TREATING THE HOMELESS LIKE G20 PROTESTERS

Toronto relies on 'outdated,' inconsistent protocol for responding to encampments: Ombudsman



CBC, Thu, July 14, 2022 

Police officers on horses are seen as occupants and supporters of an encampment in Trinity Bellwoods Park are evicted in June, 2021. (Evan Mitsui/CBC - image credit)

City of Toronto staff rely on an outdated and inconsistent approach when it comes to dealing with unhoused people in public parks, according to an investigation into the city's controversial clearing of encampments last year.

Toronto Ombudsman Kwame Addo released an interim report on Thursday that found a key protocol intended to guide staff in their interactions and treatment of people living in encampments has not been formally updated since 2005.

Addo similarly found that the city's Encampment Office, created in the summer of 2020, is under-resourced and lacks a focused mandate.

"Clearing encampments is extremely disruptive and in some cases traumatizing to the people living in them. The city owes a particularly high duty of fairness to those residents, who are among the most vulnerable in Toronto," the report said.

"The city's response to encampments, including its enforcement action, must be done in a consistent and coordinated way, following a process that is well-established, transparent, and understood by all — city staff and encampment residents alike."

The report ultimately includes eight recommendations to help the city develop a "clearer, transparent, and consistent" way to deal with encampments. The city said as of July 13 there are 121 known encampments.

Evan Mitsui/CBC

The Ombudsman's office began its investigation in September 2021, after fielding more than 50 complaints from the public about how encampments in Trinity Bellwoods Park, Lamport Stadium Park, and Alexandra Park were cleared earlier that summer.

The high-profile incidents included violent standoffs between Toronto police and encampment supporters who tried to stop city staff from evicting those living in the parks. Dozens of people were arrested as the city moved in.

The scenes drew widespread condemnation from some members of the public and advocacy groups.

"We heard broad concerns that the city's treatment of people living in encampments had eroded the public's trust in their municipal government, and we saw evidence that the city's actions have hurt its work with community organizations on other important city initiatives," Addo said in the report.

"Community groups told us that the clearings have increased the vulnerability, isolation, and trauma of people who have lived in encampments."

Evan Mitsui/CBC

The partial report also notes that investigators heard from members of the public who supported the city's actions and also expressed concerns about their ability to use public parks where encampments had formed.

Larger report in the works

Thursday's interim report has a narrow focus on several elements of how the city approaches those living in encampments. Addo said a wider report will be tabled to city council as soon as possible, but that he felt it was important to provide an update on the sweeping investigation as the city continues to clear encampments in other parks.

One of the key parts of the interim report is a document called the Interdepartmental Service Protocol for Homeless People Camping in Public Spaces, or IDP. The IDP was first adopted in 2005 and is described as a "primary document outlining [the city's] approach to responding to encampments."

In its investigation, the Ombudsman's office found that the IDP is "outdated and not consistently followed by city staff.

"Although the city knew that the IDP needed to be updated, it does not have a detailed plan or timeline to guide this work. We believe this is unreasonable," the report said.

It added that all of the city workers who spoke to investigators agreed that the IDP needs to be revised to "reflect the current social and human rights issues associated with responding to encampments."

A common theme in conversations with city staff was how complex it is to effectively and humanely deal with vulnerable people living in encampments, the report noted. The effort requires co-ordination across many city departments. To that point, the 37 city staffers who did interviews with the Ombudsman's office came from 10 different divisions.

Chris Young/The Canadian Press

Investigators also heard from city staff that the Encampment Office, which ostensibly exists to play a central, coordinating role on the file, lacks clearly defined responsibilities and is chronically understaffed.

The eight recommendations in the report include the city should develop a detailed plan outlining how and when it will update its encampment response protocol, hold consultations with the public to inform that update and clearly outline the role and mandate of the Encampment Office.

According to Addo, the city has agreed to implement all of the recommendations, though a firm timeline has not been established.

The city confirmed that in a news release Thursday morning. It said the City of Toronto: "remains committed to strengthening its housing first approach to street and encampment outreach and providing wrap-around, client-centred case management supports to people living outdoors, constructively and in a non-confrontational way."

While the role of Toronto police in last year's clearings was a central point of concern for many, Addo noted in the report that it is outside his office's authority to review the force's actions.

Wildfire near Yellowknife created its own weather and spawned a stormcloud that sent smoke 10 km into the air

CBC, Thu, July 14, 2022 

A tower of clouds, ringed with wildfire smoke, ascended above the Yellowknife area on Tuesday night, driven by a wildfire on the North Arm of Great Slave Lake.

 (Photo submitted by Chelsea Nickerson - image credit)

Believe it or not, the colossal clouds that towered over Yellowknife Tuesday evening were pretty average-sized — for a wildfire-generated thunderstorm.

But make no mistake, experts say: such storms are an extreme weather event that carry serious dangers, often sweeping embers into unburnt areas, flaring up new fires and dragging smoke high into the atmosphere where it can have far-reaching and long-lasting impacts on weather.

"To get this, not only do you need a large and intense wildfire, but you also need a certain type of weather conditions that support the thunderstorm to develop over the fire," explained Dr. David Peterson, a meteorologist with the U.S. Naval Research Lab who studies these storms.

"When this process develops, it basically sets up a giant chimney effect where you have this large, very tall thunderstorm updraft over a fire that is pulling smoke up into it."

