Topic: Today’s News

On Tuesday, February 26, Natural Resources Canada’s Canadian Forest Service, Lakehead University and Confederation College signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Forest Science Research and Education.

“One of the goals in Lakehead University’s strategic plan is to create local and global partnerships, and this MOU helps us do that as well as grow our research capacity,” said Dr. Andrew Dean, Vice-President, Research & Innovation, Lakehead University.

“We are especially pleased that this signing is occurring during our 14th annual Research and Innovation Week. This week highlights our research accomplishments, and this partnership with the Canadian Forest Service and Confederation College will offer unique opportunities for increased research in forest science,” he added.

The MOU is aimed at increasing opportunities for all organizations to share expertise and resources in forest science and related research, collaboration and education initiatives. It recognizes the potential for this relationship to assist each organization in strengthening forest science research, education, and commercial development in Canada.

“On behalf of the Canadian Forest Service, we are excited to further strengthen our relationship with Lakehead University and Confederation College through this memorandum of understanding. This MOU represents our mutual support for the advancement of forest science research and education within our respective organizations and throughout Canada,” said Dr. David Nanang, Director General, Canadian Forest Service-Great Lakes Forestry Centre. 

“Confederation College is deeply committed to providing access to programming that supports the needs of our region, and this partnership with Lakehead University and the Canadian Forest Service will help to advance that effort,” said Kathleen Lynch, President, Confederation College. “In particular, we are excited by the opportunities this MOU will create for students interested in the natural resources sector and the numerous applied research possibilities we will be able to collaboratively explore.”

The MOU provides a variety of opportunities and benefits for all organizations involved. There will be increased opportunities in forest science research and education that may exceed what the organizations could do separately.

There will also be increased sharing of intellectual and technical resources, including faculty and staff expertise and sophisticated research infrastructure and equipment and research sites.

Finally, the development of collaborative research projects, including more competitive grant proposals as well as the increased participation of CFS researchers as adjunct professors contributing to active mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students will support an increased collaboration of forest science research and education.

Together, Lakehead University, Confederation College and the Canadian Forest Service will continue to advance forestry research, collaboration and education throughout Canada. 

Background:

The Canadian Forest Service (CFS) is a science-based policy organization within Natural Resources Canada, a Government of Canada department that helps shape the important contributions of the natural resources sector to the Canadian economy, society and environment. Their mission is to promote the sustainable development of Canada’s forests and competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector. The CFS has six research Centers located across Canada, with research scientists and professionals who conduct studies in areas such as forest ecology, impacts of global climate changes, insects and diseases, forest health, biotechnology, landscape analysis, hydrology and aquatic systems, fire behaviour and impacts, and forestry practices and inventory, which contribute to national CFS priorities.

Lakehead University is globally recognized for its research and education in the area of natural resources management and forestry-based studies. Lakehead’s program offerings are diverse; they focus on conserving and sustaining our forests for a full range of uses – from timber harvesting, bio-products, inventory and recreation to wildlife management to the conservation of biodiversity. The scope of their reach is not limited to Canadian Forestry practices. Lakehead also has a rich history of successful international collaborations with universities, NGO’s and government agencies which have focused on community-based forestry practices, land-use planning and advancing the forestry profession through the training of highly qualified personnel domestically and internationally.

Confederation College prepares students for careers in natural resource management including forest management, forest resource inventory, forest resources conservation and protection, environmental technology, silviculture and biomass energy. Confederation College is growing its capacity in applied research and is looking for collaborative opportunities to leverage recent investments in programming and infrastructure.

Nibi Emosaawdamajig, (Those who walk for the Water), the Sacred Water Circle and the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies are mourning the passing of the great woman who led us in our knowledge of the water, how to be in relationship with the water, to care for and protect the water, that water is not a commodity, she is our life. Water is life. 

In spite of her personal challenges and physical limitations, Josephine-ba persevered in her dedication to teach us and to give us and to empower us to work together for the water here at Trent, in Peterborough and with the Indigenous leadership of Elder, Shirley Williams and Lead Water Walker, Liz Osawamick and local Indigenous leader, Dorothy Taylor, who leads the Sacred Water Circle, we learned together to enjoy the love we created together, for one another and especially, for the water. 

