First Nations Voice

PAGE 4 • APRIL 2014 MESSAGE FROM CHIEF RON EVANS On March 4, 2014, Norway House Cree Nation held their General Election. I would like to thank NHCN membership for their confidence and support in re- electing me as Chief of Norway House Cree Nation. I would like to congratulate Councillor's Johnny Ander- son, Loretta Bayer and Darlene Osborne on their re- election as well as Anthony Apetagon, Samantha Folster and Gilbert Fredette as the newly elected Council members. Your roles as community leaders are important and I wish each of you suc- cess in your four year term and with your new portfolios. I look forward to working with each of you on many of the new ini- tiatives we have planned. Together we will accomplish great things for Norway House Cree Nation. I would also like to thank the newly appointed Elder's Council: Elder's Leslie Apetagon, Rena Apetagon, Winnifred Balfour, Bob Turner, Nelson Scribe, and Frances Queskekapow. We are very pleased that each of you has agreed to work with us as Chief and Council. As leaders of NHCN, we will rely on your strength and experiences, guidance moral and spiritual values and support during the next four (4) years. An official inauguration of NHCN Chief and Council and a community feast was held on Sunday, March 16, 2014, in conjunction with the official opening of the new Kinao Sipi Minisowin Child and Family Ser- vices Administration Building. It was a beautiful day of celebration and festivities. Council and I were sworn in as newly elected lead- ers, and a special ceremony was held to introduce the new Elder's Council and thank the outgoing Council members. I would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Council members: Brian Cromarty, Florence Duncan and Clar- ence Paupanekis who served on Coun- cil from 2009-2014, 2006-2014, and 2009-2014 respectively. I would like to thank each of you for your contribution to public service in our community, your dedication and commitment to better- ing the lives of our membership and for your support over the last years. It has been a pleasure working with you and I wish each of you the best in your future endeavors. Ekosani Chief Ron Evans Norway House Cree Nation ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA CHIEFS GRANTED INTERVENOR STATUS IN FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL CASE TO IMPLEMENT JORDAN'S PRINCIPLE The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs-in-Assembly unanimously endorsed their organization proceeding to intervene in the Federal Court of Appeal in the Pictou Landing First Nation, Nova Scotia case. "Jordan River Anderson was a child of the Norway house Cree Nation,hereinManitoba,forwhom Jordan's Principle was named" said AMC Grand Chief Derek Nepinak. "We want to ensure no other child is denied services while Federal and Provincial governments argue over which jurisdiction pays. That is why we asked for and were granted leave to intervene in the Pictou Landing case in Nova Scotia." Jordan's Principle is the result of a 2007 House of Commons Motion that states that government should adopt a child first principle to resolve jurisdictional disputes involving the care of First Nations children. Jeremy Meawasige is a severely disabled youth who lives with his mother Maurina Beadle on the Pictou Landing First Nation in Nova Scotia. Maurina provided for all of Jermemy's care until she suffered a severe stroke in 2010 making it impossible to continue care on her own. Instead of providing the required resources, governments suggested she institutionalize her son to receive care, even though that option would be more costly than providing the in home support. The Grand Chief adds, "It's unconscionable of the Federal government to use it resources in proceeding with litigation as a tool to keep children and families entrenched in situations of inequity versus doing the right thing." The Federal Court has yet to set a date for this hearing. Kayla Frank

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