They're called pyrocumulonimbus clouds — or pyro-Cbs, for short — and the ones that loomed over the North Arm of Great Slave Lake this week reached 10 to 11 kilometres up into the atmosphere, said Peterson, who was watching the phenomenon by satellite.

Tuesday's clouds rained white ash down on Yellowknife but were still 30 to 40 kilometres away from the city. They were anchored to a 32,567-hectare fire south of Yellowknife across Great Slave Lake, dubbed ZF009-22 by N.W.T. Fire. That lightning-caused fire has been burning since June 19 and is considered out of control, but is being monitored.

These fires can generate their own weather, raining down lightning or hail and causing new fires to start. They create dangerous, erratic winds and make it difficult for aircraft to fly nearby. They can also release smoke at and above the altitude of jet aircraft, creating a visibility hazard at all levels of the atmosphere.

"There's been some research in recent years showing that the updraft speeds in some of these larger pyro-Cbs can actually rival what you see in a supercell thunderstorm, say, on the Great Plains in the United States — the storms that produce tornadoes," Peterson said.

As the fire generates these storms, the storms can then pull air in through the fire, creating more intense wildfire behaviour.

Peterson said Tuesday's storm was the 15th of its kind in Canada so far this year, and not a first for the N.W.T.

Mike Flannigan, a professor of wildland fire at Thompson Rivers University in B.C., said he saw another one develop on satellite over Great Bear Lake a few nights ago. He also pointed to a gigantic wildfire back in 2014 that burned near Highway 3 and created large pyro-Cbs.

"As our climate warms, we're seeing more intense fires, which leads to these pyro-Cbs," Flannigan said. "This is just a sign of the times ... The new reality is that we're on a trajectory of more and more fire, more and more smoke, and more and more fire-generated thunderstorms."

Submitted by Mike Flannigan

And while Tuesday's cloud was an average-sized pyro-Cb, Flannigan said the importance of the event shouldn't be diminished.

"This is still a very dangerous fire, and situation. Fortunately, it wasn't on your side of the lake, or things would be potentially very threatening for the community," he said.

Peterson said Canada in general appears to be a "sweet spot" for pyro-Cbs, with fires generally happening during a time of year when the weather can create these storms. This year, the storms have been developing across Alaska, the Yukon and the N.W.T. due to the large number of active wildfires.

The country has been home to some of the largest pyro-Cbs on record, including one in B.C. in 2017 that sent "volcanic" levels of smoke into the atmosphere. The smoke travelled around the globe and stayed up there for months. It also brought up a new set of questions for the scientific community around what that might mean for the climate.

"It's this extreme aspect of the pyro-Cb that's gained a lot of attention in recent years," he said.

"If we're going to get more wildfires, [we might] see more of these larger pyro-Cb outbreaks that sort of mirror the volcanic eruption effect."

Read more climate stories on our Climate and Environment page.

Union announces another major UK rail strike in late July


Thu, July 14, 2022 



LONDON (AP) — Train drivers at eight British rail companies will go on strike later this month in the second large-scale industrial action set to affect commuters in July.

The Aslef train drivers' union said Thursday its members will walk out for 24 hours on July 30 over pay disputes. The disruptions, which come during the busy summer holidays, are expected to affect sports fans attending the Commonwealth Games, which kick off in Birmingham on July 28, and the opening weekend of the English Football League.

The announcement came after the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said workers will strike on July 27.

Union leaders want a pay rise to combat soaring inflation — currently at 9.1% — and a deepening cost-of-living crisis as energy and food bills climb.

Last month tens of thousands of railway workers staged three days of strikes, paralyzing the country's train network in the biggest transit strike for three decades.

The government says the country's rail network is in dire need of modernization, and train companies are seeking to cut costs and staffing because passenger numbers have dwindled after the coronavirus pandemic.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the new strike announcement was “incredibly disappointing."

“By seemingly co-ordinating strike dates around the Commonwealth Games, it’s clear union bosses are determined to cause as much misery as possible and derail an event the whole country is looking forward to," he said.

The Associated Press

UK police open inquiry into Farah trafficking revelations

Thu, July 14, 2022



LONDON (AP) — London’s Metropolitan Police Service has opened an investigation into four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah’s revelation that he was trafficked to the U.K. as a child.

The inquiry comes after Farah, 39, said in a documentary that a woman he didn’t know brought him to the U.K. when he was about 8 years old and forced him to care for her children. He said he wasn’t allowed to go to school until he was 12.

In the documentary, produced by the BBC and Red Bull Studios, Farah said his real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin. He said he was brought to Britain using fake travel documents that included his picture alongside the name Mohammed Farah, the name under which he won four Olympic gold medals and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

“We are aware of reports in the media concerning Sir Mo Farah. No reports have been made to the MPS at this time,’’ the police department said in a statement. “Specialist officers have opened an investigation and are currently assessing the available information.”

Farah previously said he moved to Britain with his parents as a refugee from Somalia. But in the documentary, he said his parents never came to the U.K.

His father was killed by gunfire during unrest in Somalia when Farah was 4, according to the film. His mother and two brothers live on the family farm in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia that is not internationally recognized.

Farah said in the documentary that physical education teacher Alan Watkinson helped him obtain U.K. citizenship under the name Mohamed Farah.

