News from around the Nations

Maliseet First Nation, New Brunswick, Canada

Young people from the Maliseet First Nation will have the opportunity to learn the Maliseet language, thanks to support from the Government of Canada. Funding was announced by Mike Allen, Member of Parliament (Tobique-Mactaquac), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. The funding will enable the Tobique Wellness Centre to offer a 16-week Language Nest program for children and their parents, which will include teaching traditional cultural activities in the Maliseet language. A 12-week full-time Youth Language Camp will also be organized by the Tobique Wellness Centre, as well as 36 hours of language classes targeted specifically at young people. The Government of Canada has provided funding of $57,000 through the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) of the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Aboriginal Peoples’ Program. The objective of ALI is to encourage and support community-based language projects that contribute to the revitalization and preservation of Aboriginal languages and increase their use in community and family settings.

Tejon Indian Tribe, California, United States

In a letter to the Tejon Indian Tribe of California, Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk reaffirmed the federal relationship between the United States and the Tejon Indian Tribe. The Assistant Secretary’s letter confirms that the Tribe has a relationship with the federal government. The Tejon Indian Tribe first requested confirmation of its status in 2006. Due to an administrative error, the Bureau of Indian Affairs failed for several years to place the Tejon Indian Tribe on the list of federally recognized tribes that the BIA is required to publish annually. In his letter to the Tejon Indian Tribe, Echo Hawk states, “upon review of the facts and history of this matter, including prior Assistant Secretaries’ decisions, I hereby reaffirm the federal relationship between the United States and the Tejon Indian Tribe, thus concluding the long and unfortunate omission of the Tejon Indian Tribe from the list of federally recognized tribes.”

Bethlehem, Palestine

Oneida musician Joanne Shenandoah and her daughter Leah were part of an international ensemble who performed at Manger Square in the city of Bethlehem, Palestine on Christmas Eve, 2011. The Shenandoahs sang John Lennon’s “Imagine” for the Project Peace on Earth initiative in front of the Church of the Nativity where Jesus Christ was born. Tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world assembled before the edifice, which is maintained by the Roman Catholic, Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches. The Shenandoah performance was followed by a concert at the new Bethlehem Convention Center on Christmas Day.  The Palestinian government recently opened the $30,000,000 facility located next to the “pools of Solomon” in Bethlehem.  Joanne presented a Haudenosaunee flag to Ms. Khouloud Daibes, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for the government of Palestine.

Gitanmaax, British Columbia, Canada

The majority of Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs have put into writing their decision to shut down the Gitxsan Treaty Society (GTS). The Chiefs are supported by their houses and clans, and made this decision only after holding clan meetings. The decision to shut down the GTS and fire senior staff was made because the GTS was making decisions without consultation and against the will of Gitxsan houses and clans.  The society was shut down on Dec. 5 after chiefs consulted with their clan members. Presently, 42 Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs (two thirds of the Hereditary Chiefs) have signed a declaration stating the following: The Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Agreement is null and void; The GTS no longer exists so it must cease operations and be shut down; The former Executive Director, Chief Negotiator and Negotiator are terminated; All other staff be given notices of indeterminate lay-off; All Pdeek representatives (GTS board members) are recalled. The Gitxsan Unity Movement began as Gitxsan Against Enbridge in early December. The goal of the movement is to bring harmony between the Gitxsan government and the values, law, and will of the Gitxsan. The Chiefs shut down the GTS on Dec. 5 because they were acting contrary to Gitxsan law and values. The Gitxsan Unity movement is 100% volunteer driven, with Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs and members working in the best interest of our land, culture, and people.

Cayuga Nation, New York, United States

The Assistant Secretary Larry Echo Hawk dismissed a gaming application submitted by the Cayuga Nation of New York for the acquisition of land into trust for gaming purposes in Seneca County, N.Y., returning the application to the tribe. The tribe’s application was incomplete, and did not address all of the requirements contained in the Department’s regulations. The Department has removed the application from consideration, although the tribe can submit a new application at a time when it is prepared to address all of the relevant factors in the regulations.

Fort William First Nation, Ontario, Canada

The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and Fort William First Nation announced the final settlement of a 160-year-old land claim that will strengthen the economy and create jobs in northwestern Ontario. This settlement of the Boundary Claim includes about $149 million in financial compensation from Canada and approximately $5 million from Ontario. It also includes the transfer of provincial Crown lands on Lake Superior’s Flatland Island and Pie Island to the federal government, to be set apart as reserve land for the Fort William First Nation. The process for resolving this claim involved a number of steps. In November 2010, the governments of Canada and Ontario and the Fort William First Nation announced that their negotiators had concluded talks on a settlement proposal. First Nation members approved the settlement in a vote on January 22, 2011, followed by approvals from Ontario and Canada. In addition to the Boundary Claim, Canada and Fort William First Nation have also concluded a negotiated settlement to resolve the First Nation’s Neebing Surrender Specific Claim. This financial settlement resolves a historic grievance dating back to the late 1850s and includes compensation of approximately $22 million. The settlement was approved by First Nation members in a vote on December 4, 2010, and by Canada on March 2, 2011.