Rez Report - Rainy River First Nations

RAINY RIVER
FIRST NATIONS
The Rapids Review
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Rez Report
Kiley Hanson, Watershed Coordinator
Rainy River First Nations celebrated Earth Day on
April 22, 2015! A drum ceremony was held to
acknowledge and give thanks to Mother Earth
and all of her gifts, followed by a light supper. We
had originally planned to hold the ceremony at
the Pow Wow grounds followed by a BBQ, but
due to the colder weather this week, we moved it
to the gym and had stew and bannock instead. 40
people came out for the ceremony and supper,
including some visitors from other communities.
INSIDE EDITION
REZ REPORT
1
C & C Community
Meetings
2
RRFN’s Program &
Community Notices
3 - 13
Article from Star
Tribune—Minneapolis
14-15
Call For — Financial
Trustee Application
16-17
Employment
Opportunities
18 - 25
Various
Informational
Posters
26 - 31
Program Calendars
http://
rainyriverfirstnations.com/upcomingevents/
32 - 34
Elder’s Calendars
35
Birthday Calendars
36 - 37
Adult & Child
Puzzle Pages
38 - 39
RRFN’s
Communications
40
Photo Credit ~ Kiley Hanson
Photo Credit ~ Kiley Hanson
Photo Credit ~ Kiley Hanson
Submitted by: Kiley Hanson
After the drum ceremony and supper, the festivities were moved to the Resource Centre, where
the first ever “Earth Day Film Festival” took
place. The festival consisted of a series of short
films about the environment, and spanned topics
including recycling, climate change, sustainable
living and protecting the Earth for future generations. Everyone who attended really enjoyed the
festival and came away with new perspectives on
what their role in caring for the environment
could be. Youth in attendance received prizes for
completing Earth Day activity pages that went out
in the last newsletter.
A big MIIGWECH to all who came out, and to all
who helped make the Earth Day events happen! Thanks to Joe Hunter and Melanie Jones for
helping with all of the events, thanks to Lou-Ann
Bombay for cooking a delicious meal, thank you
To Al Hunter for bringing the drum and to the
singers for the songs, thanks to Dorothy Medicine
for the invocation, thanks to Krista Horton, Maria
Bombay, Tiffany Bombay, Josh Smith and Brian
Cochrane JR for help with set up and clean up!
On a final note, I encourage everyone to go out
and enjoy the gifts of the Earth. Cherish nature
and all the gifts it provides, celebrate your history
and the natural heritage, and think of your children and your children’s children and how you
can play a part in ensuring they may experience
the same gifts from Mother Earth that you have
been able to. Celebrate Earth Day everyday!
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RRFN Community Meeting Schedule
Chief and Council will hold
Community Meetings the first
Wednesday of every month.
Schedule up to June 2015
May 6, 2015
June 3, 2015
MEMBERS OF RAINY RIVER FIRST NATIONS
We are asking ALL members to update their mailing addresses so that no
one is missed as we prepare for the Solar Project payments that will be
issued fall 2015. If you have not yet filled out a form with your current
contact information, PLEASE DO SO, even if you believe we have your
current address. The new form is what we require.
This contact form can be found on Rainy River First Nations Webpage,
www.rainyriverfirstnations.com/contacts/ . You will find it close to the
bottom of the page under Rainy River First Nations—Membership Contact
Form—Online Version.
This form can be printed from the web and can also be filled out from the
web. To send the form, save the .pdf, and attach it to an email, or print it,
and mail it or fax it. Forms may also be picked up at the Band Office.
To update your contact information or options please contact
Kathy @ (807) 482-2479 Ext. 222.
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Rainy River First Nations
is
Seeking ON & Off
Reserve Members
to Apply and Serve on the
Message from RRFN’s
Social Services Department
We are looking to form a
Trust Selection Committee
for
Rainy River First Nations Trust
DAYCARE WORKING GROUP,
If Interested
Interested individuals can write a letter
of interest to
Please Submit your Resume
To the Attention of:
Chief and Council
RE: Trust Selection Committee
P.O. Box 450
EMO, Ontario, P0W 1E0
Fax: 807.482.2603
Email: ea.rrfn@bellnet.ca
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consisting of 3-4 members.
Jennifer Rodegard
Social Services Caseworker
807.482.2479 Ext. 257
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Depending on their size and fight, sturgeon can take 10 –15 minutes to land—and take a big net.—File Photo by Doug
Smith * Star Tribune
By C.B. BYLANDER, SPECIAL TO THE STAR TRIBUNE - April 18, 2015 - 12:20 pm
________________________________________________________________________________________
New data records remarkable recovery of a fish that nearly vanished from Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.
