“You need your own space,” says Naotkamegwanning arena manager about upcoming skateboard park

Mary Ann Mooring asks Sagaate Ranville’s questions at Baibombeh School. (Photo Credit:West Ranville)

By Connor Kakeeway

While plans of a proposed skatepark have been available for few months, this past Tuesday January 28, Naotkamegwanning project and arena manager Mary Ann Mooring hosted an open forum at Baibombeh Anishinabe School.

“All this is coming from the voice of youth,” said Principal Eric Wilson who introduced the two guest. The presentation was split into two group, grade 7-12 and 4-6 and had been announced as a public event of the community’s local Facebook page.

Mary Ann, who is an electrical engineer by trade and maintained many sports centres including the Kenora Recreation Centre, spoke with her partner Alex Man, a geological engineer and trail designer for Scatliff + Miller + Murray.

“You need you own space,” said the arena manager about the upcoming skatepark.

Engineer Alex Man presents the park plans (Photo Credit: West Ranville)

She said the idea and planning initially started in spring of 2018 and that she has since then worked with chief and council. She said she had approved the plans and layout. These plans included Ojibwe themes in the skatepark to be shaped as a snake and turtle.

Engineer Alex Man of Scatliff + Miller + Murray has also built a skateboard park in Wabigoon First Nation. (Photo Credit: Ian Crow)

In both groups, questions were asked on where they would find equipment. They both responded with the idea of getting the older youth to create a fundraising project and corporate sponsorship.

Alex Man is no stranger to skateboarding and working with first nation communities, being skateboarder himself and having created a skate park in Wabigoon First Nation including making sure the youth were involved.

Baibombeh Anishinaabe School youth listen and ask questions about the skateboard park (Photo Credit: Ian Crow)

In the discussion about maintaining the space Alex also explained that the area should be maintained because rocks and dirt is hazardous to skateboarders. He also brought up bad versus good graffiti – bad meaning unplanned, gang related, and hateful. Good being planned, artistic, meaningful art. Mary Ann went on to suggest a contest on graffiti art that can be facilitated by local artists.

Jazlyn Copenace of grade four said she thinks it would be boring without colour, supporting colourful concrete consisting of the rainbow spectrum.

Mary Ann explained that this will be a good opportunity for more jobs in the community in maintaining the skatepark and the recreation centre which is now the Shawendaasowin Prevention office. Saying the location transition will be next winter, Mary Ann explains that the space could be rebranded to a new business such as a coffee/ice cream shop, with other recreational space such as pool or ping pong tables.

Mary Ann said they are planning to start this May on the soil and be ready for July long weekend. The estimated cost is $385,000. She says the are currently waiting on a grant to cover $185,000 and are looking for corporate sponsors. Mary Ann and Alex are looking forward to community input to be forwarded to her at the arena next month.

Naotkamegwanning Arena and Project Manager Mary Ann Mooring and Engineer Alex Man at Baibombeh School (Photo Credit: West Ranville)

When asked if this area can be used by people who aren’t interested in sports, Mary Ann replied “You don’t have to care about sports, it’s about family gathering and building character”.

Whitefish Bay youth powerfully demonstrate musical skills and talents

Natalie Copenace Kelly - credit Karli Zschogner 2 — Natalie Copenace-Kelly, 14 of nearby Onigaming First Nation, sings cover of “Beautiful Thing” by Grace Vanderwaal (Photo Credit: Karli Zschogner)

Live performances and movie screening at Netaawgonebiik Health Centre captivates audience.

By: Damon Hunter

The once quiet healing room of the Netaawgonebiik Health Centre had transformed into a flashing sequence of revolving lights and was cheerfully occupied by an applauding crowd this past Sunday, January 20.

“It was such a good show. I enjoyed it and I’m going to watch the show again,” said Leila Paypompee who brought along her children.“That film really inspired me. My perspective changed on music and history”.

The aforementioned show in question is Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World. The internationally award-winning film had garnered the attention of the community journalism trainer Karli Zschogner and willed her to initiate a screening here in Whitefish Bay, along with the opportunity to host a few debut performances from local musicians.

