National Indigenous History Month

Shylo Elmayan, a senior project manager for urban Indigenous strategies

for the City of Hamilton listens as Jacke Labonte speaks at the

Indigenous flag-raising at Hamilton City Hall.

Four different Indigenous flags will fly at City Hall for the month of June

to mark National Indigenous History Month.

In the European tradition, rivers were seen as divisions between people. But, in Aboriginal tradition, rivers are seen as the glue ~ the highway, the linkage between people (not the separation).

And that's the history of Canada: our rivers and lakes are our highways.

(John Raiston Saul)

National Indigenous Peoples Day ~ June 21 in Canada ~

represents diverse cultures and outstanding achievements

of First Nations, Inuit and Metis.

Started in 2009 with the passing of a 'unanimous motion' in the House of Commons, it marks the 150^th anniversary of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 which is the foundation of the relationship of Canada's original inhabitants and the newcomers. In recent years, Indigenous communities have been more vocal ~ demanding that their traditional rights be respected by governments.

In the winter of 2012-13, the Idle No More Indigenous movement

was the focus of protests across the country.

Native Tribes of Ontario

Ontario is an Iroquian Indian word (from the Mohawk name) meaning 'beautiful lake.' The originial inhabitants of the area that is now Ontario include: The Algonquin, Cree, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) tribes...the Huron, Mississauga, Nipissing, Ojibwe, Oj-Cree, Ottawa, Saulteaux, Neutral and Petun tribes. The Onondaga (People of the Hills) are one of the original 5 constituent nations of the Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee). They were centrally located among the natives with the Cayuga and Seneca to the west...and the Oneida and Mohawk to their east.

The Munsee Delaware people, not originally native to Ontario, but migrated here after the Americans forced them out of their own homelands. Their descendants still live in Ontario today.

The Tribes' longhouses served as spiritual, cultural and social activities,

the seat of government and symbol of security.

Did you know that Hamilton has a Regional Indian Centre

located at 34 Ottawa Street North? (Telephone 905-548-9593)?

Its vision: Creating Change that Empowers Urban Aboriginal People.

Its mission: To provide Urban Aboriginal People with the tools

to achieve a balanced wholistic lifestyle.

Indigenous Fashion Event Weaves Identity, Tradition and Progress

Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (May 31-June 3 at Harbourfront Centre

featured runway shows, a curated exhibition, panels and lectures, hands-on workshops and a market-place with Indigenous artists including those from Canada, the United States and Greenland.

Metis fashion designer, Evan Ducharme from Vancouver

says he welcomes more opportunities to celebrate and promote Indigenous artists and different points of view that often prioratize sustainable materials, ethnic sourcing and reduced waste.

A 25-year old artist from the Metis community of St. Ambroise, Manitoba said, “Some people looking at my work ask, “Where's the fringe? Where's the deer hide? Where's all the bead-work? Because Metis people are renowned for their bead-work. But where I was raised, none of the women in my family ever did bead-work.

Sage Paul, founder of Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, states, “Despite the fact that many ethnic artists from Indigenous communities boast master weavers, beaders, and applique artists ~ they have yet to receive broader recognition for their talents. You can go to any Canadian tourist store, and buy a really cheap piece of beaded work that's not even made here in Canada. Those on remote reserves are at a further disadvantage because tools, materials and shipping are more expensive.”

She points to the inspiring work of Janelle Wawia, a self-taught artist

from northwestern Ontario who traps her own furs and leather.

The food goes into the community to feed community members...bones are used for tools...

and the fur is used for whatever is being made out of the clothing

.

Evan Ducharme comments: My work is always going to be an ode

to those ancestors who did everything that they could so that my generation

and the generations to come after me, would have a better tomorrow.

Grassy Narrows Health Worse Than Other First Nations

Reported by The Canadian Press in Toronto: A new health survey by Grassy Narrows First Nation shows that decades after mercury was dumped into a river system, the physical and mental health of people there is significantly worse than that of other First Nations in Canada. With fewer elders in Grassy Narrows, it suggests that people there are dying prematurely. One-third of residents of the northern Ontario reserve have lost a close friend or family member to suicide which is 5 times an average rate documented by other Ontario First Nations...and 28% had attempted suicide...and more than double the rate of other First Nations. The study also indicated that adult residents over 50, who reported eating more fish as children had experienced poorer success in school and are 2 times more likely to have an annual income of less than $20,000.

A mercury expert at Universite du Quebec, says it is the strongest evidence

that links 'grave health problems to eating mercury-contaminated fish.

A paper mill in Dryden, Ontario dumped 9,000 kilograms of the substance into the English-Wabigoon River systems in the 1960's. The Ontario government has pledged to spend $85 million to remediate the contamination of the river.

Thanks to one of my readers for the following bit of humour:

Mom, Why Did You Call Me My Name?

An Indian boy goes to his mother one day with a puzzled look on his face. “Say, Mom, why is my bigger brother named Mighty Storm?” She replied, “Because he was conceived during a mighty storm.”Then he asked her, “Why is my sister named Cornflower?” “Well,” she said, “Your father and I were in a cornfield when we made her.” He then asked, “And why is my other sister called Moonchild?” The mother replied, “We were watching the moon-landing when she was conceived.”

Pausing, the mother said to her son,

“Tell me, Torn Rubber, why are you so curious?”

Scripted by Merle Baird-Kerr...June 4, 2018

To respond: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com