The British government has said it won’t take action against Farah for any potential violation of immigration laws.

Farah said he was proud to have represented Britain as an athlete but that his “proudest achievement will always be being a husband and father to my amazing family.″

“I did this documentary for them, so they could understand more about the experiences that led us to becoming the family we are today,″ he said in a social media post. “Not every child will have the easiest start in life, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go on to achieve their dreams.″

Danica Kirka, The Associated Press

NB Minister shrugs off Wolastoqey chiefs' concerns as he unveils new protected Crown lands



CBC, Thu, July 14, 2022 

Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister revealed locations covering 90,000 hectares of newly protected Crown lands in New Brunswick. (Ed Hunter/CBC - image credit)

The New Brunswick government has identified 90,000 hectares of Crown lands it says are now protected against timber harvesting, agriculture and mineral extraction.

But the selection of the 84 sites unveiled Thursday by Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland is already coming under fire from Wolastoqey chiefs, who accuse the government of failing to properly consult them.

"We have made repeated requests that the Province abandon its unilateral approach to the Nature Legacy Initiative," Neqotkuk First Nation Chief Ross Perley said in a news release issued by the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick before Holland's announcement.

"We are now asking publicly that the Province resume discussions with us to develop appropriate tools to achieve interim protection for candidate sites while we continue to work together on the recognition of protected areas."

Mike Heenan/CBC

The province announced in February that it would protect 400,000 hectares of Crown land by the end of 2023 as part of the Nature Legacy Initiative, which is being funded by the federal government.

The program will double the amount of Crown land that's protected from about 4.6 to 10 per cent.

On Thursday, Holland gathered in Fredericton with environmental advocates from the Nature Trust of New Brunswick, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society to unveil the locations of the first 90,000 hectares.

The newly protected areas include much of the Restigouche and Nepisiguit rivers, the headwaters of the Penniac Stream near Fredericton and the wetlands of Little Gaspereau, near Tracadie-Sheila.

"This is meant to ensure that populations aren't sustained but they grow, they develop and we see an increase of these wildlife populations well into the future," Holland said during the new conference.

Holland said another 10,000 hectares will soon be included to bring the total to 100,000, with more to be added over this year and next to reach the 400,000-hectare goal.

Government of New Brunswick

Asked later about criticisms his government didn't consult with Indigenous groups on the initiative, Holland said he disagrees.

"I completely disagree with it because, like I said, I'm confident in the process of consultation that we have gone through," he said.

"That being the case, we will still continue to make sure that we engage, we work with, we identify — the First Nations have such incredible Indigenous knowledge that can help us determine the value of conservation areas. We've been sharing and collaborating that all along through the process, will continue to do so."

Mineral rights grandfathered in

The Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick said its representatives began "engaging" with the province last year on the basis of a proposed partnership.

They say provincial representatives committed to working with the Wolasoqiyik and other nations to develop pathways that could be used to create both Crown-protected areas that respect Indigenous rights, as well as Indigenous-protected conserved areas that would be managed directly by First Nations.

"What began as a process focused on a shared interest in true conservation quickly became a one-way conversation that kept the door open for mineral prospecting, but failed to protect the inherent rights my community members have to the land in question," Matawaskiye First Nation Chief Patricia Bernard said in the group's statement.

According to Holland, there are parts of the protected Crown lands that are subject to mineral claims that have been grandfathered in with the designation.

He said any requests to develop the areas subject to mineral claims would be met with "very strict regulations."

Concerns over treaty rights

The Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick says it also has significant concerns that "the proposed conservation easement mechanisms" will curb constitutionally protected treaty rights of the Wolastoqey.

The concern about the erosion of treaty rights on protected Crown lands is shared by Mi'kmaq in New Brunswick, said Tracy Ann Cloud, director of trilateral negotiations with Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc.

Submitted by Tracy Anne Cloud

She said from what the province shared with her organization — which represents the province's Mi'kmaw chiefs — certain terms of the Crown land protections would infringe on the rights of Mi'kmaq to hunt, fish and forage for a moderate livelihood.

"We're happy to see lands being conserved in the province, of course, but not in this way," Cloud said.

"And certainly by not limiting our ability to be able to go in and practise our constitutionally protected rights on those lands."

Holland said that to his knowledge, Aboriginal treaty rights will not be affected by the protection of Crown lands.

Allowed activities on the protected Crown lands include hiking, biking, camping and campfires, hunting and trapping, sustainable foraging, and the use of snowmobiles and ATVs.

UVic launches MBA in Indigenous Reconciliation with the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres



Thu, July 14, 2022 

Victoria, BC - The University of Victoria (UVic) is set to deliver the world’s first custom master’s degree in business administration in Indigenous Reconciliation.

It’s aimed to build capacity, implement cultural safety, and support succession planning in the community social services sector.

Developed in partnership with the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC), the MBA was unveiled on July 8.

It was revealed as part of an $8.4-million funding announcement by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, that will “create an action framework to integrate reconciliation into community social services,” according to a release from UVic.

“We are honoured by the invitation to collaborate on this unique program,” said Saul Klein, dean of the Gustavson School of Business. “This MBA will equip leaders in social services, government and non-profits to meaningfully advance reconciliation in their organizations and across our broader society.”