Teddy Copenace of Naotkamegwanning’s Hanisha Singers elevated the room’s spirituality with his strong vocals and hide drum. Second to perform was Natalie Copenace-Kelly, 14. Utilizing her self-taught ukulele skills, she sang a powerful cover of “Beautiful Thing” by Grace Vanderwaal.

“[I] was hecka scared but I felt better afterwards,” said Natalie. “That’s why I like doing it, because I feel so much better after it.”

Following was Connor Kakeeway’s expertly played two piano performances, both of which were self-taught by the 17 year old multi-instrumentalist only three years ago he said. He played his pieces ‘The Wind Palace’ and ‘The Night Before July’. All musical performances had generated great applause from the crowd.

Connor Kakeeway - credit - Karli Zschogner — Connor Kakeeway performs one of his two original pieces ‘The Night Before July’ he says inspired by a Japanese exchange student. (Photo Credit: Karli Zschogner)

“I really enjoyed the talent of our young people. Showcasing talent and having a platform for them is definitely needed,” said Rhonda White, 7th grade teacher at Baibombeh School.

Rumble, named after the 1958 influential rock and roll anthem by Shawnee Link Wray, reveals the unrecognized Indigenous contribution to several genres of music across history. The influential lives of these people wowed viewers as their background was not commonly known trivia.

Simple folk music was soon electric guitars and thrashing whips of dyed hair. The film included the backgrounds of Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne, Buffy Sainte-Marie, swing’s Mildred Bailey and The Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo.

“The movie was really interesting. I’m a big music lover,” said guitar playing Brody Allen of Onigaming First Nation. “[I] never knew how much influence indigenous peoples had on music.”

The final set of musical performances occurred subsequently to the film opening with Natalie and then Connor with a second original piece. Closing the evening was the debut of the 19 year old, Cayne Kakeeway. Accompanied by community member Glen White on guitar and Connor on keyboard organ, Cayne rapped his own composition of self-written lyrics.

Cayne Connor Kakeeway Glen White — Naotkamegwanning community member Cayne Kakeeway debuts his first original rap and mixed beats supported by brother Connor Kakeeway on organ and Glen White on bass. (Photo Credit: Karli Zschogner)

The event had been brought to the attention of renowned guitarist, Stevie Salas. Salas has worked among the more larger bands of the rock genre, most notably Hardware. He has also collaborated with music giants such as Justin Timberlake, Mick Jagger, and Rod Stewart.

Both Salas and Tim Johnson, Executive Producers of the film, agreed to answer community gathered questions following the event through Naotkamegwanning Mazina’igan. These will be answered in our next issue.

London! Paris! Rome! The Baibombeh Anishinabe High School Travel Club

Travel Club members Adam Skead and Ireland Bird with her mother Leigh Green at first fundraiser Bingo December 10, 2018 at Baibombeh Aninishinaabe School Gym (Photo Credit: Xavier Ranville)

By: Marietta Patabon

The Baibombeh Anishinabe High School Travel Club is open to students enrolled in grades nine through 12. In May 2019, a group of 10 – 12 students and four chaperones will take a nine-day educational tour of three of the oldest cities in the world: London, England; Paris; France, and Rome, Italy! The tour was set up through EF Educational Tours Inc. at www.eftours.ca with expert travel consultants & tour guides that help every step of the way. Each student is currently working on fundraising ideas to help cover the full cost of their travel expenses.

As of January 2019, students should have already made two payments and are still fundraising in order to reach their goal. All students are currently working on their passport applications to ensure that they are prepared to travel.

Bingo Dabbers at Travel Club’s First Fundraiser Bingo December 10, 2018 at Baibombeh Aninishinaabe School Gym (Photo Credit: Elena Kejick)

To date, the travel club will already have hosted two merchandise bingo’s as well as one Christmas raffle. The first bingo was held on December 10th, 2018 and raised a total of $700. The second bingo was held on January 13th, 2019. This bingo did not get the turnout the club had hoped for. However, the bingo carried on without any profit gain. The Christmas Raffle gained a total of $2,066. Students and families have also taken to individual hockey pool’s, and mini draw’s.