For the past 10 water walks Josephine-ba accompanied the walks here in the Kawarthas, teaching us how to support the walkers, how the water, once picked up in its copper pail, never stops, but like the water in the river, flows on.  At each of the 4 stops for the water blessings, she taught us how to ‘touch-down’ using the tobacco to interrupt the flow of the water and to allow it to stay still for the brief time while the blessing or the break took place.

Join Trent U. this year for the 10th Annual Kawartha Lakes Water Walk, we will be walking in honour of Josephine-ba and of course, ‘we do it for the water’.

Fort Frances, ON — Even after receiving a letter in May 2018 from Ontario, under the former Wynne leadership, confirming funds for the construction of a much-needed First Nation Seniors’ Housing and Long-Term Care facility, Treaty #3 has yet to hear from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care on moving forward with the essential project. 

“To date we have not received any funds and therefore unable complete further applications to move forward with this project. We are getting concerned that nobody from MOHLTC reached out to us after we received this letter,” said Couchiching First Nation Chief Brian Perrault who is part of the tri-partite Working Group that helped secure the agreement with the province. 

Currently Rainycrest Long Term Care (RLTC) which operates a 164-bed long-term care facility offering a variety of programs, services and amenities is under third-party management as a result of care issues and staffing issues identified in previous inspections by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

New admissions to the home have been suspended for almost a year. The health ministry issues orders when it determines that care at a nursing home falls short of the standards laid out in provincial legislation. The facility has 164 beds, but since the freeze on admissions was imposed last February, the number of residents has fallen to 107.  The beds include two respite beds, four convalescent beds, ten short-term stay beds and 148 LTC beds.

“There are almost 60 vacant beds which have put a great deal of stress on our communities, because there is no place for our Elders to go if they need long term care,” said Chief Perrault. “Our community members can also no longer access convalescent care or respite services due to the closure of admissions to the facility.  Our Elders are being discharged from hospital without the opportunity to properly recuperate.”

The Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services (FFTAHS) is part of the tri-partite Working Group on First Nation Seniors’ Housing and Long-Term Care which submitted a letter of interest to be part of a demonstration project in January 2018.  

In April, the FFTAHS identified that they have the capacity and resources to successfully carry out the planning, construction and operations of the long-term facility project.  However, there is a need for stakeholder engagement regarding design and project costs that FFTAHS cannot complete because First Nations do not receive funding to support these types of projects.

“We are currently reaching out to the MOHLTC and to Premier Doug Ford’s government to clarify this issue and hopefully move forward with providing our citizens with professional and proper long term care that every Canadian deserves,” said Chief Perrault.

Montréal, February 19, 2019 – ADISQ, the Quebec Association for the Recording, Concert and Video Industries, creates the Félix award for Indigenous Artist of the Year, to be awarded to an Indigenous artist who most distinguished himself or herself on the music scene. ADISQ has been working on this initiative for a year already in collaboration with Indigenous music organizations, such as SOCAM. The Assembly of First Nations, Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) also supports the creation of this new category.

“Indigenous artists in the music industry have always had their place in the various categories ADISQ recognizes, but by creating this new Félix, we hope to further promote their work and have an even greater impact on their outreach”, emphasized the ADISQ president, Philippe Archambault.

“The AFNQL is always ready to support any initiative intended to promote our diversity and our Indigenous cultures. I would like to thank the ADISQ organization for opening its doors to talent from our nations and for highlighting the contribution of our organizations in the Indigenous music sector. Our music and our artists who make it their life’s work also play an invaluable role in the process of reconciliation and living together,” stated the AFNQL Chief, Ghislain Picard.

This new Félix will be presented for the first time this year at the ADISQ Galas, which will be broadcast in October. To submit an entry, an artist must be a member of the First Nations of Quebec or a member of the Inuit Nation of Quebec. Albums and concerts by artists performing in French, English and Indigenous languages are eligible for this category. This Félix will be awarded by a specialized jury.

It should be noted that ADISQ is currently reviewing its regulations, a democratic process that includes consulting its members and its board of directors. This review is done each year and any changes will be announced in March.

