SERVING OUR MEMBER FIRST

NATIONS

ASUBPEESCHOSEEWAGONG NETUM

ANISHINABEK

EAGLE LAKE FIRST NATION

ISKATEWIZAAGEGAN #39 INDEPENDENT

FIRST NATION

OCHIICHAGWE’BABIGO’INING OJIBWAY

NATION

LAC DES MILLE LACS FIRST NATION

SHOAL LAKE 40 FIRST NATION

OBASHKAANDAGAANG

WABAUSKANG FIRST NATION

WABIGOON LAKE OJIBWAY NATION

WABASEEMOONG INDEPENDENT

NATIONS

d

Bimose Newsletter DECEMBER 2016

WINTER 2016

MISSION STATEMENT: Bimose Tribal Council strives to provide our member communities

with responsible, relevant, and quality advisory & professional services and program delivery. We fully support our Anishinaabe

governments in their quest to enhance the quality of life of the Anishinaabeg. We endeavor to integrate our culture and tradition

into all of our activities and to be an open, transparent, and innovative organization.

WHAT WE DO: Bimose Tribal Council delivers advisory programs to the 10 First Nations we are affiliated with. We provide advisory services in the areas of:

First Nation Governance

Resources

Technical Services

Community and Capital Planning

Financial Management

Economic Development

Education

Membership Services

MANDATE The organization, its governing structures and agencies, will do all that is required by the member First Nations, to advance First Nation‟s interests. The Board of Directors and the Secretariat were then entrusted to implement certain specific organizational tasks such as:

formulating appropriate programs/services within budgeted revenues and to meet stated community needs

establishing required policies/strategies to complement the programs/services to ensure the communities received maximum benefits

promoting self-government and self determination

assisting in the transfer of authority, responsibility, and accountability to each First Nation

Continually evolving to meet First Nations‟ changes in their workplace including administrative and technological environments

VISION STATEMENT:

We walk to strengthen our Anishinaabe way and our goal is to build a better,

stronger, healthier life for the Anishinaabeg.

Happy Holidays

KIIZHIK SCHOOL

Darlene Henry and the students of

Wabaseemoong participating in the

2016 Anishinaabemowin Bowl

Darlene Henry and the students of

Wabaseemoong participating in the

2016 Anishinaabemowin Bowl

Darlene Henry and the students of

Wabaseemoong participating in the

2016 Anishinaabemowin Bowl

Anishinaabemowin Bowl

Kitchi miigwetch to all our schools for coming out to the Anishinaabemowin Bowl at Thomas Aquinas School. It was a huge success to hear our children speaking the language so eloquently. Truly it was a great event and at one station all the children had to sing in the language. Our children from the schools are learning the language. We all should be very proud of our children.

Bimose and KCDSB worked in partnership and both organizations came together to support the Language Bowl. Thomas Aquinas School was a super great host. They took very good care of our schools. Dean Woodbeck, Chaplain of the school, said the opening prayer. Paul White, Superintendent KCDSB, Phyllis Ekre, Director of Education, KCDSB, Mary Cullingham, Superintendent KCDSB, Michelle Sawa, Principal of TA and Victoria Swejda, Vice Principal of TA, Shelly Tom, First Nation, Metis and Inuit Coordinator and of course Andy Graham, Director of Education on behalf of Bimose all danced in Grand Entry with our schools. It was a beautiful sight.

Our children are precious and they are learning the language at a very fast rate. Thank you to the singers, Jason Williamson, Steve Fisher, Eldon Copenace, Alex Copenace and Howard Copenace, resident Elder for KCDSB for sharing your gift of song. Miigwetch to Jim Green, our Cultural and Language Advisor, did a great job of being our announcer. Jim is a great advocate for the language and always promotes the language in a good way. Kyra Adams, Education Administration Assistant, assisted in things that needed to be done. Honourable mention is conveyed to all our moderators and thanks so much for your assistance. They are all fluent speakers I may add. Miigwetch to Howard Copenace, Shelley Tom, Isobel White, Elaine White, Judy Lands, Bernice Greene, Gwen Redsky and Darlene Bunting. They did a fantastic job. The children all had so much fun and that's what it‟s all about. Our children are having fun learning the language. Language is identity.

