. There are many people who feel lonely during this blessed season. Take the time
and share a smile or friendly word to those less fortunate.
The members of PGMCA met over the past few months to prepare for their (SGM) Special General
Meeting, that was held on Dec 6th. Mail outs were been sent to the members. By the time this newsletter is received, (PGMCA) Prince George Métis Cultural Society will likely have their interim board. I am very happy to report
that the community has elected an interim Board consisting of Gerald Bird, President, Ray Hourie, Vice President, Rheanna Robinson, Secretary, Kelly O’Neil, Treasurer, Ron Sowick, Board Member.
I have been invited and have attended some Economic Development. meetings, the hope remains that Métis people will gain
more opportunity for skills and training and secure long term employment.
I applaud the collaborative work, and the staff's professionalism. I hope to get the opportunity to meet many of you over the
next several months while visiting your communities for these sessions.
In closing, until next time I want to wish each and every one of you Les Métis a safe and blessed Christmas and
a healthy and prosperous New Year. God Bless, from my home to yours!
Miyou Manitou Kisikow!!
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Ministry for Children & Families
My Christmas Message to all of you. My Christmas wish for you, my friend is not a simple one. For I
wish you, hope and joy and peace days filled with warmth and sun
I wish you love and friendship too throughout the coming year. Lots of laughter and happiness to fill
your world with cheer
May you count your blessings, one by one and when totaled by the lot may you find all you've been
given to be more than what you sought.
May your journeys be short, your burdens light. May your spirit never grow old. May all your clouds have silver linings and your
rainbows pots of gold. I wish this all and so much more may all your dreams come true. May you have a Merry Christmas friend
and a happy New Year, too!
Daniel Pitman, Region Director Thompson/Okanagan
Minister for Children & Families and Culture, Heritage and Language
Kishchee tey mo’yawn aen li Michif wi’yawn
(Proud to be Métis)
Ministry for Children & Families
Holiday traditions are be different for everyone, the common themes though are; nurturing our relationships, creating memories, enjoying family and friends, and communities coming together in the
spirit of giving and generosity to ensure that no child/family is without.
A glance back to traditional Métis Holiday celebrations could be one of those ‘priceless’ gifts, this
season. Discussing and identifying ways your Métis cultural practices have remained true, strong, and
proud with your friends and family is also nice conversation. Share the info with your elders- they’ll
love to speak about the good old days as well as what they know to be true, and finally, share the article with your children-they
may wish to adopt some of the Métis traditional ways of celebrating Christmas and New Years- like hanging a stocking on New
Year’s Eve.
Traditional Métis Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations
(The following was directly taken from THE VIRTUAL MUSEUM OF MÉTIS HISTORY AND CULTURE
Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied http://www.metismuseum.ca/resource.php/00724
The Métis have long placed a great emphasis on maintaining strong relationships among families, extended families and communities, particularly when work was hard and the future uncertain. Nowhere were these bonds of kinship and friendship better renewed than during
Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
While Christmas Day was largely a religious event for most Métis communities in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s, it still remained festive. For instance, at Batoche, in the 1880s and 1890s, from Christmas to Epiphany (January 6th), Métis
families held ballroom dances by “oil light” (bals à l’huile).
Métis Elders have recounted that families spent Christmas Eve by attending Midnight Mass, occasionally singing hymns in Cree or
French, and then having a large supper and party known as réveillon. However, most celebrating during the holiday season was
reserved for New Year’s Day. As one Batoche Elder told historian Diane Payment “On Christmas Eve, we went to Midnight
Mass, and when we got home, we ate a little, drank some tea and went to bed. The presents were for New Year’s Day”.
Continued on page 4 >
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Continued from page 3
Early on the morning of Christmas Day, families traveled by horse and sleigh to loved ones’ homes, and stayed until late in the
evening. Prior to this gathering, mothers and daughters prepared food for days to ensure everyone would be well fed. Christmas
and New Years’ fare included beignes (fried bannock), boulettes (meat balls), rababou (stew), chokecherries or saskatoon berries
served with cream and sugar, puddings, pemmican, wild game, as well as tea, home-made beer or wine.