ADISQ would like to thank everyone who participated in the consultations: SOCAM, AFNQL, Instinct Musique, Musique Nomade and Studio Makusham.

About ADISQ

ADISQ, the Quebec Association for the Recording, Concert and Video Industries, was founded in 1978 to defend the interests of its members and to advocate the development of the music industry in Quebec. Its first mandate in 1979 was to produce an annual awards gala where artists, artisans and professionals of the Quebec music industry are presented with an award.

About the AFNQL

The AFNQL was created in 1985. It consists of the Chiefs’ Assembly and an administrative office. It holds Chiefs’ Assemblies of 43 communities of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador and represents a total of 10 Nations: Abenaki, Algonquin, Atikamekw, Cree, Huron-Wendat, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Mohawk, Innu and Naskapi.

About SOCAM

Established in 1983, the Société de communication Atikmekw-Montagnais (SOCAM) is a broadcasting network composed of the three Atikamekw communities and the 11 Innu communities.

Wendake, February 6, 2019 – The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) welcomes Bill C-91 with optimism while emphasizing the importance of its joint implementation with First Nations authorities.

“Indigenous languages are fundamental to our self-determination, our culture, our identity and our definition of the world. However, the process to reclaim and revitalize our languages will not be possible without stable, sustainable and predictable funding. It is about the recognition of our peoples and self-esteem among our young people who are proud of their languages and cultures,” said Ghislain Picard, Chief of the AFNQL.

This new law confirms and recognizes rights to Indigenous languages. It establishes an Office of the Independent Indigenous Languages Commissioner, which will be the advocate of language revitalization, act as Ombudsman for Indigenous peoples with respect to their language rights, assess the effectiveness of Canada with respect to its obligations under the Act and will produce reports on it.

“The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes the right to transmit our languages from one generation to the next. All languages are important, regardless of the number of speakers. All efforts will be made to ensure that the measures to revitalize, recover and maintain our languages through community and school programs are respectful of the cultural identity of First Nations in Quebec-Labrador, ” concluded chief Ghislain Picard.

About the AFNQL

The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador is the political organization regrouping 43 Chiefs of the First Nations in Quebec and Labrador. Follow us on Twitter @APNQL.

(Ottawa, ON) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde today welcomed the tabling in Parliament of the federal Indigenous Languages Act, saying it deserves the support of all Parliamentarians and all Canadians.

“This is landmark legislation to protect and strengthen Indigenous languages, the original languages of these lands, that embrace our identity, our worldview and our nationhood,” said National Chief Perry Bellegarde. “No Indigenous language in Canada is safe. But now there is hope. This legislation will support First Nations efforts to keep their languages alive, vital and strong. Canadians and all parliamentarians must support this Bill because we all understand that language is identity, languages is culture, language is life. There is no better way to mark 2019 – the International Year of Indigenous Languages – than to see the country that once tried to eliminate our languages enact a law to protect, promote and revitalize our languages.”

The Indigenous Languages Act was tabled today in the House of Commons with the aim of it becoming law before the end of the current Parliamentary session. The initiative to co-develop legislation to “protect, promote and revitalize Indigenous languages” was first announced by Prime Minister Trudeau in December 2016 at an AFN Assembly. The announcement was a response to years of advocacy by the AFN, National Chief Bellegarde and First Nations. The AFN helped co-develop the legislation to ensure that First Nation perspectives, priorities and rights were included in the legislation.

Last week on February 1^st, National Chief Bellegarde spoke about the legislation in his remarks to the United Nations General Assembly as the North American Indigenous Representative: “We need legislation to ensure sufficient, sustainable and long-term funding toward the revitalization of our languages. We need schools on-reserve as well as in urban and rural settings to create and implement effective bilingual and immersion education programs beginning with pre-school age children. And we need programs that inspire all of our people to speak our languages, regardless of age, to renew the vibrancy of our communities as our cultural places. We want our languages to be our living languages – sourced from our lands, expressing our creation stories, and alive in our ceremonies and daily lives.”

The text of the National Chief’s remarks at the UN are available on the AFN website at www.afn.ca. The United Nations declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages to encourage urgent action to preserve, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates.