Manitoba Pipestone - Aboriginal News Briefs - April 2013

Opportunity Fund helps student to change life

Robert Robinson has benefited from the University of Winnipeg’s unique Opportunity Fund. Robinson, who came to Winnipeg from Little Black River at the age of 17, wanted to advance his education after having an epiphany following an altercation with the law. “A part of me I didn’t know existed woke up,” said Robinson. “I knew I had to do something to change my life.” He enrolled in the Beginning University Successfully program and is now continuing at UWinnipeg. The Opportunity Fund bursary allowed him to focus on his studies. Since its inception in 2007, UWinnipeg’s Opportunity Fund has provided more than 1,112 bursaries. The funds help youth and young adults, regardless of background and socio-economic status, attain access to post-secondary education. To date, more than $1.4 million has been invested in students and $71,000 is still to be awarded this academic year. The Opportunity Fund is unique among Canadian universities. It aims to build a $10-million endowment that will bridge the graduation gap and transform lives. The fund includes tuition credits for K-12 students, fast-track bursaries for university students, as well as tuition waivers for youth raised in the child welfare system.

Chiefs boycott talks on First Nations Education Act

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak sent a letter to Ottawa saying the First Nations Education Act consultations planned for Winnipeg would be boycotted, in line with what other chiefs in other provinces have done in protest of the federally-driven talks. Grand Chief Murray Clearsky, who represents 33 Southern Manitoba chiefs, said he would attend only as an observer. Consultation meetings, the fourth of seven planned in various parts of the country, still went ahead. First Nations are not in favour of a one-fits-all approach to education and made it clear in a recent Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly that the Nations Education Act would not be supported.

Peat mining to go ahead on Peguis traditional land

After 20 months of  community consultations, and extensive technical work by Peguis First Nation, Manitoba Conservation has refused the First Nation’s licence appeals of peat mines. Licences were issued Feb. 22 for two new peat mines in Peguis territory and the Peguis treaty land entitlement area. The Washow Peninsula into Lake Winnipeg is the location of the two peat mine leases and licences. Despite “stringent new standards” for the licences, and new requirements for both SunGro and Berger to set up before operating the new mines, road building by Berger Peat Moss started immediately. “We told the government this peninsula is our pharmacy, and a primary source of medicinal plants. We told them drying out this peninsula, which filters wetlands for Lake Winnipeg, is a high risk activity. We told them they did not include our subsistence economy and hunting in their decisions,” said Councillor Mike Sutherland. The new licences require plant studies, transplanting of endangered species, and medicinal plants, new buffers on all riparian zones, plus setting up extensive water testing and monitoring systems. Numerous appeals of the 2011 SunGro and Berger peat mine licences came from First Nations, cottage associations and environmental organizations.

MCCN, HudBay in court over mine development

The sovereign nation of Missinippi Nehethowak, as represented by Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, and HudBay Minerals Inc. were in Winnipeg court March 20 over protests undertaken by MCCN blocking entrance to where HudBay’s gold, zinc and copper mine is being developed near Lalor Lake, which MCCN contends is unceded Missinippi Nehethowak Territory. MCCN says neither the company nor Manitoba government received MCCN’s consent to operate. MCCN led two peaceful demonstrations on Jan. 28 and March 5 at the site. “We are sovereign and asserting our laws and jurisdiction over our unceded ancestral traditional territory. We have never given up our lands, waters and natural resources. We have a responsibility to manage their use and protection,” said Chief Arlen Dumas. MCCN served HudBay with two stop work orders. HudBay is suing MCCN for millions of dollars in general, special and punitive damages.

Métis lawyer appointed judge of Court of Queen’s Bench

Diana M. Cameron was appointed a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba replacing Justice W.J. Burnett, who was appointed associate chief justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench. Cameron is actively involved in the Manitoba Métis Foundation and Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg. Cameron had been Crown counsel with the Constitutional Law Branch of Manitoba Justice since 2004 and senior Crown attorney, Criminal Prosecutions from 1989 to 2004. Her main areas of practice were constitutional law, Aboriginal law, taxation law and criminal law. She was a member of the Law Society of Manitoba, the Legislative and Law Review Committee of the Manitoba Bar Association and co-chair of the Criminal Law Section. As well, she was co-editor and contributor to the Canadian Bar Association (Criminal Law Section) electronic newsletter “Voir Dire” and co-chair for the Constitutional Law and Human Rights Section.

Compiled by Shari Narine