Manitoba Pipestone - February 2015

Sinclair family sees inquest as missed opportunity

The family of Brian Sinclair says an inquest into his death was “an opportunity wasted” to get at the root causes of racism that Aboriginal people face in Canada’s health-care system. Sinclair, 45, a double-amputee, died of a treatable bladder infection while waiting 34 hours for care six years ago at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre. Inquest Judge Tim Preston said in his final report, released in December, that Sinclair “did not have to die,” but rejected the family’s pleas to rule the death a homicide on the grounds that failing to provide medical care was akin to failing to provide the necessities of life. Preston also denied the Sinclair family’s call to direct the Manitoba government to convene an inquest into how Aboriginal people are treated in the health-care system. Preston made 63 recommendations aimed primarily at policy reviews at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to ensure what happened to Sinclair doesn’t occur again. Some staff testified that they assumed Sinclair was drunk, “sleeping it off,” or homeless. By the time he was discovered dead, rigor mortis had set in. Both Health Minister Sharon Blady and the health authority have apologized to Sinclair’s family.

Injunction to delay Bipole 3 denied

Sapotaweyak Cree Nation’s application for an injunction to halt clear cutting its ancestral lands between Swan River and The Pas in the construction of Manitoba Hydro’s Bipole 3 transmission has been denied. A Court of Queen’s Bench judge dismissed the application with reasons to come at a later date. “The judge clearly sided with Manitoba Hydro’s economic interests over our Constitutional claims, interests and ambitions,” said Chief Nelson Genaille. Bipole 3 is a key part of a multi-billion-dollar plan to build new hydro dams in northern Manitoba and bring it south to homes and businesses.

Government apologizes for past Hydro development

The government of Manitoba has formally apologized to all people and communities affected by past hydroelectric development, including all Northern Flood Agreement First Nations. “Many initiatives have been undertaken to address adverse effects of hydro development, and we recognize that reconciliation is an ongoing process,” said Premier Greg Selinger in a statement issued in Cross Lake. The government says it is committed to working with First Nations on future developments, pointing out that the Wuskwatim project was developed in partnership with Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation while the Keeyask Project was a collaborative effort among Manitoba Hydro and Tataskweyak Cree Nation, York Factory First Nation, Fox Lake Cree Nation and War Lake First Nation. Deputy Premier Eric Robinson, minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs and minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, said, “We acknowledge there is more work to be done with First Nations towards further reconciliation,”

Culturally-appropriate sexual assault program funded

The Manitoba government will provide $150,000 over three years†and team up with Ka Ni Kanichihk, a resource centre that helps Indigenous families in the city’s North End, to offer culturally appropriate counselling and services for†sexual assault victims. Ka Ni Kanichihk will hire and train a counsellor and set up a network of Elders to provide immediate and ongoing support. It will also work with Klinic, the Health Sciences Centre and Winnipeg police. Leslie Spillett, the centre’s executive director, says while other services exist, they are not Aboriginal-run and she hopes that if women and girls feel comfortable coming to Ka Ni Kanichihk, perhaps they will feel safe enough to go to the police or seek medical or other help. The funding, which will be $50,000†for each of the next three years, falls under the province’s domestic violence prevention strategy.

AMC suffers significant cut in federal funding

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has received $106,000 from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada – after requesting a total grant of $2.6 million. Grand Chief Derek Nepinak says Ottawa is failing to act in good faith and introducing “political” changes in procedures to secure funding. Prior to 2012, AMC received a budget, including core expenses and projects, of $10 million to $15 million through Aboriginal Affairs and Health Canada. Aboriginal Affairs has imposed the latest cuts, $2 million last year and roughly another $2 million this year. The department said its focus is to “ensure that funding for organizations is directed at the delivery of essential services and programs for Aboriginal peoples.” Nepinak said the cuts came without warning, with the AMC only learning of them three-quarters of the way through the fiscal year, well after projects were underway. Proposals that were denied funding include renewable energy solutions for northern communities, policy frameworks on resource equity, environmental research and food security in Manitoba First Nations and proposals for helping First Nations residents make successful transitions to urban living from life on often remote rural reserves.

New CMHR tour developed with Elders

Mikinak-Keya (The Spirit Tour) launched this month at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The tour, which is a cultural experience exploring rights and responsibilities from a First Nations perspective, was developed through a partnership between the museum and a group of seven Elders representing Anishinaabe, Cree and Dakota nations. Visitors will spend approximately 90 minutes with the CMHR’s Indigenous program interpreters, exploring how the symbolism in the building’s architecture profoundly relates to the Seven Sacred Laws and the teachings of Grandmother Turtle. “As the Original People, we are the roots of our homeland. Through our leadership we have come to share our knowledge about where all our human rights come from. Mikinak-Keya reminds us to live in accordance with the principles of respect, love, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth. These traditional teachings show us that we are all related and equal,” said Elder Dave Courchene.

Compiled by Shari Narine