March/April 2012 Issue - Ktunaxa Nation

March/April 2012 Issue - Ktunaxa Nation March/April 2012 Issue - Ktunaxa Nation

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March/April 2012 K��/N��1� East Kootenay Regional Hospital Unveils Aboriginal Space The opening of a new Aboriginal Space at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital took place today with delegates from Interior Health (IH) and Ktunaxa Nation in attendance. The creation of the Aboriginal space was the most recent initiative since the Letter of Understanding (LOU) that the two parties signed in January 2009. The LOU was the first of its kind for IH and furthered the goal of meeting the needs of the Aboriginal population by involving them in health planning and providing culturally sensitive services and programs. “Interior Health has been working collaboratively with the Ktunaxa Nation to improve health services to Aboriginal peoples,” said Norman Embree, Interior Health Board Chair. “The establishment of an Aboriginal space within East Kootenay Regional Hospital exemplifies the Ktunaxa Nation’s desire to improve the quality of life for all Aboriginal peoples within their traditional territory.” “IH has shown very forward thinking, and have reached out to make Aboriginal peoples know that they are welcomed at the hospital, said Debbie Whitehead,” Ktunaxa Nation Council Director of Health Services. “Creating a level of comfort for Aboriginal peoples receiving health services is a key factor in bridging the health care gap that currently exists.” The space located between the coffee shop and elevators provides health literature for Aboriginal peoples, and features a mural by Ktunaxa artist, Marisa Phillips. “I felt that the Ktunaxa Creation Story should be the focus in the Aboriginal space of the hospital,” said Phillips. “It will not only welcome visitors to Ktunaxa Territory, but also provide a sense of who the Ktunaxa are as a people.” “The mural features two of the main characters from the Ktunaxa Creation Story, Nalmuqcin and (from left to right) St. Mary’s Councilor Corrie Walkley, Elder Herman Alpine, East Kootenay Regional Hospital Acute Care Chris Shumka, Ktunaxa Nation Chair Kathryn Teneese, Marisa and Aurora Phillips, IH Aboriginal Liaison Leah Phillips, and (kneeling) IH Patient Navigator Kimberly Keen. Yawu?nik,” continued Phillips. “They are placed within the top two corners, while the images along the bottom depict the different peoples and where they came from. Each colour leads to the center image of the earth where all of humanity is represented as being equal and where we were given the role as caregivers and stewards of Mother Earth. From the Earth, rise the spirits of the animals that offered themselves to serve as our guides. The images on the ground show the different animal territories that the War party traveled through.” Inside this Issue: BC Delegation goes to France Members of the Chief Kinbasket lodge Intergrated Partnership will benefit Kootenay Lake Ktunaxa do Not Support the Wolf Cull Line Creek IMBA Update Qukin Nuk?is Lot 48 recieves funding Communications Technology Summit COTR offering two Aboriginal Programs Kootenay Falls Waneta Expansion Project Update Canada Post: #41302513

March/April 2012 K��/N��1�

East Kootenay Regional Hospital Unveils Aboriginal Space

The opening of a new Aboriginal

Space at the East Kootenay Regional

Hospital took place today with

delegates from Interior Health (IH)

and Ktunaxa Nation in attendance.

The creation of the Aboriginal

space was the most recent initiative

since the Letter of Understanding

(LOU) that the two parties signed

in January 2009. The LOU was the

first of its kind for IH and furthered

the goal of meeting the needs

of the Aboriginal population by

involving them in health planning

and providing culturally sensitive

services and programs.

“Interior Health has been working

collaboratively with the Ktunaxa

Nation to improve health services

to Aboriginal peoples,” said

Norman Embree, Interior Health

Board Chair. “The establishment

of an Aboriginal space within

East Kootenay Regional Hospital

exemplifies the Ktunaxa Nation’s

desire to improve the quality of life

for all Aboriginal peoples within

their traditional territory.”

“IH has shown very forward

thinking, and have reached out to

make Aboriginal peoples know that

they are welcomed at the hospital,

said Debbie Whitehead,” Ktunaxa

Nation Council Director of Health

Services. “Creating a level of

comfort for Aboriginal peoples

receiving health services is a key

factor in bridging the health care

gap that currently exists.”

The space located between the

coffee shop and elevators provides

health literature for Aboriginal

peoples, and features a mural by

Ktunaxa artist, Marisa Phillips.

“I felt that the Ktunaxa Creation

Story should be the focus in the

Aboriginal space of the hospital,”

said Phillips. “It will not only

welcome visitors to Ktunaxa

Territory, but also provide a sense of

who the Ktunaxa are as a people.”

“The mural features two of the

main characters from the Ktunaxa

Creation Story, Nalmuqcin and

(from left to right) St. Mary’s Councilor Corrie Walkley, Elder Herman Alpine, East Kootenay Regional

Hospital Acute Care Chris Shumka, Ktunaxa Nation Chair Kathryn Teneese, Marisa and Aurora Phillips, IH

Aboriginal Liaison Leah Phillips, and (kneeling) IH Patient Navigator Kimberly Keen.

Yawu?nik,” continued Phillips.

“They are placed within the top two

corners, while the images along the

bottom depict the different peoples

and where they came from. Each

colour leads to the center image

of the earth where all of humanity

is represented as being equal and

where we were given the role as

caregivers and stewards of Mother

Earth. From the Earth, rise the

spirits of the animals that offered

themselves to serve as our guides.

The images on the ground show the

different animal territories that the

War party traveled through.”

Inside this Issue:

BC Delegation goes to France

Members of the Chief Kinbasket

lodge

Intergrated Partnership will benefit

Kootenay Lake

Ktunaxa do Not Support the Wolf

Cull

Line Creek IMBA Update

Qukin Nuk?is

Lot 48 recieves funding

Communications Technology

Summit

COTR offering two Aboriginal

Programs

Kootenay Falls

Waneta Expansion Project Update

Canada Post: #41302513

March/April 2012 News

K��/N��1�

BC Delegation to France calls into

question the Jumbo approval process

The Ktunaxa Nation Council is

deeply concerned that a delegation

representing BC is travelling to

France to secure investment for

a controversial resort that hasn’t

been approved. Jumbo Glacier

Resort has been widely opposed by

the majority of local residents, as

well as the Ktunaxa Nation, who

consider this area called Qat’muk

(GOT-MOOK) in Ktunaxa, to be

sacred.

“It has the appearance that

government is not impartial in

the project review process,” said

Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation

Chair. “The BC Government has an

obligation to make a decision about

this resort based upon facts. Is the

government providing preferential

treatment for this private business?

It certainly calls into question the

approval process.”

“Even government’s premise that

this will create jobs for families is

simply wrong and misinformed.

Last November we released an

economic report by Dr. Marvin

Schaffer which showed that this

resort is likely to have zero net

economic benefit for the people BC.

The report indicated that any job

gains at the new resort will likely

be offset by losses at other resorts

or tourism businesses, particularly

as there has been overall decline in

the ski tourism market since 2004.”

“It will only provide minimum

wage jobs,” said Teneese. “The

local businesses are already having

a hard time filling those. This

project will provide very few jobs

for families to survive on.”

“The only ones who will benefit are

developers, although insolvency of

ski resorts is all too common. This

is a real estate grab at the expense of

the people of BC, at the expense of

the environment, and at the expense

of Ktunaxa culture and heritage.”

