chiiwetin - winter 2015
DESCRIPTION
Chibougamau Eenou Friendship Centre NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
Chibougamau Eenou
Friendship Centre
In This Issue:
Pg. 2 CEFC Team
Pg. 3 Word from the ED
Pg. 4 Coming Activities
Pg. 5 Coming Activities
Pg. 6 - 7 Calendar
Pg. 8 Job posting / Friendship Week
Pg. 9 Christamas Supper
Pg. 10 2014 Year Review
Newsletter for the Urban Native Community – Winter 2015
Great news!
This year is full of promises as we prepare big things
for our community !
With new projects, we want to give to our community the tools needed for a
lasting and beneficial development.
See inside for
details.
Board of Directors
Melissa Rodgers President Manon Richmond Vice-President Pierre Pelletier Secretary-Treasurer Cindy Morrison Director Sarah Pashagumskum Director LeeAnn Neeposh Alternate Director Jessyca Thisdale Youth Representative
Administration Jo-Ann Toulouse Executive Director [email protected] Agnes Moore Accounting Clerk [email protected] Jessyca Thisdale Reception/Shop/Adm. Assistant [email protected]
Community Services Frédéric Launière Youth Animator [email protected] Jessica Marceau Community Coordinator [email protected] Nicolas Paillard Communication Coordinator [email protected] Walter Pawlikowski Building Project Coordinator [email protected] Fabienne Boulanger Cook Cloé Mark Lunch Monitor
Homework Monitors Annabelle Awashish
Administration Business Hours Monday to Friday 8:30 to 12:00 - 1:00 to 4:30 pm
Jo-Ann Toulouse Executive Director
Agnes Moore Accounting Clerk
Fabienne Boulanger Cook
Jessyca Thisdale Shop Clerk
Nicolas Paillard Communications
Coordinator
Jessica Marceau Community Coordinator
Chibougamau Eenou Friendship Centre Team / Sisters in Spirit
Page 2
Sisters in Spirit October 4th, countless Canadians supported our murdered and vanished sisters by participating in a Sisters in Spirit event. The Chibougamau Eenou Friendship Centre organized an evening of sharing and remembrance on October 2nd. The evening started with a Sacred fire. Then Wayne Rabbitskin, who walked 21 days from Chisasibi to Mistissini to stop violence towards the women and children of Eeyou Istchee, shared his views on the central place of women and children in our society. Afterwards, Jo-Ann Toulouse, Executive Director of the Chibougamau Eenou Friendship Centre, advocated for the implementation of a national commission of inquiry by the Harper Government to address this particu-lar issue. To close the event, a candlelight solidarity walk made its way across town centre.
Walter Pawlikowski Project Coordinator
Frédéric Launière Youth Coordinator
Excuse me… I’m sorry, I seem to have misplaced January… You too! Goodness, how time is flying by in 2015! Despite the cold and days so fleet, we are busy caring for projects large and small for the wellbeing of our community. I realise February is here but I wish you health and prosperity and joy in the year ahead all the same. It also gives me an opportunity to share with you some of those projects that 2015 has ushered in. I’m pleased to share with you that two proposals presented under the federal program Urban Partnerships (UP) have been granted to March 31, 2015. Both are feasibility studies: The first, a needs assessment for the potential implementation of a proximity clinic at the Centre meeting the needs of our families and community members in town. The second will look at the potential to train community members in honing their craft and entrepreneurial skills. The overall aim of these projects through UP is to increase Centre and individual sustainability by decreasing barriers to participation in the economy by all so-ciety. Studies mean consultation and the winter will be busy with conversations big and small taking place to validate community preoccupations (SAMU), early childhood and family needs (Ninan) health and wellness (clinic) and turning a passion into a living (Wiisht). I truly hope you’ll join us as we recognise and define those realities that define our needs and whose solutions immeasurably improve the grace of our days. Winter won’t be all spent in talk however, no sirree! Browse the pages ahead—there is Sliding Day and Intercultural Friend-ship Week, a monthly crafting activity coming together, youth activities, new staff aka even more new activities, family swim and gym nights and more! Our secret ingredient to making all these activities and events fabulous is you—your participation makes all the effort worthwhile, join us! In the course of the months ahead, we are expecting a visit from Quebec Native Women. They are completing a Quebec-wide search for the stories of our murdered and missing sisters in the province. Our stories have been less heard outside our bor-ders due to language and distance, and it must be said, whispers. So many of our stories are kept in silent sorrow out of re-spect and perhaps fear. It is our hope that some families may wish to step forward and share in confidence for the benefit of our Nations, and finally convince Ottawa to launch the Commission on missing and murdered Aboriginal women, thus bringing their spirits home. Of lesser note, you may have noticed a change in our email signatures, as a nod of respect to the elders of the community, we have adopted their name for us for our upcoming webpage www.eenoukamikw.ca. It will include a link to the shop so beaders and craft enthusiasts will finally have constant access to our goods! May February shine bright, and hearts be glad—Spring, and Goose Break, are just a few snowfalls away ;)
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Page 3
Movement News The Chibougamau Eenou Friendship Centre was happy to host a working session and the Annual General Assembly of the Regroupement des Centres d’amitié autochtone du Québec (RCAAQ). We held this event at the Mont Chalco ski lodge from October 16 to 18 2014. All guests enjoyed legendary Cree hospitality that cul-minated in a hand drum presentation by the Waseskun Drummers, a rousing evening of song with John Bou-drias as well as a memorable contemporary moose bourgignon. Within this event, majors decisions were made about concerted actions to be carried out by members of the RCAAQ to help Centres position themselves for the serious challenges ahead.