Travel Club’s First Fundraiser Bingo December 10, 2018 at Baibombeh Aninishinaabe School Gym with food canteen (Photo Credit: Elena Kejick)

Here are some upcoming events the Travel Club will be hosting:

Merchandise Bingo, Monday, February 11, 2019 at Baibombeh School. Doors will open 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned for the Poster and list of Prizes. An announcement will be made soon for the next BIG Raffle with excellent prizes and where to purchase your tickets. Another fundraiser for the club is a cute one, candy gram sales at Baibombeh School for Valentine’s Day, orders can be made at the school. Lastly, the travel club will be at the Family Day Pow Wow, a canteen and a menu will be posted via Facebook.

Miigwetch for all your kind donations and support towards our Baibombeh Anishinabe High School students.

Let it Snow! Winter/Holiday Photo Contest Judging

By: Karli Zschogner, Community Journalism Trainer, Journalists for Human Rights

let it snow! photo contest — (Photo Credit: Karli Zschogner)

Thank you to all who submitted content for past and current photo contests. The overall hope and goal is to encourage appreciation for one’s own creative eye and mind or to be the first to capture that split-second moment as a type of storytelling. Not only can you take pride in your work, but know that you can make earnings off of your work. Photojournalism is a thriving contribution. Just consider The Atlantic’s “Hopeful Images from 2018” or Time Magzine’s 2017 Best Photojournalism.
More locally, there is the power of Nadya Kwandibens, Anishinaabe from the Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation in Northwestern Ontario. As Red Works, she has been featured in Photographers Without Borders under the Indigenous Rising portrait series.
For Let It Snow! Winter/Holiday Photo Contest showcased in December’s Naotkamegwanning Mazina’igan’s third issue, I have taken into consideration many factors including the adherence to the theme and instructions of submitting with a caption or photo essay. creatively, and the use of the rule-of-thirds.
The diversity of submissions evoking the full range of emotions: happiness, joy, peace, gratitude, and sadness, resulted in a very difficult challenge with the 14 photos submitted. So much so, that I increased the number of winner prizes. It became especially difficult when it came to respecting the baseline of following criteria of providing descriptions.
Congratulations to everyone who has submitted! Very big step! Chi Miigwetch for this opportunity!

1st ($100) – Kiara Lynn Bird – “This photo was taken as the sun was coming up during a winter morning. This tree has been around since my grandparents have lived in this exact spot; it reminds me they are never too far. Grateful for this season and even more grateful for the beauty that surrounds Naotkamegwanning.”

Shadow/silhouette
Creativity
Timing
Detail/Focus
Rule-of-thirds

2nd ($50) – Ozawaa Paypompee – “Throwing snow. There is happiness in snow when you go outside and embrace the snow. The outdoors are freedom.”

ozaawaa paypompee 2 — Second Place Winner of December’s Let It Snow Photo Contest – “Throwing snow. There is happiness in snow when you go outside and embrace the snow. The outdoors are freedom.” (Photo Credit: Ozawaa Paypompee)

Timing/Movement
Rule-of-thirds
Inspirational Power

3rd ($25) – Cayne Kakeeway – “A beautiful sunset on the snow laden hills of Whitefish”

Colour Contrast
Timing
Clarity
Lines

4th ($15) – Damon Hunter – “A stretch of burnt handrail from a house fire’s remains”

damonhunter - a stretch of burned handrail from a house fire's remains — Fourth Place Winner of December’s Let It Snow Photo Contest – “A stretch of burnt handrail from a house fire’s remains” (Photo Credit: Damon Hunter)

Rule-of-thirds
Clarity, Detail and Focus
Creativity/Lines
Newsworthiness
Current/Potential Social Impact

Notable Mention:
Caidy Indian – (December Baibombeh Pow Wow – smiles) No caption

caidy indian19 — Notable Mention of December’s Let It Snow Photo Contest at December Baibombeh School (Photo Credit: Caidy Indian)

