Building bridges between all communities
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/581380
PAGE 12 • OCTOBER 2015 MissionStatement ProvincialCrisisLine 1-877-977-0007 IkweCrisisLine 1-800-362-3344 "Supporting Aboriginalwomen andtheirchildren toendfamily violencebyoffering shelterduring crisisandnuturing hope,changeand Empowermentfor thefuture" 102-1075PortageAve Winnipeg,MB.R3G0R8 204-942-6026 1-888-942-6026 info@firstpeoplesfund.ca Supportingthe ManitobaFirstNationsbusiness communitywithlowcostcapital forviablebusinessstarts, expansionsandacquisitions Congratulations to SheilaNorthWilson The New MKO Grand Chief TheManitobaAssociationforResource RecoveryCorp.(MARRC)managesthe UsedOil&AntifreezeRecyclingPrograms. Weareverymuchinterestedin assistingcommunitiesinthenorth withrecyclingtheirusedoil,filters,containers aswellasantifreezeanditscontainers. Pleasecontactusat1-888-410-1440formoreinformation orvisitourwebsiteatwww.usedoilrecycling.com Recycling: UsedOil&Antifreeze NORTHERNOPPORTUNITIES! rs information 204-783-6958•1-866-317-5361•www.economytextile.com Comeandseeusforallyourceremonial andstarblanketfabrics. Wecarryawideselectionofcolours inbroadclothandmanyindigenousprints. Contactus forpricingon: ShopWipers Micro-fiberCloths DropCloths SalonTowels Napkins Bringthiscoupon infora10%discounton regularpricedfabric.(Does notincludefatquarters, broadclothornotions) ExpiresOct.31/15 Alvin Chartrand Let's start with Alvin Chartrand because he's more local. Chartrand was involved for many years working on behalf of the Metis community setting up employment and training programs using his education as a business administrator. And that was Chartrand's raison d'etre as he was known for tirelessly working and lob- bying on behalf of the Louis Riel Institute. Right now there are probably literally hun- dreds if at least a thousand Metis people who went through a training period set up. He was an avid hunter that helped him keep in touch with his indigenous roots. Basil H. Johnston Many remember Johnston for his many award winning works as a writer. He was also an educator dedicated to the preservation of the Annishnabe langauge (Ojibway). I'd like to share a personal story about Mr. Johnston. We were both at a writers conference in Northern Manitoba. He drove in from Southern Ontario just to be there to address the audience that evening. I knew he was well into his 80's but I found his spirit to remain remarkable and unbroken. Sitting outside, he asked me if I could help him. First he sat down beside me and we just talked. A thorough gentleman through and through. It was just a little after twilight when he told me that he couldn't find his car in this light. So we walked out together into a gravel covered lot as I gently led him by his arm. Well, we found his car and he was off to where he was to be lodged for the evening. As he drove off, I got worried. How can he drive in the dark if he can't find his car in the dark? Well, he was there in fine spirits at break- fast in the morning and he kept up with the rest of the much younger Aboriginal Writers Collective. I went back and reread a couple of his works that I still had thinking it's good to know the writer as well as the writing. Worth more thaN a meNtioN: Alvin Chartrand and Basil Johnston By Trevor Greyeyes" Many Indigenous people out there might not know how their lives have been touched and improved by the work and lives of Alvin Chartrand and Basil Johnston.