The Ktunaxa Nation have

continuously been opposed to

development taking place in the

Jumbo Valley based upon the

cultural significance of this area to

Ktunaxa. For Ktunaxa, Qat’muk is

the home to the Grizzly Bear Spirit

and the core of a culturally pivotal

sacred site. It also provides key

connectivity habitat for grizzlies

and numerous other wildlife

species. Last November was the

one year anniversary of the delivery

of the Qat’muk Declaration to

the BC Legislature. The Qat’muk

Declaration outlines the cultural

Page 2

significance of the region to

Ktunaxa, and provides principles

for appropriate activities and usage.

“There are just too many risks with

this proposed resort,” continued

Teneese. “Ultimately for Ktunaxa,

the desire to protect this culturally

significant area is the most critical.”

“The Ktunaxa are not opposed to

Members of the Chief Kinbasket Lodge at Mica Creek

A new camp has been established

at Mica Creek & is called ‘Chief

Kinbasket Lodge’. Horizon North

Camp & Catering division has partnered

with Secwepemc Camp &

Catering and is responsible for the

camp operations. Presently, the

development, and in many cases

we have supported development

throughout our Territory. However,

development has to be done in a

sensible manner in appropriate

locations.”

“In this case, approval of a resort in

Qat’muk would cause serious and

irreversible harm to the Ktunaxa

way of life, and it would also be

camp has 250 beds and provides all

catering services. 100 additional

beds will be established next fall

to accommodate the increased demands

as the Mica Unit 5 & Unit 6

projects ramp up.

an environmental disaster in south

eastern British Columbia. The

Provincial decision makers now

have an opportunity to say no to

this resort and prevent this jumbo

mistake.”

The Qat’muk Declaration, Shaffer

Report and Short Documentary can

all be found at www.beforejumbo.

com

The attached picture is of some Nation members & the camp Manager (Sheila Collins) who are working at the

Chief Kinbasket Lodge at Mica Creek. (Picture taken February 27, 2012) Please note: other Nation member(s)

absent as they were on scheduled days off

Mica Creek was once a booming village for 2700 people during the construction of Mica Dam in the early 1970’s.

Mica Creek is 140 km North of Revelstoke (Hwy 23)

For more information about the

camp, including how to apply for

work at the camp contact:

Marion Eunson

meunson@ktunaxa.org

Ph. 1-888-480-2464, ext. 3046

March/April 2012 News

K��/N��1�

Integrated Partnership will Benefit Kootenay Lake

The Kootenay Lake Partnership

(KLP) adopted a strategic Terms of

Reference to develop integrated and

collaborative approaches to lake

management planning. This is a

response to recent rapid growth and

increased pressure that will protect

and enhance the ecological health,

aboriginal and socio-economic

values of KootenayLake. Through

cooperation, information-sharing,

optimizing available resources and

coordinating efforts, the Partnership

process will seek to provide public

education and guidance, and

establish lake management strategies

for: foreshore development, water

quality, protection of culturally

and ecologically significant sites,

population protection for fish and

wildlife, and cumulative impacts.

The Partnership includes

representatives from Fisheries and

Oceans Canada, the Ministry of

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource

Operations, the Regional District

of Central Kootenay, the Canadian

Columbia River Intertribal Fisheries

Commission, the Ktunaxa Nation

Council, and the Lower Kootenay

Band Other groups representing

their interests include the Okanagan

Nation Alliance, the Ministry

of Environment, the Interior

Health Authority, Ministry of

Transportation and Infrastructure,

the City of Nelson, and the Village

of Kaslo.

“KootenayLake is very important

to the past, present and future

culture and traditions of the

Ktunaxa Nation,” said Ray Warden,

Director of the KtunaxaLands and

Resource Agency. “We are pleased

to be involved in this multi-agency

approach to managing such a

valuable resource. Responsible

stewardship requires everyone’s

involvement, and we hope that

KootenayLake’s local residents and

visitors join us in this important

mission.”

Due to increasing development

pressures and more people opting

to relocate to the area for a more

relaxed and nature-oriented

lifestyle, Garry Jackman, an RDCK

representative on the KLP says,

“The partnership is well positioned

to provide sound, scientific data to

guide development practices and to

help educate current and incoming

residents about how to best maintain

this beautiful environment which

they sought out in the first place”.

The KLP will continue to work

towards developing a collaborative

framework, solidifying

intergovernmental relationships and

enable the development of a forum

for KootenayLake management

planning. ”

Ktunaxa Do Not Support Wolf Cull

The Ktunaxa Nation is deeply

concerned about provincial

government’s plan to kill wolves if

they prey on caribou translocated to

supplement the threatened southern

Purcell mountain population. The

aerial cull of wolves would be

conducted by provincial government

staff, and would be triggered by the

loss of a caribou via wolf kill, which

would be signalled by the satellite

collars on the translocated caribou.

“We feel that wolves are a natural

part of the ecosystem,” said Ray

Warden, Director of the Ktunaxa

Lands & Resources. “A cull

could have negative long term

consequences, not only for the

wolves, but ultimately also the

caribou.”

“As others, the Ktunaxa Nation

is deeply concerned about the

dwindling caribou populations

throughout our territory. We have

had discussions with the BC

government, and we fully support

supplementing the population

through translocation or other

means, as an essential part of

recovery efforts.”

“However, if the effort requires

harmful interventions such as a

wolf cull, then perhaps the entire

translocation program needs to be

reassessed. In our view, wolves

preying upon caribou is part of the

ecosystem. If you artificially reduce

the wolf population, you also run

the risk of other species that wolf

prey on becoming too abundant, and

then other effects cascade through

the ecosystem.”

“We support monitoring predation

impacts and reviewing the

translocation program after the

first year to determine if the wolf

predation impact is such that too

many wolf packs would have to be

killed over too many years to make

the translocation effort a success.

— We are deeply opposed to killing

wolf packs on an annual basis for

years to come.”

The Ktunaxa Nation recognizes the

initial efforts that have been made

by government, the forest industry

and others to address the impacts

as part of an overall recovery

effort. The KNC supports many

of these initiatives including the

translocation of caribou from the

Level-Kawdy territory.

“We are in communication with the

Tahltan First Nation,” continued

Warden. “We are very appreciative

of their support to augment our

population from caribou from their

territory.”

“However, we believe that it is

misrepresentation to say that they

don’t want to let their caribou be

brought down here without aerial

wolf control. The Tahltan also

understand the need for a balanced

ecosystem, and in this case, they are

more concerned about the wolves in

their own territory, than ours.”

Page 3

March/April 2012 K��/N��1�

Page 4

News

Here it is! Line Creek IMBA Update #1

“What the Heck is an IMBA?”

appeared in the last issue of the

Ktuqcqakyam and it promised

updates. Here is our first update!

If you happened to miss that article,

read it on the Ktuqcqakyam online,

www.thektuq.com.

To recap:

Teck Coal operates five coal mines

in the Elk Valley and wants to

expand its Line Creek Mine. Teck

has applied for an environmental

assessment certificate (EAC).

Teck’s application for an EAC to

expand its mine is currently being

reviewed through the environmental

assessment process and a decision

is expected in August. If Teck is

granted an EAC by the province,

this is strategic provincial approval

to expand its mine.

The Ktunaxa will also be making a

decision about the mine expansion.

One piece of that decision about the

mine expansion will be a Ktunaxa

decision about whether to approve

a draft Impact Management and

Benefit Agreement (IMBA).

A negotiating team working for the

Ktunaxa Nation and another team

working for Teck Coal are currently

negotiating a draft IMBA for Teck

and Ktunaxa decision-makers

review and decision in August.

Last November, the Ktunaxa

Nation Executive Council (KNEC)

established the negotiating team

and a steering committee to guide

and give direction to the negotiating

team. It is hoped that a draft IMBA

will be available for internal review

and discussion by May 15th.