Inspirational Power
Timing/Movement/Action
Rule-of-thirds

Honorary Mention:
Maria Blackhawk – “Frozen Lakes, Ice Roads, and Unique Opportunities” with Essay with photos (See Naotkamegwanning Mazina’igan Link)

maria blackhawk - ice roads 3 — Honorary Mention of December’s Let It Snow Photo Contest : Wolf Running : “Frozen Lakes, Ice Roads, and Unique Opportunities” (Photo Credit: Maria Blackhawk)

Creativity
Timing, uniqueness, rarity
Clarity
Reflection
Rule-of-thirds

Baibombeh’s Updates and Stories – Issue 3, December 2018

Grade 7

Portrait of a Lady

By: West Ranville

My art was inspired by Pablo Picasso. Picasso was a Spanish painter, sculptor, and printmaker. He was an innovator of modern art, creating portraits through geometric painting.

My artwork has different shapes and lines. This style of art is called cubism, which is pictures broken down into shapes. The tools I used were pencil, pens, paint markers, and stencils.

I appreciate the style of cubism created by Picasso, which I used to create my portrait. I appreciate cubism because of the opportunity to use colors and all the shapes.

How to Play Crazy 8’s

By Carter Nash

I am going to teach you how to play a game called Crazy 8’s. First, grab a deck of cards and make sure it has 52 cards in the deck and shuffle them fast.

Take all of the jokers out. Make sure 2 – 4 players are playing. Ask your friends, classmates, and siblings. Anyone who is 7 and up enjoys a challenge.

Next, give each player 8 cards, then put the rest of the cards in the center where all players are able to reach the cards

Now, flip the card on the top of the pile to begin the game. The card will show the suit and the number.

If a person has a jack of clubs and puts it down. Another jack could block it or your wild card.

A wild card is the number your on.

The numbers go down from 8 – 1, for example (if you were on your 8 and on your last card you put it down if it matches with the suit or number, then you go to your 7’s, pickup 7 cards from the deck of cards).

The objective is to reach zero cards from 8 – 1 if you were on your 1’s you place it down because it matches the suit and you win.

If the pile of cards is done, pick up the cards you played and shuffle them in your hands.

The two’s make your left opponent picks up two from the cards and the ace will skip your left opponent.

This is how you play Crazy 8’s.

This exercise was towards the Ontario Writing Assessment in September. For publishing, the student has re-drafted his work.

SCREECH! AGH! GROWLL! Traditional storytelling through a graphic novel

By: Landon Joseph

eagle girl - carter nash 2 — An example of what the graphic novel looks like inside (Photo credit: Carter Nash)

I recommend the graphic novel Eagle Girl to other students because it’s about shapeshifting.

Shapeshifting is when a human transforms into a creature. They might look or act like the creature. Shapeshifting is important to many first nation cultures.

The story takes place in the plateau region in western Canada and the United States. The two students in the book I read in grade seven, Shay Feather and Kyle Wolf, find out that they can shapeshift. After meeting Kyle, Shay had a dream about an eagle and a wolf who had Kyle’s eyes.

Shay asked why she felt annoyed and felt a zap of electricity when she touched Kyle, the new boy in town. Her mom told her about her family history of shapeshifting into a eagle and about her family feud between the wolf and the eagle.

When Shay and Kyle confronted each other again, and turned into a wolf and an eagle, somebody got hurt. They realized they should stop fighting.

“Whatever happened long ago between our families is no business of ours. This feud needs to stop right here and now….. With us!,” said Shay.

The main conflict was when Shay and Kyle were fighting in the woods.

I loved the book for its storyline about shapeshifting. I also liked it because of the art work and the animals.

The book is by Robert Cutting, under Turtle Island Voices, which is a series of 30 levelled readers designed to foster awareness and understanding of Aboriginal cultures for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students, and was published by Pearson Canada.

The following story has been re-drafted one-on-one with journalism trainer.