Lake sturgeon fishing began in earnest this week on the Minnesota side of the Rainy River, and those seeking the
state’s largest fish are bobbing above more huge sturgeon than anytime since the late 1800’s.
A new sturgeon population assessment concludes the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods contain 92,000 lake sturgeon
40 inches or longer. Put head to tail, that is a string of fish more than 60 miles long.
“We’ve known big fish numbers are on the rise,” said Tom Heinrich, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
fisheries specialists in Baudette, Minn. “The assessment results document that. Not long ago 50-inch sturgeon was
quite the catch. Today, no one blinks at a 50-incher.”
The sturgeon assessment was conducted in 2014 by the Minnesota DNR, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and
Rainy River First Nations. Similar surveys were conducted in 2004 and 1989. Those assessments estimated the number of 40-inch or larger sturgeon at 59,000 and 17,000, respectively.
The new data chronicles the remarkable recovery of a species that nearly vanished from these waters due to unregulated commercial fishing during the 1890’s, especially from 1892 to 1898. During those seven years, commercial
netters harvested 9 million pounds of sturgeon from Lake of the Woods. That was a gigantic haul; it decimated what
had been an unexploited fish population.
“Realistically, we may never see 9 million pounds again,” said Heinrich, who noted the current population weighs
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about one-third of that amount. “But clearly the population is trending in the right direction. Fish are getting older.
Fish are getting bigger. Occasionally, a 100-pounder gets caught. Ten years from now that will still be unusual but less
so.”
Julie Peterson of rural Effie, Minn., is among Minnesota anglers who have caught sturgeon at or near 100 pounds.
She, husband Greg and son Blake are perhaps the best sturgeon anglers in the state. They have caught and released
1,260 sturgeons since they began fishing for them a dozen years ago. Meticulous record-keepers, their angling log
tallies 337 sturgeon longer than 50 inches; 55 have exceeded 60 inches.
“I’ve been the lucky one,” said Julie Peterson. “I’ve caught the two largest.” Her heaviest weighted nearly 100 pounds
based on its 68 1/4-inch length and 30-inch girth.
Like many sturgeon anglers, the Petersons are hooked on sturgeon fishing because it is relatively easy, it’s fun, and
equipment needs are modest. Said Greg Peterson: “The fish we catch in May average more than 4-feet long. That’s
close to ocean fishing as you can get.”
Greg Mortenson, owner of Outdoors Again sport shop in Baudette also uses the ocean analogy when he talks about
sturgeon. “They jump. They splash. They fight hard. It’s like saltwater fishing right here in the Midwest,” he said.
Mortenson said springtime sturgeon fishing has been “a boom for my business and the entire local economy.” He said
the average angler buys two dozen night crawlers for each day of fishing. Many anglers also buy frozen shiner minnows and sprays to add additional scent to their hook.
Greg Hennum, president of Sportman’s Lodge resort northwest of Baudette, shares a similar perspective. “In the old
days, it was a ghost town up here after the walleye season closed in April,” he said. “It’s been completely different the
past eight or nine years. We have a had a huge increase in our spring occupancy rates. Our sturgeon tournament is a
sellout every year.” He said it is common to see 250 to 300 boats within a mile or two of his resort.
Heinrich, the DNR’s Lake of the Woods fisheries biologist, sees a bright future for sturgeon. “What needed to happen
happened,” he said, acknowledging that the Rainy River’s water quality has greatly improved over the past 60 years
due to pollution regulation, prevention and awareness. This fundamental habitat improvement combined with science-based fisheries management has driven the ongoing sturgeon recovery.
“Today, sturgeon mortality from all causes is only 3 to 5 percent per year,” said Heinrich. “Fishing mortality accounts
for no more than 1 percent. That’s why the recovery is going so well.”
For those who would like to try sturgeon fishing, Heinrich offered the following advice. Use a stout muskie rod. Spool
the reel with 80 to 100 pound test line. Thread the line through a heavy slip sinker. Bait your circle hook with one or
more night crawlers. Then let it fall to the bottom and wait. If you feel a bite, raise the rod and hold on because big
sturgeon can take 10-15 minutes to land. He asks that anglers land their catch as quickly as possible to minimize stress
on the fish. Anglers who catch fish marked with a DNR tag should report this information to the Baudette area fisheries office.