Highlights of the IMBA negotiation

and Qukin Nukiyʔis

• In February the Traditional

Knowledge and Language Sector

Advisory Group named the steering

committee that gives direction

to the Negotiating Team, “Qukin

Nukiyʔis”

• “Qukin Nukiyʔis” has met four

times since January and is working

hard developing mandate direction

to the negotiating team

• The negotiating team has met

with Teck coal for four negotiation

sessions and have discussed the

following topics:

o Economic and procurement

o Stewardship measures and

cumulative impacts

o Financial elements

o Structure and intent of the

draft agreement

• Both Teck and the KNC

negotiating team acknowledge that

the IMBA, if approved, should lay

out a positive pathway forward to

work together, and for the Ktunaxa

to be recognized for their role

and responsibilities in Ktunaxa

Territory.

• Tough issues that will need time

and attention by everyone are

likely to be cumulative impacts and

the financial elements of a draft

IMBA.

• Although the issues are tough, the

negotiators work and communicate

well as a group.

• The first round of community

meetings have been held and

another round is being planned for

June.

• Common themes from

community meetings include, deep

concern for the land, the animals

and the water now and into the

future; resentment that mining has

been occurring for decades with

little or no involvement (or benefit)

to the Ktunaxa; a willingness to

learn more, a strong conviction

that issues and concerns raised

about the project need to be

genuinely listened to and dealt with

• Efforts are being made to connect

with citizens who do not live near

a BC Ktunaxa community or out of

the traditional territory. A meeting

with citizens who live in or around

Vancouver is planned for April

12th.

• A citizen site visit to Line

Creek and Fording River mines in

planned for late June.

Timelines and Milestones

• March - May:

Negotiating Sessions and Qukin

Nukiyʔis meetings

• April 12

Vancouver meeting with citizens

• May 15

Draft IMBA

• May – June

Community Meetings on Draft

IMBA

Leadership review of Draft IMBA

• June

Citizen Site visit to Line Creek and

Fording River Mines (stay tuned

for details)

• June

Negotiation sessions based on

direction from Qukin Nukiyʔis and

leadership, and citizens

• July – August

Nation decision-making process

on the draft IMBA and the

Environmental

Assessment certificate

More ?

If you wish to be put on the ‘email

update distribution list”, simply

send an email to: lands@ktunaxa.

org. if you don’t do email, and

would prefer updates mailed to you,

What does Qukin Nukiyʔis mean?

call Denine at: 1-800-324-4118, or

250.417.4022 and she will put you

on a mail out list.

Finally, if you have something to say

about the Teck Line Creek IMBA,

email, lands@ktunaxa.org and your

comments will be brought to Qukin

Nukiyʔis and the negotiating team.

Don’t have email, call Denine at the

number above.

Qukin Nukiyʔis and the Line

Creek IMBA negotiations

Be the first to email the correct meaning of this word to

lands@ktunaxa.org to win a prize! Only Ktunaxa citizens are eligible

to win.

So, what is Qukin Nukiyʔis?

In November, the Ktunaxa Nation Executive Council established a

steering committee to give direction and guidance to the negotiating

team that is negotiating a draft Impact Management and Benefit

Agreement (IMBA) for the proposed Teck Line Creek Mine

expansion.

The Traditional Knowledge and Language Sector Advisory Council

(TKLAC) named this group, Qukin Nukiyʔis.

Qukin Nukiyʔis meets about twice a month during the IMBA

negotiations and works hard within their respective representative

bodies (sectors/communities) to bring direction and guidance to the

negotiating team.

Who sits on Qukin Nukiyʔis?

• Robin Gravelle (TPIB)

• Curtis Wullum (LKIB)

• Allan Nicholas (AFN) / Lorne Shovar

• Melanie Sam (Traditional Knowledge and Language Sector)

• Helder Ponte (Economic Sector)

• Bill Green (Lands sector)

• Bart Knudsgaard (Social sector)

• Don Maki (Corporate sector)

• Lynn Armstrong, (Director of Finance)

• Kathryn Teneese or Cheryl Casimer (Treaty Council)

• Brian Watson (SMIB);

• Ginger Gibson, Technical expertise on IMBAs, ex office member

Qukin Nukiyʔis? Selected Ray Warden, Director of Lands and

Resources to be the Chairperson.

Negotiating Team

• Chris Knight (Lead Negotiator)

• Ray Warden, Director of Lands and Resources

• Denine Milner, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator

To receive updates via email on the Teck Line Creek IMBA

negotiations, email, lands@ktunaxa.org. If you would prefer mail out

updates, call Denine toll-free at 1.800.324.4118 or 250.417.4022 and

get on the list.

March/April 2012 News

K��/N��1�

$1 Million Earmarked For Columbia Lake Conservation

CBT backs the Nature Conservancy

of Canada's plan to conserve Lot 48

(Columbia Basin) - Columbia

Basin Trust (CBT) is pleased to

announce it has committed $1

million to the Nature Conservancy

of Canada (NCC) to go toward the

conservation of Columbia Lake -

Lot 48.

Located on the east shore of

Columbia Lake, approximately

five kilometres south of Fairmont

Hot Springs, Lot 48 is 127 hectares

of ecologically and culturally

important private property

sandwiched between protected

areas and Crown land.

"CBT encourages long-term

stewardship of the Basin's natural

assets, which is why we're pleased

we can provide support toward the

conservation of Lot 48," said Neil

Muth, CBT President and CEO.

"The purchase will not only help

preserve the ecological and cultural

values of Lot 48 itself, but of the

entire east side of Columbia Lake."

Columbia Lake and its shoreline

hold great spiritual significance

to the Ktunaxa Nation. The area

features as the cradle of human life

in the Ktunaxa Creation Story, and,

for thousands of years, the Ktunaxa

used the area as a transportation route

to the prairies and built villages and

camps there. They held ceremonial

events there, plus harvested salmon,

hunted game and gathered food in

the area. Archaeological evidence

remains, including pictographs and

burial sites.

"The east side of Columbia Lake is

an integral part of Ktunaxa history,"

said Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa

Nation Chair. "It is the foundation

of the Ktunaxa Creation Story, and

has been used by our people for

thousands of years."

"Lot 48 is a significant piece of the

cultural landscape of that area. The

Ktunaxa Nation supports all efforts

to conserve this area for future

generations, and we would like to

commend Columbia Basin Trust and

the Nature Conservancy of Canada

for their work and dedication to this

common goal."

The property is bounded by

Columbia Lake Provincial Park,

the Columbia Wetlands Wildlife

Management Area and the East

Side Columbia Lake Wildlife

Management Area.

"Lot 48 is the last remaining

unprotected parcel in a larger

mosaic of protected lands, forming

an essential contribution to a larger

landscape," said Linda Hannah,

BC Regional Vice President, NCC.

"Conserving this parcel will create

an unbroken network of protected

lands that will span more than 7,600

hectares."

The area is home to mixed forests

and grasslands that provide habitat

for rare and endangered animal

species like badgers, flammulated

owls and grizzly bears. In addition,

endangered plant communities

like bluebunch wheatgrass and

junegrass thrive on the land. Plus it

provides valuable winter range for

ungulates like bighorn sheep and

elk.

"With this contribution CBT has

provided foundational funding

that takes us significantly closer

to realizing our goal of conserving

Lot 48 for now and forever," said

Hannah.

The entire cost of conserving

Lot 48, including setting up a

stewardship endowment, will come

to $7.2 million. CBT is one of

several confirmed funders; NCC is

in the process of confirming other

contributions in order to complete

the purchase.