Ballin’ for Our Elders

By Marietta Patabon

Late last summer, a heartfelt gesture of wanting to provide an amusing time for our elders presented itself to Debbie Meekis. Remarkably, an idea on how to fundraise a Christmas shopping trip for our elders was born.

“I just wanted to take them out where they can enjoy themselves and be out where they don’t have to worry about anything and just to be out,” said Debbie. She said selling Bingo balls was suggested as the best way to shape this dream into reality.

Debbie works with Naotkamegwanning region’s elders everyday and she holds every recollection of the stories, gifts, and their happy memories she has met thus far.

Our elders adventured off to Black Bear Casino for two nights, and Duluth, Minnesota . Everyone enjoyed themselves, as Debbie recalls. The looks on their faces was the grateful feeling for her efforts of fundraising, she said. A donation of $250 was also presented to one of our elders in need, after an unfortunate event.

Aside from working, and the lack of communication with her family back home in Deer Lake First Nation, Debbie said she enjoys the task of opening all the tabs and sending pictures of confirmation to supporters, which presents as a big undertaking. With the support of Waylon Namaypoke at home, her efforts have been extremely gratifying for family and all supporters, she said.

The last of her fundraising will end after all current tickets are sold and includes for elders’ birthdays, she said.

With all appreciative gratitude from all us here and surrounding supporting areas, Miigwetch!

Recognized animal caregiver: Local resident caring for all living creatures

By: Donna Namaypoke

On Saturday December 8, 2018, just before 11:00 am, my mother phoned me to tell

photo video credit melissa — Jyles Copenace prepares to capture the snowy owl (Photo credit: Isaac Kavanaugh)

me that she’s over by the garbage can in the west end so naturally my reply is “oh”. She then proceeded to tell me that she was driving and Brian Copenace, who was sanding our roads at the time, stopped her and pointed towards the garbage can and that’s when my mother saw a beautiful snowy owl sitting in the middle of the road.

“I think it’s injured and there are a couple of ravens bothering it,” she said, asking what could be done. So I messaged Jyles Copenace to see if he was in the community and could go and check on it.

She said she would stay there and wait. I immediately messaged Jyles, who was pretty quick to respond and say he would be right over.

About an hour and a half later, Jyles messaged me and told me he got the owl and that it was malnourished but should be fine. He thanked me for calling on him and asking for his assistance. Meanwhile I’m thinking, “Who else would I call” but replied with, “No problem”.

You see, this past summer my mother-in-law called and said there is an injured eagle over by her place. After exchanging a conversation regarding the eagle, we hung up and I continued on with my day at home. About two hours later, she called again and said that eagle had moved.

Sure enough there was this beautiful golden eagle sitting in the tall grass. I tried to go close to it just to see if I could force it to fly away, but it didn’t. Instead it flapped its wings and hopped further way.

Not wanting to stress it out, I backed away. I decided to call the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). The man on the phone replied that at the moment they didn’t have the manpower to deal with injured animals and that there were many wildfires in the region. He did give me the name of a woman and a phone number, which I called and left a voicemail.

After waiting and hoping that the lady would call, I decided to call the MNRF again. This time a man asked me where in Ontario. “Whitefish Bay right by Sioux Narrows,” I said.

“Isn’t there a guy there that helps out injured birds?” he said. I asked him if he was referring to Jyles Copenance and he agreed.

I said I would see if he was in the community as it was pow wow season, and usually he and his family are traveling, but luckily he wasn’t. Jyles said he would be over as soon as they are done eating. I told him that we would wait there with the eagle until he arrived.

He and his family arrived within a half hour and right away he said that it was not a golden eagle, but a young bald eagle! He explained to us that the birds look like golden eagles when they are young and that the feathers change.I had no idea that he knew so much about them.

Jyles and his son decided that his son would walk to the left of the eagle while Jyles went to the right and whichever way the owl would move, then the closest one would throw a blanket on him.

It was all very interesting to watch, especially how efficient they were, like it was an everyday thing. I asked him a week later how the eagle was doing and he said he had it at his house for a couple days and released it at my mother-in-law’s. It flew away without any issues.

As of this morning, December 10, 2018, the snowy owl was released in good health. Thank you Jyles!