KIIZHIK SCHOOL DECEMBER 2016

WINTER 2016

Jim Green,

Language and

Cultural Advisor

To view complete collection of

photos, please visit our website.

Students of Whitefish Bay participating.

T.A Drum group play song for grand entry

during Anishinaabemowin Bowl

Baibombeh Anishinaabe School group photo

of students who participated in

Anishinaabemowin Bowl

Kenora District Catholic School Board

KIIZHIK SCHOOL DECEMBER 2016

WINTER 2016

(Anishinaabemowin Bowl Photos)

- Darci Everson, First Nation Student Success Numeracy Coach

Employee Spotlight WINTER 2016

DECEMBER 2016

- Brittany Paypompee, Physical Education and Land-Based Education Mentor

- Eva Graham, FNSS Student Success & Retention Lead

We are welcoming Brittany Paypompee to Bimose as our Physical Education and Land-Based Education Mentor at Kiizhik School.

“Hi, I'm Brittney Paypompee I'm from Whitefish Bay, my career so far has been working with kids, which has been quite the experience! I am pretty easy going and friendly so don't be afraid to say "Hi!" And I am glad to be apart of Kiizhik School! ”

Bimose welcomes to the team Eva Graham as our new FNSS Student Success and Retention Lead. “Boozhoo! My name is Eva Graham and I am pleased to say that I have taken the role of Student Success and Student Retention Lead until our colleague Donna Babiachuk returns. My goal is to work closely with the staff at our schools to ensure the success of our students at risk. I plan to embed culture and language into everything we do with the students. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns or comments you may have. I look forward to working with everyone on the team. Miigwetch”

Bimose would like to take this opportunity to welcome Darci Everson to the Bimose Team. Darci is the new FNSS Numeracy Coach at Kiizhik School. “Hello, my name is Darci Everson. I am the mother of two children. My family has roots in Lac Seul and Wauzhushk Onigum; however, I was born and raised in Kenora. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Lakehead University and a Bachelor of Education from Queens University and Seven Generations Institute.”

Employee Spotlight (continued)

DECEMBER 2016

WINTER 2016

“Hello, my name is Nadine Seymour and I started in December as Human Resource / Finance Administrator.

I grew up in Germany behind the Iron Curtain north of Berlin and later my family moved to

Western Germany (near Cologne) where I graduated and then worked 17 years for the regional public administration office. I‟ve worked in organization and IT support.

In 2014 I moved to Canada and worked for a law office.

I also teach Zumba fitness classes at the Recreation Centre and the Ne-Chee Friendship

Centre.

When I am not working, I enjoy being on the lake in a boat or in winter on a snow machine.

The past couple years have been an exciting journey and look forward to start a new adventure being a part of Bimose‟s team.

Please don‟t hesitate to contact me with any questions and/or concerns you may have. ”

- Nadine Seymour, Human Resource / Financial Administrator

Bimose welcomes to the team Nadine Seymour as our new Human Resources / Finance Administrator. Nadine is working from our central office.

Employee Spotlight (continued)

WINTER 2016

DECEMBER 2016

“I‟m a Class II licenced Water Treatment operator. I‟ve been an operator for Wabigoon Lake over 11 years. I‟ve completed numerous trainings pertaining to water treatment at Keewatinook Centre of Excellence in Dryden, Ontario, O.F.N.T.S.C Circuit Rider, Health Canada and Walkerton Cleanwater Centre. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of a team to provide hub services to Bimose Tribal Council communities. Also I am hoping to gain more knowledge on the different systems our communities have and to maintain a good working relationship with them.”

“Shoal Lake FN is home. I grew up in Shoal Lake being a commercial fisherman with my family. I enjoy fishing with my spouse and daughter. Hunting and being out on the land is what I prefer to do rather than being in the city for shopping and gambling”

More information:

Class 3 water treatment certificate Class 2 wastewater certificate First aid certificate Confined space certificate

I have been in the water industry for 15 years:

- O.R.O for Northern Chiefs Tribal Council 1.5 years.

- O.R.O for AKN 5 Yrs.

- Did monthly visits to northern communities. Performed

swop duties during this time.

