How much is your language worth?

“Rock ‘n’ rolling off the mother tongue.

Native musician seeks to entertain with translations of classic pop tunes into Cree, but his work also has a serious side.”

So read the headline in the GLOBE AND MAIL published September 20, 2010 and written by a Tom Hawthorn.

As an Aboriginal person (Inuit) of Canada, I must commend the Aboriginal (First Nations) musician featured in the above noted article. Apparently, an Art Napolean, whose mother tongue is a dialect of a northern woodlands cree has recorded his newest album entitled, “Creeland Covers” and is sung almost entirely in Cree. His songs, apparently, cover well-known songs first recorded by the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Hank Williams, and amongst others, Neil Young.

Apparently, not all Aboriginal people have lost their native language as a result of their experience of the former residential school system. A good thing.

However, the recent “Common Experience Payment” afforded to all those Survivors who experienced residential school including myself was heavily weighted based on loss of language and culture. While in residential school, I could not speak my native language as it was lost but, I can remember a lot of the First Nations students had conversed in their own native language on a daily basis. A good thing.

Given the “Common Experience Payment” afforded to all Survivors of residential school, was it fair that someone who could still speak his/her native language received the same amount as I did….one who had a true loss of language.

Lucky for the First Nations musician, Art Napolean, he can still speak his native language and has captitalized on that fact in recording his new album. Unlike him, my native language is lost. Not a good thing.

The Pope...Holy?

"His Holiness and her Majesty walk in step on the role of religion in national identity, but beneath the dignity is a battle of rhetoric."

So read the headline in the GLOBE, dated September 17th, 2010 and written by a Claudio Onorati.

The dictionary defines "holiness" as "the quality or state of being holy; sanctity."


So, what is it?...Religion or Relationship?


The Bible says, in the end, God will ask each and everyone of us, "Do you know me?" I guess even the Pope will have to answer "yes" or "no."


Leave it to the Lord where his "Holiness" will end up.

Truth and Reconciliation...Hawaii bound?

“Hawaiian junket gets Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in hot water.

As commission seeks more federal cash for residential-schools panel, bill for members' Honolulu trip is pegged at as much as $6,000.”

So read the headline in the GLOBE AND MAIL published on September 2^nd, 2010 and written by a Bill Curry.

During my stint as an appointed Inuit Board member with the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF) from 1999 to 2004, I had always advocated the need for a “by Survivors for Survivors” attitude. Surviving residential school required that kind of respect. Still, there are non-Survivors riding and benefiting from the financial wave on the backs of those of us who truly deserve more than what has been offered. For example, George Erasmus, President of the AHF and a non-Survivor will be compensated over one million dollars for his tenure up to 2012. And, Mike DeGagne, Executive Director of the AHF and another non-Survivor will likely appreciate his benefits along with his $130k…ish salary with bonuses. The average compensation for a Survivor is a measly $16000! Oh, my God!

Still, as a former Board member of the AHF, I was careful on the “optics” of taking care of business that included staying within the confines of Canada. Therefore, I am baffled by the “junket” two TRC Commissioners have chosen to embark on to Hawaii. The trip is very inviting but “personal development” for the Commissioners is certainly not within the mandate of the TRC.

“It’s on the backs of survivors,” Michael Cachagee fumed. The executive director of the National Residential Schools Survivors Society noted that his organization has largely been silenced after Ottawa cut off all funding last year, citing concern over expenses.”

“They come down here and nitpick the hell out of me and the organization, yet you’ve got these clowns going off to Hawaii,” he said.”

“Officials with the commission have suggested that their budget may not be enough to accomplish the massive task of crossing the country to gather stories from former students, many of whom live in remote communities. Meetings are scheduled to take place when the commissioners return to determine whether they will ask Ottawa for more money.”

More money? Let’s hope the TRC will cross the country, not cross the world...for Survivors sake.

Arctic Communities, Arctic Reserves?

“Military cash could fix crumbling Arctic infrastructure, Ottawa told.

Federation of Canadian Municipalities issues northern strategy in wake of PM’s tour of region.”

So read the headline published in the GLOBE AND MAIL dated August 31, 2010 and written by a Steve Rennie.

Ever watch the nightly news, whether on Global TV or CBC TV?  Ever wonder too, when it comes to forecasting the “national” weather, the weather person mentions nothing of weather reports in Canada’s Arctic. When will the Arctic ever get daily attention like southern Canadian regions? For Prime Minister Harper, at least, he has been making annual visits: this time he can add Inuvialuit (Inuit) dancing to his performing arts resume too.

The above noted article though points to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities recommending the injection of cash to fix the Arctic’s crumbling infrastructure. For those of us who are from the Arctic or those of you who have been lucky enough to visit will likely agree the Arctic’s infrastructure mirrors the conditions of the First Nations reserves in southern Canada. In fact, many will agree the Arctic communities are just that: Arctic reserves with gravel roads, no running water (sub-standard quality at best), and decrepit weathered buildings combined with incredible remoteness. While it is important to assert sovereignty with a stronger military presence, money should also be spent in “building healthier communities, protecting the environment and diversifying the regional economy” as outlined in the federal government’s 2007 northern strategy.

While some may agree, there is no money in “world peace” but it is wars and rumors of wars that fuel the world’s economy, let’s therefore use some of that money Canada has promised and inject or stimulate the Arctic economy so that the Inuit can feel some sense of significance: fixing its current infrastructure could be a start. With more attention paid to the Arctic: perhaps Global TV and CBC TV may finally broadcast the weather in Canada’s Arctic in their “national” forecast. 