Leslie Varley, executive director of the BCAAFC, said the social services sector made a commitment to reconciliation as their “top priority” and offered her the opportunity to identify some actions that would “start us down that path towards reconciliation.”

After the province invited Varley to submit a proposal to help build and maintain capacity within the social services sector, she motioned to create an “Indigenous-focused not-for-profit-focused master’s in business administration for Indigenous leaders.”

It was presented to six different universities and UVic ultimately came out in front because of the work they’ve been doing towards reconciliation “on their own accord,” said Varley.

In 2021, the university appointed Qwul’sih’yah’maht Robina Thomas as UVic’s first vice-president Indigenous.

In her position, Thomas is providing “strategic leadership and direction in all aspects of our work towards decolonization and self-determination of Indigenous peoples,” read a release from UVic.

“That is action that speaks our language,” said Varley.

Thomas said the university reflects on the “injustices created by colonial policies and practices, and is committed to offering programs that meet the needs of the local Indigenous communities.”

The new MBA program follows others, such as UVic’s Indigenous language revitalization education and the university’s joint degree in Indigenous legal orders and Canadian common law.

By customizing the MBA so that it’s specific to the non-profit and Indigenous sectors, Varley said it “addresses our successor succession planning needs and develops our future Indigenous leaders.”

Many executive directors who work at the 25 different friendship centres across the province are preparing to retire, including Varley.

Through succession planning, Varley said they hope to leave the sector in a “better position” than when they arrived.

There are more than 29,000 non-profit organizations in B.C. that employ more than 86,000 people, contributing $6.7 billion to the province’s economy.

It’s bigger than the construction industry, said Varley.

And yet, Varley said Indigenous organizations get 10 per cent less funding than the mainstream social service organizations.

“Anybody who's Indigenous knows that we seem to need to be doubly qualified to be considered legitimate,” she said. “Our work is highly scrutinized by funders, and by the public – and we seem to need to jump through a lot more hoops than any regular funder.”

It’s with this in mind that Varley said she designed the MBA program.

The program follows a “closed-enrolment model,” meaning students in the program will be selected by a committee formed of executive directors working in the not-for-profit sector, said Varley.

Anyone who’s working in an Indigenous not-for-profit organization is encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to Indigenous applicants, as well as people of colour.

There is currently funding available for two cohorts, for a total of 50 seats. The first cohort is slated to start in February 2023, said Varley.

The MBA is open to applicants who may not have the prerequisites universities often require, she said.

“They don't have to have done their colonial academic push-ups in order to get into this MBA program,” Varley said.

A separate advisory committee consisting of executive directors within the sector is being formed to address what is needed within each of the courses, said Varley.

“Drawing from the non-profit, social-service and government sectors, cohorts will be intentionally designed to include Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants,” according to a release from UVic.

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council President Judith Sayers said the MBA sounds like a “good initiative” for the BCAAFC, “but the title is misleading.”

“If I was going to design an MBA on reconciliation, I would want to open it to everyone,” Sayers said. “And not just [make] an exclusive degree for one organization ... the optics are really bad.”

Sayers said she isn’t opposed to First Nations organizations approaching UVic to help them “design a program specifically for their organization.”

“But if they’re really wanting to do an MBA on reconciliation, I thought it would be better to open it to everybody,” she said.

Varley said B.C.’s wider community social services sector made it clear that funding going into the sector needed to prioritize reconciliation, which is where the “term” came from.

“These are foundational grounding steps that will take us along that path towards reconciliation,” she said. “This is certainly not reconciling, but I don't know how we get to reconciliation without putting out those steps to get us there.”

Brent Mainprize, teaching professor at UVic’s Gustavson School of Business, said that “reconciliation is a lens for everyone to look through.”

“This program brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals to learn from each other about their cultures and build a shared understanding of and commitment to reconciliation that can be designed in the classroom and immediately put into action in students’ organizations and communities,” he said in a release.

The MBA program will also draw on funding from BCAAFC and Indspire, a national charity that invests in Indigenous education.

“This is a big step,” said Varley. “[It’s] something to celebrate.”

-30-

Melissa Renwick, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa

Closing employment gap for Indigenous youth key to addressing labour shortage: Study


Thu, July 14, 2022




HALIFAX — Closing the employment gap for Indigenous youth in Atlantic Canada is key to easing the region's acute labour shortage, new research released Thursday said.

The Atlantic Provinces Economic Council said employment outcomes for the region's growing Indigenous youth population have improved in recent years, but still lag non-Indigenous youth.

The research found Indigenous youth under age 25 face a number of barriers in the labour market, including lower educational attainment and a lack of resources such as transportation.

Increasing funding for Indigenous youth training, skills development and entrepreneurship would help improve labour market outcomes of Indigenous youth, the report said.

This would boost economic development in Indigenous communities a well as help address a labour crunch in the broader economy, the research found.

APEC senior policy analyst Fred Bergman, the report's lead author, said Atlantic Indigenous youth living off-reserve have experienced substantial improvements in labour market outcomes between 2007 to 2021.

But they still have lower employment rates than non-Indigenous youth, he said.

“Reducing barriers and closing gaps is essential to promote economic development in Indigenous communities,” Bergman said. “This will also expand the pool of skilled workers in our economy to help address ongoing labour shortages across the region.”

Almost 49,000 jobs were vacant across the Atlantic region in April 2022, bringing the vacancy rate to a record high of 4.9 per cent.

