FIRST NATION CHRISTMAS TREES FARM EXPECTS TO DO WELL AGAIN THIS YEAR
Strong sales in urban areas; but imported trees sold in bigger centers still big problem for island tree farms Some of the finest home grown Christmas Trees in this area, grown by the Miawpukek First Nation (Conne River) went on sale this week. This is the second year of tree sales for the First Nation. Their Christmas Tree operations is part of a number of economic ventures they've embarked upon over the past decade to provide economic benefits and jobs for their members.
According to Glen Benoit, Director of Economic Development for the First Nation, the trees were well received last year and sales were more than expected. This year's trees went on sale at the local building supplies store as well as at the First Nation Park on the Baie d' Espoire Highway (Jipuji'j Qospem Park, Route 360).
Glen figures having two locations will better ensure sales of his trees by taking advantage of local needs and visitors to his First Nation as well as buyers passing over the highway on Route 360 between south coast centers like Harbour Breton and area and the rest of the Baie d' Espoire. The Miawpukek First Nation and the other four farms on the island know there is enormous potential for Christmas Tree sales, because of their own sales and the fact that there was upwards of "30,000 trees imported [from Nova Scotia] last year and [The Provincial Department of] Agriculture expects that to increase this year. It is estimated that 4,000 trees will be sold from Newfoundland farms". That 30.000 figure is oft quoted as the yearly market for the St. John's area alone.
It is Glen's intention, along with the other island tree growers, to take over this market. Glen recently returned from a meeting with the Coast of Bays Corporation where he had some discussion about the Christmas Tree market potential. He suggest that there can be enough local trees grown to easily fill the market potential on the island. Not only that, but he says local trees "...are cut much closer to the purchase date. This means the trees are fresher and will last through the season much better than mainland trees, which are cut as early as November". This, along with comparable pricing, ensures that customers who "BUY LOCAL" are getting the best quality for the best price.
With regards to the trees coming in from the mainland, Glen says he believes island buyers need to get themselves organized and maybe "set up some sort of marketing board" to protect their interests and promote their sales.
The First Nation has been pretty fortunate with regards to cultivating the trees since the first seedlings were planted years ago. There has been no moose or other damage to the trees but some trees have been stolen from the farm. If this can be kept to a minimum or prevented outright, then the economic success and the opportunity for local jobs will be all the more guaranteed.
With regards to keeping your Christmas Tree healthy for the whole season. Glen suggests cutting the tree butt on an angle and giving it water at the same time you put it up. And if you don't get to put up your tree right after cutting it, he suggests you cut a slice off the tree butt again when you do put it up. And DON'T "thaw" out the tree before adding the water.
FIRST NATION'S DAY CARE CENTER TO OPEN
Miawpukek's (Conne River) brand new Day Care Center, Newkl Wju'snn Day Center, opens for business on January 5, 1998.
Newkl Wju'snn (Four Winds) Day Care Center has been discussed for the longest time. Finally after a First Nation survey and feasibility study to find out the need and the viability of such an establishment, spearheaded by Conne River Health and Social Services, the center is a reality.
Parents were invited in to view the center and register their children on December 18. The Center is centrally located, close to the First Nation School and Administration offices, and well fitted with the essential day care facilities and equipment. It even has it's own observation room with two way mirror for parents or program evaluators to observe the Center in operation without being seen.
Funds for the needs assessment and feasibility study were made available from HRDC under the child care initiative. Two people from the First Nation who had taken their own initiative to go and obtain diplomas in Early Childhood Education, Carmelita Drew and Nena Jeddore were hired to work in the center. They will work with Coordinator Velma Piercy, who was seconded to the Center from the First Nation School for a year and who has a Primary Education degree.
Newkl Wju'snn Day Care Center offers three programs; After School, ½ Day and Full Day. They accept children up to twelve years with fees ranging from $25.00 to $100.00 per week. Center staff stress they are not a baby-sitting service. People cannot just come in and drop off their children and ask to have them taken care of while the parent(s) are away. Registration is formal and space is allotted on first come first serve basis but in a planned arrangement.
FIRST NATION POLICE PURCHASE BREATHALYZER MACHINE
Peacekeeping Force withers growing pains and comes into it's own
Miawpukek (Conne River) Tribal Police's mandate to keep their First Nation safe for residents old and young alike was given additional help recently with their purchase of a breathalyzer machine.
Previously, drivers allegedly driving in an intoxicated state had to be transported to the RCMP station at Head of Baie d' Espoire, where the only machine and trained personnel in the local area, were available. The unsuitability of this arrangement was recognized from the beginning, and obtaining the breathalyzer machine was, like all things planned, given it's appointed purchase date. Now that date has come and the equipment has been received and is installed in the Tribal Police Station.
Two of the First Nation's four Tribal Peacekeepers have obtained the necessary training to operate the machine in accordance with the law and will soon receive their certification from the Province. Other officers will go out for training as scheduling permits until all the force's officers are similarly trained.
Begun in 1986 as a major component of the First Nation's reaffirmation of their right to self-government, the Peacekeeping Force now consist of four members, with only two members remaining from the initial six when the force was first established. Two others including one female joined the force in 1990 and 1993. Two of the officers are graduates of the First Nations Tribal Justice Institute and two are graduates of the Atlantic Police academy.
Several letters and notices from the Tribal Police to the community over the past months has given residents some insight into the Tribal Police's history and future plans.
The breathalyzer operation is only one of an ongoing schedule of training and upgrading plans for the Peacekeepers. The two members who took the breathalyzer program also received training in Impaired Driving investigation. Training in other areas of police work will continue. This will include: "A code of conduct to guide the actions of Police Officers; Operational policy to guide police in conducting investigations; School, Youth, Elder, business and other service agency liaison programs; Firearms policy; Investigation guidelines/ file management; and Citizen's Policing Committee to oversee police operations".
The force received another big boost to morale this past summer, when their jurisdiction was extended beyond the boundaries of the First Nation, to include the new paved highway into the community as well as the First Nation Park.
As aboriginals, most First Nation Police consider themselves Peacekeepers first and Police men second. Because of this and because the members are all from their own community, policing in the community operates differently from non aboriginal communities. As Peacekeepers, they enforce First Nation By-laws and as supernumerary constables appointed under the RCMP act, they have the power to enforce most criminal code infractions; but an arrest, for instance, sometimes comes as a last resort and would not necessarily lead to charges being laid. This method of policing has been accepted by the RCMP across Canada as well and is reflected in their policy of "Community Based Policing". An integral part of that policy is that the Tribal Police "will ensure people who make complaints are kept informed of what action has been taken".
Also charges laid under the First Nation By-laws are prosecuted by the First Nation's own prosecutor. They First Nation's justice system also has a process by which, funds from any traffic tickets paid up by First Nation members before their scheduled court appearance, are directed into the First Nation's own coffers.
The force has evolved over the past eleven years and have withered most of their growing pains. From First Nations Security to First Nations Peacekeeping, the force has come a long way. While most traditionalists in the community recognized them from the start as the Peacekeepers that they were, some in the community took a long time to give them the respect they deserved.
The First Nation Government has recognized this as well, and to help with the final transition of the Peacekeepers as a respected, responsible and an integral part of self-government, they have obtained the assistance of RCMP Corporal Wade Blake, an aboriginal from Northwest River, Labrador, who now acts as Chief Constable. It is under Cpl. Blake's guidance that the above mentioned areas of training will be conducted. It is expected that during Cpl. Blake's stay and after he leaves, First Nation members "will see the improvements through a better police service".