“We use the tags to estimate the population and much more,” said Heinrich. “Tag returns are how we know that
some sturgeon will swim as many as 70 miles up the Rainy River in a week during the spring spawning season.”
C.B. Bylander is a outdoors freelance writer from Baxter, Minn. Contact him at 218-892-0318.
http://m.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/300169731.html
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LEGEND OF THE SLEEPING GIANT
On an island just outside Thunder Bay, now known as "Isle
Royale", there lived a great tribe of Ojibwe Natives. Because of their loyalty to the Great Spirit, and their peaceful
and industrious mode of living, Nanabijou, the Spirit of the
Deep Sea Water, decided to reward them. One day he
called their Chief to his great Thunder Temple on the
mountain and warned him that if he told the secret to the
white man, that he, Nanabijou would be turned to stone.
The Chief gave his promise, and Nanabijou told him of the
rich silver mine, now known as "Silver Islet". The Great
Spirit told him to go to the highest point on Thunder Cape,
and here he would find the entrance to a tunnel that would
lead him to the centre of the mine.
Apparently the Chief and his people found the mine, for the Ojibwe became famous for their beautiful silver ornaments. So beautiful indeed were they, that the Sioux warriors on seeing them upon their wounded enemies,
strove to wrest their secret from them. However, torture and even death failed to make the gallant Ojibwe divulge their secret and the Sioux chieftains had to devise another scheme to find the source of the Ojibwe silver.
One day they summoned their most cunning scout to a pow-wow and a plan was formed.
The scout was to enter the Ojibwe camp disguised as one of them. This he did and in a few days succeeded in
learning the secret of the island of silver. Going to the mine at night he took several large pieces of the precious
metal in order to prove to his chieftain that he had fulfilled his mission. The scout however never returned to his
camp, for on his way back he stopped at a white traders post to purchase some food. Having no furs or money
with which to pay for the goods, he used a piece of the silver. Seeing such a large piece of the gleaming metal,
two white men sought to obtain the whereabouts of its source, in order to make themselves fabulously rich.
After filling the Sioux scout with alcohol they persuaded him to show them the to the mine.
When almost in sight of "Silver Islet" a terrific storm broke over the Cape. The white men were drowned and the
Sioux man was found in a crazed condition floating aimlessly in his canoe, but the most extraordinary thing that
had happened during the storm, was that where once was a wide opening to the bay, now lay what appeared to
be a great sleeping figure of a man.
The Great Spirit's warning had been fulfilled and he had been turned to stone. On a little island at the foot of the
Sleeping Giant, can still be seen the partly submerged shafts of what was once the richest silver mine in the
northwest.
http://www.chi-manidoo.com/gichigami2.html
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Sudoku Puzzle - Have Fun !!
Answer Key will be in the next issue of the newsletter on May 7, 2015
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To the Members of Rainy River First Nations
Boozhoo!! Hope you all are having a good day!!
The warm weather is on its way and with that comes our
little people venturing out more and travelling to their
playgrounds. As you may have noticed speed bumps have
been installed in the community. In the playground areas
speed limit is posted as 10 km/per hour. Please watch for
our young ones.
Answer key from April 9, 2015 Cross Word Puzzle.
Email Distribution List
Would you or someone you know like
to receive “The Rapids Review”,
news about programs & services provided by the Administration of RRFN’s?
Please contact Kathy at the numbers
listed below and I will
be happy to add you.
Phone: 807-482-2479 Ext. 222
Fax: 807-482-2603
E-mail: communications.rrfn@bellnet.ca
Webpage: www.rainyriverfirstnations.com
To all members, if you have family/friends who are members and living in areas across Canada, USA or abroad,
please let them know we are searching for them and
would like them to make contact with us. All contact information is on this page. Please share.
All newsletters can be found on Rainy River First Nations
webpage. www.rainyriverfirstnations.com/newsletters/ .
May Calendars can also be found on RRFN’s webpage.
http://www.rainyriverfirstnations.com/upcoming-events/
Don’t forget to submit your puzzle pages for a chance to
win the next draw. Name and Phone Number on front.
Until next newsletter, be safe and smile!
Miigwech ~ Kathy Bombay-Lyons
Community Communications Officer
“Iskigamizige-giizis” - April
“Ziigwan” - Spring
“Giizis” - Sun
“Gimiwan” - Rain
“Zaagibagaa” - Leaves Bud
“Waabigan” - Flower
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