NCC is a national non-profit,

non-advocacy organization that

works to protect Canada's most

ecologically significant and

threatened habitat. Learn more at

www.natureconservancy.ca or call

1.800.404.8428.

CBT delivers economic, social

and environmental benefits to the

residents of the Columbia Basin.

To learn more about CBT programs

and initiatives, visit www.cbt.org or

call 1.800.505.8998.

Looking out towards Columbia Lake from the wetland on Lot 48. Photo courtesy of Nature Conservancy of

Canada.

Ktunaxa Participate in Information &

Communication Technology Summit

The 2012 Information &

Communication Technology

Summit was held in Vancouver

from February 23rd to the 25th at

the Coast Plaza Suites in Vancouver.

The annual event, hosted by the

First Nations Technology Council,

is attended by First Nations

organizations and from across BC

and Canada. The summit provides

a stage to showcase the work being

done in First Nations communities

relating to technology and issues

such as health or land management.

This year’s keynote speaker was

Commander John Herrington, a

member of the Chickasaw Nation

and the first Native American in

space as a member of the 2002

shuttle mission to the International

Space Station. The presentation

included some truly amazing photos

of Commander Herrington’s time

spent aboard the station. Currently,

Herrington spends much of his time

visiting schools and emphasising

the importance of science education

to children while maintaining a

balance of traditional knowledge

and respect for one’s environment.

There were many informative

presentations, including some by

Ktunaxa Nation members and

employees, but the highlight of the

summit took place during lunch on

Friday.

On Friday, the summit attendees

were joined for lunch by His

Honour Stephen Point, Lieutenant

Governor of British Columbia.

Joining the Lieutenant Governor

was his wife, Gwendolyn and Dr.

Lorna Williams from the University

of Victoria. Dr. Williams has been

working alongside the First Voices

website to develop a mobile app

that allows for any First Nation

that has contributed resources to

the First Voices website, to text

in their traditional language. The

Lieutenant Governor and his wife

gave a demonstration of the app,

texting each other in their traditional

Stó:lō language.

The First Voices app is still under

development, but will be available

in the iTunes store in the near

future. A Ktunaxa keyboard will

be available and the app will be

provided at no cost to the user.

Following the First Voices

demonstration, two young boys from

a coastal First Nation gave a truly

amazing presentation. Utilizing a

3D programming engine, these boys

have recreated a traditional coastal

village. Anyone using the program

can journey through the village and

by clicking on a longhouse or a clam

baking pit within the village, videos

or photographs of that particular

building or traditional activity will

pop up and play.

Overall, it was very exciting to

see the kind of technology-related

work taking place in First Nation

communities around BC. Even

smaller, geographically isolated

communities were represented and

gave demonstrations on how they’ve

managed to overcome issues like

access to high-speed connectivity

and how they’ve leveraged this

connectivity for health-care or

economic development.

It was an amazing three days and I

hope to be back there next year.

Page 5

March/April 2012 K��/N��1�

If you’re interested in a career in

finance within Aboriginal organizations

or communities the College of

the Rockies’ Aboriginal Financial

Management program is for you.

College of the Rockies (COTR),

in partnership with the Aboriginal

Financial Officers Association

(AFOA) of Canada, offers the courses

that lead to a certificate (eight

courses) in Aboriginal Financial

Management from AFOA. You

can take many of the courses in a

classroom setting at the Cranbrook

Campus or take all the courses

online from your own computer.

You can then go on to earn a

diploma (14 courses) in Aboriginal

Financial Management, which satisfies

the academic requirement for

Page 6

News

COTR Offering two Aboriginal-focussed programs

Kootenai Falls Ceremony

Friday, June 15, 2012 11:00 MST

Kootenai Falls plays an

important and significant role

in the culture and spiritual

beliefs of the Ktunaxa people.

Each year, our Nation from

both sides of the imaginary line

running through our territory

gather together to reaffirm the

importance and significance

of Kootenai Falls. Today the

falls remains as the last major

waterfall on a northwest river

that has not been harnessed to

produce electricity.

The ceremony will get

underway at 12noon but you

are encouraged to come early

to take in the beauty and power

of this most sacred of places.

This is not a public function

and only those non native

people invited to attend should

do so.

For More information, Please

contact:

Kootenai Culture Committee,

Elmo (406) 849-5541

Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

(208) 267-3519

Ktunaxa Nation Council,

Cranbrook (250) 417-4022

the Certified Aboriginal Financial

Manager designation..

Completing the diploma program in

Aboriginal Financial Management

helps prepare students for intermediate-level

financial positions within

Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal

organizations.

Individuals with the AFM diploma

and two years of full-time practical

work experience can apply to

AFOA Canada to write its professional

exam and become a Certified

Aboriginal Financial Manager.

Another program that may be of

interest is the Aboriginal Education

Support Worker diploma (AESW)

if you’re interested in working with

Aboriginal students and traditional

Aboriginal values and community

are important to you.

As an Aboriginal Education Support

Worker you can provide direct and

indirect support to teachers, parents,

students and communities in

achieving their goals.

College of the Rockies is the only

post-secondary institution in BC

to offer an Aboriginal Education

Support Worker diploma program.

You can take this diploma program

completely online with some

courses available locally. Students

can attend full time and complete

the diploma in two years.

AESW is also suitable for part-time

students. If you already have expe-

rience as an Education Assistant,

you may qualify for a prior learning

assessment, which could give you

credit toward the diploma.

The AESW diploma can give you

the knowledge and skills you need

to better support Aboriginal students,

their families and school

communities. This program is

designed for people who want to

make a real difference.

For more information on either

of these programs contact the

Aboriginal Education Coordinator

at College of the Rockies at 250-

489-8209 or email: beattie-lane@

cotr.bc.ca

The Ktunaxa Nation

Council Employment and

Training Department will

be the first point of contact

for all Nupqu Development

Corporation applicants.

Those seeking employment

opportunities with Nuqpu

will need to submit all

resumes and cover letters

to representatives of the

Employment and Training

Department.

Applicants can find out

more about what items

need to presented in their

resumes, and what skills

are required by contacting:

Jason Andrew or Mike

Guarnery

1-888-480-2464, or

250-489-2464

March/April 2012 News

K��/N��1�

Big Milestone realized at the Waneta Expansion Project

Completion of powerhouse excavation.

In total, approximately

230,000 cubic metres of overburden

and 141,000 metres of rock were removed)

loading more than 50,000

trucks) and quarried within seven

kilometres of the site. The rock will

be available for reuse in future highway

and other infrastructure projects

in the area.

“Completion of the excavation at

the powerhouse site is a significant

milestone in the construction of this

$900 million project,” says Audrey

Repin, spokesperson for the Waneta

Expansion Project.

Marion

IMI Brokerage BC Office Extends Office Hours to Serve You Better

Cranbrook, BC - IMI Brokerage

Company Ltd. is now open

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to

4:30 p.m., to serve your health

and insurance needs. Our Client

Service Representatives, Coralee

Gendron, who has returned after

being away on a short leave and

Cecilia Teneese, are available to

assist you with your individual and

group health benefit and pension

plans. Coralee is available Monday

to Thursday until 2:00 p.m., and

Cecilia is available during normal

business hours. The IMI Brokerage

office is situated downstairs at St.

Mary’s Indian Band office.

We are pleased to have Coralee and

Cecilia as part of our team and look

forward to providing the essential

services to the Ktunaxa Nation

Council and affiliate Bands and organizations.

For additional information, contact

our BC office at 250-426-2656 or

toll free 1-866-388-4949 or email

imibrokeragecran@telus.net.