"Getting off-reserve Indigenous youth’s employment rates to the same level as non-Indigenous youth would add 540 new workers to the region," the report said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2022.

The Canadian Press

MANITOBA

Unique model preps students for workplace

Wed, July 13, 2022

There were glitches along the way, but Pembina Trails Early College — a new alternative high school that marries traditional instruction with college-level computer programming and cybersecurity training — is celebrating its inaugural graduates.

David Moyer and 17 of his peers, all of whom have been honing sought-after skills in Manitoba’s booming digital media industry, were joined by teachers and family members to collect their Grade 12 diplomas at an intimate convocation late last month.

“I’m told that (‘we’re making history’) constantly,” said David, 17. “Overall, it’s been an amazing experience to be the first people to set an example of what students can do when taught with tech.”

PTEC is delivered to students free of charge by the Pembina Trails School Division and Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, in partnership with Tech Manitoba.

The unique schooling model aims to fast-track teenagers into high-demand tech jobs by giving them an opportunity to study for their high school diploma at the same time they work towards a post-secondary credential. The industry association connects students to mentors and work placements.

The local partners took inspiration — for both their operations and name — from the Pathways in Technology Early College High School, also known as P-Tech: a reform school focused on college attainment and career readiness. IBM and public education partners in New York founded the initiative in 2011, in turn integrating high school and post-secondary education in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

Not unlike his classmates, David was tapped to apply to Winnipeg’s PTEC because of his stand-out computer skills; whenever an elementary teacher had technical difficulties, he was called upon to problem solve.

The 17-year-old attributes his early digital literacy knowledge to spending much of his childhood playing video games and researching modifications for virtual environments.

“(PTEC) is a school for students who have a passion for technology, who are willing to go above and beyond whatever the curriculum delivers to open up their minds to not only Winnipeg, Manitoba but to the world, and make a difference,” said principal Jane Bachart.

When Bachart was a technology teacher, she said she frequently met students who had a niche skill-set that could not be supported by computer science curriculum.

This alternative school nurtures tech-savvy students’ interests and gives them formal training so they don’t have to figure things out themselves via YouTube tutorials, she said, adding all of the members of the Class of 2022 have gained confidence in themselves at PTEC.

Students, who currently hail from host schools in the south end of the city, spend part of their Grade 9-12 weekdays completing core subjects. The rest of their learning around programming languages, video game software and everything in between takes place at a division campus before they begin attending the MITT campus in Grade 11.

The program will be housed in Pembina Trails Collegiate when the state-of-the-art high school opens in Bison Run in September 2023. As demand continues to outpace available seats, Bachart’s dream is to eventually open a full-scale tech school.

PTEC pupils specialize in software development or network and systems administrator. Those who choose the latter option can spend an additional year completing a cyber defence program at MITT.

The inception of experimental tech programs — including PTEC, local MET School offerings, and CREATE at Sisler High School — mark a turning point for tech education in the province.

“We don’t have to fight brain drain as hard from our own city (anymore) because we can actually produce the talent locally and create jobs for the talent locally, which ultimately helps companies grow locally,” said Daniel Blair, founder of Bit Space Development.

When Blair founded the EdTech software company more than seven years ago, he spent countless hours doing internal training to bring new hires up to speed with tools and practices.

New school division programs, as well as MITT’s receptiveness to businesses’ emerging needs, ensure graduates are aligned with industry standards so onboarding has become much easier in recent years, he said.

David is one of the summer interns at the Winnipeg company’s Exchange District site. He was taught how to use Unity, a game creation platform used by professionals, and four programming languages: C#, HTML, JavaScript and CSS.

Throughout his studies, the teenager said he has learned about the value of adaptability, flexibility and soft skills. Perhaps ironically, the first PTEC cohort’s patience was tested as they all tackled unplanned information technology issues — not to be mistaken with their assigned homework — in their public school division.

The program’s 2018 launch was “a bit of a roller-coaster,” with students and their parents taking a leap of faith, according to the then-chief executive officer of Tech Manitoba.

Now an MITT dean and executive director of CyberWave, Kathy Knight said “the secret sauce” to success has been the trio of partners, each of whom serves an invaluable role.

“What we hear from parents is that many of the kids were disengaged before this. The students just found their community,” she said.

Knight noted the partners want to make technology careers more accessible to groups that have typically been underrepresented in the workforce, including girls and members of the LGBTTQ+ community.

Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press

WHITE COWBOY STAMPEDE FOR OVER 100 YEARS

'Heartbeat of Mother Earth': Calgary Stampede hosts first powwow at Saddledome

Thu, July 14, 2022 

CALGARY — Men sit around large drums along the edges of the arena. Each group takes a turn drumming and singing.

The drum, described as the heartbeat of Mother Earth, provides rhythm for dancers in traditional regalia as they compete in Indigenous dances, including the men's chicken, the men's and women's fancy and the women's jingle.

Stampede-goers gather in seats normally filled by those watching concerts or sports games.

"This is the first powwow that we're hosting here at the Saddledome," Cheryl Crowchief, co-ordinator of the Calgary Stampede Powwow, said in an interview this week.

The Scotiabank Saddledome, named for its saddle-shaped roof, is home to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League, the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League and the Calgary Roughnecks with the National Lacrosse League.

