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Ontario Birchbark

Ontario Birchbark

Launched in 2002. A publication specifically designed to serve the Indigenous people of Ontario.

  • March 25, 2003
  • Diana Pereira, Birchbark Writer, Toronto

Page 11

Ryan McMahon, 25, is a youth worker at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.

"I focus on identifying youth who have instant anger towards the system," said McMahon. "We've gotten over the hump and are intelligently addressing the issues."

The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is one such issue that concerns the Native community. The act was passed through…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Crystal Morton, Birchbark Writer, Toronto

Page 10

The grand opening for a Children's Exhibition was held in Toronto at Metro Hall on March 4.

The evening gave parents, teachers and others a chance to view some of the work that students from six schools in the Toronto District School Board, including First Nations Elementary School, had been doing during the past two weeks.

All Things Are Connected - A City-Wide…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Margo Little, Birchbark Writer, Manitoulin

Page 10

Many First Nations youth are discovering that hard work can build both their bank accounts and self-esteem.

An innovative forestry company, based in Wikwemikong, is giving urban and reserve youth a chance to learn employment skills and life skills simultaneously.

Eshkawkogan Timber Company, operated by Gary and Tina Eshkawkogan, was established in 1994 to carry out…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Cheryl Petten, Birchbark Writer, Toronto

Page 9

At first glance, it would probably be difficult to find something that Veco, Pitblado Barristers and Solicitors, Compass Group Canada and Manitoba Lotteries Corporation all have in common. Veco is a multi-national corporation providing project management, engineering, purchasing, construction, maintenance and operational services to industry and business. Pitblado is a firm of…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Margo Little, Birchbark Writer, Toronto

Page 9

The Moose Deer Point First Nation serves as a role model for First Nation communities looking for creative ways to boost local economies.

Recently the Ontario government paid tribute to their ground-breaking initiative with Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. and the Schad Foundation to develop Niigon Technologies. The company operates a precision injection molding…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Kathleen Orth, Birchbark Writer, Toronto

Page 8

Every Wednesday, patrons of the Art Bar Poetry Series meet at the Victory Cafe in Toronto's Bloor-Bathurst neighbourhood. It's a way to hang out with friends, share stories and listen to fellow writers read from their latest works. On Feb. 26, five poets shared the stage for Freedom to Read Night, an event marking Freedom to Read Week. Three of the five poets, Simon Ortiz, Nicole…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Inna Dansereau, Birchbark Writer, Thunder Bay

Page 6

Nishnawbe Aski Nation chiefs met to outline their vision and prepare a plan for governance of NAN communities at their winter assembly held Feb. 25 to 27.

NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy said the meeting had an excellent turnout: 42 out of 49 chiefs and six proxies showed up.

"We presented the basis for our nationhood, which is what we call traditional governance-it's…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Paul Barnsley, Birchbark Writer, Ottawa

Page 5

Either the infamous 1969 White Paper is still alive or the central agencies of the Canadian government have just decided that enough is enough-or both.

Many Native leaders say the Prime Minister's efforts to limit Aboriginal rights in Canadian legislation can be seen in the way the central agencies, the most powerful officials in government, appear to be fighting to regain…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Crystal Morton, Birchbark Writer, Toronto

Page 4

Giving a voice to urban Aboriginal people is the goal for a new council being formed in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

On May 5, the membership of the Aboriginal People's Council of Toronto (APCT) will vote for 18 people to represent them in discussions on a variety of issues affecting them.

"Basically Native people in Toronto don't really have a political voice-…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Margo Little, Birchbark Writer, Manitoulin

Page 3

A conference sponsored by the Ontario attorney general's victim services division was held in Little Current Feb. 20-21.

The police education awareness workshop was designed to improve communication between frontline officers and community social service agencies.

Shauna Pitawanakwat, co-ordinator of the Manitoulin-Espanola Victim Witness Assistance Program,…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Birchbark Staff

Page 2

TORONTO-Business leaders, government representatives and savvy youth with business interests from across Canada were invited to the National Aboriginal Business Summit that was held in Toronto Feb. 19 and 20.

The summit is held to foster Aboriginal participation in the Canadian economy and enhance business partnerships.

Three themes dominated this year's summit:…

  • March 25, 2003
  • Birchbark Staff

Page 2

Treaty 3-Native and environmental groups from across the country have finally been given standing by NAFTA on the softwood lumber issue this month. Among them, the Grand Council of Treaty 3, a member of the Indigenous Network of Economies and Trade (INET), and Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (Treaty 9) have made presentations before both NAFTA and the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the…

  • February 18, 2003
  • Inna Dansereau, Birchbark Writer, Gravenhurst

Page 11

One of a kind, the Ontario School of Masonry is located just outside Gravenhurst on a 37-acre piece of land that belongs to Rolf Harro Cohrs. Cohrs, 57, founded the school six years ago and is the training director.

"We only permit Metis and Natives to our school and they come here for three to six months and they are guaranteed employment on completion of training," he…

  • February 18, 2003
  • Margo Little, Birchbark Writer, Manitoulin

Page 12

Keeping First Nations families unified is the goal of M'Chigeeng child welfare workers.

Prevention is the main objective of the six staff members at M'Chigeeng Child and Family Services, according to co-ordinator Paula Corbiere. The organization provides stress and anger management courses, parenting programs and advocacy and referral services.

In January 2002,…

  • February 18, 2003
  • Joan Taillon, Birchbark Writer, Toronto

Page 12

Robert Adams, executive director of the Native Canadian Friendship Centre in Toronto, which reports the fifth largest Aboriginal population in Canada, says the census figure of 20,300 Aboriginal people for Toronto is low. He estimates the total is 60,000 to 70,000.

"We're under-represented because our Native peoples do not participate in formal surveys. When the census-…