In an emergency call 911, says Naotkamegwanning Band Manager

damon hunter4 — The door of the NFNPD fire truck (Photo credit: Damon Hunter)

By: Damon Hunter
There has been known confusion from Whitefish Bay residents as to what number they should dial in the case of an emergency. Some of this confusion is due to some small magnets that had been distributed which listed several local numbers stating emergency numbers.
Band Manager, Laura Kakeeway, commented that those magnets didn’t in fact contain emergency numbers, but were purely for office, a non-emergency contact. She says that the number to dial in an emergency is the simple three digit 911.

20181205_100301
It was sometime within the past few years that Naotkamegwanning had applied and received 911 status under the band, which Kakeeway was not able confirm.

Though Andrea Joyce of Naotkamegwanning EMS had confirmed the 911 status. As Director of Paramedic Services, she oversees all operations regarding ambulance.
She touched on the specific qualifications for the 911 number. To get it, a region must have all three emergency services – fire, ambulance, and police, she says.

“At one point, [the fire service] was active with us and police as well. It’s just my understanding that they were not able to find someone to run [the fire service]”.

She says her and band manager have been trying to confirm a memorandum of understanding with the Sioux Narrows Fire Department (SNFD) if they need further resources.

She explains that in this region, all forms of emergency 911 calls go to the Kenora Central Ambulance Communications Centre – who are responsible for contacting the nearest emergency services in the region of crisis.

She says that equipment such as the Jaws of Life can greatly assist in retrieving victims if they ever find themselves trapped within a vehicle. A tool such as this is lacking in availability in Naotkamegwanning. The SNFD are in possession of one, she claims.

Brian Copenace of the Whitefish Bay First Nations Fire Department is lead volunteer, but Kenora Central Ambulance and Fire Communications Centre (dispatch) has him listed as fire chief – though he mainly performs vehicle maintenance on the department’s fire truck.

damonhunter3 — Karli Zschogner and Brian Copenace partaking in discussion (Photo credit: Damon Hunter)

According to Copenace, the fire department’s radio tower was severely damaged in a storm last summer. Because of this they’re unable to receive proper radio calls from dispatch. Reportedly, as of now, they rely on cell phone calls as their beepers do not work.

The Crying Christmas Tree

By: Isaac Kavanaugh

photo credit monica denise — Allan Crow holds up his book (Photo credit: Monica Denise)

The Crying Christmas Tree is a story written by Allan Crow and illustrated by David Beyer.

Allan Crow is a member of Naotkamegwanning First Nations and he currently resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba with his wife.

The Crying Christmas Tree is a story about a grandmother, her husband, children, grandchildren and a tree. It tells a story about love around the Christmas holiday and how not to be so heartless about the things you receive.

As stated in the book, “One winter, Kokum thought she would surprise her grandchildren by choosing the Christmas tree. She went into the woods carrying an axe while all the kids were at school”

Allan Crow said he was 38 years of age when he was writing this story and that he wanted to show that the Indigenous peoples also partake in the Christmas season as everyone else does in the world.

Mr. Crow also stated that the message was to show other cultures that the Indigenous peoples are the same as them in every way and will be like that in the future and that the world does not run on gears and machinery.

He also said that the holiday season is to show love to family and others around you and give someone something on this special season to show that you love and care for them.

The very first printing of the Crying Christmas Tree was in 1989, then the second one in 1993, third in 1998, fourth in 2002, fifth in 2005, and sixth in 2010. Mr. Crow describes the book as being the best seller for him under the publishers at Pemmican Publications Inc.

Mr. Crow recently had a book reading on December 13th in Northwest Angle #33. He said the children enjoyed the book reading and that books were handed to each person after the reading was done. He said many people remember the book and still have their original copies to this day.

Maria Blackhawk was one of the attendees. In a comment she made on the NWA#33 Community Activities Facebook group, she said,“ It was awesome, i loved the story and was happy to meet the author. Children need stories and the ones with lessons are the best, i believe that bedtime stories calm children to a restful sleep.”