Chapleau Cree First Nation 21st Migration Vol 2 08

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A Message from Chief and Council

Whachay to all Chapleau Cree Band Members, extended families and friends,

We hope everyone is enjoying this time of the year as the ice has melted and the plants are flourishing. The geese, ducks and other birds have finally made it back and will only fly south in the fall time.

We are at month five into our term. Your Council is unified in spirit. We encourage expression. Strong boards, groups or councils do not always agree on issues; however, members of Council do respect each other and deal with issues through healthy debates, always seeking the best solutions. This council values democracy. It provides a base for our decision making process. We are making progress and are eager to continue. We intend to keep you abreast of all new developments.

This council’s vision for the Chapleau Cree First Nation in the 21^st century is one of community well-being and careful growth. If we are to succeed as a people, we cannot afford to squander and waste our resources and treasures. Our current goal is to manage our recovery, and plan for our future. Responsible management matters. In May, as part of our VisionQuest 2002 program, we are hosting an Introduction to Strategic Planning workshop, and one on Economic Development.

We recently hosted a consultation workshop to interview members and others with very important historical information of the Chapleau Cree people. Our history is crucial in preserving our culture for the next generations and negotiating our land claim. In this theme, we want to build a Chapleau Cree community photo album. We require members to lend/provide photographs and related information about the photos. These will be used to create CD’s that can display the information on a video screen.

The 21^st Migration newsletter is a communication tool between the council and the membership. Other mail outs in addition to the newsletter will continue to inform you of our remedial financial plans, new policies, provide you with an annual calendar and updates on our Treaty Land Entitlement Claim.

Wade Cachagee, Chief
Ian Fortin, Councillor
Cecile Wesley, Councillor
Keith Corston, Councillor
Lindy Louttit, Councillor
Tony Ruffo, Councillor

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES AT CCFN
DECEMBER 2001 TO APRIL 2002

SPRING GENERAL MEETING

Our spring general meeting is scheduled for June 1^st of 2002. CCFN accountant, Don Garrioch, KPMG will presents new budget/deficit plan. TLE lawyer Ron Maurice presents a TLE overview to the membership.

COMMUNICATION PLAN

-This Newsletter is in your hands. It is one of the communication vehicles to provide you information.

FINANCIAL RECOVERY

We are carrying over 200k from last year and an additional 100k for the year before, In addition we owe 1.6 million in long term debt. Our Accountant is designing a financial recovery action plan. The plan eliminates our deficit over a five-year period. To meet this goal, we must pay 140k per year - 70k as interest on loans, and another 70k towards the deficit.

ADMINISTRATION & MANAGEMENT

A Conflict of Interest Policy developed and adopted. A Mandate approved for Finance Committee.
We have committed to use the INAC Band Administration Manual as a model for operations. Where necessary, our own policy will supplement and strengthen that of the manual.
Our Auditors, KPMG, are conducting our 2001-2002 year-end audit this month.
Frances Luthasaari, CCFN and Administrator, has chosen to leave her position after 12 years of service. We wish her all the best in the future.
We have posted for a replacement and have had interviews and the selected candidate will start June.
Council and the administration staff,, with the assistance of the finance committee will continue implement the recommendations of the Operational Review conducted in 2001.

VISIONQUEST 2002

Two-Day Strategic Planning Workshop scheduled for May 6-7

One Day "Economic Development Essentials" Seminar May 17

GOVERNANCE

Moose Cree First Nation’s Chief Norm Hardisty Jr. gave us permission to receive copies of their policies and election code. We will use these policies, and also the Missinaibie Cree election code as models to revise and strengthen ours.

TREATY LAND ENTITLEMENT (TLE)

Three one-day meetings. in Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Chapleau plus several discussions with lawyer Ron Maurice, who is doing preliminary work on our claim. Ron submitted a TLE budget on our behalf for $73k for the year ending March 2002. The application has been approved. We received these funds for work towards the TLE claim. We must develop and submit our statement of Claim to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

We applied to INAC to drill a new well and update water plant equipment. We must first have our water plant approved for the new provincial standards before we can access provincial funding. Ian Fortin met with an engineer who can assist us in the application to the new standards. We are required to contribute $20k towards the costs while INAC contributes 185k.

Deputy Chief of NAN Goyce, the Chief of Police Wes Luloff, and other NAN staff visited Fox Lake. Wade informed Wes that we would like to see laws enforced on our reserve for peoples safety and council liability.

TRAINING

We are awaiting results of our Mushkegowuk Employment and Training applications, which are expected end of April or beginning of May.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES / SUMMER EMPLOYMENT

Ice Fishing Derby held in February

Applied for summer student funding so we can offer summer employment to youth.