Unlike the commercialism, which permeates our holiday season, traditional Métis Christmas celebrations were modest. One Elder recounts that“ we did not have Christmas gifts, only candies, apples and pastry”.
While Christmas was a religious event for the Métis, New Year’s was a grand social celebration. It was not uncommon for several households in a community to hold a feast and dance on different nights so that people could visit and celebrate for many evenings in succession around New Year’s Day. In the 1860s, at Round Plain, in what is now the area around Dundurn, Saskatchewan, a New Year’s celebration lasted ten days! Manitoba Métis Elder Joe Venne had this to say about the Métis’ festive spirit during the Christmas/New Years’ holiday season: “When it came to the holidays, Christmas and New Year’s, we used to go for two,
three weeks at a time, dancing every night, partying every night. Other people didn’t have that style”.
Children were an integral part of New Year’s celebrations. On New Year’s Eve, children received presents from their parents,
usually small gifts of food. One Elder related that “On New Year’s Eve children hung stockings at the foot of their bed and would
wake up to find all sorts of treats”. 5 After receiving their presents, on the morning of New Year’s Day, children thanked and
blessed their parents and families hugged and kissed one another.
New Year’s Day was usually held at the grandparents’ home and was a special time for families as cousins, aunts and uncles attended. It was an occasion for social drinking and the eating of all sorts of food with people traveling from house to house, dining,
dancing and visiting. While visiting house-to-house, everybody would shake hands and kiss, a carry-over of French-Canadian tradition. As a result, some Métis called New Years Day “ochetookeskaw “or “kissing day.”
From my family to yours- all the best to you and have a happy, safe and festive Métis Christmas!
Ekosi
Cole H McGillivary Director for Children and Families.
Captain’s Corner
We, as Métis people, have deep and long-standing connections with the land, and these relationships are based on our valuable
cultural practices. We encourage all of you to take some time over the holidays to enjoy the natural beauty of our province with
friends and family.
We are very pleased to have released our second issue of the BCMANR newsletter “Within Our Sights” mailed exclusively to
harvester card holders and available digitally on the MNBC website. Over the last number of months we have enjoyed attending
community meetings and AGMs. It is so nice to see friends and family throughout our regions and to meet new faces. These
meetings have allowed us to discuss Métis land rights, consultation, and harvesting. Several of the Captain’s terms are up for renewal.
We have issued a call for interested individuals to apply for the following Regional Captain of the Hunt positions for January
2013: Lower Mainland Region 2, Kootenay Region 4, Northwest Region 6, Northeast Omineca 7a, and Northeast Peace 7b. Region 7 was recently split in order to mirror the Hunting and Trapping Management Units and to improve the manageability of the
region.*
We will continue to advocate for Métis rights, and wish you all a warm and happy holiday season!
Your BCMANR Captains: Rob Humpherville, Gary Biggar, Marlene Beattie, Mark Carlson, Madden Sarver, and Rene Lucier.
*Application packages are available by calling Terry Ranson at 1.800.940.1150.
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Issue #4
Natural Resources Update
As the holidays draw near it is a great time to reflect on what we have accomplished these last few months. Having been on board at MNBC
for 6 months now, I am really proud of the progress Natural Resources staff has made. We have been out to over a dozen of the chartered
communities since September and look forward to visiting the rest in the new year! At the AGM we kicked off a harvester card drive and I am
pleased to report we have received close to 150 new harvester card applications in 8 weeks. Thank you so much to all who have applied; there
really is strength in numbers. We are well on our way to doubling the number of card holders this year and encourage all citizens 10 years and
older to apply for a harvester card to assist us in promoting, preserving and documenting Métis land use and ensuring cultural continuity.
We must continue to do better and pursue excellence. Anything less does a disservice to our communities and our citizens. We are working
hard to boost community engagement and develop what I call a stronger culture of research at the community level. Thank you to those who
are engaging with us during consultation, and providing such valuable feedback in person, over the phone, and in writing. Our citizens deserve
the best consultation, engagement and research possible. I hope you see the huge strides made the last number of months and work with us as
we achieve the highest standard of excellence in the country.
Merry Christmas,
Christopher Gall, Acting Director of Natural Resources.
Industry Engagement, Partnerships and Education
Mining and mining exploration is growing in British Columbia. There are several reasons for this although the main reason is the price of precious metals. These metals include nickel, gold and cooper and are used in everything from electronic devices such as your smart phone or
computer.
It is important to note that mining exploration and mining are two different activities. Mining exploration is done prior to establishing a mine
site and can be a lengthy process taking place over several years. Exploration activities determine whether an area has the potential for a mine.
The Prospectors and Development Association of Canada is the organization that supports all activities involved in mining exploration.
Metis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) is engaged in several mining projects in B.C. including Raven, Kutchco, Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell GoldCopper Mine Project, the Kitsault Mine Project, Burnco Aggregate Mine and the Morrison Mine near Smithers as well as others. There are
currently forty (40) operating mines in B.C. and twenty-six (26) in the permitting or environmental assessment stage.
There are economic benefits as well as training and employment opportunities in the mining industry. MNBC has partnerships with the Mining
Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR), Natural Resources Canada Metals and Minerals Sector, the B.C. Mining Association and the Prospectors and Development Association of Canada (PDAC). These partnerships are important and support the interest of Metis people in British Columbia.
MNBC was involved in the development of the new mining course for Aboriginal people, Mining Essentials”. The course focuses on essentials
skills and the mining industry and includes cultural content specific for Metis. The course is currently being delivered by the Northwest Community College in Terrace. MNBC will be distributing information about the course and how to apply.
The mining industry provides economic opportunities for Metis communities and businesses and is a significant part of mining operations. The
demand for services is extensive and includes security, janitorial, first aid, truck drivers, drillers, heavy equipment operators and many more.
MNBC will be distributing an expression of interest to Metis communities to identify people that are interested in economic development in
mining for their region. In order to support Metis communities there will be a two (2) day workshop in Vancouver on the mining industry in
B.C.. The focus will be on how to access economic benefits for Metis communities such as service and supply contracts and community capacity. MiHR will be hosting the workshop and travel and accommodations will be available to Metis community members to participate. Information will be sent out in January in preparation for the workshop in March 2013.
The mining industry has changed dramatically over the last fifty (50) years and technology has played a large part in this change. These changes
have affected how minerals are extracted and increased the responsibility that mining companies have in protecting the environment. Engagement with Aboriginal people is critical when ensuring that not only is the environment respected but also that Aboriginal people benefit from
natural resource extraction in their communities. Social prosperity for Metis people needs to be sustainable and long term and not dependent
on government. “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”
For more information visit www.mnbc.ca or contact:
Colleen Hodgson, Director of Industry Engagement, Partnerships and Education
1-800-940-1150
hodgson@mnbc.ca
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Chartered Community Events
See our website www.mnbc.ca for all of your upcoming events in
your community. If you have an event that you would like to see
posted please contact MNBC Communications Officer at
traceyt@mnbc.ca or 1-800-940-1150.
MOVED ???
Contact Central Registry
to update your file today!
@
1-800-940-1150
METIS PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
After one full year of asking Métis Citizens to participate in the Métis Public Health Surveillance Program (also known as the
CDSP), over 25% of citizens have provided their consent.
This level of participation is incredible and greatly appreciated.
With more Métis Citizens consenting the results will be much better. For example, if more Métis Citizens participate in the project more opportunities for Métis communities and better health for all Métis people is more likely. More opportunity and better
health is a result of knowing, specifically, how healthy Métis communities are. If more Métis citizens participate then it is more
likely that we can talk about women’s and men’s health issues, how Métis citizens are healthier in one area compared to another,
and how healthy Métis youth and Métis Elders are.
With the current response from Métis citizens consenting we can only talk about how healthy all Métis are in the province, as
one large group.