- Also was a CRTP Trainer during this time. Operators were

able to use the training for CEU‟s for licencing renewal.

- Worked for the town of Sioux Lookout (public works) water

plant and waste water plant.

- City of Winnipeg in Shoal Lake at the water intake plant.

- 10 years in the diamond drilling industry. During this time I

travelled around North America as far north as Rankin Inlet

and south to southern Wisconsin, USA

Wayne Holmstrom, Operator in Charge

Clayton Esquaga, Operator in Charge

Bimose would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Operators in Charge, Clayton Esquaga and Wayne Holmstrom. With over 25 years of combined experience in the water industry, we are glad to have them as part of the Bimose team.

Employee Spotlight (continued)

DECEMBER 2016

WINTER 2016

On behalf of all the members of the Bimose Tribal Council,

Welcome to the Team!!

Tierra McDonald, Reception

Janna McDonald, Information Technology and Service / Web Master

I‟m sure most have already met our new receptionist Tierra McDonald – But we‟d like to formally introduce her as a member of our staff and Thank her for the amazing job she does every day helping everyone.

“Boozhoo! My name is Tierra McDonald and I am from Wabaseemoong Independent Nation, with lots of love for my second home Iskatewizaagegan. I am currently taking a year or two off from my university program to figure out what I would like to major in. I started working with Bimose Tribal Council as a receptionist in mid-October and I absolutely love it. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms and I look forward to the future working with this organization. Go Penguins!”

“Well, seeing as I am doing this Winter 2016 Newsletter. I‟d like to welcome myself to the Bimose Team *Haha* I‟m Kidding – Here we go: Hi, I am Janna McDonald from Wabaseemoong Independent First Nation. Very easy-going, love to laugh. I started working at Bimose in November in the IT department (as a Web Master/Protégée) with my first task specifically working on preparing a website for Bimose… I‟m sure a lot of you have received emails from me already And I‟d just like to say „Thanks‟ to everyone who I‟ve come across thus far, you‟ve all been super helpful & friendly. I look forward to working with everyone here. Thanks” - Janna McDonald

Membership Services

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES HOURS

Bimose Membership Services are provided from 9:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Appointments can be booked at reception by calling (807)

468-5551 Membership services we provide are: Life event registrations such as, Births, Deaths, Marriages, Divorces, Name Changes, Amendments, Band Transfers, and Certificate if Indian Status (Status Cards). When calling to book your appointment please provide as much information as you can. i.e) DOB, Full Name, First Nation, Contact information. In order for us to issue your status card you require the following Identification. 2 of the following pieces if ID or 1 piece and a guarantor form Acceptable ID over 18 years of age:

Driver‟s License

Health Card

Birth Certificate

Fire Arms License

Provincial ID Card

Student ID Card

Nexus Card (counts as two pieces)

Passport (counts as two pieces)

Status Card (recent at least 6 months)

Costs for Status Cards are as follows: Membership we administered (Ochiichagwe’Babigo’Ining Ojibway Nation and Wabauskang First Nation):

Renewals are free

First Cards are free

Lost/Replacements: $5

First Nations we don’t administer:

Lost/Replacements: $10

Pictured above are Bimose‟s Indian Registrar Administrators (IRA) Bernice Major and Kyra Adams.

IMPORTANT

Status Cards can only be issued to an individual twice during a full

calendar year period.

When you arrive for your appointment, please bring your old Status Card if you

have it, don’t wear any hats, sunglasses, or headgear for your photo.

If we are not the Administrator for your

First Nation then we have to contact your First Nation to get your individual

Information in order to issue a status card.

WINTER 2016

DECEMBER 2016

Native Classroom Assistant Diploma Program

Course instructor Lyn Blackburde said the

fact that 23 students are in the classroom

and ready to go at 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday

“speaks volumes.”

The Native Classroom Assistant Diploma

Program has been running out of Bimose

High School for the last three weekends as

part of a partnership between Nipissing

University and Bimose Tribal Council to

train more community-based educational

assistants.

Blackburde said the course covers primary

methods or how to work with children from

kindergarten to Grade 3. The course also

focuses on learning strategies for literacy

and numeracy.

Shay Cannon is one of the students taking

the course and is an education assistant for a

Grade 2 class in Wabaseemoong.