An apology for the Inuit five decades in the making

So read the headline in the GLOBE AND MAIL published August 19, 2010 written by a Bill Curry.

Late in 2009, I had written the following excerpt from a previous blog.

“Seems as the 2010 Olympic flame criss-crosses Aboriginal communities, issues such as environmental, social conditions, and past experiences are exposed. The latest headline read, “The flame arrives, but Inuit still await an apology,” outlined in the Nov. 10, 2009 issue of the GLOBE AND MAIL.”

Guess what happened today? While in Inukjuak, Quebec, Indian and Northern Affairs Minister, John Duncan said,

“The government of Canada deeply regrets the mistakes and broken promises of this dark chapter of our history and apologizes for the High Arctic relocation having taken place.

The purpose of the relocation of the Inuit to high arctic desolate locations has always been in question, even today.

“While the relocations are often described as an attempt by the government to assert Canada’s sovereignty in the uninhabited Arctic islands, the official government line has insisted that the moves were undertaken with humane intentions.

Mr. Duncan said after the formal apology that Ottawa has “no way to determine” what the true reasons for the relocation were at the time.” In 1996, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples “found government documents from the 1930s that show concern about mineral claims in the High Arctic contributed to the relocation discussion. “In addition to placing the Eskimos in new regions where game is more abundant and work more regular, there is the angle of occupation of the country,” states a federal press release found by the commission. “To forestall any such future claims, the Dominion is occupying the Arctic island to within nearly 700 miles of the North Pole.”

Unless embarrassed to do so, the government will never admit the truth.

"Talk to the people."

“Talk to the people.”

So read the headline in the Comment section in the GLOBE AND MAIL published August 11, 2010.

As one who has experience on the consultation issue with oil and gas and electrical companies as well as with the National Energy Board (NEB), there is a saying, “If you don’t hear the people, you should fear the people.”

Regulatory organizations like the NEB and even the Government of Alberta have consultation guidelines when it comes to land and resource development that require companies to submit a report on consultations with the general public and Aboriginal people. Apparently, consultations with the public can affect resource and/or land development projects. The NEB, for once in its history, said no a number of years ago to the proposed Sumas electrical project in southern British Columbia: of course, much to the dismay of the proponent.

In this case in the Arctic, a court ruling called for a halt on a proposed seismic testing project in the Lancaster Sound in Nunavut.  Apparently, the Canadian government says the proposed project “will add to the understanding of the geology of the North.” “Geology” likely meaning oil and gas reserves. Kudos to the court ruling though that took into account the consultation and words from the Inuit, “the research project it argued would harm the marine life - narwhal, beluga whales, seals, polar bears and walruses on which traditional life and culture depend in five Arctic communities.” Furthermore, the potential loss of all this marine life as Madam Judge Sue Cooper says, “that the irreparable loss would outweigh the costs to the country of delaying the project. “The loss extends not just to the loss of a food source, but to a loss of culture.” She wrote. “No amount of money can compensate for such a loss.”

“Talking to the people” too should have been a guiding principle when the federal government established the former residential school system. Now, they’re having to compensate all Aboriginal people affected by the legacy of physical and sexual abuses experienced. Yes, no amount of money can compensate for my loss of language and culture.

Let’s hope talking to the people will continue to be a guiding principle as this practise can and should affect proposed development projects.

The Call of the Wild

Canada’s North tries to make the world feel the call of the wild.

Attracting visitors from China, India and Brazil seen as a future growth area for the territory ‘s tourism industry.

So read the headline in the GLOBE AND MAIL published August 3, 2010 and written by a Josh Wingrove.

“Explore Canada’s Arctic!”

That was and perhaps still is the Northwest Territories (NWT) Government’s slogan in marketing its area in Canada’s Western Arctic: full of wildlife, wild spaces, Aboriginal people, and a place where one can still experience a sense of adventure.

As most may know, Canada’s Arctic is a huge part of Canada’s image with iconic images of polar bears, caribou herds, icebergs, Inukshuks, northern lights, igloos, cabins, camping, dog teams, arctic char, rivers, and the midnight sun. Still, very few people including Canadians have experienced Canada’s North.

As an Inuvialuit (Inuit) who grew up in Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, all the above images were an everyday experience and a way of life. And, as one who now lives in the Southern Canada, I do miss the “call of the wild.”

“There’s’ a lot of potential up here,” said Lisa Tesar, who runs a campground and organizes a summer festival in Yellowknife.”

Potential is one thing but reality is another.  Reality in experiencing the North has many challenges. Transportation costs are enormous: a return flight only from Calgary to Inuvik is in the neighborhood of $1800. The only ones benefiting in experiencing the Arctic are those employees who are on company expense thanks to Shell, ConocoPhillips, Imperial Oil, MGM Energy Corp and a few others. These companies and staff see oil and gas as the attraction while seeing dog-teams, northern lights, and caribou are residual effects. Those “outsiders” are the lucky ones: in the right place at the right time.

Right now, the NWT Legislature will consider “Tourism 2015, “ a marketing scheme that will hopefully boost the tourism industry targeting China, India, and Brazil.

“Getting the world to experience the North is, frankly, more lucrative, and probably in the long run a more sustainable model because that’s where the growth lines are,” says David Goldstein, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.”

Growing up as a kid in the North, traveling by dog-team, seeing the northern lights, seeing polar bears, eating Arctic char, seeing thousands of caribou, building igloos, paddling the rivers, and experiencing the midnight sun was a way of life.  I guess I was living the "call of the wild." I did not have to pay a cent.

Still, as David Goldman says, “Tourism is a great opportunity, just because of where we are. It’s untouched, and people want to come here.”