Useful Information / Job Posting
Page 4
Ninan The Québec Friendship Centre Movement is in the process of identifying the needs of families with young children (0 to 5 years) with the Ninan project. We will be hosting focus groups and other activities to further our understanding of our community’s experience in this regard. We want to hear from you because you are the first and most concerned by the challenges you face with your children. The first part of the consultation held last Fall with health and social services was interesting, giving us an inside view of the service providers point of view. The second part, with our community members will provide a more exact picture of the needs and gaps in service experience in Chibougamau Invitations will be given in the weeks ahead. Should you be already interested in giving your point of view, give Nicolas Paillard a call.
Awash Uutamet Child Care Centre
Construction of our lovely urban Aboriginal Childcare centre began in late October along with the snow and winter cold. As you can see below, it is cominig along nicely and should be completed by the end of March.
This childcare centre will host 60 children, half Abo-riginal and half non-Native. The waiting list is currently at the Friendship Centre and a number of the Aboriginal spots are still open. A pu-blic meeting will be held in the weeks ahead to present the orientations of this bi-lingual childcare centre to parents and prospective em-ployees alike. Stay tuned for further details!
Positions in Chibougamau of interest: .
The Centre de services de la santé et des services so-ciaux is looking for inter-pretors for occasional work. Candidates must be fluent in French and English, Cree would be an asset. Speak with Claudine Jacques at 418-748-3575, ext 5128. Emploi-Québec is looking for a new service officer to respond to the needs of the Abo-riginal clientele. Communicate with Patricia Hébert at 418.748.7643, ext 222
Coming Activities
Page 5
Want to live the hockey team spirit? Come down at the
Chibougamau Eenou friendship Centre with your friends
this Wednesday February 18 for an exciting hockey night! Habs will
visit (crush) the Ottawa Senators @ 7 PM!
Wings, nachos, pops and other snacks will be served!
Don’t be shy and come celebrate this hockey night with us!
Don’t forget to wear your Jersey!
-Frédéric Launière
Youth Animator
/
Healthy snacks
and hot
chocolate will be
provided !
It’s a family activity, It’s a family activity,
parents MUST slide parents MUST slide
with their children !with their children !
Mandatory registration, callMandatory registration, call
Jessica @ the Centre:Jessica @ the Centre:
418418--748748--76677667
You have until February 13, @ noon !You have until February 13, @ noon !
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5 6 No School
7
8 9 10
Sewing with Clara Neeposh
11 12 DéfiXtrème Qualifications
From 7 PM
13 14
Valentine’s Day
DéfiXtrème Finals
From 7 PM
15 16 17 18 Centre’s Hockey Night
19 20 21
Mont Chalco Family Sliding
Day
22 23 24 25 26 No School
27 No School
28
February
Suicide prevention week
Valentine’s Day
Potluck
5:45 PM
Schedule is
subject to
change
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 No School (French)
10 11 12 13 14
15 16 Intercultural Family Swim
Night
17
Saint-Patrick
Intercultural Gym Night
18 19 20 21
Craft Work-shop @ Public Library 1 PM
Late Night Bowling
22 23 24 25 26
Youth Movie Night 6:30 - 9:00 PM
27 28
29 30 31
March
5:45 PM
March Break
Intercultural Friendship Week
Schedule is
subject to
change
Coming Activities
Page 8
Intercultural Friendship Intercultural Friendship Intercultural Friendship Week 2015Week 2015Week 2015
March 16th to 21st 2015
Workshops
Community & Intercultural
potluck supper
Swim Night
Gym Night
International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
Youth Movie Nights are back!Youth Movie Nights are back!