“We’ve been given a lot of different

materials to read and lot of little things that

we can use when we want to become

teachers, because the majority of us want to

go into the teacher’s program to become

teachers ourselves,” she said.

Another student, Allan McLay, is also an

education assistant already and he said

taking the course was part of the job.

“I’ve learned how a teacher conducts

themselves. I’m much more effective

already, just after two classes,” he said. “I’m

learning how to become a professional EA

immediately.”

KATHLEEN CHARLEBOIS Miner and News

Monday, December 12, 2016 11:11:02 EST AM

Offering the training program is part of Bimose Tribal

Council’s vision to provide the highest level of service in its

communities, said executive director Don Morrison.

He also said the council had been looking into offering this type

of course for a number of years, and it was this year that

“everything seemed to come together in terms of having our

funding partners in place, because there were a lot of moving

pieces to it.”

Nipissing happened to be the right fit, said Morrison. Chris

Hachkowski, the principal of Aboriginal Programs at the

Schulich School of Education at Nipissing said it’s the first time

the long-standing classroom assistant program has been offered

in a community-based format.

Blackburde, who has been in education herself for more than 25

years, said there is both a want and a need for First Nations

teachers and educators who have a vested interest in working

and living in their home communities.

“That’s what children need, they need that stability. They need

to have that consistency,” she said.

She said she’s also hopeful that her students in this course will

keep their education going and go to university to become

teachers themselves.

KCharlebois@postmedia.com

Twenty-three students in the Native Classroom Assistant Diploma Program have

been studying primary and junior methods with a focus on developing numeracy

and literacy since the course started at the end of November. Katheleen

Charlebois/Daily Miner and News

What We’ve Missed From Summer!!

DECEMBER 2016

SUMMER 2016

Bimose Community High School and Kiizhik School had their graduation ceremony Thursday afternoon, June 23. The eight high school graduates and four kindergarten graduates were surrounded by friends and family there to support them.

The Whitefish Bay Singers drummed and sang the grand entry song as Elder Tom Favell and dancers led the 12 graduates into the ceremony and around the gymnasium before they were seated.

Speeches were given by Vernon Redsky, vice-chairman board of directors Bimose Tribal Council; Don Morrison, executive director Bimose Tribal Council; Andy Graham, director of education; Darcy Wickham, vice principal; and Ryan White, principal.

Graham said this was the best day of his life.

“I‟ve been in education for 20 years and this is the best day of my life because we are graduating the first group of Bimose students. That‟s fantastic,” said Graham. “We are the first urban immersion school in all of Canada, and we are nationally recognized as an excellence of education in our elementary school as well as in our high school.”

Keynote speaker Francis Kavanaugh from Grand Council Treaty 3 addressed the crowd and thanked them all for being there.

Valedictorian Cami White read an emotional speech about the struggles of First Nations people and how those struggles contribute to low graduation rates. She shared her personal struggles with pot and her decision to go back to school to graduate.

“If I could redo my first year of high school I would. Maybe I would have graduated already. Maybe I could have gone to college or university. Maybe everyone would be proud of me,” said White. “I can only learn from my mistakes and keep on keeping on. I strongly believe that going to school will achieve our goals. Receiving a high school education will open so many doors.”

Students received awards and bursaries including two $500 bursaries given out to Savannah Fox and Austin Swain.

dgranger@postmedia.com

What We’ve Missed From Summer!!

SUMMER 2016 DECEMBER 2016

Soccer at Tom

McNabb Soccer

field

Students practicing

Archery at Kiizhik School

Canoeing at Green Adventures

Pictured left to right, Damien Greene (Opening Drummer), Marlon

Gardner (Extra-curricular specialist) and Sherry Moreau (FNSSP

Coordinator)

Multi-Sport Camp

2016

More pictures can be viewed on website

Staff Listing DECEMBER 2016

WINTER 2016

CV

BIMOSE TRIBAL COUNCIL INC.

598 Lakeview Drive

Kenora, ON P9N 3P7

Phone (807) 468-5551

Fax (807) 468-3908

www.bimose.ca

Staff Listing (continued)

DECEMBER 2016

WINTER 2016