RECOGNITION AND RECONCILIATION

Transcription

1 S Y I L X OKANAGAN NATION E-NEWS April 2009 RECOGNITION AND RECONCILIATION Table of Contents Health Governance 2 Girl Power Weekend 2 Human Papillomavirus 3 Forests For Tomorrow 4 Colville Wins Lawsuit 4 Okanagan Nation Athletics 5 8,000 Sacred Drums 6 Ceremony Sockeye Fry Release 7 Columbia Sturgeon 7 Bursary Info 8 Notices 10 What s Happening 11 The Government of British Columbia has decided to delay introducing the Recognition and Reconciliation Act in the Legislature until after the May 12th provincial election. We believe this course of action is an appropriate step to take as it will ensure that our communities and all British Columbians are better aware, appreciate and understand the importance of this legislation which will allow us to share in the many benefits and revenues from the resources our lands and waters provide. While we as First Nations have been actively engaged in consultation with our own communities and with members of the business community, this pause will give all parties more time to address any outstanding questions while also gaining a stronger understanding of the legislation. This is a historic step forward for our people. It represents the culmination of generations of struggle, fought by our Elders and ancestors since the day that James Douglas unilaterally declared, 150 years ago, that all the lands in British Columbia, and all the Mines and Minerals therein, belong to the Crown in fee. This legislation cannot change the past, but it can create a better future. It will allow us to move away from consistent and institutionalized denial of our rights to full recognition of those rights in law. It means that never again will our elders be dragged into courtrooms to prove our existence or strength of claim. It means that never again will our elders be dragged into courtrooms to prove our existence or strength of claim. It means that precious time and resources can be dedicated to the real task at hand creating true independence in our territories and true partnerships between First Nations and all British Columbians. It will better equip all First Nations in our collective struggle against poverty and for a vastly improved quality of life As one chapter of our history closes, another one opens. The opportunity before us is significant. We must create a new path for us to move forward together. We must take a leading role on the kinds of activities that take place on our lands and how we can proceed to create lasting, respectful relationships with government and industry that benefit us all. We know that our title and rights, inherited from our ancestors, are indisputable. We also know that we are all here to stay. In the days ahead, we can make this historic goal a reality. We encourage all Chiefs and Councils to reach out to your respective communities and consider resolutions of your own to show support for the legislation. The FNLC is preparing a detailed community bulletin to be distributed in the coming weeks, and we are working to identify dates for another All-Chiefs' Forum. In addition we are working with legal counsel appointed by First Nations to move this issue forward. ews htm

2 Health Governance Update To date the Interior Nation Representation to the First Nations Interim Health Governance Committee (FNIHGC) includes: Interior Nation representatives have now been appointed: o NEW: Interior members of the St'at'imc (Lillooet TC): Chief Darrell Bob o NEW: Nlaka pamux (Nicola Tribal Association**): Chief Ko'waintco Michel o NEW: Ktunaxa Kinbasket (Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Society): Gwen Philips o Syilx (Okanagan Nation Alliance): Chief Joe Dennis o Secwepemc (Shuswap Nation TC and Northern Shuswap Nation TC) plus the Independents (High Bar First Nation and Esketemc First Nation): Chief Shane Gottfriedson Girl Power Weekend Pamela Crema, ONA Health Analyst had the opportunity to attend Westbank First Nations Girl Power session as a volunteer during March break ski weekend at Big White. Girl Power is an education group for girls ages 9-12, facilitated by Kelsey Rix, WFN Community Health Nurse. The program goal is to enhance young girls abilities so they are able to take advantage of their talents, academic interests, career pursuits and potential for healthy relationships. Nations without appointed representation to date: o Ts ihl qotin (Carrier Chilcotin TC AND Ts ihl qotin National Government) o Southern Carrier (Carrier Chilcotin TC) Currently Chief Joe Dennis, the Syilx Nation FNIHCC representative and Pamela Crema, ONA Health Analyst are assisting the First Nations Health Council Governance Technical Team in presenting the Nation to Nation model and emphasing the importance of appointing a representative to the First Nation Interim Health Governance Committee to the Nations communities within the Interior Region. The next presentation will take place on April 1, 2009 in Williams Lake for the Carrier Chilcotin Tribal Council. The upcoming Gathering Wisdom May 19, 20 & 21, 2009 Conference will include one day for Health Governance on May 19, You can register at the following link: For more information please feel free to contact Pamela Crema, Health Analyst at ext. 210 or via pcrema@syilx.org The young girls had a fantastic weekend and it was evident that they maintain the inner strength and self confidence that the Girl Power program promotes. Okanagan Nation Health Plan: Westbank First Nation Health Focus Group Session April 16, 2009 at 4:30pm - 6:30pm WFN Community Services Boardroom Contact Pam Crema, ONA Health Analyst for More Information April 2009 ONA E News 2