CULTURE

New Youth Journalism Awards Program planned for 2002 school year.

We also had our 1^st Annual Traditional Spring Goose Hunt "SEQUINISH NANO" from April 15^th to the 27^th. The hunt took place on the Groundhog River on Highway 101 between Chapleau and Timmins.

ECONOMY/BUSINESS NEWS

CCFN Reps met with the Chapleau Town Council. The town is getting a new EDO.

Provincial-funding program applications must be submitted to Rob Perrin, the new Ministry of Northern Development and Mines Officer.

Gerry Lasage, the FedNor representative, announced that FedNor approved a pre-feasibility study of eco-tourism options for our First Nation and received around 110k from to conduct the Eco-Tourism feasibility project. Most of the money will pay consultants to do the research. Brian Faherty of Faherty and Associates, Dr. Scott Hamilton of Lakehead University, Dennis Forbes of Forbes & Associates, Tanya Wheeler of Blue Loon Adventures visited to discuss the project. We will be scheduling interviews with key people who could add valuable information to the history of the Chapleau Cree people.

Lori Martin holds a part time position as Economic Development Coordinator for this project She will also assume other duties as we direct her. Lori was the only person who applied for the position.

ENVIRONMENT/MOTHER EARTH

We had a meeting with the MNR about the decommissioning of the Chapleau Power Dam.

CCFN Reps and 6 other First Nations attended two days of meetings with MNR officials discuss relationships with MNR and First Nations in the Chapleau District.

BEYOND THE COMMUNITY

Wade attended a Board of Chiefs meeting in January for the Mushkegowuk Council. Chief Nolan of Missanabie Cree and Wade asked Grand Chief Gull if there were any records relating to the support of the members who hunted in the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve. Grand Chief Gull was going to look into the matter. Wade drafted a letter to the Board of Chiefs to ask for their support for the legal defence and copied Murray Klippenstein asking him to summarize the events for the other Chiefs.

Our First Nation along with Brunswick House First Nation will be hosting the annual Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Keewaywin Assembly this summer, date is still unknown at this time. Representatives from approximately 50 First Nations will travel here to partake in the assembly.

Lindy attended a NAN meeting in Timmins.

Wade met with Jamie Lim, Mayor of Timmins. Timmins may be interested in a relationship with a native organization for a Joint Venture Casino.

Recent / Upcoming Events

Recent Events

Passings

Jerry Mercier - January 14, 2001

At his home on the Fox Lake Reserve near Chapleau, Ontario at the age of 60 years.

Born May 5, 1941, William Huey Grant, and known as Jerry, and Jerry boy, son of Robert (Bob) Mercier,

and Josephine (Nee Sailors). Dear brother of Steven, Joan, Chummy (Robert), Gail, and Mary. and Uncle to several nieces and nephews. Jerry worked for the Chapleau Cree in recent years, and previously in the plumbing and heating business, and as a wilderness hunting and fishing guide. Much of his time was spent in the wilderness.

Douglas Ritchie

PEACEFULLY, IN WHITBY, MARCH 16, 2002, Douglas Ritchie. Doug was retired from the CPR’s Agincourt shops, and previously the Chapleau’s CPS shops. He leaves behind his wife, Mabel (Collings), and sons Larry (Fox Lake) and Kevin (Whitby).

Doug spent time in the Canadian Armed forces as an MP during WWII. With Amon Saylors, his uncle and others he hunted and trapped along much of the Chapleau river and in the area now known as the Chapleau Game Preserve. Much of his time in the Chapleau area was spent at the Ritchie camp, built by parents Allan Ritchie and Bella (Saylors). The camp, situated at the tip land dividing the ‘front’ and ‘back’ rivers is the last remaining building on the original Chapleau Cree reserve.

Jean Eunice Morrison (White)

IN TORONTO APRIL 18^th, 2002, Jean Eunice Morrison, passed away peacefully after a ten year struggle with cancer, by her side was her beloved husband of 59 years William R. Morrison. She was a dear Mother to son William and his wife Krystyna and much loved Nana to Billy Jr., Kyl, Jordan and Marya. Jean was the daughter of deceased parents Dinah and Robert White formerly of Chapleau also predeceased by sisters Mary, Elisabeth (Betty), baby Jessie and brothers William and John (Jokey), she leaves brothers Donald of Hamilton and Ian and his wife Daphne of London.

Jean was born and educated in Chapleau. She attended the old Public and High Schools; she was also a member of St John's Anglican Church, and an elder of Chapleau Cree First Nation. Jean was an active and respected supporter of Al-anon where her sponsorship will be greatly missed.

Interment will be in Chapleau Cemetery in late May.