Come with your friends for an evening of Come with your friends for an evening of
frights, laughter or action at the frights, laughter or action at the
Friendship Centre!Friendship Centre!
First Youth Movie Night March 26 @ 6:30 First Youth Movie Night March 26 @ 6:30
to 9 PM and more to come !to 9 PM and more to come !
Christmas Supper
Page 9
Christmas Supper December 17th was held our annual Christmas supper to which all the community was invited. 30 people were present at this beautiful gathering. After the supper, a scavenger hunt kept people scrounging throughout the Centre and lo and behold! Santa Claus came to give an early treat to 11 children before leaving to prepare for Christmas eve! The supper was again a happy success and we look forward to welcoming you again next year.
Year in Review
Page 10
Pink Shirt Day
Christmas 2014
Family Day Folifrets
Nisk Supper Chishteyihaakusuu Gala
Aboriginal Day
Intercultural Friendship Week
2014 was a busy year. With the help of the community, we promoted our culture, philoso-phy and wisdom. The huge success of Family Day (with the collaboration of Oujé-
Bougoumou Tourism), Intercultural Friendship Week and Aboriginal Day are due to our ability to connect with the citizens of Chibougamau and our capacity to create lasting bonds of friendship with other Nations. We are proud to have celebrated with you the
achievements of our youth, a key in the future success of our community.
For this marvellous year, the Centre thanks you, our community,
for your involvement and support.
Come and browse our wares!
We carry fine traditional products and crafting supplies.
Come and see for yourself!
Monday to Friday 9:00 to 12:00 - 1:00 to 5:00 pm
A lot of new seedbeads in many colours (size 10/0) !
Leather and suede in many colours.and other sewing material !
Three model of quilts with different sizes to see!
We’re Still Buying!!!
Moose hide products, traditional tools, jewelry, snow shoes, sculptures, carvings and more.
Ambulance: 9-1-1 Police Emergency (Sûreté du Québec): 310-4141 Health line: 8-1-1 Airport: 418-748-2211 Alcoholics Anonymous: 418-748-6789 Bus terminal: 418-748-2842 Chibougamau Eenou Friendship Centre: 418-748-7667 Cree Patient Services: 418-748-4450 Chibougamau Low Income Housing: 418-748-3277 Chibougamau Health Centre: 748-2676 or 748-6435 Chapais Health Centre René-Ricard: 418-745-2591 Chibougamau Townhall: 418-748-2688 Emploi Québec: 1-866-722-7354 Hydro-Québec outages/emergencies: 1-800-790-2424 Kid’s Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Men’s resources 418-748-8005 Men’s Shelter: Pignon de l’espoir 418-748-8005 Parents Helpline: 1-800-361-5085 Police (non-emergencies in Chib. and Chapais): 418-748-7652 Quebec Poison Control Centre: 1-800-463-5060 S.O.S. Spousal Abuse: 1-800-363-9010 S.O.S. Poaching: 1-800-463-2191 Suicide Prevention: 1-877-883-6964 Chapais, Chibougamau, Mistissini: 1-800-463-9868 James Bay: 1-866-277-3553 Youth Protection Chapais, Chibougamau: 1-800-463-9188 Youth Protection James Bay, Mistissini: 1-800-409-6884 Waskhegan Phone 418-276-5901 Fax 418-276-8302 Women’s shelter (24 hrs.): 418-748-7654
Important Numbers
For Your Information
Page 11
We are looking for community members interested and willing to share their skills in activities: Language and cultural practices Beading, embroidery and sewing Cooking Shelter building Hunting and trapping Traditional wood carving Tanning Traditional medicine Coming-of-age activities for young boys and girls Others: maybe you have a talent we haven’t listed! Please speak with Jo-Ann Toulouse, Executive Director, for details! (418-748-7667)
Chibougamau Eenou Friendship Centre
Our Community in Action!
Awash Uutamet
Childcare Centre
Ninan
Consultations
with partners
and families
Family Sliding Day
Intercultural
Friendship
Week
Hockey
Night