First Nations Voice

PAGE 2 • FEBRUARY 2013 HOW TO CONTACT US ADVERTISING MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHER Al Isfeld (204.256.0645) ASSISTANT EDITOR Breanna Lambert (204.697.7374) First Nations Voice creates an opportunity for advertisers, businesses and all levels of government to reach First Nations audiences in Saskatchewan, Manitoba * Ontario. With a focus on training, education and employment opportunities, this publication serves to showcase opportunities available to First Nations and all Aboriginal people. firstnationsvoice@winnipegfreepress.com All Rights Reserved. Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Scanterbury, MB R0E 1W0 Phone 204.256.0645 E-mail rdeagle@mymts.net All digital advertising files, whether on disk or delivered electronically, should be Mac compatible. Please include all files necessary for output. Call the Winnipeg Free Press pre-press department, 697-7020, for more information about file types accepted. The Free Press can also build your ad. Please contact your First Nations Voice ad sales rep for details. No material in First Nations Voice may be reproduced without permission of the copyright owner. First Nations Voice is published monthly by the First Nations Voice. All payments for advertisements in the First Nations Voice should be directed through the Winnipeg Free Press office. No out of office sales rep will collect cash outside of this office. Please direct questions to Edith Bonner 697-7389. 100-per-cent First Nations owned — Distribution: 100,000 copies 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, MB Canada, R2X 3B6 NEXT ISSUE: March 2, 2013 The December advertising deadline is February 15, 2013 For your ad placement and contents CONTACT EDITH BONNER (204-697-7389) edith.bonner@freepress.mb.ca BREANNA LAMBERT (204-697-7374) firstnationsvoice@winnipegfreepress.com Toll free 1-800-542-8900 Alan Isfeld (204-256-0645) / e-mail: rdeagle@mymts.net Advertising Sales Edith Bonner 204.697.7389 / edith.bonner@freepress.mb.ca Mike Manko 918-7768 mmanko@mymts.net Sales and Marketing Breanna Lambert p: 204.697.7374) e: firstnationsvoice@winnipegfreepress.com Subscriptions $26.25 annually, payable to First Nations Voice c/o Winnipeg Free Press A Message from Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING AND THE POSITION OF MANITOBA FIRST NATIONS LEADERSHIP Derek J. Nepinak LL.B., B.A. (Hons) Grand Chief, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs The people of our communities embedded in the land throughout and to the four corners of the province of Manitoba need to know that the Manitoba Chiefs stood in solidarity with a great number of Chiefs on January 11, 2013 in taking a stand against the paternalistic and controlling mechanisms of government. The media has suggested that the regions of Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Ontario were the only regions that did not endorse the meeting. The truth is, even those regions that did send representation to the Prime Minister's meeting were highly split on whether to attend the meeting. Many of the Chiefs from across Canada marched in solidarity with the people on Friday, January 11, 2013, choosing not to endorse the Prime Minister's agenda and policy management exercise. Before even participating in the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) planning meetings leading to the Prime Minister meeting, Manitoba Chiefs had their own set of intensive closed door discussions marked by brotherhood and unity under the Manitoba Chiefs pipe. We decided together that we were not going to subject ourselves to a coercive dictation of schedules, time limits and the Harper government agenda. We did things on our own time and when we were ready, we brought our messages to the Chiefs that were in attendance at this AFN Working Group meeting. When we did, Chiefs from across the country stood and applauded the Manitoba position. Our position was not influenced by any outside pressures from political advocates, Ottawa power brokers, nor the usual divide and conquer tactics that influence everything we do. We determined our path collectively and on our own, which represents a great victory for our people. During our discussions, it was determined that it is time to start standing with our people and scale back the expectations and blind trust that so many of our people have had in a federal government that only applies policy on us, not a real and true relationship based in trust and nation-to-nation respect. This stand was solidified with a commitment to help try and save the lives of Chief Theresa Spence, Raymond Robinson and Jean Sock who decided that the watered down policy meeting between the Prime Minister and some Chiefs would result in more talk and nothing good for our grassroots people. We agreed with them. Some well known media outlets who fight for the status quo and do not understand the great depth of tragedy and crisis in our communities have decided to stand with the established power structures in Ottawa.  They are sending printed and social media network messages that the heroes in all of this are the National Chief and his followers. They will continue to say this as long as it maintains the power structure. The truth however is that the true heroes are those people who have broken free from the dictates of colonial policy schemes and refused to participate in trumped up meetings that lead to no tangible outcomes for the benefit of our communities and all the families relying on us. A great catalyst of this is the Idle No More movement and the powerful women leaders that have guided and maintained the principles of peace, love, respect and kindness. It is imperative that we continue to push the Harper government to step aside from his Indian Act policy management plan and engage with us on terms that include the Prime Minister, the Governor General and the people, as represented by our leadership and our grassroots people. Lastly, on behalf of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, I thank the many supporters First Nations and Canadian, who have contacted our office to show their support to the First Nations community, myself, leadership and the Idle No More movement. Grand Chief Derek Nepinak Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

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