3 The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) recently completed a literature review on attitudes and beliefs concerning the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine. This review discovered that there is virtually no information on Aboriginal attitudes to HPV. Therefore, the First Nations Health Council (FNHC) had requested community s engagement, to assist in gathering feedback and attitudes on the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The ONA Health Hub hosted a community focus group on March 12, 2009 for Health Practitioners. A call was put out to each of the 7 member bands and the Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS Society. We had 8 participants from the Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS Society, Westbank First Nations, Penticton Indian Band, Okanagan Nation Alliance and Interior Health. In this session the FNHC facilitator was seeking information about our individual and community attitudes to HPV and immunization to protect against HPV. We discussed a range of issues, including perceptions and knowledge about HPV, sexual health, women s health and disease prevention. What we learned was that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer, and despite cancer screening programs, about 1350 women a year are diagnosed with cervical cancer; roughly 390 women will die from the disease. Aboriginal women have higher rates of cervical cancer compared with non Aboriginal women, mainly because they do not receive cancer screening (special checkups including PAP tests) as often as mainstream women. One way to prevent cervical cancer is to get the HPV vaccine. Risks: Aboriginal youth at greater risk for STIs First Nations youth are more sexually active and engage in sexual activity at younger ages 7.9% aged 12 to 14 report being sexually active 46.1% aged 15 to 17 report being sexually active (AFN 2007:209) The government is now making this vaccine available to young adolescent girls in Grade 6 & 9. Cost: the vaccine cost is only covered for girls in grade six and nine. Otherwise, the cost of the vaccine is approximately $404 Canadian per woman or girl. The HPV vaccine is not covered by Non Insured Health Benefits. The Questions that were asked at the focus group session included: What do you know or what have you heard about HPV? How concerned are you about you or your daughter getting HPV? What (type of) information would you like to have about HPV? What would be the best way to get this information out to the community? For more information check out these sites and and/or with your local Public Health Nurse and/or Community Health Nurse. Right to left: Catherine Aune, WFN; Pamela Crema, ONA; Rhoda Hallgren, Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS Society (OAAS); Buffy Mills,OAAS; Debbie Andreychuk, PIB April 2009 ONA E News 3

4 09/10 Forests For Tomorrow (FFT) Work Plan Update Following the Forests For Tomorrow (FFT) information sharing meeting held at the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) on January 14, 2009 with ONA band representatives, Okanagan Nation Forest Limited Partnership (ONFLP) submitted their 09/10 Work Plan to Ministry of Forests for their FFT program. We are still waiting for the results of the proposed budget and hope to have an answer by March 31, There is a high probability that we will not get the full amount. If that should happen we will be reducing the amount of area to be surveyed. ONFLP is planning to carry out the following silviculture activities for this upcoming fiscal: Plant 1.3 million trees in Okanagan Mtn. Park Fire, Valentine Creek and Blanc Creek areas Survey ~ 30,000 ha of Impeded and Mountain Pine Beetle affected stands DTA ~ 100ha in Salmon Arm area MSP ~ 100ha in Salmon Arm area ONFLP will also be posting job and contract opportunities as soon as we have confirmation of our budget. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Heather Onsorge, Forests For Tomorrow Project Manager ext. 203 Teck Cominco must pay Colvilles' costs Canadian mining company Teck Cominco Metals Ltd. must pay the legal expenses of two members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, who sued the company over its pollution of the Columbia River in the United States. A federal judge in Spokane last week also ordered the company to reimburse the Colville Tribes for more than $1 million it spent on the case in the past five years. The tribe and two of its members sued the company in an effort to force it to comply with U.S. law on operations of its giant zinc smelter in Trail, British Columbia. The smelter, 10 miles north of the U.S. border, released hazardous substances directly into the Columbia River for a century. That ended in "The judge sent a clear message that the tribe's efforts, and in particular, the citizen suit by Joseph Pakootas and Donald Michel, are what compelled Teck to begin addressing the environmental harm it has caused," said Virgil Seymour, a member of the Colville Business Council. It has not yet been determined how much Teck Cominco must pay for Pakootas' and Michel's legal expenses. Officials for Teck Cominco did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday. Under U.S. law, Teck Cominco has 30 days to appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A decade ago, the Colville Tribes petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assess contamination in Lake Roosevelt, a 150-mile stretch of the Columbia River from Grand Coulee Dam to the Canadian border. In 2003, the EPA decided that Teck Cominco was subject to the U.S. Superfund law, because releases from the smelter had traveled down the river into the United States. The agency demanded the company pay for studies to determine the extent of the contamination, and then clean it up. The next year, Pakootas and Michel filed a lawsuit asking that Teck Cominco be forced to comply with the EPA order. Teck Cominco argued that as a Canadian company operating in Canada, it was not subject to U.S. laws. But the company in 2006 agreed outside of the normal Superfund process to study the pollution. Teck is just starting that work now and hopes to finish by Copyright (c) 2009 The Seattle Times Company Published Monday, March 16, 2009 at 8:10 PM For more information visit: lnews/ _apwalakerooseveltpollutio April 2009 ONA E News 4