Crowchief said there is a powwow competition at Elbow River Camp, a village on the Stampede grounds that highlights local First Nations' cultures.

"But this year we brought it to the Saddledome and are hoping that the success we had at the village comes over here."

Crowchief said the larger venue allows more people to see some of the world's best powwow dancers and drummers.

"This is top, top, top people everywhere," she said. "We have people participating in the powwow from the United States, from all over Canada. It has gone worldwide."

The powwow started Tuesday and ends Thursday, as 20 dancers remaining in each category compete for a place in the top 10 and a cash prize. A total of $175,000 in prizes are to be handed out.

Some dancers said it's exciting to be back at a powwow after two years of COVID-19 public health measures. Some also expressed nervousness to be competing in such a large event.

Charles Woods, a senior men's traditional dancer from Siksika Nation, east of Calgary, said he's happy to be dancing again.

"It's a feeling that nobody can explain," he said. "The drum beats and the songs that are sung are very, very good healing songs. It's an uplift. The drum is the heartbeat of Mother Earth. When we dance, we dance to those songs."

Some competitors said being in the large arena, while much cooler than outside in the heat, is also a bit stressful.

"It's pretty nerve-racking," said Teagan Rabbit Carrier, also from Siksika Nation, who was competing in the junior contemporary jingle dance. "I am nervous, but I am here for a good time and to bring healing to my community."

Her regalia included a shimmering yellow dress and a colourful beaded headband.

"My Aunty Dawn ... made this outfit for me. I wanted a yellow dress so she made it sparkly," she said. "I have a green ribbon at the back of my dress to represent my late brother, Kristian Ayoungman, and my Aunty Gaylene."

Raylene Hunter, a senior women's traditional dancer from Onion Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, said her family competes across Canada and the United States and travels internationally to teach people about Indigenous culture.

She said it is her first time at the Stampede powwow.

"It's a little bit stressful ... but it's really exciting."

Hunter, who lives in Edmonton, said powwows are an important part of her culture but also play a role in her parenting style.

"My children learn that there's a way to conduct yourself when you are wearing these feathers, when you are wearing your regalia — to look after it," she said. "Those values that come with teaching your kids on how to respect themselves, how to respect what they are wearing and also just to respect themselves as women — to be mindful of what type of your environment and what kind of setting you are in.

"So, you are teaching them patience ... you are teaching them discipline. There are all kinds of values that come with teaching your kids on how to be the best person that you can possibly be — in or out of your outfit."

Hunter said powwow regalia also provides strength.

"My husband always says, 'When I put on my outfit, I feel like I'm my true warrior self,'" she said. "That's the same for women as well. When we put on our outfit, we are warrior women. We are protectors of our children, of our families, of our home fires."

Crowchief said powwows are an important part of Indigenous heritage.

"It's our way here in traditional Treaty 7 area to show people our culture, to share our culture and to educate," she said. "A powwow for us is a celebration, it's not a ceremony.

"It's a way for us to get together and celebrate life, celebrate the changing of the seasons, celebrate our kids. It's a family gathering to invite non-Indigenous people to join us and celebrate with us."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2022.

Colette Derworiz, The Canadian Press

Leah Omeasoo: The healing power of jingle dress dancing and powwow culture

(

ANNews) – Leah Omeasoo-Gillette is a member of Samson Cree Nation, one of four reserves that make up Maskwacis, AB. She is an educator in her community with a Bachelor of Education degree and is currently a Master of Education student at the University of Alberta. In addition, she is a well-known jingle dress dancer who has been crafting her dance since she was two years old.

Leah Omeasoo-Gillette comes from a prominent powwow family that has significantly contributed to the powwow culture. She is the daughter of Steve Wood and Hilda Omeasoo-Wood. Leah’s father, Steve Wood, 60, is the founder and drum keeper of the Northern Cree Singers, and the group has received 9 Grammy nominations.

At age six, Leah started dancing to a contemporary jingle dress. She successfully harnessed skills as a contemporary jingle dress dancer, and her dedication got her noticed within the powwow community.

In 2007, everything changed for Leah as she learned a new style of the jingle dress, commonly referred to as “old style” jingle dress dancing.

After attending a traditional powwow in Ontario and witnessing a jingle dress ceremony, she decided to start dancing to the older style of the jingle dress. Her first-time dancing “old style” jingle was at the Veterans powwow hosted at the Panel Memorial Agriplex in Maskwacis, AB.

Leah says the feedback from the elders in her community encouraged her to continue dancing this style.

“There are differences between the foot systems and how the dancers present themselves with their outfits,” she explained. “Contemporary regalia are very colourful, shiny, and flashy.

“They wear plumes and eagle feathers, while the older style of jingle dress is toned down and simple.

“The women keep their feet closer to the ground, and the steps are simple. The women do not carry or wear feathers.”

She incorporates sweetgrass, velvet, and beadwork in her work and dresses.

Leah says that from her understanding, the Jingle Dress is originally from the Ojibwe people of Ontario, parts of Manitoba, Minnesota, and Wisconsin and that each area has its unique variation to the origins of the dance. Still, one thing that remains consistent in the dance is healing and strength.

