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Ontario Birchbark

Ontario Birchbark

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

  • October 11, 2002
  • Ted Shaw, Birchbark Writer, Owen Sound

Page 2

The Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association held an information meeting in Owen Sound Oct. 1, for all Metis, Inuit, and non-status Aboriginal people who live there.

About 60 people attended at the Harold Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. This was the first time OMAA had promoted a meeting in Owen Sound. Literature and membership application forms were available at the door.…

  • October 11, 2002
  • Letter to the Editor

Page 2

Dear Editor:

I had an opportunity to review the August 2002 Ontario Birchbark and saw the article of Lt.-Gov. James K. Bartleman's visit to the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation. The article was well written and naturally the OCF appreciates the coverage. Thanks for a job well done.

Also saw the article on Norval Morrisseau - it may have some anomalies as I seem to…

  • October 11, 2002
  • Birchbark Staff

Page 2

Toronto-More than 150 exquisite miniature ivory sculptures and some ethnographic artifacts, photographs and documents will be displayed at the Gallery of Indigenous Peoples in the Royal Ontario Museum from Oct. 12 to March 30, 2003.

The exhibition is named Tuugaaq: Ivory Sculptures From the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Tuugaaq, which means "ivory" in Inuktitut, will show the…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Crystal Morton, Birchbark Writer, Ottawa

Page 12

This summer the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in Ontario, along with the National Literacy Secretariat have approved five projects for literacy improvement totaling $236,000.

After receiving more than 100 project proposals a committee comprised of individuals from both organizations decided to fund the five.

"All projects are treated individually and have…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Margo Little, Birchbark Writer, Sudbury

Page 11

Because Aboriginal people have always been stewards of the land, some First Nations youth have naturally gravitated to jobs in forestry and environmental protection. Human resources specialists, however, contend that not enough Native graduates are choosing careers in wildlife management and recreation.

A national initiative is underway to encourage First Nations students…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Crystal Morton, Birchbark Writer, Toronto

Page 10

Thousands of Catholic people from hundreds of nations around the world flocked to Toronto this past July 22 to 28 to take part in World Youth Day 2002 where youth celebrated religion.

Clinging to each other, groups of 20, 30, sometimes 50, individuals would pass through the crowds chanting, "John Paul II, we love you," some in English and some in their mother tongues.…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Roberta Avery, Birchbark Writer, Collingwood

Page 10

They started calling Geronimo Henry "Elvis" shortly after he returned to the reserve from residential school sporting sideburns and wearing his jet black hair Elvis Presley-style.

When he started attending the longhouse wearing the white shoes Popularized by the king of rock 'n' roll, the nickname stuck to the troubled young man.

"The shoes looked odd with black…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Birchbark Staff, Cape Croker

Page 9

The Nawash traditional powwow was held at the Cape Croker Tent & Trailer Park Aug. 16 to 18.

At this event, traditions are observed and there is no competitive dancing.

Their theme this year was Honoring all Veterans and Bringing Friends Together. Approximately 150 dancers and drummers participated and there were four Grand Entries. Master of Ceremonies was…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Margo Little, Birchbark Writer, Manitoulin

Page 9

Anishinabe warriors took centre stage at the 15th annual Labour Day weekend powwow in M'Chigeeng. A special presentation was made to honor First Nations veterans who fought in Europe and Asia.

Sucker Creek Elder, Ernest "Smitty" McGraw was on hand to read a poem acknowledging the sacrifices of Manitoulin Island veterans. He paid tribute to the men who served in the…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Yvonne Irene Gladue, Birchbark Writer, Ottawa

Page 7

Situated in Ottawa in the home of an adoptee, a group meets every two weeks to discuss a number of issues that Aboriginal people face when searching for their birth parents. The group known as Connecting With All My Relations got its unofficial start in October 2000. Beverly McKiver and another group member Mark Rutledge were asked to make a presentation about Aboriginal adoptees…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Cheryl Petten, Birchbark Writer, Winnipeg

Page 7

While many Canadian veterans took time on Aug. 19 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid, Canada's surviving Metis veterans had begun the latest battle in their ongoing fight for compensation.

The Metis veterans-some in their 70s, some in their 80s and 90s-are ready to do battle with the federal government in an attempt to win for themselves the…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Cheryl Petten, Birchbark Writer, Winnipeg

Page 7

While many Canadian veterans took time on Aug. 19 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid, Canada's surviving Metis veterans had begun the latest battle in their ongoing fight for compensation.

The Metis veterans-some in their 70s, some in their 80s and 90s-are ready to do battle with the federal government in an attempt to win for themselves the…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Dan Smoke-Asayenes, Birchbark Writer, London

Page 6

Peter Beaucage is an Ojibway man learning how to be responsible for his healing journey, to stand up for his family and to serve his community and Nation. He is married to Debbie, and is the father of two sons and two daughters. A sober parent for 23 years, he is the director of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Diploma program at Canadore College in North Bay.

The Native Men's…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Dan Smoke-Asayenes, Birchbark Writer, London

Page 6

The Native Wellness Institute recently held a Native men's conference entitled, "Warrior Men are Responsible Men." Men came from all over Turtle Island to celebrate the Warrior Journey in London from Aug. 13 to 15.

More than a hundred men attended the conference, in addition to the seven presenters who came from Arizona, Saskatchewan, Vancouver, Wimindji, Alberta, Manitoba…

  • September 20, 2002
  • Waubgeshig Rice, Birchbark Writer, Sudbury

Page 4

This summer, two Aboriginal students from Ontario biked across Canada to raise awareness of an epidemic.

Diabetes is ravaging Aboriginal communities across the country, and Jake Chakasim and Kim Trimble wanted to do something about it.

They called their venture the National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Ride - a 7,700 kilometre bike trek from St. John's, Nfld. to…