IMI Brokerage is a 100% Aboriginally

owned & controlled Insurance

Brokerage Company providing insurance

and financial products and

services to First Nations for 17

years.

Saskatchewan Office (Head)

P.O. Box 725

Duck Lake, SK S0K 1J0

Toll Free: 1-877-324-4949

Phone: 1-306-467-4949

Fax: 1-306-467-4499

imibrokerage@sasktel.net

Saskatchewan Office (Branch)

P. O. Box 548

Fort Qu’Appelle, SK S0G 1S0

Toll Free: 1-877-332-5503

Phone: 1-306-332-5503

Fax: 1-306-332-5507

imibrokeragefq@sasktel.net

Alberta Office

P.O. Box 1449

Hobbema, AB T0C 1N0

Toll Free: 1-877-585-8707

Fax: 1-780-585-3101

imibrokerageab@xplornet.com

British Columbia Office

7470 Mission Road

Cranbrook, BC V1C 7E5

Toll Free: 1-866-388-4949

Phone: 1-250-426-2656

Fax: 1-250-426-4856

imibrokeragecran@telus.net

Page 7

Page 8

WANTED:

TElEcommuNicATioNs

spEciAlisTs

“Every day there’s a new challenge and another

opportunity to help others. I’m always learning

new skills and meeting new people. Being in

the military is like being part of a close-knit

community.”

Corporal Tiffany Mahan, Norway House

First Nation

JOIN US ENGAGEZ-VOUS

RECHERCHONS :

SPÉCIALISTES EN

TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS

« Chaque jour amène un nouveau défi et une

autre occasion d’aider les autres. J’acquiers

constamment de nouvelles compétences

et je rencontre de nouvelles personnes. Être

membre des Forces canadiennes, c’est comme

faire partie d’une collectivité tricotée serrée. »

Caporal Tiffany Mahan, Première nation

de Norway House

DND04-PR-TS-04EF.indd 1 12-02-23 2:27 PM

Photos from Our

Lower Kootenay Band:

About 20 community members

attended Archives

this workshop. Much

credit for this excellent turn-out

goes to Carol

Louie, who went door-to-door to

drop off workshop flyers. Workshop

participants were very interested in

the project. They were engaged, and

keen to learn more about alternative

energies and simple, inexpensive

home energy efficiency retrofits.

Fortis BC, the Fraser Basin Council,

and the BC Woodstove Exchange

were all in attendance.

Tobacco Plains Band:

There were seven community

members in attendance, including

key Band Staff. We were lucky to

March/April 2012 Community

K��/N��1�

Ktunaxa Nation Regional Social Governance Initiative

Ktunaxa Nation Regional Social

Governance Initiative March 2012

The Regional Social Governance

Initiative team has worked to

identify gaps in services, to assess

the relevancy of services, and to

identify ways to create meaningful

opportunities for strengthening

cultural connections and promoting

Strong Healthy Ktunaxa Citizens

and Communities. Some areas of

the Social Governance Initiative

are being completed this month and

others are on-going.

The team, assisted by Ktunaxa

youth, videotaped several activities

during the past month:

• Trapping and preparation of hides

furs (Mike White)

• Sturgeon Nosed Canoe

construction (Wayne Louie)

• Drum making (Pete & Dolly

Andrew)

• Regalia: bustle, fan, breastplate

(Virginia Fisher)

• Ribbon Shirts (Gwen Phillips)

• Wackna (Priscilla Nicholas &

Lewis Michel)

Additional traditional knowledge

and activities like hunting, fish

trap construction and plants will be

documented in the next few months.

Contact Gwen Phillips gphillips@

ktunaxa.org, Simon Ross Sross@

ktunaxa.org, or Doug Mitchell

DMitchell@ktunaxa.org if you

are willing to share your traditional

knowledge or host an community

activity.

A Nation Education Planning

Day is being organized for March

27 at the College of the Rockies.

Chiefs, council members, band

administrators/managers and

education coordinators will be

invited to participate in developing

a vision for Ktunaxa education.

The final Social Governance

package will include sixteen

documents on topics such as:

• Indicators of a Strong, Healthy

Citizen

• Posters of the Indicators

• Policy Shift Recommendations

• Service Delivery Values &

Principles

• Education Perspectives

• Subsistence, Social & Mixed

Economies

• Social Investment vs. Income

Assistance

• Traditional Activity

Documentation

The complete Social Governance

Initiative Package will be available

at Band Offices and at the Ktunaxa

Nation Council office at the end of

March.

Submit

Classifieds

news@ktunaxa.org

(250) 417-4022

Page 9

March/April 2012 Community

K��/N��1�

Citizen Site visit to Mines

Qukin Nukiyʔis and the

negotiating team are working

with Teck to arrange a site

visit to Line Creek Mine

and Fording River Mine in

late June. Watch the Ktuq.

online and facebook for more

information.

Denine Milner

Strategic Initiatives

Coordinator

Ktunaxa Lands and Resources

Ktunaxa Nation Council

201-14th Avenue North

Cranbrook, BC V1C 3W3

Phone: 250-417-4022 ext. 240

Fax: 250-489-2438

I am writing this letter to

introduce Carmelle Laroche as

the Interim Native Courtworker

who will be covering Cranbrook

Courts and surrounding areas.

Carmelle brings to the NCCABC

a level of eagerness to continue

learning the position and a

passion for the aboriginal people

in conflict with the law.

I believe Carmelle’s experience

and skills will be a great

assistance to the communities

of Cranbrook and surrounding

areas. Carmelle will be

familiarizing herself with court

work procedure and will begin

travelling to circuit court when

appropriate.

Should there be any questions

you can reach me at the noted

address and telephones numbers.

Sincerely

Pamela Scorah

Supervisor

Prince George Office

Ste. 314-1488 4th Avenue

Prince George, BC V2L 4Y2

Phone : 250 919 1056

250 562 9513

The Native Courtworker and

Counselling Association of

British Columbia

50 Powell Street Vancouver,

BC, V6A 1E7

“Celebrating Over 37 Years of

Service”

Page10

Do you have

Something to

Say?

Email lands@ktunaxa.

org to be put on the IMBA

Update email list to receive

regular updates and

information and provide

your thoughts directly to

the negotiating team and

Qukin Nukiyʔis

The Ktunaxa Lands and Resources Agency (KLRA) has

recently hired new part-time, community-based Stewardship

Assistants.

These positions are a link between the KLRA and the

Communities. They will work on a variety of issues related to

lands and resources off-reserve including:

• Providing information and answering questions about

projects the KLRA is working on

• Listening to any concerns community members have about

land uses or impacts

• Answering questions about activities on the land (hunting,

road access, etc)

• Reviewing external proposals for development or resource

extraction

• Assisting with meetings/workshops related to KLRA projects

The Stewardship Assistants were hired through a competitive

interview process following KNC policies. Three assistants

were hired in Fall 2011, and KNC hopes to hire the fourth in

early 2012.

Please feel free to drop by and say hi to your new

Stewardship Assistants.

Lake Koocanusa Official Community

Plan and South Country Zoning Bylaw

Tobacco Plains Draft Presentation Open House and Dinner

You are invited to attend an Open House and Community Dinner to

review a draft of the Lake Koocanusa Official Community Plan and

revised South Country Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw.

The open house and dinner will provide an opportunity to:

• hear a presentation (scheduled for 6:45 pm) about the

draft OCP and Zoning Bylaw;

• review the draft bylaws and ask questions; and

• offer feedback on the draft OCP and Zoning Bylaw.