So, thank you to those who have participated, if you have not please mail us your completed consent package to participate doing so will help all Métis people.
Questions?
Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Pete Hutchison 250-215-0190 or Director of Health Tanya Davoren at 250-308-7920
“We’d like to wish you a Very Merry Christmas and all the Best of Health and Happiness in 2013”
From the Health Department: Tanya, Pete, Gail and their families
Issue #4
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Operations
Greetings,
Since our last newsletter in November, we’ve had the opportunity to hold two regional information
sessions with Métis citizens in two different regions of the province and the information exchange has
been excellent. Meeting with Métis citizens and community members, answering questions and receiving input on everything from finance and operations to meeting the health needs of elders and
children to hearing about employment and training needs is an important objective of these sessions.
Recognizing the importance of taking the information about our programs and services to our Métis
communities we began holding regional information sessions earlier this year, and then following the
elections and our annual general meeting resumed the schedule in November. Our two most recent sessions were held in Kamloops and Prince George respectively and we are planning to be in four other regions between January and March.
The Lower Mainland region is on our list for January. We are delighted to have President Dumont and Vice President Maurice
join us in the sessions, and in Kamloops Regional Director Daniel Pitman also attended. Director Pitman and his organizational
efforts in Region 3 with the community Presidents helped to contribute to the large turnout in Kamloops.
Each of the sessions feature senior staff of MNBC making presentations on operations, finance, citizenship registry, natural resources, Senate, health, sports, veterans, children and family, ASETS, BladeRunners, partnerships, employment, and education.
Each session is loaded with information but most importantly we leave time after each presentation to answer questions and listen to ideas and suggestions from citizens. Every effort is taken to minimize costs by staff to hold each of the Regional Sessions.
We are looking forward to continuing with the sessions in 2013 because of the value of these sessions in both the information we
provide to Métis peoples but most importantly the feedback we receive.
These sessions are all part of our efforts to increase our communications with you. This newsletter is another critical part of it.
Instead of depending solely on our website to get information out to you, the feedback we received over the last number of
months told us that we needed to put a newsletter into your hands on a regular basis. We hope you find it useful and informative,
and we welcome your comments by emailing us at traceyt@mnbc.ca or call 1-800-940-1150.
This is a special time of the year and I want to on behalf of all of our staff here in Abbotsford and around our province wish you
and your family a safe and enjoyable Christmas.
Please remember there are many individuals and families who need a helping hand, and when you are out and about this Christmas season please make a contribution to help them better able to meet their needs. In that way, you will really feel the spirit and
meaning of this special season.
Sincerely,
Dale Drown, CAE
Executive Director
Metis Nation British Columbia
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Métis Nation
British Columbia
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Do you have a story, that you would like to share with our follow readers. If so I would
love to hear from you!
Call me 1-800-940-1150 ext. 231 or email me at traceyt@mnbc.ca
To view other publications go online to the homepage on www.mnbc.ca
Want to know what career positions are available with MNBC.
Check out our website and click on MNBC New Job Opportunities to find out.
MNBC BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Our Vision
On the MNBC website @ www.mnbc.ca
To build a proud, self-governing,
sustainable Nation in recognition of
inherent Rights for our Métis Citizens.
Please contact Tracey Thornhill @
traceyt@mnbc.ca
to list your business.
To become a MNBC MAIL SUBSCRIBER log on to the
MNBC website at www.mnbc.ca & click on the following tab in
the upper right hand corner:
Our Mandate:
To develop and enhance opportunities for
our Métis communities by implementing
culturally relevant social and economic
programs and services through Teamwork,
Respect, Dedication, Accountability,
Integrity and Professionalism.
Métis Nation British Columbia
MEDIA CONTACT
30691 Simpson Rd.
Abbotsford, BC V2T 6C7
Toll Free: 1-800-940-1150
Phone: 604-557-5851
Fax: 604-557-2024
Tracey Thornhill
Executive Assistant &
Communications Officer
Toll Free: 1-800-940-1150
Phone: 604-557-5851