According to faculty research at the University of Minnesota, the Ojibwe people believe in the healing power of music and the jingles. They believe that spiritual power moves through the air. If you’ve ever been to a powwow, you’ve heard dozens of women dancing together in jingle dresses; it makes an incredible sound. The sound of the tinkling of jingle dresses is part of healing and it is very much in line with how Ojibwe people view the world and how they view spiritual power.

“The great thing about being a part of the powwow community is that everyone is supportive and makes significant long-lasting friendships,” said Leah.

She comes from a traditional family where practicing culture is very important. “This is our life,” she said. “This is how we were raised, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m grateful to my parents for raising me in the powwow circle.”

Leah aims to cultivate and raise her family in the powwow community and carry the family tradition.

She shared a compelling moment in her life when she was selected to be the 2011 Head Lady dancer at the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For those unaware of this gathering, it is one of North America’s largest and most recognizable powwows and has been going on for 39 years in New Mexico.

Leah’s love for the powwow culture reminds us that it’s important to be proud to be First Nations and that we have a rich culture with welcoming ceremonies.

Her message to the youth is: “Learn your language and culture because these two powerful strengths will lead and guide you through life. If you would like to know more about dancing or your culture, reach out to a dancer or singer and ask questions. There is help all around, just ask.”

“Everyone is welcome to join the powwow circle,” she added. “Come out and join us in celebration of song and dance.”

Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News

 

The History of the Jingle Dress Dance

Published on AUG 12, 2020

By: Harper Estey

Throughout Indian Country, women and girls don their Jingle Dresses and mesmerize powwows as they move lightly, kicking out their heels and bouncing to the drumbeat. The dresses – also known as Prayer Dresses – are lined with rows and rows of metal cones, or ziibaaska’iganan, traditionally made from rolled up snuff can lids and hung from the dress. The cones create another melody as the dancers move, mimicking the sound of falling rain and bringing a sense of peace to the whole endeavor.

The dance itself began just over a century ago when the granddaughter of an Ojibwe medicine man fell sick. As the man slept he dreamt, over and over, of four women as his spirit guides wearing Jingle Dresses and dancing. The women taught the man how to make the dress, what songs to play, and how to perform the dance. The spirits told him that making the dress and performing the dance would make his granddaughter well.

When the man awoke he set out and made the dress, and once completed the tribe gathered to watch the ill girl dance. At first, she was too weak and had to be supported and carried by the tribe. Slowly she gained her strength and performed the dance on her own, cured of her sickness.

The young girl was likely infected with the flu pandemic of 1918 which hit Native communities around the Great Lakes hard. This was closely followed by a ban on ritual dancing on reservations, yet despite this the Jingle Dress dance spread from the Ojibwe people, first to the Lakota and then on to the rest of Indian Country.

Today the Jingle Dress Dance is performed at powwows across the country, with the women and girls often dancing with feather fans, eagle feather plumes, or eagle feathers in their hair. As the dress and dance have spread to tribes from coast to coast it’s grown to represent both healing and pride, a spiritual form of wellness and celebration that links us to our past and helps us move forward with strength and hope.

Jingle Dress Dance | Native American Meaning and History

https://www.powwows.com/jingle-dress-dance

2011-07-21 · The Jingle Dress Dance is commonly seen in competitive pow wows, performed by women and girls in First Nations and Native American …

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• Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins

   

Adrian LaChance: Sharing culture and traditions on and off the powwow trail

Yesterday 


(ANNews) – A good many people in Native country know Adrian LaChance as the man behind the mic, because he often serves as emcee for various round dances, community events and festivities. He’s also known as an educator/presenter at schools and conferences where he shares with Native and non-Native people alike, his knowledge of Native history, culture and traditions.

And while his popularity grows in those areas, LaChance is widely renowned as a powwow dancer, singer and drummer. He shines as a charismatic dancer in any powwow arena – you literally can’t take your eyes off him. He’s a bold, skilled and wonderful traditional dancer who originally hails from Saskatchewan but was transplanted to Edmonton.

LaChance stands out loud and clear in powwow circles. His colourful, well-crafted regalia is an attraction in itself and he is often the centre of attention for visiting photographers and videographers, myself included, who delight in capturing marvellous action images.

Be that as it may, it’s a wonder that an individual who grew up as he did, was able to overcome so many negatives handed to him in life, and emerge as an accomplished cultural individual, and also a kind person who walks that precious Red Road and gives so much of himself to and for the good of the community. But that’s Adrian – a good person, a kind man, and an upstanding role model for so many of Native country’s youth to appreciate and emulate. He sets a wonderful example for not only the youth, but adults as well.

And that’s just for starters. The teachings that he shares with the non-Native community is commendable and so important given the times we live in. In this present era of controversy, Adrian shares his wisdom and knowledge with the non-Indigenous community so they can better understand, appreciate, accept and respect Native people, including their lifestyles, culture and protocols.

LaChance’s early years were in a cultural vacuum. While being raised in group homes, he was one of many Indigenous children who were frequently subjected to damning innuendos, misinformation, and put-downs. He was taught that Native culture was akin to “devil worshipping.”

When people are told something repeatedly, they eventually come to believe it. It becomes so ingrained. Yet despite the colonialist concepts that attempted to “take the Indian out of the child,” LaChance was able to do a complete turn-around and recapture his historical customs and traditions.

“Because of what I was told as a child in those group homes,” said LaChance, “I was scared of powwow dancing and singing.” He grew up deprived of learning his roots and heritage but finally, at age twenty, LaChance attended and witnessed his very first powwow.