The Open House and Dinner will be held at:

Tobacco Plains Band Office

Monday, March 26, 2012

Dinner at 6:00 PM

Presentation at 6:45 PM

Dan Gravelle

Mon/Tues/Wed

Band Office

250-887-3461 ext. 3411

dgravelle@ktunaxa.org

Chad Luke

Tues/Wed/Thurs

Development Corp House

250-428-7960

cmluke@ktunaxa.org

Bonnie Harvey

Tues/Wed/Thurs

Band Office (downstairs)

250-426-5717 ext. 3522

bharvey@ktunaxa.org

Nevada Nicholas

Tues/Wed/Thurs

ʔakisqńuk Band Office

250-342-6301

March/April 2012 Letter to the Editor

K��/N��1�

The Case for an Aboriginal Film

Commission: An Educational

Revolution

By Troy Donovan Hunter J.D. (Coop

Law)

Screenplay writer Ray Van

Eng with Actor Stephen M.D.

Chang along with author Troy D.

Hunter at the closure of the old

bridge in Hope, BC (July 2011),

an original Rambo movie set.

Chang acted in Rambo’s “First

Blood” and is currently

producing Life for Mile, a movie

about Chinese and Indians

enduring racism during the

construction of the railway in

British Columbia.

In British Columbia and other parts

of our homelands, there are pockets

of interest to the movie making

industry, which is sometimes

referred to as, “Hollywood North”,

most of which is either in Toronto

or Vancouver. As with the rest of

the world, the advent of the silver

screen, the boob tube and now You

Tube, we have seen an entertainment

industry develop and flourish. That

is the industry of moving pictures,

of multimedia, of movie stars, of

glamour and other not so exciting

aspects such as the news. If we go

back even further in time, before

this industry had even been thought

of, we step back into an era of

theatre, of performance, of grace

and culture. In Aboriginal culture’s

this same type of entertainment

storytelling was used to transfer a

vast richness of history, of law, of

events and even of our own creation.

Truly, original peoples of Turtle

Island (North America) have passed

on their traditional knowledge from

generation to generation through

such means of an oral culture.

However, that is but one method

and there are many other methods

such as the re-creation of an event

as po trayed in song and dance in the

west coast big houses. Likewise, in

the prairies, we have a transference

of history and knowledge which

is remembered each year as sun

dances are held with original

teachings from the most-sacred,

White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman.

It would be fair to say that it is an

Aboriginal right to tell stories, to

teach history, to transfer knowledge,

to share ceremonies, not only within

the distinctive society from whence

knowledge originated from but also

to other societies as a natural and

normal progression of Indigenous

law. Evidence of this cross-cultural

connection of transference of

knowledge that took place across

Turtle Island over thousands of

years can be found in our common

Indian sign language, in our

cultural practices that each took on

their own distinctive ways, in our

archaeological sites, in our rock art,

in our grease trails, in our rivers

and streams, and in our creation

stories and oral histories, we have

commonalities which could only

have occurred by transferring

knowledge from one cultural group

to another.

When one studies these things,

it becomes clear and evident that

prior to contact with European

peoples, the original peoples of

North America had a vast economic

trading network and had transferred

knowledge and practices from one

cultural group to another. This was

and is the essence of survival. Our

ancestors learned how to survive

through, transference of knowledge,

divine guidance or both. Clearly,

the Supreme Court of Canada, in

the Van der Peet case, which was

based on a question of whether or

not there was an Aboriginal right

to sell salmon for money, came to

a dead-wrong conclusion on 21

August 1996 with their so-called,

“Test for Aboriginal Rights”.

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled

that, “in order to be an aboriginal

right an activity must be an element

of a practice, custom or tradition

integral to the distinctive culture

of the aboriginal group asserting

the right”. This test for Aboriginal

Rights ignores the evidence that the

original peoples of Turtle Island

had on-going, evolving cultures,

which changed from time to time

as necessary to adjust for the

world around them and that such

changes were often initiated by

an individual person taking action

rather than a whole cultural group

adopting a practice en masse. Also,

to base Aboriginal rights only upon

transference of knowledge from one

Aboriginal group to another and not

on one culture to another as in the

case of post-contact, is both absurd

and unconstitutional on equality

grounds. On the same note, the idea

that the “doctrine of discovery”

could mean that if a territory was

occupied by people who were

not Christian, then by virtue of

matters of the Christian faith, that

such territory was fair game to be

claimed by the Christian country

such as Spain, France, England,

etc., is a dishonourable excuse for

colonizing a territory on the basis

that the original peoples were

considered heathen savages for not

having Jesus Christ in their lives; the

so-called doctrine of discovery is

purely unconstitutional on the basis

of equality rights. The question now

is why is all of this relevant to the

entertainment industry?

What I have established is that there

is an Aboriginal right that belongs

to all of the original peoples of

Turtle Island that our stories, our

histories, our knowledge, our

ways of entertainment not only are

evolving but must be passed on to

the generations that follow. The

current entertainment industry is

dominated by “Western”

Eurocentric foundations which

also mirror that of the education

industry, and the cultural heritage

industry. In effect, our stories have

been silenced as we watch and learn

and become indoctrinated by the

influence of “Hollywood” and their

writers. Perhaps if there wasn’t such

a one-sided view to history, maybe

then, the lawmakers would have a

more balanced understanding and

make their decisions based on a

standard of correctness and not

what is merely believed to be right.

While historically, the voice of the

original peoples have been silent on

the sidelines as Hollywood dictated

how a story is told, who the villains

are, the hero’s, etc.. Some inclusion

of the original people’s voice has

begun to surface. The screenplay

for the 1998 movie, “Smoke

Signals” was written bySherman

Alexie, a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene

Indian. That low budget film at a

cost of around two million, had

over six million dollars’ worth of

sales. This is only scratching on the

surface of what could be the future

for Hollywood North as the original

peoples come up with their own

mainstream blockbustermovies.

As movie makers flock to Canada

for its tax credits, we have

Governments making decisions that

have the potential to impact

on our Aboriginal rights. Such

decisions have at its core, economic

development and job creation and

that is why tax breaks are given to

the entertainment industry. The

movie making business is a multibillion

dollar industry. Yet, because

decisions are made that have the

ability to impact Aboriginal

rights, the legal duty to consult

and accommodate is engaged.

This means that every time

the Government contemplates

providing a tax credit, they must

consult with First Nations and

accommodate their interests. I

propose that any transference

of story whether it is fiction or

nonfiction, has the capability to

effect Aboriginal rights by altering

peoples’ knowledge and belief

systems about our past and our

future and this affects our ability

to survive and thrive. While, there

are legal norms such as freedom

of speech, which allow people to

freely speak without persecution,

the issue here is concerned with

the Crown providing tax credits

to the movie industry, which can

potentially impact knowledge

and belief systems of all peoples

including Aboriginal peoples and

thus, indoctrinating masses of

people with an ignorant or lesser

view of the original peoples of

Turtle Island.

What I propose is that the Crown

recognizes that providing tax

credits to the entertainment industry

has the potential effect to impact

upon Aboriginal rights and in order

to accommodate that concern, that

on-going core funding is provided

to First Nations for the creation of

an Aboriginal Film Commission.

The Commission would partner

with the entertainment industry

and train the original peoples in

all aspects of this modern form

of storytelling, from writing a

screenplay to shooting movies and

distributing such new and evolving

media through established and yet

to be established mediums including

movie theatres worldwide.

The Hollywood format, a new

approach to storytelling would be

permeated in our education systems

from kindergarten to grade twelve

and beyond. Moreover, this

Commission would be responsible

for engaging with First Nations and

with production companies, even

offering tax incentives, in order to

encourage movies to be made on

federal Indian Reserves which

brings benefits such as jobs,

economic development and often,

increased tourism.

