First Nations Voice

PAGE 10 • AUGUST 2014 TheManitobaAssociationforResource Recovery Corp. (MARRC) manages the Used Oil & Antifreeze Recycling Programs. Weareverymuchinterestedin assistingcommunitiesinthenorth with recycling their used oil, filters, containers as well as antifreeze and its containers. Please contact us at1-888-410-1440 for more information or visit our website at www.usedoilrecycling.com Recycling: Used Oil & Antifreeze NORTHERN OPPORTUNITIES! rs information FPDI'sSub-AgreementHolders'(SAH)programs&servicesinclude:Skills FPDI'sSub-AgreementHolders'(SAH)programs&servicesinclude:Skills development,trainingforhigh-demandjobs;jobfinding,programsfor development,trainingforhigh-demandjobs;jobfinding,programsfor youth,programsforurbanandAboriginalpeoplewithdisabilities;and youth,programsforurbanandAboriginalpeoplewithdisabilities;and accesstochildcare. accesstochildcare. Please visit our website to connect to your SAH Coordinator. Please visit our website to connect to your SAH Coordinator. www.FPDInc.ca 101-1355 Mountain Avenue Winnipeg MB R2X 3B6 Tel: (204) 987-9570 FPDI is funded by ASETS—the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy, Human Resource and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) Training to Employment in 34 First Nations Communities FirstPeoples DevelopmentInc. Being well informed is a must in order to make sound decisions. When it comes to making decisions on how the RCMP deliver policing services in Manitoba, I seek the advice of those who can share their insight, knowledge and experience about local and provincial Aboriginal policing matters. The Commanding Officer's Aboriginal Advisory Committee (COAAC) provides me with strategic advice and cultural perspective relating to the delivery of the highest quality of policing. The COAAC is currently composed of four Aboriginal Manitobans who meet with me and the Aboriginal Policing Services team twice a year to discuss issues of recruiting, training and community relations with respect to Aboriginal people and their communities. The Advisory Committee members are: Cross Lake resident Darlene Beck was born and raised in the North and has lived in several northern communities. For the past 35 years Ms. Beck has been employed with the Incorporated Community of Cross Lake as the Community Administrative Officer. She volunteers in the community, region and province by being on various boards and committees that benefit northern communities. Sandra DeLaronde has served on both the Commanding Officer's Aboriginal Advisory Committee and the Commissioner's National Aboriginal Advisory Committee for 10 years. Ms. DeLaronde is currently the Director of the Aboriginal Courtwork Program, and Executive Director of the Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation. She has been active in conducting action based research on various issues affecting the lives of Aboriginal People in Manitoba. She holds a Master of Arts Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University specializing in Justice and Public Safety Leadership. Charlene Lafreniere was elected in 2006 to serve as a City Councillor in Thompson, where among other duties, she is the Chair of the Finance and Administration Standing Committee of Council. She is the Chair of the Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy, Thompson Recycle Centre and the Thompson Community Circle which is a part of the VOICE Research project. She is a board member for the Thompson Housing Agency and committee member for both the Thompson Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee and National Caucus - Urban Aboriginal Strategy and is also community co-lead for the FemNorthNet Research Project. Ms. Lafreniere is the Director of Institutional Advancement at UCN. Marielee Nault joined the Manitoba Metis Federation 27 years ago as Chair of the Woodridge Local, was elected to the MMF Board of Directors and served seven terms as Health Minister of the MMF. Ms. Nault represents Metis citizens of Manitoba on the Metis National Council Health Committee. She was a founding member of the Metis women's movement and has been a dedicated member and volunteer of the Metis Women of Manitoba since 1993. She was appointed by the Indigenous Women's Collective to the Commanding Officer's Advisory Committee, 'D' Division RCMP in 1996. Ms. Nault is currently an advisor on the Commissioner's National Aboriginal Advisory Committee. In May, she received the Order of the Metis Nation, the highest award of honour and recognition bestowed by the Metis National Council. Committee members embrace the opportunity to be well informed on local and provincial Aboriginal policing matters, and to share this knowledge with the committee at large to provide me with advice and recommendations from the grassroots. I greatly appreciate and value their insight as it has helped provide direction on our Manitoba policing priorities. ADVISORS BRING WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE Assistant Commissioner Kevin Brosseau, Commanding Officer RCMP "D" Division BYO BFF Be Your Own Best Friend Forever Most people in their darkest times come to the conclusion that each of us is really alone in life. We may have family and friends to comfort us but we are alone in our own existence. Whatever your spiritual beliefs are, and whatever comfort you find in your beliefs is a bonus. There is only one way to have a happy productive life and that is to be your own best friend forever. What does that mean? You need to be comfortable in your own skin. You need to rely on yourself and make your own way in the world. You need to make your own decisions and believe in yourself. We all know people who are their own worst enemies. Every break that comes their way they manage to waste. Every opportunity is squandered. They are overly critical of themselves and others. They are overly reliant on others for money because they cannot keep a job or earn a living. How do people develop into their own best friends? First you must realize that there is good in everyone including you. This will give you the foundation to build your self-respect and self-confidence. Once you have found a strength within you, practice using it. If you are a good organizer, clean out the shed or a closet. That will demonstrate that you can accomplish things. Keep going, help other people, and practice your strength until you have built some self-respect. Self-respect is the key to making decisions that are positive for you. Self-respect gets you out of bed in the morning. You will want to be active and working hard because you respect yourself. When you are happy with yourself, you can turn to your family and look for ways to support them. Having a family and being able to support your children will bring a huge boost to your self-respect as well as your confidence. People with self-respect don't wait for others to do things for them. They realize that they have no one to rely on besides themselves. There is joy in being able to look after yourself and your family. Are you owed something? Probably. But should you spend your life waiting for what you are owed? No. Respect yourself and make your way in the world without relying on others. Remember, Be Your Own Best Friend Forever and give yourself the gift of self-respect. Karen Keppler Selkirk and District Community Learning Centre.

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