5 Okanagan Nation Athletics Okanagan Nation Midget Hockey Team OKANAGAN NATION JR. NATIVE SONS TEAM We had an awesome tournament! The Okanagan Jr. Native Sons, their parents, families and supporters would like to extend great thanks and gratitude to all of their supporters and donators who made it possible for this team to play at this tournament. Limlimt, Osoyoos Indian Band Westhill Aggregates OSCS Looney Auction Bidders Penticton Indian Band Silver Grizzly 50/50 Buyers Bottle Donators Congratulations to our Okanagan Nation Bantam and Midget hockey teams who both took 3 rd place at the Junior Native Moccasin Hockey Tournament in Merritt on March 20 th -22 nd, Okanagan Nation Bantam Hockey Team The Junior Native Sons played 5 games, having 3 exctiting wins; one against Merritt and two against Williams Lake. We also had two satisfactory losses against Deep Lake Saskatchewan (our kids didn t hand them those wins easy!) Some medals went out to players throughout the tournament games, our team racked up 8 medals altogether for Most Valuable Player, Best Defenseman and Best Offensive. Darious Alex Sonny Baptiste Kaelin George Justin Klassen Sienna Gabriel Sammy Gabriel Kelaya Allison Aubrey Baptiste Brandon Wilson Silous Baptiste (goalie) Sheldon Dekock Thomas Angel Gabriel First Nations Snowboard Team High Performance Team Selection Westbank First Nation Team Try Out s Date: Friday April 10, 2009 Location: Big White Ski Village Centre Mall Time: 9:30am Regardless of the medals every week was so outstanding! All in all, our kids played sooo hard, and they represented the Okanagan Nation beautifully! Rickson Kruger MVP Shaylene DeKock MVP Sheldon George Team Medal Kiley Kruger Team Medal David Johnson Jr. Team Medal To all coaches, Dion Alex, Tommy Gabriel, Floyd Baptiste, Charles Kruger, Clayton Gabriel, Yaaay for a job well done! To our waterboy, Jimmy Riviera, thanks for being an important part of our team, Hi 5 to you! And back to the manager, Dion Alex, thanks u got us there! We also got an invite from Saskatchewan, which we are considering.so once again, BIG thanks to everyone who made it awesome for the players and the hardcore fans. April 2009 ONA E News 5

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7 COLUMBIA STURGEON CELEBRATION STURGEON RELEASE TIMES Castlegar BC: April 22, 2009 School Release 9:30am 1:30pm Public Release 2:00pm 4:00pm Creston BC: April 20, 2009 School Release 9:00 am 12:00 pm Public Release 12:00pm 2:00pm POW WOW The Upper Columbia Aquatic Management Partnership invites you to join us! May 2, pm Grand Entry Selkirk College Campus Castlegar, BC Arts & Crafts Information Displays Food and Fun Activities For More Information Contact: Sunny Lebourdais Shuswap Nation Tribal Council: April 2009 ONA E News 7

8 Building a better future Education for life Okanagan Nation Bursary Program Open to all Okanagan Nation Students who: Are Post Secondary students who are attending a recognized university or college on a full time basis or are graduating from Grade 12 Are registered in a two year program Can demonstrate financial need Application available on our website: TO BE AWARDED: Two: $1,200 Bursaries DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS May 31, 2009 Applications are available at any of the Okanagan Nation Member Band Offices or through the Okanagan Nation Alliance April 2009 ONA E News 8