Continued next page.....

Page 11

March/April 2012 Community

K��/N��1�

Troy Hunter Continued...

The Hollywood format for

entertainment is used because it’s

successful in storytelling, retaining

audiences and ensuring that they

will return again to spend more

money to see more shows. Since the

original peoples of Turtle Island

also have vast storytelling customs

and traditions, it would only then be

a natural progression of Aboriginal

rights to use modern technology

and formulas so as to pass on

knowledge and wisdom to the future

generations. This is also important

because of the messages told from

an original people’s perspective

will be transferred to the hearts and

minds of future generations and in

Page 12

facebook.com/ktunaxa

Come join us online!!!

Don’t forget, along with the Ktuqcqakyam, we also have the

Ktunaxa Facebook page that allows you to connect with over

400 Nation Members!

www.facebook.com/ktunaxa

Like us

doing so, our world will be richer

for it.

Troy Hunter is a member of

the Ktunaxa First Nation from

Southeast British Columbia; he has

previously served as Vice President

of Indigenous Arts Service

Organization, School Trustee, and

member of the BC School Trustee’s

Aboriginal Education Committee.

He is currently a National Articling

Student in the Lawyer Licensing

Program with the Law Society of

Upper Canada as the Aboriginal

Rights and Title Coordinator for

the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council.

He is working on an historic epic

screenplay.

Celebrating Success

The attached picture is of Louis

Basil (& one of Louis being

welcomed onto the team by the

Carpenter's Shop steward at Waneta

Expansion Project)

Louis successfully completed the

technical Level 1 of the Carpentry

A big high five goes out to Kellan

Luke. For those that don’t know,

Kellan is Bob Luke’s son. Kellan

is an apprentice Heavy Duty

Mechanic with Teck Coal and has

passed his first year apprenticeship

with a score in the high 90’s.

Way to go Kellan, we are so proud

of you!

Thanks to Teck Coal, we were

able to send two young folks to the

Aboriginal Achievement Awards –

A Ktunaxa (Akan’kunik) Leap Year Baby

Photo’s courtesy of Troy D. Hunter (Abagail’s Grand Uncle).

With notes from the Daily Townsman

Abagail Dana Hunter, a Ktunaxa

(Akan'kunik) was born on

Wednesday February 29, 2012 at

9:36 a.m, which was a Leap Day.

She was born at East Kootenay

Regional Hospital in Cranbrook

BC. She's the daughter of Adam

Hunter and Dawn Mahseelah of

Grasmere. Weighing six pounds six

ounces, Abigail wasn't supposed

to arrive until March 7. Dawn said

it hadn't even occurred to her that

she could be having a Leap Day

baby - until she went into labour on

program November 2011

Louis was hired onto the Waneta

Expansion Project through the ASL-

JV January 2012 as an Apprentice

Carpenter!

Congratulations Louis!

Apprentice Heavy Duty Mechanic

Education Series. Skyla Sam and

Mike Sanchez had a great time and

from what I hear, learned a lot. I

look forward to hearing more about

their experience in a future issue

(nudge, nudge).

Also a big “way to go” to Zane

Gravelle who has completed the

first step towards an electrician

apprenticeship. Zane will now

be working on his first year as an

apprentice. Way to go Zane!

February 28. "I was like, 'Oh, you're

just going to wait until the Leap

Day, huh?'" said Dawn. The chance

of being born on a Leap Day is

about 1 in 1,461. About five million

people worldwide celebrate Leap-

Day birthdays. The Tobacco Plains

community held a baby shower for

Abagail on Saturday 3 of March,

where it was a nice 10 degrees day,

sunny and partially cloudy with

the Pineapple Express blowing in

quickly melting the snow coming in

like a lamb.

March/April 2012 Community

K��/N��1�

Making the Impossible … Possible in Cranbrook

Submitted by: Mary Richardson

and June Forsythe

Returning to Spirit is a residential

school healing and reconciliation

program. Marc Pizansawatc, an

Algonquin, of Ni-gann Training

Group designed the program at the

request of Sister Ann Thompson

and Bishop Denis Croteau of

Mackenzie Fort-Smith Diocese.

RTS was first piloted in Mackenzie

Fort –Smith Diocese and has since

been delivered over 100 times in the

last six years from B.C. to Ontario.

Returning to Spirit is a three

part program. A 5-day intensive

workshop for Aboriginal people

and a 5-day intensive workshop

for participants from religious

communities, priests, and other

non-aboriginal lay people (both of

these workshops are identical). The

third part of the process is a 5-day

Reconciliation workshop: 2 days

on communication (the Aboriginal

and Non-Aboriginal groups do

this portion separately) and the

final three days the groups “come

together” for communication

and completion. Healing and

reconciliation is experienced

throughout the process.

Returning to Spirit explores the

process of creating possibilities

for individuals and groups to

consciously let go of past issues

and to empower them to move

forward. RTS is focused strictly on

facilitating a process for individuals

to move ahead in life, and create

a future based on choices and to

experience the impossible as being

possible. The process focuses on

eliminating the cycle of creating a

future by reacting to the past.

In this process, we first take a look

at how we have become stuck in

our past issues and how they play

out in our present life and how it

affects our future. Everyone has had

significant events and experiences

that have shaped our lives. These

experiences are our story and some

pages of our story have enriched

our lives while other pages of our

story have disempowered us. Being

present and fully participating in the

group through discussion, personal

exercises and allowing the group

process to unfold, one is able to

experience Reconciliation between

oneself, family, community, and

society.

RTS takes a profound look at how

residential school events have

played out in the lives of First

Nation people. Residential school

is an event that happened in the

past, but it also plays out in the

present and affects possibilities of

the future. Participants are able to

be part of the solution to reconcile

the separation between Aboriginal

and non-Aboriginal people through

broadening their knowledge and

understanding of the Residential

School era and moving beyond

“healing” and experiencing

Reconciliation.

The workshops provide you with

information and tools toward selfdiscovery:

how you see life, your

beliefs, and how to discover new

insights into your life, through

personal breakthrough and

empowerment. The program gets

you out of “being stuck,” helps you

to break new ground, and empowers

you as an individual to step outside

the “normal” way of seeing things.

RTS is a vehicle for self-discovery

to assist you in creating new

openings and new possibilities for

your life.

October 31 to November 4,

2011 twenty-three First Nation

participants from our communities

attended the first RTS workshop in

Cranbrook. The three First Nation

facilitators were from Hollow Water

& St. Theresa Pointe Manitoba,

and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

January 16 to January 20, 2012

twenty-five non-Aboriginal

participants from the religious

communities, priests, and other

non-aboriginal lay people attended

the second workshop in Cranbrook

facilitated by three RTS facilitators.

Mary Richardson, June Forsythe

and Pearci Walkley attended RTS

workshops in 2008/2009 in St.

Albert, Calgary and Saskatoon.

Other participants are attending RTS

workshops in other communities,

due to scheduling they were unable

to attend in Cranbrook.

The process seems very simple

as you see it presented to you,

however it is very challenging,

and also very healing. The most

important aspect is that it creates a

forum for reconciliation. Some of

the comments throughout the week

were: “I now understand both sides

of the Residential School Story,”

“This process charts a path of

integrity and authenticity,” “It is a

real eye opener in honest evaluation

of human dynamics!”

The 10-member joint planning

committee made up Aboriginal and

non-Aboriginal members continue

to meet to bring to fruition the

Reconciliation part three Returning

to Spirit workshop to Cranbrook.

Since May 2010 the committee met

and focused on funding, location

and timeline for the Workshops.

