Aseniwuche Winewak letter calls on Parks Canada for negotiations

Story by The Canadian Press  • 1d

 One week after two First Nations came together in Jasper National Park for a harvest and hunt, a third band has come forward with its own request for the same consideration.

In a letter to Supt. Alan Fehr dated Oct. 27, David MacPhee, president of the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation (AWN), expressed his band’s dismay that both the Simpcw First Nation and the Stoney Nation were allowed to hunt in a national park and increase their role in the management of the park.

“AWN calls on Parks Canada to immediately enter negotiations with AWN to restore our access to the Park and to prioritize our involvement in the co-management of Jasper both as the Park’s current neighboring Indigenous peoples and its former inhabitants,” he wrote.  

“We also insist that Parks Canada consult with AWN prior to implementation of the Simpcw and Stoney agreements to ensure that Canada understands and can address any potential impacts of those agreements on AWN’s rights and outstanding claim to Park lands.”

The letter elaborated that AWN does not oppose the rights of other Indigenous peoples but rather stipulated that not all First Nations have the same connection to the land contained within Jasper National Park.

MacPhee wrote that both the Simpcw and Stoney now make their homes approximately 400 kilometres away.

“By comparison, the Park was home to the Aseniwuche Winewak for generations and it is the core of traditional lands. AWN’s unresolved loss of lands in the Park is well known to Parks Canada and Canada has yet to address our people’s traumatic removal from the Park. A trauma that continues to impact our Nation.”

There are more than 500 band members of the AWN, most of whom reside in the Grande Cache area, approximately 200 kilometres northwest of the Jasper townsite.

When contacted by the Fitzhugh, AWN President David MacPhee had no further comment.

Supt. Alan Fehr said the AWN is an important partner to Parks Canada.

“We value that relationship,” he said, indicating that their perspective is legitimate and respected.  

“They were and have always been involved in discussions about things like harvesting and the gathering.”

He noted that the Simpcw and Stoney initiated discussions about their harvest. Parks Canada’s involvement was to help facilitate their gathering.  

“They wanted to work with us. We were happy to work with them and felt honoured to work with them to ensure that everything was conducted safely, and that all the conservation issues were addressed.”

If any other Indigenous partners were interested in approaching Parks Canada to achieve something similar in Jasper National Park, Fehr’s door is open.

“We’re certainly interested in having those bilateral conversations,” he said, noting that Parks Canada meets with the AWN periodically and its representatives come to the Jasper Indigenous Forum regularly as well.

“We would be very pleased to continue to work with them and help advance the mutual goals.”

There are 21 Indigenous partners to Jasper National Park, including the Simpcw First Nation, the Stoney Nation, and the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation.

The Fitzhugh attempted to reach out to the other 18 Indigenous partners. Only one responded to indicate that it had no issue with the Simpcw and Stoney Nations rekindling their agreement and participating in a hunt.

Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Jasper Fitzhugh

Former Manitoba Speaker fulfils last goal with dedicated space for Indigenous art

© Provided by The Canadian Press

WINNIPEG — Scattered throughout the century-old Manitoba Legislative Building are the works of famed Indigenous artists, including Daphne Odjig and Jackson Beardy. 

Some pieces hang in offices, while others are placed for passersby to see. 

Now, one room in the historic building is home to a semi-permanent exhibit showcasing more than 20 pieces of Indigenous art.

Having one space that captures the province's vast collection of contemporary and traditional Indigenous art was something Myrna Driedger envisioned during her years as Speaker. She chose not to seek re-election as a Progressive Conservative legislature member earlier this year. 

"It was always at the back of my mind that it was something that I would love to see in the building, so that the building itself becomes a little bit more representative of our history," Driedger said in an interview on Thursday. 

"Manitoba is pretty lucky that we have a building as beautiful as this, and now we have a room that is as inspiring as this."

Artwork from Beardy, who was Oji-Cree, and Odjig, who was Potawatomi, shares the same walls as pieces from Ojibway artist Jackie Traverse and Inuk artist Marion Tuu'luq in the Golden Boy room, named after the prominent statue perched on the top of the Legislative Building. 

The public room was chosen because it is available to everyone and is often used to host events.

"(The works of art) are not stuck in some office somewhere where people can't enjoy them," said Driedger. 

"To have them on display in one room, it has a bigger impact than if it's scattered all over and nobody sees them."

The province has amassed more than 2,800 pieces in the roughly 50 years since it started its art collection. A diverse array of artists and art is represented in the collection, a spokesperson for the province said. This includes portraiture, still life, caribou tuftings, bold abstractions and wildlife studies. 

While the province has obtained a considerable amount of Indigenous art, the spokesperson said they do not have a total figure due in part to incomplete documentation and artists' heritage disclosure. 

The province's art collection is displayed in more than 100 buildings and public spaces across Manitoba. 

When it came to deciding which pieces would be included in the exhibit, Driedger turned to Amy Karlinsky, who is the province's visual arts consultant. 

"We researched where were some of what we understood to be significant pieces, where were they in which offices," said Karlinsky. 

"We were looking for what are some of the earliest acquisitions in contemporary Indigenous art. And we balanced that with some of the more recent acquisitions."

Some of those earlier works, including drawings by Odjig, were purchased by the government in the 1960s and 1970s. 

One of the more recent pieces comes from Cree and Métis artist Carly Morrisseau, whose work uses Cree syllabics as a way to revitalize the language. 

When asked which artwork resonates most with her, Driedger pointed to a large, colourful painting. 

The piece by Traverse called "Council of Women" depicts a circle of women against a vibrant orange background. 

"I just love it," said Driedger, who worked to break down barriers for women in leadership roles during her 25-year career. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 10, 2023. 

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press