Related video: A powwow's highlights, according to kids

“Once I found the Elders and dancers who shared their truth about it, I felt comfortable learning more …. that it was beautiful and okay.”

It was those basic, simple truths that went on to set him free – free to pursue the culture he’d been denied, the culture he thirsted to know. Stolen from him throughout his young life, LaChance’s appetite for more of that knowledge simply exploded. He learned more, then more, including his long-denied traditions of singing and dancing. And what a transformation that turned out to be! He went on to become not just a dancer, but the champion dancer that he is today! Add to this his abilities at drumming, singing, facilitating cultural workshops and presentations, and you have a blessed individual who is graciously doing his own thing in a truly good way. He is sharing his knowledge and his skills for the betterment of all. How wonderful is that!

For years now, he’s been giving back, not just locally in Edmonton …. but all over the country!

LaChance’s character makes him stand out in a crowd and so does his regalia – thanks to his loving, caring grandmother, the late Eliza Running Thunder, who sewed for countless hours on end. Every stitch and every bead was filled with love.

“She was gifted with so much knowledge and wisdom,” LaChance explained. And, undoubtedly, she had a very positive influence on him in terms of helping others, valuing education and staying away from alcohol.

As for the powwow trail, it’s like his second home. LaChance loves sharing his skills and he dances in memory of his past mentors and Elders, all of whom helped make him the good person he is today.

“I honour them each time I dance,” he states matter-of-factly.

On the powwow circuit, he states, it’s a “beautiful energy …. the people are so nice and friendly. It gives my heart much joy and hope that we can overcome anything.”

Terry Lusty, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News

Quebec First Nations Just Signed A Historic Education Agreement With Canada

Willa Holt - MTLBLOG
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The First Nations Education Council (FNEC), a collective of 22 member First Nations communities, signed an education agreement with Canada to provide around $1.1 billion over five years to support a total of 5,800 Indigenous students in Quebec.


© Provided by mtlblogQuebec First Nations Just Signed A Historic Education Agreement With Canada

The agreement comes after 10 years of negotiations and, according to the government, will serve students by providing culturally appropriate curricula, extra funds for transportation to schools, and over 600 teachers and "specialized resources" for Indigenous students.

"This is a major step forward for our people," Kahnawà:ke Grand Chief Kahsennénhawe Sky-Deer said in a press release. "This agreement will provide Kahnawà:ke with the funding and assistance required for the next five years to ensure our children and young adults get an education that embodies our roots, language, and culture."

This education agreement is one of eight similar programs developed and implemented by the Canadian government alongside First Nations representatives. In total, these agreements are expected to impact 22,000 students.

"It is because of the determination of the First Nations Education Council and the 22 communities involved that this agreement could happen, and it will keep children connected to their language and culture through their schooling. This is what reconciliation looks like when we work together in partnership," Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu stated.

This agreement and others like it are intended to fulfill Article 14 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as well as contribute to several Calls to Action of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which ask that the Government of Canada ensure First Nations receive quality education that is controlled by First Nations themselves.

RIP

FIRST INDIGENOUS CHARACTER ON CBC TV

Pat John, actor who played Jesse on The Beachcombers, is dead at 69

Thu, July 14, 2022 

Pat John, who played Jesse Jim on CBC's long-running drama The Beachcombers, has died. (CBC Archives - image credit)

Pat John, best known for playing the quiet, dependable Jesse Jim on long-running CBC drama The Beachcombers, has died at age 69.

John's friend and former co-star, Jackson Davies, confirmed his death to CBC News on Thursday.

The actor died at noon on Wednesday "looking more peaceful than he has in a long time," Davies wrote in a Facebook post announcing John's death. There was no immediate word on the cause of his death.

"He was funny, kind, and although he didn't get the credit he should have, he was also a very good actor. He had the greatest laugh ever, and it was my goal in life to get him to laugh, just to hear it."

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John, a member of the shíshálh Nation in Sechelt, B.C., was cast on The Beachcombers as a teenager.

In the years that followed, he created a new blueprint for Indigenous characters on the screen, eschewing outdated stereotypes and caricatures as Jesse.

Shirley McLean, a TV producer from Carcross/Tagish First Nation in Yukon, was one of many who grew up watching John. She calls him a trailblazer for Indigenous actors and representation.

"Seeing an Indigenous character on TV was something that we were proud of, something that normalized us in mainstream society," McLean said.

The Beachcombers ran for 19 seasons, making it the second longest-running Canadian television drama ever.

Having first aired in October 1972 — with more than 350 episodes to follow — this fall marks its 50th anniversary.

"I don't think I would have ever thought of being an actor if Beachcombers hadn't happened," John said in a 2002 article printed by the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix.

The show chronicled the coastal adventures of log salvager Nick Adonidas (Bruno Gerussi) and his beachcombing partner, Jesse Jim, as they tracked down stray logs aboard their tugboat, the Persephone.

It was a hit by its second season and enjoyed 15 more as one of CBC's highest-rated shows, helped by the fact that its cast — including John, Davies and Gerussi — was beloved by viewers in Canada and internationally.

The show was filmed and set in Gibsons, B.C., putting British Columbia on the map as a destination for film production and talent — one of the very first shows to establish the province as Hollywood North.