Conversations about Returning

to Spirit continue not only by

committee members, but also by

those who have participated in the

two local workshops.

The goal of the Committee is to

have the Returning to Spirit Part

Three workshop November 5 to

November 9, 2012 at St. Eugene’s

Mission Resort at ?aqam (St. Mary’s

Reserve), Cranbrook. The Resort is

the old Kootenay Indian Residential

School which operated from 1910

to 1970. ?aqam Elder Mary Paul

(1984) stated: “It is said that, it

was within the St. Eugene Mission

School that the culture of the

Kootenay Indian was taken away, it

should be within that building that

it is returned.” In our view, what a

better way to bring the Spirit of the

people back to who they are, than in

the building where some believe, it

was taken away.

Returning to Spirit was designed

for reconciliation within the

context of residential school

issues that have impacted First

Nation People as well as Religious

Communities and our Society in

General. Returning to Spirit can

work anywhere to reconcile the

separation: in parish communities,

in organizations/corporations,

governments including Band and

First Nations. The focus is to move

people forward through principles

of personal empowerment and

the work of “Returning to Spirit”

can go beyond healing to provide

conditions for transformation in

personal, family, community and

organizational life.

The Committee expresses sincere

thanks to The Diocese of Nelson,

Sisters of Providence, Ktunaxa

Nation Council, Ktunaxa Kinbasket

Child & Family, Model A Inn and

various religious communities

who donated generously towards

sponsoring the Returning to

Spirit workshops in Cranbrook.

We have made – the impossible,

possible for Cranbrook and we are

looking forward to the Healing

and Reconciliation Workshop in

November, 2012 as well as the

possibility for the continuation of

the Returning to Spirit Program in

our area.

Page 13

March/April 2012 Community

K��/N��1�

Photos from Our

Archives

Page 14

March/April 2012 K��/N��1�

Miscellaneous

The Ktunaxa Nation has a

‘Business Directory’ of all

Ktunaxa owned and operated

businesses and entrepreneurs.

If you are unsure if you are

in the directory, or would like

to update your listing, please

contact Marion Eunson at

meunson@ktunaxa.org

or

250-489-2464 ext. 3046

Miscellaneous

Classifieds

The owners of Miko Gift Shop

located at the Cranbrook Airport

are requesting if we can provide

contact persons or products to

them made by the Ktunaxa Nation

members. They are supporting

locally made products, esp. from

the East Kootenay. They also

have items from Haida Gwai, but

they prefer within our Nation.

You may contact:

Dave and Dawn Gillespie at

dibbs538@hotmail.com or call

them at 250-426-5350.

Many Thanks

To the Akisqnuk First Nation for the care and comfort that was offered

during the time when it was most needed.

Priscilla Ann Alpine was lay to rest in Akisqnuk First Nation February

27, 2012. She passed away February 21, 2012 in Seattle Wa. Pricilla

was born in Creston BC on June 28, 1965 to mother Mary Susan

Alpine of Akisqnuk and father (late)Steve Pierre of Lower Kootenay.

Priscilla leaves behind daughter Tanya James, mother Mary Susan

Alpine, brothers Tyrone Smith, Terrell Smith, Terence Smith, Albert

Alpine, aunt Delphine Alpine, uncles George Schneider and Joe Pierre

Sr, Grand uncle James White and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Many thanks to Irene Burgoyne for carrying out her duties of the

community, Alfred Joseph, Danny Burgoyne and Nelson Phillip for

ensuring the essential tasks were completed according to tradition.

And Brandon Alpine, Jacob Alpine, Marvin Alpine, Mike Alpine, Dion

Burgoyne and Richard Williams for accepting the duty of taking her

to her final place of rest. Thanks to the cooks, Linda Michel, Patsy

Nicholas and Attila Stanley who continue to take their responsibilities

for such occasions seriously. And to Mary Richardson who continues

to be in the communities for such occasions. It was very comforting to

have my family around at a time like this. On behalf of Mary Susan

Alpine. – Niece Janice Alpine

Miscellaneous

TOBACCO PLAINS

SAW MILL

ROUGH CUT

LUMBER

1x4; 1x6; 1x8;

2x4; 2x6; 2x8;

4x4; 6x6; 8x8;

or will cut to any

dimension.

Will cut Timbers

and Beams up to

20’ long to your

specifications.

Call

1-250-887-3461

IMI Brokerage Company Ltd.

(BC Office) would like to advise

that they have re-located to:

Many Hands (Heritage) Building

Located at the St. Eugene Golf

Resort Casino

7725 Mission Road, Cranbrook,

BC V1C 7E5

Return Mailing Address:

Ktunaxa Nation Council

7468 Mission Rd.

Cranbrook, B.C.

V1C 7E5

Advertising and Submission

Enquiries

news@ktunaxa.org

250-417-4022 ext. 3113

We are always interested in your

feedback. Please let us know

what you would like to see more

of (or less of) in future editions.

questions.

We are very thankful for the

submissions that we receive, and

would like to invite you to submit

your stories, news, and classified

to us at any point.

Sincerely,

Garry Slonowski

Communications Manager

Next submission deadline:

April 27

Next issue available:

May 7

Page 15

March/April 2012 Business Cards

K��/N��1�

Kootenay Aboriginal Business Development Agency

Of course Rod Bateman, Business

Development Officer and

Janice Alpine, Business Coach/

Events Coordinator continues

to make regular monthly visits

throughout the service area.

KABDA is visible not only in the

Ktunaxa Nation Communities

but has built a relationship with

the Employment offices, Family

centers, Chamber offices, and

College campuses. The Staff

wants to reach potential clients

wherever they are!

KABDA been successful in

offering the popular Personal

Budgeting and Credit &

Collections presentation to the

communities, and has begun

offering Personal Budgeting and

Credit & Collections and other

business related presentations

through Continuing Education

Norm Fraser, RFT

Business Manager

tel: 250-489-5762

fax: 250-489-2091

cell: 250-423-9101

email: nfraser@ktunaxa.org

web site: www.nupqu.com

Ktunaxa Nation Council

7468 Mission Road

Cranbrook BC, V1C 7E5

courses at the College of the

Rockies and Selkirk College.

We also offer Business

Opportunities at the local school

districts that are quite successful

and informative to the grade 10.

11 and12 students.

KABDA also has a working

relationship with Small

Business BC to present video

conferencing seminars through

the Cranbrook Community

Futures office. The seminars are

hosted at Small Business BC in

Vancouver but can be delivered

to other locations via live video

conference including Cranbrook.

KABDA sends out a monthly

eBlast newsletter that offers a

variety of business information

from conferences to special

business promotions. If anyone

Alita Bentley

250-341-3775

1-877-341-3375

info@begifted.com

3 1206 7th ave box 2654

invermere bc

V0A 1K0

would like to receive the

circulation feel free to email

jalpine@kabda.org to be added

to the contact list.

Many, many events are being

planned throughout the Year.

Keep your eyes and ears open.

In need of assistance or direction

on a business idea/venture

or expansion, or require a

loan? We have plenty of up

to date research information

and business literature and a

workstation to access. KABDA

office is open Monday to Friday

8:30 am – 4:30 pm. www.kabda.

org toll free 250 888 426 0595;

local 250 426 0595

sales@legendlogos.ca www.legendlogos.ca

Robert & Denice Louie 1-877-428-2977

Kootenay

Aboriginal

Business

Advocates

Society

phone: 250-426-0595

toll free: 1 888 426-0595

fax: 250-426-0802

web site: www.kabda.org

address: 7468 Mission Road

Cranbrook, BC

V1C 7E5

location: 207 14th Ave N.

Cranbrook BC.

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